Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
Virginia Commonwealth University Series on Democracy Marks America's 250th Anniversary
RICHMOND, Virginia, April 4 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news:
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VCU series on democracy marks America's 250th anniversary
With public events and online offerings, the College of Humanities and Sciences program explores how ideals are evolving.
By Sian Wilkerson
As the United States commemorates its 250th anniversary this year of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Virginia Commonwealth University is marking the occasion with a new series spotlighting the past, present and future of American democracy.
Launched by the College of Humanities and Sciences,
... Show Full Article
RICHMOND, Virginia, April 4 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news:
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VCU series on democracy marks America's 250th anniversary
With public events and online offerings, the College of Humanities and Sciences program explores how ideals are evolving.
By Sian Wilkerson
As the United States commemorates its 250th anniversary this year of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Virginia Commonwealth University is marking the occasion with a new series spotlighting the past, present and future of American democracy.
Launched by the College of Humanities and Sciences,the America at 250 series will explore topics ranging from the original ideals in the time of the nation's founders to the state of democracy in modern America. The idea for the series evolved out of U.S. Democracy United/Divided, a VCU course that brings together faculty experts across disciplines for a multidimensional overview of democracy's many layers.
"The series creates space for students to engage more critically with history - not just as something in the past, but as something that continues to shape policies, institutions and everyday life today," said Roqia Ali, a third-year political science student who serves as a teaching assistant for the U.S. Democracy course.
Ali, an Honors College student, is also co-executive director of VCU Votes. She added that America at 250 gives students "a chance to hear from different voices and disciplines, which can help them form more well-rounded perspectives."
"The different sides are not really talking to each other, and so we're really hoping to open that conversation here," said Marcus Messner, Ph.D., associate dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences and co-organizer of the series. "The motivation here is, I think that the United States has lots to celebrate after 250 years, but of course, we have some issues in our democracy as well."
Messner, his fellow associate dean Amy Rector, Ph.D., and Krista Scott, Ed.D., associate vice president of strategic enrollment management special programs, worked together to develop America at 250, which will continue throughout the year. The series emphasizes Virginia's role in the founding of the country and its continued impact on the state of democracy.
"America was made here in Virginia, and we really are focusing on this local perspective on a lot of these events and the lectures that are being given," Rector said.
So far, America at 250 events have covered topics such as Virginia's shifting voter demographics, voting rights and representation, the global effects of American domestic policy and social media's impact on democracy. Another lecture featured VCU history professor and author Brooke Newman, Ph.D., who presented from her latest book, "The Crown's Silence: The Hidden History of the British Monarchy and Slavery."
On April 8, Carly Fiorina, the national honorary chair for the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission, or VA250, will join the College of Humanities and Sciences and VCU's Global Education Office for a discussion as part of America at 250 and the Globe Speakers Series, hosted by Catherine Ingrassia, Ph.D., dean of the college, and Jill Blondin, Ph.D., vice provost for global initiatives.
Moderated by Messner, the event - it begins at 5 p.m. in Room 216 of the STEM Building - will feature welcoming remarks from VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., and Arturo Saavedra, Ph.D., interim executive vice president and provost, with an introduction by Robyn Diehl McDougle, Ph.D., associate dean of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.
This event is open to the community, and registration is required.
As part of the ongoing commemoration at VCU, the College of Humanities and Sciences will offer U.S. Democracy United/Divided as an online course this summer. Also, a webinar series hosted by faculty in VCU's Department of History will feature topics including:
* Reluctant Revolutionaries: From Loyal Subjects to Fledgling Citizens, with lecturer Sarah Meacham, Ph.D. (Monday, May 18).
* From 'Nature's God' to 'Divine Providence': Faith and the Founding of the United States, with lecturer Ryan K. Smith, Ph.D. (Monday, June 1).
* Liberty in a Land of Slavery, with Michael Dickinson, Ph.D. (Monday, June 15).
* Was the Declaration of Independence really a matter of Common Sense?, with Carolyn Eastman, Ph.D. (Monday, June 29).
