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.
A study led by Dr Andrea Litva found that both health professionals and lay people do not currently support direct public involvement in clinical governance. The research suggests that creating a culture shift among lay people will require time and support from primary care trusts to involve the public effectively.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have successfully produced all-female cultured stocks of Southern flounder using controlled-breeding methods and warm water temperature manipulation. This method has significant economic potential, as female flounder can grow up to two times larger than males within two years.
Researchers will track students' math skills in grades 1-3 to identify early warning signs of learning disabilities and develop more effective teaching methods.
Scientists at Cardiff University have developed a new protein to help manage acute infection and inflammation. The protein has been jointly investigated by Dr Simon Jones and Dr Nicholas Topley for several years, revealing its potential in treating chronic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and bacterial peritonitis.
A study by Mirjam Smeets reveals that haptoglobin inhibits collagen breakdown and improves cell migration in damaged blood vessels. This discovery may lead to the development of drugs to prevent rehospitalization for patients after percutaneous angioplasty.
A University of Toronto researcher is studying how the Cherokee people responded to forced removal, with a focus on accommodationist writers and resistant voices. His book aims to acknowledge the history of removal and its impact on Cherokee literature.
Researchers are developing a gateway server to make web sites accessible to people with visual impairments, providing a 'window to the world.' The project also aims to reduce barriers to internet use among people with disabilities through assistive technology and training.
Scientists find that northern right whales in Grand Manan Basin are exposed to substantial amounts of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins, which can cause chronic impairment and death. The toxins may affect diving capabilities, leading to poorer condition, reduced calving rates, and increased susceptibility to disease.
Researcher Andrea Most examines the works of influential Jewish American composers, revealing how Broadway musicals addressed complex issues of identity, assimilation, and American culture. Her book will shed new light on the genre's often-overlooked 'Jewish origins' and its impact on the American experience.
The DOE grant aims to economically derive high-value chemicals and oils from lower value corn fiber, opening new markets for corn growers. The project will develop purification and characterization techniques and design a pilot plant to recover high-value carbohydrates.
Researchers found evidence of the earliest form of writing in the New World on a cylindrical seal and greenstone plaque fragments. The discoveries date back to the Olmec era, a pre-Mayan civilization, and challenge previous notions about the earliest written communication in Mesoamerica.
Scripps Institution researchers have developed a new approach for designing marine reserves in the Gulf of California, using optimization algorithms and ecological data. The study, published in Science, provides a mapped series of reserves that meet conservation goals while minimizing societal conflicts with fishing interests.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a compact freezer case using sound waves to substitute chemical refrigerants, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Navy has funded the project and is exploring its potential for distributed cooling systems on carriers.
The National Institutes of Health's NIAMS has funded eight research projects to better understand and treat heritable disorders of connective tissue. These conditions, such as osteogenesis imperfecta and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, affect millions of Americans and have few effective treatments.
The US government has signed a bill to curb the introduction of unwanted aquatic organisms in ballast water. A template for national wetland restoration efforts is also being promoted, following Oregon's success in saving native salmon runs. Ozone treatment and biocide methods are being explored as cost-effective solutions.
The Chemical Heritage Foundation has received a $250,000 grant from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation to support its oral history program. This funding will help preserve the history of the chemical industry and molecular sciences through recorded interviews with key players.
Researchers at UC Davis are developing optical CDMA devices that encode information across a spread of wavelengths for fast and secure telecommunications. This technology has the potential to improve network security and provide faster connections.
The NSF has awarded a design grant for the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) telescope, which aims to be the largest scientific instrument ever built. The U.S. consortium, led by Cornell University, will investigate feed antennas and low-temperature receivers, as well as address radio frequency interference issues.
Researchers at Virginia Tech are developing e-textiles with embedded sensors and electronic components to create wearable computers and sensing systems. These fabrics can detect sounds, chemicals, and pick up satellite signals, enabling various industrial and military applications.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has awarded $2 million to fund research on inhalant abuse, focusing on epidemiology, risk factors, and health consequences. The new studies aim to address the severe lack of research-based information on this widespread problem affecting young children.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has awarded a total of $4.5 million to create a community-based drug abuse prevention trials network. The grants will support multi-site studies of evidence-based interventions aimed at preventing substance abuse in urban school settings.
