News on the money and policy behind biomedical research. Covers foundation and career-development awards, endocrine and neuroscience funding, and university royalties.
Researchers create an algorithm that accurately classifies mouse vigilance states into wake, REM sleep, and non-REM sleep based on local brain activity in the olfactory bulb. The study has potential applications in medical and clinical fields, including surgical anesthesia and sleep disorders.
Researchers at the University of South Florida have developed a groundbreaking process that converts biogas from landfills into liquid diesel fuel, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels. This innovative method has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy independence.
The 2018 Glenn Foundation for Medical Research and AFAR Research Grant for Junior Faculty has awarded $1,200,000 to twelve researchers studying aging processes and age-related diseases. The grants will support research focused on mechanisms of biology governing normal human aging and its related physiological decline.
The Irene Diamond Fund/AFAR Postdoctoral Transition Awards in Aging will provide full-time research training and flexible grant support to seven postdoctoral fellows studying various aspects of aging. The awards aim to create a research pipeline for advancing therapies for age-related diseases.
The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) and the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research announced the recipients of the 2018 Glenn Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships in Aging Research, supporting postdocs studying basic research mechanisms of aging. The program provides $60,000 grants to study human health and disease.
Researchers aim to understand KLF2's role in vascular health and disease, targeting inflammation and narrowing of arteries. The team seeks to develop novel strategies to sustain KLF2 levels and treat cardiovascular disorders.
Researchers from Harvard Medical School and the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology are developing a novel gene therapy to treat Usher syndrome type IF. They will use three different strategies to overcome the challenge of delivering the unusually large Usher 1F protein into target cells.
A new Stanford-led study supports a conservation approach that focuses broadly on ecoregions, providing evidence that these regions meaningfully divide plant and animal communities. This opens a path to more affordable and effective protection of little-known species and valuable natural services.
Ubadah Sabbagh, a Roanoke-based Virginia Tech graduate student, has been selected as a Society for Neuroscience fellow. He will receive funding to attend conferences and be paired with senior mentors through the two-year training initiative.
A new imaging process will enable x-ray microscopy on living subjects, facilitating more detailed analysis of bone structure changes in osteoporosis. The European Research Council funds the project with a €12.3 million grant.
A Northwestern University study found that inflammation can disrupt the body's natural sleep-wake cycle, leading to circadian sleep disorders. The research used a genetic switch to turn inflammation on and off in mice, revealing a link between inflammatory diseases and the body's clock.
The European Joint Programme and Goethe University will develop tools to integrate and standardize patient data for rare disease research. The university will receive the largest funding sum of all participating German institutions, with a focus on developing open-source registration platforms.
The $1.5 million grant will allow Brown, RIDOC and partners to expand MAT treatment for high-risk individuals, addressing gaps in the existing program. Over three years, the team aims to treat over 300 additional Rhode Island residents with opioid use disorders.
Karine Le Roch, a UC Riverside professor, is awarded two NIH grants totaling $6.6 million to study Plasmodium falciparum parasites and develop novel therapeutics. The research aims to target RNA-binding proteins, or RAPs, which are essential to parasite development.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have successfully used genome editing to correct a genetic mutation causing a rare and deadly heart condition. The study uses CRISPR/Cas9 technology to selectively disrupt the disease-causing gene, reducing arrhythmia symptoms in mice. This breakthrough could lead to a permanent treatment for p...
A study published in Scientific Reports found Zika virus in dead monkeys in Brazil, indicating a potential sylvatic transmission cycle. The infected animals were more vulnerable to attack by humans, highlighting the need for further research on the role of wild animals in maintaining the urban cycle of Zika.
Neuroene Therapeutics is developing a vitamin K analogue to improve seizure control in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. The company will test the efficacy and safety of its lead compounds with assistance from the University of Utah's Anticonvulsant Drug Development Program.
Researchers in Barcelona have received an ERC Synergy grant to study chronic lymphocytic leukemia at unprecedented resolution using single-cell analysis. The BCLL@las project aims to generate comprehensive information from thousands of individual cells, leading to novel insights into the origin and evolution of cancer.
A new center will recruit and train junior scientists to study Alzheimer's disease in Native populations, with a focus on American Indian, Alaska Native, and Pacific Islander investigators. The center aims to fill knowledge gaps and promote prevention and treatment to reduce health disparities.
