Laxman Gangwani's research project aims to explore the protective effects of senataxin on spinal muscular atrophy motor neurons. The goal is to identify potential therapeutic targets in humans if the research shows a positive role for senataxin in a mouse model of SMA.
The Jim and Julie Cardwell Fund has gifted $750,000 to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso to establish an endowed chair in neurology. The chair will be supported by a $1.5 million fund, aiming to increase the number of neurologists available for the El Paso community.
A recent grant will allow researcher Wendy Walker to study immune cell contributions to sepsis, a life-threatening disorder with a high mortality rate. Her goal is to manipulate these cells to improve clinical outcomes and potentially cure the disease.
A water T2 biomarker discovered by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso researcher David P. Cistola can detect individuals at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, allowing for potential disease prevention through lifestyle modifications or therapies.
The ACCION program has increased screening rates in West Texas to around 50 percent, compared to a national average of about 70 percent. The program's success is attributed to its use of promotoras and partnerships with community organizations to make screenings more accessible.
A $2 million grant from CPRIT will create a new lab focusing on breast cancer at TTUHSC El Paso, led by Shrikanth Gadad, Ph.D. The lab will conduct research on long noncoding RNAs to understand cancer growth and aggression.
A recent study by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso aims to identify the most accurate stool test for detecting colorectal cancer. The research consortium will compare four different fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) to determine their effectiveness in detecting blood in the stool, a common early sign of cancer.
Researchers have identified a low incidence of disease-causing IGF mutations and common polymorphisms in the IGF protein family. Dr. Rotwein's analysis suggests that most medical problems associated with IGF mutations are not caused by rare genetic mutations, but rather by prevalent genetic variations within the human population.
A new study by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso researchers explores the impact of prior West Nile virus exposure on Zika infection. The team collected blood samples from 500 individuals and tested for West Nile antibodies to determine whether previous exposure could inhibit or enhance Zika infection severity.
Dr. Debabrata Mukherjee advises against bioresorbable stents due to their high cost, longer insertion time, and lack of improved results compared to conventional drug-eluting stents. The recent clinical trial results show a higher risk of device thrombosis with Absorb stents.
Dr. Navkiran Shokar is expanding the De Casa En Casa program to provide free cervical cancer screenings and education to rural counties in Texas, aiming to increase screening rates from 63-71% to 82% nationally. The grant will also train local nurses and community health workers to promote awareness of cervical cancer and its symptoms.
A $420,000 grant has funded a two-year study on Enterovirus 71 (EV71), a relatively new virus compared to polio, which can cause paralysis in young children. The researcher hopes to develop specific and effective treatments for the illnesses caused by EV71.
The university is studying how the disorder affects Hispanics and others, while also providing healthcare to more patients through free health services. The team will enroll patients to test a new drug and examine a novel diagnostic procedure for gastroparesis.
The university has received a $6 million grant from the Paso del Norte Health Foundation to support its new dental school. The school will focus on service education, providing hands-on experiences for students to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings while serving underserved communities.
The Longitudinal Primary Care Track program provides medical students with hands-on experience caring for migrant farmworkers in Texas. The grant will help improve students' leadership and patient advocacy skills.
Recent studies on tuberculosis have yielded conflicting results, leaving questions about the role of the lung microbiome in the disease. The variability in study methods, particularly in sampling techniques, may be a major contributor to these discrepancies.
A new dental school will be established in Texas with a significant impact on oral health care in the region. The school will address a severe shortage of dentists in El Paso County, where there is only one dentist for every 5,000 residents.
A researcher at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso is on a mission to identify genes that enable HIV latentness. He plans to conduct genome-wide knockout screening to find specific genes that allow the virus to persist.
The Gayle Greve Hunt School of Nursing at TTUHSC El Paso has received a $430,780 grant from the USDA to offer free health education services via live video conferencing to 10 underserved communities in rural West Texas. The project aims to improve health outcomes and inspire young students to pursue careers in healthcare.
Scientists have developed a process to improve the efficiency of CRISPR, allowing for greater consistency in deleting unwanted genes. By tweaking the sequence of single guide RNA, researchers achieved knockout efficiency of over 50% and hope to increase adoption of this technology.
Researchers have discovered a specific enzyme, JNK3, that plays a critical role in spinal muscular atrophy and suppressing its activity could reduce disease severity. Mice with spinal muscular atrophy showed significant improvement when the JNK3 enzyme was genetically inhibited.
A new study by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso found that a compound in neem leaves can stop pancreatic cancer growth and metastasis without harming normal cells. The researchers observed a 70% reduction in cancer cell migration and invasion, as well as an 80% drop in cancer cell colonies.
Researchers at TTUHSC El Paso are conducting studies on gastroparesis to pioneer new therapies and prevent the disorder. They will lead efforts locally within the Department of Internal Medicine, focusing on potential new surgeries and a study on the genetic basis of the disease.
Research by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso finds that exposure to violence in Mexico leads to high levels of depression, aggression, anxiety, and attention deficit disorder in children. The study highlights the need for early intervention to reduce mental health problems in youth living in violent areas.
A study published in JAMA Dermatology found that a common heart medication can stop the progression of angiosarcoma, a highly lethal blood vessel cancer. The treatment used propranolol, which costs significantly less than current therapies.