Food, Energy, and Obesity - Kevin Hall, NIH Physicist NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2026-09-22 | Food, Energy, and Obesity - Kevin Hall, NIH Physicist
Piecing Together a Chemical Puzzle NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2023-07-24 | In many ways, our bodies are like a big, complicated puzzle made up of individual chemical pieces. When we get sick, that puzzle breaks apart and the pieces get all mixed up. Haley Chatelaine, a postdoctoral fellow in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is looking into ways to put those puzzle pieces back together again to help people recover from COVID-19 and other illnesses.To learn more about the research being done in Haley's lab, visit ncats.nih.gov/preclinical/core/informaticsInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: Surveying Tumors Surroundings to Tailor Treatment NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2023-06-20 | To treat cancer most effectively, scientists need to understand not only the tumor itself, but also the environment around it. Riley Larkin, a graduate student in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, takes pictures of the immune cells surrounding tumors in the hopes that his findings will lead to ways to inhibit the cells that protect tumors and activate the ones that combat cancer.To learn more about the research being done in Riley's lab, visit ccr.cancer.gov/staff-directory/nyall-r-london.Interested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: Tracking Down Seizures in the Brain NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2023-05-23 | Patients with epilepsy experience seizures due to uncontrolled electrical firing somewhere in the brain. Price Withers, a postbaccalaureate research fellow in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is working on a better way to pinpoint the precise location of that abnormal firing by using a method similar to the one geophysicists use to zero in on the center of an earthquake. His research could someday help doctors more effectively eliminate their patients’ seizures.To learn more about the research being done in Price's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/sara-inati. Interested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: Turning a Deadly Toxin Into a Cancer Killer NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2023-04-06 | Most people think of the anthrax toxin only as a potential bioweapon, but Sreya Sanyal, a postbaccalaureate research fellow in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is trying to transform it into a treatment for cancer. Her experiments could enable anthrax to eventually go from a health hazard to a life-saver.To learn more about the research being done in Sreya's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/thomas-bugge.Interested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: Using Neuroscience to Reverse Obesity NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2023-02-06 | Maintaining a healthy body weight is difficult for many people, and consuming different sorts of foods might make it easier or harder to accomplish that goal. Valerie Darcey, a postdoctoral research fellow and registered dietitian in the Intramural Research program at the National Institutes of Health, is assessing how different diets affect the brain’s reward system, which heavily influences what and how much people eat. Her research could lead to evidence-based ways of eating that do a better job of helping people with obesity lose weight.To learn more about the research being done in Valerie’s lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/kevin-hall. Interested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: Combating a Cancer-Causing Virus NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2023-01-09 | As many as one in every five cases of cancer is caused by a virus. Ameera Mungale, a graduate student in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is searching for a way to stop a particular cancer-causing virus from promoting the growth of tumors. Her experiments with a type of medication that is already FDA-approved could lead to new treatments for patients with that form of cancer.To learn more about the research being done in Ameera's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/joseph-ziegelbauer. Interested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: Treating Infertility With a Neural Pacemaker NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2022-12-12 | Hormones are the chemical language the brain uses to tell the body what to do and when to do it. Because they are so important to so many bodily processes, the timing of their release needs to be tightly controlled. Jacob Short, a graduate student in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is developing a way to recalibrate the timing of the brain’s hormonal signals that could one day help many patients with health conditions caused by disrupted hormonal rhythms.To learn more about the research being done in Jacob's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/susan-wray. Interested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities.
NIH SciBites: A Deep Dive Into the Brain’s Alert System NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2022-11-14 | Throughout the day, our brains are constantly transitioning between periods of mellow relaxation and moments of high alertness and arousal. Jennifer Panlilio, a postdoctoral fellow in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is putting tiny fish through their paces to learn about the brain areas and chemicals that control that process. What she learns could one day be used to help people with conditions like anxiety and depression that ratchet up or tamp down arousal.To learn more about the research being done in Jennifer's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/harold-burgess. Interested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities.
