A pivotal year for medical discovery that changed how we diagnose, treat, and prevent disease
The year 2017 stood as a testament to human ingenuity in the face of complex health challenges. Around the globe, researchers were not just advancing existing knowledge but were fundamentally changing how we diagnose, treat, and prevent disease. From the intricate wiring of the brain to the vast frontiers of global epidemics, scientific progress was breaking new ground.
This article explores seven critical areas of biomedical research that defined this innovative period. We will delve into the new weapons being developed against ancient foes like tuberculosis, the novel strategies for combating antibiotic resistance, and the groundbreaking shift towards preventing Alzheimer's disease rather than just managing its symptoms. These fields, while distinct, shared a common theme: the move toward more personalized, precise, and proactive medicine, offering a glimpse into a healthier future for all.
Tailoring treatments to individual patients based on their unique biology
Using biomarkers and advanced imaging for accurate disease detection
Focusing on early intervention before symptoms manifest
For decades, Alzheimer's disease could only be definitively diagnosed by examining the brain after death. In 2017, research was driving a paradigm shift, moving away from a definition based solely on clinical symptoms and toward a biological one, much like the diagnosis of heart disease or diabetes 8 .
The focus in 2017 was on biomarkers—measurable indicators of a biological state. Researchers were validating tools that could detect the hallmarks of Alzheimer's in the living brain.
A key experiment that paved the way for this new era was the development and validation of the amyloid PET scan. This imaging technique allows researchers to visualize and quantify the burden of amyloid plaques in a living person's brain.
A radioactive tracer is injected into the patient's bloodstream designed to bind specifically to beta-amyloid plaques.
The patient waits for 30-90 minutes, allowing the tracer to circulate and bind to any amyloid plaques present.
The patient undergoes a PET scan, creating a 3D map of tracer distribution in the brain.
Specialized software analyzes the scan results to determine amyloid burden.
The core result of this experiment is a visual and quantitative assessment of amyloid burden. The scientific importance cannot be overstated. It allows for:
Differentiating Alzheimer's from other types of dementia with high precision.
Identifying the disease in its pre-symptomatic stages.
Measuring changes in plaque load over time or in response to treatment.
The successful validation of this biomarker was the cornerstone for the preventive and personalized approaches that defined Alzheimer's research in 2017 1 8 .
The year 2017 saw significant action on the front lines of infectious disease, with responses evolving to become faster, smarter, and more integrated.
A 2017 outbreak in the Bas-Uélé province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) demonstrated a new level of preparedness. The outbreak was quickly contained thanks to a coordinated effort by the DRC government, the WHO, and partners 2 .
Despite being preventable and curable, TB remained the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent in 2017, with an estimated 10 million new cases and 1.6 million deaths 4 .
HIV remained a critical driver of the TB epidemic. In 2017, an estimated 9% of all TB cases were among people living with HIV, and TB was a leading cause of death in this population 4 .
Research emphasized the need for integrated prevention and control strategies to address this deadly synergy.
Idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) is a central disorder of hypersomnolence characterized by chronic, unexplained excessive daytime sleepiness. Research in 2017 was working to better define this often-misunderstood condition 3 .
Vascular neurology witnessed a revolution in the management of acute ischemic stroke, moving from therapeutic nihilism to highly effective interventions.
With the rise of multidrug-resistant organisms, researchers were looking beyond traditional antibiotics to a novel ally: the human microbiome.
The gut microbiota provides colonization resistance, a natural defense against invading pathogens 5 . When antibiotics disrupt this delicate ecosystem, drug-resistant organisms can flourish.
The primary strategy for re-establishing a healthy microbiota was microbiome-based therapeutics.
These approaches showed great promise for treating recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection and were being investigated for combating other multidrug-resistant organisms 5 .
Broad-spectrum antibiotics reduce diversity of gut microbiota.
Drug-resistant organisms like C. difficile flourish in the disrupted ecosystem.
FMT or probiotics introduce beneficial bacteria to restore balance.
Healthy microbiota reestablishes colonization resistance against pathogens.
Restoring Microbial Balance
| WHO Region | Incidence (per 100,000) | HIV Co-infection | RR/MDR-TB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | 237 | 27% | 3.6% |
| South-East Asia | 226 | 3% | 4.5% |
| Europe | 29 | 7% | 40.0% |
| Global Total | 133 | 9% | 5.6% |
Source: 4
| Country (Year) | Case-Fatality Rate | Number of Cases |
|---|---|---|
| DRC (then Zaire) (1976) | 88.1% | 318 |
| Gabon (1996) | 67.7% | 31 |
| DRC (2007) | 70.5% | 264 |
| Guinea, etc. (2013-2016) | 39.5% | 28,652 |
| DRC (2017) | 50.0% | 8 |
Source: Adapted from 9
| Item / Reagent | Function / Application |
|---|---|
| Beta-Amyloid PET Tracers | Radioactive ligands that bind to amyloid plaques in the brain, enabling in vivo imaging and diagnosis of Alzheimer's pathology. |
| Monoclonal Antibodies | Laboratory-produced molecules that can be engineered to target specific pathogens (like Ebola virus) or disease-related proteins. |
| Bedaquiline & Delamanid | New oral antibiotics used in novel treatment regimens for drug-resistant tuberculosis. |
| Defined Microbial Consortia | Specific mixtures of beneficial bacteria used as investigational therapies to restore a healthy gut microbiome and fight resistant pathogens. |
| Mechanical Thrombectomy Devices | Next-generation stent retrievers and aspiration catheters used to physically remove blood clots from brain arteries during an ischemic stroke. |
| Tenecteplase | A genetically modified version of the thrombolytic drug tPA, investigated for its potential superior efficacy and ease of use in acute stroke. |
The biomedical research landscape of 2017 was marked by a powerful convergence of themes. Across Alzheimer's, stroke, infectious diseases, and sleep disorders, a common pattern emerged: the move toward earlier intervention, personalized strategies, and a deeper understanding of fundamental biology.
The push for biomarkers in Alzheimer's, the "tissue clock" in stroke, and the use of microbiome analysis to guide therapy all reflected a new era of precision medicine. Furthermore, the successful containment of Ebola in the DRC and the global efforts against TB and drug resistance highlighted the irreplaceable value of international collaboration and rapid-response science.
These seven topics were more than just a list of hot research areas; they were a window into the future of medicine—a future where we no longer wait for disease to take hold, but instead predict, prevent, and precisely target it, all while harnessing the body's own systems to heal itself.
Using biomarkers for early detection
Intervening before symptoms appear
Personalized therapies based on individual biology
References to be added manually in the future.