A UH engineer is working to understand how crystals form in soft materials, with potential applications in drug design, biomedical diagnostics and petrochemical production. The researcher aims to control the crystallization process to improve outcomes in various fields.
The International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration aims to improve understanding of global sea-level rise by studying the glacier's past behavior. By analyzing sediment cores and geophysical data, scientists can better predict ice melt and sea-level rise in the future.
A researcher at University of Houston is developing a customized motivational interviewing intervention to improve medication adherence among elderly patients with diabetes and high blood pressure. The three-year grant aims to identify barriers to adherence and develop tailored approaches to address them.
A new natural gas catalyst aims to reduce methane emissions from vehicle exhaust, a potent greenhouse gas. The US Department of Energy-funded project will develop and optimize a lower-cost, more efficient catalyst to eliminate unreacted methane, making natural gas a cleaner-burning fuel option.
Researchers have created soft robots with adaptable bodies, inspired by nature, to aid in search and rescue efforts, surgery, and rehabilitation. These flexible robots can crawl through narrow spaces and respond to environmental changes.
The Hobby School at the University of Houston is conducting a five-year survey to study the impact of Hurricane Harvey on residents' properties, behaviors, and policy attitudes. Early results show significant support for policies to mitigate future disasters, such as reservoir construction and floodplain restrictions.
Norma Olvera, a UH health education professor, has received $297,385 from the USDA to train the next generation of Hispanic obesity educators. The three-year project will recruit 36 students from three Hispanic-serving institutions and provide them with career development training in community nutrition and public health.
Orman aims to identify and explore mechanisms that lead to dormant cell formation to discover new therapeutic strategies against persister cells. Using E. coli as a model organism, he will perform high-throughput screening to find candidate genes regulating cell dormancy.
Researchers from the University of Houston are developing a new quality control tool that can detect imperfections in nanomanufacturing almost instantaneously. The goal is to provide continuous monitoring during production, enabling faster and more efficient manufacturing processes.
A three-year NSF grant will support the St. Elmo Brady Academy program, which targets fourth- and fifth-grade African-American and Latino boys in Houston's schools. The project aims to encourage a positive perception of math and science among these students through hands-on engineering activities.
Researchers have developed a new method to boost the efficiency of photocatalysts using hollow gold-silver nanoshells. This innovation could lead to the production of large amounts of hydrogen gas using only water and sunlight. The technique has the potential to provide a clean and affordable source of energy.
Researchers at University of Houston are working with DarkSide program to detect dark matter using weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) and liquid argon technology. The team has improved the sensitivity of their detector, DarkSide-50, by switching to low-radioactivity liquid argon.
Defects in a nuclear receptor, LXRβ, in the brain's dentate gyrus have been linked to autism spectrum disorders. Early changes in neurogenesis of this region may provide an aberrant template for social function circuitry.
Changes in eye structure occur in astronauts after prolonged spaceflight, including a shift in Bruch membrane opening and increase in retinal thickness closer to the optic nerve head rim margin. These changes may be caused by microgravity-associated orbital and cranial fluid shifts.
The research team aims to understand how bacteria and fungi interact in soils, which could lead to advances in plant productivity and bioenergy. By studying these fundamental interactions, they hope to develop predictive models of ecosystem behavior and inform strategies for manipulating microbial communities.
Two University of Houston researchers are investigating estrogen's potential as a cause of cervical cancer. Using CPRIT funding, Sanghyuk Chung is examining the role of estrogen receptor alpha in stromal cells surrounding cancer cells, which may lead to a targeted therapy for cervical cancer treatment.
The University of Houston has been awarded a $2.8 million grant to fund a teacher graduate program focused on STEM education. The program aims to prepare middle and high school teachers from underrepresented communities to lead STEM instruction and address disparities in education.
Judy Wu's research proposes connecting aromaticity and hydrogen bonding to control material properties. Her work may lead to the development of new materials with novel properties.
Researchers are using a $349,520 grant to analyze fragments of the Tissint meteorite from a Martian volcano, shedding light on the red planet's geological history and potential signs of life.
A US researcher has received a grant to investigate the role of ALCALM in lupus, a complex autoimmune disease. The study aims to understand how ALCALM drives the immune system to attack healthy tissues, and potentially find new treatments or even a cure for lupus.
A chemist at the University of Houston has received a $626,300 NSF CAREER Award to develop more versatile and sustainable ways of producing polyolefins. By varying catalyst design and modulating temperature and pressure, he aims to reduce energy intensity and environmental impact.
Associate Professor Jeffrey Rimer received the award for his pioneering research on crystallization, including the discovery of a natural fruit extract that can dissolve calcium oxalate crystals. His work has transformative implications for drug development and has led to human clinical trials underway.
A University of Houston biomedical engineer has developed a new method to locate the brain's seizure onset zone in record time, reducing hospitalization time from up to 10 days to just one hour. This breakthrough could save patients weeks of treatment and improve their quality of life.
A study led by Temple University and the University of Houston aims to boost academic performance and persistence in college among low-income students through a food scholarship program. The program, which provides direct access to food, has shown promise in improving student outcomes and closing the gap on college completion rates.
A collaboration between BTI Institute and the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission aims to identify current gaps in terrorist response plans and create a unified regional plan. The project will also provide templates and recommendations for nationwide use.
