News

Feb 26, 2026

Huck associate director elected fellow in American Academy of Microbiology

Andrew Patterson, John T. and Paige S. Smith Professor in the College of Agricultural Sciences, has been elected as a fellow in the American Academy of Microbiology. Fellows of the American Academy of Microbiology, an honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology, are elected annually through a highly selective, peer-review process, based on their records of scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology.

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Feb 12, 2026

Skeleton ‘gatekeeper’ lining brain cells could guard against Alzheimer’s

Brain cells are constantly swallowing material from the fluid that surrounds them — signaling molecules, nutrients, even pieces of their own surfaces — in a process known as endocytosis that is essential for learning, memory and basic neural upkeep. New research by Penn State scientists has revealed this vital process may be governed by a previously unknown molecular gatekeeper: a lattice‑like structure just beneath the surface of neurons called the membrane‑associated periodic skeleton.

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Feb 11, 2026

Too many saturated fats may be more harmful than too many refined carbohydrates

In recent years, many media reports and social media influencers have emphasized the dangers of eating too many carbohydrates. Though a carbohydrate-heavy diet can be harmful, consuming too many fats may cause more health problems, according to a study in mice led by researchers in the Penn State Department of Nutritional Sciences.

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Feb 02, 2026

Targeting the 'good' arm after stroke leads to better motor skills

Traditional stroke rehabilitation therapy focuses on restoring strength and movement to the more impaired side of the body, but a new randomized clinical trial has revealed that targeted therapy for the less-impaired arm significantly improved movement and control for stroke survivors. The trial, led by researchers from Penn State and the University of Southern California (USC), compared the new approach to the standard best-practice therapy currently in use.

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Feb 02, 2026

Bayer University Mentoring Program now includes pharmaceutical track

Following the first successful cohort of graduate and postdoctoral scholars in the Bayer Crop Science 2025 University Mentoring Program (B4U), Bayer has expanded the initiative at Penn State to include the Bayer Pharmaceuticals 2026 B4U Program. The expansion, which targets those interested in careers in the pharmaceutical industry, reflects Penn State and Bayer's shared commitment to preparing graduate students and postdoctoral researchers for impactful careers at the intersection of academia, industry and innovation.

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Feb 02, 2026

Liver metabolism of an essential amino acid may play a key role in gut health

Many biological processes exhibit daytime differences governed by rhythmic exposure to sunlight, termed circadian rhythms. Researchers at Penn State recently found, in mice, that a protein critical to intestinal barrier function — helping the gut absorb nutrients while blocking harmful pathogens — is rhythmically controlled by nighttime liver metabolism of the molecule tryptophan.

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Jan 22, 2026

Penn State students take top honors in video challenge on the value of research

A team of students working in Andrew Patterson's lab used their experience in research and storytelling to advocate for federally funded research and take top prizes in the Science Coalition’s 2025 Alyse Gray Parker Memorial Student Video Challenge

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Jan 13, 2026

Female athlete health, well-being focus of updated report

When active and athletic girls and women don’t eat enough food to meet their body’s energy needs, it can disrupt key systems in the body and lead to irregular or absent menstrual cycles and impaired bone health, including osteoporosis and bone stress injuries.

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Dec 11, 2025

Mentorship and communication take center stage at training summit

Huck Institutes’ annual T32 summit underscores benefits of professional development alongside scientific training.

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Dec 09, 2025

Two College of Ag Sciences faculty earn spots on highly cited researchers list

Francisco Dini-Andreote and Andrew Patterson in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences are among the most highly cited researchers in 2025, according to the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science Group.

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