News on the money and policy behind biomedical research. Covers foundation and career-development awards, endocrine and neuroscience funding, and university royalties.
Researchers Lawrence Weider and Amy V. Callaghan will investigate how aquatic organisms cope with drastic environmental changes caused by nutrient pollution. The study targets lakes in Canada and Minnesota, where Daphnia diapausing eggs have remained dormant for over 50 years.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have received funding from the Gates Foundation to develop a simple and low-cost diagnostic test for malaria using the coffee ring stain phenomenon. The test has the potential to be more reliable and shelf-stable than existing methods, which require refrigeration and highly trained technicians.
A team of researchers led by Prof. Todd Lencz and Prof. Ariel Darvasi will conduct a groundbreaking study on the genetic basis of schizophrenia using advanced technologies and a large sample group of 4000 Ashkenazi Jewish individuals.
Researchers at USC, Northwestern and Stanford will study the role of clinicians in medical technology innovation and the value of devices in treating diabetes and chronic wounds. The grants aim to develop objective data on the social and economic impact of therapeutic medical devices.
A new grant will create a national network of scientists enabling faster collaboration and discovery in biomedical research. The VIVOweb project aims to build on the existing VIVO technology, fostering alliances and facilitating access to existing projects.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded grants to further develop and test the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), a tool that assesses pain, fatigue, and other aspects of quality of life in a standardized manner. The second phase of PROMIS aims to strengthen assessment of patient-reported outcomes ...
The DFG Research Centre for Renewable Therapies will receive €30 million in funds over the next four years. The centre aims to develop new cellular therapies and treatment options for various diseases, including metabolism diseases, cancers, and immune system disorders.
A new federal grant will investigate a novel approach in treating HIV infection, focusing on a unique class of drugs that target psychological and neurological effects. The research aims to develop therapies that can relieve depression-like symptoms and improve innate immunity in HIV-infected patients.
Amy Wetherby's research aims to detect autism in children as young as 18 months using a screening tool and culturally sensitive methods. The NIH grants will fund studies of 600 children across different cultures to improve early diagnosis and access to intervention.
Researchers aim to understand the 'language' of the human genome by linking proteins to their genomic blueprints. The goal is to enhance efforts to solve pressing health issues like heart disease and cancer.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded Clemson University a five-year, $9.3 million grant to establish a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) for Tissue Regeneration. The center will focus on tissue regeneration through cell-biomaterials interactions to restore functional tissues and address the growing need for rege...
A Virginia Tech chemist has received an NIH New Innovator grant to develop new heart disease and cancer medicines with improved efficacy and reduced side effects. Her team is creating carbohydrate-based polymers that can deliver genetic drugs directly to cells.
Researchers at Miriam Hospital's Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center are studying various approaches to prevent and treat obesity, including behavioral interventions and gene-based research. These studies aim to develop innovative strategies to curb the obesity epidemic and its devastating health consequences.
The University of North Carolina has secured a five-year, $6.2 million renewal grant to continue its work in the National Institutes of Health's Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network. This funding will enable the discovery of rare disease-causing gene mutations and define early adverse clinical events in infant and childhood studies.
The UCLA School of Public Health has received a grant to establish a center focused on strengthening public health agency preparedness for natural and human-induced disasters. The new center will explore interorganizational cooperation, community-based partnerships, and environmental health emergency resilience.
The institution has received a total of $122M in NIH grants last year, with this latest award bringing the total to over $150M. The funding supports research in various fields including HIV/AIDS, cancer, immunology, and Alzheimer's disease.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded Kaiser Permanente over $54 million to conduct health research in various critical areas. The grants will utilize Kaiser Permanente's vast electronic health record database, doubling the number of individuals available for genome-wide association studies.
Kaiser Permanente and UCSF to conduct genome-wide analysis of DNA from 100,000 Kaiser members, linking genetic info to decades of health data. The resource will facilitate studies on gene-environment interaction and aging.
The hospital received a total of 69 grants across multiple departments, focusing on cancer research, cardiovascular diseases, and sleep apnea management. BIDMC scientists will investigate innovative methods to heal broken bones, develop new cancer therapies, and improve sleep health.
