News on the money and policy behind biomedical research. Covers foundation and career-development awards, endocrine and neuroscience funding, and university royalties.
A University of Houston researcher is increasing health literacy among Hispanics/Latinos to address the significant disparities in Alzheimer's disease development and treatment. The largest ethnic minority group in the US, H/Ls are 50% more likely to develop AD, yet they comprise less than 1% of clinical trials.
Researchers will investigate how religion shapes children's understanding of the supernatural, science, and social interactions. The five-year project aims to address a lack of diversity in previous studies and explores how children form beliefs about people from different religious backgrounds.
A new study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus finds that changes to Title X have led to confusion and loss of access to confidential family planning services for teens in Texas. The research suggests that similar issues may worsen nationwide as the new policies are implemented.
Researchers found bisphenol S, a BPA alternative, can negatively affect the placenta and potentially a developing baby's brain. This chemical can lower serotonin production, compromising fetal brain development.
Researchers have created the first detailed cell atlas of the human colon's immune cells and gut bacteria, showing changes in the microbiome and immune cells throughout the colon. This study will enable new research into diseases affecting specific regions of the colon, such as ulcerative colitis and colorectal cancer.
A Wayne State University team, led by Miriam Greenberg, is working on potential new targets for treating Barth syndrome, a life-threatening X-linked genetic disorder affecting mainly males. The four-year grant aims to identify specific metabolites as candidates for new treatments.
NETRF has funded $3.5 million in neuroendocrine tumor research grants to advance treatment options. The grants support innovative approaches to immunotherapy, pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma research, and lung NET studies.
Dr. Tim Denning receives a $1.67 million grant to study the IL-36/IL-36 receptor axis in gut immunity and its potential therapeutic value for treating inflammatory bowel disease.
A new study predicts that end-of-life care needs in Ireland will nearly double over the next 30 years, driven by population aging. The estimated 84% increase will put a strain on palliative care capacity, emphasizing the need for increased funding and workforce development.
A new study finds that educating growers about the effectiveness of control strategies is key to combating plant pathogens. Researchers coupled a mathematical model with human behavior data from a survey of growers, highlighting the importance of maintaining frequent engagement and trust.
A Montana State University researcher will investigate the extent and processes of microbial life in Yellowstone's subsurface using a specialized instrument triggered by earthquakes. The research aims to bridge biology and geology to understand how Earth's natural processes influence microbial evolution.
A UMass Lowell researcher is developing advances in safety for home care aides and clients as the field faces an aging population, technology changes, and safety challenges. The goal of the project is to produce guidelines, develop safety tools, and evaluate their effectiveness.
Researchers at Washington State University and UMass Amherst will explore the role of bacterial fragments in regulating sleep and circadian rhythms. They aim to determine how these fragments affect brain functions, including sleep, cognition, mood, and appetite.
A recent study using national data from over 895,000 US adults examined the association between state regulations and e-cigarette use. The results show that stricter state regulations are linked to lower adult e-cigarette use.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have identified the unique genetic program behind primordial lung progenitors, a rare and transient cell type. This discovery may lead to improved stem cell protocols for treating respiratory diseases such as COPD, cystic fibrosis, and lung interstitial disease.
The University of Washington's new WE-REACH center aims to support biomedical entrepreneurs and provide project funding for up to six startups per year. The center, funded by the NIH, will focus on innovative disease treatments, new drugs, and health technologies.
Researchers found that barbershop screenings can effectively identify undiagnosed black men with diabetes. The initiative is part of efforts to address significant racial disparities in healthcare access and outcomes.
The exposome represents the cumulative health effects of environmental exposures. A review article in Science calls for a coordinated international effort to characterize the exposome at scale, accounting for non-genetic risk factors and potential preventable exposures.
A new study reveals that high-protein diets can lead to increased plaque buildup in arteries, particularly unstable plaque prone to rupture. This can increase the risk of heart attacks. Researchers found that excess amino acids from a high-protein diet activate macrophages, leading to cell death and worsening plaque complexity.
The British Heart Foundation has announced four research projects competing for a £30 million award to tackle cardiovascular diseases. The projects include a soft robotic heart, a genetic cure for inherited heart conditions, a 'google map' of atherosclerosis, and next-generation health tech.
