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Watch: Researchers Take Filmmaking to the Health Sciences
Sara Baumann (GSPH ’19) and Jessica Burke have created a new form of public health research called Collaborative Filmmaking. The six-step process engages its participants to create a detailed
Pitt ranked No. 1 for small business support
The University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center has been chosen by the U.S. Small Business Administration as the national SBDC Excellence and Innovation Award winner of 2020.
Drug Supply Drop Likely Behind 2018 Overdose Death Downturn
Pitt Public Health scientists found that a drop in the supply of carfentanil, a potent drug, was likely the reason behind 2018's decrease in overdose deaths, rather than U.S. efforts to curb them.
Student Research Could Make Solar Energy More Efficient
Sooraj Sharma (ENGR ’20) and a team of Pitt students created a type of self-cleaning glass that allows more solar energy to reach the power-generating portion of solar panels.
Epidemics and Pandemics Can Exacerbate Xenophobia, Bigotry
In a pair of studies, ecologist Jessica Stephenson found that both animals and humans instinctually hunker down in small groups when infection looms—but that impulse can come with a price.
Pitt Scientists Discover Tiny Antibody Component That is Highly Effective in Preventing and Treating SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Animal Models
The discovery in animals is being used to make a drug for potential therapeutic and preventive use against COVID-19 in humans.
University of Pittsburgh Selected to Lead NIH Trials in COVID-19 Care
The National Institutes of Health has selected Pitt to lead a trio of Phase 3 clinical trials involving COVID-19 patients that will explore the use of blood thinners in saving lives and improving care
Survey Shows Research-Related Staff and Postdocs Comfortable with Restart Efforts
A recent survey of University research-related staff and postdocs shows that nearly two-thirds of respondents felt that Pitt’s research restart had gone at least as well as or better than they
Student Fills Void of Black Hair Care Products for Kids in Foster Care, Peers
Social work graduate student Ashlé Hall (SOC WK ’18) is a busy entrepreneur with a new line of hair care products designed to fill two very important needs.
International Group Working on ‘Google Maps for the Body’
The Human BioMolecular Atlas Program is developing an open, global platform to map healthy cells so doctors, scientists and educators can better understand disease and the workings of the human body.
Plexiglass Alone Can't Protect Against Aerosolized Virus
Intubating COVID-19 patients can be dangerous for the health care provider. A new biocontainment unit developed by a Pitt-UPMC team trapped more than 99.99% of simulated virus-sized aerosols and
Editing Immune Response Could Make Gene Therapy More Effective
A study led by pathology’s Samira Kiani and published today in Nature Cell Biology showed that a new approach to CRISPR briefly suppressed genes to control the immune response in mice, making gene
Pitt Study of COVID-19 Patients Leads to WHO Treatment Guidance Changes
Published as part of a four-article package today in JAMA, research led by Pitt’s Derek Angus found that an inexpensive treatment of steroids can substantially improve survival in critically ill COVID
Student Researcher Documents History of U.S. Quarantines
While Pennsylvania was in the midst of COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders, Pitt senior Gina Watkins was digging into the reasoning behind past quarantine measures—finding racism and xenophobia were
A Man Was Reinfected with Coronavirus After Recovery—What Does This Mean for Immunity?
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
Constant Dieters Might Be Choosing the Wrong Way to Lose Weight
Should dieters worry about portion sizes or “light” versions of a snack? Assistant Professor Peggy Liu led a series of studies to find out.
Innovation Institute Reports Record Number of Invention Disclosures, Despite Pandemic
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
Bioengineering Student Plugs in to Complex Tech
Ever wondered how to move a mechanical arm using only your mind? Third-year student Audrey Case can explain.
New Research Sheds Light on How Body Parts ‘Talk’ to Each Other
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
New AI Research Looks to Better Diagnose Heart Attacks Before Hospital Arrival
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