Each webinar will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. and is available to the public.
In the fall, America at 250 will turn its focus to the congressional midterm elections, and organizers will continue to add programming from across more disciplines. The event schedule is available on the series webpage.
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Original text here: https://news.vcu.edu/article/vcu-series-on-democracy-marks-americas-250th-anniversary
University of Texas Dallas: Biophysicist Joins Ranks of Elite Scientists as AAAS Fellow
RICHARDSON, Texas, April 4 -- The University of Texas Dallas campus issued the following news:
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Biophysicist Joins Ranks of Elite Scientists as AAAS Fellow
By: Amanda Siegfried
Dr. G. Andres Cisneros, professor and department head of physics at The University of Texas at Dallas, has been elected to the 2025 class of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) fellows.
Cisneros, who also is a professor of chemistry and biochemistry in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM), is one of 449 scientists, engineers and innovators to be recognized across 24 disciplinary
... Show Full Article
RICHARDSON, Texas, April 4 -- The University of Texas Dallas campus issued the following news:
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Biophysicist Joins Ranks of Elite Scientists as AAAS Fellow
By: Amanda Siegfried
Dr. G. Andres Cisneros, professor and department head of physics at The University of Texas at Dallas, has been elected to the 2025 class of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) fellows.
Cisneros, who also is a professor of chemistry and biochemistry in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM), is one of 449 scientists, engineers and innovators to be recognized across 24 disciplinarysections. The new fellows will be honored at a May 29 event in Washington, D.C.
The AAAS elected Cisneros in the chemistry section for "unique contributions to biophysics, computational enzymology and computational chemistry by developing accurate simulation methods and their application to the investigation of DNA transaction proteins."
Cisneros, who joined UT Dallas in 2022, conducts interdisciplinary research that spans biology, physics, biochemistry and computational methods. He has developed classical and quantum approaches to simulate biological systems and chemical processes, including the structure, mechanisms and dynamics of DNA transaction enzymes. Understanding the atomic-level biochemical processes carried out by these proteins, which play key roles in DNA repair and replication, provides fundamental insights that Cisneros and his colleagues are using in the discovery and characterization of cancer and autoimmune disease biomarkers.
"Dr. Cisneros' combined expertise in multiple fields informs research that is essential to addressing modern issues in science and medicine," said Dr. David Hyndman, dean of NSM, Francis S. and Maurine G. Johnson Distinguished University Chair, and a AAAS fellow. "This recognition by the AAAS is well deserved."
A fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Cisneros has received research funding from agencies including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and a PhD in physical chemistry from Duke University. He was also a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the NIH.
"I am extremely honored to receive this distinction from AAAS," Cisneros said. "It is humbling to have the work of not only myself but also past and current members of our research group recognized in this manner."
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About AAAS
Founded in 1848, the American Association for the Advancement of Science is the world's largest general scientific society. Its mission includes advancing science, engineering and innovation, and serving society through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education and public engagement. It also publishes the journal Science. Check out the list of current AAAS fellows from UT Dallas.
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Original text here: https://news.utdallas.edu/faculty-staff/cisneros-aaas-fellows-2026/
UW-Platteville Students Contribute to Fire Restoration Efforts Across Wisconsin and the Great Lakes Region
PLATTEVILLE, Wisconsin, April 4 -- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville issued the following news:
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UW-Platteville Students Contribute to Fire Restoration Efforts Across Wisconsin and the Great Lakes Region
Written by Grace Unmacht and Evan Larson
Students enrolled in Dr. Evan Larson's Fire Ecology course in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Society participated in a four-day field trip, contributing to projects aimed at reintroducing low-intensity fire to the landscapes of Wisconsin and the Great Lakes Region. Students visited the University of Minnesota Cloquet Forestry
... Show Full Article
PLATTEVILLE, Wisconsin, April 4 -- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville issued the following news:
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UW-Platteville Students Contribute to Fire Restoration Efforts Across Wisconsin and the Great Lakes Region
Written by Grace Unmacht and Evan Larson
Students enrolled in Dr. Evan Larson's Fire Ecology course in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Society participated in a four-day field trip, contributing to projects aimed at reintroducing low-intensity fire to the landscapes of Wisconsin and the Great Lakes Region. Students visited the University of Minnesota Cloquet ForestryCenter where they piled and burned woody fuels along a burn break. This work helps reduce the intensity of future prescribed burns to enhance the benefits to the forest ecosystem and improve the safety of the burn crew.
