News on doctoral training and the researchers it produces. Covers PhD and fellowship programs, physician-scientist training, and major training investments.
A team of scientists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has identified a specific subset of neurons that respond to sodium deficiency, triggering an appetite for sodium. The researchers mapped the brain circuitry underlying this behavior and found that it is tightly regulated by hormones such as aldosterone and angiotensin II.
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences awards LSU Health a $1.4 million grant to prepare individuals from underrepresented backgrounds for PhDs in biomedical sciences. The program aims to enhance the diversity of the biomedical research workforce and provide hands-on exposure to medical research.
Researchers found that altering stem cell volume changes its internal dynamics and influences the cell's fate, with removing water making it stiff pre-bone cells and adding water forming soft pre-fat cells. This study adds a new tool to understanding stem cell biology for regenerative medicine.
A University at Buffalo-led team has developed a non-contact, remote biometric tool using the dimensions of your heart as an identifier. The system, which was three years in the making, continually monitors a user's heart to ensure only authorized individuals can access their computer.
A new polygenic hazard score test combines 31 genetic variants and APOE E4 to predict Alzheimer's risk in cognitively normal older adults, outperforming traditional APOE E4 testing. The test identifies high-risk individuals with early cognitive decline and higher amyloid plaque levels.
A recent study demonstrated that the prospect of monetary reward stimulates the fronto-striatal network, resulting in reduced cognitive fatigue in individuals with MS and healthy controls. This nonpharmacological approach shows promise for treating cognitive fatigue in multiple sclerosis.
A new study by researchers at the University at Buffalo found that pregnant smokers who learn to manage their negative emotions are more likely to quit. The study showed that an emotion regulation treatment program significantly improved quitting rates among these women.
The HHMI Hanna Gray Fellows Program supports 15 early career scientists from underrepresented groups with up to $1.4 million in funding over eight years. Fellows will receive mentoring and active involvement within the HHMI community, aiming to drive real change in academia.
A new study found a significant association between individual and community level educational status and transactional sex behavior, which is an HIV risk factor. The researchers suggest that undereducated neighborhoods may be more prone to informal economies, leading residents to engage in transactional sex.
Researchers found that female mice brain structures organize sex and aggressive behavior differently, with separate cell groups controlling each. In contrast, male mice brain circuits overlap in controlling both behaviors, suggesting a fundamental difference in brain organization between sexes.
A new study compares PhD programs in different countries, highlighting both similarities and differences. The analysis found considerable overlap in aims and content, but notable variations in program structure, mentoring, and thesis assessment.
If DACA expires, the health care profession will face a serious challenge as many former beneficiaries experience adverse effects on mental health and psychological well-being. Health care organizations must proactively reach out to undocumented immigrants to reassure them of continued access to quality health care.
A study by Columbia University Medical Center found that US suicide attempts have increased, especially among younger, disadvantaged adults with mental health issues. The study also revealed significant risk factors for attempted and completed suicides, emphasizing the need for targeted prevention efforts.
Researchers identified a potential strategy to improve anti-angiogenesis therapy efficacy by targeting an immunosuppressive pathway in colorectal cancer. Blocking the CXCR4/CXCL12 pathway with an FDA-approved drug, AMD3100, enhanced treatment effects and alleviated immune suppression.
Researchers discovered that autophagy, a cellular 'clean-up process', initially slows ALS disease progression but later accelerates its deadly spread through the spinal cord. The study provides new insights into the complex mechanisms of ALS and lays the groundwork for therapies that could eventually prevent its onset.
A new study published in LGBT Health suggests that alternative cervical cancer screening methods, such as HPV self-sampling, can increase screening rates among transgender men. The research found that over half of participants preferred HPV self-sampling and had not received a Pap smear within the previous three years.
A meta-analysis of studies found frequent sperm aberrations and lower fertility rates among men after undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedures. Researchers identified elevated estrogen hormone levels and deficient vitamin D as potential factors contributing to semen abnormalities and reduced fertility.
Children who lived near the World Trade Center on 9/11 are showing early signs of increased risk for future heart disease due to exposure to toxic chemicals. Blood tests revealed elevated levels of artery-hardening fats in their blood, linked to higher blood levels of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs).
Research highlights benefits of social connections on physical and mental health, with decreased risk of mortality associated. The special issue emphasizes the need to integrate social relationships into public health priorities.
