News on the money and policy behind biomedical research. Covers foundation and career-development awards, endocrine and neuroscience funding, and university royalties.
Researchers developed a novel approach to identify microbial genes specifically present in the gut, accounting for ancestral relationships between bacteria. The analysis uncovered thousands of genes associated with bacteria prevalent in the gut and those linked to Crohn's disease.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology has awarded Binghamton University a five-year $30 million grant to develop standards for regenerative medicine and biomaterial manufacturing. The grant will enable students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty to collaborate with NIST and other universities to advance the field.
A systems genetics study in mice identified molecular signaling pathways that predict resilience or susceptibility to sleep loss. The analysis revealed that fatty acid metabolism influences brain activity and phenotypes, challenging the brain-centric view of sleep regulation.
A study found that foreign-born Hispanics living in areas with many foreign language speakers were 2.8 times more likely to engage in productive activities like employment and volunteer work one year after TBI. The researchers emphasize the importance of tailoring interventions to individual needs, considering neighborhood factors.
A $318,696 NSF award will support the development of a novel biosensing nanotechnology to visualize trace biomarker proteins under a microscope. This technology has the potential to greatly advance protein sensing, enabling accurate diagnoses based on biopsies and improving basic biomedical research.
A new mobile application called Painimation uses animations to assess and monitor pain better than traditional measurement tools. The study found that over 80% of patients enjoyed using the app and it provided similar or more information about pain type and cause than existing questionnaires.
Advanced inflamed vascular plaques associated with progressive liver disease, supporting systemic effects of chronic unresolved inflammation. Researchers test oral delivery of omega-3 fatty acids to treat inflammation without unwanted side effects.
Researchers designed and printed soft robotic manipulators for interacting with delicate deep-sea organisms, collecting samples at depths of up to 2224m. The innovative approach enables real-time modification and innovation in understanding fragile marine life.
Researchers found that feral horses in the park have a mix of genetic markers from different regions, including Native American horse traders and East Asia. The herd is highly inbred and lacks genetic diversity, highlighting the need for new blood to improve its health.
Researchers at Columbia University have developed a method to directly convert white fat to brown fat outside the body and then reimplant it in a patient. This technique uses fat-grafting procedures commonly performed by plastic surgeons, which is potentially safer than existing methods that use pharmaceuticals or chronic cold exposure.
The ERC grant will help Dr. Saraceno find new highly-efficient sources of light waves in the terahertz range, with potential applications in chemistry, physics and biology. The researchers aim to gain further insights into interactions between water molecules and substances dissolved in it.
The Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) is funding innovative clinical approaches to find gene therapy treatments for solid cancers. Recipients of the 2018 research grants include a team working on a vaccine for melanoma, an injectable genetic agent to program T cell receptors, and CAR T cell therapy for brain cancer.
Researchers have identified new species and genus among placozoans, a group of one-millimeter-long marine animals. The study used genomics to reveal genetic diversity within populations, suggesting that they may have diverged despite remaining morphologically similar.
Benjamin Fingerhut, a junior group leader at the Max Born Institute, has been awarded the prestigious ERC Starting Grant to study ultrafast biomolecular dynamics. The project aims to elucidate fundamental processes in biological systems using innovative non-adiabatic approaches.
The OpenSim software has been expanded to improve its applications in medicine, paleontology, and animal locomotion by adding accurate models of muscle dynamics, joint kinematics, and assistive devices. The new improvements enable researchers to perform powerful simulations, visualize solutions, and communicate ideas more effectively.
A study published in PLOS Biology suggests that bile acids from the gut can reduce the rewarding properties of cocaine use, potentially leading to new treatment strategies. The research found that surgery that increases bile acid levels in the brain reduces dopamine release and preference for cocaine.
Researchers have discovered a new link between gene LLRK2 and Parkinson's disease, suggesting that therapies currently being developed for a small group of patients may benefit everyone with the disease. The study also found that LRRK2 plays a key role in clearing excess alpha-synuclein, a protein associated with Parkinson's.
The study found that provinces receiving high PEPFAR funding experienced significant reductions in infant mortality, saving the lives of many Kenyan children. However, the effectiveness of the program varies across countries and regions with different HIV prevalence rates.
A UTA research team partners with Unlocking DOORS to provide individualized plans and improve re-entry success rates for former offenders. The project aims to create a framework adaptable to other areas nationwide.