NIH SciBites: Eavesdropping on Bacterial Chit-Chat NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2022-09-26 | The bacteria living inside our bodies are constantly sending signals to each other, and sometimes these bacterial conversations can make infections worse. Tiffany Zarrella, a postdoctoral fellow in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, has come up with a way to eavesdrop on this bacterial chit-chat and identify the signals they use to communicate. She hopes her discoveries will help scientists come up with new ways to prevent or treat life-threatening infections.To learn more about the research being done in Tiffany’s lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/anupama-khare. Interested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities.
NIH SciBites: Boosting Bone Repair Through Stem Cell Science NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2022-08-22 | When your car breaks down or your bike is busted, you have to take it to a repair shop or buy a new one. On the other hand, when you scrape your knee or break a bone, your body has the amazing ability to fix itself. Byron Mui, a graduate student in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is trying to learn more about how the body fixes broken bones by studying stem cells, which are crucial for healing injuries. What he learns may one day help scientists figure out how to supercharge the body’s ability to repair our bones.To learn more about the research being done in Byron's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/pamela-robeyInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: Taking Out the Trash to Treat a Rare Disease NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2022-07-11 | Our cells rely on tiny recycling plants called lysosomes to get rid of waste products and cellular debris. Marya Sabir, a graduate student in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is studying what happens in the brains of mice when their lysosomes don’t work correctly. The knowledge she gains could help lead to new treatments for a rare disease as well as other illnesses caused by problems with lysosomes.To learn more about the research being done in Marya's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/william-gahlInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: Rebuilding Babies Defective Immune Systems NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2022-05-02 | The immune system is like an army with a variety of specialized warriors ready to fight off bacteria, viruses, and even cancer. However, some children are born without some of the components that make the immune system work. Nisha Nagarsheth, a staff scientist in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is working on a new therapy that rebuilds baby’s immune systems using cells from their own bodies. If the treatment works, it could be a permanent cure for these sick children.To learn more about the research being done in Nisha's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/sung-yun-paiInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: Targeting Zombie DNA to Combat Kidney Cancer NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2022-03-28 | The DNA of every person alive today contains genetic material from ancient viruses that infected our distant ancestors long ago. Normally, this viral DNA remains inactive, but in some cases of kidney cancer, it comes back to life like a zombie resurrected from the grave. Stefan Barisic, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is working on a way to teach the immune system to recognize this reanimated viral DNA and attack kidney cancer cells that harbor it while leaving healthy cells unharmed.To learn more about the research being done in Stefan's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/richard-childsInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: What Our Proteins Can Tell Us About Autoimmune Diseases NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2022-02-28 | The immune system is supposed to protect us from threats like bacteria and viruses, but in autoimmune diseases, it also attacks our own cells. Adeline Chin, a postbaccalaureate research fellow in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is searching for proteins present at abnormally high or low levels in the blood of kids with a rare autoimmune illness. Her work could help reveal what causes their symptoms and lead to ways for researchers to more easily figure out if new treatments are effective.To learn more about the research being done in Adeline's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/hanna-kimInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites From Home: Using Heart Disease Drugs to Prevent Hearing Loss NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2022-01-19 | Loud noises and aging are widely known to cause hearing loss. However, some life-saving medications also harm our hearing as a side effect because they kill the specialized cells that convert sound waves into electrical signals the brain can interpret. Nicole Folan, a postbaccalaureate research fellow in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is searching for ways to help those cells survive in order to preserve patients’ hearing.To learn more about the research being done in Nicole's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/lisa-cunninghamInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: Fishing for Brain Insights in Mice NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2021-12-08 | Researchers who study the brain often use animal models like mice to see which brain cells, or neurons, are active during certain situations. However, looking through the entire mouse brain for active neurons is like visiting every single spot in a lake to figure out where the fish are. Stephen Wisser, a postbaccalaureate research fellow in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is helping to refine a quick and easy method for locating all the active neurons in a mouse’s brain, which could help scientists make better-informed decisions about what parts of the brain to focus on in future studies.To learn more about the research being done in Stephen's lab, visit nimh.nih.gov/research/research-conducted-at-nimh/principal-investigators/ted-usdinInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites From Home: Harnessing Patients’ Own Immune Cells to Fight Their Cancer NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2021-11-16 | The chemotherapy and radiation treatments given to cancer patients to shrink their tumors don’t always work and often have severe side effects. Sri Krishna, a postdoctoral researcher in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is investigating an alternative treatment strategy that uses infection-fighting immune cells from patients’ own bodies to seek out and destroy their cancers. The approach, called adoptive cell therapy, has already seen success as a treatment for skin cancer, but his work will help expand its use to other forms of the disease, which could ultimately save many lives.To learn more about the research being done in Sri's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/steven-rosenbergInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites From Home: How A Film Editor for Your Genes Contributes to Dementia NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2021-09-29 | Tens of thousands of Americans suffer from an illness called frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which slowly destroys the brain. There is no effective treatment for FTD and creating therapies for it is difficult because the disease’s underlying cause can differ between patients. Sahba Seddighi, a graduate student in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is helping to solve that problem by developing ways for researchers to figure out the specific drivers of the disease in individual patients. Her work has the potential to revolutionize the way scientists test treatments for FTD and other brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and ALS.To learn more about the research being done in Sahba's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/michael-e-wardInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites From Home: How Dying Cancer Cells Fuel Tumor Growth NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2021-07-21 | Cancer treatments are designed to kill tumor cells, but new evidence suggests that the way individual cancer cells die can sometimes actually benefit the tumor as a whole. Justin Gray, a graduate student in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is studying this process in the hopes of stopping it. If he succeeds, his research could lead to new approaches for slowing down tumor growth and preventing cancer from spreading through the body.To learn more about the research being done in Justin's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/li-yangInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites From Home: Treating Lung Scarring With a Bacterial Weed Whacker NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2021-06-07 | irp.nih.govBreathing in smoke and dangerous chemicals can cause damage to the lungs, including a form of lung scarring called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Sanya Mehta, a postbaccalaureate research fellow in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is helping to develop a therapy for pulmonary fibrosis that works by shifting the balance between friendly and harmful bacteria living in our lungs. One day, her lab’s findings could be used to treat patients with pulmonary fibrosis and possibly to prevent it in people at risk for the disease.To learn more about the research being done in Sanya's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/michael-fesslerInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites From Home: Bypassing the Brain’s Defensive Barrier NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2021-04-26 | irp.nih.govA defensive wall around the brain called the blood-brain barrier allows vital nutrients and oxygen into the brain while keeping out harmful substances. Unfortunately, the blood-brain barrier can also block beneficial chemicals from entering the brain, including some that might relieve the symptoms of certain diseases. Olive Jung, a graduate student in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is building a three-dimensional structure that acts just like the blood-brain barrier. Her work could accelerate therapeutic development by allowing scientists to test whether new medications might be able to get through the real blood-brain barrier.To learn more about the research being done in Olive's lab, visit ncats.nih.gov/staff/ferrermInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites From Home: Developing Gene Therapies for Genetic Diseases NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2021-02-24 | irp.nih.gov For thousands of years, humans have been deliberately altering the environment, their bodies, and the evolution of other organisms. Perhaps the only thing we have been unable to change is our own DNA, but recent breakthroughs in the field of gene therapy have brought even that into the realm of possibility. Shachar Abudi, a graduate student in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is working on two different ways to use gene therapy to treat a rare genetic disease called Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome. One day, research like hers may enable doctors to help patients with a wide variety of previously untreatable genetic illnesses.To learn more about the research being done in Shachar's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/william-gahlInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites From Home: Investigating How Head Injuries Disrupt Our Dreams NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2021-01-25 | irp.nih.gov Our bodies are inactive while we sleep, but our minds are still hard at work strengthening our memories and getting rid of waste products. Head injuries can cause sleep problems and prevent those important tasks from taking place, potentially leading to an increased risk for brain illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease. Sara Mithani Ladhani, a postdoctoral researcher in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is investigating how head injuries change the brain and the behavior of genes in order to uncover why they cause sleep problems. Her work could improve our ability to identify and treat people at risk for sleep problems after a brain injury.Interested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites From Home: Identifying the Unique Traits of the Novel Coronavirus NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2020-10-14 | irp.nih.govThe ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to millions of illnesses worldwide and resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. The virus that causes COVID-19 belongs to a family of viruses called coronaviruses, some of which are dangerous and some of which merely cause the common cold. Ayal Gussow, a postdoctoral researcher in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is scouring the genomes of coronaviruses to identify the unique traits that make some of them so deadly.To learn more about the research being done in Ayal's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/eugene-kooninInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: Shining a Light on the Bodys Internal Clock NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2020-05-27 | irp.nih.govThe human body runs on an internal clock that changes how our bodies function depending on the time of day. Unfortunately, unnatural light sources like street lamps and cell phones can mess with this clock, leading to serious health problems. Michael Thomsen, a graduate student in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, aims to discover potential treatments for these ailments by studying how changes in light influence the body’s biological rhythms.To learn more about the research being done in Michael's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/samer-hattarInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: Protecting Transplant Patients From Cellular Assault NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2020-04-27 | irp.nih.govPatients whose blood cells don’t work correctly can be cured by receiving blood-cell-producing bone marrow from a healthy person via a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, the patient’s new bone marrow can attack his or her body, causing a potentially life-threatening condition called graft-vs-host disease. Natalia Schneider Nunes, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, studies a treatment for this illness called cyclophosphamide in the hopes that better understanding how it works can make bone marrow transplants safer and more effective.To learn more about the research being done in Natalia's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/christopher-kanakryInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: The Cancerous Consequences of Uneven Cell Division NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2020-03-17 | irp.nih.govEach microscopic cell in your body contains more than five feet of DNA organized into 23 pairs of chromosomes. Eve Suva, a postbaccalaureate research fellow in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, studies what happens when a dividing cell splits into two new cells with too many or too few chromosomes, a process that can give rise to cancer.To learn more about the research being done in Eve's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/munira-basraiInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: The Bodys Sixth Sense NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2020-02-26 | irp.nih.govYou've probably been taught that humans have five senses: taste, smell, vision, hearing, and touch. However, an under-appreciated "sixth sense," called proprioception, allows us to keep track of where our body parts are in space. Alec Nickolls, a postdoctoral researcher in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, studies an extremely rare condition that causes the loss of this sense. His research could not only provide insights into how proprioception works, but could also potentially lead to new treatments for individuals with chronic pain.To learn more about the research being done in Alec's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/alexander-cheslerInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: Examining Native Representation in Clinical Research NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2020-01-28 | irp.nih.govAmerican Indians and Alaska Natives tend to have worse health than other groups of Americans, in part because such individuals often are not included in biomedical and clinical research or choose not to participate. Deionna Vigil, a postbaccalaureate research fellow in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is attempting to shrink this health gap by examining how often American Indians and Alaska Natives enroll in NIH studies and by finding ways to increase Native participation in NIH research.Interested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
Hormones and Reproduction: A Broken Link in the Chain - Janet Hall, NIH Scientist NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2020-01-06 | Fulls story: irp.nih.gov/our-research/research-in-action/a-broken-link-in-the-chainJanet Hall, M.D., M.S., studies the complex chain of events by which hormones control reproductive function. Dr. Hall is the Clinical Director at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the head of its Reproductive Physiology & Pathophysiology Group.
