News on the money and policy behind biomedical research. Covers foundation and career-development awards, endocrine and neuroscience funding, and university royalties.
A pilot study on an online information system for multiple sclerosis patients will be conducted using the software developed by Cerner Corp., enabling direct access to medical records and prescription drugs, as well as private e-mail correspondence with physicians.
The EMBO/HHMI Startup Grants will provide resources and ongoing support for six promising scientists in Central Europe. The initiative aims to strengthen the scientific pipeline in the region, building on previous programs that supported established science.
The EMBO/HHMI Startup Grants program aims to establish promising young scientists in Central Europe with resources and space. The joint initiative provides ongoing support for researchers after the grant period ends, helping to strengthen science in the region.
A new UCLA study suggests that colonoscopy results do not reassure Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) patients, contradicting previous beliefs. The study found limited diagnostic value of colonoscopy in diagnosing IBS for patients under age 50.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is providing $10 million in grants to 12 US universities to develop innovative graduate education programs. The programs aim to produce scientists with knowledge and skills to conduct research at the intersection of biomedical, physical, and computational sciences.
The joint doctoral program aims to develop curriculum, laboratory courses, and advanced training in computational biology, bioimage informatics, and structural biology. The program will provide students with interdisciplinary research opportunities and training.
A new joint neuroscience doctoral training program will be established at New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rutgers-Newark and UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. The program aims to bring together interdisciplinary approaches to study nerve and brain function, with a focus on addressing complex challenges in the neurosciences.
Brandeis will develop a program in quantitative biology to understand biological functions. The university will hire a new faculty member and provide funding for courses, seminars, and instrumentation.
A four-year study will investigate the effectiveness of two behavioral interventions for adults with Tourette syndrome, with a focus on tic severity. The study complements an existing research program that explores similar treatments in children, funded by NIH.
Monash University has received $32 million in ARC funding for diverse research projects, including investigating immunity and infection control. The university's Civil Engineering department will use the grant to predict and reduce water and gas leakage in underground pipes.
The study focuses on two main areas: dyspareunia and vaginismus, exploring their connection to fear and developing more effective treatments. Researchers aim to improve therapies for women suffering from genital pain associated with menopause.
The University of Rochester Medical Center has received two new grants to fund research on preparing for a bioterrorist attack. The grants aim to develop mathematical models and computer simulations of the human immune system's response to influenza A and smallpox, two of the worst threats. Researchers will also focus on finding ways t...
Associate Professor Peter Dodd's team is using microarray analysis to study brain tissue from dead alcoholics, aiming to identify genes responsible for the damage. The research could lead to a better understanding of neurological diseases and potentially develop a drug to reduce alcohol dependence.
A large series of patients surveyed by Mayo Clinic found that those with chronic cough experience significant social, psychological, and physical sufferings. The top problems reported include interference with lifestyle and leisure, frequent physician visits, and frustration.
The Schizophrenia Research Forum is a new online platform that aims to accelerate discovery by connecting researchers, experts, and clinicians. The site features interactive forums, live chats with leading scientists, and a searchable database of schizophrenia-related papers.
Two Yale scientists are part of a research team receiving a $12.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study how cells interact with their environments. The team will develop methods to quantitatively measure, model, and manipulate live cells using non-invasive light-based techniques.
The Newman team won an NSF award for their work on biological self-assembly, a principle that considers the physical properties of cells and tissues to develop new organs. Their research could lead to the 'printing' of replacement parts using organ printing, revolutionizing organ transplantation.
Researchers at VCU Massey Cancer Center discovered a new agent, Bay 43-9006, that targets the Mcl-1 protein to inhibit leukemia cell survival. The study found that Bay 43-9006 reduces Mcl-1 levels through an unusual mechanism, inhibiting protein synthesis.
The five-site network will identify genetic and environmental determinants of premature birth, utilizing advanced genomic technologies and statistical methods. The study's goal is to gain a deeper understanding of preterm births, a leading cause of infant mortality.
The University of Georgia has received a $3.5 million CDC grant to establish a center focused on reducing health disparities through effective communication and marketing strategies. The center will conduct research studies on how low-income individuals respond to health risks and develop culturally appropriate risk messages.
