News

Blood test for brain cancer may be on horizon, new research finds

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and deadliest type of brain cancer with a five-year survival rate of only 5%. Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine have identified a biomarker that can be used in blood tests to diagnose GBM, track its progression and guide treatment.

Processing, like fermentation and roasting, doesn’t cut cocoa’s health benefits

It is widely believed that when foods undergo processing, their health benefits are reduced. But that is not true for cocoa, according to a Penn State-led team of researchers, who conducted a new study using a mouse model.

McGraw elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology

Elizabeth "Beth" McGraw, professor and department head of biology and Huck Scholar in Entomology at Penn State, has been elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology.

Nobel Prize-winning Penn State alumnus Paul Berg dies

Penn State alumnus Paul Berg, who received the 1980 Nobel Prize in chemistry, died Feb. 15 at his home in Stanford, California, surrounded by loved ones. He was 96.

Superhydrophobic biosensor could measure sweat vapors on the body

Sweat contains biomarkers that help doctors make health diagnoses. Wearable sensors can be used to monitor a person’s perspiration rate and provide information about the skin, nervous system activity and underlying health conditions.

Kwapis appointed Paul Berg Early Career Professor in the Biological Sciences

Janine Kwapis, assistant professor of biology at Penn State, has been appointed as the first Paul Berg Early Career Professor in the Biological Sciences in recognition of her research contributions, teaching, and service to the Department of Biology and the Eberly College of Science.

NIH grant allows grad student to study Cuban, Cuban-American health disparities

Growing up in Miami’s Cuban American community, Margarita “Maggie” Hernandez said she often felt “like I wasn’t Cuban enough, but also not American enough.” Today, though, she’s beyond proud of her roots — so much so that she’s made it a hallmark of her research.

Grant will promote STEM graduate studies for students from diverse backgrounds

A consortium of institutions led by faculty in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has received a $75,000 planning grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation aimed at expanding the recruitment of and opportunities for Black, Indigenous and Latino students to enroll in science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduate programs.

New Student Spotlight video highlights neuroscience's Avery Sicher

The latest entry in the Student Spotlight series from the Huck Institutes covers Avery Sicher, a graduate student in the Neuroscience Program, and her research on the effects of alcohol consumption on brain development.

Podcast explores the genetics of personality through the lens of adoption

Social scientists have long sought to better understand how and why different behavioral traits develop in different individuals.