The following day, students went to Minnesota Point at the head of Lake Superior, where they cleared woody vegetation and debris from around old-growth red pine trees. This preparation is critical to prevent damage when fire is reintroduced to the site for the first time in over 150 years later this year. Restoring fire to Minnesota Point will be a significant cultural and ecological milestone because the area holds deep significance for the Ojibwe people, as well as people of diverse backgrounds who live in the area today. This effort is being planned in collaboration with local groups and is helping to build community and cooperation. Evidence of past fires, including fire scars and cultural modifications, can be seen on many of the old-growth red pines and helped to inspire this work.
Wisconsin Point was another significant area that students visited. Like Minnesota Point, it is a culturally significant area with historical evidence of fire and Ojibwe engagement with the land carried in the rings of pine trees spread throughout the site. Fire was reintroduced at Wisconsin Point just last fall in a collaboration between the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the City of Superior, and The Nature Conservancy. Visiting this site gave students an opportunity to observe the ecosystem's response months after the prescribed burn.
"Participating in this trip helped students experience first-hand the hard work and community building that is part of the important growing effort to restore fire to the lands of Wisconsin and beyond," said Larson.
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Original text here: https://www.uwplatt.edu/news/uw-platteville-students-contribute-fire-restoration-efforts-across-wisconsin-and-great-lakes-region
UMass Chan Researchers Shed Light on How Inflammation in GI Tract Rewires Enteric Nervous System
WORCESTER, Massachusetts, April 4 (TNSjou) -- The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School issued the following news:
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UMass Chan researchers shed light on how inflammation in GI tract rewires enteric nervous system
Hypoxia-induced stress response shown to protect neurons from cell death and remodeling
By Jim Fessenden
Research by Milena Bogunovic, MD, PhD, associate professor of pathology, sheds light on how inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, such as that associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), can lead to long lasting consequences for patients who end
... Show Full Article
WORCESTER, Massachusetts, April 4 (TNSjou) -- The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School issued the following news:
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UMass Chan researchers shed light on how inflammation in GI tract rewires enteric nervous system
Hypoxia-induced stress response shown to protect neurons from cell death and remodeling
By Jim Fessenden
Research by Milena Bogunovic, MD, PhD, associate professor of pathology, sheds light on how inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, such as that associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), can lead to long lasting consequences for patients who endup developing functional motility disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, the study revealed that intestinal inflammation changes how nerves are arranged in the intestine, which in turn affects how intestinal muscles contract. According to the research, this happens because intestinal (enteric) neurons get activated by inflammation and signal to immune cells known as monocytes. Monocytes then spill over into the enteric nervous system (ENS) where they develop into more specialized cells known as macrophages that typically help with repair but cause extensive remodeling and dysfunction when there are too many of them.
"We show that it's this abnormal reorganization that leads to the dysregulation and uncoordinated contractions of the intestinal muscles." said Dr. Bogunovic. "This abnormal structure resulted in the ENS not being able to properly control the surrounding muscles and contributed to symptoms like those experienced in some patients with IBD in remission."
Further research found that intensifying inflammation exposes neurons to low oxygen levels (hypoxia). In response, neurons turn on a stress response pathway that helps them survive, by suppressing the attraction of monocytes and preserving their normal organization. If this protective response is triggered early in the disease state, it could offer a promising way to curtail the development of persistent GI symptoms associated with IBD.