A new app has been developed that can noninvasively provide detailed information about heart health using a smartphone camera. The app measures pressure waveforms of blood flow through the cardiovascular system and has been shown to be as accurate as echocardiography in estimating left ventricular ejection fraction.
Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine characterized the immune system changes during pregnancy and found a precise timing pattern. The study used mass cytometry to analyze blood samples from 18 women with full-term pregnancies and validated the findings in an additional group of 10 women.
Researchers discovered that a particular receptor in kidney cells plays a crucial role in obesity-induced kidney damage. Targeting this receptor or its associated signaling pathway may help protect the kidneys of individuals with obesity from structural and functional changes, thereby reducing the risk of chronic kidney disease.
A study of 183 participants found that those who lost a consistent number of pounds each week had better weight loss outcomes than those with high weight variability. This suggests that developing stable behaviors related to food intake and weight loss is crucial for maintaining changes in the long term.
A 3-year follow-up study shows that a short course of dual antiplatelet therapy is as beneficial as a longer course for patients who received a drug-eluting stent. The study found no significant differences in rates of cardiac events and major bleeding between those treated for 6 versus 18 months.
The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) has announced the recipients of the 2017-2019 Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship. The two-year fellowship provides extensive training and experience in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging for Japanese physicians in the early stages of their careers. This year's fellows are Sho Mo...
Research finds that indoles produced by intestinal bacteria enhance mobility, resistance to stress, and reproductive span in worms, flies, and mice. Indoles may help maintain the intestinal barrier and limit systemic inflammatory effects, suggesting a potential therapeutic avenue for improving healthspan.
A new study has identified fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) as a potential target for treating alcoholic liver disease. The research found that FGF21 levels increase in the blood after alcohol consumption, providing protection against liver damage.
A Drexel University study found that older smokers are 20% more likely to quit when cigarette prices increase by $1. The study also showed a 3% overall reduction in smoking risk and a 7% reduction in risk for heavy smokers. Raising cigarette prices appears to be an effective strategy for encouraging smoking cessation across all ages.
A study found that individuals with poor kidney function had a higher risk of developing lower respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and sepsis. The relative proportion of these infections increased as kidney function decreased.
Daily e-cigarette use was found to be the strongest predictor of smoking cessation among established smokers. Over half of daily e-cigarette users had quit smoking in the past five years, compared to just 28% of those who never tried e-cigarettes.
Researchers found that hypothermia can limit cell death and dynamin levels in mice with cerebral blockage. This suggests that dynamin may be a potential drug target for stroke-related neuronal cell death.
Dr. John DeLuca has been awarded the Fred Foley Award for his outstanding contributions to advancing research in cognitive impairments in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). His work aims to improve quality of life by developing effective non-invasive treatments to minimize the effects of MS on cognitive performance.
Kolachalama's research aims to improve cardiovascular treatments by developing models for smarter artery care and improving drug-coated angioplasty balloons. The $231,000 Scientist Development grant will support his three-year study on the mechanisms of drug-coated balloon therapy.
A retrospective study of nearly 1,100 patients with severe TBI found that ICP monitoring was associated with a significant decrease in mortality rates, but no improvement in favorable outcomes. The study also showed that ICP monitoring was linked to more aggressive therapy.
The study found that individuals with kidney disease have a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation. The risk increased step-wise with decreasing kidney function, and the link held even after accounting for other factors such as cardiovascular health.
Researchers identify FMR1 and ZC3H14 as friend genes, regulating messenger RNA in neurons, affecting learning and memory. Mutant flies and mice display impaired working memory and altered brain development.
A study by UC San Francisco scientists found that administering klotho to young, aging or impaired mice rapidly improves their cognitive and physical performance. The treatment also showed benefits for aged mice and those with Parkinson's disease-like symptoms, suggesting a potential therapeutic application.
The Regenstrief Institute is developing a novel, real-world automated patient identification system to tackle the challenge of matching patients with their medical records. The system aims to address the issue of inaccurate or incomplete patient data, which can lead to preventable medical errors and poor health outcomes.
A new mindfulness program can help coaches and athletes at all levels develop a mental edge and improve their performance. The six-session program, developed by psychologists, combines education, discussion, and experiential components to increase mental readiness.
Researchers suggest that reversing excitation-inhibition imbalance could alleviate autism symptoms, particularly hyperactivity and social deficits. A mouse model study shows reducing excitatory to inhibitory signaling counters these issues.
