Leading the way: Research firsts at UNMC

1950s: UNMC researcher first proposes theory of antioxidants and their effects on the aging process.

1983: UNMC performs the first bone marrow transplant in Nebraska.

1984: UNMC researcher pioneers stem cell transplant process, now standard therapy around the world.

1985: UNMC performs first liver transplant in Nebraska.

1988: UNMC/Clarkson become first Nebraska hospitals to use gallstone lithotripter.

1991: UNMC/Clarkson Hospital begin pancreas-only transplants.

1991: UNMC surgeons perform first two successful small bowel/liver transplants.

1991: UNMC develops external liver bypass unit.

1991: UNMC researcher identifies skin test for Marfan's Syndrome.

1992: UNMC begins islet transplantation program for Type I (insulin dependent) diabetics.

1992: UNMC treats first patient in the U.S. with antisense therapy for leukemia.

1992: UNMC surgeons perform the first Nebraska liver transplant using organs from living, related donors.

1993: UNMC physicians perform first umbilical cord blood transplant in an Omaha hospital.

1993: UNMC physicians perform first outpatient bone marrow transplant.

1994: UNMC physicians perform first islet cell transplant in Nebraska.

1995: UNMC ophthalmologist discovers new glaucoma drug.

1996: UNMC surgeons are the first in Nebraska to implant a biventricular assist device to keep patient alive until a donor heart can be located.

1996: UNMC physicians discover three-drug combination therapy works best in treating rheumatoid arthritis.

1996: UNMC surgeons perform first lung transplant.

1996: Team of UNMC surgeons performs first baroscopic repair of an aortic aneurysm.

1997: UNMC surgeons perform world's first removal of two cancerous kidneys simultaneously through use of a laparoscope.

1997: Team of UNMC health professionals performs first-ever infusion of billions of donor liver cells to correct a life-threatening liver deficiency that would otherwise require a liver transplant.

1999: UNMC researcher develops world's first genetically engineered mouse model to explain how folic acid protects against birth defects such as neural tube defects and cleft lip and palate.

2000: UNMC researcher and researchers at five other institutions announce findings that show diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the most common form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is actually two distinct diseases.

2000: First robotic surgery performed on a human in Nebraska. Surgery performed on Friday, August 19, 2000. Patient was Wray Crabill of Ralston, who had an inflamed bowel. Surgery performed by Dr. Debra Sudan and Dr. Ranjan Sudan.

2000: 1,000th stem cell transplant performed for non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

2002: UNMC researchers first in U.S. to begin study on safety, effectiveness of potential treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

2002: Two proteins that play key role in aneurysms identified

2002: Surgical team first in the world to use robotic system for complex urinary diversion.

2003: Wisconsin woman recognized as 3,000th bone marrow/peripheral stem cell transplant patient.

2003: Scientists identify piece of coxsackievirus B that controls its ability to grow in heart cells; may lead to better treatments or vaccines for myocarditis.

2003: New technology prevents rejection of pig organs without severe immune suppression.

2003: The two largest National Institutes of Health grant awards in UNMC history are awarded in the same week. The grants total more than $20.5 million.

2004: Scientists at UNMC and Columbia University Medical Center announce the discovery of a new vaccine approach that successfully prevents the death of brain cells in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease.

2005: UNMC announce a unique statewide effort to identify potential lung cancer early through CT scans.

2005: UNMC researchers identify a possible new treatment for prostate cancer-induced bone disease.

2005: A prototype surgical tool, Intuitool, designed a team of University of Nebraska-Lincoln engineering students, in collaboration with UNMC physicians promises to be better than current models for laparoscopic surgery.

2005: UNMC microbiologists, along with laboratory specialists at The Nebraska Medical Center, identify a previously unknown organism and name it "nebraskense" after the state.

2005: UNMC investigators develop an enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique, which permits earlier diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of Parkinson’s disease in rodents.

2006: An international research study involving UNMC, the National Cancer Institute and 10 other institutions successfully identifies the gene expression signature for Burkitt lymphoma.

2006: A research team from UNMC's College of Dentistry determines that nitric oxide plays a damaging role in the development of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative disorders.

2006: NASA uses tiny surgical robots developed by UNMC researchers as part of an underwater mission designed to train doctors to perform surgery in outer space.

2006: UNMC scientists and staff play an integral part in the formation of a new scientific journal, The "Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology."