News on the money and policy behind biomedical research. Covers foundation and career-development awards, endocrine and neuroscience funding, and university royalties.
Researchers will develop biomimetic materials with self-replicating and evolving properties using DNA-guided self-assembly and origami folding. The goal is to create self-replicating 3D arrays with potential applications in advanced materials, biofuels, and industrial products.
Researchers have identified a novel component, Par-1, of the Hippo signaling pathway, which influences Hippo protein phosphorylation and regulates organ growth. The study found that Par-1 negatively regulates Hippo kinase activity, promoting apoptosis and reducing tissue growth.
A collaborative research project between ASU and Mayo Clinic aims to improve carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis through the use of novel grasp testing methods. The new approach seeks to provide a more precise measure of functional recovery, enabling early detection of non-recovery after surgery.
Researchers aim to develop innovative ways to enhance smokers' ability to abstain from nicotine cravings. The study will recruit hundreds of smokers and use behavioral exercises to build resistance to tobacco withdrawal cues.
A Johns Hopkins Medicine study sheds light on the mechanism of cocaine addiction, revealing how dopamine, mGluR5, and immediate early genes work together to induce addiction. The findings may lead to new treatments for this strong form of addiction.
George Tsokos, MD, has received a prestigious MERIT Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for his longstanding work investigating molecular T-cell defects underlying systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The funding will support his project and provide insights into disease diagnosis and therapeutic targets.
The Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center have received a $16 million NIH grant to investigate the impact of HIV and AIDS on women. The study will focus on identifying immune factors that protect women against HIV infection, understanding virus transmission, and predicting treatment response.
A study published in Nature reveals that attention operates at the synapse level to sharpen signals and selectively boost relevant information. The results have implications for improving screening and treatments for people with attention deficits resulting from brain injury or disease.
Dr. Jingwei Xie has been awarded a $293,000 NIH grant to lead a project developing a new biological device that better mimics an uninjured tendon-to-bone attachment, potentially improving healing rates for rotator cuff injuries.
Loyola's Alcohol Research Program has received four NIH grants totaling over $3 million to investigate the effects of alcohol on organ systems. The program, led by Elizabeth J. Kovacs, PhD, aims to improve our understanding of how heavy drinking hinders recovery from burns or trauma and its impact on bone health.
The National Science Foundation has awarded Wayne State University a $25,000 planning grant to develop a strategic plan for a field-based water research center. The center, known as HEART, will focus on urban systems and the environment along the Huron-to-Erie corridor, impacting over 4 million people.
Researchers have identified a pathway of self-destruction that triggers the spread of cell death in worms, causing a 'blue Grim Reaper' to track death through the body. This discovery sheds light on how ageing causes death and provides insights into preventing it.
The NIH has awarded four new grants to explore the use of genome sequencing in medical care, including informing couples about reproductive risks and detecting genomic alterations that can lead to cancer. The grants total approximately $6.7 million in the first year and aim to advance treatment and improve patient outcomes.
A study of 535 patients undergoing transthoracic echocardiography found that only 31.8% resulted in an active change in care, with most TTEs classified as appropriate yet failing to improve outcomes. The low rate highlights the need for efficient use of healthcare resources while maintaining high-quality care.
A study found that parents with established relationships with pediatricians often choose retail clinics for minor illnesses due to convenient hours and lack of office appointments. The most common reasons for using retail clinics were acute upper respiratory tract illnesses, such as sore throats and ear infections.
Researchers at VCU are studying the biology of allergic disease with a $1.8 million NIH grant. They aim to understand how mast cells respond to signals, potentially leading to new therapies for conditions like asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.
A new article in PLOS Medicine highlights the importance of routine systematic reviews and meta-analyses of animal studies. The authors argue that funding agencies should subsidize these reviews to reduce waste and duplication of animal studies, while an international register for animal studies is also recommended.
Sickle cell anemia is projected to increase by 33% from 2010 to 2050, primarily affecting newborns in sub-Saharan Africa. Implementing basic health interventions could significantly reduce death rates among children under 5 with the condition.
A new drug candidate, SR9009, has been shown to significantly increase exercise endurance in animal models. The compound works by activating the core biological clock molecule Rev-erbα, which influences lipid and glucose metabolism, fat-storing cell production, and macrophage response during inflammation.
