News on the money and policy behind biomedical research. Covers foundation and career-development awards, endocrine and neuroscience funding, and university royalties.
Ron Davis, a Scripps Florida scientist, has been awarded a $5 million Outstanding Investigator Grant to investigate the biological processes underlying memory formation. The grant aims to understand how the brain organizes memories and suppresses their formation, with potential applications in treating neurological disorders.
Scientists have detailed the structure of TREM2, a molecule implicated in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. The study shows that certain mutations alter the surface or internal structure of TREM2, leading to impaired function and neurodegeneration.
Assistant Professor Leah Shriver aims to find new ways to promote nervous system regeneration and prevent destruction of brain cells in multiple sclerosis patients. She plans to study the cuprizone intoxication model to understand mechanisms contributing to oligodendrocyte and myelin loss.
The grant will support a new research program focused on 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome, an incurable genetic disorder associated with delayed intellectual development and psychiatric conditions. Einstein's IDDRC will also provide critical support for dozens of ongoing studies in intellectual and developmental disabilities.
A new study examines the impact of structured rounding tools on multidisciplinary morning rounds, finding that these tools can improve time allocation and reduce communication breakdowns. The use of such tools can mitigate disproportionate time allocation and nearly eliminate communication errors.
A consortium of researchers will assess various interventions, including bovine colostrum and elemental diets, to improve gut health and reduce mortality rates. The research aims to address the high mortality rate of severe acute malnutrition, particularly among children in low-income countries.
Cancer Research UK is investing £39 million over five years into the Manchester Centre, focusing on translational research and training the next generation of cancer researchers. This funding will support innovative approaches to treating cancer, including radiotherapy and personalised medicine, with the aim of improving patient outcomes.
Dr. Steven Murawski's team will explore how oil spills affect economic, ecological and social systems of fishing communities in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. They aim to identify adaptive strategies to mitigate future oil spill impacts.
A partnership between UMass Amherst and PCL Inc. has enabled researchers to screen thousands of promising molecules for potential as new drug therapies. The sol-gel capture technology allows for highly sensitive target-molecule detection in chemically complex plant samples.
Researchers at FAU are developing a new hybrid device to combine magnetic resonance imaging and angiography for faster stroke diagnosis and treatment. This innovative approach aims to reduce the time needed for patient transfers and save valuable time when treating stroke patients.
Researchers have discovered a potential new approach to combat malaria by disrupting mosquito hormone signaling, reducing transmission and lifespan, and blocking parasite development. The findings suggest that applying DBH to bed nets or spraying it indoors could be an effective alternative to insecticides.
The American Association of Anatomists has awarded $75,000 in Scientific Gap Funding to support researchers with up to $25,000 each. The grant recipients include Dr. Rebecca Hartley, Dr. Anthony Huang, Dr. Johnathan Perry, and Dr. Wayne Vogl for projects ranging from breast cancer research to paleobiology and taste receptors.
Researchers have identified a new subtype of triple negative breast cancer that may be more responsive to treatment, including immunotherapies. The study found that patients with BRCA deficient tumors had better survival rates and higher burdens of mutations that could be targeted by the immune system.
Researchers are developing new technologies to help patients with chronic conditions such as COPD and diabetes manage their health at home. The £10 million project will explore the use of wearable devices and data analytics to improve healthcare services. Seven UK universities and over 30 partners are involved in the research.
The EMBO Installation Grants program supports talented researchers in establishing independent research groups across Europe. The grants provide financial assistance, networking opportunities, and practical support to help scientists advance their research.
A $3 million NIH grant will help UTHealth researcher Nitin Tandon decode how the brain processes written words into language. The study, using intracranial electroencephalogram (icEEG), aims to understand the mechanisms of reading and its connection to the broader language system.
A new review of 55 kidney stone studies suggests alpha blockers may be useful in facilitating stone passage, particularly for patients with larger stones. The findings indicate a 57% higher risk of stone passage for larger stones with an alpha blocker, but no benefit for smaller stones.
UTSA has received a prestigious $5.29 million grant to advance its brain health research, focusing on the basal ganglia region and potential treatments for Parkinson's disease. The funding will support local cell signaling research to develop a model of basal ganglia function.
Researchers at UGA aim to expand and refine the use of CRISPR-Cas for research and biomedicine, particularly in combating pathogenic bacteria and diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
Researchers at Einstein College of Medicine and Penn State University will use smartphones to assess cognitive changes in seniors with Alzheimer's disease. The five-year study aims to develop personalized interventions to prevent dementia by analyzing risk factors such as stress, pain, and sleep.