The Foundation has agreed to fund a physician-sponsored Phase I/II human clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of CA4P as a treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration. The study aims to inhibit the growth of proliferating blood vessels linked to retinal conditions such as wet AMD.
Researchers at Virginia Tech are conducting a large-scale aquifer test to improve groundwater management. They are using GPS antennas and remote-sensing radar satellites to measure land subsidence with millimeter accuracy, which will help managers maintain the elastic range of the aquifer and prevent land subsidence.
The Rutgers project aims to develop software that allows medical researchers and physicians to share and analyze brain imaging data online, improving the understanding of brain disorders. The new search tools will focus on dynamic brain activity, filtering away secondary signals to reveal underlying pathways.
Virtual Jamestown aims to shape the national dialogue on the founding of Jamestown colony. The project will allow researchers and teachers to compare it with other colonial efforts and examine American culture origins.
Williams College researcher Dr. Fein has received a $240,455 NSF grant to investigate the links between social context, physiological arousal, and cognitive appraisals in relation to student underperformance. The research team will include experts from education, neuroscience, health, cognitive psychology, and social psychology.
The Cornell Reuleaux Collection, a repository of kinematic models developed by German engineer Franz Reuleaux, has been expanded into the Kinematic Models for Design Digital Library (K-MODDL). Users can interact with digital images and models to learn about machine design principles.
The new center combines multiple research areas, including molecular devices, nanofabrication, and selective chemistry. Regular seminars feature the researchers of the Center for Nanoscale Science.
Recent geophysical data shows Mauna Loa's summit caldera swelling at a rate of 2-2.5 inches per year, indicating magma accumulation. Scientists warn that this could be a precursor to an eruption, which would be the first time imaged with precise clarity.
The Navy is using immersive simulation training, known as 'visceral reality,' to challenge fresh recruits through realistic and intense scenarios. This new approach aims to better equip sailors to deal with combat situations, providing a more effective training evolution.
The Fenniri team has discovered a new class of nanotubes formed from synthetic organic molecules, enabling complete control over their formation and properties. These nanotubes can be customized to possess different physical and chemical properties, making them suitable for various industrial applications.
Rep. Jerry Lewis has been recognized for his advocacy of science and technology programs at the Department of Defense. His leadership has led to an increase in funding for defense science and technology since becoming chair of the House National Security Appropriations Subcommittee.
The MIT model provides predictive capabilities for understanding defect nucleation and growth, crucial for nanotechnology. It explains how defects like cracks or dislocations develop from waves in four stages, providing a key finding for materials science.
The OptIPuter project aims to create a parallel computer that uses optical networks to connect distributed clusters and large data repositories. This will enable scientists to analyze and visualize massive amounts of data in near real-time.
The Department of Education at Washington University in St. Louis has received a $10 million NSF grant to establish the Center for Integrating Science, Technology, and Learning (CISTL). CISTL will focus on supporting inquiry-based teaching and learning in K-12 science education through professional development and research projects.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is leading a global effort to develop revolutionary materials and systems for safely and economically purifying water. Researchers will focus on improving disinfection and desalination processes, removing trace contaminants, and eliminating foulants that clog filters.
Alexander Raikhel, a UC Riverside researcher, has received a $4.3 million NIH grant to study the regulation of genes in mosquitoes. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to developing means to interrupt disease transmission cycles and prevent mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile virus and Dengue Fever.
A five-year initiative led by Partnership for Biodiversity Informatics will enhance researchers' global access to data and information. The project aims to locate relevant data sets, utilize distributed computational services, and exercise new analysis methods.
Researchers aim to compress images for small mobile agents, reducing power requirements and enabling wireless data transmission in confined spaces. Successful technology advances could benefit search and rescue operations, soldiers' field communications, and micro-air vehicles.
The Truthsayer system uses digital signatures to guarantee the accuracy and authenticity of online information. This approach makes it challenging for hackers to alter information without being detected, thus reducing the need for high-level security measures.
