Innovation & Research

Random short red lines scattered on a black background to represent "electrical" type pain
Pitt's Charles Jonassaint led a team that developed the Painimation tablet-based app. The innovation helps patients visually describe where, how much and what kind of pain they feel.
Rizzo next to his sensor prototype
A team led by Pitt engineer Piervincenzo Rizzo is developing a sensor aimed at preventing corrosion-induced pipeline breaks. The technology could have other impacts, including measuring eye pressure in glaucoma patients.
Ann Donnelly, a research specialist in the Department of Biomedical Informatics, was part of a team that created the first-ever artificial enzyme capable of working in a living organism.
As new clinical director of the Aging Institute of UPMC, Anne Newman hopes to figure out why her fellow baby boomers are staying healthier for longer than past generations.
For centuries, people have speculated about the mind-body connection: Does one really affect the other? Neurobiologist Peter Strick’s research on brain pathways may hold answers.
cover of pitt med, which features a boy wearing a backpack, depicted with blue and gold puzzle pieces
When the Merck Inpatient Unit opened its doors in 1974, it was the only specialized inpatient unit for people with autism in the United States. More than 40 years later, it continues to help affected individuals throughout their lives.
Computers don’t operate like humans when solving complex problems. But Pitt researchers are asking, “What if they could?”
James and Martha Funderburgh in their lab
At Pitt’s Corneal Cell Biology Lab, researchers have developed an innovative way to address a common form of blindness — by converting stem cells to regrow part of the eye.
Man and woman in boat on the water using tools to test water
The Pittsburgh Collaboratory for Water Research, Education and Outreach, led by Pitt geology and environmental science researchers, invites the community to its Sept. 6 forum.
Bernard Fisher headshot, against a black background
Bernard Fisher, MD, celebrated his 100th birthday on Aug. 23. His work as a surgeon-scientist led to an improved rate of survival and quality of life for countless women with breast cancer as well as for patients with other forms of cancer.