Monthly Archives: January 2020

Immunology

Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Are Poised to Revolutionize Asthma Care – Pulmonology Advisor

The advent of large data sets from many sources (big data), machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) are poised to revolutionize asthma care on both the investigative and clinical levels, according to an article published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

According to the researchers, a patient with asthma endures approximately 2190 hours of experiencing and treating or not treating their asthma symptoms. During 15-minute clinic visits, only a short amount of time is spent understanding and treating what is a complex disease, and only a fraction of the necessary data is captured in the electronic health record.

Our patients and the pace of data growth are compelling us to incorporate insights from Big Data to inform care, the researchers posit. Predictive analytics, using machine learning and artificial intelligence has revolutionized many industries, including the healthcare industry.

When used effectively, big data, in conjunction with electronic health record data, can transform the patients healthcare experience. This is especially important as healthcare continues to embrace both e-health and telehealth practices. The data resulting from these thoughtful digital health innovations can result in personalized asthma management, improve timeliness of care, and capture objective measures of treatment response.

According to the researchers, the use of machine learning algorithms and AI to predict asthma exacerbations and patterns of healthcare utilization are within both technical and clinical reach. The ability to predict who is likely to experience an asthma attack, as well as when that attack may occur, will ultimately optimize healthcare resources and personalize patient management.

The use of longitudinal birth cohort studies and multicenter collaborations like the Severe Asthma Research Program have given clinical investigators a broader understanding of the pathophysiology, natural history, phenotypes, seasonality, genetics, epigenetics, and biomarkers of the disease. Machine learning and data-driven methods have utilized this data, often in the form of large datasets, to cluster patients into genetic, molecular, and immune phenotypes. These clusters have led to work in the genomics and pharmacogenomics fields that should ultimately lead to high-fidelity exacerbation predictions and the advent of true precision medicine.

This work, the researchers noted, if translated into clinical practice can potentially link genetic traits to phenotypes that can for example predict rapid response, or non-response to medications like albuterol and steroids, or identify an individuals risk for cortisol suppression.

As with any innovation, though, challenges abound. One in particular is the siloed nature of the clinical and scientific insights about asthma that have come to light in recent years. Although data are now being generated and interpreted across various domains, researchers must still contend with a lack of data standards and disease definitions, data interoperability and sharing difficulties, and concerns about data quality and fidelity.

Machine learning and AI present their own challenges; namely, those who utilize these technologies must consider the issues of fairness, bias, privacy, and medical bioethics. Legal accountability and medical responsibility issues must also be considered as algorithms are adopted into routine practice.

We must, as clinicians and researchers, constructively transform the concern and lack of understanding many clinicians have about digital health, [machine learning], and [artificial intelligence] into educated and critical engagement, the researchers concluded. Our job is to use [machine learning and artificial intelligence] tools to understand and predict how asthma affects patients and help us make decisions at the patient and population levels to treat it better.

Reference

Messinger AI, Luo G, Deterding RR. The doctor will see you now: How machine learning and artificial intelligence can extend our understanding and treatment of asthma [published online December 25, 2019]. J Allergy Clin Immunol. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.12.898

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Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Are Poised to Revolutionize Asthma Care - Pulmonology Advisor

Immunology

Victims of Iranian plane crash ‘represented the best of us,’ mourners hear at U of Manitoba vigil – CBC.ca

A memorial service was held at the University of Manitoba Friday afternoon to mournthe victims of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight PS752, which crashed in Iran earlier this week.

"As the days go by, we're learning more about each of the passengers on Flight PS752, and our interconnectedness in our world is becoming evermore apparent," said U of M president David Barnard.

"It is written that the passengers on this flight represented the best of us," he said. "It's easy to understand why this is so."

CBC News has confirmed that at least eight people on board the flight were from Winnipeg.

The flight from Tehran to Kyiv, Ukraine crashed minutes after takeoff, around 6:15 a.m. local time in Tehran Wednesday. All of the 176 people on board were killed. Earlier figures put the number of Canadians on the flight at 63, but Foreign Affairs Minister Franois-Philippe Champagne announced Friday that the number of Canadian victims now stands at 57.

Jude Uzonna, who teachesimmunology and is the associate dean (research) at the U of M'sfaculty of health sciences, said hedid not prepare a speech for the memorial, wantingto speak from his heart about his friend Forough Khadem, who was among those killed in the crash.