NIH SciBites: Restoring Sight After Eye Injuries NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2019-12-16 | irp.nih.govVision relies on cells called neurons that send messages from the eyes to the brain. Diseases and injuries that harm those neurons can permanently damage our eyesight. Mohor Sengupta, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is studying a chemical called brorin that helps keep injured neurons alive. Learning more about this process might lead to a way to restore vision in people with damaged eyes.To learn more about the research being done in Mohor's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/stanislav-tomarevInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: Scrutinizing Sleep to Stave Off Memory Problems NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2019-11-05 | irp.nih.govWhile many people experience memory problems as they age, some older adults remain extremely sharp well into their twilight years. Craig Myrum, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, believes these differences could stem from age-related changes in sleep and the behavior of memory-related genes. His discoveries could eventually help people stay healthy and active for more of their lives.To learn more about the research being done in Craig's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/peter-rappInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: Investigating the Mystery of Cancer-Related Fatigue NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2019-10-17 | irp.nih.govAbout a third of cancer patients continue to feel tired for months or years after their treatment has ended, a condition called cancer-related fatigue. Delia Sass, a graduate student in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is investigating whether tiny sacs called extracellular vesicles that carry materials from one cell to another might harbor clues that explain these individuals' lingering lack of energy.To learn more about the research being done in Delia's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/leorey-saliganInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: How the Body Destroys Sick Cells NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2019-08-28 | irp.nih.govLike a spaceship in a sci-fi movie, our cells come with a self-destruct switch they can trigger when things go wrong. Nick Ader, a graduate student in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, studies the role that cellular energy producers called mitochondria play in this process. Learning more about how the body destroys sick cells could help combat diseases like cancer that occur when the body doesn’t get rid of them.To learn more about the research being done in Nick's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/richard-youleInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: Drug Development for Lung Scarring NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2019-08-28 | irp.nih.govJust like a surgery or serious injury can leave a permanent scar on your skin, certain diseases and harmful substances in the air can scar the lungs, which makes it hard to breath. Lindsey Jay, a postbaccalaureate IRTA in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, studies a potential medication her research lab created to treat lung scarring, also known as fibrosis. If that therapy helps animals with lung fibrosis without causing too many side effects, it could one day be used to help people with lung fibrosis.To learn more about the research being done in Lindsey's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/george-kunosInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: The Security Guard for Cells’ Power Plants NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2019-08-28 | irp.nih.govJust like your cell phone draws power from its battery, your cells get their energy from tiny power plants called mitochondria. Ashley Pitt, a graduate student in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, studies the TOM complex, which controls what materials are allowed inside the mitochondria. Learning more about the TOM complex could shed light on numerous illnesses, like cancer and Alzheimer’s, that can occur when mitochondria don’t work the way they should.To learn more about the research being done in Ashley's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/susan-buchananInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: Helping Cells Build Strong Bones NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2019-08-28 | irp.nih.govOur bones are hard and strong because of a substance they contain called collagen, so when they have too little or poorly formed collagen, they break very easily. Laura Gorrell, a graduate student in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, studies the cells that make collagen and build bone. Her research could eventually help lead to new medicines that strengthen the bones of the elderly and people with diseases that weaken their bones.To learn more about the research being done in Laura's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/sergey-leikinInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
NIH SciBites: Balancing the Brain’s Electrical Signals NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2019-08-28 | irp.nih.govThe 10 billion cells in the human brain talk to their neighbors by sending electrical signals called spikes. Stephanie Miller, a graduate student in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, studies these spikes in mice in order to learn why brain cells sometimes send too many of them, which can cause harmful electrical overloads called seizures. Her research could one day help reduce or stop seizures in people with diseases like epilepsy.To learn more about the research being done in Stephanie's lab, visit irp.nih.gov/pi/dietmar-plenzInterested in finding out for yourself what it's like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP's programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows: irp.nih.gov/research-training/training-opportunities
Human Brain Prefers Pitch NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2019-06-10 | A brain imaging study has found that the human brain strongly favors harmonic sounds over noise, compared to the macaque monkey brain. The results suggest that speech and music may have shaped our brain’s hearing circuits. The two species appear to have evolved differences in the functional organization of brain regions involved in pitch perception. Bevil Conway, Ph.D., of the NIH Intramural Research Program, senior author on the study, explains its findings. The study was published June 10, 2019 in the journal Nature Neuroscience.For more information, see the NIH news release:Our brains appear uniquely tuned to musical pitchnih.gov/news-events/news-releases/our-brains-appear-uniquely-tuned-musical-pitchReference:Sam Norman-Haignere, Nancy Kanwisher, Josh H. McDermott, Bevil R. Conway. Divergence in the functional organization of human and macaque auditory cortex revealed by fMRI responses to harmonic tones. Nature Neuroscience, June 10, 2019 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-019-0410-7
Mapping Musical Pitch in the Brain NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2019-05-31 | To study how the brain is tuned for musical pitch, scientists monitored brain activity while playing a series of harmonic sounds, or tones, to healthy volunteers and monkeys. They then compared the activity with responses evoked by the sounds of toneless versions of the sounds, called noises, that were designed to match the frequency levels of each tone played. Here is an example of one harmonic tone played three times followed by three samples of an equivalent toneless noise. Courtesy of the NIH.