Eric Boerwinkle has received a $26 million federal stimulus grant to identify genetic factors affecting heart, lung and blood diseases. The project will analyze the DNA of approximately 40,000 individuals to pinpoint genetic variants affecting disease risk, aiding in disease detection and treatment selection.
The University of Guam has received a five-year, $8M grant to support cancer research and education, with a focus on addressing health disparities among minority populations. The grant aims to increase research capabilities, provide training opportunities, and promote awareness of cancer prevention.
Researchers will investigate the activation of TLR4 and responses inside human cornea cells, with a goal to identify potential targets for anti-inflammatory intervention. The study aims to discover specific toll-like receptor antagonists to regulate corneal inflammation, potentially leading to novel medication alternatives.
The Forsyth Institute has received highly competitive Challenge Grants totaling over $6 million from the NIH's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This funding will support innovative projects addressing various oral health challenges, including inflammation and bone resorption in oral diseases.
The center received nearly $40.4 million in grants to support various cancer research projects, including proteomics, colorectal cancer, and cord blood transplantation. The funding is expected to retain and create over 920 jobs, according to the Center president.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute will combine two advanced technologies to screen massive peptoid libraries in parallel fashion, increasing the rate of ligand discovery by several hundred times over current methods. The new technology has the potential to revolutionize the search for new therapies.
The Framingham Heart Study has received a $1M challenge grant to identify risk factors for developing atrial fibrillation. Researchers will use data from five major cohort studies, including the study's own long-term follow-up of over 10,000 participants.
The Group Health Research Institute will receive more than $15 million in federal stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The institute's success rate for these competitive awards surpassed its typical rate of about 30 percent.
The American Society for Cell Biology will create an online image library of cell images, videos, and animations. This resource aims to advance science, health, and education by visualizing cellular structure and behavior.
The Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Albert Einstein College of Medicine a three-year, $2.1 million grant to expand its Hispanic Center of Excellence. The center provides leadership and training in research to Hispanic students and faculty, with a focus on addressing health disparities in the Hispanic community.
The National Institutes of Health is awarding up to $152 million over five years to fund Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) in nine IDeA-eligible states. These awards aim to expand research opportunities and increase the number of competitive investigators, promoting the developmen...
Researchers at NC State University aim to redesign traditional firefighter gloves for better hand dexterity and fire protection. They will test various textile materials and design prototypes using the state-of-the-art PyroHands Fire Test System.
A recent poll found that 59% of Massachusetts residents support the state's landmark 2006 health reform law, while 79% want the law to continue despite rising healthcare costs and fiscal challenges. The majority of respondents believe the law is successful in providing health insurance coverage to nearly all residents.
The NIH has awarded $45 million to four new Centers of Excellence in Genomic Science, including two new centers and two existing ones. The new centers will focus on psychiatric disorders and gene regulation, while the existing centers will continue to advance genomic research. Researchers at the University of North Carolina, University...
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded $348 million in funding to encourage high-risk research and innovation. The funding is granted through three innovative research programs: the NIH Director's Transformative R01, Pioneer Awards, and New Innovator Awards.
Researchers aim to understand impact of physical forces on vascular disease and neuro-degenerative disorders by stretching cells on an elastic membrane, simulating natural forces.
The Weill Cornell Institute of Geriatric Psychiatry has received a $10 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to advance research on geriatric depression. The team will focus on understanding the biological, medical, cognitive, and psychosocial aspects of depression in older adults.
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center are creating a collaborative clinical care network to improve chronic illness care. The project aims to bring patients and providers together through social media infrastructure, enabling the sharing of experiences, opinions, comments, and questions.
Researchers Partha Mitra and Josh Dubnau will use their grants to create the first brain-wide circuit diagram for the mouse, aiming to determine alterations in corresponding circuits of neuropsychiatric disorder models. They also aim to trace how brain proteins are regulated at synapses, a complex process that is not well understood.
A University of Toronto-led nanomedicine research group has received a $5-million grant to develop technologies that allow for more selective detection of diseases, including lung and leukemia cancers. The team aims to speed up cancer diagnosis by incorporating plasmonics into existing procedures.
The 20/20 Network will focus on developing new biomaterials, medical devices, and drug delivery systems for treating vision disorders. Researchers aim to improve treatment of vision loss with products like composite materials, ocular microgels, and contact lenses.