The American Association for Cancer Research will honor Senator Arlen Specter for his tireless support of biomedical research funding. His leadership and collaboration have led to significant advancements in cancer care, making Pennsylvania a hub for cutting-edge research institutions.
The new ASTRO/ASRT grant program aims to establish new radiation therapy programs, addressing significant shortages in the field. Currently, there are only 71 accredited educational programs in the US, down from 125 a decade ago, and 13 states have no radiation therapy program.
A FSU professor has been awarded a major grant to research the synthesis of roseophilin, a naturally occurring compound that kills cancer cells. The grant will enable fundamental research to bring down the cost and increase the effectiveness of future pharmaceutical drugs.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded $47 million to develop medical countermeasures against radiological and nuclear threats. Eight universities have received grants to establish centers for medical countermeasures against radiation, focusing on basic and applied research to develop new products...
The NIH Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs) program aims to energize clinical and translational science at academic health centers nationwide. The program will foster collaborative approaches, encourage creative research methods, and lead to better patient outcomes through new prevention strategies and treatments.
The Lupus Research Institute is awarding $4.5 million to support groundbreaking studies on autoimmune disease, which affects 1.5 million Americans. The grants will be used to investigate the cause, prevention and treatment of lupus, with a focus on novel approaches and collaborations.
A new study investigated public attitudes towards funding priorities for diet and health research, which will inform BBSRC's strategic decision-making. The study found that the public has specific and sensible priorities for what should be funded, highlighting the importance of stakeholder input in shaping research agendas.
Researchers at Kent State University will examine nanometer-scale interactions between liquid crystal living cells, DNA, and proteins to reveal new information about biological systems. The study could lead to applications for real-time microbial detection and controlled drug delivery.
Brown University has received a five-year, $11-million NIH COBRE award to explore how cancer cells develop from normal cells. The grant will support research on DNA damage, cell growth, and hormone signaling, with the goal of designing more effective prevention measures or treatment methods.
The university will use the grant to enhance its Clinical Scholars Program, which supports young investigators in a three-year educational and training program. The initiative aims to create an environment for career development of young faculty in clinical research.
The joint NSF-NIH program aims to create a predictive understanding of the ecological mechanisms governing relationships between human-induced environmental changes and infectious diseases. Researchers will study how large-scale events alter disease emergence, allowing for better control of disease spread among humans, animals, and crops.
Researchers aim to identify genes underlying Alzheimer's disease to develop drugs for treatment or prevention. The study will focus on protein amyloid production and processing, a known factor in the disease.
Researchers from Illinois University will use grants to recreate early Earth's geochemical processes, exploring how translation in cells may have begun with the genetic code. The team aims to fill gaps in understanding evolution, which is crucial for studying life beyond Earth.
ASU's Center for Rehabilitation Neuroscience has received significant funding to develop neural clamps, MRI systems, and adaptive electrical stimulation for spinal cord injury rehabilitation. The team aims to design techniques to investigate, replace, and repair damaged neural systems for improved mobility.
The BIDMC research team is studying the hormones and brain pathways regulating body weight and glucose metabolism, with a goal of advancing diabetes treatment and prevention. Jointly funded by the Smith Family Foundation and the American Diabetes Association, this award supports scientists conducting research on type 2 diabetes.
Scientists successfully cultivated a marine bacterium, N. maritimus, which is believed to play a significant role in the global carbon and nitrogen cycles. This breakthrough, supported by the National Science Foundation, provides new insights into the mechanisms of this microorganism and its relationship with other microbes.
Biomedical research funding in the US has doubled over the last decade, primarily driven by increased private and industry support. The proportion of industry funding remains relatively constant at 56%, while federal government funding for clinical trials has decreased.
The Northeast Sun Grant Institute at Cornell is a regional hub for researching plant biomass in energy and chemical production. The institute aims to develop sustainable industries and communities by producing bio-economy goods such as biopower, biofuels, and bioproducts.
Despite a decline in the physician-scientist population, new initiatives have shown increasing interest among medical students and steady growth of the M.D.-Ph.D. pool. Funding commitments are crucial to maintaining this trend and sustaining an increase in the population of physician-scientists in the near future.
The partnership aims to stimulate and accelerate European research into beta cell function and survival, aiming to move towards a cure for diabetes. Approximately 194 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, with the number expected to exceed 333 million by 2025.
