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Medical advances

What are medical advances? 

A medical advance is the generation of information or a discovery of knowledge that improves our understanding in medical science, this is a significant breakthrough that results in an improvement of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Medical advancements can lead to: 

Why are medical advances important? 

A significant turning point in the way diseases are diagnosed, treated, or prevented has the potential to extend and save lives. Medical advancements are also vital to society, progression in science reduces the financial burden of disease and protects healthcare systems. 


What are the most significant medical advances in history? 


Medical advances interactive timeline
Top 10 medical advancements that have transformed global health 
Go back to start
Immunotherapy
Antibody therapies are developed
1970s
2000s
Artificial intelligence
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
Antiviral drugs
The first experimental antivirals are developed
1960s
1970s
Stem cell therapy
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
Antibiotics
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1928
1954
Organ transplants
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
Germ theory
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
1861
1895
Medical imaging
The x-ray is discovered
Vaccines
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
1796
1846
Anaesthesia
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Medical advances interactive timeline
Top 10 medical advancements that have transformed global health 
Go back to start
Immunotherapy
Antibody therapies are developed
1970s
2000s
Artificial intelligence
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
Antiviral drugs
The first experimental antivirals are developed
1960s
1970s
Stem cell therapy
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
Antibiotics
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1928
1954
Organ transplants
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
Germ theory
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
1861
1895
Medical imaging
The x-ray is discovered
Vaccines
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
1796
1846
Anaesthesia
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Medical advances interactive timeline
Top 10 medical advancements that have transformed global health 
Immunotherapy
Antibody therapies are developed
1970s
2000s
Artificial intelligence
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
Antiviral drugs
The first experimental antivirals are developed
1960s
1970s
Stem cell therapy
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
Antibiotics
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1928
1954
Organ transplants
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
Germ theory
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
1861
1895
Medical imaging
The x-ray is discovered
Vaccines
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
1796
1846
Anaesthesia
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Go back to start
Medical advances interactive timeline
Top 10 medical advancements that have transformed global health 
Go back to start
Immunotherapy
Antibody therapies are developed
1970s
2000s
Artificial intelligence
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
Antiviral drugs
The first experimental antivirals are developed
1960s
1970s
Stem cell therapy
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
Antibiotics
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1928
1954
Organ transplants
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
Germ theory
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
1861
1895
Medical imaging
The x-ray is discovered
Vaccines
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
1796
1846
Anaesthesia
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Medical advances interactive timeline
Top 10 medical advancements that have transformed global health 
Go back to start
Immunotherapy
Antibody therapies are developed
1970s
2000s
Artificial intelligence
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
Antiviral drugs
The first experimental antivirals are developed
1960s
1970s
Stem cell therapy
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
Antibiotics
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1928
1954
Organ transplants
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
Germ theory
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
1861
1895
Medical imaging
The x-ray is discovered
Vaccines
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
1796
1846
Anaesthesia
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Medical advances interactive timeline
Top 10 medical advancements that have transformed global health 
Go back to start
Immunotherapy
Antibody therapies are developed
1970s
2000s
Artificial intelligence
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
Antiviral drugs
The first experimental antivirals are developed
1960s
1970s
Stem cell therapy
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
Antibiotics
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1928
1954
Organ transplants
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
Germ theory
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
1861
1895
Medical imaging
The x-ray is discovered
Vaccines
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
1796
1846
Anaesthesia
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Medical advances interactive timeline
Top 10 medical advancements that have transformed global health 
Go back to start
Immunotherapy
Antibody therapies are developed
1970s
2000s
Artificial intelligence
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
Antiviral drugs
The first experimental antivirals are developed
1960s
1970s
Stem cell therapy
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
Antibiotics
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1928
1954
Organ transplants
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
Germ theory
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
1861
1895
Medical imaging
The x-ray is discovered
Vaccines
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
1796
1846
Anaesthesia
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic


A number of medical advances in history have changed societies and lives of individuals across the world. Each discovery has brought us closer to understanding the complexity of disease. Some of the most top medical advances in history include: 

  • Vaccines (1796) 

  • Anaesthesia (1846) 

  • Medical imaging (1895) 

  • Penicillin (1928) 


Advancements by women in medicine

Women have made a significant contribution to advancements in medicine over the centuries, often in the face of prejudice and discrimination. Society’s view towards women working in science and medicine has made great progress in recent times and today we celebrate some of the most influential women in the history of life sciences. Their extraordinary achievements and contributions have saved countless lives and continue to inspire generations of women in medicine to this day.


OPPORTUNITIES IN MEDICAL ADVANCES 

Innovation in drug discovery, biotechnologydigital health and medical devices has the potential to provide new and improved treatments for some of the leading causes of death such as heart disease, strokes and cancer. They also have the power to eradicate diseases and prevent patients from developing conditions at all.  

Telehealth and telemedicine 

Telehealth and telemedicine is beginning to transform the way that patients receive health care services, with patients able to attend appointments virtually using their personal computer or device. This is allowing patients to get seen quicker and providing them with greater access to physicians they would not be able to physically meet. 


Artificial Intelligence 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to transform our lives in the coming years, its impact may be more profound and far-reaching in healthcare than in any other field. Pharmaceutical and medical device companies have worked with technology companies to transform digital processes, improve patient management, detect and diagnose disease and even aid drug discovery. 

CRISPR 

CRISPR opens up many opportunities in the field of medicine, including curing once incurable diseases. CRISPR is a game-changer as it can be used to correct mutations at the DNA level, for people with genetic disorders. 

Personalised medicine 

Precision medicine means that drugs, therapies and devices are tailor-made treatments to individual patients, hugely reducing the risk of side effects while increasing its effectiveness. 


Challenges in medical advances 

Increasing populations 

Thanks to improved healthcare, people are living longer and populations are growing. This means there is an ongoing demand for healthcare providers to meet the unmet needs of patients. Patients across the world are finding it increasingly harder to access health care due to oversubscribed doctors and hospitals. 

Increasing costs 

As it’s becoming progressively more difficult for life science companies to deliver cures for their unmet needs of patients, this is pushing up the cost of research and development and therefore impacting the price of medicine for consumers. 


What will future medical advances look like? 

With R&D costs increasing and the complexity of precision medicine becoming more challenging life science companies are gravitating more towards a digital-first mindset. The future of medical advancements will bring more digitally integrated solutions and medical technologies, and this will influence how clinical trials are designed and how new products are brought to market. 


What part does ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ play in medical advances? 

At ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ, we are a global provider of tailored workforce solutions exclusively within the life sciences industry. We help individuals, teams, and whole organizations grow so they can innovate life-saving and life-changing therapies and technologies and get them into the hands of more patients around the world faster.  

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