News on the money and policy behind biomedical research. Covers foundation and career-development awards, endocrine and neuroscience funding, and university royalties.
The LawSeqSM project aims to clarify current genomic law, address gaps, and generate recommendations for a forward-looking legal foundation. This 3-year project brings together experts from academia, industry, and clinical care to create guidance on translating genomics into clinical application.
Dr. Katherine Ralston, a UC Davis microbiologist, has been awarded a 2016 Pew scholarship to study the mechanisms of 'trogocytosis,' or 'cell nibbling,' which allows Entamoeba histolytica to kill cells in the human intestine. This research could lead to new insights into disease prevention.
Pittsburgh researchers uncover a major reason why alpha-synuclein, a key protein in Parkinson's disease, is toxic to neurons. They found two ways to prevent the toxicity: gene therapy and a protein that blocks alpha-synuclein from sticking to mitochondria.
The University of Texas at San Antonio's Maximizing Access to Research Centers (MARC) program has received a $1.9 million grant over five years to train 12 undergraduate students per year in UTSA laboratories. The program prepares students for Ph.D. programs and enables them to conduct top-tier research in the biomedical field.
LegBank, a social enterprise company, has received a $1 million grant from Google.org to produce and distribute high-quality prosthetic limbs to amputees in need. The grant will enable production expansion and distribution to Colombia, where it aims to help an estimated 15,000 amputees with limited access to prosthetic care.
Researchers at UTSA are using $100,000 grants to develop cloud computing for precision medicine and mobile solutions for health promotion interventions. The project combines electronic medical record data with genomics data to improve healthcare outcomes.
San Diego State University has received a $10 million endowment from the National Institutes of Health to improve its research infrastructure and support population health and health disparities research. The funding will enable researchers to collaborate across disciplines and institutions, fostering innovations in research programs w...
The TSRI graduate program has received a new $2 million gift from the Skaggs family to support exceptional students in advanced training at the intersection of biology and chemistry. The gift will enhance research programs and provide financial support, including a first-year stipend and up to $5,000 in subsequent years.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has launched a three-year, $9 million training program to educate approximately 35,000 first responders and hazardous waste workers on infectious disease safety. The program aims to minimize the spread of disease to others while protecting these workers from exposure.
A study found that 63% of organizations producing clinical practice guidelines received funds from biomedical companies, but these relationships were seldom disclosed. The study highlights the need for better policy management of conflicts of interest in clinical practice guidelines.
Researchers at Phoenix Nest and LA BioMed are working on developing therapies for treating different forms of Sanfilippo disease, a progressive neurological disorder that affects children. The new grants will focus on recombinant enzyme therapy and stem cell treatment to combat devastating brain damage caused by MPS IIID and MPS IIIB.
The DFG has approved a second funding period for TU Dresden's Collaborative Research Centre CRC 940, investigating the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying self-control and volitional action. The centre aims to elucidate impairments of self-control in mental disorders such as addictions or eating disorders.
Researchers analyzed genetic data from 3,726 African-Americans to estimate patterns of ancestry, finding that 82.1% had ancestors in Africa prior to transatlantic travel. The study reveals regional differences in ancestry, with southern US residents having a greater percentage of African ancestry than those in the North or West.
Researchers found that microglia fail to remove dead neurons during epilepsy, leading to accumulation and inflammatory responses. The study's findings provide a new target for therapies aimed at boosting phagocytosis and alleviating brain diseases.
David Low's innovative project targets enteric pathogen-specific T2 bacteriophage to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded $100,000 GCE grant will support his research on a new approach using bacteriophage targeting essential outer membrane protein BamA.
A new study published in the journal Menopause found that acupuncture significantly reduced hot flashes and night sweats associated with menopause. The treatment resulted in a 36.7% decline in frequency of hot flashes after six months, with benefits persisting for another year.
Rates of teenage pregnancy in England have halved since the implementation of the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy, with areas of high deprivation experiencing the greatest effect. Participation in education and work has improved for women who conceive under 18, but rates remain lower than their non-pregnant peers.
Researchers at UMass Chan Medical School are developing a web-based care plan for osteoarthritis patients, utilizing a national database of total joint replacement patients. The care plan aims to improve patient-clinician interaction and informed decision-making, enhancing the quality of care and outcomes.
Researchers created a simplified platform to make macrolide antibiotics without the original molecule, enabling potential solutions to antibiotic resistance. The platform has shown promise in initial testing against clinical bacterial strains and resistant superbugs.