The ENS is a vast, semi-autonomous network of more than 100 million neurons embedded in the gut wall, stretching from the esophagus to the rectum. Often called the "second brain," it operates independently of the central nervous system to control certain autonomic functions such as digestion, nutrient absorption, peristalsis and immune response.
While great strides have been made in treating active IBD, many patients continue to experience symptoms even after inflammation has resolved itself. Why symptoms persist after remission and how to treat them remain poorly understood, however.
The prevailing belief has been that there is a fixed number of neurons when we are born and we lose them over time as we age, explained Bogunovic. Scientists, however, are beginning to find that enteric neurons behave differently than neurons in the brain.
Using a newly developed mouse model established to mimic the transient nature of colitis experienced in patients with IBD, Bogunovic and co-author Sravya Kurapati, a visiting PhD student from Penn State University College of Medicine, were able to isolate the changes to the ENS that persist after inflammation stops.
"When we looked at the ENS, after it had been exposed to the inflammatory process, what we found was really startling," said Kurapati. "The microscopy images showed a dramatic loss of neurons in some areas, but we also found areas where neurons were densely packed in tight clusters, with their fibers going off in different directions instead of being aligned in nice, neat rows that are typical of normal ENS."
Using molecular tools that can distinguish between existing neurons and new neurons, Kurapati was able to see that a new generation of neurons were responsible for the disorganization.
Additionally, Bogunovic and Kurapati found a mechanism that helps preserve the ENS during inflammation. They showed that activating a signaling pathway that enables neurons to withstand hypoxia protects them from inflammation.
"By activating the hypoxia stress response pathway," said Bogunovic, "the neurons were able to adapt to the hypoxic environment created by the inflammation, resist inflammation and retain their typical structure after the inflammation resolved. It's possible to activate this pathway through drugs, diet supplementation or microbiome manipulation in a way that could protect neurons from inflammation."
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Original text here: https://www.umassmed.edu/news/articles/2026/04/umass-chan-researchers-shed-light-on-how-inflammation-in-gi-tract-rewires-enteric-nervous-system/
Texas A&M Engineering: Donors Support Aggie Engineers in Labs and Lecture Halls
COLLEGE STATION, Texas, April 4 -- The Texas A&M University College of Engineering issued the following news:
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Donors support Aggie engineers in labs and lecture halls
Former students Donnice and Doug White '78 give back to the College of Engineering by supporting students through scholarship and necessary lab equipment.
By David Holt, Texas A&M Engineering
From a dryland wheat farm in West Texas to the classrooms at Texas A&M University, Doug White '78 has built a remarkable career in chemical engineering. Now he and his wife Donnice are giving back to ensure future Aggies have the
... Show Full Article
COLLEGE STATION, Texas, April 4 -- The Texas A&M University College of Engineering issued the following news:
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Donors support Aggie engineers in labs and lecture halls
Former students Donnice and Doug White '78 give back to the College of Engineering by supporting students through scholarship and necessary lab equipment.
By David Holt, Texas A&M Engineering
From a dryland wheat farm in West Texas to the classrooms at Texas A&M University, Doug White '78 has built a remarkable career in chemical engineering. Now he and his wife Donnice are giving back to ensure future Aggies have thesame opportunities.
White first discovered his passion for engineering thanks to a high school mentor.
"A science teacher at Canyon High School noticed my aptitude for math and science and encouraged me to attend an engineering conference at Texas A&M during my junior year. That trip lit the spark," he said. "From that point on, my goal was clear: go to college and become a chemical engineer. Through a combination of good fortune and a successful wheat crop, I was able to attend as a first-generation college student."
While at Texas A&M, White joined the Aggie Band and maintained his focus on his studies -- forging lasting relationships and meeting Donnice, who would later become his wife. Both pursued their chemical engineering degrees and launched rewarding careers in the industry before starting their family.
After a 34-year stint in the chemical industry, primarily with DuPont, White returned to Texas A&M as a senior lecturer in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering.
