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For people with autism, constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain often go along with the social struggles and repetitive behaviors that define the condition. This has prompted many to wonder whether gastrointestinal (GI) problems arise due to autism’s behavioral or sensory features, or whether they might instead contribute to them.

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Over 150 researchers from across the University of Utah gathered to form new connections and share groundbreaking research on topics from antibiotic resistance to autoimmune diseases.

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The discovery opens doors to better stem cell therapies.

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Spinocerebellar ataxia 4 is a devastating progressive movement disorder. A multinational study has now conclusively identified the genetic difference that causes the disease, bringing answers to families and opening the door to future treatments.

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Medicinal chemist Amy Barrios and developmental biologist H. Joseph Yost earned this lifetime honor for their excellence in research and commitment to mentoring.

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Researchers at Huntsman Mental Health Institute at the University of Utah have been selected by Wellcome Leap to research an innovative ultrasound-based treatment for addiction as part of a $50 million commitment.

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The seven funded projects range from an investigation of the potential benefits of virtual reality-based “nature” experiences for hospital patients, to tools that allow scientists to make full use of huge databases of biomedical information.

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Valley fever is a fungal respiratory infection that’s stealthily spreading through the soil and dust throughout the American West. An interdisciplinary research team is trying to map where the disease-causing fungus can survive and where it’ll spread as the climate changes.

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AI tools may outperform human doctors in predicting some medical outcomes, accounting for patients’ unique circumstances while reducing costs for those who don’t need specialized care. What are the risks of using AI to help make medical decisions—and are they worse than the risks we already face?

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More than a hundred researchers convened to brainstorm tools with the potential to extend care beyond the clinic, help doctors optimize care for each patient, and empower people to manage their own care.

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$2 million in total funds will accelerate interdisciplinary neurobiology research and scale up a search for new rules of human biochemistry.

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Participants in the program saw improved blood pressure, BMI, and triglycerides.

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The study has led to more than a hundred scientific papers and recently received $14M in grant funding.

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Finding treatments for children with rare diseases has been a significant hurdle in the medical world. An unexpected source, the common fruit fly, is turning up answers.

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For critically ill children with unknown genetic disorders, genome sequencing can be a powerful diagnostic tool, yet more than half of sequenced kids remain undiagnosed. Where standard clinical genome analysis fails to reach a diagnosis, ReSeq’s team of geneticists and data analysts takes an in-depth second look.

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The annual conference brought together hundreds of scientists interested in finding ways to harness big data to answer previously unsolvable questions.

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A heart pump can save left heart failure patients’ lives, but the surgery to implant the pump often leads to right heart failure. Doctors now have a way to predict which patients are most at risk.

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In a rare but serious complication of cancer, the immune system can start attacking the brain, causing rapid memory loss. What triggers this was largely unknown. Now, researchers at University of Utah Health have found that some tumors can release a virus-like protein, kickstarting an out-of-control autoimmune reaction.

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University of Utah researcher KC Brennan received the award to support research on the unusual patterns of electrical and chemical activity that occur in the brain just before a migraine starts.

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An educational collaboration between the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH) and the Department of Mining Engineering at the University of Utah will bring an interdisciplinary approach to tackle tough problems in mining safety.

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People diagnosed with advanced cancer can face intense existential distress.

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In a study of more than 9,000 pregnant people from across the U.S., researchers at University of Utah Health found that cannabis exposure during pregnancy is associated with a composite measure of unhealthy pregnancy outcomes, especially low birth weight, and that higher exposure is associated with higher risks.

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University of Utah Health, in partnership with the state, has launched a new research initiative to advance scientific understanding of medical cannabis and help patients and providers make informed health decisions about this increasingly common medication.

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New digital tools that integrate patient health information have dramatically increased the rate of a highly effective, but underprescribed, cancer screen.

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The cognitive symptoms referred to as “brain fog” occur in up to 10-30% of people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Researchers at University of Utah Health are testing whether a non-invasive “brain training” tool that resembles a video game can alleviate these symptoms.

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Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., a 1985 graduate of the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah, was confirmed today by the U.S. Senate as the 16th Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. She is the first medical doctor trained in Utah to serve in this important national leadership role.