She graduated with a PhD in immunology from the university in 2016, and wasa budding scientist, he said.

"Forough touched my life and she changed me as a mentor," Uzonna said.

He recalled that healways told Khadem that if she had been born in Canada, she would have becomeprime minister.

When the two started working together, though, there were many challenges, he said. Khadem was dealing with health issues shortly after coming to Canada, and there was pressure on Uzonna to let her go, he said.

"At the time, she says, 'Boss, please let me go,'" Uzonna recalled his student asking him.

His response, he said, was "'Forough, I can't let you go because we started this together. You're going to finish,'" he said, his voice cracking with emotion.

"And she finished."

Ayda Mohammadian says she is still in shock after the loss of her boyfriend,Amir Hossein Ghorbani.

Ghorbani, 21,was a science studentat the University of Manitobawhowanted to be a physician.

He worked hardto attain his goals, Mohammadian said. But he was also concerned for the safety of his family who still live in Iran, and who worked hard to help him come toCanada, she added.

Mohammadian said she hugged Ghorbani and cried just hoursbefore heboarded his flight fromWinnipeg to Iran.

"'I feel if you go, I'm going to lose you,'" she recalled telling him.

With tears in his eyes, he replied,"'Don't be silly. Am I going to die? I will be back in 20 days,'" said Mohammadian.

"But he didn't come back."

Mohammadiantold CBC News after the ceremony that she had planned a party for his return on Wednesday, but received the call about the crash Tuesday.

"For two, three hours, I was just laughing because I couldn't believe. I was really shocked," she said.

After a few hours, Mohammadian started looking at the list of names of people who were on board. She says she scanned it six or seven times.

"Then I was like, 'Who am I kidding? The name is there. I'm not going to change anything,'" she said, breaking down into tears.

"I don't have the chance to hug him again, to kiss him again, to smell him."

As people mourn, Canada is demandinganswers.

Though Iranian officials have denied the allegations, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday thatintelligence suggeststhe plane wasshot down by an Iranian missile possibly by mistake.

The Transportation Safety Board announced Thursday that it was invitedto Iran to investigate.

But Friday evening, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne announced that representatives from various countriesare coming together to pushthe Iranian government "for a full and thorough investigation of the destruction of Flight PS752."

Meanwhile, inside the engineering building at the University of Manitoba, candles were lit for each of the victims with ties to Winnipeg.

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Victims of Iranian plane crash 'represented the best of us,' mourners hear at U of Manitoba vigil - CBC.ca

Immunology

New Investigation Into PD-1 Blockade for Hepatocellular Carcinoma – Cancer Therapy Advisor

Researchers are taking a new approach to sorting out why immunotherapy only works in select patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A team of investigators is using newly developed high-throughput technologies to evaluate the therapeutic effects of the programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) antibody (cemiplimab-rwlc), which was developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc, and Sanofi. Its hoped this new investigation will help investigators gain insight into why so many patients still fail to respond to immunotherapy.1

Our goal is to finally understanddynamic changes in the tumor immune microenvironment induced by novelimmunotherapies and/or chemotherapy, said study investigator Thomas Marron,MD, PhD, who is the assistant director of early-phase and immunotherapy trialsat The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.

He and his colleagues are conducting aphase 1 clinical trial to assess the clinical efficacy and response of patientsto cemiplimab therapy in HCC, early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), andhead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The team will investigate single-cellmapping of cancer lesions and circulating immune cells, spatial mapping of thetumor tissues, and sequencing of the patients microbiome before and aftertreatment.

What makes this investigation novel isthat it attacks the problem with a multipronged approach and combinesresearchers with distinct expertise in medicine, immunology, technology,mathematics, and physics. Utilizing new proprietary technologies and platforms,the investigators hope to better characterize immune profiles and responses ina diverse range of disease settings. We do not truly know how these agentswork in vivo. So, we are not able to identify rational combinatorial approachesin surgical patients or metastatic patients, Dr Marron told Cancer Therapy Advisor. We need toidentify biomarkers in order to identify who will benefit from therapy, so asto not waste our patients time, and cause unnecessary personal, physical, andfinancial toxicity.