"I enjoyed helping students and young engineers connect theory to real-world processes," he said. "Teaching in the Unit Operations Lab was a natural fit -- it allowed me to focus on applied learning and help students develop the skills they would need in industry."
During his decade as an instructor, White taught more than 1,600 students and says it remains one of the most rewarding chapters of his career.
As committed Aggies, the Whites decided to support the department further through funding for upgraded lab equipment and by establishing a scholarship.
"Heat transfer is a fundamental unit operation in nearly every chemical engineering role, and the Unit Operations Lab needed improved equipment to better teach those concepts," he said. "When the department began fundraising for a new apparatus, Donnice and I felt it was important to participate."
The scholarship, targeting first-generation students, holds special meaning for the Whites.
"We chose to support first-generation chemical engineering students because we understand how unfamiliar and intimidating that path can be," he said. "We've been fortunate in our opportunities, and this felt like a meaningful way to help students with similar backgrounds reach their goals."
Thanks to the generosity of Doug and Donnice White, Texas A&M's College of Engineering continues to thrive, empowering new generations of Aggies both in the classroom and beyond.
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Original text here: https://news.engineering.tamu.edu/news/2026/04/03/donors-support-aggie-engineers-in-labs-and-lecture-halls/
N.C. State: How an Injectable Particle Could Make Surgery Safer for Infants
RALEIGH, North Carolina, April 4 (TNSjou) -- North Carolina State University issued the following news release:
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How an Injectable Particle Could Make Surgery Safer for Infants
Biomedical researchers have designed an injectable microgel to help reduce bleeding in infants who require surgical care. In an animal model, the engineered microgel reduced bleeding by at least 50%.
When adults cut themselves, a multi-step process called hemostasis stops the bleeding from the injured blood vessel. But hemostasis in infants is different from hemostasis in adults. This difference can be problematic
... Show Full Article
RALEIGH, North Carolina, April 4 (TNSjou) -- North Carolina State University issued the following news release:
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How an Injectable Particle Could Make Surgery Safer for Infants
Biomedical researchers have designed an injectable microgel to help reduce bleeding in infants who require surgical care. In an animal model, the engineered microgel reduced bleeding by at least 50%.
When adults cut themselves, a multi-step process called hemostasis stops the bleeding from the injured blood vessel. But hemostasis in infants is different from hemostasis in adults. This difference can be problematicif infants require surgery to address significant medical problems. In surgeries, patients normally receive blood from adult donors to compensate for blood lost during the operation.
"But if you give adult blood to an infant, the difference in adult hemostasis versus infant hemostasis can lead to too much clotting," says Ashley Brown, co-corresponding author of a paper on the work. "That can increase the likelihood of thrombosis, where blood clots form in the lungs or elsewhere and put the baby at risk.
"My research team has done a lot of work on surgery-related bleeding in newborns, and we wanted to develop a therapeutic intervention that would reduce bleeding and - by extension - reduce the need for infants to receive adult blood transfusions during surgery," says Brown, who is the Lampe Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering in the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
To that end, the researchers developed a material called B-knob triggered microgels (BK-TriGs).
"Fibrin is the main clotting protein in human blood," Brown explains. "There is a short amino acid sequence called a 'B peptide' that links together fibrin molecules to create blood clots where they are needed - and these B peptides play a particularly important role in hemostasis for infants. The BK-TriGs are engineered particles that are studded with those B peptides."
The particles can absorb water and become squishy hydrogels, which mimic the mechanical properties of natural platelets in a way that maximizes the ability of the B peptides to create fibrin networks and stanch bleeding.
The researchers first tested the BK-TriGs by using microfluidic devices that allowed them to conduct in vitro testing to see how the microgels affected clotting in blood plasma from human adults and infants.
"We found that BK-TriGs worked better at improving blood clotting in infant plasma than in adult plasma, which was what we expected to see," says Brown.