Mary Tinetti, a Yale aging expert, will use her grant to further fall prevention research for older adults, while Richard Prum, an evolutionary biologist, aims to explore the physics of structural color in nature. Both researchers were awarded $500,000 'genius' grants by the MacArthur Foundation.
A $10.25 million study will investigate the causes of kidney failure and the need for dialysis in patients with nephrotic syndrome. The research network will focus on understanding the mechanisms behind minimal change disease, focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, and membranous nephropathy.
Researchers aim to improve prostate cancer identification using MRI technology. Powerful high-resolution MRI can reveal cancerous tissue and pinpoint its location.
The Wilson Center's Synthetic Biology project has received two National Science Foundation grants to support research on the implications of synthetic biology for sustainability science and policy. The projects will explore emerging issues in synthetic biology, including its potential contribution to sustainable development.
Katsura Asano's research aims to understand protein building pathways in eukaryotic cells, which can play a role in cancer and chronic diseases. The study uses yeast as a model organism due to its similar protein-building process to human cells.
Research shows that spontaneous preterm birth rates are rising alongside medically-induced preterm births in Scotland, with maternal complications playing a decreasing role. The study suggests that reducing both types of preterm births is crucial for improving infant survival rates.
Researchers found that individuals in vegetative and minimally conscious states can form associations and demonstrate partial consciousness through classical conditioning. This breakthrough has implications for assessing patient consciousness without imaging or instructions.
The NIH awards Albert Einstein College of Medicine two grants totaling $3.5 million to study epigenetic changes and their contribution to diseases such as tumor development, aging, and abnormal growth. Researchers will focus on epigenetic modifications related to abnormal fetal growth and chronic kidney disease.
Researchers aim to understand mechanisms by which the thymus shuts down, affecting immune system function during aging. The goal is to find ways to turn the organ's function back on to fight disease or aging, potentially leading to longer and healthier lives.
Kansas State University has been awarded a five-year, $1.1 million grant to renew its successful Bridges to the Bachelor's program, which has helped almost 50 students transfer to K-State since its inception. The program aims to increase diversity in the bio-behavioral and biomedical sciences at K-State by providing cooperative learnin...
Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have received over $12 million in grants to support innovative research and create jobs. The funding is being used to explore treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, among others.
Researchers are designing liver mimics that can eventually form the basis for extracorporeal liver-assist devices. The primary research goal is to assemble 3D cellular structures that mimic the liver, capturing precise spacing between different cell types.
The GRADE framework has been criticized for its reliability, with Brian Kavanagh arguing that it lacks evidence-based support. International collaborations are crucial in evaluating eHealth, as highlighted in two related articles by Mohammed Ansari and David Bates, who recommend increasing knowledge generation and data exchange.
The UCLA School of Dentistry is building a state-of-the-art cancer research facility to consolidate and expand its oral cancer research. The Yip Center for Oral/Head & Neck Oncology Research will include cutting-edge laboratories for genomics, proteomics, and salivary diagnostics research.
The University of Texas at San Antonio has received a $2.7 million grant from the National Science Foundation to study nanomaterials and their biomedical applications. The research will focus on six areas, including rare earth-based nanoparticles, medical applications, and new materials in biology and neuroscience.
A Barrow scientist has received a $400,000 grant to investigate Von Economo Neurons (VENs), cells potentially linked to quick decision making and social disabilities in autism. The research aims to understand the neural basis for human awareness and VENs' role in species evolution.
A five-year grant will create a comprehensive research infrastructure in the Midwest, focusing on HIV prevention, detection, and treatment. The center will concentrate its investigations around three themes: HIV and women, HIV and aging, and HIV and drug abuse.
The Migraine Research Foundation has awarded $300,000 in research grants to investigate the genetic association between migraine and cardiovascular events. The grant recipients will also explore the impact of opioids on migraine pain.
Mercyhurst College has received a $72,650 NSF grant to purchase an infrared imaging system to advance research on pathogenic bacteria in beach water samples. The new equipment will enable scientists to detect proteins at low levels, refining their investigation of beach water quality and informing recreational swimmers.
A survey of 3,080 life-science faculty at 50 top-funded universities found that one-third conduct basic science research, while translational researchers are more likely to have industry relationships.