He said in the metastatic setting, somepatients with HCC, NSCLC, or HNSCC have shown responses to immunotherapy. InNSCLC and HNSCC, the response rate to immunotherapy seems to increase whencombined with chemotherapy, but still, half of patients do not respond. Ourgoal is to use upfront immunotherapy to prime an immune response and decreasethe chance of recurrence, said Dr Marron. We believe that [in] patients withlocoregional disease, [and] with smaller, less heterogeneous tumors, there willlikely be a higher response rate than seen in the metastatic setting.

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New Investigation Into PD-1 Blockade for Hepatocellular Carcinoma - Cancer Therapy Advisor

Immunology

ANP Technologies, in Partnership with Fulgent Pharma, Teams with Moffitt Cancer Center to Develop a New Class of Leukemia Therapies – Business Wire

NEWARK, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ANP Technologies Inc. (ANP) and Fulgent Pharma LLC through their partner Moffitt Cancer Center have successfully licensed the rights to develop a novel targeted therapy in the area of leukemia to Celgene (CELG), now Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY), a landmark deal that leverages ANPs nanotherapeutic platform technology. The partners will work together to develop a new cancer therapy for Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). The potential new therapy will target a novel pathway receptor.

The Moffitt research team recently discovered that a specific pathway receptor is up-regulated in MDS and AML malignant cells, and in particular the malignant stem cells, thus offering a potentially favorable disease-specific target for therapies. By utilizing a ligand specific for this pathway receptor along with a covalently linked nanoparticle developed by ANP and licensed to Fulgent Pharma, the team was able to show potential for treating this type of leukemia at the stem cell level.

Moffitt takes a team approach when it comes to cancer care and research. Our immunology and hematology teams worked together on this novel therapy. We are taking it to the next level, partnering with ANP/Fulgent Pharma to help accelerate translating this discovery from the laboratory to patients in need, said Jarett Rieger, Sr. Director, Innovation & Industry Alliances of Moffitt.

With our proprietary nano-delivery and nanotherapeutic technology platform, ANP has successfully developed multiple therapies including nanoencapsulated pactlitaxel, which is currently in clinical and licensed to Fulgent Pharma, as well as a nanoencapsulated antibody cocktail of drugs for the treatment of Ebola infection, which was funded for nonhuman primate testing by the US Department of Defense, says Dr. Ray Yin, President and CEO of ANP. The Moffitt collaboration expands our nanotechnology platform and spectrum of drug development, enabling ANP and Fulgent Pharma to develop new targeted therapies to benefit cancer patients.

About Moffitt Cancer Center

Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 51 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitts scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education. Moffitt is a Top 10 cancer hospital and has been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report since 1999. Moffitts expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet status, its highest distinction. With more than 6,500 team members, Moffitt has an economic impact in the state of $2.4 billion. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

About ANP Technologies, Inc.

ANP Technologies, Inc. is a world leader in developing innovative nano-therapeutics. In addition to the novel targeted therapy, ANP has also developed nanoencapsulated chemotherapeutics, antibody therapies, immune-oncology and mRNA-based vaccines. Visit ANPTINC.com for more information.

About Fulgent Pharma

Fulgent Pharma is a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company developing oncology therapies that leverage a proprietary nano-drug delivery technology. Fulgent Pharmas pipeline features three unique drug platforms: nanoencapsulated chemotherapy drugs being developed via the 505(b)(2) pathway, novel targeted therapies, and small molecule based immuno-oncology drugs. The Companys lead asset, FID-007, is a nanoencapsulated paclitaxel with improved drug solubility and efficacy, as well as decreased toxicity, and is currently tested in clinical trials. Fulgent Pharma was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Temple City, California. Fulgent Pharma was spun off from Fulgent Genetics, Inc., (NASDAQ:FLGT) a comprehensive genetic testing company, in 2016.

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ANP Technologies, in Partnership with Fulgent Pharma, Teams with Moffitt Cancer Center to Develop a New Class of Leukemia Therapies - Business Wire

Anatomy

Inside Rehearsal for the US Premiere of Anatomy of a Suicide – Playbill.com

The U.S. premiere of Alice Birch's Anatomy of a Suicide, the winner of the 2018 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, will begin performances with Atlantic Theater Company February 1 ahead of a February 18 opening night. The production is scheduled to play a limited run at Atlantic's Linda Gross Theater through March 15.

