News on the money and policy behind biomedical research. Covers foundation and career-development awards, endocrine and neuroscience funding, and university royalties.
Researchers have made significant progress in generating neurons in the lab, a potential therapeutic option for replacing lost neurons in neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson's disease. A $9 million grant will support further research and development of this novel treatment approach.
The Lundquist Institute has received an additional $3 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand its Male Contraceptive Efficacy Trial. The trial will recruit over 400 couples globally, including those in the US, Europe, and Africa, to test a new reversible male contraception gel.
A new study reveals that rural Americans face significant challenges in accessing COVID-19 treatment trials, with many living more than an hour away from the nearest trial site. Native Americans and Alaska Natives are particularly affected, with over 50% living more than 60 minutes from a trial site.
The Northern New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury System has been funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research since 1990. The grant enables researchers to investigate new approaches to improving employment outcomes after spinal cord injury.
Researchers at Buck Institute will identify and characterize senescent cells in human ovaries, breast tissue, and skeletal muscle to better understand their role in age-related diseases. The study aims to develop therapeutics to improve human health by quelling the damaging effects of senescent cells.
The MUSC Hollings Cancer Center researchers are exploring the role of macroenvironment in pancreatic cancer-induced cachexia to address this debilitating condition. The team aims to provide new biological insight, which will be coordinated by four cores within the program project grant.
A group of researchers led by Indiana University School of Medicine's Benjamin Gaston will receive a research program project grant to fund the development of personalized therapeutic approaches for severe asthma. The grant will support three key projects focused on S-nitrosylation signaling, airway pH regulation, and androgen signaling.
The research team aims to understand the mechanisms that contribute to long-term consequences of COVID-19 infection, particularly in women who may be disproportionally affected by chronic symptoms. They plan to leverage a biorepository and longitudinal study to assess the impact of acute and chronic inflammation on brain injury and neu...
A woman-owned spinout company, Chosen Diagnostics Inc, has received a $2.1M NIH grant to develop and commercialize a noninvasive diagnostic biomarker test for necrotizing enterocolitis. The test, called NECDetect, identifies 93% true positives and 95% true negatives in diagnosing the disease.
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science has been awarded a $2 million matching grant to develop and open state-of-the-art wet lab space for collaboration with industry partners. The funding will also benefit Lake County communities by attracting biotech companies and creating new jobs, internships, and training programs.
Dr. Eric Lazartigues received a $2.6 million NIH grant to establish mouse models of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the brain, testing whether the virus can infect the brain and cause disease. The project aims to determine the cell types most affected by the virus and the effect on respiration control by the brain.
The CARE Consortium has received $42.65 million in new funding to follow athletes for up to 10 years after concussive injury, examining the impacts of head injuries on brain health. The study aims to validate advanced biomarkers and identify neurobiological pathways contributing to long-term negative consequences.
The University of Houston is part of a $50 million NIH-funded consortium to increase AI diversity and address health inequities. The AIM-AHEAD program will bring together experts in AI, data science, and health equity research to develop more inclusive AI tools.
Two Gladstone scientists, Leor Weinberger and Vijay Ramani, received NIH Director's Awards to fund groundbreaking research on a single-administration antiviral for COVID-19 and a molecular strategy to fight cancer. Their work has implications for treating various diseases, including cancers.
Researchers will investigate the genetic and epigenetic factors controlling variation in health, with potential implications for combating cancer, obesity, and other diseases. The team aims to identify new sets of disease-related genes, delineate subtypes of disease, and understand the complex interaction between genetics and epigenetics.
University of Delaware chemical engineer Catherine Fromen aims to improve the delivery of therapeutic medicines to the body by studying how they interact with mucosal interfaces. Her research focuses on designing medicines that can overcome natural defenses in the lungs and gut, with potential applications for diseases such as lung can...
The UTHealth-CPRIT Innovation in Cancer Prevention Research Training Program aims to increase cancer prevention scientists from underrepresented minority groups. The program provides a systematic method to teach career skills, problem-solving skills, team science, and transdisciplinary communication.
A multidisciplinary team will create open-source solutions for distributed, accelerated image analysis, making it accessible to researchers without programming experience. The project aims to convert imaging science into a quantitative field, supporting discovery in bioscience and clinical research.
