News on the money and policy behind biomedical research. Covers foundation and career-development awards, endocrine and neuroscience funding, and university royalties.
Researchers at MCG are testing a handheld device that can transmit electrocardiograms wirelessly to cardiologists in rural areas, enabling faster diagnosis and treatment of heart attacks. The goal is to bridge the gap between medical expertise and geographical distance.
Researchers are exploring whether electronic personal health records enhance patient involvement in managing their hypertension. A year-long study of 720 patients will compare outcomes for those using the new system with standard treatment.
Scientists at the University of Adelaide are developing new vaccines and treatments to combat hepatitis C, a virus affecting over 170 million people worldwide. The five-year project aims to identify antiviral proteins and improve treatment options, offering hope for those suffering from the disease.
The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in Melbourne received a $20 million NHMRC grant to develop new ways of detecting and treating colon cancer, the most common form of cancer in Australia. The research will focus on five key projects relating to genetic causes, biomarkers, and therapies for colon cancer.
A study found that older women are more likely to develop depression and remain depressed over time, whereas older men are less prone to this condition. This disparity contributes to the higher burden of depression among older women.
Washington University has received nearly $3 million from the Missouri Life Sciences Research Board to support biofuels research at its International Center for Advanced Renewable Energy and Sustainability (I-CARES). Researchers will focus on developing alternative fuel sources and reducing carbon dioxide generation.
A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that individuals with sedentary lifestyles exhibit shorter telomeres, indicating an accelerated aging process. Regular exercise, however, has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, which may help mitigate this effect.
The University of Southern California (USC) has been selected for a major funding round to establish a new institute for stem cell research. The grant, worth up to $262 million, will support the construction of a facility for basic and discovery stem cell research, as well as preclinical and clinical studies.
A $7 million statewide shaken baby prevention project launched in North Carolina, aiming to reduce deaths and serious injuries caused by caregivers shaking crying babies. The project provides an intervention program called 'The Period of PURPLE Crying' to educate parents on normal infant crying and healthy ways to cope with frustration.
Patients admitted with undernourishment at hospital onset have poorer clinical outcomes and more post-stroke complications. Nutritional support during acute ischemic stroke is crucial to improve functional outcomes.
A team of chemists led by Chad Mirkin aims to mimic nature's finely controlled chemical processes to develop materials and devices with high sensitivity and selectivity. The researchers will focus on creating supramolecular structures for environmental remediation, power generation, and detection systems.
A $100,000 grant from Joan's Legacy will enable Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to build upon recent lung cancer discoveries, focusing on epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) and their potential link to estrogen. The research aims to understand how EGFR genetic mutations contribute to non-small cell lung cancer development.
Dr. Joseph Ravenell receives $416,558 grant to study physician inertia and its impact on hypertension treatment in African-American men. The award supports his research to benefit underserved patients and decrease health disparities.
Researchers aim to identify effective ways to disseminate research-based treatments and foster dialogue between treatment providers and innovators. The grants will examine barriers to adoption of promising practices and support partnerships between treatment organizations and states.
Brown University has been named a Center of Excellence in Geriatric Medicine and Training, receiving a three-year $450,000 grant award from the John A. Hartford Foundation to train geriatrics junior faculty and fellows. The funding aims to address the growing shortage of geriatricians across the US, with 26,000 expected by 2030.
Hebrew University researchers received prestigious EU research grants to advance their careers and tackle groundbreaking projects. The five winners will focus on innovative fields such as dormant bacterial spores, group theory, neurophysiological changes, planetary formation, and protein-modulating drugs for cancer and AIDS.
The Medical College of Georgia has been designated as a Minority-Based Community Clinical Oncology Program by the National Cancer Institute, receiving a five-year $2.3 million grant to expand access to latest cancer treatment and prevention strategies for minority patients.
The $9.7 million VIRGO study aims to understand premature heart disease in young women, with 2,000 participants aged 55 and younger, compared to 1,000 men. Researchers will investigate genetic, demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral factors contributing to this high-risk group.
The program will offer interdisciplinary research experiences and a pipeline to graduate programs and full-time jobs, targeting juniors majoring in computational mathematical sciences. Students will have the opportunity to apply math concepts to real-world problems in fields like physics, engineering, and life sciences.
Researchers funded by Lupus Research Institute discover a molecular switch controlling inflammatory response, potentially treating chronic autoimmune disorders like lupus. The finding may lead to new methods to shut down uncontrolled inflammation and restore immune system regulation.
