News on the money and policy behind biomedical research. Covers foundation and career-development awards, endocrine and neuroscience funding, and university royalties.
Deborah Lang's research aims to discover innovative treatments for melanoma by targeting molecular pathways involved in normal cell development. The grant will support her study on the role of YAP and TAZ genes in melanoma progression.
The ASBMB has received a five-year grant from NIGMS to support scientists from diverse backgrounds in preparing for independent careers. The MOSAIC program will provide professional development, mentoring, and networking opportunities to help diversify the professoriate.
Researchers at IRB Barcelona have been awarded an ERC grant to develop new medications targeting senescent cells, which contribute to fibrotic diseases. The goal is to create senolytics that selectively eliminate damaged cells, potentially preventing age-related diseases.
Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital developed a new, lower threshold for pulmonary vascular resistance to diagnose patients at risk for death due to PH. The study found that 60% more patients can be diagnosed with PH using this new parameter.
The ERC Proof of Concept project 'AssemblySkills' aims to validate an autonomous, intelligent skill learning system for robots to acquire and improve motor skills. The project builds on the ERC Starting Grant 'SKILLS4ROBOTS', which has yielded a structured control architecture that can scale robot learning to complex tasks.
The Center for Substance Abuse Research at Temple University has received a $7.2M NIDA grant to continue critical research on drugs of abuse. The grant renewal will enable the continuation of high-quality, innovative research in addiction biology and the development of new treatments.
Dr. Yuan's research program expands to include COVID-19, exploring tissue-specific biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment. Her microvascular research has significantly advanced understanding of vascular barrier function and inflammation.
A new study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus finds that peer mentorship groups are better suited for fostering success among underrepresented groups. These groups provide flexible support and can be established online, making them an ideal option during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene highlights the importance of understanding COVID-19's origins to prevent future pandemics. The journal emphasizes the need for increased funding for medical research and public health measures, warning that politics can undermine these efforts.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine suggests that combining self-imposed prevention measures like handwashing and mask-wearing with government-imposed social distancing can delay and reduce the peak of a COVID-19 epidemic. The model found that if self-imposed measures exceed 50% efficacy, large epidemics can be prevented.
Researchers aim to reduce bleeding time for soldiers on the battlefield by developing synthetic platelet substitutes that can be easily transported and stored. The technology, which involves freeze-drying artificial platelets into a powder, could potentially address blood shortages and improve treatment outcomes in emergency situations.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus are studying how COVID-19 affects the sense of smell. The team is investigating the role of microvilli in detecting viruses and testing a drug to alter inflammation and viral infection of olfactory epithelium.
UCI researchers received the most funding in campus history, with a 20% increase over last year, thanks to strong support from federal and state agencies, leading foundations, and companies. This milestone accelerates UCI's ascent as a world-class research university, with notable boosts in biomedical research and data privacy.
A team of Michigan State University engineers has designed a soft-hard hybrid flexible gripper that can generate larger grasping forces than traditional pure soft hands. The new research, published in Soft Robotics, aims to create safer human-robotics interactions for tasks such as fruit picking and medical care.
Researchers discovered a hybrid fungus, Aspergillus latus, in a hospital environment, which is up to three times more drug-resistant than its parental species and highly dangerous. The study aims to investigate the role of fungi in COVID-19 and improve treatment strategies.
Despite low representation in academia, female surgeon-scientists are securing a greater percentage of National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. Women researchers are more likely to be first-time grant recipients and have higher success rates when awarded NIH funding.
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative provides $1.3 million in funding to NORD and EURORDIS, supporting organizational capacity building and Rare Disease Day awareness campaigns. The grants aim to unite and improve the lives of over 350 million people living with rare diseases worldwide.
Novilytic, a Purdue University-affiliated bio-analytics startup, has received a $1.4 million Phase II SBIR contract to continue developing its Proteometer instrument technology for pharmaceutical antibody manufacturers. The technology allows process chemists and engineers to monitor and control antibody purity in process.
A researcher at Northeast Ohio Medical University has received a large federal grant to develop the first human treatment for tinnitus, a debilitating hearing impairment affecting millions of people in the US. The grant aims to create a drug to treat and prevent tinnitus, which currently has no available treatment options.
