Biophysical Society Announces 2025 Society Fellows

The Biophysical Society is proud to announce its 2025 Society Fellows. This award honors the Society’s distinguished members who have demonstrated excellence in science and contributed to the expansion of the field of biophysics. The Fellows will be honored at the Biophysical Society’s 69th Annual Meeting, being held in Los Angeles, California from February 15-19, 2025.

Drug significantly reduces chorea symptoms in patients with Huntington’s disease

The drug valbenazine statistically improves chorea, a movement disorder commonly associated with Huntington’s disease, when compared to a placebo, according to a recent international study led by UTHealth Houston researcher Erin Furr Stimming, MD, who served as principal investigator on behalf of the KINECT-HD Huntington Study Group.

EMBARGOED: Two brain networks are activated while reading, study finds

When a person reads a sentence, two distinct networks in the brain are activated, working together to integrate the meanings of the individual words to obtain more complex, higher-order meaning, according to a study at UTHealth Houston.

Jayaraman awarded $3.5M grant to study glutamate receptors involved in learning, memory, and other neurological processes

A five-year, nearly $3.5 million grant to study the mechanisms of brain receptors involved in neurological disorders such as learning disabilities has been awarded to Vasanthi Jayaraman, PhD, of UTHealth Houston by the National Institutes of Health.

PET technology more effective than angiogram at determining need for coronary stents, bypass surgery

A new method for determining whether patients with heart disease need coronary stents or bypass surgery is more effective than the angiogram, which is currently used, according to research from UTHealth Houston Heart & Vascular.

Research reveals how a potentially fatal COVID-19 complication damages lung tissue

Mechanisms involved in the rapid, severe progression of fibrosis in the lung tissues of COVID-19 patients, a potentially fatal complication of the virus that damages and scars the lungs, have been uncovered by researchers led by UTHealth Houston.

McCullough honored with 2022 American Heart Association Basic Research Prize

In acknowledgment of her research advancing the field of cardiovascular science, UTHealth Houston’s Louise McCullough, MD, PhD, has been honored with the 2022 American Heart Association Basic Research Prize.

UTHealth Houston study: Lower cancer screening rates differ by region, tied to social vulnerability

Populations in U.S. counties defined as more vulnerable based on social factors including socioeconomic status and racial/ethnic minority status were significantly less likely to receive timely breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings, according to research from UTHealth Houston.

Despite flexibility, gig work and insecure income prove harmful to U.S. workers, according to UTHealth School of Public Health

Insecure income associated with nontraditional employment known as “gig work” has a negative impact on the overall health and well-being of U.S. workers, according to a new article by researchers from UTHealth Houston.

Anti-inflammatory compound shows potential in treating patients with severe COVID-19

An anti-inflammatory compound may have the potential to treat systemic inflammation and brain injury in patients with severe COVID-19 and significantly reduce their chances of death, according to a new study from UTHealth Houston and other institutions.

Whole blood exchange could offer disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer’s disease, study finds

A novel, disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer’s disease may involve the whole exchange of blood, which effectively decreased the formation of amyloid plaque in the brains of mice, according to a new study from UTHealth Houston.

Doctors with Texas Comprehensive Epilepsy Program lead 22-year-old Tyler resident to seizure freedom

Elisabeth Gentry had experienced auras ever since she was a toddler, but she didn’t learn that the occasional strange tastes in her mouth and feelings of impending doom were epilepsy until 2015, when she was 15 years old and suffered a grand mal seizure.

Eligible younger U.S. adults less likely to meet recommended colorectal cancer screening guidelines and face greater disparities

Younger adults living in the U.S. are less likely to be screened for colorectal cancer than older U.S. adults, despite now being eligible under new screening guidelines, and face greater disparities than older U.S. adults who are eligible for screening, according to research from UTHealth Houston.

Patients with past cancer history not associated with higher risk of COVID-19-related death or hospitalization

Patients diagnosed with cancer more than one year ago and those not receiving active treatment were no more vulnerable to worse COVID-19 outcomes than patients without cancer, according to a new study led by UTHealth Houston.

UTHealth Houston’s UTMOVE program receives distinguished Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders

UTHealth Houston’s Movement Disorders and Neurodegenerative Diseases Fellowship Training Program (UTMOVE fellowship program) has been chosen by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) as one of eight international academic centers to train a new movement disorder clinician-researcher — a neurologist with additional training and expertise in diagnosing and treating Parkinson’s and related diseases — as part of the Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders Class of 2025.

Healthy fat impacted by change in diet and circadian clock, study finds

Changing your eating habits or altering your circadian clock can impact healthy fat tissue throughout your lifespan, according to a preclinical study published today in Nature by researchers with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).

Thirdhand smoke impacts gut bacteria for infants, study finds

Infants exposed to thirdhand smoke while hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) show a difference in the composition of their gut microbiome, according to a new study by researchers with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).

Could the time of day impact the effectiveness of COVID-19 treatment?

For months, experts have warned against the use of anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, to treat COVID-19 symptoms. But could the timing of when this drug is taken play a role in its effectiveness?

Managing your child’s diabetes during COVID-19

These days it’s hard not to worry about whether a quick outing to the grocery store will result in catching COVID-19. But for parents with children who have preexisting health conditions such as diabetes, it can be especially hard not to worry about whether their child is at a higher risk of becoming severely ill from the virus.

Why having a national health information technology infrastructure could help save lives

Real-time data about health and health care during the COVID-19 pandemic can help contain the virus but has been difficult to obtain. A new paper published in JAMA explores the concept of a national health information technology (IT) infrastructure to provide up-to-date patient information in public health emergencies, which can then be used in planning and containment efforts.

Stricter, immediate intervention critical for keeping COVID-19 cases manageable for health care facilities, according to UTHealth modeling

Led by Eric Boerwinkle, PhD, and Momiao Xiong, PhD, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) modeled the potential spread of COVID-19 based on whether the Greater Houston area began stringent interventions immediately or waited one week or two weeks. That data was presented Monday to city and county officials.