The National Science Foundation awards $105,110 to Williams College for a high-speed imaging facility to investigate ultra-fast biological movements. The facility, which can film up to 100,000 fps, will expand the understanding of rapid events and provide stunning visual insights into nature.
Weill Cornell Medical College has received grants to develop innovative TB drugs and treatments, with a focus on killing or interfering with the TB organism in its non-replicating phase. The research aims to shorten TB therapy from six months to just a couple of weeks, while also addressing emerging drug-resistant forms.
Dr. Lars Zender receives grant to continue identifying new tumor suppressor genes in liver cancer using advanced sequencing technologies. His groundbreaking research at CSHL has the potential to shift the paradigm in cancer treatment.
Researchers will focus on finding medical reasons for the constant urge to urinate, which affects one in six adults over 40 and can cause distress and anxiety. The team aims to develop better ways to identify, manage and treat this common condition.
Dr. Bridges' group successfully demonstrates marker genes can be efficiently inserted into heart muscle cells in large animals using a novel surgical procedure and specially designed hardware. The approach has the potential to develop new treatments for various heart muscle diseases causing heart failure, with preliminary success showi...
The Lupus Research Institute's groundbreaking strategy has yielded significant progress in novel lupus research, with 61% of investigators turning hypotheses into confirmed discoveries. The institute's support has enabled the development of breakthroughs in genetics, molecular science, and other fields.
The NIH grants will support the study of cytochrome c biogenesis pathways in bacteria and humans. The long-term goal is to engineer electrical nanowires into E.coli to make an efficient biofuel cell. Researchers will also develop a screen to find inhibitors of the pathways, which could be potential antimicrobial agents.
The UMass Chan Medical School Heat Shock Protein Consortium will investigate the causes of type 1 diabetes with dual grants from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and The Iacocca Foundation. The research aims to understand the role of cellular stress in autoimmune diabetes, with specific focus on endoplasmic reticulum st...
Researchers nationwide team up to develop means of concentrating and controlling optical energy for applications in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The grant aims to attract college students to participate in nanoscience research and explore novel devices such as mid-infrared 'superlens' that can resolve nanoscale features.
The NIH has awarded $33 million to three states to support multidisciplinary centers focused on diabetes, cartilage health, and cell development. The awards aim to strengthen institutional biomedical research capability and enhance research infrastructure in historically underfunded states.
Three Einstein researchers have received $700,000 in grants from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to study gene expression profiling, epigenetic changes, and metastasizing tumor cells. The studies aim to predict clinical outcomes, identify drug-resistant breast cancer cells, and develop new treatments.
The University of Michigan is leading a consortium to study health consequences of disasters, with a focus on rapid response and mitigation. Researchers will recruit healthy adults to study two, four, and 14 months after the disaster.
Medical errors often lead to guilt, fear and loneliness in patients, families and caregivers, highlighting the need for open communication and emotional support. Honest dialogue can help build bridges and foster forgiveness, leading to closure and improved patient care.
The NIEHS has awarded grants totaling $3.5 million to seven outstanding young environmental scientists. These researchers will investigate the mechanisms of environmental exposures and human biology, human pathophysiology, and human disease.
The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) has selected 18 young scientists from Europe to receive the prestigious Young Investigator Programme. The three-year programme aims to support outstanding young researchers in developing their professional skills and reputation in the scientific community.
The MacArthur Foundation is funding Pathfinder International to implement a range of interventions, including the non-pneumatic anti-shock garment, to treat postpartum hemorrhaging in developing countries. The program aims to reduce maternal mortality by addressing the leading cause of maternal death, postpartum hemorrhage.
The UAB Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics has won a $3.8 million grant to continue its research on the safety and effectiveness of new therapeutics for inflammatory, arthritic, and musculoskeletal diseases. The funding will also support efforts to reduce treatment disparities among minority communities.
The University of Houston's Institute for Molecular Design will receive a $500,000 DNA sequencer, allowing researchers to analyze complex genome data in a couple of days, instead of years. The device will help advance synthetic biology and stem cell research at UH.
Researchers at Clemson University will develop an animal model to study bone loss caused by radiation therapy, which could lead to the development of therapies for cancer survivors. The study also examines the effect of space radiation on bone loss for astronauts, a growing concern for future space missions.
Dr. John Greally and his team will develop high-throughput assays using high-throughput sequencing to analyze the human epigenome. They aim to identify patterns of epigenetic regulators and gain insights into how these mechanisms control genes.