The European Research Council has awarded EUR 250 million in Synergy Grants to 27 research groups, bringing together complementary skills and knowledge to address cutting-edge research problems. The grants aim to facilitate transformative research that crosses disciplinary boundaries and yields groundbreaking scientific results.
A new EU-funded project, EXPLO, aims to uncover the dynamics and causes of prehistoric land use change in the cradle of European farming. By integrating underwater archeology with ecological and climate science methods, researchers hope to understand how early farmers adapted to changing environmental conditions.
A team of UC Riverside-led scientists have made the best measurement yet of why star formation stops in galaxy clusters in the early universe. They found that it takes a galaxy longer to stop forming stars as the universe gets older, with quenching timescales varying across 70 percent of the universe's history.
A new multi-national database will help researchers address questions about bipolar disorder throughout the adult lifespan. The database will aggregate data from over 1,000 patients worldwide, enabling scientists to uncover patterns of and predictors for the condition.
Researchers are developing an automated virtual health coach using data from human health coaches to help participants set SMART goals and stay on track. The system will learn to automate interactions and notify human health coaches when needed, aiming to improve health behaviors among underserved populations.
A phase 3 clinical trial found that ixekizumab significantly improves AS symptoms, disease activity and quality of life after 16 weeks. The treatment was well-tolerated despite more frequent adverse events compared to placebo.
Patients with sleep apnea who experience short interruptions in breathing while sleeping are at a higher risk of death than those with longer interruptions. The study found that patients with the shortest apneas were 31% more likely to die during follow-up.
A study by Brigham and Women's Hospital found that 15.7% of emergency department visits could be denied coverage based on discharge diagnoses. Patients may face difficulties self-determining their medical needs, highlighting the need for alternative solutions.
Research from the LBJ School of Public Affairs found that Northern Ireland's strict abortion laws have negative consequences for women's physical and mental well-being. Women often face barriers to accessing care, including fear of prosecution, lack of clarity on healthcare provider duties, and challenges in arranging travel or childcare.
The South Carolina Center for Translational Research Improving Musculoskeletal Health brings together scientists from across South Carolina to study and develop new treatments for musculoskeletal disorders. The center will create virtual clinical trials to speed up innovation and improve care.
Researchers at Ural Federal University have won grants to develop methods for destroying composite materials and creating efficient electrode materials for ammonia synthesis. They will also explore creating plant protection products against phyto-pathogens with a potential impact on the global energy sector.
A study by University of Pittsburgh researchers found that measuring percentage of weight regained after bariatric surgery can help predict serious health problems. The rate of weight regain was highest in the first year following maximum weight loss, indicating early detection and treatment may be crucial.
A University of Akron engineer is working on antifouling materials to prevent unwanted organisms from accumulating on medical implants. This can help reduce the risk of foreign body reactions and improve patient outcomes.
A study found that Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery patients experience higher peak alcohol concentrations and slower alcohol elimination compared to pre-surgery. This suggests a steady increase in alcohol consumption among post-surgery patients, highlighting the need for improved screening tools.
A UChicago research team will collaborate with Pitt to develop robotic arms patients can control with their minds, receiving sensory feedback from attached prosthetic hands. The project aims to create a prosthesis with the same dexterity and functionality as the natural human hand.
Shivam Arora, a dual-degree track graduate student, has won a $12,000 fellowship to conduct applied research in public-sector airport-related aviation issues. He plans to develop factor models for fixed-income securities issued by airport-affiliated entities.
A recent grant from the National Institutes of Health will enable a three-year project to explore the sex differences in oxytocin system development. The study aims to understand how oxytocin affects the female and male brain's neural regulation of social behavior.
A team of University of Pittsburgh and UPMC researchers has received $8 million in NIH funding to expand their groundbreaking brain-computer interface (BCI) research, with the goal of restoring hand function via a robotic arm. The new funding will support critical next steps in their research.
A study of 104 children who experienced 123 injuries found that falls were the most common type of injury, with head/neck/face area injuries prevalent. More than half of parents made home modifications after an injury, such as storing hazardous products, to prevent future incidents.
A new study analyzing the genomes of nearly a quarter of a million men discovered a single-nucleotide polymorphism on Chromosome 6 linked to an increased risk of erectile dysfunction. The genetic locus was consistently associated with ED risk across ethnically diverse groups, suggesting a novel mechanism specific to sexual function.
Researchers developed nanoparticles that bind to venom toxins, mitigating local damage and systemic distribution of toxins in mouse experiments. The treatment has the potential to be administered subcutaneously after a bite, offering a new approach to treating snakebites in rural settings.
