News on the money and policy behind biomedical research. Covers foundation and career-development awards, endocrine and neuroscience funding, and university royalties.
A Penn study reveals new patterns of coordinated brain development during adolescence, relating structural patterns to functional networks. This finding may open opportunities for future research into preventing psychiatric disorders that begin during this age.
University-based startups can benefit from university-funded seed capital programs, which provide expanded funding opportunities, entrepreneur development, and economic growth. These programs also help faculty members and students develop their entrepreneurial skills and support the commercialization of innovative technologies.
Scientists have identified a previously unknown virus affecting parasitoid wasp species, reducing female offspring and extending lifespan. The discovery has implications for understanding viral transmission in insects.
A study found that funding agencies are not transparent about their methods to reduce waste and support methodological research, and governments are not holding them accountable. This has led to a lack of comprehensive strategies for data sharing and reducing research waste.
Researchers discovered that robber flies employ a constant bearing angle strategy and 'lock on' to their prey at a distance, allowing them to capture small targets. The flies' eyes have been found to have a high spatial resolution, enabling them to detect prey items up to 100 body lengths away.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has awarded a $10.3 million grant to create a Youth Opportunity Hub in Northern Manhattan, providing wraparound support and opportunities to youth through partnerships with community-based organizations. The project aims to reduce involvement in the criminal justice system among high-risk youth.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found a significant increase in dementia diagnoses among older adults in the Netherlands over two decades. The researchers analyzed data from primary care networks and estimated an annual growth rate of 2.1% for dementia incidence, with women being more likely to develop the condition.
A new analysis published in BioScience found that long-term ecological studies are more frequently cited and important for informing policy decisions. The study suggests that funding agencies should prioritize long-term research to advance the science of ecology and support management and policy recommendations.
Researchers at Michigan State University are studying the effect of hormones on ovulation and reproduction in cows to develop better fertility treatments for women. The study aims to improve fertility response rates by understanding how increased doses of fertility hormone impact ovarian function and egg quality.
TGen researchers will test triptolide as a potential drug targeting SCCOHT, an aggressive form of ovarian cancer that affects mostly girls and young women. The grant aims to improve the understanding of ovarian cancer biology and potentially develop new treatments for this devastating disease.
Scientists at Vanderbilt University created a 3D organ-on-a-chip that can mimic the heart's biomechanical properties, allowing for the study of cardiac diseases, drug screening, and personalized medicine. The device replicates the mechanical conditions of the living heart, including electrical and biochemical environments.
The USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture has awarded grants totaling $4,790,100 to non-land-grant universities for agricultural science programs. These grants will support education, research, and outreach activities in agriculture, renewable resources, and related disciplines.
A $420,000 grant has funded a two-year study on Enterovirus 71 (EV71), a relatively new virus compared to polio, which can cause paralysis in young children. The researcher hopes to develop specific and effective treatments for the illnesses caused by EV71.
A mathematical model determines the best vaccination strategy in the presence of uncertainty surrounding vaccination efficacy and animal vaccination capacity. The study shows significant cost savings can be achieved by accurately identifying our capacity to vaccinate, with £55 million in outbreak costs potentially saved.
A mouse study has identified granzyme A as a protein that promotes arthritic inflammation after chikungunya virus infection. The study suggests that granzyme A could serve as a potential target for new drugs to treat chikungunya-related arthritis in humans.
Drs. Marco Gallo and Greg Delgoffe receive ACGT Young Investigator Grants to study glioblastoma and metastatic melanoma, focusing on gene therapy and T cell metabolism to boost immune responses against cancer.
A Massachusetts General Hospital study found that women cardiologists are less likely to be full professors than their male counterparts, even after adjusting for factors such as age and research productivity. The disparity persists across different medical schools and specialties.
Children's National urologist Michael Hsieh is awarded a $1 million grant to generate mutant forms of IPSE, a parasite-derived protein that may alleviate bladder pain. The goal is to develop IPSE as an alternative to opioids for treating pain in general.
A RIT researcher is working on developing security measures for deeply-embedded systems in medical devices like pacemakers, to prevent cyberattacks and data breaches. The goal is to ensure patient safety and data integrity.
A $2 million Gates Foundation grant will support the development of novel test protocols to accelerate the creation and deployment of next-generation vector control products. The project aims to improve the understanding of vector control approaches and produce better-informed products to combat malaria in Africa.
