Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Metabolism as the next biomedical frontier

University of Utah Health Research @uuhsresearch.bsky.social · 7d

The Center for Metabolic Health brings together researchers to tackle major diseases like diabetes and heart failure by focusing on a central factor: metabolism.

Discover more about this interdisciplinary hub at University of Utah Health: https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-025-00227-2

From harnessing early-life microbes to protect against diabetes, to targeting cardiac metabolism in heart failure, a new hub is proving that metabolism is a common thread across diseases, and the next frontier in biomedical discovery.

www.nature.com

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University of Utah Health Research @uuhsresearch.bsky.social · 8d

University of Utah Health researcher Adam Bress, PharmD, will lead a study analyzing nearly 40,000 blood samples from the SPRINT trial to investigate how hypertension treatment may influence Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
healthcare.utah.edu/newsroom/new...

$21.6M Grant Powers Research to Understand Link Between High Blood Pressure, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Dementia

The new research will leverage nearly 40,000 blood samples to learn how blood pressure control could change the course of aging.

Visionary: U ophthalmologist dares to stop leading cause of blindness - @theU

Reposted by University of Utah Health Research

Julie Kiefer @julieckiefer.bsky.social · 14d

How to Communicate Medical Numbers-a @jama.com Insight from @angiefagerlin.bsky.social @athorpe8.bsky.social @uuhsresearch.bsky.social, @bzikmund.bsky.social @umich.edu

Read and listen to the podcast for useful tips and tools that could improve patient health+lives. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

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University of Utah Health Research @uuhsresearch.bsky.social · 21d

Research at the University of Utah has resulted in a promising gene therapy targeting one of the prevalent causes of blindness.
Learn more: https://attheu.utah.edu/health-medicine/visionary-u-ophthalmologist-dares-to-stop-leading-cause-of-blindness/

Vision research at the University of Utah has led to a promising gene therapy for one of the most common causes of blindness.

attheu.utah.edu

University of Utah Health Research @uuhsresearch.bsky.social · 23d

Jamie Dwyer, MD, led one of two large clinical trials for baxdrostat, which have been widely recognized as a breakthrough in hypertension care. Nearly half of U.S. adults are affected.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2507109

When Getting a Job Makes You Go Hungry

University of Utah Health Research @uuhsresearch.bsky.social · Sep 8

A new study published in PLOS One identifies unexpected “danger zones” when the risk of going hungry is highest and proposes solutions to help new residents thrive.
healthcare.utah.edu/newsroom/new...

A new research study reveals when food insecurity spikes for new Utah residents.

Research Uncovers Why IBD Causes Blood Clots—and How to Prevent Them

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University of Utah Health Research @uuhsresearch.bsky.social · Aug 28

New research has uncovered why blood clotting malfunctions in IBD—and identified drugs that normalize blood clotting in human cells and animal models of IBD. #research @uofuhealth.bsky.social healthcare.utah.edu/newsroom/new...

Drugs currently in clinical trials for other conditions could help reduce risk of heart attack and stroke for IBD patients. "This could be lifesaving," senior author says.

Mary Jo Pugh Earns National Outstanding Research Accomplishment Award for Uncovering Long-Term Consequences of TBI

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University of Utah Health Research @uuhsresearch.bsky.social · Aug 20

Congratulations to Mary Jo Pugh, PhD, RN, recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Research Accomplishment Award for revealing long-term health risks of traumatic brain injury, including dementia, substance use disorder, and cardiovascular disease. uofuhealth.utah.edu/newsroom/new...

Pugh is one of only two investigators nationwide to receive this honor, presented at the 2025 Military Health System Research Symposium.

Industrial pollution's imprint lasts generations - @theU

University of Utah Health Research @uuhsresearch.bsky.social · Aug 19

University of Utah researchers find strong evidence that industrial pollution exposure during pregnancy can shape a grandchild’s neurodevelopment.
Learn more: https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/industrial-pollutions-imprint-lasts-generations/

According to new analysis using Utah Population Database, a woman's prenatal exposures can increase risk of intellectual disabilities in daughter's children.

attheu.utah.edu

University of Utah Health Research @uuhsresearch.bsky.social · Aug 13

Congratulations to Jessica Osterhout, PhD, assistant professor of neurobiology at @utah.edu, on joining the 2025 class of Pew Scholars and Fellows. She’ll investigate how the immune system communicates with the brain during sickness.
healthcare.utah.edu/publicaffair...

Neurobiologist Jessica Osterhout Selected as Pew Scholar

Jessica Osterhout, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurobiology at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah, has been selected as a 2025 Pew Scholar by the Pew Charitable Trus...

