News on the money and policy behind biomedical research. Covers foundation and career-development awards, endocrine and neuroscience funding, and university royalties.
Researchers are analyzing the changing populations of bugs and bacteria at crime scenes to provide crucial details such as geographical location, gender, and socioeconomic relations. The approach aims to aid investigators in solving cold cases by creating a repository of microbial community data for future reference.
A new ECG device, QTScreen, has the potential to identify infants at risk of long QT syndrome, a genetic heart condition that can be treated with medication. The device will be tested on 4,000 babies in Southern California and is designed to be easy to use for parents.
Researchers will explore biological tools to enhance the immune system's ability to attack HIV infection, which persists in brain cells despite antiviral treatments. The goal is to enable the immune system to eliminate HIV infection through innovative therapies.
The University of Texas at San Antonio has been awarded a grant to develop a DHS Scholars Program aimed at addressing biological and digital threats. The program will select exceptional students for research training in areas such as infection genomics, cloud computing, and digital forensics.
The Alzheimer's Association has awarded research grants to investigate non-drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease, including exercise and cognitive stimulation interventions. These studies aim to lower the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in older adults.
The National Research Mentoring Network aims to address disparities in biomedical research by connecting underrepresented groups with mentors and opportunities. The five-year initiative, led by Professor David Burgess at Boston College, will draw on expertise from four universities and a consortium of academic institutions.
A consortium of Detroit colleges aims to increase diversity in biomedical research by recruiting and mentoring underrepresented students. The REBUILD Detroit project will provide research opportunities, mentorship, and pipeline programs to support the goal of producing more undergraduate students with biomedical degrees.
A randomized clinical trial found that exposure therapy significantly reduced prolonged grief disorder (PGD) symptoms, compared to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) alone. The study suggests that accessing and processing emotions related to the loss can lead to optimal gains in PGD patients.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks will launch a new undergraduate program to engage students from diverse backgrounds in biomedical research, focusing on rural Alaska and promoting interest and success in biomedical careers. The five-year program aims to attract students from underrepresented groups and provide them with training, men...
UC Riverside researchers are investigating the mechanisms of auditory hypersensitivity in Fragile X syndrome (FXS), a genetic disorder that affects social impairments, repetitive behaviors, and cognitive deficits. The study aims to identify underlying neural mechanisms and develop new therapeutic targets for FXS and autism.
The University of Hawai`i Cancer Center has received a $3.5 million NCORP grant to improve cancer care and prevention among minority and underserved populations in Hawaii. The grant will fund clinical trials and research aimed at reducing cancer disparities and enhancing patient outcomes.
The University of Texas at San Antonio has been awarded a five-year, $640,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to create a scholarship program for economically disadvantaged students. The program aims to increase the number of students completing undergraduate degrees in biology, chemistry, or physics.
The Pitt team is creating novel alloys and manufacturing processes for implantable medical devices made from dissolving metals. These devices can adapt to changes in a patient's body and dissolve once healing has occurred, reducing complications and medical expenses.
Researchers found that melanoma cells break down nearby LPA molecules to create a trail, leading to the bloodstream and new sites in the body. This creates an aggressive cancer that spreads quickly and is difficult to treat.
The Basser Research Center has received $6.9 million in new grants to develop vaccines and therapies for patients at increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers. The funding will support multi-disciplinary collaboration efforts aimed at identifying new treatments.
A $3.3 million grant from the US Department of Energy will fund research into producing renewable plastic precursors and other substances from biomass. The project aims to develop high-value commodity chemicals worth over $5,000 per ton.
The University of York has secured a £320,000 grant to purchase the UK's first automated carbohydrate synthesizer, transforming glycoscience in the country. This technology will enable researchers to synthesize complex sugars, which have been challenging to produce due to their complexity and chemical synthesis challenges.
A $9.2 million grant from the NIH will help researchers share, use and cite biomedical datasets more efficiently. The project, led by UC San Diego, aims to create a searchable online digital library for health-related datasets.
Neuroscientists at USC will establish two Centers of Excellence to mine brain data, aiming to identify new treatments for autism, Alzheimer's disease, and mental illness. The $23 million awards total $12 million and $11 million over four years, supporting large-scale analyses that could revolutionize neurological research.
