Innovation & Research

triangle chips that look like Doritos spread out on a blue background
Should dieters worry about portion sizes or “light” versions of a snack? Assistant Professor Peggy Liu led a series of studies to find out.
an image of the coronavirus
Virologist Megan Culler Freeman has been curious about reinfections since the pandemic began. For The Conversation, she addressed some questions raised by a man who reportedly was reinfected with SARS-CoV-2.
An electronic device hanging by a clip with a swimmer with a Pitt cap on in the background
From swimming devices to rare disease gene therapies, Pitt inventors never stop: The Innovation Institute reported a record 394 invention disclosures for last fiscal year, and Director Evan Facher says another robust year is ahead.
A woman stands in a black hoodie on stairs
Ever wondered how to move a mechanical arm using only your mind? Third-year student Audrey Case can explain.
A man in a white lab coat standing in a lab
MicroRNAs, tiny molecules that circulate in the bloodstream, could be the key to how diseases from pulmonary hypertension to cancer spread throughout the body, a new study led by Stephen Chan has found.
A man in blue scrubs standing by a helicopter
Diagnosing a heart attack can be difficult, especially for prehospital emergency personnel. Using computer modeling, a team led by nursing’s Salah Al-Zaiti identified 37% more heart attacks in a study published in Nature Communications.
A earbud in a woman's left ear
Native English speakers often have trouble with tonal languages like Chinese. A new study showed that vagus nerve stimulation allowed research participants to pick up some Mandarin tones more quickly.
a man in a longsleeve shirt and jeans sitting outside with his hands on his face and his eyes closed
New research published in Preventive Medicine shows men who subscribe to strong gender norms are more likely to harm themselves and others.
Two people at a table with a tablet in front of them
A new report from Pitt’s National Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Family Support has found that caregivers of all ages are facing increased worry, mental health issues and financial stress. The center also offers resources to help.
Arthur Kosowsky in a blue checkered shirt
A multinational team including Professor Arthur Kosowsky, graduate student Yilun Guan and alum Simone Aiola from the Department of Physics and Astronomy is making progress toward solving mysteries of the universe.