Health

Uveal melanoma may be a rare form of cancer, but it’s almost always fatal. No treatments currently available for it can significantly lengthen someone’s life. WVU School of Pharmacy researcher Mark McLaughlin and his colleagues are working to change that. The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a clinical trial of their new drug that precisely targets uveal melanoma, even after the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

To better equip West Virginia teachers and other school personnel to identify the signs and symptoms of mental health crises among students, Rawn Boulden, assistant professor, and Christine Schimmel, associate professor, of the School Counseling Program in the West Virginia University College of Education and Human Services, have received a five-year, $500,000 grant to provide Youth Mental Health First Aid Training in West Virginia schools.

Infectious disease experts from both West Virginia University and Marshall University will team up to identify and track SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in West Virginia in hopes of preparing for and preventing future outbreaks.

Quality healthcare transcends the medical profession, as evidenced by a new project led by West Virginia University that includes not only health experts but engineers, a physicist, a lawyer and a business data analyst.

A Nigerian student at West Virginia University who will graduate in May with a Ph.D. in human and community development wants to work to help vulnerable women, especially pregnant women.

As infection and hospitalization rates due to the delta variant decrease, West Virginia University will lift mask requirements for individuals in indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status, beginning Thursday, Oct. 21; however, the University will continue to require masks in all classrooms, labs or any WVU System facility or building being used as a classroom for the remainder of the semester.

Christian nationalists are less likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine while political conservatives express high skepticism toward the coronavirus in general, two new studies published by West Virginia University sociologists conclude.

Creating space and time for students to discover their life paths, West Virginia University will open the nation’s first Purpose Institute on a college campus, President Gordon Gee announced at his annual State of the University address Monday (Oct. 18) at the College of Law’s Fitzsimmons Event Hall.

Lullabies may do more than help babies get to sleep when they’re cozy in their cribs at home. A new study led by Hannah Bush—a WVU School of Medicine researcher—found that lullabies performed live by a licensed music therapist may alleviate the pain and anxiety of pediatric patients in critical care. Her study is the first to focus on live music intervention for children—rather than adults—on life support.

Celebrating the impact of collaboration and teamwork, West Virginia University Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Meshea L. Poore encouraged all Mountaineers to be intentional about continuing the important work of making WVU a safe, diverse and welcoming community for all during her annual State of Diversity address on Oct. 12.