Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · 10d

Glioblastoma is a lethal #brain #cancer.

Patients survive ~15 months on average.

Here at @virginiatech.bsky.social's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Jenny Munson's team has built a tool to spot hidden cancer cells & predict where tumors will grow next.

📰 ⤵️ news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Reposted by Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

Chris Smith @drchristsmith.bsky.social · 12d

Two-year #postdoc opening in the Poelzing Lab @fralinbiomed.bsky.social focused on cardiac arrhythmia mechanisms in mouse models. Salary at NIH NRSA rate plus excellent benefits (matched retirement, sub health ins) & training environment.
Apply by 10/10!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...

Details | Postdoctoral Associate | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech

careers.pageuppeople.com

1 1

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Sep 11

The entorhinal cortex—key for memory, navigation, and the brain’s mapping system—is one of the first regions hit by Alzheimer’s.

With new support from the Commonwealth, @virginiatech.bsky.social scientists Sharon Swanger and @shannonfarris.bsky.social are studying why.

news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Researchers investigate why memory circuits break down in Alzheimer’s disease

With support from the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases Research Award Fund, scientists Sharon Swanger and Shannon Farris will investigate the chemical culprits that contribu...

news.vt.edu

1 2

Reposted by Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

Thelma Escobar @escobarthelma.bsky.social · Sep 10

Thank you @fralinbiomed.bsky.social for the seminar invitation!

1 3

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Sep 9

How do people learn to prefer certain flavors? 🍩

Researchers at @virginiatech.bsky.social's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute recently studied something called flavor-nutrient learning.

Our very own @difeliceantonio.bsky.social led the research.

Full story ⤵️
news.vt.edu/articles/202...

1 1

Reposted by Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · Sep 8

One of the first brain regions affected by Alzheimer’s is the entorhinal cortex, which is critical for memory and navigation. 🧠

With new state support, @fralinbiomed.bsky.social researchers are investigating why it’s especially vulnerable.

Researchers investigate why memory circuits break down in Alzheimer’s disease

With support from the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases Research Award Fund, scientists Sharon Swanger and Shannon Farris will investigate the chemical culprits that contribu...

news.vt.edu

3 6

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Sep 3

What happens when you apply behavioral game theory, machine learning, and electrochemical sensing to the human brain during surgery? 🧠

@virginiatech.bsky.social scientists reveal new insights in a recent study published in Nature Communications (@nature.com) ⤵️

news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Scientists reveal brain signaling that sets Parkinson’s disease apart from essential tremor

For the first time, scientists measured dopamine and serotonin in real time in people with Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor. The signals showed a fundamental difference — a key step forward f...

news.vt.edu

4

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Aug 26

From catching bugs in Tokyo to decoding the brain’s dopamine system, @virginiatech.bsky.social neuroscientist Ryunosuke Amo is uncovering how motivation, movement, and even addiction take shape in the mind. 🧠

Learn more ⤵️
news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Neuroscientist aims to decipher mechanisms that mediate dopamine’s role in brain and behavior

Ryunosuke Amo will study dopamine system dysfunction and how opioids and other substances contribute to it.

news.vt.edu

1

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Aug 21

“Serving as associate editor of this @natureportfolio.nature.com journal allows me to amplify the mission we’ve embraced — advancing research that places #exercise at the forefront of disease prevention and treatment.” - Zhen Yan | @virginiatech.bsky.social

Learn more ⤵️
news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Zhen Yan named associate editor of new Nature Portfolio journal focused on exercise medicine

The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute professor hopes to advance research into exercise as a tool to prevent and treat chronic conditions related to lifestyle and behavior.

news.vt.edu

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Aug 18

Arden Grim was told she’d never walk or talk.

15 years later, she’s dancing, playing piano & studying to be a neurologist.

This summer she returned to @virginiatech.bsky.social's Neuromotor Research Clinic to research alongside her childhood therapists.

news.vt.edu/articles/202...

1

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Aug 15

news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Immunotherapy for leukemia may change the bone marrow environment, cancer researchers find

Scientists studying a hard-to-treat form of blood cancer called acute myeloid leukemia have found that a type of treatment — immunotherapy — may help change the environment where cancer cells live, po...

news.vt.edu

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Aug 15

In a new study published in Science Advances (@aaas.org), @virginiatech.bsky.social scientists at our Cancer Research Center in Washington, D.C. found that immunotherapy may help the immune system better target acute myeloid leukemia, a hard-to-treat blood cancer.

📰 ⤵️

1

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Aug 12

news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Hard-to-treat cancers respond to combination therapy using a new class of drugs

In a powerful new approach, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute scientists use advanced gene editing to study potential dual therapy for lung, brain, and pancreatic cancers.

news.vt.edu

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Aug 12

In a powerful new approach, @virginiatech.bsky.social scientist Kathleen Mulvaney and her lab use advanced gene editing to study potential dual therapy for lung, brain, and pancreatic cancers.

