Researchers at Johns Hopkins are constantly advancing science through basic, translational and clinical investigations. Many of the world’s greatest discoveries have occurred right here at Johns Hopkins. If you had all of the money and resources at your fingertips, what disease would you focus on curing? Share your thoughts on today’s Hopkins Happenings’ Question of the Week.
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Pedophilia...a pervasive problem that destroys the lives of the victimized.
The Common Cold.
Although a temporary condition, it affects MOST people.
It is responsible for misery, loss of productive time, and often leads to other medical complications in vulnerable populations.
HIV...it's rampant. ~16% of people infected do not even know they have HIV. Scary thought!
Diabetes
cancer then hiv
i would cure aging.
all forms of cancer... point blank period
I would like to cure all of the diseases of the world because we were created to be in good health and prosper however the one I feel does the most devastation is Alzheimers because I Can't imagine my loved one not knowing who I am or what had transpired in our past together.
Anaphylaxis.
i would cure heart disease and cva and cancer
If I had to choose a disease to cure it be would cancer. I'd choose cancer because it's one of the leading causes in the death of all ages. To watch someone transition with the rigid stages the disease put you through is painful. Families are torn apart leaving many with unbalanced lives and heavy hearts.
If i could i would cure. Aid, Diabetes, Alzheimers, Cancer. Such terrible diseases. I see people dealing with these diseases everyday. Wish i could do something to help.
Lung cancer, a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide with very limited therapeutic benefit so far.
Juvenile Diabetes. I have one sister and she has 3 children. I have one son. Of our 4 children, 3 have Type I Juvenile Diabetes. A cure cannot be far away.
HIV/AIDS
Hearing loss because it affects so many at any age.
Alzheimer's
Unhealthy eating disease.
Cancer, Alzheimer's, ALS, ... it's tough to pick just one. But I would also add Lyme to the list. Transmitted by the bite of an infected and very tiny tick, Lyme has become the fastest-growing infectious disease in the US and is very prevalent in Maryland. Often debilitating, there are an estimated 300,000+ new infections each year, but only about 30,000 are officially diagnosed. This is because the "great masquerader" can evade the body's immune response and present itself under a variety of symptoms. It is difficult to treat if not caught in the early stages and current tests have a high rate of false negatives as the disease progresses.
Cancer - we all know someone who we love and care for, who's been affected by this. Parkinson's because my mom suffers from this. My hope is that there will be a cure or some type of relief for many who face ailments and/or throughout their lifetime.
Ignorance and fear. Too many people don't understand their symptoms (or are in denial and hope "it will go away" without treatment). Superstitions, "old wives tales," etc. keep a lot of people from seeing treatment until it's too late. So many diseases can be controlled (or cured) if caught in time. Education is the key.
lupus and other autoimmune diseases
I would focus on curing the disease and ensuing madness of the ego. The ego is the root of all evil, the cause of all wars, power struggles, the source of all prejudice and inhumane treatment of others, (fellow humans, animals and mother earth).
The ego masqurades in all kinds of pretensions, and sleek tricks based on religion or politics or race or sex, to create feelings of superiority or minority. The ego is the underlying cause of ALL physical, emotional, mental and yes even spiritual disease......you may disagree with me but I am holding on to this bone:-)
If I could heal any disease, this is the ONLY disease I would focus my entire life to transform.
Why bother with the symptom when you can face the root cause and diffuse its power that can only keep growing when we are unaware and keep falling prey to this silent monster. Just think about it and see if this rings true for you. Enjoy your weekend everyone.
What a provocative question. I agree with the comments already submitted and am personnally very encouraged and inspired to be working for an organization that is putting brains, talent, money and other resources into discovering causes and treatments for many of these terrible afflictions that challenge so many lives. One way some of us non-scientists can help (besides fundraising athletic events, etc. ) is serving as a "healthy volunteer" for some of the studies going on here and at NIH. You can check under "Clinical Trials" to see if there are any studies in which you could participate.
Cancer. Whose family or friends have not be touched by this disease?
ALS, it's like being buried alive. Watched my husband recently succumb to this awful disease, watched him lose the ability to be him and do the things he loved, then lose the ability to eat and breathe.
I think I would cure HIV/AIDS because its easily transmissable and people often spread it without knowing that they have it and the cycle keeps going.
HIV is very easily stopped. All people have to do is behave responsibly. That means using clean needles and prophylactics with a single partner with no cheating. There is absolutely no excuse for passing on an infection since post-exposure prophylaxis is available even for needle sticks and other accidental exposures. WE are responsible for HIV transmission. WE can stop it. If people cheat, they need to use protection during all acts and get tested before getting back with their partner. It's as simple as that. If someone unknowlingly contracts HIV from a cheating partner, THEY (the unknowing partner) still need to get tested before ever taking a new partner later. No excuses. No passing the buck.
Prostate cancer. It has touched my grandfather, uncle, dad and me. And killed two, so this is one I would cure today.
autism which seems to be a real epidemic
YES!!!
I think, if I could only pick one, it would be cancer. Too many people have it or have died from it and it can hit in multiple parts of the body (multiple times).
I would concentrate on Schizophrenia and Bipolar. These illnesses can be influenced by so many life experiences and occurrences starting at an early age. These illnesses affect whole families. In some patients these illnesses can affect lives of many innocent people. The person with mental illness has little or no control of their brain perception. Not enough is being done. I fear with the now easy availability of marijuana, schizophrenia will increase as younger people will smoke more and more heavily which affects brain developement. Also pot and cigarette smoking drastically affects the brain of these patients and interferes with their medication absorption and willingness to start or continue medications. Supplements that are less costly with side effects should also be considered. Some of the prescribed medications help one sympton but cause another.
I am speaking from experience.
ALS, because of the terrible loss of bodily function.
Cancer, Alzheimer's, heart disease, Parkinson's & MS.
Mitochondrial Disease
Alzheimer's.
All of them.
My thoughts exactly!!!
I would cure Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).
It definately would have to be cancer or aids.
Depression
Well, I'm not a doctor, so the chances of me curing anything are null. However, if I could I would concentrate in three diseases: cancer, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, because they run in my family.
cancer because it's hard to fine a cure for it.
Chiari