A 5-year study at Drexel University's School of Public Health aims to investigate the impact of medical marijuana on young adults' physical and psychological health. The study, funded by a $3.3 million NIH grant, will recruit 380 participants and explore the effects of dispensaries on health outcomes.
The University of Akron researchers aim to understand the fundamental origin of glass transition, with potential applications in flexible electronics, corrosion-resistant coatings, and vaccine preservation. They plan to use biomimicry to evolve new materials with desired properties.
Researchers found that acoustic features of music influence walkers' stride length and speed, regardless of tempo. Participants who walked to faster-paced music were more likely to rate it as bad or aggressive.
The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) recognizes and encourages outstanding research in key areas of orthopaedic sports medicine. This year, AOSSM presented ten research awards and seven grants to support innovative projects, including studies on ACL deficiency, osteoarthritis, and sports injuries.
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that older adults are more likely to experience disability near the end of life, particularly women. Disability prevalence increased from 28% two years before death to 56% in the last month of life.
A study analyzing 35,191 patients with coronary heart disease found that about one-third of those who achieved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goals underwent repeat lipid testing. This may result in significant healthcare resource overuse and waste, estimated to cost around $203,990 annually in one VA network.
The program, MARC U STAR, will provide four undergraduates per year with tuition, fees, and a stipend to pursue doctoral study in the biomedical sciences. The initiative is part of MSU's goal to create a more diverse future for biomedicine.
The Fondation Leducq has awarded a $6 million grant to a new global research network focused on cardiac regeneration. The network, which includes researchers from the Cardiovascular Research Center at Mount Sinai, aims to identify cellular and molecular targets for advancing cardiac regenerative therapeutics.
Anurag Singh, PhD, has received a $100,000 ALA Lung Cancer Discovery Grant to study targeted therapies for drug-resistant lung cancers. He aims to develop strategies to block KRAS protein function and improve treatment outcomes.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a therapeutic approach to restore nitric oxide levels in donated blood, improving tissue oxygen delivery and kidney function. The treatment, called renitrosylation therapy, may hold great promise for millions of patients who receive regular blood transfusions.
A study questions the 'read-through' drug PTC124's efficacy, suggesting it may not work as intended. Researchers found that PTC124 deceives a screening system rather than causing read-through, casting doubt on its effectiveness in treating genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center are developing a new stem cell therapy approach to treat limbal epithelial stem cell deficiency, a common cause of corneal blindness. The goal is to create a corneal cell source for transplantation using induced pluripotent stem cells from patients' own eyes.
Two Wayne State research grants totaling $1.8 million focus on addressing obesity-related diseases and developing environmental health leadership, aiming to improve community health and economic vitality in Detroit.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that nearly 300,000 stroke/TIA survivors develop PTSD symptoms each year, with one in nine experiencing chronic symptoms. The study suggests that PTSD is an under-recognized problem among stroke patients, and that social support is a key protective factor against PTSD.
A UT Arlington environmental engineer is investigating the best methods to add monochloramine to water in the pipeline to eliminate biological growths and invasive species. The research aims to ensure efficient water delivery and last-long duration for the pipeline, benefiting over 4.4 million people in North Texas.
The University of Southern Denmark has established a new Center for Bioanalytical Sciences with funding from the VILLUM Foundation. The center will support interdisciplinary biological research using advanced equipment and computational platforms.
The University of Cincinnati's Center for Environmental Genetics will continue to conduct innovative research on how environmental agents interact with genetic and epigenetic factors to influence disease risk and outcome. The center supports state-of-the-art core facilities and technologies, including bioinformatics, integrative techno...
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago discovered that genetic mutations associated with inherited ALS can cause delays in nutrient and protein transport within nerve cells. This slowdown can lead to cell death, contributing to the neurodegenerative disorder.
A study using fMRI found that stroke patients' brains exhibit strongest activity in damaged hemisphere regions when viewing actions they struggle with. This suggests a potential therapeutic technique using action-observation to drive plasticity and improve motor function.
A study of over 4,000 participants found that people who walk or cycle to work are less likely to be overweight or obese compared to those using public or private transport. The findings suggest active travel could reduce rates of chronic diseases in India.
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center has announced a significant investment of over $100 million in grants for life-sciences-related capital projects in western Massachusetts. This investment will support the growth of the state's life sciences supercluster and enhance the University of Massachusetts Amherst's ability to drive econom...