A study by the University of Houston found that over half of young cancer patients reported problems with sexual function. The probability of reporting sexual dysfunction increased over time, affecting 53% of participants two years after diagnosis. Relationships and psychological distress also played a role in sexual health.
A team of researchers is working with the oil industry to predict when an offshore drilling rig is at risk for a potentially catastrophic accident. They aim to develop new methodologies to monitor hydrocarbon flow and prevent accidents like the Deepwater Horizon explosion in 2010.
A University of Houston researcher is developing a new approach to prevent esophageal cancer by targeting precursor lesions like Barrett's esophagus. By cloning stem cells from these lesions, the researcher hopes to identify drugs that can selectively kill them before they progress to cancer.
Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a new way to understand how the brain controls walking in complex environments. Using brain-body imaging and motion capture technology, they identified specific areas of the brain involved in locomotion, including the posterior parietal lobe and sensorimotor cortex.
Researchers from University of Houston release open-source dataset and instructions for building a smartphone microscope with an inexpensive inkjet-printed elastomer lens. The device can perform fluorescence microscopy, detect waterborne pathogens, and has potential applications in rural areas and developing countries.
Researchers from the University of Houston and IBM report emerging technologies that can increase plastic recycling rates, including chemical recycling methods and compatibilization of mixed plastic wastes. The goal is to improve efficiency and reduce energy costs, paving the way for more easily recyclable materials.
Bittner's research aims to optimize pathways for energy conversion, using an algorithm that predicts electronic coupling and nuclear motions. The algorithm, developed with collaborators, can perform thousands of calculations months on a high-performance computer.
Pioneering UH researcher Chandra Mohan proposes a simpler salivary test to diagnose lupus, potentially replacing invasive blood tests. Saliva samples from people with SLE harbor antibodies and proteins that could be used as biomarkers for the disease.
Researcher suggests a wide range of animal species exhibit executive control when making decisions, consciously considering their goals and ways to satisfy them. Studies have shown that elephants, chimpanzees, ravens, and lions engage in rational decision-making, remembering specific events, using tools, and solving problems.
Researchers from the University of Houston are studying the impact of rainwater surging into Galveston Bay, estimating 34 trillion gallons fell along the Texas-Louisiana coast. They will survey the sea bottom and collect sediment samples to understand extreme event sedimentation patterns.
A team of engineers is creating a smartphone-based test kit to detect kidney inflammation in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. The test uses glow-in-the-dark nanoparticles to measure protein levels in urine, offering a non-invasive and quantitative solution for patients.
University of Houston researchers are part of a $5.3 million NSF-funded effort to better understand disasters like Hurricane Harvey. Steven Pennings will examine mangrove protection, while Hanadi Rifai will characterize chemical and microbiological contamination in Houston waterways.
A UH-led research found that Hispanic middle school students who worked with high school health mentors, called compañeros, lost significantly more weight and kept it off longer. After six months, 80% of students with compañeros decreased or maintained their BMI, compared to 64% without.
The University of Houston College of Nursing is using a high-fidelity mannequin to teach students about palliative care and end-of-life conversations. The mannequin, nicknamed
The partnership aims to reduce environmental impact while developing innovative solutions for manufacturing petrochemical products. Researchers from ExxonMobil will collaborate with UH faculty and students on various projects, including studying catalysis and producing specialty chemicals.
The University of Houston-led Texas Center for Learning Disabilities will tackle the issue of adolescents struggling to read with an $8.4 million grant. The team, led by experts in psychology and education, aims to develop effective interventions to help English learners and students with reading difficulties.
The University of Houston and MD Anderson are launching a program to create a more diverse pool of medical doctors and scientists. The U-HAND Program aims to address racial and ethnic disparities in the healthcare workforce and health outcomes.
A University of Houston psychologist explores how social media influences alcohol consumption among college students, finding that heavy drinkers overestimate others' drinking and misperceive what's normal. A new intervention uses social media to provide personalized feedback and reduce excessive drinking.
Researchers are developing artificial muscle and tendon structures for more comfortable and efficient prosthetics, mimicking human muscles. The project aims to create dexterous, compliant, and affordable prostheses using smart materials with built-in actuation and sensing capabilities.
Researchers at the University of Houston have made an unexpected discovery that leads to a new theory of liquid streaming. The researchers generated a liquid stream using a pulsed laser and found that gold nanoparticles played a crucial role in creating the phenomenon, which they called acoustic streaming.
Researchers from University of Houston have begun a $1.4 million project to demonstrate using captured carbon dioxide to enhance oil recovery in an Indian field. The partnership aims to reduce the country's carbon footprint and increase domestic oil production.
Researchers at the University of Houston are developing next-generation catalytic converters to reduce harmful emissions and improve fuel efficiency. The project aims to find new materials that can operate effectively at low exhaust temperatures.
Researchers at the University of Houston have discovered a new mechanism to boost performance in thermoelectric materials by increasing carrier mobility, enabling more efficient electricity generation from waste heat. The work expands the potential of magnesium-antimony materials for use in thermoelectric devices.
Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a new form of stretchable electronics that can serve as an artificial skin, allowing a robotic hand to sense temperature differences. The breakthrough enables the creation of biomedical devices such as health monitors and medical implants with improved functionality.
Dissolvable electronics can be triggered to dissolve by ambient moisture, offering a new way to make environmentally friendly devices and biomedical implants. Researchers have developed a model that controls the dissolution kinetics of functional devices, allowing for precise control over the transient period.