News on the money and policy behind biomedical research. Covers foundation and career-development awards, endocrine and neuroscience funding, and university royalties.
The Southwest National Primate Research Center at Texas Biomedical Research Institute has received a $40 million NIH grant to continue its research programs using nonhuman primates. The grant renewal will support the Center's breeding and research colonies of NHP species, making them available to the global scientific community.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded $28.3 million to The Jackson Laboratory over five years to fund phase 2 of the Knockout Mouse Production and Phenotyping Project (KOMP2). This project aims to create targeted knockout mutations for every gene in the mouse genome, providing valuable clues to their function.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has selected four early career scientists to receive research awards totaling $275,000. The grants support work in radiation and cancer biology, physics, and translational research.
CityLab will partner with Fordham University and local squash organizations to provide engaging STEM experiences for students from diverse backgrounds. The program aims to develop a national model for informal precollege biomedical science education, inspiring careers in STEM fields.
A new scheme improved prostate cancer prognosis by grouping men into 5 strata based on clinical measurements like PSA level, disease stage, and tumor grade. This method performed better in predicting cancer death compared to the current risk stratification system.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that maternal health services in rural Liberia suffered a significant impact during the Ebola epidemic, with facility-based deliveries decreasing by approximately 8%. The researchers noted that fear of transmission in health facilities was a major factor contributing to this decline.
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation awarded six young scientists the Klerman & Freedman Prizes for their innovative clinical and basic research. The prizes recognize outstanding talent in neuropsychiatry and aim to advance understanding of mental illness, develop new diagnostic tools, and create effective treatments.
Ender Finol's American Heart Association award supports freezing aortic aneurysms before they burst. Researchers aim to apply the chemical compound pentagalloyl glucose non-invasively to human subjects.
A new study by TSRI scientists identifies microRNA-155 as a key player in regulating protein levels and combating disease. The researchers found that miR-155 works by repressing a protein called Peli1, promoting normal T cell proliferation and antibody production.
The Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) brings together industry, philanthropy, government, and academia to rejuvenate the antimicrobial pipeline. The partnership aims to deliver a growing portfolio of new antibiotics, diagnostics, and vaccines to tackle untreatable bacterial infections.
A new analysis of federal funding for sustainable agriculture suggests significant improvements can be made with additional investments. Researchers found that only a small percentage of USDA-funded projects focused on sustainable agriculture, highlighting the need for increased public funding.
The CU Training Program in Cancer Biology has earned a prestigious National Cancer Institute T32 grant, funding PhD-level and postdoctoral training positions. This award recognizes the program's excellence in interdisciplinary education of next-generation cancer scientists.
The university has grown its research funding by nearly $40 million over the past two years, with federal agency funding increasing by 30 percent. Georgia State now ranks among the nation's premier urban public research universities, with a 'very high research activity' designation from the Carnegie Foundation.
MSU researchers will study plant stomata to understand how plants battle diseases and respond to environmental changes. They aim to uncover mechanisms that enable plants to survive and thrive in changing climate conditions.
The Damon Runyon-Sohn Pediatric Cancer Research Fellowship Award provides funding to promising young scientists working on high-impact translational research. The award supports research into childhood and adolescent cancers, which often receive limited funding compared to adult cancer research.
Researchers aim to develop a multi-layered defense strategy targeting mucosal barriers, blood, and tissues. The goal is to induce host defenses against HIV simultaneously at multiple levels.
A recent study published in PLOS Biology suggests that larger brains are more susceptible to mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease due to weaker long-distance connections. The researchers found that the global architecture of cortical networks in primates and rodents follows common principles, with primate brai...
Researchers found that each 1% decrease in trauma center volume is linked to a two-fold worsening in patient survival odds. The study suggests that unnecessary trauma centers can have a significant negative impact on patient outcomes.
A five-year program project grant will investigate the genetic basis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). The research aims to develop a more personalized medicine approach to ARDS and VILI, enabling physicians to make informed medical decisions.
The American Society of Hematology (ASH) has established a $3 million annual Bridge Grant program to support blood disease research. This initiative aims to ensure that promising researchers in hematology continue their work despite limited NIH funding.
Arrhythmotech aims to detect nerve activity using its device capable of detecting the body's fight-or-flight response on the skin. The company will collaborate with researchers at the Mayo Clinic and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, with a goal of making its method widely available for research, education, and patient care.
