News on the money and policy behind biomedical research. Covers foundation and career-development awards, endocrine and neuroscience funding, and university royalties.
A team of Penn researchers has received a $3.2 million grant to develop an AI-powered system that can accurately predict the likelihood of cardiac patients accepting or rejecting a new heart. The project aims to reduce rejection rates and improve patient outcomes by analyzing cardiac biopsy tissue images.
Syracuse University assistant professor Fanxin Kong has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to develop a cross-layer framework for mission-critical IoT systems. The project aims to improve scalability, security, and intelligence in IoT infrastructures for various industries such as medical, energy, transportation, an...
A US survey of 430 Americans found 82% supportive of at least some parts of human-animal chimeric embryo research. Support varied by organ type, with highest for heart and liver, while concerns about animal welfare and human dignity were cited.
Kyu Young Han, an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida, has been awarded a $1.7 million NIH grant to develop a novel bioengineering tool and imaging system for super-resolution microscopy. This technology could enable researchers to image multiple proteins in a single cell in just 24 hours, revolutionizing the under...
A team of Georgia State scientists aims to use fMRI data to help psychiatrists predict response to medication, potentially reducing the time it takes to receive an accurate diagnosis and get on the right treatment. The tool has shown over 90% accuracy in predicting medication outcomes on previous data sets.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded grants to support researchers' efforts in using tiny, bioengineered models of human tissues and organ systems to study diseases and test drugs. The goal is to develop ways to predict which patients are most likely to benefit from an investigational therapy prior to initiating clinical trials.
A new study has identified mutations in single genes that can cause cerebral palsy, challenging the long-held notion that the disorder is caused by environmental factors. The research found that many of these mutations occur randomly and are not inherited from parents, but rather arise during development.
A team from the University of Pittsburgh is using a $1.1M grant to optimize small-diameter tissue-engineered vascular graft design and manufacturability. They aim to develop a feasible alternative to decades-old vessel harvesting methods, with the goal of reducing complications like stenosis.
Researchers at University of Minnesota Medical School have received seed funding for a clinical study investigating the use of metformin as a COVID-19 treatment and prevention method. The team aims to definitively study whether or not metformin prevents SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 disease, with potential benefits of reduci...
A new neuroimaging study has found links between brain regions and dissociative symptoms in women with a history of childhood abuse, shedding light on the 'invisible wounds' of trauma. The study may help tailor treatments for affected patients and increase awareness around dissociative disorders.
South Rampart Pharma, a New Orleans life science company, has been awarded a $1.9 million NIH STTR grant to develop a new class of non-opioid medicines for pain relief and fever reduction. The company aims to create a safer treatment option for acute and chronic pain, which affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
A multi-state consortium will compile a large dataset to examine associations of improved outcomes with various treatments for COVID-19 patients. The project aims to answer fundamental questions about the virus's effects, including chronic complications and long-term impacts.
Researchers identified process and outcome indicators to monitor transplant center performance in evaluating potential living kidney donors. The study aims to improve efficiency and increase living kidney donations.
Financial problems in UK medical schools could significantly affect student education. The sector's debts have risen over the past year, making institutions vulnerable to insolvency. Charity funded research is also expected to fall, resulting in a projected reduction in medical research investment.
Dr. Leszek Ignatowicz is studying the impact of intestinal microbiota on immunosenescence, a condition that causes the immune system to decline with age. His research aims to develop new strategies to control gut inflammation and enhance immune function in older individuals.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that individuals with multiple chronic conditions can still benefit from a healthy lifestyle, leading to up to 7.6 years longer life expectancy. The research analyzed data from the UK Biobank and found that abstinence from smoking had the largest survival benefit.
A study of over 3.5 million Nordic children found a slight increase in autism risk for each week of gestation before or after 40 weeks, regardless of sex or birth weight. The relative risk was highest for children born at 22-31 weeks and lowest for those born post-term (after 42 weeks), with an overall low ASD incidence of 1.44%.
Thirty years after the ADA, employment rates remain low for individuals with spinal cord injury. New models like individual placement and support (IPS) and vocational resource facilitation (VRF) are helping more people achieve competitive employment.
Researchers at UCLA discovered that the brain measures seconds by changing patterns of neural activity, with two distinct 'clocks' in different regions. The study found that mice could anticipate rewards based on scents associated with specific time intervals.
The $7.2 million grant will fund research across three UC San Diego laboratories and two others based in Germany to understand the basic mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease. Researchers aim to unravel the biology of LRRK2, a protein linked to genetically inherited Parkinson's disease.