The University of Illinois Chicago's Center for Clinical and Translational Science received $22 million in funding to support multidisciplinary research bridging science labs and patient care. The center has helped train hundreds of researchers and staff, with a strong focus on addressing health disparities and community needs.
Dr. Christopher Basler's five-year grant aims to understand how Ebola and Marburg viruses evade immune responses, leading to new treatment approaches. The study will focus on filovirus-host interactions related to gene expression and translation.
The Alliance for Regenerative Rehabilitation and Training (AR3T) has received a $5 million NIH grant to continue its work in expanding scientific knowledge and expertise in regenerative medicine. The network aims to increase the efficacy of interventions designed to help people with disabilities be more independent and engaged.
A virtual reality simulator will be developed to improve hiatal hernia surgery training, reducing surgical errors and improving outcomes. The study aims to utilize the simulator to hone skills in a standardized environment.
Researchers at University of Missouri discovered that pencils can conduct energy when drawing on paper, allowing for the creation of bioelectronic devices. The devices can be used for personal health monitoring, education, and remote research, offering a low-cost and simple alternative to existing commercial devices.
Rebekah Charney, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Riverside, has received a five-year Pathway to Independence grant from the NIH to study Mowat-Wilson syndrome. Her research aims to understand the mechanisms underlying neural crest cell development and craniofacial pathologies.
Dr. Richard Plemper, a Georgia State University researcher, has received a $3.65 million grant to develop antiviral therapeutics for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. The goal is to create cost-effective and well-tolerated treatments for RSV, which affects over three million hospitalizations annually.
SpeechVive, a Purdue University-affiliated medical device company, has secured a convertible note to scale its business and expand access to its wearable device for treating Parkinson's disease. The funding will allow the company to pursue reimbursement from Medicare and commercial insurance companies.
A new PLOS Biology paper proposes a set of principles for creating and governing lists of the world's species, aiming to address the lack of an agreed list of all species. The proposed governance mechanism ensures that taxonomists' decisions are informed by stakeholders' needs.
The two institutions will recruit underrepresented minority PhD students into their biomedical research programs, building a pipeline of minority scientists in the Cleveland area. The grant aims to increase diversity and inclusion in STEM fields, promoting creativity, problem-solving, and innovation.
The Center for Applied Genomics at CHOP will focus on five areas of research, including generating polygenic risk scores for common diseases and returning genomic risk assessments to children and their families. The study aims to identify disease risks faced by African American children and improve health outcomes.
A new study suggests that exercise can reduce the development of macular degeneration by up to 45% in lab mice. The research also implies that regular physical activity may benefit other causes of vision loss, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.
Researchers linked long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution with premature death among older Americans, suggesting current US standards are insufficient. Strengthening standards could lead to a 6%-7% decrease in mortality risk and save thousands of lives.
Researchers at the Allen Institute in Seattle are building a high-resolution map of Alzheimer's disease by comparing brain cells across patients with different stages of the disease. By identifying specific neurons and cell types affected by the progressive disorder, they aim to find new drug targets and potential therapies.
A new study found that certain medical terms used by physicians to describe kidney health may be distressing or too difficult to understand for patients with kidney disease. Using consistent and meaningful language can help improve patients' health and satisfaction.
The Parkinson's Foundation has awarded nearly $30,000 in grants to three nurses who specialize in Parkinson's care. The grant recipients will launch individual projects to improve life for people with Parkinson's disease in their local community.
The University of Queensland's antibiotic discoveries will be fast-tracked under a US$11 million international research deal. The funding supports the development of a new antibiotic, Octapeptin-X, targeting drug-resistant bacteria that evade current therapies.
Jan Philipp Junker and his team will use a combination of experimental, sequencing, and machine learning tools to reconstruct gene regulatory networks in normal embryonic development of zebrafish. This could lead to new treatments for diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
University of Guam researchers have been awarded $39,171 to study the reproductive biology and fragmentation potential of blue coral, while another project aims to develop a genetic toolkit to predict stress levels in corals. This funding will support coral restoration and rehabilitation efforts on Guam.
The study found that sterilization with hydrogen peroxide and chlorine dioxide significantly reduces the filtration efficiency of N95, KN95, and surgical face masks. The researchers recommend re-sterilizing these masks after each use to maintain their effectiveness in preventing respiratory infections.
