News on the money and policy behind biomedical research. Covers foundation and career-development awards, endocrine and neuroscience funding, and university royalties.
The Bay Area Lyme Foundation is offering $150,000 Emerging Leader Awards to researchers advancing novel approaches in Lyme disease diagnostics and treatments. Applicants must demonstrate professional and scientific leadership and a strong supporting scientific rationale.
Two teams, led by Rice's ENRICH office, have won $100,000 in matching funds from partnering institutions to investigate AI-based symptom checkers and electrocardiogram data for improving cardiovascular risk assessment. The projects aim to mitigate vulnerabilities and reduce health disparities.
A large-scale clinical trial will enroll 644 children across the US to determine if adding acetaminophen or ketorolac to opioid-based pain control reduces pain in critically ill children. The study aims to improve pediatric intensive care worldwide by reducing side effects and increasing long-term patient outcomes.
The TTUHSC team will conduct a needs assessment and create an action plan to strengthen clinical and community-based research, guided by strategic translational research themes. The goal is to address health disparities in the region through community-based participatory research.
Weill Cornell Medicine researchers have received $10 million in grants from the Starr Cancer Consortium to fund research on common cancers and related treatment strategies. The grants will support three teams led by Weill Cornell Medicine scientists, who plan to develop new methods for detecting and treating cancer.
Researchers at Wayne State University are developing new AI-powered methods to design and develop new drugs, including carbohydrate-based treatments for cancer. The study aims to improve the accuracy of simulations and machine learning models to predict the behavior of complex biological molecules.
Researchers develop a novel edge-highlighting visualization technique to improve the clarity of complex 3D structures, revealing sharp edges and intricate details. The technique, tested on real 3D point cloud data, offers interactive rendering speeds and enhances depth perception.
A $3.7 million NIH grant supports a study to improve PE diagnosis and treatment by using advanced imaging techniques, which may measure the effectiveness of clot-dissolving therapies. The goal is to help clinicians better diagnose and treat patients with PE, a devastating cardiovascular ailment.
Dr. Joongkyu Park has been awarded two new NIH grants totaling $2.3 million to investigate local protein synthesis in tau pathology neurodegeneration and redirected CaMKII for restoring deficits in Alzheimer's disease models. The research aims to understand how these mechanisms contribute to the pathologic features of Alzheimer's disease.
A new study discovered how TRIM25, a cellular superhero, finds and binds to viral RNA to activate an immune response. The researchers found that this binding is critical for TRIM25's antiviral activity and its ability to target regions of viral RNA.
Danielle Mor, a neuroscientist at the Medical College of Georgia, has been awarded $2.3 million to study the progression of Parkinson's disease through the use of C. elegans and innovative research approaches. Her goal is to understand how misfolded proteins spread from the gastrointestinal tract to the central nervous system.
Researchers at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center are exploring a new approach to treating liver cancer using immunotherapy and a newly developed drug that inhibits the MYC gene. The four-year grant aims to identify effective treatment combinations for hepatocellular carcinoma, improving patient survival rates.
A European Research Council (ERC) grant has been awarded to Dr. Levent Beker's project, BladderWatch, a wearable ultrasound device for continuous bladder volume tracking. This innovation aims to improve the quality of life for millions worldwide suffering from lower urinary tract dysfunction.
Researchers at Wayne State University are exploring the connections between PFAS exposure, bacterial infections, and preterm birth. The study aims to identify critical pathways responsible for preterm birth and establish a causative link between pollutant exposures and adverse birth outcomes.
Two UCF cancer researchers, Alicja Copik and Debbie Altomare, have received $100,000 grants from the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation to develop new treatments for breast cancer. They focus on enhancing natural killer cells to fight cancer and harnessing the body's immune system to create new therapies.
The ADA Forsyth Institute has received a $6.2 million grant from the NIH to design an AI-driven amalgam replacement for dental restoratives. The new material will feature self-healing and antimicrobial properties, responding to biological signals in each individual patient's mouth.
The University of Pittsburgh has been awarded a 10-year, $100 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to continue its Linking Investigations in Trauma and Emergency Services (LITES) Network. The network will fund new research on trauma care and expand ongoing studies.
A UD researcher has received a $2.3M NIH grant to investigate inherited retinal diseases. The funding will support groundbreaking research that could lead to significant breakthroughs in understanding and addressing these conditions.
The NIH is establishing a network to integrate genomics into learning health systems, analyzing and improving the use of genomic information in patient care. The goal is to create generalizable knowledge and genomic medicine practices that can be shared with under-resourced settings, improving patient outcomes.