The Scripps Research Institute and Scripps Translational Science Institute will receive funding for a new Center for Excellence in Big Data Computing, enabling the collective mining of biomedical data. The initiative aims to accelerate research efforts on rare diseases using open approaches and citizen science platforms.
A Big Data to Knowledge Program grant will develop big data methods to tackle 80% of coronary heart disease causes, including physical inactivity and poor stress management. The goal is to create adaptive, individualized health-behavior interventions using real-time data from smartphones and wearable devices.
The Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions has received a three-year grant to create an interprofessional model for graduate health education. Up to 60 students will work together in clinical courses, learning from faculty with expertise in various programs.
David Cella, chair of medical social sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, received a prestigious international award for his contributions to patient-reported outcome measures. He is the leader in developing and promoting these measures to put patients' voices in health care.
Researchers are developing vaccines to protect against tick-borne diseases such as human monocytic ehrlichiosis caused by E. chaffeensis. The goal is to understand the pathogen's genetic makeup and develop a vaccine using essential genes.
Malaria causes over 200 million cases annually, with P. falciparum responsible for most deaths; researchers seek inhibitors of sugar metabolism enzyme to fight the disease.
Five UCSF researchers received NIH awards to pursue groundbreaking research on autoimmune diseases, cancer, diabetes, and neurological disorders. Their projects focus on developing novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic approaches.
The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation will receive a two-year $280,000 grant to investigate the role of BAFF and APRIL molecules in multiple sclerosis progression. This project aims to understand how inhibiting these molecules affects disease symptoms in experimental models.
The University of Pittsburgh has received a $2.9 million grant from the National Science Foundation to establish QUBES, a project aiming to refine quantitative biology pedagogy nationwide. The initiative plans to leverage existing technologies to provide cost-effective solutions for faculty development and undergraduate education.
David Mayerich aims to create three-dimensional models of tissue and whole organ microstructures using his NIH grant. This will help diagnose and treat diseases closely tied to microvascular structure, including cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.
A study confirmed that damage to the right frontal-subcortical network can cause ipsilateral spatial neglect in patients. Additionally, a greater proportion of patients with ipsilateral neglect had frontal subcortical damage than anticipated, resulting in 'where' errors rather than 'aiming' errors.
A MU researcher has received a $1 million grant from the CDC to enhance prevention efforts for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. The goal is to educate healthcare professionals and increase awareness of the dangers of drinking during pregnancy.
Sok Kean Khoo, a GVSU researcher, has received a $110,000 grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation to study molecular biomarkers for Parkinson's disease. The goal is to develop a blood test for early detection and potentially improve treatment options for the incurable neurological disorder.
The UK will receive £125M over five years to support PhD training in agriculture, food security, industrial biotechnology, bioenergy, and health. This funding aims to build on the country's strengths in these areas and tackle major challenges such as food demand, sustainable industries, and healthcare.
The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center will conduct proof-of-concept studies in monkeys and launch Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials to test broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. The goal is to suppress or eradicate HIV in humans, providing an alternative to antiretroviral therapies.
Dr. Mark Hersam, an ONR-supported scientist, has won a $625,000 MacArthur Fellowship for his work on graphene and nanoelectronics, which could lead to advancements in electronics, medical devices, and renewable energy for the Navy. The award recognizes his exceptional creativity and promise for future breakthroughs.
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) outperform other primary care practices in granting new patient appointments to Medicaid beneficiaries and uninsured patients. FQHCs also provide lower-cost visits, with nearly 70% offering such services for $100 or less.
Researchers tracked the spread of novel tool-use behaviors among Sonso chimpanzees, demonstrating that wild chimpanzees learn and adopt new skills from each other. The study provides strong evidence for social transmission and cultural diversity in wild chimpanzee communities.
A study found that most FDA-clearanced implanted medical devices lack publicly available scientific evidence of substantial equivalence, safety, or effectiveness. The FDA has a process requiring companies to submit evidence, but it is often not publicly available, hindering independent judgment and public health.
A survey of 3,000 US researchers found that NIH policies have increased data sharing, with genetics researchers ranking it highest. However, issues such as incomplete material transfer agreements and inadequate formal sanctions remain.