Research found that adhering to four healthy eating patterns reduces cardiovascular disease risk by 14-21%, regardless of racial or ethnic group, and is effective across various subgroups. The study supports current dietary guidelines emphasizing flexible, individualized healthy eating patterns.
Four Lehigh University researchers have been awarded grants from the Manufacturing PA Innovation Program to support projects in biomedicine, energy, and consumer goods. The recipients will collaborate with industry partners to develop new technologies and processes that foster innovation and develop a 21st-century workforce.
Researchers analyzed climate factors like temperature, humidity, and latitude to estimate COVID-19 spread. The study found associations between these climate variables and the virus's transmission patterns.
Six Purdue University researchers received $212,845 from the Trask Innovation Fund to support their patented innovations in life science and physical sciences. The funding will aid faculty and staff with commercialization efforts through the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization.
Researchers are developing a patient-friendly smartphone sensor to measure tooth pain and provide accurate care. The grant aims to test a novel way to quantify tooth pain using a commercially available device and miniaturize it for smartphone use.
Researchers are studying how bats adapt to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, hoping to understand the immune system's response and potentially inform human treatment. They will examine bat genome assemblies to identify patterns of gene duplication and gain/loss related to viral infection.
Autoimmune diseases, common in the US after cancer and heart disease, are a mystery due to compromised tolerance. A $1.95M NIH grant will fund research to understand why the immune system attacks its own body.
MUSC has established two new centers to support digestive and liver disease research, providing stable funding to over 30 investigators and creating a pipeline for future researchers. The centers aim to foster multidisciplinary collaborations and provide necessary resources for cutting-edge research.
Researchers examined electronic cigarette use among former smokers and found an association with increased risk of smoking relapse. The study analyzed nationally representative survey data, revealing a potential connection between e-cigarette use and relapse in former smokers.
A new UC Riverside study aims to identify the mechanisms by which the PTPN2 gene regulates immune interactions between macrophages and epithelial cells. The research could lead to fundamental insights into how loss-of-function mutations contribute to autoimmune diseases like IBD.
Professor Ute Hellmich is investigating the role of ion channels in parasites causing African sleeping sickness and Chagas disease. She aims to find similarities or differences between parasite and human ion channels, potentially leading to new pharmacological agents.
The University of Guam has received a $240,000 grant to introduce an insect disease caused by OrNV to control the coconut rhinoceros beetle population on Guam. Two strains of OrNV have been found to be effective in controlling the biotype CRB-G, causing significant damage on the island.
The OU College of Medicine has been awarded a $11 million federal grant to create the Oklahoma Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunity. The center will focus on researching various types of infections, including fungal, bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections, and how the immune system recognizes and destroys them.
Researchers are developing a novel approach to protein analysis using iron-detecting nanosensors. The technology detects defective iron-carrying proteins in blood, which could help explain anemia and lead to new therapeutics. This project has the potential to provide a baseline for protein analysis in the future.
Charisse Madlock-Brown's R15 grant aims to identify costly multimorbidity groupings and disease progression. Her project will use a large patient dataset to develop intervention strategies, contributing to simpler, less expensive treatment options.
University of Arkansas researchers are working on a therapeutic drug that can regenerate heart tissue and prevent myocardial infarction. The project aims to improve current methods of controlled release by targeting specific biochemical events during heart failure.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati are developing a reusable face mask that can kill viruses caught on its surface using heat. The design features a thin, breathable film made from engineered carbon nanomaterials as a heatable filter retrofitted onto commercial masks.
Researchers at Binghamton University are conducting a comprehensive study to investigate the efficacy of ultraviolet (UV) light in killing the novel coronavirus. The team is testing various parameters, including UV wavelength and exposure time, to determine its potential as a disinfection method for N95 medical masks.
This case series from Wuhan, China describes the clinical characteristics of asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID-19 patients. The study highlights key differences between the two groups, shedding light on the variability of COVID-19 presentation.
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is awarding $3.8 million to support essential open source software projects in biomedical research and clinical medicine. These grants will enable awardees to improve software tools, enhance collaboration, and advance biomedical science.
Researchers from USF have advanced a novel technology to rapidly sterilize and electrostatically recharge N95 masks using corona discharge, which can kill 10,000 E. coli bacteria in under a minute.