The Scripps Research Institute has received a grant to support safety and quality tests of a potential stem cell therapy for Parkinson's disease. The two-year project will investigate induced pluripotent stem cells derived from adult subjects, which can differentiate into dopamine-producing neurons.
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has approved a $2.8 million research funding award to compare three methods for measuring blood pressure in confirming new hypertension cases. The study, led by Dr. Beverly Green, will evaluate the accuracy and acceptability of clinic BP, home BP, and kiosk BP measurements.
A new study led by University of Kansas economist Donna Ginther found that race is the key factor influencing NIH awards, with black and white applicants facing significant gaps in funding. White women have a slight advantage over men in receiving NIH Type 1 awards, while women of color face disadvantage due to racial bias.
The grant will support Columbia University's Precision Medicine Initiative and integrate special populations into translational research efforts. The Irving Institute aims to increase focus on precision medicine, develop translational therapeutics, and nurture a cadre of junior scientists with diverse backgrounds.
The UC Riverside School of Medicine has received a $2.3 million grant to integrate medical student education, resident training, and faculty development in primary care specialties. The goal is to address health disparities and improve healthcare delivery in low-income areas of inland Southern California.
Researchers have developed a new viral vector-based delivery system for retinal cells, aiming to treat visual impairments caused by age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The system uses highly photosensitive opsins to stimulate retinal cells and restore vision.
The German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) has secured funding for another four years, with a total award of around €36.5 million. The centre aims to study biological diversity and develop strategies to prevent loss of biodiversity.
Female academic physicians at public medical schools received lower average salaries compared to their male peers, with a $51,315 difference in unadjusted analyses. Adjusting for factors like faculty rank, age, and specialty narrowed the gap, but a $19,878 difference remained.
CuRE's dental adhesive incorporates copper iodide particles to curb infections and promote healthy tooth bonding. The technology has the potential to reduce secondary caries formation under existing restorations, a major contributor to costly restoration failures.
The University of Illinois at Chicago is part of a national initiative to enroll 150,000 participants in the Precision Medicine Initiative Cohort Program. Participants will share health and lifestyle data to develop personalized prevention strategies and treatments.
Dr. Manel Esteller receives top-funding European grant to develop ncRNA DNA Methylation Kit for Cancer of Unknown Primary treatment. The kit aims to improve clinical management and patient outcomes by providing personalized treatment suggestions.
A new government study suggests that the graying of the biomedical workforce is driving younger scientists away from academia, but found no evidence of a preference for older applicants in NIH grant funding. The study's authors conclude that other factors, such as changes in academic training and payment, are more likely to be contribu...
The Scripps Research Institute has received a $20 million award to support a national precision medicine initiative, enrolling 350,000 participant-volunteers. The program aims to engage one million or more U.S. participants to improve disease prevention and treatment based on individual differences in lifestyle, environment, and genetics.
The German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) has secured additional funding of EUR 36.4 million over four years, a 32% increase from the first period. This will enable iDiv scientists to investigate biodiversity using various methods and increase their activities.
Jonathan Karn, PhD, an HIV/AIDS expert, has received two Innovation research grants to better understand and ultimately curtail HIV's ability to remain in the body as a persistent viral reservoir. The goal is to shrink the size of, and eventually eliminate the reservoir using hormone therapies.
Curza Global, a pharmaceutical startup company, has received a Phase I SBIR grant to develop new antibacterials against Gram-negative infections. The two-year project will focus on structure-based drug design and medicinal chemistry to create potent antimicrobials with high selectivity for bacterial ribosomes.
The Rhode Island Center for Clinical Translational Science will create an educational and technical infrastructure to spur medical studies, expand access to population health data, and support clinical research. This $19.5 million grant aims to bring discoveries from the lab to the clinic and improve patient care.
The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) has recognized outstanding research initiatives and projects through its annual awards. This year's award recipients include researchers who have made significant contributions to the field of orthopaedic sports medicine, such as Alan Zhang for his research on quantitative ma...
Dr. Diane Mathis has been awarded the FASEB Excellence in Science Award for her groundbreaking research on immunological tolerance, autoimmune diseases, and immune regulation. Her numerous publications and teaching achievements have also made a significant impact on the field of immunology.