A systematic review of observational studies found that industry funding of patient groups is common, with estimates ranging from 20% to 83%. Few patient groups have formal policies governing corporate sponsorship, and financial transparency is inadequate. The researchers call for greater transparency in reporting industry funding and ...
Scientists have discovered a potential way to halt blinding macular degeneration by targeting an enzyme called Dicer, which is lost with age and leads to damage in the retina. The approach uses gene therapy to restore the enzyme, offering a new treatment option for both dry and wet forms of AMD.
The U-MATTER program uses a deflection approach, directing people with opioid use disorders towards treatment and services. The initiative has seen positive outcomes, including 71 individuals receiving full clinical intake assessments and 40 committing to long-term treatment.
Researchers have discovered a secreted protein signature of aging cells, which is enriched with biomarkers found in human plasma. This breakthrough could lead to the development of therapeutic approaches to treat age-related diseases by targeting senescent cells.
EMBO has awarded nine researchers with Installation Grants to set up independent laboratories in the Czech Republic, Poland, Portugal, and Turkey. The grants support young group leaders in establishing their labs in countries that struggle to compete scientifically with well-funded research centers.
A new photoacoustic tomography technique aims to improve the detection and measurement of hypoxic-ischemic brain injuries in preterm newborns without sedation or radiation. The technology has the potential to revolutionize neonatal brain imaging management, enabling earlier treatment and improved outcomes for patients.
University of Delaware biomedical engineer Emily Day is developing a platform technology that can transform the treatment of benign and malignant blood disorders. Her research uses nanoparticle carrier systems to target and deliver cargo to blood stem cells, potentially replacing bone marrow transplants.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota are developing a new device to administer a recently developed antidote for cyanide poisoning, which could save lives in mass-casualty settings. The autoinjector, designed by Windgap Medical, would deliver a single dose of sulfanegen, an antidote that takes effect within minutes.
When non-motile E. coli and motile A. baylyi are mixed, stunning floral patterns emerge due to differences in growth rate, motility, and friction against the agar surface. This phenomenon has important implications for understanding growing biofilms.
Dou's research aims to disrupt the parasite's nutrient metabolism, potentially leading to new drug treatments for toxoplasmosis and malaria. The grant will explore the molecular mechanisms of Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that affects over 40 million people worldwide.
Researchers at NYU Langone Health have discovered a new role for circular RNA in regulating the spread of melanoma cancers. The study found that CDR1as blocks the aggressive growth of cancer cells, while its loss promotes it. Higher levels of CDR1as were linked to increased survival rates among patients with melanoma.
Researchers used moths' real flight trajectories to develop decision-making programs for autonomous vehicles. The program performed better in simulations of complex forest layouts, incorporating information about object locations into navigational decisions.
Liangzhong Xiang's team at OU aims to create a 3D scanner using X-ray-induced Acoustic Computed Tomography (XACT) for real-time radiation dose delivery. The technology may decrease treatment toxicity and improve clinical outcomes for cancer patients.
The University of Arizona Center for Innovation in Brain Science has received a $1.6 million grant to apply big data analytics and computational modeling to better understand Alzheimer's disease. The project aims to identify patient-specific therapeutic targets and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of drug combinations.
Hundreds of discarded deceased donor kidneys with acute kidney injury (AKI) can be successfully used for transplantation. This finding challenges current medical criteria and has the potential to significantly increase the organ donor pool, helping to address the growing shortage of available kidneys for transplant.
A research team at UC Riverside has received a four-year NIH grant to investigate luminal B breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer, with the goal of improving early detection and patient survival. The project aims to develop resources and training programs for diverse therapeutics researchers.
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research has awarded six grants totaling $4.5 million to promising early career scientists pursuing projects in basic, translational, and clinical cancer research.
Researchers at Mount Sinai are exploring new treatments for brain tumors, including magnetic hyperthermia therapy and studies on glioma dormancy and tumor microenvironment. The grant funding will support five-year projects focused on improving patient outcomes through innovative therapies.
Recent fossil discoveries revealed three evolutionary patterns on the Tibetan Plateau: local endemism, out-of-Tibet dispersal, and intercontinental exchange. These patterns reflect the biological responses to tectonic uplift and its impact on biota globally.