Directed by Obie winner Lileana Blain-Cruz (Fefu and Her Friends), Anatomy of a Suicide tells the story of three generations of women whose lives play out simultaneously onstage.

The production stars Celeste Arias (Uncle Vanya), Jason Babinsky (Network), Gabby Beans (Marys Seacole), Ava Briglia (John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch), Carla Gugino (Jett), Julian Elijah Martinez (Network), Jo Mei (The Great Wave), Vince Nappo (Reign), Miriam Silverman (Junk), and Richard Topol (Indecent).

The production will feature scenic design by Mariana Sanchez, costume design by Kaye Voyce, lighting design by Jiyoun Chang, projection design by Hannah Wasileski, and casting by Telsey + Company: Karyn Casl and Madison Sylvester.

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Inside Rehearsal for the US Premiere of Anatomy of a Suicide - Playbill.com

Anatomy

The anatomy of a thriller: How the Nuggets sealed their clutch win over the Mavs – The Denver Post

DALLAS It was impossible not to feel sympathetic for Nikola Jokic as he wrestled with a weight in the hallway late Wednesday night considering what hed already accomplished.

As has become customary, Jokic, along with Juancho Hernangomez, Malik Beasley and the Nuggets strength trainers, grunted through a postgame workout that left Denvers superstar dripping in sweat when he finally met with the media following his game-winning bucket against the Mavericks.

Its always nice, Jokic said with a grin. Thats my after-game squad.

Less than half an hour earlier, Jokic was busy dominating Dallas frontcourt, bludgeoning them for 33 points, including 26 in the second half. He even buried four 3-pointers his ace in the hole, as he called his long-range weapon.

Though plenty happened throughout the first 47:52 at American Airlines Center, it was the final two possessions that sealed Denvers riveting 107-106 win. The victory was even more impressive considering the Nuggets were at the end of a taxing, 10-day road trip and without starters Paul Millsap and Will Barton.

Neither factor entered the players minds with Denver trailing 106-105 with 23 seconds left and the ball out of bounds on the sidelines.

Jamal Murray initiated the action with a tree-trunk screen on Mavericks center Dwight Powell to free up Jokic and force undersized forward Dorian Finney-Smith onto the Nuggets star. The only problem was that Jokic, who generally sees the game three steps ahead of his opponent, didnt recognize he had the mismatch.

Thats why I passed out, then I figured out that I had a mismatch, Jokic said.

That miscalculation nearly ended in disaster after Jokics pass to Murray was deflected and sent careening toward halfcourt.

Just track down the ball, Murray said laughing. He threw the ball, it went off me, so I had to go get it.

From there, Murray sent the ball back inside, where Jokic was waiting to go to work.

What Im most happy about that last possession is that we stayed with it, Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. We were able to get the re-post, he took his time and scored against a smaller guy in the post. So, hes our go-to player, hes an MVP candidate for a reason. And end of the games, the ball will be in his hands to make the right play.

But the work wasnt done after Jokic dropped his right shoulder, spun and laid in his 12th bucket of the night. There were eight seconds left, and the Mavericks still had one of the most lethal playmakers in the NBA at their disposal in Luka Doncic.

Its two of the most promising young players in the entire NBA, two of the best players in the world, Malone said of the two international stars. One guy from Slovenia, one guy from Serbia, and tonight on national TV, they put all their talents on full display. Im a coach, but Im also a huge fan of the game, I love the game of basketball. I love seeing great players play.

The Mavericks took a full timeout, and the Nuggets made their defensive adjustments. Out came their two offensive stalwarts, Jokic and Murray, in came versatile defenders Torrey Craig and Mason Plumlee. Together, along with rangy forward Jerami Grant, Gary Harris and Beasley, the Nuggets suffocated Dallas final attempt.

That last play, me and (assistant) Wes (Unseld Jr.) talked, Malone said. He said, You know if you want to hit (Luka), get the ball out of his hands. I said, You tell me. And he said, Lets do it.

The Nuggets first victory on the defensive highlight came via Grant not allowing Doncic to catch the inbounds pass, costing the Mavericks several precious seconds. After Doncic finally gained possession the Nuggets swarmed him, just as their coaches had asked.

