A study by Raedeh Basiri found associations between dietary patterns, glycemic status, diabetes control, and sleep outcomes. Individuals with diabetes or prediabetes were more likely to have trouble sleeping and experience abnormal sleep duration compared to those without these conditions.
A recent study by Melissa Villodas found that interventions delivered with individual psychological and behavioral needs in mind can achieve higher completion rates. Tailoring interventions based on participant feedback can also improve treatment completion, especially for younger individuals with fewer years of incarceration.
Research by George Mason University professor Melissa Villodas found that neighborhood amenities are linked to mental health in various ways across different racial and ethnic groups. Hispanic and Black youth had higher rates of anxiety when living in neighborhoods with sidewalks compared to White youth.
Researchers have found a correlation between exposure to widely used pesticides and lower sperm quality in male rodents. The review of 21 studies indicates that neonicotinoid pesticides may disrupt hormones and damage testicular tissue, leading to potential harm to human reproductive health.
Researchers found that mindfulness-based program MORE increased interoceptive awareness, reducing the risk of prescription opioid misuse in individuals with chronic pain. Participants who demonstrated lower trust in their body signals and difficulty regulating attention to bodily sensations were at higher risk for opioid misuse.
Maryam Parsa and Giorgio Ascoli's GAINS project aims to incorporate biologically realistic temporal dynamics into scalable neuromorphic platforms. The researchers target enhanced computational performance, improved generalizability, and robustness in neuromorphic systems.
A review of 21 experimental studies suggests that exposure to neonicotinoid pesticides can lower sperm quality and disrupt hormones in males. The studies found that these insecticides, commonly used in farming, can be absorbed into soil, water, and plants, leading to potential harm to human reproductive health.
A study by George Mason University researchers found that social and environmental factors significantly impact college students' eating behaviors. Students tend to consume more calories when eating in groups or formal dining settings, while less when alone or at home.
A novel digital health program, WECARE 2.0, has been shown to enhance the physical and mental well-being of Chinese American dementia caregivers. Participants reported improved caregiving skills, reduced stress, and increased social support through user-friendly culturally-tailored interventions.
A new $2.9 million grant refines the LifeBio Memory app to enhance reminiscence therapy for dementia care, expanding to multiple languages and cultural contexts. The research aims to improve quality of life and relationships for both older adults and caregivers, using storytelling technology to reduce loneliness and depression.
A new national study highlights the potential of extended reality (XR) in healthcare training, offering experiences that might otherwise be missed. However, poorly designed programs can overwhelm students, while trained faculty, technical support, and sustainable funding are essential for successful implementation.
This review of research on music- and nature-based strategies for mental health and wellbeing found that these interventions can offer adaptable low-cost, multi-sensory approaches for people of all ages. Studies showed that combined therapeutic use of music and nature facilitates self-expression, improving mood and emotional well-being.
The $3 million National Institute on Aging grant will support the WECARE intervention, a culturally tailored digital health program designed to enhance caregiving skills and improve wellbeing in dementia caregivers. The 7-week program provides informational content, quiz games, social networking, personalized feedback, and individualiz...
The NCAA has awarded a $6,679 grant to George Mason University for research on the academic advising experiences of Division I Black/African American student-athletes at minority serving institutions. The study aims to identify barriers to success and promote tailored support services to enhance student persistence.
The project aims to improve undergraduate education by introducing situated case studies to help students understand AI complexity, critical reasoning, and applications. The initiative serves the national interest by preparing future professionals to use and develop AI, advancing their understanding of workforce innovation.
Benjamin Cash aims to improve seasonal predictability and develop improved predictions of subseasonal to seasonal precipitation extremes. He received $1,048,807 from NOAA for the 'Know, Explore, Improve' research project.
Dr. Quentin Sanders and his team are developing customized prosthetic limbs for active children with lower extremity amputation through 'Fused Filament Fabrication'. Their research aims to identify factors influencing child participation in physical activity and predict demands on prostheses.
The partnership supports teacher candidates, pre-internship/field hours students, and in-service classroom teachers through collaborative inquiry, clinical practices, and partner schools.
Gabrielle Tayac at George Mason University has received funding to support community engagement projects focusing on Indigenous America 250 programs. The project aims to develop interpretive educational products and provide site interpretation for optimal interpretation.
A National Science Foundation grant will support older adults in developing digital technology skills and embracing AI, with a focus on intergenerational storytelling. The project aims to strengthen AI literacy, social connectedness, and resilience among older adults, while cultivating responsible AI awareness in youth.
The project aims to train employees in identifying service members, veterans, and family members, as well as providing referrals and interventions. Renshaw received $50,023 from the Virginia Department of Veterans Services to develop a customized learning management system that can track training completion and apply for professional c...
George Mason University's Ruixin Yang receives $15,000 funding from the International Food Policy Research Institute to develop a welfare and poverty mapping project utilizing satellite-derived data. The project will provide technical support to the spatial analytics team and strengthen geospatial research outputs.
A pioneering study from George Mason University researcher Raedeh Basiri found that daily mango consumption improves blood glucose control and enhances insulin sensitivity in adults with prediabetes. The high-sugar mango proved more beneficial than a low-sugar granola bar, reducing body fat.
Dr. Martin Wiener and his colleagues are investigating the perception of time and image memorability using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, electroencephalography, and eye-tracking. The four-year study aims to understand how our brains process visual information and how this affects our memories.
