News on the money and policy behind biomedical research. Covers foundation and career-development awards, endocrine and neuroscience funding, and university royalties.
A study by OHSU researchers found that insurance industry cost-control measures have restricted access to buprenorphine, a vital medication for treating opioid use disorder. The proportion of insurance plans offering buprenorphine without restrictions decreased from 89% in 2007 to 35% in 2018.
The Rhine-Main Universities Initiative Funding for Research supports the DeCoDeML network, combining expertise in deep continuous-discrete machine learning to tackle unresolved issues. Researchers from Mainz, Darmstadt, and Frankfurt will examine how machine learning can be made comprehensible to human understanding.
Researchers at Kent State University's Advanced Materials Institute have received an NSF grant to develop liquid crystal-nanoparticle sensors that can detect toxic gases and vapors without power. The sensors, which can be made any shape or size, offer parts-per-million level sensitivity and may help protect firefighters and other first...
Researchers visualize two distinct meshworks in the nuclear lamina, an outer layer made of lamin B1 and an inner layer of lamin A. This discovery may lead to a better understanding of genetic diseases like ADLD and how cells can compress without damaging their nuclei.
A team of researchers has identified a potential new therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease by suppressing the activity of a signaling molecule called eEF2K. This approach may improve protein synthesis capacity and alleviate cognitive and synaptic impairments associated with the disease.
New research reveals that male butterflies prefer partners with similar wing markings, linked to a specific genome region. This genetic structure promotes long-term evolution and limits inter-species breeding, contributing to the formation of new species.
A study analyzing 24,000 Canadian grant applications reveals that women are less successful in receiving funding when reviewers focus on the calibre of the applicant rather than the strength of the science. The gender gap is more pronounced when evaluating leadership and expertise as principal investigators.
The Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF) has awarded $2.5 million in grants to support research into neuroendocrine cancers, including lung NETs. These grants will fund projects exploring various innovative therapies, such as CAR T-cell therapy and photodynamic therapy.
A new study found no evidence that value-based incentive programs linked to hospital performance improved patient safety or reduced catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates in US hospitals. However, the research did show modest improvements in the use of urinary catheters and decreased risk for associated infections.
Researchers are developing a novel detection method for autoantibodies in Lupus patients using top-down mass spectrometry. This may lead to novel biomarkers and early intervention strategies for the disease.
A new study found that persistent low body mass index (BMI) in children starting as young as age 2 for boys and 4 for girls may increase the risk of developing anorexia nervosa later. Persistent high BMI in childhood also increases the risk of other eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and purging disorder.
Highly active individuals, such as marathon runners, exhibit elevated levels of coronary artery calcification (CAC). Despite this, CAC is not significantly linked to increased mortality in these highly active people after a decade of follow-up.
Researchers have developed a new optofluidic chip-based test to detect Zika virus, which can identify the stage of infection and guide treatment. The technology has the potential to pinpoint recent infections and predict disease progression.
A study found that influenza-like illness contributes to more than 1,100 deaths of patients with kidney failure each year in the US. The risk is highest during winter months when seasonal fluctuations occur.
The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has been awarded £11.8 million by the UK government to support people living in informal settlements in low and middle-income countries. The grant will help precarious individuals claim their rights to health and well-being, and improve access to services.
Researchers at IRB Barcelona achieved the first stable simulations of DNA crystals, providing detailed atomic descriptions of their properties. This accomplishment allows for optimized crystallization conditions and protocols for biophysicists and computational physicists/chemists.
A multidisciplinary team has found a new connection between the lateral hypothalamus, a feeding center, and the hippocampus, a memory center, revealing how the protein complex NCOR1/2 regulates memory. The study sheds light on potential links to autism, intellectual disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Charité is leading three new EU-funded projects: ReSHAPE, VirtualBrainCloud, and ENDOSCAPE. The ReSHAPE project aims to develop a treatment for transplant rejection using regulatory T cells, while VirtualBrainCloud creates personalized brain simulations for neurodegenerative diseases. ENDOSCOPE develops non-viral gene delivery technolo...
Researchers have developed a more effective treatment for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in HIV patients, combining AmBisome with miltefosine. The combination therapy achieved parasite clearance rates of up to 88% compared to 55% with monotherapy.
A new study reveals that blocking the uptake of a hormone called norepinephrine in fat cells increases metabolism and burns stored fat. The discovery highlights the importance of beige fat tissue, which plays a key role in thermogenesis and regulating body temperature.
