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Penn State Researchers Receive NIH Grant to Study Aging's Impact on Long-Term Memory

Penn State Researchers Receive NIH Grant to Study Aging's Impact on Long-Term Memory

Penn State Associate Professor of Biology Janine Kwapis has been awarded a two-year, $432,575 grant from the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Aging (NIA). This funding will support her research into how aging affects long-term memory, specifically focusing on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying cognitive decline. The research aims to understand why memory updating, the ability to modify existing memories with new information, becomes impaired with age and why memories become rigid. Kwapis's preliminary work in mice suggests that memory impairments may stem from disrupted 'overlap' between neuronal ensembles. Her team will manipulate the activity of repressive histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3), a protein that inhibits gene expression, to investigate its role in age-related memory deficits and explore potential therapeutic targets to improve memory flexibility in older adults. The grant is part of NIH’s R21 award mechanism, designed to foster new areas of inquiry and early...

Endocrine Society Opposes NIH Proposal to Withhold Peer Review Impact Scores

Endocrine Society Opposes NIH Proposal to Withhold Peer Review Impact Scores

The Endocrine Society has formally opposed proposed changes by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) regarding the reporting of outcomes from its peer review process. Specifically, the Society objects to the NIH's proposal to withhold an investigator's final overall impact score from applicants. Peer review is a critical mechanism for evaluating the scientific rigor and merit of research proposals. The Endocrine Society emphasizes that the impact score, when combined with reviewer comments, provides invaluable feedback to applicants. This feedback helps researchers understand how their applications were scored and prioritized against others. The Society argues that removing this score would diminish transparency and devalue the peer review process itself. This proposed change is outlined in NIH notice NOT-OD-26-088.

NIH Awards Wake Forest University School of Medicine $22.5 Million for Alzheimer's Research

NIH Awards Wake Forest University School of Medicine $22.5 Million for Alzheimer's Research

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has granted Wake Forest University School of Medicine $22.5 million to continue the work of its Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) for another five years. This marks the center's second renewal, celebrating a decade of contributions to Alzheimer's research. The ADRC, one of 37 such centers in a national network, focuses on understanding how common health conditions and lifestyle factors, including obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, contribute to the risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Suzanne Craft, Ph.D., professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine and founding director of the center, emphasized the goal of helping people maintain healthy brains as they age by identifying risk factors and early changes. The center supports over 160 grants aimed at new approaches to diagnosing, preventing, and treating Alzheimer's. It also provides data and biological samples from more than 1,000 participants to researchers ...

U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner Supports NIH Grant for Youth Mental Health Research at Bradley Hospital

U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner Supports NIH Grant for Youth Mental Health Research at Bradley Hospital

U.S. Congressman Seth Magaziner has expressed his support for Bradley Hospital, which received Phase 2 funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through its Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) program. This funding will advance research at the Center for Sleep and Circadian Rhythms in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. The hospital, part of Brown University Health, is dedicated to psychiatric care for children and adolescents. The NIH award will enable the expansion of groundbreaking research into how sleep and circadian rhythms influence youth mental health. Congressman Magaziner stated that he is proud to help deliver this NIH funding, emphasizing its role in helping researchers understand the impact of sleep on the mental health of children and teens, ultimately aiming for happier, healthier lives for young people. This initiative builds upon the success of the Center's initial Phase 1 COBRE funding, which established research infrastructure and fostered collaborative partnersh...

New Poll Reveals Strong Bipartisan Support for Increased Children's Health Funding

New Poll Reveals Strong Bipartisan Support for Increased Children's Health Funding

A recent poll, commissioned by the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) and conducted by LSG, indicates widespread bipartisan support among parents nationwide for increased funding for children's health initiatives. The survey, which included 1,000 likely voters who are parents or guardians of children under 18, found that 86% of parents are concerned about insufficient funding for children's hospitals and healthcare programs, with 80% believing the federal government should increase funding. A significant majority (more than 9 in 10) expressed concern about the youth mental health crisis and supported increased funding for pediatric mental health services. Additionally, over 8 in 10 parents are worried about the national shortage of pediatric healthcare professionals, with nearly 80% supporting increased investment in the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) program to train more pediatricians and subspecialists. The majority also advocate for increased federal funding for the National...

MedStar Health Research Institute Collaborates on Global Study to Understand Indoor Air Quality Impact on Health

MedStar Health Research Institute Collaborates on Global Study to Understand Indoor Air Quality Impact on Health

MedStar Health Research Institute has partnered on the global Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) trial to investigate the effects of indoor air quality on human health. This study aims to provide insights that can improve diagnosis and care for patients, including those in the U.S. The HAPIN trial, supported by $35 million from the National Institutes of Health and the Gates Foundation, involved over 3,000 households in Guatemala, India, Peru, and Rwanda. Participants included pregnant women, infants, and older women. Half of the households received clean-burning liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stoves and a reliable fuel supply, while the control group continued using traditional cooking methods. The study found that clean-burning stoves significantly reduced indoor air pollution by approximately 72%. Health benefits were observed, such as healthier oxygen levels in pregnant women, which supports maternal and infant health. The research highlights that while reducing indoor smoke is crucial...