The Salk Institute, along with partners at Sanford Burnham Prebys and UC San Diego, will establish a world-class center to study cellular and tissue aging in humans. The five-year grant aims to identify key drivers of aging and find new ways to increase human health span.
The research will develop biomarkers and clinical assessments to improve treatment outcomes for adolescents and young adults at risk of schizophrenia. The five-year study will recruit 1,040 patients with Clinical High Risk (CHR) and healthy controls, using data-driven methods to predict individual clinical trajectories.
The University of Illinois Chicago is leading a consortium to investigate how adolescent binge drinking affects genes, brain circuitry, and behaviors through epigenetics. The five-year project aims to identify neurobiological changes resulting from early binge drinking and its impact on adult psychopathology such as anxiety and addiction.
The University of Göttingen and the Lower Saxony State Service for Cultural Heritage are conducting a research project to analyze the oldest wooden objects from the Schöningen site. The spears, dated at 300,000 years old, provide valuable insights into the technical and intellectual abilities of early European hominins.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center has received a $45 million grant to study health disparities in Alzheimer's disease among multi-ethnic populations. The research aims to understand the biological framework of the disease in Mexican Americans, who develop Alzheimer's 10 years earlier than non-Latino whites.
The Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI) aims to build upon existing home and community-based social supports to enable people with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias to remain independent in their communities. People with ADRD and their caregivers will receive coaching, training, and support services.
A team led by Michigan State University is developing diamond devices to monitor brain biochemistry for early warning signs of Parkinson's disease. The devices aim to detect low levels of dopamine, a chemical neurons use to communicate, and could potentially treat the disease earlier.
A pilot study found that measuring 24-hour heart rate can reliably indicate whether someone is depressed, providing an early warning and rapid indication of treatment effectiveness. The study also identified a link between heart rate variability and response to ketamine treatment.
Researchers at George Mason University are developing a senior-year capstone course and summer clinical immersion program to integrate nursing and health informatics students into Bioengineering Design teams. The program aims to apply the new curriculum in real-world clinical contexts, addressing newly identified clinical needs.
A study analyzed public blogs and stream-of-consciousness essays to find that individuals with a larger negative emotion vocabulary tend to experience more psychological distress and poorer physical health. Conversely, those with a positive emotion vocabulary report better well-being and physical health.
A new study from North Carolina State University has shed light on the earliest stages of Angelman syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting brain development and function. The research used human cerebral organoids to monitor the behavior of a key gene, UBE3A, revealing its role in early brain tissue development.
Bielefeld University researchers Professor Dr Martina Hofmanová and Dr Toni Goßmann have been awarded ERC Starting Grants for their innovative research projects on fluid flows and epigenetic programming. The funding will support groundbreaking findings in mathematics, biology, and meteorology.
A new study found that independent, physician-owned practices adopted more quality improvement (QI) strategies than hospital-owned and community clinics. These practices focused on patient care coordination rather than organizational improvement strategies.
Despite significant increases in radiology research funding since 1994, citation rates have remained unchanged, with no association found between funding and citations. Funding sources, including federal sponsorship and nonprofit foundations, were primarily utilized.
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville Herbarium is part of a $3.6 million National Science Foundation grant to image and digitize metadata for over 1.2 million lichen and bryophyte specimens. Researchers will access specimen metadata and photos to study cryptobiotic communities.
New research reveals Indigenous knowledge is regularly misunderstood when making important environmental decisions. The study highlights a power imbalance between Indigenous knowledge holders and scientists, with Indigenous knowledge often perceived as less valuable.
A team of scientists is developing genetically engineered switchgrass types that can grow anywhere and maximize crop yield, stress tolerance, and carbon sequestration. The research aims to create a sustainable biofuel solution to meet domestic energy demands.
A US-Canada partnership, Seniors Quality Leap Initiative (SQLI), has shown improvements in pain management and overall quality of care for long-term care residents. By leveraging collective expertise and sharing evidence-based practices, SQLI aims to enhance both quality of care and quality of life for its residents.
A new study identifies a specific gene's role in fertility, finding mutations in this gene are associated with early menopause. The researchers used genetic techniques to find genes involved with eye development and discovered the gene is essential for reproductive organs.
Carnegie Mellon University has received a $500,000 planning grant to develop AI research and interdisciplinary collaborations in astrophysics, subatomic physics, and biophysics. The university aims to promote cross-disciplinary interactions and encourage new collaborations to advance fundamental fields.
