Cure is a term used to describe the permanent resolution of an instance of a disease, such as cancer. This term is distinct from terms like remission or recovery, which refer to the partial or full recovery of a disorder, but not a cure. While a person who has recovered from a chronic illness, such as diabetes, may have no symptoms and can live a normal life, they are not considered to be cured because the condition will likely recur at some point.
In medicine, the intent of treatment can be curative, palliative, restorative or a combination for each patient. In some diseases, such as cholecystitis or appendicitis, doctors often report that their patients are cured after treatment. However, the word cure is less common in other diseases, such as cancer.
CUREs are course-based undergraduate research experiences that involve students in an active investigation or inquiry project that is an integral component of a course and leads to a deliverable that can be made accessible to the community (ACRL). CUREs have become widespread in multiple disciplines, can be implemented for part of or an entire course, and can range from small classes taught by a faculty member to large laboratory sections taught by teaching assistants. There is growing evidence that CUREs can have positive effects on student learning, including critical thinking skills and attitudinal outcomes.