Researchers at OHSU discovered a correlation between aquaporin-4 prevalence in brains of older people without Alzheimer's compared to those with the disease. The protein's disorganization in Alzheimer's brains may reflect impaired waste clearance, suggesting it as a potential target for treatment or prevention.
A new study estimates that the CYD-TDV vaccine can reduce dengue disease burden by 6-25% in areas with moderate to high transmission intensity. However, it may increase hospitalizations for dengue disease in low-transmission settings. The vaccine is potentially cost-effective if priced competitively.
Colorado State University researchers Lucas Argueso, Tai Montgomery, and Tim Stasevich have been awarded $5.4 million in NIH grants to explore various research topics, including genome structure variation, microRNA functions, and histone modification dynamics.
Researchers at the University of Konstanz are developing nano factories that can prevent bacterial colonization on surfaces. The team, led by Sebastian Polarz and David Schleheck, plans to create a cocktail of chemical compounds that specifically target bacteria, reducing the need for antibiotics.
RIT professor Moumita Das has won seed funding for her research on population dynamics of mitochondria in mammalian cells and molecular imaging of intercellular transport. Her work aims to understand the impact of mitochondrial DNA changes on human health conditions.
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology has been awarded a grant to turn their energy-producing waste water treatment technology into a startup company. The technology uses bacteria to clean environment-polluting waste water while generating electricity, offering a sustainable source of energy.
Researchers at McGill University's Montreal Neurological Institute will study motor neurons and astrocytes created from people with different forms of ALS via stem cell technology. The project aims to develop a potential screening mechanism for therapeutics and create new zebrafish models of the disease.
A study published in PLOS Computational Biology found that as people age, their brain activity becomes less cohesive, with smaller groups of connected regions. This loss of coherence is associated with aging and may be linked to age-related impairments.
Two studies support the feasibility and validity of minimally invasive autopsies in lower-income countries. High concordance rates were observed between diagnoses from simplified minimally invasive autopsy methods and complete autopsies, with high acceptability among participants in five settings across Africa and Asia.
Researchers at Einstein College of Medicine are studying the genetic basis of congenital heart disease, with a focus on rare syndrome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. The goal is to discover why some individuals have severe disease while others have mild presentations.
The ASN Foundation is launching a Securing the Future Campaign to raise critical funding for the Career Development Grants Program. The program aims to provide support for early career investigators in kidney research. With the campaign, the organization hopes to guarantee funding and attract top talent to the field.
A study reveals that neurons in the human eye work together to correct errors and improve visual signal accuracy. The research used a mathematical model to analyze retinal ganglion cell activity and found that collective signals are more reliable than individual cell signals.
Boston University researchers discovered a novel molecular pathway needed to regulate kidney podocytes, critical in maintaining normal kidney function. This finding may help identify a new drug target for chronic kidney diseases associated with podocyte loss.
The Carl R. Woese Institute has received a $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations Grant to study antimicrobial resistance in mobile microbiomes. The research aims to better understand how AMR genes spread in different environments and develop targeted measures to slow its transmission.
A research team at Cedars-Sinai will use a $1.2 million grant to design a system using remote monitoring to predict heart attacks and other cardiovascular events. By combining different types of data, they aim to identify early signs of cardiovascular disease and empower patients to better manage their conditions.
A UK-based study found that a large proportion of people at risk for cardiovascular disease were not prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs, despite having a clinical need. The research suggests that improved prescribing practices could potentially prevent up to 12,000 strokes per year in the UK.
A team at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals has been awarded a $1.2 million grant to develop methods for identifying mutations that cause inherited diseases and diagnose difficult-to-treat genetic conditions. The project, led by Dr. David Martin, will leverage a new genome sequencing method to improve precision medicine in the state.
A study published in PLOS Biology investigated the role of noradrenaline, acetylcholine, and dopamine in handling uncertainty. The findings suggest that these brain chemicals enable our brains to learn changing relationships in our environment, predicting future events and executing fast responses.
Portland State University has been awarded a $100,000 grant by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a new method for stabilizing stool samples. This technology could improve diagnosis and treatment of intestinal parasites in developing countries.
Kathryn Colborn's project aims to develop an automated early warning system for malaria transmission in Mozambique. The system will use novel statistical models and online tools to predict future monthly case rates, helping the Ministry of Health with prevention planning.