The Buck Institute has been awarded a $14.3 million grant from the NIH to study cellular senescence, a hallmark of aging, as a driver of Alzheimer's disease and other age-related dementias. Researchers will investigate new mechanisms that can be developed into interventions to treat patients.
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has approved funding for a large-scale comparative clinical effectiveness research study to compare colonoscopy versus stool-based testing for monitoring patients ages 70 and older at low risk of developing colorectal cancer. The study will also implement an online weight managem...
Scientists at Temple University will explore the therapeutic potential of KLS-13019, a CBD analog that shows promise as an opioid alternative. The Phase 2 SBIR grant aims to test the compound's effects on rat models of neuropathic pain, shedding light on its safety and efficacy.
Stephanie Grainger, Ph.D., awarded $2.375M grant to explore Wnt molecular pathway's role in healthy development and disease, including cancer, osteoporosis, and heart conditions.
Research by James Krause and his team has shown that people with spinal cord injuries who develop resilience tend to have better health outcomes and live longer. This resilience allows them to adapt and thrive in the face of difficult circumstances, including neuropathic pain and feelings of isolation.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) has invested $300 million in 33 new investigators, who will focus on tackling tough questions in biology and medicine. The scientists, from 21 US institutions, will receive funding over a seven-year term to explore uncharted scientific territory.
A nationwide team of researchers will investigate epigenetic therapies for cancer, with a focus on exploring new targets and investigating novel combinations. The project aims to improve current epigenetic therapies and enhance existing approaches such as immunotherapy.
Bioengineer Kevin McHugh is developing a platform to improve the performance of injectable drugs, which often release diminishing amounts of medication over time. The goal is to create predictable, long-lasting delivery systems for better patient outcomes and reduced dosing frequency.
A new center will be established at CU Anschutz Medical Campus to investigate rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis, with the goal of identifying new treatments and preventing disease. The center will combine resources from over 40 researchers and provide funding for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
Researchers at Rice University have been awarded a four-year, $1.2 million National Institutes of Health grant to advance the art and science of creating custom-designed microbial colonies. The grant will enable the development of technologies like synthetic tissues that enhance soils or gut microbiomes.
The university will support research on normal and abnormal brain development, including rare diseases that cause intellectual disabilities. Researchers aim to improve care and treatment for children with IDDs.
The USC Institute is launching a $3 million global consortium study to analyze brain imaging, genetics, and clinical data from 20 countries. The study aims to understand how Parkinson's disease progresses in the brain and explore genetic factors contributing to risk.
Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine are studying the impact of antibiotics on breast milk and infant health. The team will investigate how antibiotics alter the composition of breast milk and impact the infant microbiome, metabolome and immune response.
Sandrine V. Pierre, a Marshall University researcher, has received a $1.36 million NIH grant to study the regulatory mechanism of salt handling by the kidney and its impact on cardiovascular function.
A mechanical engineering faculty-researcher at RIT is developing a microfluidic device to improve the detection of drug-resistant bacteria in blood, which can cause severe infection and death. The goal is to detect these strains early, allowing for prompt treatment and recovery.
Researchers at UC San Diego will use $6.4 million in NIH funding to study the influence of external signals on insulin production in beta cells. They aim to create a roadmap of genetic variations that can predict changes in insulin output, which may help prevent and treat diabetes.
The university will acquire an optical tweezer to study colloidal copolymer chains, protein binding strength and other phenomena. The instrument will be made available to Rice researchers and collaborators.
A $992,000 VA Merit Review grant will fund research on non-neuronal activity after binge drinking to understand its impact on synaptic dysfunction and alcohol use disorder. The study aims to identify novel mechanisms, specifically astrocytes, involved in the dysregulation of neuronal activity.
Membraneless organelles, a new form of cellular compartment, are being studied by Professor Edward Lemke. His team has successfully designed and incorporated these organelles into living cells, enabling innovative functions such as protein engineering and imaging techniques.
A new project aims to create a cell atlas of the pediatric heart, filling the knowledge gap in molecular mechanisms involved in childhood death causes. Researchers will analyze healthy heart tissue from children using single-cell analysis and gene expression studies.
A team of researchers at Washington University in St. Louis has received a $3.12 million NIH grant to study neurovascular recovery after stroke. They aim to develop new neurovascular imaging technology using two-photon fluorescence microscopy and photoacoustic microscopy to visualize blood oxygen delivery in response to neuronal activity.