To further test the efficacy of the BK-TriGs, the researchers worked with lab mice that were genetically engineered to not make fibrinogen, the precursor to fibrin. This allowed the researchers to first introduce infant fibrinogen into the lab mice so that the mice exhibit a form of hemostasis similar to infants.
"We found that the BK-TriGs outperformed any of the other options we tested at reducing blood loss," says Brown. "Specifically, the BK-TriGs reduced blood loss by 50-60% compared to the control group."
Next steps for the work are to see how BK-TriGs compare to other hemostatic therapeutics that are on the market, either on their own or when used in conjunction with BK-TriGs.
"The results we're reporting here are exciting, but we are still far removed from clinical use," says Brown. "We need to make sure there are no unforeseen risks associated with blood clotting.
"But if we do find BK-TriGs are safe and effective, we're optimistic this could be a cost-effective way to make surgery safer for infants. Manufacturing the BK-TriG particles would be relatively inexpensive - certainly in comparison to blood products."
The paper, "Hemostatic B-Knob Triggered MicroGels (BK-TriGs) to Address Bleeding in Neonates," is published open access in the journal Science Advances. Co-corresponding author of the paper is Michael Daniele, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and biomedical engineering at NC State. First author of the paper is Nooshin Zandi, a postdoctoral researcher in the Lampe Joint Biomedical Engineering Department. Co-authors include Kimberly Nellenbach, a former postdoc in the joint department; Connor Moore, an undergrad in the joint department; Julia Storch, a former undergraduate at NC State; and Sara Abrahams and Matthew Flick with the UNC Blood Research Center.
The work was done with support from the American Heart Association under grant 22TPA969368; the National Science Foundation under grant 2211404; and the Comparative Medicine Institute at NC State.
Brown is a co-founder of Selsym Biotech, Inc., which develops injectable materials designed to stop bleeding.
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Note to Editors: The study abstract follows.
"Hemostatic B-Knob Triggered MicroGels (BK-TriGs) to Address Bleeding in Neonates"
Authors: Nooshin Zandi, Kimberly Nellenbach, Connor Moore, Michael Daniele and Ashley Brown, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Julia Storch, North Carolina State University; Sara R. Abrahams and Matthew J. Flick, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Published: April 3, Science Advances
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ady7698
Abstract: Hemostatic immaturity in neonates presents critical challenges, especially during surgery, where bleeding and thrombosis risks are elevated. Current treatments rely on transfusing adult blood products, which may cause complications due to structural and functional differences between neonatal and adult fibrinogen. To address this, we developed hemostatic B-Knob Triggered MicroGels (BK-TriGs) that target and bridge fibrinogen hole b sites. Functionalized with a fibrin hole b-specific peptide, BK-TriGs enhance clot density and resistance to degradation. In vitro studies using neonatal platelet-poor plasma (PPP) showed that at an optimal concentration, BK-TriGs increased clot density by over 100% and improved stability by reducing fibrinolysis. Under flow conditions, BK-TriGs promoted robust clot formation compared to plasma-only controls. In an in vivo fib-null (Fga-/-) mouse model transfused with neonatal fibrinogen, BK-TriGs reduced blood loss by 50-60% and enhanced fibrin deposition at wound sites. This targeted approach offers a safer, more effective hemostatic solution tailored to neonatal clotting needs.
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Original text here: https://news.ncsu.edu/2026/04/hydrogel-infant-surgery/
Electroacupuncture Shows Promise in Breast Cancer Survivors, UC Irvine-led Study Finds
IRVINE, California, April 4 (TNSjou) -- The University of California Irvine campus issued the following news release:
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Electroacupuncture shows promise in breast cancer survivors, UC Irvine-led study finds
Nondrug approach may help improve cognitive function, reduce psychological distress
* Targeted electroacupuncture improved attention and reduced psychological distress in breast cancer survivors in a UC Irvine-led pilot clinical trial.
