In a society faced with threats of terrorism and violence on one hand, and widespread epidemics like infectious diseases, obesity and diabetes on the other, it’s reassuring to know that people are working to keep the public safe and healthy. St. Louis native Bianca Malcolm is one of them. Malcolm is a recent graduate of Drexel’s School of Public Health, where she began her work in public health studying spontaneous Hepatitis B recovery in Asian populations.
Drexel’s School of Public Health requires its students to become involved in the surrounding neighborhoods as an integral part of their degree programs. Malcolm’s required Community-Based Master’s Project reviewed a study of people in China who spontaneously recovered from Hepatitis B. She conducted additional research for an ongoing study by the Fox Chase Cancer Center.
“While my study was of a population of people in China, the findings could be applied worldwide,” said Malcolm. “Hepatitis B is a disease that affects people around the globe, although Asian populations are the most susceptible. In public health, a study from one small region can have results that will aid the whole world.”
Malcolm’s research continues a decade-long study by Fox Chase, which is researching a group of more than 1,800 Hepatitis B patients in China. Although Hepatitis B is incurable and almost always fatal, Fox Chase discovered that 18 percent of the sample population miraculously had rid their bodies of the virus eleven years after testing positive.
Malcolm researched possible predictors of this spontaneous recovery, and discovered two: people who tested positive for the first time when they were over 50 years of age; and patients who tested negative for the Hepatitis B antigen. The antigen allows the virus to replicate in the blood or liver. On Malcolm’s recommendation, Fox Chase will continue to test those who recovered for additional clues.
Malcolm recently presented her findings to public health professionals and advocates from throughout the region at Drexel’s School of Public Health’s awards dinner.
The mission of the Drexel University School of Public Health (SPH) is to promote the health of communities through an integrated program of education, research, service and practice. The Drexel University SPH is committed to identifying societal conditions required for people to be healthy, and to advancing practices that improve the health of vulnerable populations. The SPH enhances the health of communities by creating partnerships based on community values, strengths and assets. Its mission and curriculum stress the importance of understanding and addressing the connection between human rights and health status.
For more information, call (215) 762.4110 or visit www.drexel.edu/pubhealth/.