A new study from MIT found that doctors' written notes reveal their 'gut feelings' play a significant role in determining how many tests they order for patients, beyond just analyzing symptoms and medical data. The researchers used sentiment analysis to uncover this correlation, which was strongest at the beginning of a patient's hospi...
Researchers found that fruit fly species from different backgrounds can communicate more effectively when they cohabitate and learn each other's visual and scent cues. The study suggests that variation in communication ability between species may be analogous to dialects, which can be alleviated through socialization.
Professor Hua's five-year $1.09 million grant will focus on F-box-mediated protein degradation in seed development, aiming to develop precision agriculture through manipulating the ubiquitin-26S proteasome system. The project also aims to promote computational thinking skills among underrepresented students.
Scientists aim to create a DNA-based read-only memory (ROM) with applications in electronic devices, leveraging the unique electrical properties of DNA molecules. The proposed technology could lead to more efficient and compact devices.
A recent study analyzed 34,770 NIH research grantees and found that women who obtain NIH funding stay in the workforce longer, but are less successful at receiving funding for project renewals. The findings suggest a need to encourage women to enter academia and support continued grant submissions.
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus received an $8 million grant to refine and expand the Palliative Care Research Cooperative Group. The PCRC addresses national research priorities in end-of-life care by enhancing research quality and efficiency.
Jennifer Pazour, assistant professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has been selected to take part in the National Academy of Engineering's 24th annual U.S. Frontiers of Engineering symposium. The symposium brings together emerging engineering leaders to discuss pioneering research and techniques.
Researchers found that short-sleeping fruit fly mutants are sensitive to acute oxidative stress, supporting the idea that sleep defends against oxidative damage. The study suggests a bi-directional relationship between sleep and oxidative stress, with sleep helping to reduce oxidative stress and vice versa.
Scientists developed a new machine learning method that can make accurate predictions for all possible conditions governed by the same physical dynamics. The method provides simple and interpretable descriptions of underlying physics, allowing for safer robot operation.
The Bertarelli Foundation has announced a new investment of $6.35 million in Harvard Medical School's Translational Neuroscience and Neuroengineering program. This gift will support collaborative research projects focused on understanding and treating sensory disorders, including deafness, blindness, and pain.
A study found that Chinese tree shrews can actively feed on chili peppers without reducing their food intake, unlike mice. The researchers discovered that the tree shrew's TRPV1 ion channel has a mutation that reduces its sensitivity to capsaicin, making it less painful for them.
Scientists have discovered a key structural motif in the tuberculosis NagA enzyme, providing a promising drug target. The research aims to design specific molecules to block its function and inhibit the critical pathway, potentially leading to new TB therapeutics.
Researchers are investigating the relationship between obesity-induced changes in fat tissue metabolism and vascular disease. The study aims to characterize the role of protein FSP27 in the pathogenesis of obesity-related vascular disease.
A computer analysis predicts that transplanting HCV-infected dialysis patients with organs from HCV-positive donors and treating the infection after transplantation is more effective and less costly. This strategy shortens wait times for donated organs, saves $41,591 per patient, and increases quality-adjusted life years.
TU Dresden has improved significantly, moving up four positions from 10th to 6th in the DFG Funding Atlas, indicating its strong research record. The university has been steadily improving since 1997 and secured €260m in funding between 2014 and 2016.
The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) presents annual research awards and grants to support innovative research initiatives. This year, more than $300,000 was awarded to support projects in osteoarthritis, sports medicine research, and education.
Researchers will investigate the role of sphingolipids in forming microparticles associated with increased risk of blood clotting after traumatic brain injury. The goal is to develop therapies to prevent and treat post-injury blood clots.
A new grant will explore the use of genome editing to modify human pluripotent stem cells for cardiac treatment. This approach could lead to unlimited production of cardiac cells in the lab for therapy, reducing the need for heart donors.
The MDI Biological Laboratory has received a five-year, $12 million NIH Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant to support its regenerative biology research. The funding will accelerate efforts to develop new drugs for tissue regeneration and extend healthy lifespan.
Researchers from North Carolina State University and Oregon State University have identified a genetic difference in zebrafish that is tied to differing responses to the same environmental chemical. The study found an association between the gene Sox7 and varying responses to abamectin, a commonly used antiparasitic.
