News
Jan 12, 2016
Three CIDD faculty members are named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Peter Hudson, Matthew Thomas, and Andrew Read have been elected by their peers for distinguished efforts to advance science.
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Jan 12, 2016
CIDD Epidemics MOOC a success!
In the fall of 2013, eight CIDD faculty, supported by 30 others, including eight CIDD graduate student teaching assistants ran a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) titled Epidemics: The Dynamics of Infectious Disease.
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Jan 11, 2016
Conflict among honey bee genes supports theory of altruism
Using modern genetic approaches, a team of researchers has provided strong support for the long-standing, but hotly debated, evolutionary theory of kin selection, which suggests that altruistic behavior occurs as a way to pass genes to the next generation.
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Jan 04, 2016
Discovery of a new drug target could lead to novel treatment for severe autism
Penn State scientists have discovered a novel drug target and have rescued functional deficits in human nerve cells derived from patients with Rett Syndrome, a severe form of autism-spectrum disorder. The research, led by Gong Chen, professor of biology and the Verne M. Willaman Chair in Life Sciences at Penn State, could lead to a new treatment for Rett Syndrome and other forms of autism-spectrum disorders.
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Dec 15, 2015
Pill that targets gut receptor treats fatty liver disease, obesity in mice
A bile acid that can turn off a receptor in the gut has prevented and reversed fatty liver disease in mice, according to an international team of researchers. The compound may help treat certain metabolic disorders, such as Type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well.
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Dec 15, 2015
Stephen Benkovic named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors
Stephen J. Benkovic, Evan Pugh Professor of Chemistry and holder of the Eberly Family Chair in Chemistry at Penn State, has been elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).
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Dec 13, 2015
Researchers receive $10.2 million to study new malaria-prevention method
In collaboration with partners in Europe and Africa, researchers at Penn State have received a five-year, $10.2-million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to investigate a new method for preventing the transmission of malaria.
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Dec 07, 2015
New $4.4 million research project targets obesity in Pennsylvania
A deeper understanding of the causes of obesity, and improved treatments for obesity and many of its related health problems, are among the goals of a new $4.4 million, four-year research grant awarded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to a team of scientists from Geisinger Health System, Penn State University, and the University of Pennsylvania.
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Nov 23, 2015
Smartphones enlisted in the battle versus crop disease
Crop diseases, a major cause of famine, have always been diagnosed by visual inspection, though scientists today also use microscopes and DNA sequencing. But the first line of defense is still the keen eyes of farmers around the world, many of whom do not have access to advanced diagnostics and treatment advice.
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Nov 22, 2015
Loss of mastodons aided domestication of pumpkins, squash
If Pleistocene megafauna -- mastodons, mammoths, giant sloths and others -- had not become extinct, humans might not be eating pumpkin pie and squash for the holidays, according to an international team of anthropologists.
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