* Researchers observed associated brain changes and say larger studies are needed to confirm electroacupuncture as a safe and effective integrative treatment
... Show Full Article
IRVINE, California, April 4 (TNSjou) -- The University of California Irvine campus issued the following news release:
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Electroacupuncture shows promise in breast cancer survivors, UC Irvine-led study finds
Nondrug approach may help improve cognitive function, reduce psychological distress
* Targeted electroacupuncture improved attention and reduced psychological distress in breast cancer survivors in a UC Irvine-led pilot clinical trial.
* Researchers observed associated brain changes and say larger studies are needed to confirm electroacupuncture as a safe and effective integrative treatmentoption.
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Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have found that electroacupuncture may help improve cognitive function and reduce psychological distress among breast cancer survivors experiencing persistent neuropsychiatric symptoms.
The study, published recently in Journal of the National Cancer Institute, highlights a potential nondrug approach to addressing issues such as "brain fog," fatigue, insomnia and emotional distress that often linger after cancer treatment.
Led by corresponding author Alexandre Chan, professor and founding chair of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice at UC Irvine's School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, the randomized, double-blind pilot clinical trial evaluated whether targeting specific acupuncture points associated with neurological and psychological function could improve patient outcomes. Lead author Quinton Ng, now at Yale University, conducted the research as part of his doctoral training at UC Irvine.
"This study provides evidence that a targeted electroacupuncture approach may help address the cluster of cognitive and related symptoms - such as insomnia, fatigue and psychological distress - that many breast cancer survivors experience," Chan said. "Current guidelines support the use of acupuncture to manage distress in people with cancer. However, these recommendations often lack precision. It's time to step up and further optimize how integrative therapies are delivered to patients."
Advances in detection and treatment have pushed breast cancer survival rates above 90 percent, leaving more than 4 million survivors in the United States. However, many continue to face long-term neuropsychiatric symptoms that can significantly impact quality of life.
"Patients often report feeling unprepared for the cognitive and emotional challenges that persist after treatment," Chan said. "We need robust scientific evidence to show how effective interventions can be integrated into their treatment in order to reduce survivors' symptoms and improve their healing journeys. Our randomized, controlled trial incorporated multiple aspects, including cognitive testing, brain imaging and blood-based biomarkers, to understand the mechanisms underlying our intervention."
The UC Irvine-led team conducted a 10-week trial involving 35 breast cancer survivors, the majority of whom reported multiple co-occurring symptoms. They were randomly assigned to get weekly electroacupuncture treatments targeting either neuropsychiatric-specific acupoints or nonspecific control acupoints.
Participants receiving targeted electroacupuncture showed significant improvements in attention and psychological distress. Nearly 43 percent of those in the targeted group experienced measurable cognitive enhancement, compared to 12.5 percent in the control group.
Brain imaging revealed increased gray matter volume in patients getting targeted treatment, and improvements in cognition were associated with favorable changes in brain network connectivity. Numerous biomarkers related to neuroinflammation were also reduced after electroacupuncture. The treatment was well tolerated, with only mild side effects reported.
"These results suggest that where acupuncture is applied matters," Chan said. "Targeting acupoints linked to specific brain and neurological functions appears to produce measurable changes not only in symptoms but also in their biomarkers and in the brain."
Electroacupuncture builds on traditional acupuncture by applying a mild electrical current to needles, potentially enhancing its therapeutic effects. Researchers said the practice could provide a treatment option to medications, which can carry risks of side effects, dependency and interactions with ongoing cancer therapies.
The study was conducted in collaboration with UC Irvine's School of Medicine, the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, UCI Health and the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Derived from a pilot study, the findings are preliminary but promising, and the research team is calling for larger, multicenter trials to confirm the results and better understand the biological mechanisms behind electroacupuncture's effects. If validated, the approach could help establish standardized, evidence-based acupuncture protocols for cancer survivorship care.
The study was supported by the California Breast Cancer Research Program and the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center's Anti-Cancer Challenge.
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About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation's top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.
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Original text here: https://news.uci.edu/2026/04/03/electroacupuncture-shows-promise-in-breast-cancer-survivors-uc-irvine-led-study-finds/