A new minimally invasive tissue sampling technique will help determine the cause of death in children, facilitating ways to save lives and improve health in vulnerable areas. The CHAMPS project aims to create a network of disease surveillance sites to address child mortality rates, which claim nearly 6 million lives annually.
The risk of blindness caused by spinal fusion surgery has decreased nearly three-fold since the late 1990s, with an estimated 60% decline over two decades. The study attributes this reduction to advancements in minimally invasive surgical techniques and changes in anesthesia practice, such as stricter blood pressure limits during surgery.
Researchers at UTHealth will investigate the zoonotic potential of CWD and environmental prion contamination. The team aims to develop efficient detection methods for prion diseases, which are fatal brain disorders with long incubation periods.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that 70% of randomized trials' protocols mentioned industry-academic agreement on publication rights, with industry retaining review or disapproval rights. The findings suggest a lack of transparency and potential conflicts of interest.
A five-year federal grant will discover progesterone-like compounds from commonly consumed botanicals and their role in women's health. The research aims to improve safety and inform decisions on self-medicating with botanicals.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded a five-year grant of $69.6 million to support the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute's research partnership, building on previous funding totaling over $152.7 million. The consortium aims to accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into effective treatments for pa...
A new study found that intense media coverage of the statins controversy led to a rise in patients stopping the treatment, with an 11% and 12% increase in existing users quitting statins for primary and secondary prevention. The study suggests that widespread reporting of debates can have a significant impact on patient behavior.
The Carnegie Institution for Science has published a study on the distances of brown dwarfs and low-mass stars, using the CAPSCam instrument. The study reveals accurate distance measurements for 134 objects, including 38 previously unmeasured brown dwarfs.
FeverPhone is a smartphone-based diagnostic system that can diagnose six febrile diseases in the field using a drop of blood, providing rapid and accurate diagnoses. The system has the potential to improve healthcare outcomes in resource-limited countries by enabling timely treatment and reducing morbidity and mortality.
Researchers at Simon Fraser University are developing futuristic mobile video communication systems to connect people for outdoor activities, such as hiking or biking. The project aims to provide a sense of presence and shared experience despite physical distance.
A new study at CU Anschutz Medical Campus shows a program pairing junior faculty with seasoned mentors can significantly increase grants won. The Clinical Faculty Scholars Program helped participants win about four times as many grants as those who didn't take the course, with mean annual dollars increasing from $27,343 to $83,427.
Experts recommend increasing federal funding for convergence programs, revising grant-review mechanisms, and realigning academic structures to facilitate research collaborations. The authors note that the National Institutes of Health will play a crucial role in advancing biomedical research through integration.
A study by Simon Fraser University researchers found that the loss of sea stars led to a quadrupling of green sea urchins, which prey on kelp, causing its decrease by 80 per cent. The ecosystem is still recovering, with no sign of recovery in sea stars.
A UCLA-led study estimates that nearly 28,500 deaths in the US could be prevented annually through use of a new FDA-approved class of cardiovascular medication. The therapy helps reduce mortality in patients diagnosed with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction by enhancing protective hormonal systems.
Researchers aim to identify genetic risk and prevention factors for Alzheimer's disease by analyzing genomic sequence data from thousands of individuals. The new center will provide a common database for critical information sharing and interpretation, enabling progress against the insidious disease.
A BU researcher has received a $2.95 million grant to investigate the relationship between immune cells and type 2 diabetes, with the goal of developing new treatments for both conditions.
A researcher at the University of Texas at San Antonio has received a $441,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a predictive model for chronic conditions. The goal is to identify patients at risk and alert doctors early, preventing further ailments before diagnosis.
A collection of studies investigated the effects of Hurricane Sandy on public health, highlighting factors contributing to community resilience and healthcare system impacts. Research also explored the effect on at-risk individuals, with funding allocated through the US Department of Health and Human Services.
The ACMG Foundation has received a $165,000 commitment from Pfizer to provide fellowship grants for clinical genetics training. This funding will support the education and research of fellows in medical genetics.
Researchers identified a new mechanism by which streptomycin kills bacteria, targeting the MscL channel pore. Dihydrostreptomycin directly binds and modifies MscL, allowing solutes to exit the cell. This discovery holds promise for developing new antibiotics to combat drug-resistant infections.