News on the money and policy behind biomedical research. Covers foundation and career-development awards, endocrine and neuroscience funding, and university royalties.
Scientists sequenced the entire genome of Xenopus laevis, revealing it inherited two sets of chromosomes from different diploid ancestors. The discovery provides insights into vertebrate evolution and tetraploidy, a phenomenon where an organism has four sets of chromosomes.
The University of Michigan will train junior faculty scholars in emergency critical care research through a new NIH K12 Career Development Program. Scholars will receive broad training in modern clinical and translational science, as well as expertise in grant writing and research mentoring.
The Indiana Biosciences Research Institute will receive a $1 million grant from Cook Medical to support its discovery science and applied research. The donation aims to accelerate innovation in cardio-metabolic diseases, diabetes, and poor nutrition.
The UCR School of Medicine has received a $250,000 PCORI grant to engage Native American patients in research, focusing on chronic health concerns and cultural differences. The project aims to increase trust between healthcare providers and communities in the Riverside-San Bernardino area.
Researchers will investigate how adaptations in one insect species allow others to follow, generating new biodiversity. The study focuses on the apple maggot fly and its parasitoid wasps, exploring how shifting life histories impact species interactions and ecosystem diversity.
Researchers have been awarded a grant to develop a novel medication that can erase memories associated with addiction. The drug candidate, blebbistatin, has shown promise in animal models by producing a permanent loss of meth-associated memories without affecting other types of recall.
A multidisciplinary team will study how motor and linguistic speech information is encoded in the brain to develop specific treatments for speech disorders. The researchers aim to understand which neuronal activity in the subthalamic nucleus is responsible for different aspects of speech.
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation has awarded $13.7 million in NARSAD Young Investigator Grants to support groundbreaking neurobiological research on psychiatric disorders affecting one in five people. The grants aim to improve treatments and develop prevention strategies for mental illnesses.
A 7-state research consortium led by Henry Ford Health System has been awarded funding to expand the NIH's Precision Medicine Initiative Cohort Program. The program aims to enroll 1 million participants and collect data on lifestyle, environment, and genetics influencing health and disease risk.
Researchers will examine the intersection of alcohol use and comorbidities in people living with HIV, including tuberculosis, cardiovascular disease, and falls. The five-year grants aim to improve health outcomes for alcohol-using individuals living with HIV.
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have received a $9.9 million grant to investigate new treatments for Fanconi anemia, a devastating genetic disease affecting children. The five-year study aims to identify viable drug compounds and eventually lead to human clinical trials.
Four Penn State researchers have been awarded a total of $450,000 by the Charles E. Kaufman Foundation to study RNA and its processes, as well as real-time gravitational wave detection. The research aims to advance methods for determining RNA structure in living cells and improve prospects for multi-messenger astrophysics.
The Kessler Foundation has been awarded a $2.3 million Spinal Cord Injury Model System (SCIMS) grant to support the Northern New Jersey SCI System. The grant will enable research into pharmacologic approaches to managing bladder dysfunction and improve care for respiratory complications.
USU has received a $2.7 million NSF Research Traineeship award to train 80 master's and doctoral students in climate adaptation science. The program, Grad-CAREER, integrates research with training from the beginning of each student's program.
Clemson University scientists are using high-tech computer modeling and experimental validation techniques to understand the molecular causes of adult-onset diabetes. They aim to develop new therapeutic approaches by studying peptide protein co-secreted with insulin in the pancreas.
A UC Riverside-led study found that a dwarf gecko's microscopic hairs allow it to cling to smooth surfaces, revealing the origins of gecko adhesion. The research suggests that small modifications can lead to complex adaptations, with implications for nanotechnology and biomimicry.
Researchers aim to develop a diagnostic test for glymphatic system impairment after traumatic brain injury, which can lead to cognitive difficulties. The study seeks to identify treatments that could help repair the system, with potential applications in military personnel and servicemen.
A new study demonstrates how citizen science can be used to improve environmental decision-making and secure funding for conservation projects. Online software and web-portal platforms enable community groups to design protocols, conduct experiments, and implement plans, making them an invaluable tool in addressing environmental issues.
Researchers found Zika virus does not multiply in Culex mosquitoes, disappearing instead, enabling targeted control strategies. The study's findings are crucial for controlling Zika in Florida and preventing its spread.