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A study by Bismarck Christian Odei, MD, found that over the last 30 years, only 18% of physicians in films were portrayed by women. Odei advocates for more accurate representation.

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Investigators have been awarded a grant to find a better way to protect muscle mass in patients. Muscle mass plays a critical role in quality of life and cancer survival.

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Huntsman Cancer Institute and Utah Valley University unveil a new health collaborative, a groundbreaking partnership aiming to transform health education, advance cancer research, and secure a lasting impact through a $1 million donation.

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By creating 12 new medical codes for leukodystrophies, clinician-scientists at University of Utah Health may change lives of people with these conditions.

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The COVID-19 pandemic spotlighted how a rapid and effective response to infectious disease outbreaks is critical for saving lives and protecting communities. With a $17.5 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), University of Utah researchers, in collaboration with Washington State University, are leading efforts to provide data and tools that guide decisions to improve responses to emerging public health threats in the Mountain West.

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The reasons why people attempt suicide are complex and include external triggers like trauma and stress, as well as inherited genetic factors. A new study has identified 12 DNA variants, or variations in the human genetic code, that are associated with risk of attempting suicide.

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Huntsman Cancer Institute shines the spotlight on new discoveries and cutting-edge cancer research. This month, researchers found that increasing access for Black people with prostate cancer may save lives. Also, the first patient in a new small cell lung cancer clinical trial has been enrolled, researchers are using an app to help adolescents and young adults manage cancer symptoms, and investigators are trying to reduce cognitive side-effects after chemotherapy.

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Compared to other high-income countries, the U.S. has a high rate of maternal mortality, and in Utah, substance use is the leading cause of pregnancy-related death. With $14 million in support over seven years from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the University of Utah ELEVATE Maternal Health Research Center of Excellence aims to reverse that trend. The center is committed to partnering with the communities that are affected most, including rural and Native American populations, to change the story for mothers with substance use disorders in Utah and throughout the country.

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SCALE-UP Counts was designed to promote COVID-19 testing in local schools. Huntsman Cancer Insitute’s Yelena Wu, PhD, hopes the insight gained from the program improves cancer screening and education initiatives.

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Huntsman Cancer Institute researchers studied estrogen receptor mutations and its connections to endometrial cancer. The findings led to the identification of potential personalized treatments for a cancer with limited options.

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Following up on positive results from preliminary research, scientists at University of Utah Health are evaluating whether an eight-week program based on positive psychology techniques can improve the mood and well-being of people who have had a stroke and those who care for them.

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The Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH), a partnership between the University of Utah and Weber State University and one of the nation’s leading centers focused on the health and safety of workers and their environment, was recently awarded an $8.6 million grant that will allow it to further a mission that touches tens of thousands of people each year in Utah and across the West.

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Huntsman Cancer Institute investigators find a way to reduce infection after pancreatic surgery, discover the best treatment combination that’s cost effective for prostate cancer patients, and learn lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy have more emergency department visits. They also found a genetic mutation that makes anemia more likely after chemotherapy, and a non-invasive way to remove brain tumors.

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You might not think of diabetes when you think of muscle function. But a common diabetes drug that regulates blood sugar can also prevent muscle atrophy and muscular fibrosis—which can help the elderly bounce back faster from injury or illness.

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In a new study, University of Utah Health researchers have shown that a particular version of a gene may contribute to the higher severity of stroke seen among Black Americans. The findings could help scientists develop more effective stroke medications for people who carry the gene.

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A new system for fixing bone fractures, called the Bone Bolt System, has been approved for market by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the University of Utah Orthopaedic Innovation Center (OIC), Department of Orthopaedics and Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine announced on July 20, 2023.

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Center for HOPE and Montana State University's Center for American Indian and Rural Heath Equity collaborate on cancer research in areas with persistent poverty, funded by the National Cancer Institute.

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Children with disabilities, and their families, may face discrimination in in the hospitals and clinics they visit for their health care, according to a new study led by researchers at University of Utah Health. These attitudes may lead to substandard medical treatment, which could contribute to poor health outcomes, say the study’s authors.

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Neeraj Agarwal, MD, led a global study analyzing the combination of two cancer drugs to treat metastatic prostate cancer. Results showed this reduces the risk of cancer progression by 55%.