Patients with primary non-English language fluency face disparities in completing kidney transplant evaluations, ultimately affecting their access to a transplant. Researchers found that linguistically isolated households were linked to lower likelihoods of transitioning to active waitlist status and incomplete evaluations.
A multidisciplinary team from UChicago is developing wireless brain implants that can convert camera input into electrical stimulations to produce useful visual perception in the brain. The technology could restore partial vision to people who have lost their sight, significantly improving their quality of life.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati are developing a cell therapy that utilizes modified facial muscle cells to regenerate heart tissue. This innovative approach aims to address the limitations of existing treatments, which often rely on drug therapies or surgery, and may reduce rejection risks.
A study suggests that limiting lung cancer screening to high-risk former smokers may improve cost-effectiveness. The most cost-effective scenario involves annual screening between ages 55 and 75 for persons who smoked over 40 pack-years and quit less than 10 years ago.
A new device, SEEKER™, has received FDA clearance to detect four types of lysosomal storage disorders from dried blood spots. This development was made possible with NIH funding and shows a faster screening process compared to conventional methods.
Researchers have identified 13 new genetic regions linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as overlap with asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. The study provides insight into the genetic basis of COPD and may lead to improved therapies for patients.
The University of California, Irvine has received a $2.2 million funding boost to support innovation and entrepreneurship. The Bridging Innovation Gaps Initiative will provide gap funding for biomedical engineering projects, grant applications, and proof-of-product grants.
The USDA-NIFA has awarded $3 million in grants for plant and animal phenomics research. The projects focus on developing high-throughput technologies to analyze microbiomes and their interactions with plants and animals, with potential applications in improving human health and food production.
Lyme disease affects approximately 329,000 people annually in the US, with a focus on understanding how Borrelia burgdorferi adapts to survive in tick vectors and mammalian hosts. Dr. Seshu's research seeks to find better solutions to prevent the spread of Lyme disease.
A study found that two problem proteins known to cause Parkinson's disease are chemically linked, suggesting a common target for a single drug. Reducing one protein leads to an increase in the other, which can be mitigated by a treatment targeting the link.
Researchers found that using the 25th and 85th centile ranges instead of the traditional 10th and 90th percentiles could prevent one fatal event by offering delivery to women outside these ranges. This expansion may require an additional 1143 deliveries to be made.
A new brain-computer interface technology has successfully enabled communication in four patients with complete paralysis, including those with ALS. The non-invasive system detected responses by measuring changes in blood oxygen levels and electrical activity in the brain, with seventy percent accuracy.
Dr. McCullough will investigate the effects of social isolation on stroke damage and recovery using miRNAs. The study aims to develop new therapies reducing disability in patients after a stroke.
The Epilepsy Bioinformatics Study for Antiepileptogenic Therapy (EpiBioS4Rx) project aims to identify biomarkers associated with epilepsy development and develop novel therapies. The research team will collaborate with patients and their families to improve treatment options.
A new study at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that hospital-led interventions significantly reduced the Cesarean delivery rate from 34.8% to 21.2% over a seven-year period. The interventions included quality improvement measures such as standardized protocols, increased provider education and revised guidelines.
Terrie E. Taylor, a Michigan State University professor, is working on developing new treatments for cerebral malaria, the deadliest form of the disease. Her research aims to identify interventions that can reduce brain swelling and save children's lives.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged $279 million to the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) over the next decade. This investment will enable IHME to provide critical data on global health trends, informing policymakers' decisions and improving population health worldwide.
Dr. Joseph P. Mizgerd, a Boston University School of Medicine professor, has received an NIH award to study the biology of pneumonia, which kills more children worldwide than any other disease. He aims to advance lung defense against pneumonia and identify prevention strategies for chronic disease of aging.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine found no long-term impact of maternal body mass index (BMI) on a child's risk of fatness in childhood and adolescence. The research used genetic information on 6,057 mother-offspring pairs to explore the causal effect of maternal pregnancy adiposity on future offspring adiposity.
A new optogenetic tool has been developed to inhibit neural activity in the Drosophila model, allowing researchers to study the relationship between neural circuits and behavior. This breakthrough could accelerate the development of therapies for neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Researchers found that successful quitters had a considerable improvement in their depression and 66.3% described no or minimal symptoms during a one-year follow-up. Stop smoking services can be effective in supporting people with depression, particularly with increased visits.