The Pennsylvania Pediatric Medical Device Consortium has partnered with University of Pittsburgh programs McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine and sciVelo to develop medical devices for children. The consortium, based at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, has received a five-year $5 million grant renewal from the FDA.
A study found that over two-thirds of patient organizations involved in assessing NHS treatments received funding from the manufacturer or a competitor, yet decision-makers were aware of less than a quarter of these interests. The researchers advocate for stronger policy on disclosure and greater transparency to reassure the public abo...
A resource-based approach for targeting opportunistic infections can decrease early mortality after antiretroviral therapy initiation. The approach requires pre-antiretroviral therapy CD4 testing and can be implemented in even the most resource-constrained settings.
A team of researchers developed the Integrated Intervention for Dual Problems and Early Action (IIDEA) program to provide culturally tailored care for Latino immigrants. The study found that IIDEA reduced mental health symptoms but did not show an effect on alcohol and drug outcomes for participants with mild symptoms.
The Lupus Research Alliance is funding innovative approaches to treating lupus, including 'borrowed' drugs from other diseases and research into harmful immune cells. Seven scientists will receive awards to test promising strategies for treating lupus, with potential breakthroughs in clinical trials.
Researchers found that fruit fly mothers incorporate sex pheromones into the eggshell's wax layer to mask its identity from larvae, preventing cannibalism. This nontoxic chemical deception strategy has implications for our understanding of animal behavior and defense mechanisms in diverse species.
A new generation of chemists and biochemists is advancing lipid research with the help of a newly established database. The LIPID MAPS database, developed by UC San Diego researchers, provides a gold standard classification system for lipids, enabling better study and diagnosis of acute and chronic conditions such as diabetes and cancer.
Alison Weiss awarded grant to study Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli 0157:H7, also known as Hamburger E. coli, which causes bloody diarrhea and kidney failure. Her lab will use human intestinal tissue models to test potential treatments.
Researchers at WashU Medicine have identified a protein responsible for transporting nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) into cells, where it can be used to produce energy. This finding has implications for understanding the process of aging and developing therapies to boost cellular energy levels.
Researchers propose alternative methods to improve grant-funding efficiency, such as partial lotteries or merit-based awards. By reducing the emphasis on perfecting individual applications, professors can focus more time on teaching and discovery.
A study of 2.6 million pregnant women who gave birth in 2015 found wide variation in the use of neuraxial analgesia, with rates ranging from 73% in Maine to 96% in Nevada. The reasons behind this variation are not fully understood and may be influenced by patient-level and hospital-level factors.
A research group at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg is developing procedures for monitoring the newly-developed therapies for neuroretinal degeneration. They are using a highly accurate method to measure perception thresholds, which can also be used to track disease progression and test new treatments.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that UK supermarkets' checkout food policies led to a 17.3% reduction in small package purchases of sugary foods within four weeks of policy introduction, with a sustained impact over time.
The partnership aims to consolidate research cooperation and explore diverse topics such as poverty, digital economy, and energy transition. Funding will support academic formats like workshops, conferences, and symposia, as well as young researchers' exchange and laboratory work.
Researchers will continue their decade-long study exploring stem-cell therapies that show promise for both animals and humans with spina bifida. The therapy involves using stem cells taken from donor placentas on bioengineered scaffolds to help cover and close wounds, preventing damage to the spinal cords.
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) has received a $10,000 grant from PayPal Gives to support the cost of genetic testing for low-income children with rare disorders. The grant will help TGen's Center for Rare Childhood Disorders provide state-of-the-art genetic testing and potentially save the lives of fragile children.
Researchers at UCSF developed CRISPRa, a modified version of the gene-editing tool that activates appetite-suppressing genes without making cuts to the genome. This approach prevented severe obesity in genetically engineered mice with only one functional copy of certain genes.
A Marshall University study found significant differences in umbilical cord blood metal levels between urban and rural newborns. Copper and molybdenum were higher in urban samples, while no marked differences occurred for other elements. The study suggests a potential link between prenatal exposure to toxins and neonatal outcomes.
A University of Pittsburgh professor is developing an artificial intelligence database to identify bird calls and support conservation efforts. The project, funded by a $91,208 grant, will create free, open-source models for researchers, agencies, and citizen scientists to analyze acoustic field recordings.
