Researchers detected significant risk associations for vascular and Alzheimer's dementias among American Indians for limited education, hypertension, social isolation, and depression. These findings suggest a complex and unique pattern of contributing factors that increase risk of dementia among American Indian populations.
A team of researchers found that carceral wastewater and environmental surveillance lacks full human subjects protections and traditional public health guidelines, leading to a fragmented regulatory landscape. The practice has enabled heightened monitoring and punitive restriction without necessary safeguards, posing concerns for incar...
A Boston University study analyzed 33 NFL players with confirmed CTE, revealing cognitive impairments in memory, executive function, language, and attention. The findings provide an important roadmap for recognizing CTE in living patients and highlight limitations of the NFL Concussion Settlement's testing program.
A new study identifies a distinct population of lung vein cells that contribute to scar tissue formation, a process known as fibrosis, in diseases like pulmonary fibrosis. The researchers found that targeting a specific signaling pathway can prevent lung scarring and inflammation.
A new multi-ancestry polygenic risk score (PRS) for Alzheimer's disease (AD) outperforms previous models, especially in genetically diverse groups. The PRS was associated with cognitive decline, memory performance, and brain imaging traits, providing a more accurate prediction of AD risk.
New research analyzes the use of wastewater surveillance in carceral settings, revealing gaps in human subjects protections and accountability to traditional public health guidelines. The study warns that unchecked WES in carcels can lead to misuse or harm to incarcerated individuals and surrounding communities.
Colleen Sloan, PhD, has been recognized for her distinguished contributions to psychological practice in trauma psychology. She is a licensed clinical psychologist with over a decade of experience in trauma-focused mental health care and has developed effective interventions.
A new study by Boston University researchers suggests that persistent hidden HIV proviruses contribute to chronic inflammation in people living with or without HIV. The findings highlight the importance of understanding these viruses to inform future treatments and strategies for healthy aging.
Chao Zhang, PhD, receives $2.2M NIH grant to develop novel AI frameworks for investigating temporal changes in host-microbiome interactions. The project aims to characterize dynamic immune cell recruitment and uncover mechanisms underlying drug resistance.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine will use the grant to establish a new experimental model to study prenatal mechanisms of gyrencephalic neocortical development. This study aims to provide insights into how specific neural precursors shape the fetal cortex and has far-reaching implications for understanding neurologic...
Lindsay A. Farrer, PhD, is a leading researcher in Alzheimer's disease and genetics, leveraging large datasets to identify genetic variants and biomarkers. His work aims to develop novel therapeutic targets for personalized medicine.
A new study by Boston University researchers identified critical barriers that influence healthcare professionals' integration of cancer risk evaluation in gender-affirming mastectomy care. Transgender patients lack clear information about their breast cancer risk before and after surgery, leading to delayed diagnoses at more dangerous...
Chandrasekaran, an assistant professor at Boston University School of Medicine, has been recognized with a Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) award. He will receive $400,000 over five years to support his research on multisensory integration and its applications in understanding brain function.
A study found that college students who spent more time online and experienced online harassment were more likely to report suicidal thoughts. Cisgender men showed the strongest link between time spent online and suicidal thoughts, while online harassment was linked to higher risk across all gender groups.
Boston University's T32 program in lung science receives a 5-year grant to train pre-doctoral PhD students and postdoctoral MD/PhD fellows in advanced areas of lung research. The program focuses on integrating basic and clinical sciences to diagnose and treat lung diseases.
Afzalbek Fayzullaev, a second-year Boston University medical student, has been awarded the ASTRO Medical Student Fellowship Award to conduct an eight-week mentored research project in radiation oncology. He aims to investigate the readability of patient education materials and their impact on treatment adherence.
A new study finds that chronic kidney disease rates in the US have remained consistent over the past decade, despite advancements in kidney-protective therapies. The proportion of Americans with kidney disease driven by diabetes has increased, while kidney disease not linked to diabetes has held steady.
The Bob Woodruff Foundation has granted Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine a one-year grant to expand the Women Veterans Network, providing peer support to women veterans. The funding also supports Strength at Home Couples, a program that enhances intimate relationships and prevents conflict in military couples.
Amy Fitzpatrick, MD, MS, has been recognized for her groundbreaking work in advancing women's health in Massachusetts. Her research and curriculum development have improved diagnosis and treatment of breast conditions, particularly in high-risk populations.
Sushrut Waikar, MD, MPH, is honored by the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) with the Distinguished Mentor Award. He has made significant contributions to nephrology through mentorship and research on kidney disease diagnosis and treatment.
A new review article argues that forensic anthropology has been hindered by outdated and harmful methods that perpetuate a male/female binary. The authors call for sex-expansive practices that reflect human biocultural variation and affirm LGBTQIA+ livelihoods.
Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, a renowned cardiologist and director of the Framingham Heart Study, has been honored with the American Heart Association's Gold Heart Award for his groundbreaking work in promoting cardiovascular health and preventing cardiovascular diseases. His research focuses on the mechanisms and life course of cardiovascul...
Lauren Stern, a clinical associate professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, has been recognized for her significant contributions to medical student education. She directs the Integrated Renal Physiology and Pathophysiology curriculum and serves as a field-specific advisor for fourth-year medical students.
Robert P. Marlin, MD, PhD, MPH, has been honored with the 2026 Henry Ingersoll Bowditch Award for his outstanding initiative and leadership in public health outreach and advocacy. He is a board-certified primary care internist at Boston Medical Center and director of policy for the Immigrant and Refugee Health Center.