Scientists at Scripps Research Institute are exploring the applications of 'click chemistry' for cancer research and polymer development. A new four-year project aims to understand the role of fucosylated sugar molecules in cancer, while another project seeks to create new clicked polymers with improved properties.
A study from Duke-NUS Medical School found that activity trackers alone or with rewards did not increase physical activity levels. However, those who received cash rewards showed significant increases in activity. The benefits of tracking were short-lived, and participants returned to their previous activity levels after the incentives...
Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev discovered a novel molecular mechanism that could lead to new therapies for ALS. They found that endogenous multifunctional protein macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) acts as a chaperone for misfolded SOD1 proteins, which accumulate and cause cell death in ALS patients.
Researchers found that administering spermidine can prevent age-induced memory impairment by stopping synapses from narrowing their operational space. This study provides a new lead for treating age-associated dementia.
The Pitt team has received a $2.5 million contract from the US Department of Defense to further develop a retrievable stent for treating life-threatening hemorrhages in servicemen and civilian gunshot victims. The device can be rapidly placed by non-vascular physicians with minimal training, simplifying treatment in emergency situations.
GuidaBot is developing a robotic system that enables doctors to perform biopsies while the patient remains within an MRI machine, allowing for faster and more precise procedures. The company has received a $225,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to support ongoing research and testing of prototype systems.
The European Research Council has awarded €1.5 million to Dr Krasileva's research team to investigate plant immune receptors and develop new methods to protect crops from pests and disease. The grant aims to help generate ways for vital crops like wheat, rice, and maize to withstand ever-persistent diseases.
A new study reveals that genes within and outside the heart play a crucial role in determining the risk of congenital heart defects. The research found that Nipbl gene mutations can cause atrial septal defects, but only when combined with other genetic factors or environmental influences.
Researchers will develop new therapies to protect brain and organs from secondary damage after traumatic events. A promising class of anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective drugs called tetracyclines show promise in preventing such damage.
The Exascale Computing Project has awarded $39.8 million to 15 research teams to develop advanced modeling and simulation solutions, targeting key DOE missions in science, clean energy, and national security. The project aims to deliver breakthrough HPC modeling and simulation solutions that confidently deliver insight and predict answ...
Ghedin aims to identify key drivers of disease severity and biomarkers predictive of neurological problems. The grant supplements an existing research program focusing on influenza infections.
The DOE's Exascale Computing Project awards $39.8 million to 15 research teams, including Argonne-led initiatives focusing on cosmology, precision medicine, and urban systems. These projects will drive advancements in high-performance computing for scientific discovery, national security, and economic competitiveness.
A new $9.67 million grant will be used to investigate the connection between retrotransposable elements and aging, with the goal of developing therapeutic interventions. The researchers will work with human cells, mice, and fruit flies to study how these elements contribute to age-related diseases.
Systems biologist Jan Philipp Junker and molecular geneticist Gaetano Gargiulo have each received a €1.5 million ERC Starting Grant to study cellular processes in zebrafish and glioblastoma, respectively. Their research aims to understand the mechanisms behind variable phenomena in developmental biology.
Anna Rieckmann at Umea University has received a 5-year ERC Starting Grant to study the neural basis of cognitive functions using a new imaging technique combining fMRI and PET. This project aims to understand biological processes underlying brain activity, with potential implications for aging-related cognitive decline.
A Rochester Institute of Technology professor has received a $436,989 grant to study the efficacy of using the DapL enzyme in creating narrow-spectrum antibiotics. The research could lead to breakthroughs in targeting pathogenic bacteria and help combat the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
A new study reveals that a variant in the ACSL5 gene, located at a well-established genomic location, is strongly regulating another gene associated with type 2 diabetes. This finding suggests that developing drugs to act on acyl CoA synthesase 5 may help patients with T2D by increasing their sensitivity to insulin.
The Stanford Precourt Institute for Energy has awarded $2.7 million to 15 faculty seed grant recipients for groundbreaking research on clean energy. Researchers will develop novel technologies, including battery management systems, perovskite solar cells, smart windows, and thermoelectric technologies.
Researchers Tim Stasevich and Brian Munsky are using sensitive microscopes and computational analysis to quantify protein expression in single cells. They aim to illuminate the hijacking of host cells by viruses, a process never before seen.
A new trial found that remote monitoring of implantable cardiac devices did not reduce mortality or hospitalizations in heart failure patients. Despite widespread adoption, the study suggests that routine use of remote monitoring may not be necessary.