The European capacity for antibiotic research and development requires sustained investment to combat growing resistance. Collaboration and risk-sharing can help keep companies in anti-infective drug development, as a temporary funding strategy may lead to lost efforts.
Endomimetics is developing a Bionanomatrix coating to accelerate aneurysm occlusion and minimize thrombus formation in brain aneurysm patients. The coating promotes endothelialization through five synergistic elements, reducing inflammatory responses and platelet adhesion.
Blanca Barquera's research aims to improve understanding of the energy metabolism of Bacteroides, a crucial step towards designing effective probiotic formulations. The study will investigate how Bacteroides utilize carbohydrates and Vitamin K from host diets.
The Cancer Cooperative Group System is being re-engineered to bring new money to correlative science research through public-private partnerships, aiming to remove barriers for researchers to access biological samples. This will facilitate the integration of innovative science into cancer clinical trials.
The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences has received a $5.3 million National Institutes of Health grant to support advanced cancer research in Oklahoma. The grant will help early-career researchers establish independently funded laboratories and build technology infrastructure specific to cancer investigations.
Associate Professor Justine Tigno-Aranjuez received a $1 million NSF CAREER Award to study the impact of the NOD2 pathway on inflammation. Her research aims to understand how lipid mediators are produced and how they influence inflammation.
Johannes Wahl receives EUR 1.5 million ERC Starting Grant to streamline synthesis of nitrogen-containing compounds, accelerating identification of promising drug candidates and tailoring their properties. Late-stage nitrogen insertion enables better adjustment of physical and chemical properties.
Researchers at UCSF develop a method to target GTPases, enzymes involved in Parkinson's and many other diseases, by using drugs targeting the K-Ras oncogene. This approach reveals new drug binding sites that could not be predicted by computational tools.
Researchers have found a potential compound that pairs well with an IRAK4 inhibitor to kill AML cells by reducing c-Myc levels, a protein also driving cancer growth. The three-year LLS grant will allow further research into the effects of IRAK4 targeting on c-Myc.
Researchers will combine stem cell therapy with brain-computer interfaces to restore function to patients with brain damage. The goal is to create bidirectional connections between cultured brain cells and the living human brain.
A Trinity scientist has won an ERC Starting Grant to investigate the role of microglia in brain disorders. The project aims to create a detailed map of how these immune cells change during brain damage, disease, or repair, with the goal of developing methods to control and rejuvenate neuropathology.
A global therapeutics development coalition is proposed to invigorate the pipeline and drive advocacy for increased investment. The coalition aims to develop two Phase-2 ready therapeutics for virus families of pandemic potential, with a focus on equitable access.
Dr. Josephine Wu's project, OPTO-BIOPRINTING, aims to develop a novel platform for spatiotemporally guided tissue engineering using cellular self-assembly and light triggering. The goal is to create living organ replacements that can perform as well as native equivalents.
The Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute has received $55 million in NIH funding to accelerate the development, evaluation, and implementation of improved healthcare interventions. The grant will support the development of effective health interventions for more patients more quickly, with a focus on ad...
The WPI team will develop an inexpensive test kit that can quickly identify vulnerable species and track illegal wildlife trade on social networks. The project aims to disrupt the multi-billion-dollar industry by providing law enforcement with real-time results and long-term trends.
A WVU researcher argues that more validation is needed for the increasing number of gallbladder surgeries performed for biliary dyskinesia, a functional gallbladder disorder. The researcher suggests that a combination of factors must come together to diagnose and select patients who would benefit from surgery.
Texas A&M researchers are investigating the use of extracellular vesicles to deliver immune-suppressing proteins, potentially reducing the immune system's attack on insulin-producing beta-cells. The goal is to develop a novel treatment for type 1 diabetes, which currently has only lifelong insulin therapy as an approved option.
Guan's lab will apply accumulated experience and methods to study SLC6A14, a sodium-coupled epithelial amino acid co-transporter involved in cancer and several chronic diseases. CryoEM will be used to determine the structure of SLC6A14, providing insight into its substrate specificity and inhibitory mechanisms.
Researchers will investigate how altered copper metabolism and redox balance contribute to endothelial cell dysfunction, leading to cardiovascular diseases. The five-year project aims to understand the underlying mechanisms of vascular disease and develop effective treatments.
Dr. Elks' research focuses on the communication loop between fat cells and immune cells, which promotes inflammation and insulin resistance when disrupted. The grant aims to uncover patterns in cell communication that can be used to treat obesity and other metabolic diseases.