A portable optical sensor system could diagnose traumatic brain injury severity in the field from a single drop of blood, potentially reducing costs and improving treatment outcomes
Robyn Tanguay, a renowned toxicologist, has received an $8 million grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. She plans to use this funding to conduct large-scale studies on zebrafish embryos exposed to 10,000 common chemicals, which could lead to significant breakthroughs in predictive toxicology.
The center will provide a one-stop shop for custom DNA constructs, accelerating cancer research through access to state-of-the-art tools. The facility will enable transformative, large-scale experimental projects that were previously impossible for individual labs.
Researchers at Rice and Baylor are expanding their efforts to halt bone cancer metastasis using a molecule targeting osteoporosis and HER2 protein. Their goal is to improve drug concentration at tumor sites, inhibit secondary metastasis, and explore the therapeutic effect mechanism.
Researchers at SpheroFill are developing a unique oral drug delivery platform using microsphere technology, protecting drugs from degradation and enabling targeted release. This technology has the potential to improve medication compliance and delivery of sensitive biological drugs.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded $53 million in annual funding to 10 research organizations to accelerate HIV cure research. A new grant focuses on HIV cure research in infants and children, while expanding international collaborations and exploring innovative approaches such as CRISPR gene-editing technology.
A new strategy for curing HIV targets latent viruses by blocking and excising the virus, offering hope for patients to be taken off daily treatments. The HOPE Collaboratory's approach uses genome editing technology to destroy latent HIV.
The University of Maryland associate professor will use genetics, cell biology, and pharmacology to examine the mechanisms of copper transport and its connection to thermogenesis and fat burning. The research aims to improve human health by understanding how copper relates to hypothermia, obesity, and diabetes.
The National Institute on Aging's $280 million investment in small businesses has advanced research on care interventions, diagnostic tools, and therapies for Alzheimer's disease. This funding has enabled the commercialization of technologies such as ActivePERS and PrecivityAD, which aim to improve care and diagnosis.
The University of North Florida will lead a six-site study using computerized cognitive training to improve cognition and potentially prevent dementia. The five-year study aims to recruit 1001 participants from the Jacksonville area, with a focus on African American and Hispanic populations.
Researchers from UNC School of Medicine, MAHEC, and community partners will address racial disparities in maternal care by improving data accountability and providing community-based doula support. The study aims to decrease pregnancy complications for Black women and improve outcomes in maternal care.
A study from the University of South Carolina's Environmental Health & Disease Laboratory found that andrographolide successfully restored bacteriomes and viromes, increasing beneficial bacteria and decreasing harmful bacteria. The treatment also decreased gut inflammation and neuroinflammation in veterans with Gulf War Illness.
Researchers identified a genetic mutation in nonhuman primates that closely resembles Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease, a rare and progressive disorder affecting the central nervous system. The discovery was made possible by a massive genomic database built at OHSU's Oregon National Primate Research Center.
A new research project aims to create strong, malleable biomaterials that support stem cell growth for improved skull reconstruction surgeries. The $2.4 million grant will help accelerate bone regeneration and reduce complications.
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has awarded $254 million to fund 28 new research studies aimed at reducing health disparities in maternal morbidity, preventing youth suicide, and improving behavioral health outcomes. Four studies will assess interventions to improve prenatal care for Black women and their child...
A researcher at MUSC has developed an AI algorithm that analyzes clinical notes to identify patients at risk of suicide. The algorithm achieved accuracy rates of around 98.5% when trained on electronic health records, and nearly 80% when validated against existing predictive models.
Researchers analyzed data to determine if Medicare eligibility affects racial and ethnic disparities in access to care and reported overall health. The study found significant changes in disparities after Medicare eligibility, with implications for healthcare policy.
A study found that lonely older adults are at a higher risk of using high-risk medications. The survey data analysis revealed a significant correlation between loneliness and medication use among adults over 65.
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro has been recognized by the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) with its Honorary Membership. She is being honored for her strong advocacy of biomedical research, including efforts to increase funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
A study analyzed credit reports to estimate national and regional medical debt burdens, revealing a significant increase. The analysis found that Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act reduced medical debt burdens, particularly among low-income individuals.
The Vascular Bioengineering Lab at the University of Pittsburgh has received a $100,000 award to develop a predictive model for abdominal aortic aneurysms. The model will use machine learning algorithms to classify different types of aneurysm outcomes and provide personalized management plans for patients.