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation has awarded over $13.8 million in Young Investigator Grants to 200 promising young scientists studying various psychiatric disorders, including addiction and depression. The grants support innovative ideas for groundbreaking neurobiological research.
Receiving hugs on days with interpersonal conflict was associated with smaller decreases in positive emotions and increased negative emotions. The effects of hugs may have lingered, as interviewees reported continued attenuation of negative mood the next day.
Two University of Pittsburgh faculty members, Peter Strick and Warren Ruder, have been awarded $6 million NIH Director's Transformative Research Awards for innovative research in brain-body connection and antibiotic resistance. Their work aims to revolutionize biomedical research and address significant medical challenges.
University of California, Irvine Neuroscientist Medha Pathak has been awarded a $1.5M grant to investigate how mechanical forces influence human brain development using human brain organoids. Her research aims to uncover the mechanisms underlying human neural development and demonstrate how disruption can lead to developmental failures.
Reyna Gordon, PhD, has received a $2.3 million NIH Director's New Innovator Award to investigate the relationship between rhythm and speech disorders. Her research aims to identify health phenotypes that share a biological basis with humans' musical rhythm abilities.
Researchers will combine yeast, C. elegans models with mouse models to identify molecular changes in human aging and predict age-associated diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson
The University of Texas at San Antonio has received a $500,000 NSF grant to develop a machine-learning algorithm that can recognize and unmask malicious software. This technology will also categorize the large number of malware in the wild, estimated to be over 669,000 in 2017.
A new grant aims to flip stereotypes about scientists by highlighting diverse scientists in middle and high school science lessons. The project, led by SF State and Foothill College, creates 'Scientist Spotlights' that teach important course concepts while promoting diversity and inclusion.
Researchers analyzed data from the TBI Model System National Data and Statistical Center to identify physical, cognitive, and psychosocial characteristics associated with mortality in chronic TBI survivors. Independence in mobility and community participation were found to be important factors for long-term survival in this population.
The University of Freiburg has been granted two Clusters of Excellence, CIBSS and livMatS, with funding of up to 100 million euros over seven years. The clusters will focus on biological signalling studies and bioinspired materials research.
A new grant from the National Institute on Aging aims to boost Latino researchers studying Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The San Diego Resource Center for Advancing Alzheimer's Research in Minority Seniors will provide mentorship, data, and intellectual resources to support emerging scholars.
Researchers have discovered three genetic variants associated with chronic back pain, which may provide clues for understanding its occurrence. The study found that these variants are linked to genes controlling skeletal development and spinal cord function.
TU Dresden has secured funding for three new Clusters of Excellence, including PoL: Physics of Life, ct.qmat: Complexity and Topology in Quantum Materials, and CeTI: Center for Tactile Internet. This achievement confirms the university's continuous development and commitment to cutting-edge research.
Researchers found that hospitalization, critical illness, and major infection are associated with reduced brain volume in regions vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease. Critical illness was also linked to inflammation in the brain and systemic inflammation.
Researchers will explore how smooth muscles control feathers and aid birds in flight, a novel approach that could reveal the role of smooth muscle in limb control for the first time. By studying body contour feathers and wing movement, they aim to transform our understanding of bird flight.
Researchers create high-performance exterior PDRC polymer coating with nano-to-microscale air voids, which reflects sunlight and radiates heat to the sky. The coating can be fabricated, dyed, and applied like paint on various surfaces, achieving cooling capabilities in both desert and tropical climates.
The University of Konstanz has been awarded Excellence funding for two of its three cluster initiatives, including the Politics of Inequality: Perceptions, Participation and Policies and the Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour. This success will enable the university to compete with top universities in Germany and sha...
A UC Riverside-led study will focus on alcohol use disorders in Pacific Islander young adults, exploring factors that contribute to misuse and developing culturally tailored prevention strategies. The research hopes to gain a deeper understanding of the issue and inform effective interventions.
The project, which began in 2014 with $5.25 million, aims to ensure safe disposal of nuclear waste for thousands or hundreds of thousands of years. Researchers are using multidisciplinary approaches to study the movement of radionuclides through soil and groundwater.
Dannie Durand aims to characterize similarities and differences in multidomain proteins across vertebrates and bacteria. The goal is to identify design rules for these modular proteins, enabling predictive models that link evolution and function.