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Health Research

WVU names 2022 Foundation Scholars

Focused on discovery and finding creative solutions to the issues that have commanded the attention of their generation, five rising freshmen have been named to the 2022-23 cohort of West Virginia University Foundation Scholars, the highest academic scholarship the University awards.

WVU research suggests interrupting immune response improves multiple sclerosis outcomes

The human immune system is more complex than an arcade game. Immune cells don’t simply gobble up germs the way Pac-Man munches dots. Instead, a complex network of intercellular communication is necessary to keep the immune system working properly. A new study led by Kelly Monaghan—a WVU School of Medicine researcher—identifies part of that intricate process that shows promise as a target for multiple sclerosis therapies. The National Institutes of Health has funded her research.

WVU sleep medicine program a ‘game changer’ for hospitalized patients

Sleep-disordered breathing exacerbates obesity, stroke, COPD and heart failure—some of the most prevalent conditions in Appalachia. A new program at WVU focuses on identifying hospital patients at risk of sleep-disordered breathing and intervening early. According to a study led by Sunil Sharma, a School of Medicine researcher, the program accurately screens patients and makes them less likely to return to the hospital after being discharged.

Chemotherapy’s effectiveness may vary with time of day, suggests WVU research

The blood-brain barrier keeps foreign substances from entering the brain. That’s good when it comes to toxins and germs, but it makes treating tumors in the brain trickier. By shielding the brain from things that would harm it, the blood-brain barrier also blocks the chemotherapy that would help it.

NIH awards WVU $2 million to study link between Alzheimer’s disease, chronic stress

By 2050, 12.8 million Americans age 65 or older are likely to have Alzheimer’s disease. That’s more than double the number who have it today. Paul Chantler—a researcher with the WVU School of Medicine—is investigating the link between Alzheimer’s disease and chronic stress. What he and his team uncover may suggest new ways to slow the disease’s progression or even delay its onset. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke awarded the project $2 million.