New Study Raises Questions About How Ozempic Affects Muscle Size and Strength

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Reposted by University of Utah Health Research

American Association for the Advancement of Science @aaas.org · Aug 13

“At a very fundamental level, we don’t know what we don’t know.”

For his role in ensuring that lenacapavir, first HIV drug to offer long-lasting protection, came to life, Wes Sundquist is one of this year’s recipients of the AAAS Mani L. Bhaumik Breakthrough of the Year Award.

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University of Utah Health Research @uuhsresearch.bsky.social · Aug 11

A recent study from @utah.edu raises critical questions about how Ozempic may impact muscle size and strength.

Learn more: healthcare.utah.edu/newsroom/new...

Ozempic can cause loss of body weight that isn’t fat, raising concerns that the drug lowers muscle mass and strength. New research in mice suggests that muscle mass changes less than expected, but mus...

Hibernator “Superpowers” May Lie Hidden in Human DNA

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University of Utah Health Research @uuhsresearch.bsky.social · Aug 4

Hibernating animals recover from conditions that mimic diabetes and Alzheimer’s without lasting damage. New research from University of Utah Health suggests similar protective genes may exist in humans, offering hope for future therapies.
healthcare.utah.edu/newsroom/new...

Animals that hibernate are incredibly resilient. Now, new genetic research suggests that hibernators' metabolic flexibility could lie hidden in our own DNA—and provides clues on how to unlock it, open...

Community Shows Their Love for Science at Summer Science Day

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University of Utah Health Research @uuhsresearch.bsky.social · Jul 31

Summer Science Day was a hit! More than 1,000 people came together to explore health sciences through hands-on demos, workshops, lab tours, and classes. A great example of how much our community values science.

@learngenetics.bsky.social @utah.edu

uofuhealth.utah.edu/newsroom/new...

1,000 people attended the day of science demos, workshops and classes, and tours of working labs.

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University of Utah Health Research @uuhsresearch.bsky.social · Jul 30

Meet Dr. Thomas Zangle, a University of Utah researcher. He and his team are developing new tools that could help doctors better predict how cancer will react to certain treatments, specifically in cases of melanoma.
www.research.utah.edu/people-recog...

University of Utah Health Research @uuhsresearch.bsky.social · Jul 16

Utah's first FreeMax MRI Increases Research and Clinical Imaging Capabilities

Discover how the Utah MRI Research Center’s new Siemens Free.Max expands patient access and comfort while delivering high-quality images with advanced artificial intelligence.
uofuhealth.utah.edu/research/new...

University of Utah Health Research @uuhsresearch.bsky.social · Jul 15

Congratulations Dr. Srinivasan Beddhu!

UofUNephrology @uofunephrology.bsky.social · Jul 14

Our first post on this new platform
Congratulations to Dr. Srinivasan Beddhu on receiving the 2025 DOIM John R. Hoidal Senior Investigator Award 👏 @uuhsresearch.bsky.social

Terminated NIH grants are being reinstated almost entirely in blue states

University of Utah Health Research @uuhsresearch.bsky.social · Jul 14

Researchers have linked particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Although rare, when severe, these hemorrhagic strokes can damage brain tissue enough to leave patients paralyzed or in a coma, or cause death.
Learn more: healthcare.utah.edu/newsroom/new...

Research led by neurosurgeon Robert Rennert, MD, links high levels of air pollution to an increased risk for bleeding in the brain, a serious but rare complication.

Reposted by University of Utah Health Research

Julie Kiefer @julieckiefer.bsky.social · Jul 3

Yes! #scicomm

“We need to do a better job of not just thinking that if we publish in a journal, that people are going to realize how great it was, but we need to speak to Utah taxpayers, who are ultimately funders of NIH" said Rachel Hess @uuhsresearch.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/07/03/n...

Researchers in Democratic congressional districts stand to have $2.1 billion in NIH grants reinstated, compared to $62 million in Republican districts.

www.statnews.com

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Reposted by University of Utah Health Research

GSLC Learn.Genetics @learngenetics.bsky.social · Jul 8

Zoom In. Geek Out. Take a Backstage Pass to the Secret Life of Cells! Take a tour of the HSC Cell Imaging Core at 12, 1 or 2pm during Summer Science Day this Sat July 12th!
Find the full Summer Science Day schedule here: gslc.utah.edu/summer-scien...

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University of Utah Health Research @uuhsresearch.bsky.social · Jun 30

Read "Research Reflections: Transforming Lives Through Pioneering Research" to see how U of U Health is shaping the future of care and improving lives through innovation. uofuhealth.utah.edu/research/new...

Research Reflections: Transforming Lives Through Pioneering Research

Since its beginnings, University of Utah Health has fostered some of the best minds in research. We created genome analysis technologies and now apply them to rapidly diagnose disease in critically il...