News on the grants and awards that fuel scientific work. Covers federal grants, foundation awards, gene-editing and disease programs, and shifts in funding policy.
The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute received a $12 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund to support the GEO-TREES project, which verifies satellite monitoring of forest biomass. The system uses on-the-ground measurements and LiDAR scans to provide accurate carbon estimates.
Researchers at WVU's forensic lab discovered how organic and inorganic compounds in gunshot residue differ in their persistence on surfaces and transfer. This breakthrough allows crime scene investigators to distinguish between 'greener' and traditional ammunition, enabling faster and more informed decisions at crime scenes.
Researchers create interactive web-based game 'Fantasy Sports and Mathematics Game' to improve math skills among middle school age youth. The game uses real-life sports player statistics to engage students in building math knowledge and competencies.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have identified a new target for treating HIV infection by blocking the neutral sphingomyelinase-2 (nSMase2) enzyme. Inhibiting this enzyme can prevent HIV replication and kill infected cells, offering a promising therapeutic approach.
A new study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health provides evidence-based job descriptions and short, attention-grabbing job postings for recruitment. The findings suggest that clear job postings with specific requirements can generate targeted applicants and help attract a diverse candidate pool.
The European Union's Doctoral Training Network in Sport Ethics and Integrity aims to educate a new generation of experts who can detect and prevent threats to sports integrity. The program will engage research on aspects of integrity in sports at the doctoral level, with a focus on doping, match-fixing, data protection, and abuse.
A new study from the University of Missouri-Columbia found that supportive communities and education about breastfeeding health benefits can boost breastfeeding rates, particularly in rural areas where it is less common. The study also showed that reduced stigma surrounding breastfeeding occurred with increased community exposure.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a novel approach to fight cancer by inducing cancer cells to produce a toxic protein using mRNA molecules. The treatment was successful in eliminating 44-60% of cancer cells in animal models, with no damage to healthy cells.
Researchers from West Virginia University have made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting evidence of low-frequency gravitational waves, which can only be perceived with a detector much larger than the Earth. The signal was detected using pulsar timing arrays and has significant implications for understanding spacetime dynamics.
A new meta-analysis of 29 randomized controlled trials on cognitive-behavioral techniques for treating gambling problems found mixed results, including potential overstatements of treatment benefits. The analysis highlighted publication bias and limited funding as contributing factors to the shortcomings of existing research.
The UTHSC College of Pharmacy received a record-high $19.2 million in NIH funding in fiscal year 2022, jumping six places from No. 12 the previous year. The college's rise to No. 6 is attributed to its culture of scholarship and collaborative research.
Researchers at HZDR are developing a low-cost muon detector for non-destructive condition monitoring of industrial facilities. The detector aims to reduce costs and enable long-term monitoring, with potential applications in bridge inspection and nuclear waste management.
The Rogel Cancer Center has received a $37 million National Cancer Institute grant to support its comprehensive cancer research and treatment programs. The center, one of the top-ranked in Michigan, will continue to improve outcomes for cancer patients and survivors with innovative research and treatments.
A new UMass Amherst study aims to develop a more robust understanding of the effects of ambient air pollution on women's reproductive health. The researcher will analyze data from 1,228 participants to identify mechanisms and susceptible reproductive processes across the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy.
Aarhus University's AELECTRA project aims to develop a decentralized technology for producing liquid ammonia from renewable energy. The new process could halve investment costs and enable farmers to produce their own fertilizer or e-fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center have engineered a new model of aggressive renal cell carcinoma, highlighting molecular targets and genomic events that trigger chromosomal instability. The loss of interferon receptor genes plays a pivotal role in allowing cancer cells to become tolerant of chromosomal instability.
The Biden-Harris Administration has launched a $50 million initiative to improve cancer outcomes in persistent poverty areas. The Persistent Poverty Initiative aims to build research capacity, foster cancer prevention research, and promote community-based programs to address the cumulative effects of poverty on cancer outcomes.
The WVU Pollution Prevention Program provides customized source reduction solutions, training, and digital technologies to minimize waste. The program aims to help businesses achieve carbon neutrality through data-driven modeling and AI-powered adjustments.
A new study using satellite data from over 7,000 global reservoirs found that total storage capacity has increased, but the filling rate is lower than anticipated. The analysis suggests that addressing future water demands cannot rely solely on constructing new reservoirs, highlighting the need for novel management strategies.