The Chicago Biomedical Consortium has received a $21 million funding commitment from the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust. This support will focus on fostering entrepreneurship among university researchers and promote translational research projects. The CBC is launching new initiatives, including forums for commercializatio...
Researchers analyzed two thylacine brains and compared them to those of Tasmanian devils, finding larger caudate zones in the former. This indicates that thylacines devoted more cortex to complex cognition associated with predation, fitting their hunting strategy.
A new study found that measuring neuron-specific enolase levels soon after cardiac arrest can help guide patient care decisions. The protein biomarker is a strong predictor of brain recovery in patients who are unconscious for three or more days.
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is investing $1.85 million in regional potato breeding research to create new, high-value varieties. The project aims to develop potatoes with improved yield, storability, consumer quality, and water efficiency, as well as high-throughput methods for rapid trait selection.
The Philadelphia Pediatric Medical Device Consortium awarded $50,000 grants to three companies developing innovative medical devices for children. These devices include a powered orthotic arm brace, a hand-operated rapid blood delivery system, and an ear reshaper designed to correct deformed ears in babies.
The UK Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund has awarded £9 million in grants to five promising research projects aimed at developing new treatments and diagnostic tools for pancreatic cancer. These projects focus on improving clinical trials, investigating innovative therapies, and understanding the genetic causes of chromosomal instability.
A study analyzing patient safety incidents involving sick children in primary care reveals that medication errors and delayed diagnoses were the leading causes of harm. Researchers identified priority areas for improvement, including safer medication systems and enhanced communication between professionals and parents.
A growing body of evidence suggests that patient advocacy groups funded by pharmaceutical companies may promote treatments that serve the companies' interests rather than patients' needs. Studies have found that these groups are often biased towards funding sources, with some reporting pressure to conform to industry positions.
New research suggests climate-protection policies focusing on tree diversity and carbon stocks could imperil the world's most biodiverse tropical forests. The study found that African forests store high levels of carbon but are species-poor, while Amazon and Asian forests have higher biodiversity but less carbon stored per hectare.
Researchers found that smart watches can detect deviations from normal heart rate and skin temperature patterns, signaling illness onset. The study also identified a link between low blood oxygenation during flights and fatigue.
A study has identified mutations in the HYAL2 gene as responsible for cleft lip and cleft palate defects, which slows hyaluronan turnover, impacting development of the hard palate and other body parts. This finding highlights a new molecular cause for orofacial clefting and may contribute to the development of new treatments.
A $2.7 million grant will fund research on veterans with traumatic brain injuries using a virtual technology platform to improve cognitive and functional deficits. The project aims to train strategies for complex real-life tasks, including money management and time planning.
A new $100,000 grant will support research training and educational outreach in vertebrate paleontology at the University of Kansas. Students will participate in fieldwork in Wyoming and Turkey to study early mammal evolution and migration.
The university will explore a 'molecular diversity' of potential glucose-responsive insulin analogs to develop rapid-acting, glucose-responsive insulins that become active when blood sugar is high and inactive when low. The goal is to mitigate the risk of blood sugar levels being too high or too low for patients with type 1 diabetes.
A new study reveals that 50% of Canadians are unaware they have high blood pressure, highlighting the need for increased awareness and education on managing the condition. Researchers also found a significant number of participants experienced hypertensive urgency or emergency, emphasizing the importance of proper management.
A study published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment found that black and Hispanic patients, as well as unemployed individuals and those with hepatitis C, are more likely to disengage from treatment programs for opioid dependence. Long-term engagement in therapy is crucial for treating this chronic condition, similar to hypert...
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) identify distinct neural ensembles controlling reward-seeking and suppression behaviors. The study sheds light on the brain's storage of opposing memories, a long-debated topic in neuroscience.
Einstein secured over $160 million in NIH funding in 2016 to support major research projects in aging, intellectual and developmental disabilities, diabetes, cancer, and infectious diseases. The grants also enabled the establishment of new research centers and collaborations with Montefiore Medical Center.
Two studies examine NIH funding to US dental institutions between 2005-2014, revealing a 70% investment by NIDCR, with funding for oral cavity cancer research decreasing after 2009. A perspective piece highlights the need for increased focus on rectifying the gap in oral health research funding.