The new grant will operate three powerful experimental stations at NSLS-II, allowing researchers to study protein structures and biological processes in detail. The facilities will also enable the development of new technologies for addressing challenging biological questions.
A study published by Kessler Foundation researchers found that using a foot drop stimulator during walking can retrain the temporal activation of the tibialis anterior muscle, improving muscle function. The results suggest that this intervention may facilitate recovery from foot drop, a common complication of stroke.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded $10.1 million in supplemental funding to bolster the research of 82 grantees exploring sex effects in preclinical and clinical studies. This investment encourages researchers to consider sex as a fundamental variable, leading to greater awareness of the need to study both sexes.
Rutgers will develop programs to expose graduate trainees to non-academic careers in the biomedical science and engineering ecosystem. The university's successful application was submitted jointly by CIVET and GSBS, guiding researchers in practical application and commercialization.
Researchers will examine the relationship between open clinical records and wrong patient errors to determine best CPOE system formats. The study aims to identify optimal record openness settings to prevent medical errors.
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation has awarded 200 NARSAD Young Investigator Grants to promising young scientists, valued at over $12.7 million, to conduct groundbreaking neurobiological research on psychiatric disorders affecting one in four people.
The study found that hardwiring AHA guidelines into an electronic ordering system resulted in a significant reduction of telemetry orders, with a 70% decrease in average weekly orders and a 57.8-hour reduction in telemetry duration. The average daily cost for non-ICU cardiac telemetry also decreased substantially.
A researcher will investigate multifunctional and specialized spinal cord nerve cells that control leg movements. The goal is to understand the organization of normal spinal cord circuits for different types of limb movements.
Researchers at LA BioMed are developing a vaccine to protect patients from healthcare-related infections such as Candida and MRSA. The NIH grant will support the study of samples from patients enrolled in an ongoing clinical trial to assess the efficacy of the vaccine.
A RAND Corporation report examines a unique partnership providing private mental health services to veterans and their families, highlighting key findings on outreach and engagement strategies. The study's insights could inform VA reform efforts, emphasizing the importance of addressing mental health needs in returning service members.
The project will support a series of events exploring human self-definition and the concept of humanism in the face of scientific advancements. The initiative aims to build bridges between arts, humanities, and sciences at Penn State.
The University of Texas at Arlington has received a National Science Foundation grant to boost its research capabilities, particularly in high-energy physics and data-intensive science projects. The grant will increase the campus's network performance to support researchers working on large-scale data analysis.
Studies examine emergency department wait times and lengths of stay, revealing significant variation among hospitals. Longest stays found at public and major teaching hospitals, with median wait time of over 30 minutes for discharged patients.
The Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund) has awarded $15.3 million in grants to support the development of promising vaccines and drugs against three insect-borne diseases: malaria, dengue, and Chagas disease. These investments aim to tackle diseases that disproportionately affect the world's poorest populations.
The University of Texas at Arlington has received an $800,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to support the education of new science and math teachers. The grant will provide one- to two-year scholarships worth $10,000 a year to selected undergraduates pursuing teacher certification in these subjects.
Researchers found that removing only the rib cartilage, but leaving its surrounding perichondrium intact, allowed for rapid repair within one to two months. This discovery suggests the presence of progenitor or stem cells in the perichondrium, which could lead to new regenerative therapies.
The NIH has awarded over $64 million to six institutions to create a database of human cellular responses, known as the Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures (LINCS). This will improve scientists' understanding of cell pathways and aid in the development of new therapies for many diseases.
Researchers at Nova Southeastern University will investigate biological indicators in men with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The four-year study aims to develop more effective treatment plans using existing drugs.
Rice University computer scientists have developed cloud-computing tools to help analyze evolutionary patterns. The new open-source algorithms will enable researchers to track the evolution of genes and genomes across species more efficiently, making it possible to trace genes at scales that were not practical before.
New research finds that South African patients with HIV have chances of remaining alive beyond 2 years on ART comparable to those of North American patients. After correcting for under-ascertainment of mortality, researchers found higher mortality rates in South Africa compared to Europe and North America.
Zubarev's team is refining methods to produce more gold nanorods using ascorbic acid, with potential applications in medical diagnostics and photothermal therapy. The NSF grant extension will support further research into processing and incorporating nanorods into metamaterials.