The Lehigh University Industrial Assessment Center will conduct energy audits for manufacturing plants in the mid-Atlantic region, providing real-world training for students and professionals. The center aims to reduce industrial emissions and improve manufacturing competitiveness while enhancing workforce development in disadvantaged ...
Researchers propose a new way to restructure grant allocation, promoting inclusivity, innovation and cost reduction. The proposed system uses a lottery to determine which researchers can submit funding applications, followed by a second stage of peer review.
A research team from Taiwan has found a way to massively speed up aerial image simulations using wavelength scaling and fast Fourier transformation. The new algorithm improves computation speed by 4000-5000 times while maintaining only a slight intensity deviation.
Researchers at Purdue University have demonstrated tunable moiré magnetism in twisted double bilayers of chromium triiodide, a material that can be used for spintronics. This discovery suggests a new class of material platform for spintronics and magnetoelectronics.
George Mason University CEHD researchers received $49,997 from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to develop a conservation stakeholder engagement plan. The project aims to identify and engage diverse stakeholders in Appalachian conservation planning using a justice, equity, diversity approach.
A UMass Amherst biostatistician is developing statistical tools to better predict breast cancer survival rates and survival time after recurrence. The methods, funded by an NIH grant, will also have a broad application for other chronic diseases, such as those involving hormones and biomarkers.
Scientists have discovered a rare type of white dwarf pulsar, shedding light on stellar evolution and the origin of strong magnetic fields. The newly detected pulsar, J1912-4410, has a size similar to Earth but a mass at least as large as the Sun.
Researchers are investigating methods to extract critical materials, including lithium for electric vehicle batteries and magnets for electric motors, from diverse water streams. By accelerating evaporation through porous photothermal materials, they aim to reduce energy intensity and improve supply chain security.
A study by Chinese researchers found that financial reports produced during fiscal years mismatched with annual business activity may be less reliable due to rigid accounting regulations. This can result in higher abnormal accruals, lower analyst forecast accuracy, and longer audit reporting delays for affected companies.
The researcher will develop an integrated framework to estimate degradation at the component level, enhance health prediction techniques, and design coordinated circuits with embedded systems. His work aims to inspire and educate the next generation of innovators in power electronics.
A study found that even insured patients with diabetes use crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe to cover excess medical expenses, including uncovered co-pays and life-saving care. Researchers urge policymakers to consider these needs when developing affordable diabetes care policies.
The American Heart Association invites researchers to compete in a data challenge to better understand how lipoprotein(a) levels impact cardiovascular disease and stroke risk. The winning project can receive a $40,000 cash prize.
Research from Johns Hopkins Medicine found that Black and Hispanic female breast cancer survivors have higher death rates from second cancers compared to other ethnic groups. The risk of death from a second cancer is 12% higher among non-Hispanic Black survivors and 8% higher among Hispanic survivors.
Researchers will study how DNA folding and organization impact heart cell development and maintenance. The goal is to unravel the role of genome folding in controlling cell behavior, particularly in heart cells.
A group of educators is urging caution when using artificial intelligence (AI) in special education, highlighting its potential to benefit students with disabilities. The authors emphasize the need for careful consideration of AI's uses and limitations, including information literacy, consent, and critical thinking.
The study reveals that spontaneous waves of neurotransmitter glutamate facilitate dendrite pruning, while a unique protection/punishment machinery strengthens certain connections and eliminates others. Proper pruning is critical for neural development, with insufficient or excessive connections linked to neurophysiological disorders.
The initiative aims to improve data collection methods on researchers' racial and ethnic dimensions. It seeks to overcome obstacles, including sensitive data that may be leaked, to promote structural changes and impact in the research ecosystem.
A new working group of the Global Research Council aims to map existing funding mechanisms for global research collaboration. The group will assess opportunities for multilateral engagement and figure out how to implement them, despite legal barriers that prevent public resources from crossing national borders.
Researchers confirm increased protein marker of inflammation in long COVID patients' brains, impacting depression and cognitive symptoms. CAMH study provides hope for new treatments using anti-inflammatory medications.
A new Danish research project, CP-SENS, aims to develop a digital twin platform for the mechanical and construction industries. The project will provide companies with access to intelligent IT systems tailored to their needs, enabling them to adopt digital twins without significant financial investment.
Daniel Herwartz receives 2 million euros funding from ERC Consolidator Grant for his project KinO, which explores temperature fluctuations associated with mass extinction and improves temperature reconstructions of ancient ocean temperatures.