The University at Buffalo has partnered with the University of Zimbabwe to launch a five-year HIV research training program, supported by a $1.3 million NIH grant. The program aims to train future HIV researchers and address issues such as maternal-fetal transmission, resistance, and co-infection in Zimbabwe.
Researchers found that antibiotic treatment in men who have sex with men (MSM) speeds up the spread of antibiotic-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae, contrary to intuitive expectations. The study suggests that increased screening and treatment may inadvertently drive resistance, highlighting the need for balanced treatment recommendations.
A USC study predicts that the US prevalence of visual impairment and blindness will more than double over the next 35 years. The number of Americans with age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts is expected to skyrocket, impacting individuals and society.
The American Association of Anatomists has established a new funding mechanism, the Fellows Grant Award Program, with $750,000 in annual awards. Established investigators and young researchers can apply for $25,000 grants to support research proposals submitted to major funding agencies.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine have received a grant to examine the likelihood of genomic information being identified and how effective legal efforts can reduce these risks. The center will also explore the relationship between history, public opinion, and literature on privacy concerns.
A study found that more than half of those making decisions for critically ill patients have significantly different estimates of survival rates than their doctors. The research team hopes to train physicians to better communicate with these decision-makers, improving treatment outcomes and alleviating suffering.
A study of Coos Bay found it is currently free of hypoxic conditions, thanks to its narrow offshore shelf and dredged ship channel. However, as the climate warms, the bay's flushing action may be disrupted, leading to increased risk of oxygen depletion.
Researchers are investigating the protein HuR and its role in cardiovascular disease, with a goal of translating this research to improve human health. By deleting HuR in animal models, they found that mice lacking the protein were protected from hypertrophy and heart failure.
Researchers at the University of Bristol are developing novel diagnostic tests and nanopatterned surfaces to combat resistant infections. A new rapid diagnostic test can predict effective antibiotics, reducing reliance on strongest options. Novel antimicrobial surfaces could improve biomedical devices and implant success rates.
Researchers have developed mouse models of Zika infection in pregnancy, revealing that the virus causes significant damage to the placenta and leads to fetal demise or stunted growth. High levels of viral genetic material were found in placentas, highlighting the importance of understanding how Zika affects pregnant women.
Researchers found that treating high-risk hospitalized patients for sleep apnea may decrease the frequency of emergency rescues from hospital personnel. Patients who were compliant with positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment had less rapid response events than those who were non-compliant.
A new doctoral training program at the University of Missouri aims to create a unique type of data scientist by combining expertise from life sciences, medicine, and computing. The six-student program will focus on massive and complex data analytics for one health, using Big Data practices to improve medical discoveries.
A new virtual heart assessment tool developed by Johns Hopkins University predicts which patients are most likely to experience life-threatening arrhythmias. The tool, VARP, uses magnetic resonance imaging records and computer modeling techniques to gauge the risk of sudden cardiac death.
The PETROSS project has developed sugarcane that accumulates 13% oil by dry weight, making it 4.5 times more profitable than soybeans per acre. The project aims to increase yields and expand the growing region of sugarcane through improvements in photosynthesis.
Researchers will field test breath markers in high-malaria areas Malawi, Bangladesh, and others. The goal is to develop a simple, painless breath test to identify asymptomatic carriers.
The NYU College of Dentistry has received a $1.6 million NIH grant to investigate the impact of e-cigarette aerosol mixtures on oral health. Researchers will examine the modulation of the oral microenvironment by e-cig aerosols and assess periodontal disease risk.
The USDA has allocated $2.4 million to alleviate veterinarian shortages through education, extension, and training programs. This funding supports the development of specialized skills among veterinarians and veterinary technicians to address shortages in rural areas.
Scientists at Scripps Research Institute have received a grant to design precision drug candidates targeting disease-associated RNAs, aiming to develop patient-specific therapies for neurological diseases and cancer.
Robert Smith, a UM computer science assistant professor, was awarded a CAREER grant from the National Science Foundation to develop new analysis techniques for mass spectrometry. This advancement may lead to breakthroughs in fields like medical diagnostics, drug development, and research into Alzheimer's disease.
A UCLA study found a significant decline in funding for the US government's HIV/AIDS initiative, PEPFAR, from $448.6 million in 2013 to $302.8 million in 2014. This drop is concerning as many countries rely on PEPFAR for vital health care services.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded a two-year grant to explore the use of cells from a patient's own adipose tissue as vascular grafts in arterial bypass surgery. This method could reduce complications and increase accessibility, eliminating the need for vein or artery harvesting.
