Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

UMass Chan Medical School

@umasschan.bsky.social

540 followers 270 following 210 posts

UMass Chan Medical School: pioneering education, research and health care delivery in Worcester, Mass. See how we are advancing medicine together. https://direc.to/mZJw #AdvancingTogether

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 19h

Chancellor Michael F. Collins told Bloomberg News if the DRIVE proposal doesn’t get off the ground soon, UMass Chan will have to do another round of cuts.

“If we don’t have a sense there’s more money coming in, we’re not going to have a choice,” he said.

#ResearchFunding @massgovernor.bsky.social

Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 22h

Business leaders, investors and academics have cheered Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey’s efforts to counter the Trump administration’s research funding cuts with state money — so much so that a recent meeting on the initiative required overflow seating.

Massachusetts Counter to Trump Science Cuts Stalls in Statehouse

Business leaders, investors and academics have cheered Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey’s efforts to counter the Trump administration’s research funding cuts with state money — so much so that a recent meeting on the initiative required overflow seating.

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 22h

A study by Dorothy P. Schafer, PhD, and Travis E. Faust, PhD, in Cell explains how cell types in the brain communicate in response to changes in sensory input to remodel synapses: direc.to/nJHH

Alzheimer’s and ALS patients have synaptic damage.

@travisfaust.bsky.social @cp-cell.bsky.social

UMass Chan scientists show how the non-neuronal brain cells communicate to coordinate rewiring of brain

A study by Dorothy P. Schafer, PhD, and Travis E. Faust, PhD, explains how two different cell types in the brain communicate in response to changes in sensory input.

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 1d

His first week as a UMass Chan Medical School student, Mukund Desibhatla, MPH, drove from orientation in Worcester to Boston to donate blood stem cells through @nmdp-org.bsky.social: direc.to/nJT1

#StudentSpotlight #WhyUMassChan #BloodStemCells #BloodStemCellDonation @uofmass.bsky.social

Gift of life: First-year medical student donates stem cells during first week of school

In his first week of medical school at UMass Chan, Mukund Desibhatla, MPH, attended orientation in Worcester and donated blood stem cells in Boston.

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 1d

“Research is the foundation of the economy. When those moneys become at risk, and when the folks who have committed their career to do research wonder whether their grants are going to be funded ... that all becomes at risk.” - Chancellor Michael F. Collins on WCVB: direc.to/nJoX @wcvb5.bsky.social

‘On the Record’ about impact of federal shutdown, research cuts

UMass Chan Medical School Chancellor Dr. Michael Collins answers questions about the impact of recent federal decisions.

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 1d

Two UMass Chan employees are on the Worcester Business Journal’s list of Outstanding Women in Business: Kavita Babu, MD, and Carla Delacruz Davila, MSW: direc.to/nJ2o

Delacruz Davila co-founded a nonprofit combatting food insecurity and homelessness. @wbjournal.bsky.social @kavita-babu.bsky.social

WBJ names the 2025 Outstanding Women in Business

What sets the 2025 Outstanding Women in Business apart is how vital they are to their communities.

Reposted by UMass Chan Medical School

WCVB NewsCenter 5, Boston @wcvb5.bsky.social · 2d

‘On the Record’ about impact of federal shutdown, research cuts | Click on the image to read the full story

‘On the Record’ about impact of federal shutdown, research cuts

UMass Chan Medical School Chancellor Dr. Michael Collins answers questions about the impact of recent federal decisions.

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 4d

Tune in to WCVB-TV’s “On the Record,” Sunday, Oct. 5, at 11 a.m. to hear Chancellor Michael F. Collins explain how cuts to federal funding are impacting scientists and their work at UMass Chan Medical School: direc.to/nJgK

#ResearchFunding #NIHfunding #UMass @uofmass.bsky.social @wcvb5.bsky.social

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 4d

UMass Chan Medical School has received a five-year, $4.4M grant to study how transfer RNAs may drive the spread of melanoma: direc.to/nJeJ

Richard I. Gregory, PhD, is collaborating with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Brown University.

#CancerResearch #melanoma @bidmcreseach.bsky.social

UMass Chan leads new $4.4 million study to study melanoma

UMass Chan Medical School received a five-year, $4.4 million National Cancer Institute grant to study how transfer RNAs may fuel the spread of melanoma.