Scientists have created a method to build bridges between organelles in living cells, allowing for controlled manipulation of communication between subcellular compartments. This breakthrough could lead to breakthroughs in understanding cell function and developing new treatments for diseases.
Researchers developed a novel imaging tracer that allows for early assessment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) risk. The study shows high sensitivity and specificity in detecting vessel wall biology, suggesting a promising tool for AAA risk stratification.
A new technique called CITE-seq enables simultaneous measurement of transcriptomes and proteins on thousands of single cells, offering a major breakthrough in cell typing and disease research. The tool has the potential to characterize tumor heterogeneity and develop new immunotherapeutic approaches.
A team of scientists from Drexel University has discovered a dinosaur-era plant, Lychnothamnus barbatus, alive in North America for the first time. The species was previously thought to be extinct and is now found in lakes across Wisconsin and Minnesota.
A three-year AHA grant funds a multi-center study exploring the neural mechanism behind delirium and spatial neglect after right-hemisphere stroke. The research aims to develop novel attentional-behavioral therapies and diagnostic tools to reduce hospital morbidity and loss of independence.
Researchers created high-fidelity maps of neural brain connections, revealing unique features of each individual's brain. These findings may help diagnose and treat neurological diseases such as migraines, Alzheimer's, and brain injuries.
Exposure to air pollution during the first two trimesters of pregnancy has been shown to increase risk for preterm birth and low birth weight. The study's findings also suggest that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can lead to decreased body length, placental weight, and anogenital distance.
Researchers identify critical level at which unconscious information becomes conscious, revealing shared underlying mechanisms with simpler decisions. The study offers new hope for understanding the biological foundations of consciousness.
A randomized trial found that incorporating 12-step program elements into adolescent substance-use disorder treatment resulted in significantly reduced substance-related consequences. Participants in the integrated program also reported higher rates of 12-step meeting attendance, associated with longer periods of continuous abstinence.
The Penn Center for Precision Medicine has awarded $565,000 in funding to eight research teams for their personalized medicine projects. The projects aim to improve treatment outcomes for various diseases, including idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Bernd Bickel, an Assistant Professor at IST Austria, will receive the Significant New Researcher Award for his contributions to computer graphics and facial modeling. His research has introduced new techniques for capturing and reproducing facial structure and motion in 3D digital models.
The Massachusetts General Hospital team, led by J. Keith Joung, is developing more sensitive methods of measuring and controlling on-target gene-editing activity and detecting off-target mutations induced by CRISPR-Cas9 technology.
Lorenz Studer, a renowned stem cell biologist, has been awarded the prestigious Ogawa-Yamanaka Stem Cell Prize for his groundbreaking research on cellular reprogramming and human induced pluripotent stem cells. His work has advanced the therapeutic potential of stem cell-based therapies in Parkinson's disease.
Researchers have developed a method to quickly diagnose preeclampsia, which affects 5% of pregnancies and is linked to elevated fetal hemoglobin levels. The findings may lead to better diagnostics and treatments for affected women.
Researchers study brain-movement interaction in mice to understand how cells in the motor cortex communicate with muscles. The findings reveal that neurons pulse similarly to those around them, driving one type of movement over another.
A new study reveals that patients discharged home from the emergency department with acute kidney injury (AKI) are at an increased risk of dying within 30 days. Patients with moderate-to-severe AKI have a higher risk of death, emphasizing the need for close follow-up and repeat kidney function testing.
The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) announces its annual meeting, featuring the presentation of research awards and grants totaling over $300,000. The grants include the Steven P. Arnoczky Young Investigator Grant, Sandy Kirkley Grant, AOSSM/Sanofi Osteoarthritis Grant, Fellow Research Award in Basic Science, F...
The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has awarded nearly $4.16M in fellowships to 18 early-career scientists conducting basic and translational cancer research. These four-year awards provide independent funding to investigate novel ideas with potential impact on cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Research from the UNC School of Medicine found an association between certain microbial communities and higher levels of cognitive development. Infants with high levels of Bacteroides had better cognitive scores, while those with diverse gut microbiomes performed worse.
The new journal will publish interdisciplinary research using systems biology and network medicine to personalize patient treatment. It aims to address the need for authoritative information on systems medicine and its integration in clinical care.