A BU researcher has been awarded a grant to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for intimate partner violence in Washington State. The study aims to compare the outcomes of different interventions using data analysis and examine reductions in physical violence arrest recidivism and other related issues.
Benjamin L. Wolozin and his team will examine RNA binding proteins, RNA metabolism, and membraneless organelles in Parkinson's disease pathology and co-pathologies. They will also test a novel compound AQV-3 to break up toxic protein aggregates.
Stephen A. Wilson, MD, MPH, has been elected chair-elect of the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Board of Directors for a one-year term. As chair-elect, he will serve on key committees and lead in the Chair's absence.
Researchers discovered that transposable elements are actively expressed in human brains as large RNAs, which can be processed into small RNAs. The study found that Huntington's disease impacts transposon small RNA expression, while Parkinson's exerts a stronger impact on transposon large RNAs.
Kate Flewelling, director of the Alumni Medical Library at Boston University Medical Campus, has been honored with the President's Award from the Medical Library Association. The award recognizes her dedication to improving the lives and careers of health sciences librarians through service and leadership.
Researchers found a combination of measuring shame—self-report, language, and body posture—are necessary to predict stress and avoidance behaviors in healthcare settings. This multi-modal approach provides a way to examine the different ways individuals experience and express shame.
Stefan Isaac will investigate mitochondrial DNA packaging and gene expression using novel sequencing-based assays. He aims to understand the fundamental mechanisms of mitochondrial energy production and how cells regulate this process.
Researchers identify superspreading niches as a critical framework for understanding and addressing TB transmission. Identifying these niche characteristics could enable novel interventions to disrupt transmission early between highly infectious source cases and their susceptible contacts.
A new study found that patients with gallbladder cancer who had certain documented gene changes in their tumor had a higher risk of death. The researchers matched the patients based on age, sex, race/ethnicity, cancer stage, surgery, and chemotherapy to compare survival rates.
Researchers aim to understand how chronic alcohol exposure changes the brain's stress circuitry, with potential breakthroughs in treating AUD. Advanced neuroscience approaches will be used to examine PACAP's role in excessive drinking, anxiety-like behaviors, and pain sensitivity.
Boston University medical students won awards at the Massachusetts Medical Society Research Poster Symposium for their innovative research projects. The top winners presented posters on various topics including AI-driven referrals and cardiovascular research.
A new study has identified seven distinct subphenotypes of pneumonia based on pulmonary histopathology, revealing different patterns of inflammation and damage in the lungs. These findings suggest a foundation for developing targeted therapies for patients with varying disease profiles.
Researchers found strong associations between better cumulative cardiovascular health in young and mid-adulthood and lower risks of cardiovascular disease and death. Higher LE8 scores were associated with a 73% lower risk of CVD compared to those at the lowest quartile.
A five-year, T32 grant supports a multidisciplinary training program in cardiovascular epidemiology, graduating postdoctoral scholars in four tracks. The program aims to reduce global cardiovascular disease mortality by identifying risks and prevention strategies.
A recent study found that genetic variations in the vitamin D receptor polymorphisms can affect the protective benefits of vitamin D supplementation on diabetes risk. Individuals with certain genotypes showed a reduced risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes, while others received no benefit from vitamin D treatment.
Researchers used high-throughput RNA sequencing to identify many more insect viruses in mosquitoes, some of which are globally distributed while others are unique to specific continents. By studying viral small RNAs, they can discover new viruses and understand how mosquitoes enable viral disease transmission.
PhysMAP is a machine learning algorithm that separates individual cell type signals within electrical noise, enabling the study of how cell types shape healthy computations and pathological states. The tool has been trained on seven open datasets and can be applied to new datasets without requiring additional experiments.
The study found that women's cardiovascular disease is biologically different from men's, with greater sensitivity to cumulative risk exposure and more severe downstream consequences. Researchers emphasize the need for continued investment in CVD research to address sex-specific disease mechanisms and life-course risk accumulation.
A new study suggests that minimally invasive surgeries like robotic and laparoscopic approaches can be successful for gallbladder cancer in carefully selected patients. The review found that these procedures often resulted in less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and more lymph node removals, with comparable long-term cancer outcome...
Researchers found that subtle cognitive features, including patterns of errors and response styles, can predict dementia more than five years before diagnosis. This new approach may improve early detection and intervention for individuals at risk.
A new study from Boston University School of Medicine has discovered distinct blood metabolite patterns in centenarians that diverge from typical age trends. The findings suggest unique higher levels of certain primary and secondary bile acids and preserved levels of several steroids, linked to lower death risk. These metabolic signatu...
Higher left atrial end-systolic dimension and left ventricular mass are associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, including mortality, cardiovascular disease, dementia, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Lifestyle changes and heart-healthy habits can help maintain optimal values of these measurements.
Researchers have identified genes that predict lung cancer recurrence and developed a machine-learning predictor to detect vascular invasion in small biopsy samples. This breakthrough enables surgeons to select the right surgical approach and improve patient outcomes.
A new study found that therapist flourishing is linked to lower client dropout rates, while burnout was not significantly associated. The researchers suggest investing in supporting therapist well-being to improve early retention and reduce inequities in therapy.
Stephen P. Christiansen receives Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award from AAPOS for his dedication to quality patient care, education, and research globally. His extensive work in pediatric ophthalmology has improved lives on a global scale, fostering a sense of community and unity.
Researchers found that nearly 80% of patients with elevated Lp(a) >50 mg/dL did not initiate lipid-lowering therapy, highlighting selective responses to elevated Lp(a). PCSK9 inhibitors and aspirin initiation were also less common among patients with elevated Lp(a).