High-Intensity Interval Training Shown to Reverse Coronary Plaque Growth

High-Intensity Interval Training Shown to Reverse Coronary Plaque Growth

A recent randomized controlled trial published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology has provided definitive evidence that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can actively shrink atheromatous plaques in patients with coronary artery disease. The study tracked 60 patients who had recently undergone stent placement and found that those assigned to two weekly sessions of supervised HIIT experienced a measurable shrinkage in their coronary plaques, specifically a 9.0 cubic millimeter decrease in total atheroma volume. In contrast, patients following standard preventive guidelines saw a marginal increase of 3.0 cubic millimeters in plaque volume. This research marks a significant advancement in cardiovascular science, as it is the first study to use intravascular ultrasound to demonstrate that vigorous exercise can induce positive remodeling of coronary anatomy. The protocol involved a 10-minute warm-up, followed by four sets of 4-minute intervals at 85 to 95 percent of peak heart rate, separated...

Mayo Clinic Seeks Leading Scientist for Neuroscience Research in Florida

Mayo Clinic Seeks Leading Scientist for Neuroscience Research in Florida

Mayo Clinic's Department of Neuroscience is actively recruiting a distinguished scientist to establish a robust research program focused on neurodegenerative and related diseases at its Florida site in Jacksonville. The ideal candidate, holding a PhD, MD/PhD, or MD, is expected to possess an exceptional track record in innovative scientific discovery with a strong translational component. This includes expertise in biomarker discoveries, novel therapeutic approaches such as RNA and cellular therapies, and the utilization of human data, biospecimens, and model systems to accelerate the development of disease-modifying therapies and cures. The scientist will integrate efforts across various disciplines, including Neuroscience, Neurology, Artificial Intelligence, and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, to leverage large-scale human datasets and biospecimens. The role emphasizes uncovering key disease mechanisms and driving predictive and therapeutic advancements by combining expertise in human disease biology,...

New Study Reveals Complex Wolbachia Patterns in Hawaiian Mosquitoes, Impacting Chikungunya and Dengue Control Efforts

New Study Reveals Complex Wolbachia Patterns in Hawaiian Mosquitoes, Impacting Chikungunya and Dengue Control Efforts

A recent study published in the journal Parasites & Vectors has provided a detailed analysis of Wolbachia infection patterns in the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) across the Hawaiian Islands. This mosquito species is a significant vector for diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. The research, led by Sangwoo Seok and senior authors Eric P. Caragata and Yoosook Lee of the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory at the University of Florida, found that Wolbachia is nearly universally present in Hawaiian Aedes albopictus populations, with 98.5% of tested mosquitoes infected. However, the composition of these infections is more complex than previously assumed. While every infected specimen carried the wAlbB strain, only 28.6% were superinfected with wAlbA, meaning the majority carry only a single Wolbachia strain. This finding deviates from the typical assumption of double infection for this species. The study also revealed sex-specific differences in infection dynamics, with females mo...

Suspected plague death sparks outbreak concerns. Should we be worried?

Suspected plague death sparks outbreak concerns. Should we be worried?

Do Americans need to be worried about their safety after the suspected plague death in Russia? Here's what an infectious disease expert told us.

H5N5 Bird Flu Confirmed in Scottish Backyard Flock, Prompting Control Zones

H5N5 Bird Flu Confirmed in Scottish Backyard Flock, Prompting Control Zones

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N5 has been confirmed in a small backyard flock of chickens in Ness, Isle of Lewis, Scotland. This marks the first confirmed H5N5 HPAI outbreak in the UK since October 1. Following the confirmation, a 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone were immediately declared around the affected premises on October 2. The British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) has stated that these disease control zones will remain in effect until all control and surveillance activities are completed and no further suspect cases are under investigation. The risk of H5 HPAI in wild birds in Great Britain is currently assessed as medium, while the risk to poultry is considered low, provided that stringent biosecurity measures are consistently applied. Poultry keepers are being urged to maintain high standards of biosecurity, including strict separation between different animal types on mixed farms and accurate recording of feed and water consumption to detect potential health issues ear...

Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Keystone Symposia Announce Joint Meeting on Cancer Metabolism

Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Keystone Symposia Announce Joint Meeting on Cancer Metabolism

The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Keystone Symposia have announced a collaborative meeting titled 'Tumor and Host Metabolism: Integrating, Molecular Cellular and Systemic Interactions.' This event, scheduled for March 7-10, 2027, will be hosted by the Ludwig Institute's Branch at Princeton University. It marks the first in a series of symposia planned by the two organizations, with subsequent meetings to be held at other Ludwig Institute Branches. The current meeting is being organized by Marcia Haigis of Ludwig Harvard and Lydia Lynch of Ludwig Princeton. The discussions will focus on the intricate relationship between tumor and systemic metabolism, exploring how cancers manipulate these processes to support their growth, evade immune detection, and resist therapies. Additionally, the symposium will address the influence of host metabolic health on these processes and how insights from the metabolic interactions between tumors and hosts can be leveraged for cancer prevention and treatment. A ke...