Learn more in the comments👇

1

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Aug 5

🫀 How can low sodium levels disrupt your heartbeat?

New research from Steve Poelzing's lab reveals the hidden risks of low blood sodium in patients taking sodium channel blockers for arrhythmias.

news.vt.edu/articles/202...

@virginiatech.bsky.social

Researchers identify why some heart rhythm drugs heighten risks when sodium levels drop

New research explains how low levels of the electrolyte sodium in the blood can disrupt the timing of the heartbeat in patients taking widely used rhythm-control medications such as flecainide.

news.vt.edu

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Jul 29

Creatine as a neurotransmitter?! 🧠

Fred Wu is working on a technique that uses focused ultrasound to deliver creatine directly to the brain by temporarily opening the blood-brain barrier.

🤝 @virginiatech.bsky.social | @childrensnational.bsky.social | @fusfoundation.bsky.social

Could a creatine boost help the brain? Virginia Tech scientists test new ultrasound therapy

Researchers at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute are exploring whether focused ultrasound can help children with creatine deficiency overcome learning and speech delays.

fralinbiomed.info

1 2

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Jul 29

Proud moment for our CardioSURF fellows! 💫

Caroline, Renée, Syed, Christopher & Azhaan presented their research at the @americanheart.bsky.social's BCVS conference in Baltimore alongside undergrads from across the U.S. 👏

They’ll also present this Friday at our Summer Undergrad Research Symposium!

Reposted by Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

Meike van der Heijden @meikeesther.bsky.social · Jul 10

A podcast about my work, my life, and balance… the things I think about a lot:

@fralinbiomed.bsky.social

news.vt.edu/articles/202...

'Big Science, Small Pod' podcast: How does a brain even happen?

Neuroscientist Meike van der Heijden of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC explains how understanding childhood brain development could guide treatments for movement disorders.

news.vt.edu

1 9

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Jul 10

This brain region could hold the secrets to movement disorders! 🧠

Discover why @virginiatech.bsky.social neurobiologist @meikeesther.bsky.social is fascinated by the cerebellum — and why child development might be the missing link.

Listen to Big Science Small Pod now 🎧

news.vt.edu/articles/202...

'Big Science, Small Pod' podcast: How does a brain even happen?

Neuroscientist Meike van der Heijden of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC explains how understanding childhood brain development could guide treatments for movement disorders.

news.vt.edu

2 3

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Jul 3

What if scientists could lower the cost of biomedical experiments and make them more translatable to human health?

@virginiatech.bsky.social and University of Virginia researchers are teaming up to bioengineer models that could make it possible.

Learn more 📰 ⤵️
news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Jun 30

Every step forward in cancer research means hope for a waiting family.

That urgency drove our Cancer Research Symposium in Roanoke — uniting researchers, Carilion Clinic clinicians, and students to push cancer science further.

📰 news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Jun 26

With a grant from #precisionmedicine company Actio Biosciences, the Weston lab is researching whether an Actio KCNT1 inhibitor can reduce seizures caused by a rare genetic mutation.

Read more:
news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Neuroscientist explores ways to reduce seizures in children

Matthew Weston, associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, has received support from Actio Biosciences to study an experimental treatment that could reduce seizures caused...

news.vt.edu

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Jun 20

With support from the Children's Cancer Foundation, our scientists are focusing on more precise drug delivery for cancer therapeutics.

Read more about the aims of the new study: news.vt.edu/articles/202...

New study aims to improve treatment for pediatric brain cancer

With grant support from The Children’s Cancer Foundation Inc., a nonprofit that serves the Baltimore-Washington region, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute scientists are focused on ending an gliobla...

news.vt.edu

Reposted by Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

Chris Smith @drchristsmith.bsky.social · Jun 17

The Ye Lab @fralinbiomed.bsky.social in DC seeks a #postdoc to conduct work focused on understanding how glioma hijacks the tumor microenvironment to drive malignant progression. Virginia Tech provides excellent employment benefits. Apply by 7/21! careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...

Details | Postdoctoral Associate | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech

careers.pageuppeople.com

2 3

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute @fralinbiomed.bsky.social · Jun 16

📈 New research from the Poelzing lab suggests structural changes in the aging heart may reduce the risk of arrhythmias, challenging the idea that all age-related changes in the heart are harmful.

Full story here:
news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Changes in the aging heart may lessen the risk of irregular heartbeats

Researchers have discovered that microscopic structural changes in the aging heart may reduce the risk of irregular heartbeats.

news.vt.edu