Craig and Grant trapped him, forcing an outlet to the corner, which Beasley snuffed out almost immediately. From there, with the clock winding down, Plumlee flew in to block the baseline and extinguish any window for the Mavs to shoot. With nowhere to go, Finney-Smith threw the ball into the backcourt as time expired and the entire Nuggets bench charged onto the court.

We committed to it and our guys flew around behind him and we wound up forcing a turnover to seal the win, Malone said, beaming at his teams effort.

It was a shootout, Murray said. It was our defense that won the game.

Excerpt from:
The anatomy of a thriller: How the Nuggets sealed their clutch win over the Mavs - The Denver Post

Anatomy

ABC Boss Hopes For Season 18 Of Greys Anatomy, Reveals Number Of Station 19 Crossovers TCA – Deadline

ABCs medical dramaGreys Anatomy made more history last spring witha two-year renewal for Seasons 16 and 17. The series star, Ellen Pompeo, is signed for both seasons the current 16th and the next 17th. Will the 2020-21 season presently the last in Pompeos contract be Greys last?

I hope not, ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke said during TCA.Greys Anatomy will live as long as Ellen is interested in playing Meredith Grey.

The network hasnot started conversations with Pompeo yet about doing additional seasons.

We will let her lead the pace on that, Burke told Deadline.

Soon moving to 9 PM, Greys Anatomy, the longest running medical drama on television, will be preceded on Thursdays by the third season of spinoff Station 19, withGreys executive producer/showrunner Krista Vernoff now in charge of both series, creating opportunities for seamless narrative.

Related Story'Modern Family' & 'How To Get Away With Murder' Set Series Finale Dates - TCA

Station 19 will kick off its third season with a two-hour Station 19-Greys crossover. It will be one of four such crossover events through the season, Burke said today.

In an interview with Deadline in November, Vernoff said that the two shows will interconnect every few episodes. We dont want to do it every week, we dont want to create a mold, we dont want to fall into any kind of pattern, we dont want people to ever know what to expect, she said. We have found many different, really quite exciting and fun ways to interact between the two shows.

ABC Day @ TCA: Deadlines Complete Coverage

Today, Vernoff was complimented by Burke about the way she has done that.

You will start to see relationships emerge between characters that exist in the Station world and the Greys world in really organic ways, Burke said. I am incredibly impressed by what Krista and her team have done to make those worlds feel very seamless in an organic way, not feel forced. And then we will have throughout the Season 4 tentpole events that revolve around big emergencies that would naturally start with first responders (on Station 19) and end up in the hospital (on Greys) and will take the storytelling to a two-hour block.

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ABC Boss Hopes For Season 18 Of Greys Anatomy, Reveals Number Of Station 19 Crossovers TCA - Deadline

Anatomy

Jesse Williams Says Grey’s Anatomy & Station 19’s 2-Hour Crossover Event Will Be ‘Scary as Hell’ – PEOPLE.com

Grey's Anatomy Station 19 Crossover Event Trailer, Jesse Williams Preview | PEOPLE.com | PEOPLE.com Top Navigation Close View image

Jesse Williams Says Grey's Anatomy& Station 19's 2-Hour Crossover Event Will Be 'Scary as Hell'

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Jesse Williams Says Grey's Anatomy & Station 19's 2-Hour Crossover Event Will Be 'Scary as Hell' - PEOPLE.com

Anatomy

‘Grey’s Anatomy Fans Are Disappointed This Character Has Become Totally Useless – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

At this point,Greys Anatomy has been on the air for over a decade. Sixteen seasons in, only four members of the shows original cast remain.

To compensate for the notable exits of beloved characters over the years, plenty of new faces have become familiar to fans who tune into the show regularly.

So it only makes sense that seeing some of those faces slowly fade away only to watch them reappear as devices to move an episodes plot forward before disappearing again frustrates fans more than boring, repetitive storylines.

Dr. Carina DeLuca, played byStefania Spampinato, strode confidently onto the set of Greys Anatomy in Season 14.

The arrival of this Italian older sister of Andrew DeLuca was highly anticipated by fans. Her beauty and Italian temperament did not disappoint. The sibling rivalry hinted at the drama played outbetween Derek Shepherd and his sister, Amelia.