Pitch in the Brain NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2019-05-31 | To study how the brain is tuned for the pitch scientists monitored brain activity while playing a recordings of macaque monkey calls to healthy volunteers and monkeys. They then compared the activity with responses evoked by the sounds of toneless versions of the calls. Here is an example of one call played three times followed by three samples of an equivalent toneless version of the call. Courtesy of the NIH.
Postbac Life: Lindsey Jay Demonstrates the Microtome NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2019-01-24 | irp.nih.gov/blog/post/2019/01/postbac-life-wading-into-drug-discovery-researchLindsey Jay is an NIH IRP Postbac IRTA helping to develop potential treatments for a thickening and scarring of tissue known as fibrosis. One of the key tools in her work is the microtome that she uses to slice tissue into thin sections for further experiments. Watch Lindsey demonstrate how a microtome works and explain its important role in her research.
Coming to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2019-01-02 | irp.nih.govWhat's it like to arrive on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland as a new researcher or other employee? Hear from numerous real NIH staff about their experiences coming to the Intramural Research Program (IRP) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and learn a few of their tips for success.
A Gene for Painful Touch NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2018-10-10 | NIH funded studies found that the PIEZO2 gene may be responsible for tactile allodynia: the skin’s reaction to injuries, like sunburns, that makes normally gentle touches feel painful. Courtesy of the Chesler lab, NIH/NCCIH.
NIH Collaborative Research Exchange (CREx) at the National Institutes of Health NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2017-10-20 | If you conduct or support research at the NIH, login to CREx at nih.scientist.comThe NIH Collaborative Research Exchange (CREx) is an easy-to-use, one-stop shop for research services and core facilities. You can use the search field to quickly find the desired research services and technologies, and filter the results to identify cores, other resources, and qualified vendors. The platform also enables users to look at multiple cores and vendors simultaneously, assess capabilities and gather quotes, and exchange files and project reports. Investigators can also rate and review vendors and services and share their experiences with the rest of the NIH.CREx includes a dozen NIH-wide cores, 110 cores in 10 NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs), and more than 10,000 commercial vendors. And as time goes on, CREx will be adding more cores to its catalog of services.
Telomere Biology and Cancer Risk with Dr. Sharon Savage and NIH Study Participant (short version) NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2017-01-31 | Full story: irp.nih.gov/our-research/research-in-action/decoding-telomere-biology-and-cancer-riskHear more from Dr. Savage and Nancy in the longer video: youtu.be/I_mtKBDMLu4Sharon Savage, M.D., has spent her career studying the association between telomere length and cancer risk, while searching for genetic markers that predict telomere biology disorders. Much of her work focuses on dyskeratosis congenita (DC), a rare and complex inherited cancer predisposition syndrome. Dr. Savage is a Senior Investigator and Chief of the Clinical Genetics Branch in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG) at the NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Telomere Biology and Cancer Risk with Dr. Sharon Savage and NIH Clinical Study Participant NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2017-01-24 | Full story: irp.nih.gov/our-research/research-in-action/decoding-telomere-biology-and-cancer-riskSharon Savage, M.D., has spent her career studying the association between telomere length and cancer risk, while searching for genetic markers that predict telomere biology disorders. Much of her work focuses on dyskeratosis congenita (DC), a rare and complex inherited cancer predisposition syndrome. Dr. Savage is a Senior Investigator and Chief of the Clinical Genetics Branch in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG) at the NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI).