Researchers have successfully grown norovirus in laboratory cultures of human intestinal epithelial cells, paving the way for further studies on prevention, treatment, and control of norovirus infections. This achievement represents a significant step forward in understanding human gastroenteritis viruses.
Nanoscope Technologies has been awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Audacious Goal Initiative grant to develop ultrafast laser-based gene delivery technology for vision restoration. The company aims to re-sensitize photo-degenerated retinal areas with a highly photosensitive Multi-Characteristics Opsin (MCO) using an infrared...
Neuroene Therapeutics is using the Phase I STTR grant to help further develop a novel class of compounds for treating epilepsy. The company aims to provide a new generation of anti-seizure drugs that can effectively control seizures in patients with limited success from current treatments.
Researchers aim to understand the genetics and underlying biological mechanisms that lead to IPF. They will analyze genetic information on over 1,200 families to identify new genes causing the disease.
A longitudinal study found that children and adolescents with traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience reduced longevity and significant psychosocial problems in adulthood. The study compared TBI cases to unaffected siblings, revealing strong associations between TBI severity, recurrence, and older age at first injury.
Researchers found that chimpanzees choose to cooperate five times more frequently than compete, using various strategies to overcome competition. The study suggests shared roots of human cooperation with other primates and provides insight into human evolution.
A team of neuroscientists and engineers will use a special microscope to reconnect neural communication between brain parts severed by injury or disease. If successful, this could improve conditions for those with Parkinson's, stroke, or neurological problems.
The University of Cincinnati has received a five-year, $4.3 million NIH grant to continue work at its Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center in Reading, Ohio. The center provides experimental testing services for scientists studying diabetes and metabolic diseases in mice.
Researchers studied a large population-based cohort and found no significant increased risk for congenital malformations or cardiac malformations among women who took antipsychotic medications during the first 90 days of pregnancy. However, risperidone showed a slightly increased risk, highlighting the need for further research.
Physicist M. Cristina Marchetti is using the grant to characterize the physics of organization in nature, from flocking behavior of birds to coordinated motion of cells. She aims to provide a mathematical framework for describing aggregation of Myxococcus xanthus under starvation conditions.
The MDI Biological Laboratory has received a $456,500 NIH grant to study chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Dr. Sandra Rieger's research will focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy and its potential applications for other sensory neuropathies.
Mesenchymal stem cells exhibit significant cell-to-cell variation in their capacity to survive upon implantation. The Tulane professor's three-year project aims to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying this variation, with the goal of improving survival rates and advancing regenerative therapies.
The Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine has received a $2.39 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the regulation of glutamine absorption in relation to inflammatory bowel disease. The project aims to develop better nutritional therapies for IBD, which is linked to an increased risk of colon c...
A study published in PLOS Biology found that green light puts mice to sleep quickly, while blue light stimulates them. The researchers suggest that light may play a similar alerting role in mice as it does in humans, with implications for designing the lighting of the future.
Researchers found that 64% of treatment-resistant depression patients had a deficiency in neurotransmitter metabolism, which improved symptoms with underlying deficiency treatment. The study suggests a new avenue for patients who have failed conventional treatments.
Researchers found that bumblebees are attracted to CMV-infected tomato and Arabidopsis plants, leading to increased seed production. Buzz pollination, a process where bees vibrate flowers to release pollen, enhances fertilization rates in infected plants.
A UTA researcher is working on an automated system that will analyze patients' thought records for improved diagnosis and treatment of depression. The system aims to make therapy more effective by providing doctors with real-time insights into patients' thoughts, behaviors, and progress.
Scott Friedman calls on the next president to boost NIH funding, invest in physician-scientists, and promote disease prevention and access to medical care. He advocates for public-private partnerships, clinical trials with repurposed drugs, and democratizing access to clinical trials.
A new graduate education program at the University of Missouri is receiving $700,000 to train psychology doctoral candidates in integrated primary care settings. The goal is to enhance healthcare for underserved populations with mental health and physical disorders.
A new study found that Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act led to increased primary and preventive care, reduced emergency department visits, and improved quality of care for low-income adults in Kentucky and Arkansas. The findings suggest that how states expand coverage may not be as important as expanding coverage itself.
Researchers are developing computing tools to access and analyze large patient data sets. This will enable scientists and doctors to make more accurate predictions about patient outcomes and develop new treatments for diseases. The National Science Foundation has awarded a five-year grant to Junzhou Huang to pursue this research.