The Gladstone Institutes will develop a core curriculum of required and elective courses spanning various stem cell research disciplines. The CIRM Scholars Training Program aims to advance regenerative medicine by focusing on understanding the fundamental mechanisms related to stem cells.
Rokach's research focuses on designing and synthesizing radio- and photo-affinity ligand molecules to bind to the disease-causing enzyme, which contributes to asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis. The grant will support his work on identifying the structure of the enzyme.
The Keck School's grant will train graduate students and post-doctoral fellows across 27 departments, developing courses on bioethics and cutting-edge gene-transfer technology. The program aims to create a pipeline of highly trained researchers for CIRM-funded projects.
Researchers at UTSA are studying safe effective vaccine candidates for long-term immunity against tularemia, a deadly pathogen associated with a 30-40% mortality rate. The study will focus on understanding the organism's strategies to evade immune responses and develop T-cell protection.
Researchers tracked gene activity in response to bacterial endotoxin, identifying molecular markers for sepsis. The study found that more than half of genes involved in inflammation were turned down, contrary to expected responses.
Researchers analyzed gene activity in volunteers exposed to a bacterial product, identifying previously unknown relationships among genes involved in blood cell responses to infection. The study provides valuable insights into the human genomic response to inflammation, which can be fatal in severely burned or injured patients.
Researchers at VisiGen Biotechnologies aim to sequence human genomes in under a day at a cost of $1,000 with new BioNano Technology system. The goal is to enable comprehensive genome analysis and design single-molecule DNA sequencing instruments for disease research.
The AAN Foundation and ALS Association are partnering to provide funding for a Clinician Scientist Development Award in support of ALS research. The award aims to prioritize promising compounds for clinical trials, bringing hope to patients suffering from this debilitating disease.
The ACRF Dynamic Imaging Facility for Cancer Biology will enable cutting-edge research into cancer biology using two technologically advanced microscope systems. The facility is part of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience and aims to improve Queensland's capacity for internationally competitive research.
Scientists at UC Davis create porous aerogel supports to study artificial membrane systems, aiming to replicate biological membranes. This breakthrough could lead to new insights into how real cell membranes behave in platelet cells that form blood clots.
The University of Chicago will oversee the world's largest open computer, storage and networking system, TeraGrid, which aims to enhance access for scientific and engineering research. The $48 million grant will support the integration of new resources and science gateways to reach a wider user base.
The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) has announced grant recipients for its Endowment for Education and Research program. The awarded researchers will explore innovative applications of ultrasound technology, including high-resolution imaging, selective intracerebral drug delivery, and peripheral nerve imaging. These...
Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center will investigate how to manipulate intracellular signaling pathways to reduce inflammation in blood vessels, a key factor in heart disease. The team aims to develop new treatments by targeting proteins involved in the inflammatory response.
Researchers are creating a library of realistic 3D models of patients to improve radiation dose accuracy, enabling safer and more effective treatment. This project aims to bring about a paradigm change in radiation protection by facilitating image processing and simulation.
The Mount Sinai School of Medicine has been awarded significant NIH funding to support its stem cell research efforts. Researchers will focus on developing methods to genetically modify stem cells and studying the molecular signals that cause them to differentiate into red blood cells.
The Burnham Institute was selected by NIH to receive a $3M grant for exploratory center in hESC research. The center will support pilot projects, core facilities, and training for scientists.
Scientists aim to develop technology enabling sequence of a single piece of DNA, reducing cost from $10M to $1,000 or less. The goal is to cut the cost of whole-genome sequencing to enable individual genome sequencing in routine medical care.
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) has funded three new Exploratory Centers for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research. The centers will establish core facilities to support scientists and advance fundamental knowledge of human embryonic stem cell properties and functions.
The National Human Genome Research Institute is expanding its efforts to develop faster and cheaper DNA sequencing technologies. The goal is to lower the cost of sequencing a mammalian-sized genome to $100,000 and eventually cut it to $1,000 or less, enabling routine medical care and personalized diagnosis.
The W.M. Keck Foundation has awarded a total of $25 million to 10 young scientists for groundbreaking research on human disease mechanisms. The recipients include Dr. Lu Chen, who aims to create functional synapses to reverse age-related cognitive decline.