The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research and AFAR have announced the 2019 Research Grants for Junior Faculty, awarding fifteen early career scientists $1,450,000 to support research on aging processes and age-related diseases. The grants aim to translate basic biology into interventions that can extend healthspan with lifespan.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that California's elimination of non-medical vaccine exemptions led to a significant increase in MMR vaccination coverage, with non-medical exemptions decreasing by 2.4% and medical exemptions increasing by 0.4%. The policy change was associated with a 3.3% increase in MMR coverage across th...
Cynthia Ju, a UTHealth scientist, has been awarded $3.6 million in NIH grants to investigate molecules linked to liver injuries. Her research aims to identify potential therapeutic targets to enhance or block the activity of these molecules.
The university has received a grant to further develop the method, which measures small voltage changes on the surface of the skin inside the ear caused by electrical activity in the brain's neurons. The technology holds huge potential for research and applications, including characterizing hearing loss and exploring human sleep patterns.
The consortium will conduct Phase 1-4 vaccine and treatment trials, including human challenge trials. The leadership group will prioritize candidate vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics to test in clinical trials.
A new study analyzes the value of Medicaid for low-income adults in Oregon, finding they value it at a fraction of their medical costs. The study suggests that Medicaid effectively acts as a subsidy for healthcare providers and state programs covering uninsured patients.
Researchers conducted a literature review to summarize outcomes in patients with MS who smoke cigarettes and are exposed to smoke. The study found associations between cigarette smoking and increased risk of MS relapses, disability, and mortality.
Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that sleep fragmentation, not short nightly sleep duration or low sleep quality, was associated with higher odds of having a migraine on the day after. The team observed that participants reported more headaches when they experienced more time spent in bed but not asleep.
JDRF has committed 23 training grants totaling over $8 million to accelerate T1D research. These grants will support early-career scientists working on groundbreaking treatments for T1D, including ultra-fast insulins and immunotherapies.
Researchers identified novel respiratory cell changes in smokers and pre-cancerous tissue, which may lead to new therapies for lung cancer prevention. The study used single-cell genomics to analyze gene expression in cells from never and current smokers.
nanoHUB, a virtual society for nanotechnology research and education, has received a National Science Foundation grant renewal to create new technologies. The cloud provides simulation software, data, lectures, and other innovative content to engineers and scientists.
Researchers at MIT have extended Maxwell's electromagnetism to smaller scales, bridging the gap between macroscopic and nanoscale phenomena. The new model incorporates electronic length scales, enabling nonclassical effects such as nonlocality and surface-enabled Landau damping.
The US Feed the Future program has been found to reduce chronic malnutrition among children in sub-Saharan Africa, with a 3.9 percentage point decrease leading to 2.2 million fewer cases of stunting. The program's multifaceted approach to nutrition, combining agriculture and food security interventions, is credited with its success.
The institution secured a record-breaking $178 million in federal fiscal year 2019, marking the largest annual total in its history. This funding supports major grants in Ebola and HIV studies, neuroscience, genetics, and improving health among minority groups.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago will conduct 3,000 eye exams among Latinos living in Chicago and Miami to study common eye conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration. The goal is to identify patterns or causes of disease that can be prevented or slowed with treatment.
The study aims to understand how infectious, psychological and physical stressors impact the immune system, lifespan and aging process in humans. By using domestic mice co-housed with lab mice, researchers hope to develop new insights into guarding against reactivation of cytomegalovirus late in life.
A three-year study will investigate how the educational experiences of children with special health care needs are affected by pediatric rehabilitation. The researchers aim to develop a prospective process to identify the educational needs of these children that can be implemented across various healthcare settings.
Researchers developed a computer betting game to predict opioid reuse in addiction patients. The game measures comfort with risk-taking and finds sharp increases in scores are associated with high likelihood of reuse within the next week.
A clinical trial is underway to study the efficacy of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells as a potential therapeutic for new onset type 1 diabetes. The trial, funded by the NIH, aims to determine if systemic administration of these cells can reduce disease progression and preserve insulin secretion.
Researchers at Goethe University develop a new method to measure acute cellular stress responses, enabling precise time-resolved measurements of thousands of proteins. This breakthrough opens the door for new therapeutic strategies in diseases like cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.
A GW-led consortium has received a $2.2 million grant to develop BioCompute Object Specification Project standards for genomic data analysis, aiming to streamline data exchange between researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and the FDA. The project's goal is to facilitate personalized medicine by comparing and building on genomic data.