Kelley, a Cornell professor, has been capturing images of the Earth's upper atmosphere over Greece as part of a Fulbright program research project. He aims to find clear evidence for waves traveling through atmospheric layers and their effect on radar.
The University of Minnesota and the Science Museum will collaborate on a $19.3 million NSF grant to study earth-surface dynamics and develop predictive models for landscape changes. The center will explore four themes, including landscapes and seascapes, basins, and human impact on landscapes.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is launching a $20 million effort to pinpoint environmental triggers of Parkinson's disease. Three centers will conduct independent research, including the University of California at Los Angeles, Emory University, and The Parkinson's Institute.
Dr. Vladimir Voevodsky and Madhu Sudan received the prestigious awards for their innovative contributions to algebraic geometry, number theory, computer science, and probabilistically checkable proofs.
A study found that consuming more calories and fats may be linked to a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The research, published in the Archives of Neurology, followed 980 elderly individuals for an average of four years and recorded their calorie intake.
Luesch will receive the $45,000 fellowship to investigate new cancer drugs at The Scripps Research Institute. He completed his Ph.D. work this summer at the University of Hawaii at Manoa under Richard E. Moore, Ph.D., and will join Peter G. Schultz, Ph. D.
A new compound is being developed to target specific types of hearing loss, with the goal of repairing and regrowing injured or damaged auditory hair cells. The treatment aims to prevent hearing loss by bolstering the inner ear's antioxidant defenses and may offer hope for some patients with sudden hearing loss.
A new Gulf buoy network is being developed to detect harmful algal blooms, also known as red tides, which can cause fish kills and human illnesses. The system uses FlowCAM technology, which will provide continuous monitoring of water column images, allowing for early warning and prediction of deadly red tides.
A three-year grant awarded by EPA aims to develop a scientific way to accurately estimate pesticide exposure among children, especially farmworker sons and daughters. Researchers use novel methods like videotaping children at home to quantify real-life exposure to pesticide residues.
The 'Evacuation Management Decision Support System' (EMDSS) aims to help public officials balance public safety and evacuation costs. The system will factor in diverse elements such as time constraints, event uncertainty, and economic impact on evacuated areas.
A Syracuse University study found that the LSTA generated an average of 17% increase in new funding for libraries from state and non-governmental sources. This increase held even when adjusted for a strong economy, demonstrating the positive impact of federal spending on revenue.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) recommends a single official to coordinate R&D across 26 agencies. This coordination is essential for advancing planned Department of Homeland Security initiatives and investigating terrorism.
Researchers at UCSD create hybrid composite alloy material combining shape-memory nickel-titanium with super-elastic foams and glass beads for enhanced flexibility and resilience. The new material absorbs high-velocity impacts, potentially stopping cracks and collateral damage.
The study aims to optimize planned control of the parasitic fish that have had a devastating impact on native fish populations in Lake Champlain and the Great Lakes. Anglers will be asked to collect marked sea lampreys from their catches, providing valuable data for researchers.
Researchers found a lack of information available to asylum seekers and host communities, hindering effective integration. The study highlights the need for better communication, public relations campaigns, and coordinated services.
A new study by Pamela Paxton found that organizations with strong connections to the larger community promote democracy, while isolated groups have a negative impact. Countries with more of these connected groups tend to score higher on measures of democracy.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Investigator Awards program funds research initiatives addressing cultural influences on pain management, the right to healthcare, and the impact of regulation on human subjects. The newly funded projects will provide fresh insights to inform health policy.
A study by psychologists from the University of Amsterdam found that mentally fatigued persons have difficulty translating objectives into actions, are less flexible, and more persistent in their behavior. They also scored lower in psychological tests and made more mistakes, particularly when faced with changing rules or situations.
A study on the French text 'Lancelot en prose' found that minor characters helped medieval readers follow complex tale plots. These stereotypical characters, such as damsels and dwarfs, served specific narrative functions.
Researchers are studying prehistoric human footpaths in Costa Rica, which were visible only through satellite images but invisible to the naked eye. The team hopes to uncover insights into ancient settlements, cultural practices, and potential connections between villages.