Medicare, Gene regulator in brain’s executive hub tracked across lifespan

For the first time, scientists have tracked the activity, across the lifespan, of an environmentally responsive regulatory mechanism that turns genes on and off in the brain’s executive hub. Among key findings of the study by National Institutes of Health scientists: genes implicated in schizophrenia and autism turn out to be members of a select … Read more

Medicare, Restricting calories early on does not help acute lung injury patients on ventilators

Acute lung injury patients on ventilators who require a feeding tube have a similar number of ventilator-free hospital days and similar mortality rates if they receive a low-calorie feeding program initially followed by a full-calorie program compared to a full-calorie program right away. These results are part of a new clinical study funded by the … Read more

NIH researchers discover new method to label cells for tracking by MRI

Researchers have developed a method to label transplanted cells so they can be tracked by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In the future, as cell therapies become a more integral part of regenerative medicine and tumor treatment, there could be increased need to measure how many transplanted immune or stem cells reach their target.

Robot Challenge

Through the Sample Return Robot Challenge, NASA and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute are encouraging innovations in robotic technology. Participating teams will need to demonstrate a robot that can locate and retrieve geologic samples from varied terrain without human control. $1.5 million in prizes will be awarded.

Drug halts organ damage in inflammatory genetic disorder

A new study shows that Kineret (anakinra), a medication approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, is effective in stopping the progression of organ damage in people with neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID). This rare and debilitating genetic disorder causes persistent inflammation and ongoing tissue damage. The research was performed by scientists at the National … Read more

Members of new Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee announced

More than 100 million Americans suffer from migraines, arthritis and other chronic pain conditions with an annual economic toll of nearly $600 billion in medical bills and lost productivity. To help address this problem, Congress directed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Affordable Care Act, to create a new Interagency Pain … Read more

African American History Month

February is African American History Month. This year’s theme pays special tribute to African American women and the various roles they’ve played in shaping our nation. Visit the official page on African American History Month and you’ll find lesson plans, a photo collection from the Harlem Renaissance, an online exhibition about slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello, … Read more

Common Fund researchers uncover structure of important target for drug design

Researchers have uncovered a potent class of small molecules that selectively turn on the S1P1 receptor, a type of receptor in cells that can be targeted in the design of new treatments for diseases such as multiple sclerosis. These findings are reported in the Feb. 17 issue of the journal Science. The research was supported … Read more