The Global Research Council has ratified a charter of principles to promote equitable and diverse research practices. The document aims to establish common standards for assessing the quality of science produced, facilitating international collaborations and recognizing the value of different research activities.
Experts at the Global Research Council's annual meeting emphasize the need for equal opportunities and local context-specific challenges to address climate change impacts. The assessment highlights the importance of global research collaboration, tailored solutions, and partnerships between countries to mitigate and adapt to climate ch...
The Annual Meeting of the Global Research Council, attended by 175 representatives from 81 institutions in 63 countries, discusses topics to shape future research collaboration. The event highlights the need for global cooperation to tackle complex issues like climate change and scientific evaluation.
A University of Houston study explores why Hispanic individuals experience higher levels of loneliness and its link to hazardous drinking in the US. The research aims to identify predictors of loneliness and provide insights into developing targeted interventions to improve health outcomes among Hispanic communities.
A WVU researcher is developing a data-driven approach to enhance roadway maintenance operations, incorporating AI analysis of real-time data from sensors on consumer cars and roadside observation stations. The goal is to minimize time and resources spent on less affected roadways, reducing winter maintenance costs and time.
Funding agencies emphasized the need for reciprocal collaborations, equal access to research data, and clear intellectual property standards. The discussion aimed to promote responsible internationalization and address concerns about politics and security issues among countries.
Leaders of research funding agencies from four countries discussed initiatives to promote equality and inclusion in academia. FAPESP's quota system has increased diversity among USP students, while UKRI emphasizes the importance of diverse perspectives in driving research forward.
A New Jersey Institute of Technology research team has been awarded a $4.64 million grant to continue studying the Sun's explosive activity at Big Bear Solar Observatory. The team will use the observatory's unique imaging capabilities and stable seeing conditions to investigate solar phenomenon as activity on the Sun ramps up.
Two Kessler Foundation scientists will conduct studies on upper extremity exercise after stroke and restoration of cardiovascular function in spinal cord injury populations. Dr. Shenoy Handiru's study combines transcranial electrical stimulation and wearable sensor-based exergaming to improve hand dexterity, while Dr. Einat Engel-Haber...
A nationwide study of nearly 10,000 adults identifies 12 hallmarks of long COVID, including debilitating fatigue, loss of smell or taste, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The findings provide a new scoring system for clinicians to define and investigate treatments for patients with long COVID.
Researchers investigate whether pregnant mothers' exposure to toxic metals affects kidney development in their babies, which may set the stage for chronic kidney disease. The team aims to identify key combinations of metal mixtures that could have detrimental effects on developing kidneys.
A nationwide VR research project is working to create diverse groups of participants to reflect real-world social dynamics. The Virtual Experience Research Accelerator (VERA) aims to provide researchers with access to large, reliable, and diverse groups for various VR research projects.
Researchers aim to understand and utilize quasiparticles called excitons, which can transport energy without a net electric charge. The goal is to design energy-efficient systems that detect and emit light across a wide range of frequencies.
Physicists from Würzburg's ToCoTronics CRC have made groundbreaking discoveries in topological materials, including indene and bismuthene. The renewed funding will focus on shaping these materials into nanostructures using lithographic methods.
The National Institutes of Health is enrolling 10,000 participants in a landmark precision nutrition study. The study aims to develop algorithms predicting how individuals respond to different foods and diets based on genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors.
A €2.5million European research programme, FRIETS, is increasing the shelf-life of berries through high-precision agriculture and innovative processing methods while maintaining quality. The four-year project combines precision agriculture strategies with dehydration and edible coating methods to discover healthier food alternatives.
A new study found that coastal light pollution causes corals to spawn one to three days closer to the full moon, reducing the likelihood of fertilized eggs surviving and producing new adult corals. This disrupts the natural spawning cycle, which is critical for reef recovery after mass bleaching events.
A team of researchers is exploring the potential of HDAC inhibitors to treat sickle cell disease by reactivating the fetal hemoglobin gene. Early evidence suggests that panobinostat, a specific inhibitor, can increase fetal hemoglobin levels in red blood cells and mouse models.
SpaceMarkers, a new machine learning software, can identify molecular interactions among distinct cell types in and around tumors. By analyzing spatial transcriptomics data, it reveals genes overexpressed due to cell-to-cell interactions, providing new avenues for understanding cancer progression and treatment responses.
A new study from City University London suggests that the Research Excellence Framework (REF) has led to significant increases in high-quality published research, but not active academics. The study highlights areas of improvement needed in the assessment framework, including greater collaboration between domestic competitors.