The Ellison Medical Foundation has increased its commitment to support early and mid-career scientists studying aging. The foundation has awarded over $2.8 million to fund 45 postdoctoral fellows and is also providing grants of $550,000 each to mid-career scientists.
A study found that patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia who received the pneumococcal vaccine had a significantly lower risk of death and intensive care unit (ICU) admission compared to those who were not vaccinated. The vaccine was shown to reduce ICU admissions by less than 1%, resulting in potential cost savings.
The NIBIB Quantum Grants program funds four innovative projects to develop new technologies for metastatic lung cancer diagnosis, bio-artificial kidneys, insulin-producing cells, and nanoparticles targeting brain tumors. These advancements aim to transform healthcare with potential breakthroughs in disease treatment and prevention.
The UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities is leading a nationwide project to assess the effects of environmental and genetic factors on children's health. The National Children's Study will follow 100,000 children from birth to age 21 to prevent and treat pressing health problems like autism, diabetes, and obesity.
A new flu vaccine delivered through painless microneedles in patches applied to the skin could soon be an alternative to hypodermic needles, offering less discomfort and lower costs. The Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology team aims to design patches that can increase immunity to influenza with smaller amounts of vaccine.
The University of Southern California has received a five-year, $8.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to survey the genetic, physical and behavioral profiles of children with autism. The grant will increase the reach and ethnic diversity of the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE) database.
UC Irvine has been awarded a $2.18 million grant to develop faster and less costly DNA sequencing methods using nanotechnology. This could lead to more accurate diagnoses, better treatment options, and reduced healthcare costs by making DNA analysis feasible as a routine part of healthcare.
Researchers aim to improve diagnosis and treatment of neurologic emergencies with rapid, reliable information. The Point-of-Care Center will focus on developing technologies for fast and accurate diagnosis at the bedside or in the operating room.
The A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute supports fundamental research to advance understanding of human diseases. The institute's first five Taubman Scholars will receive flexible grants for promising disease-fighting research.
A Queensland University of Technology research team has received $280,000 in funding to investigate how to make technology easier for older people to use. The study aims to improve the design of complex interactive devices, such as healthcare products, to reduce errors and save lives.
The University of Southern California has received a $7.5 million grant to establish a Comprehensive Center of Excellence in Minority Health, focusing on reducing type 2-diabetes and cardiovascular disease among minority youth. The center will analyze fitness activity, nutrition education, and body weight to develop preventive strategies.
Gina Turrigiano, a Brandeis University professor, has received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director's Pioneer Award to develop a super-resolution cryo-microscopic method for studying synapses. This innovative approach aims to understand how synapses are impaired by neurodevelopmental and neurological diseases.
Researchers at The Origins Project aim to understand which molecules and chemical reactions led to the emergence of life on Earth. They will investigate the formation of lifelike polymers and their evolution into life as we know it.
Four young University of Chicago scientists, Margaret Gardel and Rustem Ismagilov, will receive $2.5 million each for biological research over five years. Additionally, Kristen Jacobson and Dorothy Sipkins will receive $1.5 million each for psychiatric and medical research, respectively.
The Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR) aims to speed up the translation of promising research from labs to clinics and eventually to communities. The ICTR will support over 100 faculty members across various schools, enabling them to form relationships with outside organizations and partner with heal...
The NIH is expanding its national clinical and translational research consortium, adding 12 new academic health centers to the existing network. This expansion aims to facilitate collaboration and accelerate the translation of research into real-world treatments.
The UT Southwestern-based collaboration aims to speed the transfer of laboratory discoveries to new therapies that improve human health. The initiative will carry out several key functions, including improved design of clinical research studies and expanding outreach efforts to medically underserved communities.
Rutgers University will receive $2.3 million in funding over four years to develop sensor placement and data analysis systems for detecting smuggled nuclear materials. The project aims to thwart terrorists using such materials to create 'dirty bombs' or environmental contaminants.
The NIH grant will support research on biological mechanisms of healthy aging, aiming to identify genes contributing to exceptional longevity and prevent age-related diseases. Dr. Nir Barzilai's team will collaborate with experts in gerontology, neurology, genetics, epidemiology, and statistical genetics.
The USGS Coalition will host a congressional reception to highlight the importance of increased funding for the USGS in the FY 2008 budget. The event aims to promote responsible natural resource stewardship and improve resilience to natural hazards.