Then there was her specialty, researching the female orgasm. Little brother Andrew was not comfortable with that.

Fans soon learned that Carina is attracted to both men and women, and her first love interest is Arizona. Andrew discovers his sisters Seattle arrival when he finds Carina making out with his roommate.

Potential plot twists were numerous, varied, exciting, and unexpected. Carinas romance with Arizona sizzled in brief scenes tucked into all of the other plots weaving around the hospital. The romance fizzled when Arizonas daughter arrived and she had less time for Carina.

A steamy scene between Owen and Carina solidified the split, although it continued to steam around the edges. Fans were led to believe that Carina and Arizona would eventually get their act together. But Arizona moved to New York at the end of the season.

The show temporarily returned her to Italy In Season 15. She needed to spend time with her father, also a doctor, who was in difficulties caused by mental illness. Carina does not return to the show until midway through the season.

As the season winds down, she is furthered sidelined from the plot. Carina is embroiled in a family drama, not a love affair. Very little is seen of her medical skills.

Carina gets a mention toward the end of a TV Fanatic review of Season 15: Carina is still at GSM (!), and she gave a nice speech about the male G-spot. Carina is at her best when shes spouting off her knowledge and scoffing at all things American. Maybe if shes sticking around, shell be utilized better.

So far in Season 16, Carina intuited Amelias pregnancy when Amelia approached Carina to propose a threesome. Carina inquires, Are you here for your pregnancy or just asking for a menage a trois?

Later, she gives Amelia the sonogram report suggesting her baby is Owens and not Links. But where is Carinas personal drama? Is she becoming just a background player preparing to jet back to Italy?

Is Carina preparing to move to Call the Midwife where her OB/GYN skills will be played up? Only time will tell.

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'Grey's Anatomy Fans Are Disappointed This Character Has Become Totally Useless - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy: 10 Couples That Would Have Made A Lot Of Sense (But Never Got Together) – Screen Rant

This was a surprisingly difficult list to write, not just because there have been an awful lot of couples in Grey's Anatomy over the last 15 years, but also because a lot of those relationships were so perfect that we couldn't really imagine them being with anyone else. Imagine splitting up Meredith and Derek, for example!

RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: 5 Friendships We Would Have Loved To Have Seen (& 5 We Don't Care About)

However, despite the medical drama's impressive track record, there have been a few couples that fans weren't exactly too keen about. Other characters have been incredibly unlucky in love and so it's about time that changes. Here are 10 couples that would have made a lot of sense but never got together.

These two were absolutely adorable together and their friendship remains one of the highlights of Grey's Anatomy. This pairing originally started as a one night stand, as Callie was depressed about the deterioration of her relationship with George, who wasn't treating her particularly well.

Mark offered his services to Callie, who accepted, and then felt incredibly guilty afterward. Despite this, though, the two soon became firm friends with benefits, but their relationship never went any further than physical attraction. Mark and Callie were such good friends, that a relationship between the two would have seemed almost natural. They even share a daughter together.

These two became friends after Lexie discovered that George was repeating his intern year and she agreed to keep his secret. As a result, they grew closer and even rented an apartment together, that George christened the 'crapartment', because it was so, you know...less than.

RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: Top 10 Fan-Favorite Characters, Ranked

However, Lexie's constant optimism balanced out George's negativity, and she even helped him realize that things weren't as bad as they seemed. George then became a happier person. Honestly, these two were very cute together and would have made an adorable, awkward little couple.

Many people might be wondering why we've included this entry on the list. To explain, we must refer back to the beginning of Season 14, when it was discovered that Amelia had a benign (but absolutely massive) tumor pressing down on her brain. It was revealed that she had had this tumor for around 10 years.

Struggling to come to terms with what this meant for her, both personally and professionally, Amelia entered a brief spiral of doubt, with DeLuca helping her process everything. Even after her operation, DeLuca was there to comfort her and help her heal. If these two ever became a couple, they would be so supportive of one another.

Izzie and Jackson never really interacted during their time on the show together. Which is fair enough if you think about it, as Izzie left Grey's Anatomy soon after Jackson joined. They didn't even have enough time to become friends. However, we think that if they had been given a chance, they could have made a pretty decent couple.

RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: 6 Romances That Ended Too Soon (& 4 That Didn't End Soon Enough)

Izzie was very cheerful and full of hope, bordering on naive. She always looked out for her patients and advocated for them well but she had a habit of becoming easily attached. When Jackson first arrived, he was arrogant and cocksure. The two could have helped each other to become better surgeons and better people in general.

To a lot of people, the mere fact that Meredith and Alex were even considered to be on this list is the highest form of sacrilege. Be that as it may, Meredith and Alex are now extremely close and have been arguably since before Cristina actually left Grey Sloan Memorial to jet off to Switzerland.

Meredith hasn't really found anyone to be with since Derek died and so it's no exaggeration to say that Alex is probably the most important man in her life. As for Alex himself, he does have Jo, but the way he interacts with Mer makes one think that there could be something between these two best friends. Or maybe it's just wishful thinking.

These two have actually slept together on Grey's Anatomy, but seeing as how Derek is Amelia's big brother, Mark wisely went no further than a casual booty call. However, Mark did date Lexie, who was Derek's little sister-in-law, so really, there is no excuse as to why Amelia and Mark didn't get together beforehand.

RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: 10 Hilarious Patient Memes Only True Fans Will Understand

Amelia is known for being a little crazy and that has made her come across as slightly annoying to both characters in, and fans of, Grey's Anatomy. However, I always liked Amelia and she and Mark would have been such a great fit together. They're both hilarious people who can take a joke, but they are also serious, talented professionals.

This is another friendship between two people who should have taken it to the next level. Certainly, in later seasons, Callie and Owen became closer as they went through divorces and disasters and began collaborating on innovative medical projects. They weren't without their disagreements (this is Owen after all) but they always had each other's backs.

In Season 11, they were designing prosthetic limbs to help soldiers who had been injured in the line of duty. Their enthusiasm and teamwork was fun to watch, and they could both have a laugh together. We're sort of glad these two didn't get together, as who knows what would have happened to Callie, but it's fun to imagine what these two would have been like as a couple.

Teddy has been through the mother of all wringers when it comes to her love life. She has loved Owen, who used her as and when he saw fit; the hospital psychologist, whose job meant he couldn't settle down; Henry, who was adorable but died, and Tom, who was dumped for Teddy's baby daddy, Owen.

RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: 5 Times Cristina Was Meredith's Best Friend (& 5 Times It Was Alex)

Essentially, what we're saying is that, with the exception of Henry, Teddy is too good for all these men. She needs someone who will treat her right and will respect her opinions and choices. Link has already proven that he is a good man and if he weren't with Amelia and a possible baby, we're pretty sure that he and Teddy would make an excellent couple.

Maggie is a great character. She's intelligent, friendly and she gets on well with her colleagues, The one thing that Maggie has always been rubbish at, though, is love. Finding love, being in love, anything to do with love and Maggie the Confident crumbles away into Maggie the Awkward and Obsessed.

However, Tom is the complete opposite. He's casual, very witty and very charming. If he and Maggie got together, Maggie might second doubt everything, as is her MO, but he is probably the only person in Grey Sloan who would encourage Maggie to relax and just have a bit of fun. Maggie would also help to soften Tom and help him to get along with his peers.

We cannot stress this one enough. Despite there being so many strong and confident women in Grey's Anatomy, the only two women Owen Hunt seemingly can't get enough of are Teddy and Amelia. It beggars belief. The worst thing is is that Owen has treated both women terribly in the past and yet they still give him multiple chances.

Owen's relationship with Amelia wasn't all his fault, to be fair, as Amelia kept on backing out 6 or 7 times a day. However, Amelia got better and they resumed their relationship, only for Owen to act like a complete jerk. It was the same with Teddy. Owen only wanted her when she was unavailable and was jealous of any partner she had.

NEXT: Grey's Anatomy: The Main Characters, Ranked By Intelligence

Next10 Hit Sitcoms From The 80's That Wouldn't Fly Today

Ben Pettitt is a recent English graduate of the University of Nottingham. He loves to write, read and watch Netflix. This is one of the reasons why he decided to come and display his knowledge of pop culture as a writer for Screen Rant.

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Grey's Anatomy: 10 Couples That Would Have Made A Lot Of Sense (But Never Got Together) - Screen Rant