Liheng Cai, a UVA engineering professor, has received a $1.9 million NIH grant to create advanced biomaterials that can be used to repair living tissues and build organ structures. His lab aims to develop polymers that mimic human biology and integrate healthy cells into the human body.
Researchers are studying the role of stress hormones and mineralocorticoid receptors in bone health as we age. The goal is to understand how balance between these factors affects our skeletons. By investigating this complex relationship, scientists hope to develop new insights into osteoporosis and other age-related bone disorders.
Researchers at UVA discovered an unknown cause of long COVID inside lung tissues, promoting chronic inflammation that drives lasting respiratory symptoms. They found that immune cells can go haywire and promote tissue scarring, leading to conditions like interstitial lung disease.
Researchers in the College of Agriculture, College of Pharmacy, and College of Science are developing effective cancer treatments targeting multiple genes with a single agent. They also created patent-pending superabsorbent materials from hemp, showing higher absorption capacity than traditional options.
Pagliarini's research aims to shed light on the underlying genetic causes of mitochondrial disorders, which affect one in 5,000 people. He will use this funding to expand his work on mitochondrial proteins and their functions, with a focus on coenzyme Q.
The grant will be used to investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying fentanyl addiction, with a focus on identifying genes and brain mechanisms that contribute to vulnerability and resistance to addiction. The research aims to pave the way for the development of novel, more effective treatments for fentanyl addiction.
Researchers have developed a new technique called burst sine wave electroporation (B-SWE) that can disrupt the blood-brain barrier around brain tumors without causing significant damage to healthy tissue. This method shows promise for treating aggressive brain cancers like glioblastoma, which currently have limited treatment options.
A team of Texas A&M researchers will conduct a five-year study on brucellosis in Armenia to improve detection capabilities and provide education. The project aims to better understand the disease's presence and prevalence, allowing the Armenian government to develop a control plan to stop its spread.
A new study is testing whether digital tools can help predict which patients with depression will benefit from specific treatments and deliver them on demand. The researchers hope to use these tools to broaden access to psychiatric care and realize the promise of precision psychiatry.
The Tulane University-led COBRE will investigate biological sex and gender differences to improve medical outcomes, focusing on differences in autoimmune diseases, pneumonia infections, and treatment responses. The center aims to develop sex-specific miniaturized models of human tissues and organs to study disease progression.
Anaerobic bacteria have survived for ages in oxygen-free niches, influencing human health and environment. The 'AnoxyGen' project aims to unlock their biosynthetic potential using molecular and synthetic biology tools.
Researchers will combine patients' self-reports with mobile app, wearable device, genetic sample, and clinical record data to predict which approaches will work best for an individual. The goal is to improve the success of first-time mental health treatment.
Dr. Sanaz Memarzadeh and her team aim to improve treatment outcomes for patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer using adoptive T-cell therapy and natural killer cells. They hope to identify new targets and biomarkers for effective treatments.
The Texas A&M Center for Environmental Health will promote research in four areas of environmental health, including climate change and health, environment and metabolism, and environmental justice and policy. The center aims to facilitate collaboration between researchers and make funding more accessible for junior faculty.
Researchers at UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have received a $1.8 million grant to advance personalized cancer therapy for prostate cancer patients. They aim to predict and prevent long-term side effects from radiation treatment, improving quality of life for men diagnosed with the disease.
African American woman breast cancer survivor talking about her experience with breast cancer and the impact of breast cancer on women's lives. The American Cancer Society is a leading organization in cancer research, patient services, and advocacy.
A randomized controlled trial found that four weeks of outdoor gait training, combined with home exercises, improved running biomechanics and reduced the time feet were in contact with the ground. This technique may help patients improve their stride and reduce pain associated with shin splints.
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have identified cellular and molecular markers that can predict when pancreatic cancer will spread to the liver or other organs. The study found that patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer who showed signs of immune exhaustion were more likely to develop liver metastases.
The WVU researchers developed a non-invasive, at-home sleep apnea detection device that uses artificial intelligence technology to measure oxygen levels in the blood. Early detection can help prevent worsening of underlying comorbid conditions and reduce healthcare costs, according to Dr. Sunil Sharma.
Marilyn Rantz's Quality Improvement Program for Missouri (QIPMO) improves care quality in nursing homes, reducing avoidable hospitalizations. The program is now being emulated nationwide for its proven track record of success.
The University of Texas at Arlington has awarded over $130,000 to support new research projects through its Research Enhancement Program grants. The funding is intended to provide seed money for researchers to initiate creative endeavors and make a positive impact on society.