Duminda Wijesekera has received $50,000 in funding from Datalytica to develop operational technology digital twins and optimize camera placement. The project began in August 2025 and will conclude by November 2025.
A drone-based first responder (DFR) program is being explored in Northern Virginia, aiming to quickly respond to events and stream video to first responders. The study will conduct technical and cost analysis to support recommendations for establishment of a DFR in the region.
A new study by George Mason University found that maintaining dental care habits is associated with better overall health, including more frequent eye and physical exams, healthier habits, and higher ratings of overall well-being. The research also explored the complex relationship between anxiety and dental care-seeking behavior.
Researchers at George Mason University's College of Public Health are studying the impact of early life exposures on child health. They have gathered data from over 30,000 children and will continue to follow a subset of 1,059 families until 2030.
Mitcham leads a project to create infrastructure for nutrient-dense food access in rural areas of Virginia. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between food accessibility and healthy eating.
Researchers have developed a novel Food Cue Reactivity image bank that measures the brain's reaction to food images, correcting limitations in existing tools. The new image bank accounts for visual characteristics and appeal ratings, producing more scientifically accurate results.
George Mason University researchers Weiwen Jiang and Lei Yang receive $15,000 from the National Science Foundation to host StableQ 2025, a workshop on quantum system stability and reproducibility. The event aims to address unstable noise and enable reproducible quantum computing through expert exchanges and cross-disciplinary research.
Ziwei Zhu aims to develop novel neuro-symbolic learning techniques for interpretable, balanced and robust rankings. He proposes a logic AutoEncoder and a neuro-symbolic representation learning technique to enhance model expressiveness and accuracy.
Fei Li is developing a quantum computing platform, QOTBox, to analyze single-cell omics data and improve drug discovery. The project aims to reveal novel biological insights and power advanced computational biology.
Acosta will investigate mechanisms of precipitation-driven Antarctic ice growth during the Middle Miocene using state-of-the-art models. The project aims to provide critical context for understanding long-term trajectories of global sea level.
The Northern Virginia International Soft Landing Accelerator (NISA) brings global expertise to the region's thriving ecosystem. NISA gives startups tools to reach markets, connect with investors, and flourish, with funding from GO Virginia and regional economic development groups.
George Mason University researchers demonstrate how positive stimuli called recovery cues can lower relapse risk by regulating emotional and physical reactions to triggers. Participants who used personalized VR scenarios showed improved decision-making and reduced cravings for substance use.
A study by George Mason University's Ali Weinstein found that breast cancer survivors who experienced higher levels of fatigue showed increased inflammation, particularly in TGF-β and eotaxin levels. Most participants did not experience significant changes in inflammation or fatigue after mentally or physically fatiguing tasks, suggest...
Xiaoyan Tan is conducting research on ferroelectric oxides as photocatalysts for ethane dehydrogenation using a grant from the American Chemical Society. The funding will support his investigation from September 2025 to August 2027.
George Mason University Professor Kun Sun will lead a project to plan an infrastructure and dataset for research on software vulnerability detection and remediation. The project aims to reduce barriers in software vulnerability research through community engagement and collaboration.
Nathan Sleeter has received funding from the American Historical Association to develop teaching guides on the Revolutionary War, focusing on Black and Indigenous Americans. The guides will utilize Library of Congress primary sources and be published on teachinghistory.org.
Keren Zhou receives $274,265 from NSF for a project on DLToolkit, a novel performance profiling and analysis infrastructure for scientific deep learning workloads. The toolkit aims to foster innovation in scientific applications using DL.
Shanjiang Zhu is conducting a study on utilizing big data to improve the accuracy of route choice models in travel demand modeling. The research aims to address challenges related to data bias, size, and integration with theoretical assumptions, aiming to develop new methods for improving modeling practices.
Wassim Itani is researching the translation potential of secure and efficient software updates in industrial internet of things architectures. The project aims to address critical challenges such as limited computing resources and lack of operational standards in IIoT devices.
Researchers at George Mason University conducted impact testing on utility poles made of different materials to determine acceleration and behavior during impact. The study, funded by the Electric Power Research Institute, aims to compare performance across various material types.
A new mobile app, EAS-ID, is being developed to support victims of interpersonal violence by accurately capturing and documenting bruises. The app, which has successfully completed Phase 1 development, uses AI to detect bruises and provide real-time guidance for clinicians and frontline professionals.
A George Mason researcher is leading a national initiative to equip researchers with tools and training to engage effectively in policymaking. The project aims to establish 'communicating science for policy' as a key dimension of civic science.
Bo Han is conducting extensive customer discovery to assess the value of next-generation telepresence enriched by immersive technologies. He aims to collect data from educators, students, healthcare providers, patients, and fashion designers in three main industries.
The Routledge Handbook of Men's Victimization in Intimate Relationships offers a comprehensive international synthesis of this topic. The book highlights where current systems fall short and prescribes changes needed for male IPV victims, drawing on research from 31 contributors across five continents.
Peiyu Yang will examine how China and Arab world solidarity was framed in official and popular publications from 1949 to 1969. The project aims to understand the role of language and communication in shaping this solidarity.
George Mason University's Christan Coogle received funding to support Quality for All events for early childhood educators serving children with disabilities. The events brought together over 150 attendees across the Commonwealth, who valued resources and connections.