Six top scientists received funding for projects aiming to discover new treatments and a cure for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The National Psoriasis Foundation awarded $450,000 in research grants to support promising research projects.
The university has received a five-year, $1.76 million grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research for a pre- and postdoctoral fellowship program in palliative care. The goal is to train nurse scientists to advance knowledge on effective palliation for patients with advanced diseases.
Researchers have discovered the functional importance of enhancer-directed RNAs, also known as eRNAs, which boost or enhance nearby genes. The discovery could provide a new way to alter gene expression in a cell-specific manner, potentially treating diseases.
The first virtual community to launch thanks to a federal grant at Brigham and Women's Hospital enables healthcare professionals to share innovative ways to deliver evidence-based care to underserved US communities. The program aims to facilitate cross-pollination of ideas and disseminate new knowledge.
The Center for World Health and Medicine is studying anti-secretory drugs to prevent dehydration in children with diarrheal disease. The goal is to develop effective and inexpensive treatment options for developing countries where access to rehydration therapy is limited.
Researchers at UCLA have identified TR4 as a key driver of tumor growth in Cushing disease. By knocking down TR4 in lab mice, they reversed tumor growth and excess ACTH production, paving the way for potential drug therapy.
A study found that radiation oncology received only 1.6% of the $30.9 billion in NIH-funded grants for cancer research in FY 2013. This disparity highlights an urgent need for increased funding to improve patient survival and treatment outcomes.
Scientists at Queen's University will develop new methods of disease detection and treatment using MicroRNAs, a potential breakthrough in diagnosis. The Institute for Global Food Security is also exploring food crops containing drugs to treat tropical diseases.
The Institute for Genomic Biology will develop foundational synthetic biology technologies and computational platforms for genetic modification of plants and animals. The grant aims to address grand challenges in human health and environmental sustainability, with potential applications in crop yields and disease treatment.
Researchers will develop procedures to help underinsured people efficiently get care for common health problems. The study aims to identify and address barriers to accessing care, prioritizing care access strategies based on patient experiences.
The HERCULES Center at Emory University will investigate the impact of environmental exposures on human health. The center, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, aims to promote a holistic understanding of the human exposome and its effects on complex disorders such as autism, asthma, and Alzheimer's disease.
The Immortality Project at UC Riverside has awarded $2.3 million to 10 research teams studying near-death experiences, virtual reality immortality, and the genetics of a species of freshwater hydra that never ages. The projects aim to advance knowledge on human longevity, near-death experiences, and the nature of personhood.
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that hospitals with higher case-survival rates for cardiac arrests also had lower incident rates. The research analyzed data from 358 hospitals and identified a correlation between preventing cardiac arrests and survival rates.
A new study by University of Michigan researchers found that hospitals with the highest rates of cardiac arrests tend to have the poorest survival rates for those cases. Conversely, hospitals that do a better job preventing cardiac arrest among patients also tend to save more patients who experience an arrest.
The UIC Center for Clinical and Translational Science has selected six research projects to receive $30,000 per year pilot grants. These grants aim to support the development of new ideas and generate preliminary data for applying for highly competitive grants from outside sources.
A global expert group recommends increased focus on implementing known interventions to combat childhood diarrheal diseases. Oral rehydration solutions and zinc supplementation are also emphasized for further research development. The report aims to inform Global Action Plan for Diarrhoea and Pneumonia efforts.
The University of Rochester has been designated a Center for AIDS Research by the National Institutes of Health, with $7.5 million in new funding to advance HIV/AIDS research. The CFAR will focus on brain and aging effects, as well as RNA biology, with collaborations between departments.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina will assess three types of blood sugar home testing approaches on patient outcomes in a community-based clinic setting. The study aims to inform better, evidence-based decisions about glucose monitoring for patients with type 2 diabetes not treated with insulin.
Researchers analyzed starch granules from Neolithic stone tools and found they resembled those of sago-type palms, indicating a reliance on sago palms as a primary food source. The study also suggests that people ate bananas, acorns, and freshwater roots and tubers before rice cultivation began.
A new study found that a yeast colony dominated by non-producers is more likely to face extinction than one consisting entirely of producers. The researchers discovered that even a small proportion of 'cheaters' can disrupt the social unit's survival, highlighting the central dilemma in the evolution of cooperation.