Reposted by UMass Chan Medical School

Ryan Logan @wickedneuro.bsky.social · 5d

New publication! @taracdelorme.bsky.social

taracdelorme.bsky.social @taracdelorme.bsky.social · 5d

How do opioids disrupt the brain’s internal clock, and how does this differ between sexes? Our new study uses RNAseq to examine the suprachiasmatic nucleus across different opioid exposure states in genetically diverse rats. ✨https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772392525000458

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 5d

UMass Chan Medical School is the central hub for Imaging-PHD, a program aimed at providing more transparent and reusable science by creating standardized records of research equipment: direc.to/nKvu

@rti-umasschan.bsky.social @umassamherst.bsky.social @uvmvermont.bsky.social @ucsandiego.bsky.social

UMass Chan to lead $4M national scientific instrument cyberinfrastructure project

Caterina Strambio De Castillia, PhD, received a four-year, $4 million National Science Foundation grant to support her project, Imaging-PHD.

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 6d

Chancellor Michael F. Collins spoke to @wbur.org about how research is impacted by the #GovernmentShutdown: direc.to/nKn2

“It’s just about every kind of research you can imagine, from research at a very molecular level all the way to pediatric brain cancer or ALS.”

@tizianadearing.bsky.social

How the government shutdown impacts research in Massachusetts

UMass Chan Medical School Chancellor Dr. Michael Collins joins WBUR's Morning Edition to talk about how the expected government shutdown will impact research and healthcare.

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 6d

A UMass Chan faculty member is recognized for contributions to medical student education. Melissa Fischer, MD, MEd, has received the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teacher Award, presented by AAMC: direc.to/nKkH @umassmedicine.bsky.social @uofmass.bsky.social @aamc.org

Melissa Fischer receives prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha teaching award

Melissa Fischer, MD, MEd, is one of just three UMass Chan recipients of the Glaser Award and the first in more than 25 years.

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 7d

Ryan W. Logan, PhD, is a principal investigator on three recently funded NIH grants that examine the underlying biology of opioid use disorder and the role of sleep and circadian rhythms in relapse vulnerability: direc.to/nKbm

#opioid #sleep #circadian @wickedneuro.bsky.social @cmu.edu

Logan lab receives three R01 grants for studies targeting opioid use disorder, relapse vulnerability

Multiple projects examining the biology of opioid use disorder and the role of sleep/circadian rhythms in relapse are underway in the lab of Ryan W. Logan, PhD.

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 8d

Chancellor Michael F. Collins joined Keller at Large to talk about NIH funding cuts: direc.to/nLPt

“Just about every medicine that a patient can buy started with research that was funded by the NIH,” said Collins, who also spoke about @massgovernor.bsky.social’s DRIVE initiative. @wbztv.bsky.social

UMass Chan Medical School Chancellor Dr. Michael F. Collins talks federal funding challenges

WBZ-TV political analyst sat down with UMass Chan Medical School Chancellor Dr. Michael F. Collins to talk about facing federal cutbacks.

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 8d

The Master of Science in Nursing and Interprofessional Leadership program is for practicing nurses who want to drive innovation, expand access and shape the future of health care. Be the difference. Shape the future. Applications are open for fall 2026: direc.to/nLZs

#nurses #nursing #leadership

Graphic says All nurses are leaders. Master of Science: Nursing & Interprofessional Leadership
Now accepting applications for fall 2026

Apply now
UMass Chan Medical School Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 11d

New study in The Lancet confirms Rabishield, developed by UMass Chan in partnership with the Serum Institute of India, is a safe, effective alternative to older rabies treatments: direc.to/nLSh

In India, two people die of rabies every hour.

#rabies @thelancet.com @umassmedicine.bsky.social

New Lancet study highlights UMass Chan’s Rabishield as safe and effective in preventing rabies

A new study in The Lancet confirms a rabies monoclonal antibody therapy, co-developed by UMass Chan, is a safe alternative to existing rabies immune globulins.