Young scientists Anne-Marie Valente-Feliciano, Anselm Vossen, and Raul Briceño receive grants to support their research on building better accelerators and studying subatomic particle interactions. They will utilize Jefferson Lab's upgraded accelerator and supercomputers to advance our understanding of particle physics.
A research team at LSU's Pennington Biomedical Research Center has been approved for a five-year, $4.5 million funding award to evaluate two treatments for children with obesity. The study aims to determine the effectiveness of counseling by primary care providers versus a combination of provider and family-based treatment.
Research aims to understand neurochemical basis of decision-making in organisms using limited resources. The project will investigate hormone changes in garter snakes during life phase transitions.
A new study found that Medicare patients are more likely to die outside of acute-care hospitals, where they died at home or in assisted-living facilities. Since 2009, there has been a reduction in patient deaths within three days of hospital discharge, and ICU use during the last month of life has stabilized.
A large-scale genomic study found that nearly 80% of cholera transmission in Dhaka occurred between people sharing a household. Preventing this spread could significantly reduce outbreaks and save lives. Local interventions such as sanitation and hygiene improvements can help break the chain of transmission.
Ming Tang, a Rice University materials scientist, is awarded a $150,000 annual grant to study morphological instability mechanisms in electrodeposition of active metals. The goal is to apply the findings to next-generation rechargeable batteries for lithium, zinc, sodium, and potassium.
The Department of Energy has selected 84 scientists to receive significant funding for research under its Early Career Research Program. The program provides support to exceptional researchers during the early career years, when many scientists do their most formative work.
Researchers used intravital correlative light-electron microscopy to visualize platelet production in vivo. They found that megakaryocytes form large protrusions rather than extruding fine proplatelet extensions, revising the understanding of fundamental biology of platelet formation.
Assistant professor Ming Lee Tang at UC Riverside has received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop hybrid organic-inorganic nanocrystal-based materials for biomedical imaging and solar energy applications.
Researchers discovered that mice can learn to plan ahead and avoid future regret by skipping bad deals and taking extra time to make informed decisions. Over time, the mice's strategies changed from immediately going for the best option to planning ahead to prevent regret.
Professor Maurizio Pellecchia has received $2.5 million in funding from the National Academy of Sciences and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to study the EphA3 receptor's role in cancer and ALS. His research aims to develop therapeutic agents that target this receptor, which is overexpressed in cancer cells.
The five-year, $1 million grant will fund the CHANcE Project, which aims to build an inclusive culture in STEM fields. The project will empower STEM faculty to become champions of Inclusive Education, promoting the inclusion, persistence, and development of all science students.
A MSU chemistry professor has been awarded a $356,598 grant to develop new methods for gathering rare medical isotopes. The goal is to enable targeted alpha therapy for metastatic cancer and advance research in fields like astrophysics and biochemistry.
Utah State University joins 33 institutions nationwide in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Inclusive Excellence initiative, aiming to engage all students in science regardless of background. The university will provide academic and social support for Native American students transferring from its Blanding campus.
Researchers discovered that trehalose increases cellular waste disposal and improves neurological symptoms in MPS IIIB mice. The study found that trehalose delayed retinal degeneration, vision loss, and improved lifespan by activating a master regulator of the lysosomal system.
Researchers have discovered a glycoside called arbutin, extracted from the bearberry plant, that can break up kidney stones. The molecule has shown remarkable ability to dissolve kidney stones in pre-clinical studies, offering a potential new treatment option for patients.
The €115 million AIMS-2-Trials grant aims to understand autism, develop personalized therapies, and improve quality of life for autistic individuals. It will create a European clinical trials network and partner with charities, governments, and industry to rapidly determine therapy effectiveness.
Investigational medicines became available to terminally ill patients through expanded access programs, allowing for the assessment of drug timing and duration. The study aimed to better understand this process and its implications for patient care.
In Tanzania, trichiasis surgery patients often refuse treatment because they believe the recovery period is long. However, studies show that the recovery time is actually short, typically a few days. A new study found that educating community health workers about the procedure reduced refusals and increased knowledge about the surgery.
Researchers at Kazan Federal University will develop autonomous controls for stitching in dynamic circumstances and with different types of tissues. The project aims to improve robotic surgical assistance, particularly in rural regions where skilled surgeons are scarce.
Boston University School of Medicine is developing a software application to identify and share professional development opportunities for graduate and postdoctoral trainees. The grant will support pilot projects to prepare students and researchers for successful careers in biomedical sciences.