Researchers found a diet rich in red meat increases TMAO levels, linked to heart disease. A study also revealed the kidneys can change how effectively they expel compounds depending on dietary choices.
The University of Bern has seen four researchers secure ERC Consolidator Grants, supporting their own research teams and promoting young scientists. The funding will enable more than a dozen doctoral students and post-docs to be appointed, advancing talent in these areas.
Ning Jiang, a UT Austin researcher, will investigate immune cell behavior in neurodegenerative diseases with a $2.5 million grant. This funding supports a collaborative project aiming to improve understanding of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Research suggests that distinct HIV-1 strains differ in their interaction with CCR5 molecules, affecting cell infectability and entry efficacy. The study found that the nature of these receptor interactions regulates viral properties and has potential implications for developing targeted therapies.
A recent study published in PLOS Biology reveals that human environmental effects are favoring the same species everywhere, while unique species are disappearing. The researchers found that species occupying large areas tend to increase in places where humans use the land, while those species that occupy small areas are lost.
The Center for Central Nervous System Function at Brown University has been awarded a $12 million grant renewal from the National Institutes of Health's COBRE program. The funding will support five new research projects and develop new analysis tools to advance brain science.
A European Research Council Consolidator grant has been awarded to Dr. Yuval Rinkevich's team at Helmholtz Munich to study the role of fibroblasts in wound healing, with a focus on determining how differences in their populations affect scarring outcomes.
Researchers used genetically modified mice with a highly permeable blood-brain barrier to test whether prions in blood can enter the brain. Their results suggest that passage of prions through the blood-brain barrier may not be relevant to disease development. Instead, prions likely reach the brain by traveling along nerves.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that fish constantly adjust their movements to optimize sensory input, a phenomenon also observed in humans. This discovery could lead to the development of smarter sensors in robots, enabling them to interact with their environment more effectively.
Scientists at the University of Konstanz have gained a fundamental understanding of lysine degradation in bacteria, revealing a previously unknown pathway that generates energy. The discovery also highlights the compound hydroxyglutarate as an oncometabolite with potential links to cancer and neurological disorders.
A new Collaborative Research Center will explore cellular mechanisms involved in protecting and repairing genes. The study aims to determine factors causing genomic instability, signaling pathways detecting DNA damage, and mechanisms of protection against DNA damage.
A team of researchers at the University of Konstanz is developing an integrated biorefining process to produce chemical building blocks from microalgae. The process uses supercritical carbon dioxide as a solvent and aims to simplify the extraction stage, making it more eco-friendly and efficient.
Researchers found that protocadherin-1 (PCDH1) is essential for hantavirus infection of lung cells. Disrupting this recognition event could lead to a therapeutic against hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). The study, supported by NIH funding, used monoclonal antibodies to block virus entry and showed promising results in hamster models.
Virginia Tech researchers are developing a new algorithm to predict the effects of novel gene mutations in living cells. They will apply this framework to models of cell growth and division in budding yeast, paving the way for faster drug development and improved cellular understanding.
Dr. Marise Parent is studying how the hippocampus inhibits eating behavior at a biochemical level to identify new strategies for treating diet-induced obesity and other eating-related disorders. Memory plays a crucial role in controlling eating behavior, but the exact brain areas involved are not well understood.
Dmitry Matyushov's research focuses on trapping electrons by protein water, allowing unidirectional electron flow. This work may lead to improved human-made catalysts and better understanding of biological energy production machinery.
Scientists will develop a catalogue of simplified synthetic teixobactin molecules to combat superbugs like MSRA and VRE. The project aims to create new antibiotics for human use, addressing the high failure rate in drug development.
Researchers at Penn State are developing new standardized mobile technologies to gather high-precision data on mental and cognitive function in everyday life. This project aims to provide insights for developing prevention measures and improving quality of life for older adults.
The FIT project aims to address high youth football injury rates in Sweden by combining biomedical and social science disciplines. The study analyzes multiple datasets to identify risk factors, including growth, training intensity, and pressure to perform.
A decline in Canadian-based researchers winning major health research prizes has been observed over the past few decades. Funding patterns and inconsistent government funding may be contributing factors to this trend.
Researchers at NYIT are investigating the process of molecular calcification to develop a new therapy for vascular calcification. The study will validate theories on phosphatase enzyme activity and test a compound known as SBI-425 as a potential treatment.