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 12d

Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and members of the Massachusetts STEM Council Advisory Committee toured the interprofessional Center for Experiential Learning (iCELS) and learned about the Health AI Assurance Lab during a quarterly meeting at UMass Chan today. @kimdriscollma.bsky.social

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll on a tour of iCELS

Lt. Gob. Kim Driscoll on a virtual headset

Chancellor Michael F. Collins speaking at the STEM Council meeting

David McManus, MD, speaking to the STEM Council

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 12d

Men die by suicide at significantly higher rates than women—especially those 55 and older. Edwin Boudreaux, PhD, shares why that is and how to help loved ones: direc.to/nLgV

#SuicidePreventionMonth #NationalSuicidePreventionMonth #MensMentalHealth #ScienceForLiving @capessuicideprev.bsky.social

Science for Living: Understanding suicide risk among older men

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Edwin Boudreaux, PhD, discusses rising suicide rates in older men and shares prevention resources.

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 13d

Roger Davis, PhD, FRS, chair and professor of molecular medicine at UMass Chan Medical School, has received the 2026 Bert & Natalie Vallee Award in Biomedical Science from ASBMB for his outstanding accomplishments in basic biomedical research: direc.to/nMLY

#ASBMB26 @asbmb.bsky.social

Roger Davis awarded Bert and Natalie Vallee Award from American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Roger J. Davis, PhD, FRS, has been awarded the 2026 Bert and Natalie Vallee Award in Biomedical Science from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 15d

PhD candidate Jessica Peura is studying pancreatic cancer in the lab of Jason Pitarresi, PhD, to prevent families like her own from experiencing cancer-related loss. Discover how her research aims to stop cancer from spreading: direc.to/nqgr

@jessicapeura.bsky.social @pitarresilab.bsky.social

PhD candidate Jessica Peura studies pancreatic cancer; honors mother through grant-funded research

PhD candidate Jessica Peura has earned a prestigious NIH grant to advance her research on pancreatic cancer. After the death of her mother, she’s determined to help prevent families from experiencing ...

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 19d

Jonathan Mahler, who wrote an article for The New York Times Magazine on the impact of delays and cuts to cancer research funding, explained why he focused on UMass Chan researcher Rachael Sirianni, PhD, on the Cancer Letter Podcast: direc.to/nr1R #podcast @cancerletter.com @docsirianni.bsky.social

Jonathan Mahler on his front-page story in the NYT Magazine on Trump’s deliberate dismantling of America’s War on Cancer - The Cancer Letter

Readers of The Cancer Letter and listeners of The Cancer Letter Podcast are familiar with the impact of President Donald Trump’s first nine months in office on the field of oncology. Now, the threats ...

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 20d

UMass Chan Medical School licenses Lyme prevention shot to Tonix Pharmaceuticals for clinical trial: direc.to/nrmN

Currently, the only way to prevent Lyme disease is to use insect repellent and remove ticks promptly. Administered once, TNX-4800 provides immediate protection.

#lyme #LymeDisease

UMass Chan licenses monoclonal antibody for seasonal prevention of Lyme disease to Tonix Pharmaceuticals

UMass Chan Medical School has licensed worldwide rights to a long-lasting human monoclonal antibody that prevents Lyme disease to New Jersey-based Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp.

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 22d

UMass Chan Medical School held a ribbon cutting on Friday to celebrate the opening of its Wellness Farm, a 40-foot hydroponic farm that can produce up to three tons of produce each year: direc.to/ns3_

@masseea.bsky.social @senrobynkennedy.bsky.social @repmcgovern.bsky.social @uofmass.bsky.social

UMass Chan celebrates opening of campus Wellness Farm

The 40-foot hydroponic farm can produce up to three tons of produce each year.

Reposted by UMass Chan Medical School

MedPage Today @medpagetoday.com · 22d

"Establishing these types of programs in local jails is a powerful and effective strategy." -- Peter Friedmann, MD, MPH, of @umasschan.bsky.social, on evidence for the benefits of medication for opioid use disorder in county jails.
www.medpagetoday.com/psychiatry/a...

Treating Opioid Addiction in Jails May Cut Overdose Deaths Later On

People who opted to take medication were more likely to stay on treatment post-release

www.medpagetoday.com

UMass Chan Medical School @umasschan.bsky.social · 23d

“This was unlike anything we’d ever felt before.”

Pediatric cancer researcher Rachael Sirianni, PhD, whose research has stalled due to the slowdown in NIH funding, spoke to The New York Times Magazine: direc.to/nsXD

Chancellor Michael F. Collins is also quoted. @docsirianni.bsky.social

Trump Is Shutting Down the War On Cancer

www.nytimes.com