A UMass Amherst health informatician has received a $2.4 million grant to develop a mobile health system using finger-worn sensors to monitor and encourage movement in stroke survivors' weak upper limbs. The goal is to provide individually tailored data and visualization tools to motivate patients and inform clinicians.
Andrew Subica, a UC Riverside researcher, has been awarded two NIH grants to develop culturally tailored interventions for Pacific Islanders' mental health treatment and engagement in opioid use disorder treatment. The studies aim to address the significant research gap on opioid use disorders in Pacific Islander populations.
Researchers have developed two new strategies to automate the assessment of stored red blood cell quality, matching and surpassing expert analysis. Trained machines can analyze vast quantities of images to accurately predict RBC degradation, eliminating human error and improving consistency.
A new study found that women surgeons are underrepresented in academic surgery but hold a greater than anticipated proportion of NIH funding, earning 49 R01 grants. Women were also more likely to be first-time grant recipients and had fewer research articles published in scientific journals.
MDC researchers are using neuromuscular organoids to investigate how ALS mutations cause motor neuron death. They will sequence the organoid tissue samples to understand RNA activity in space and time, aiming to identify potential interventions or treatment targets for the incurable disease.
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative announces $4.5 million in funding for 30 pairs of researchers collaborating on novel approaches for gaining insight into neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS. The grants support early- to mid-career scientists with the goal of increasing understanding of these diseases.
A study published in JAMA Network Open examines the association between depression and cannabis use among US adults. The analysis reveals a significant positive trend between cannabis use and depression, with the correlation strengthening over time.
Researchers at Penn State expand gene-editing technology for use in vertebrates like mice, fish, and birds with new funding. The ReMOT Control tool builds on CRISPR/Cas9, enabling efficient delivery of gene-editing cargo to targeted regions of DNA.
A recent study challenges the notion that birds evolved rapidly following the mass extinction of non-avian dinosaurs. Instead, researchers found that bird skull evolution actually slowed down compared to non-avian dinosaurs. This slower pace of evolution is attributed to adaptations in beak shape and size.
A new case series reports SARS-CoV-2 transmission on a commercial airline flight and among tourists, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures. The study provides valuable insights into the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2, highlighting risk factors and control strategies to mitigate future outbreaks.
A researcher at the University of Texas at Arlington is using Daphnia, or water fleas, to study the long-term evolutionary impacts of nuclear testing. By hatching decades-old eggs and measuring their viability and traits, Matthew Walsh aims to understand how nuclear-induced mutations affect generations of water fleas.
The expansion will train 48 fellows in addiction medicine or psychiatry to provide high-quality prevention and treatment services for vulnerable populations. This training aims to address access disparities and stigma, with a focus on community-based care.
The article describes an author's COVID-19 experience, providing a unique perspective on the disease. Key findings include physical symptoms and health outcomes associated with having COVID-19.
The Raphael Project, a social incubator at Bar-Ilan University, has successfully addressed the most pressing health needs in Israel's Galilee region. Through academic-community partnerships, it has implemented various health-promoting activities, resulting in tangible improvements in health for disadvantaged populations.
The Studies To Advance Recovery Support (STARS) Network will focus on Central Appalachia's urgent need for recovery support services. Researchers aim to advance understanding of treatment services, particularly those using medication-assisted treatment and counseling.
The GCRLE awarded $7.4 million to 22 researchers, including early career scientists and established scholars, to investigate the causes of female reproductive aging. The grants will support innovative projects addressing ovarian aging and its impact on health and longevity.
The OU Health Sciences Center will expand a national program dedicated to suicide prevention with a $38 million five-year grant. The program aims to address workforce development, education, evidence-based prevention strategies, and public awareness to help people at risk of suicide. Key findings include increased focus on culturally r...
Livedo racemosa and retiform purpura are skin discolorations observed in patients with severe COVID-19. The study presents a rare but significant dermatological manifestation of the disease, shedding light on its complex clinical presentation.
The University of California, Riverside is part of a new NSF Engineering Research Center aimed at preserving biological systems through breakthrough bioengineering technology. The center, ATP-Bio, will develop and deploy technologies to preserve cells, tissues, organs, and whole organisms.
The NIH has funded a project to develop an AI-based system, PHK, that analyzes patients' clinical and genomic data to find new connections between biochemical pathways. This system could help doctors treat cancer and complex diseases more effectively by providing personalized treatment recommendations.