NIH - PIEZO2 Gen Genera Un Sexto Sentido: Propiocepción NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2016-12-08 | Más información: irp.nih.gov/news-and-events/in-the-news/sixth-sense-may-be-more-than-just-a-feelingCortesía de Univisión Despierta América.Los científicos del Programa de Investigación Intramural del NIH confirman la existencia del llamado "sexto sentido". Sin embargo, no se trata de una cualidad extrasensorial, sino de la propiocepción, es decir, la capacidad de mantener el equilibrio y establecer la relación de nuestro cuerpo con el espacio, entre otras funciones. El responsable es un gen llamado "Piezo2", y de Washington DC, explica Claudio Seda.English translation of video transcript / captions: It looks like a fantasy film, but scientists confirm the existence of the so-called "sixth sense". However, it is not a question of any extrasensory quality, but of proprioception, that is, the ability to maintain balance and establish the relationship of our body with space, among other functions. The responsible is a gene called "Piezo2" and from Washington DC, Claudio Seda explains in what it consists.You can pick up your phone.Yes.It is an easy action to do.Here it is.Okay. Put it in your pocket now.Even with eyes closed.I'm going to grab it.Aj. Here it is.Rodolfo is considered healthy.I find it easy to find the phone, or the wallet, or whatever.But what some can do without problems in the dark or with closed eyes, others can not. These people lack a sense and it is not the sight, the smell, the ear, the taste or the touch. These people do not have the sixth sense or proprioception.It is extremely important to coordinate movements like eating, writing, walking.Our eyes and sense of touch work together to help us locate objects without the need to look at them, but imagine a world where that is not possible. Researchers at the National Institute of Health found two patients with this sensory problem and discovered a gene called "Piezo2" that generates a sixth sense.Without that sense you can not walk if there is no light.Although the number of people with sensory deficiencies is rare, this research opens a window on other common problems, such as treatment to combat scoliosis, spinal deviance. In Washington, Claudio Seda, Univisión.
NIH Research Festival Plenary Session II - New Insights Through Clinical Imaging NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2016-09-28 | The NIH intramural program has helped to pioneer the field of clinical imaging, from the earliest development of MRI technology and Louis Sokoloff’s now classic PET scan techniques to map and measure brain function, to recent breakthroughs such as MRI-guided closed-chest heart repair. This plenary session highlights the latest research of three NIH PIs who are extending this fine tradition of intramural-based clinical imaging advances. Shawn Chen, Ph.D. (NIBIB), will discuss nanotheranostics, the integration of diagnostic and therapeutic function in one system using the benefits of nanotechnology, which may be essential for personalized medicine. Jessica Gill, Ph.D., R.N. (NINR), will present her discoveries of mechanisms underlying differential responses to traumatic brain injury as a way to inform interventions to support recovery. And PET expert Robert Innis, M.D., Ph.D. (NIMH), will present his most recent method for imaging proteins as a biomarker for neuro-inflammation.For more information go to researchfestival.nih.gov/2016/plenary-sessions
NIH Research Festival 2016 Plenary Session I: Super enhancers in cell identity and disease NIH IRP (Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health) 2016-09-22 | Super enhancers, as the name may connote, offer seemingly heroic regulation of gene expression. While snippets of DNA known as enhancers have long been appreciated to bind with transcription factors to ramp up gene activity, regions of DNA called super enhancers are exceptionally busy parts of the genome that control lineage-defining genes — to paraphrase the movie Spinal Tap, they turn their volume up to 11 just when that extra push is needed. Mutations in super enhancers have been noted in various diseases, and they may play important roles in the dysregulation of gene expression in cancer.NIH researchers have been at the forefront of this three-year-old field. The Collins lab in 2013 identified “stretch enhancers” as gene groups analogous to super enhancers; and with the O’Shea lab they explained how T cell super enhancers relate to the function of this specialized cell. In the summer of 2016, the Hennighausen lab discovered super enhancers in the mammary genome and used CRISPR/Cas9 to dissect one in mice. In this plenary session, NIH researchers present their latest work on these master control switches. Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D. (NHGRI), will discuss the epigenomics of type 2 diabetes as revealed by one set of super enhancers. Rafael Casellas, Ph.D. (NIAMS), will illuminate the role of nuclear architecture in gene expression in B cells. And Keiko Ozato, Ph.D. (NICHD), will present how super enhancer are rapidly organized to control inflammatory gene expression.For more information go to researchfestival.nih.gov/2016/plenary-sessions