The University of Texas at Austin researchers have developed an injectable, regenerative gel that delivers proteoglycans and a growth factor to stimulate the growth of blood vessels and restore blood flow in the lower limbs. The treatment has shown promising results in mice with ischemia and diabetes, with 85% recovery of blood vessels.
A new study found that Medicare patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis have low adherence to biologic therapies, with nearly half stopping treatment within a year. High out-of-pocket costs under Medicare Part D were identified as a potential factor contributing to this issue.
The grant aims to study APP processing and its role in synaptic transmission, potentially shedding light on Alzheimer's pathogenesis and revealing treatment targets.
A new study analyzing 5,000 stored blood samples found no increase in food-specific IgE antibodies between the 1980s and 2000s. The researchers suggest that growing awareness and diagnosis of food allergies among children may be contributing to the increasing prevalence of food allergies over the past few decades.
Researchers have confirmed Zika's toll on fetal cortex using lab-grown mini-brains that mimic human brain development. The study found that Zika infection occurs early in pregnancy leads to severe effects and can affect neurons later on.
A specific gene, HMGA2, has been identified as the key to the evolution of smaller beaks in medium ground finches in response to a drought-induced food shortage. The researchers found that the gene comes in two forms, with one dominant in birds with small beaks and the other in those with large beaks.
The American Geosciences Institute has awarded diversity grants to seven geoscientists from diverse backgrounds, including the University of Tennessee Knoxville and Stanford University, to support their research on deep carbon. These grants aim to increase participation of underrepresented groups in DCO-affiliated research.
Martina Havenith from Ruhr-Universität Bochum receives funding for Time-Resolved THz-Calorimetry, a new method to study protein-solvent interactions in real-time. The project aims to investigate dynamic interplay between molecules and solvent.
A survey of 185 professionals found only 11% felt their academic training provided necessary natural history exposure. Experts now advocate for citizen science to keep natural history relevant and empower public participation in environmental conservation.
Ten scientists from eight institutions across the US will receive $750,000 each to support high-risk, high-reward projects in cancer research. The grants aim to accelerate innovative approaches in tumor metabolism, imaging, and mathematical models of combination drug therapy.
The European Research Council has awarded €647 million in funding to 277 senior researchers, enabling them to pursue innovative projects with potentially significant impacts on science and society. The grants, worth up to €2.5 million each, will support research in various fields, including life sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation has awarded $3.9 million in NARSAD grants to 40 mid-career scientists from 30 institutions worldwide to support basic research, new technologies, and next-generation therapies for schizophrenia, major affective disorders, and other serious mental illnesses.
New facilities will enable researchers to develop innovative therapeutic agents, models for managing fishery resources, and statistical models for analyzing aquatic habitats. This includes the creation of an aquatic habitat analysis and modelling laboratory and a facility for designing organometallic catalysts and therapeutics.
The University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing is expanding its Missouri Quality Initiative for Nursing Homes, a program that reduces avoidable hospitalizations by 34.5% through increased payments to participating nursing homes. The expanded program aims to create a national model for senior care and improve patient outcomes.
A team of researchers, led by IU biologist Armin Moczek, will systematically study proposed extensions to the theory of evolutionary biology. The $1.25 million grant aims to test assumptions and predictions of a new framework that recognizes environmental signals in organism development.
A study of 2,221 patients found that most experienced improvements in pain and walking ability after bariatric surgery, particularly in those with significant weight loss. Patients with pre-existing medical conditions or depressive symptoms were less likely to see improvements in pain and mobility.
Dr. Joseph Rizzo, a neuro-ophthalmologist at Mass Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School, has received funding from the US Department of Defense to develop a visual prosthesis that can bypass damaged optic nerves and restore vision. The project aims to improve the quality of life for wounded warriors and Americans with severe visual impair...
A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health identifies a sugar variant on the surface of human red blood cells that limits the ability of P. knowlesi to invade. The parasite has been shown to evolve and overcome this barrier, potentially leading to enhanced transmission between humans.
The University of Akron researcher is designing a new class of tough double-network hydrogels with unique mechanical toughness and self-healing properties. These hydrogels can be used in various applications such as wastewater treatment, tissue engineering, and drug delivery.
The American Cancer Society has awarded nearly $44 million in grants to 103 researchers across the US. New grants focus on immunotherapy, DNA repair pathways, and metastasis, while existing grants support programs for adolescents and young adults with cancer.