A $205,000 grant is funding a study to identify optimal habitats for coral survival in the Florida Reef Tract. The research aims to improve coral reef restoration and conserve endangered species by understanding the factors that affect coral growth.
A multidisciplinary international team of scientists solved the mystery of ferroptosis, a type of controlled cell death that uses iron to safely destroy and recycle malfunctioning cells. The study aims to develop potential therapies for conditions like radiation injury, cancer and radiation-induced cellular damage.
Dr. Aaron McGee is awarded the Disney Award for Amblyopia Research to investigate approaches for improving recovery from amblyopia and reversing loss of depth perception. His research aims to 're-open' critical periods in adulthood to enhance brain circuitry flexibility.
The German Research Foundation has approved funding for three graduate schools at TU Dresden, focusing on making existing buildings more resilient through innovative materials, developing new treatments for type 1 and 2 diabetes, and advancing computer science modeling.
A new study published in PLOS Biology suggests that animal study registries could enhance the value and reduce waste in animal research by improving reporting and reproducibility. The study's findings also highlight potential benefits and drawbacks, including concerns about intellectual property theft and increased administrative burdens.
A study found that funding and promotion criteria prioritize novel findings over confirmatory work, leading to unreliable results. Researchers recommend a balance of exploratory and confirmatory studies for better scientific progress.
The university is studying how the disorder affects Hispanics and others, while also providing healthcare to more patients through free health services. The team will enroll patients to test a new drug and examine a novel diagnostic procedure for gastroparesis.
A lab at Southern Methodist University is searching for a biological mechanism to intervene in the growth of virus-induced cancers. The researchers discovered that certain viruses, including human T-cell leukemia virus and high-risk human papillomaviruses, share a common mechanism to evade the immune system.
A Northwestern University study found that female faculty in STEM disciplines have similar collaboration patterns to their male counterparts, but are underrepresented in large teams and international collaborations. The research highlights the need for a level playing field to address unequal opportunities and promote diversity in STEM.
The US FDA has awarded Critical Path Institute three grants to develop data standards for HIV treatment, Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, and improved animal efficacy studies. C-Path will collaborate with CDISC to create therapeutic area data standards to accelerate clinical research and medical product development.
A researcher at UTA is working on big data mining tools to integrate patient data for better prediction of clinical outcomes and treatment of diseases like cancer. The project aims to find biomarkers using image-omics and data-based techniques.
The Intermountain-Stanford grant program aims to accelerate research and improve patient care through seven seed grants focused on genomics, machine learning, biomarkers, and more. The grants will support innovative projects in research, education, and medical education.
The University of Montana's Flathead Lake Biological Station has been awarded a $2 million grant to explore the diversity of insects, crustaceans, and other arthropods in river floodplains. The project aims to assess the genetics, populations, and functional trait diversity among floodplain arthropods using novel genomic tools and mode...
Baylor College of Medicine has been awarded a $27.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue its knockout mouse project. The project aims to generate and phenotype lines for 1,000 new genes using Cas9/CRISPR technology.
STAT2, a protein associated with viral infections, also inhibits cell growth and regulates cellular processes. This discovery offers insights into overcoming limitations of interferon therapies and developing novel tools for studying STAT2 functionality.
Researchers Srinivasan Vijayaraghavan and Doug Kline will study cellular mechanisms regulating sperm and egg formation, aiming to improve fertility treatments. They hope to understand protein interactions and cellular processes that make fertilization successful, leading to better outcomes for assisted reproductive programs.
Five Wayne State University research teams received MTRAC funding for their biomedical innovations, accelerating commercialization of medical devices and materials. The program supports projects from $50,000 to $100,000, promoting entrepreneurship and economic growth.
Researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences aim to unlock the mystery of Alzheimer's disease in women, who are disproportionately affected by the neurodegenerative brain disease. The five-year National Institute on Aging program project grant will investigate biological transformations during perimenopause that may increas...
Researchers identified a novel rare mutation in the TM2D3 gene associated with an increased risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease. The variant is approximately 10 times more common in Icelanders than in the European population, yet remains rare and present in fewer than 1% of the Icelandic population.
A new treatment plan combining multiple targeted drugs for CML has the potential to increase life expectancy and reduce relapse risk. Mathematical modeling predicts optimal combination schedules based on tumor mutations, offering a personalized approach to cancer treatment.