Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · 16h

The body’s “garbagemen” may also be guardians. Research led by Kodi Ravichandran, PhD, finds the body’s cellular custodians not only sweep away waste but also defend the pancreas, revealing a possible new path to prevent Type 1 diabetes for millions. medicine.washu.edu/news/bodys-g...

Garbage-collecting cells protect insulin production in pancreas | WashU Medicine

A mouse study by researchers at WashU Medicine, published in Nature, could pave the way for new therapies for Type 1 diabetes.

medicine.washu.edu

WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · 1d

At 76, Doug Whitney has defied his genetic fate to avoid Alzheimer's. His exceptional case is the focus of a study led by Randall Bateman, MD, aiming to identify new ways to prevent or delay the disease, bringing hope to millions. Read more in @nytimes.com . www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/h...

www.nytimes.com

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WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · 1d

The white coat is a symbol of integrity, professionalism, trust and hope for the future. Congratulations to our first-year WashU Medicine students for receiving their white coats and taking that symbolic first step toward officially becoming physicians.

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WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · 5d

Welcome to WashU Medicine and to the medical profession, Entering Class of 2025. We can’t wait to see how you transform the future of medicine.

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WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · 8d

Food alone isn’t enough for children facing malnutrition. See how Dr. Mark Manary and Dr. Kevin Stephenson, working with the Salk Institute, found unstable gut microbes as a cause of stunted growth and opened doors to improved treatment for millions. medicine.washu.edu/news/microbi...

Microbiome instability linked to poor growth in kids | WashU Medicine

A new study by researchers at WashU Medicine found a link between an unstable gut microbiome and poor growth in children. The study sequenced the genomic material from fecal samples collected from tod...

medicine.washu.edu

WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · 9d

The rare "kissing bug disease" has arrived in Missouri and is considered endemic by scientists. Infectious disease expert Dr. Philip Budge tells @STLpublicradio there's no reason for alarm — but that better testing, treatment and awareness are needed.

St. Louis Public Radio @stlpublicradio.bsky.social · 26d

Missouri is one of eight states in the country where a human has been diagnosed with Chagas disease.

Scientists want health authorities to declare the disease as endemic to the United States.

‘Kissing bug’ disease has been found in Missouri. Scientists want the U.S. to take it seriously

Missouri is one of eight states in the country where a human has been diagnosed with Chagas disease. Scientists are now calling on health authorities to declare the disease endemic in the United…

www.stlpr.org

WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · 9d

How can we harness AI for scientific discovery without putting patients at risk? That question drives the work of @prpayne5.bsky.social, a pioneering mind behind a synthetic clinical data approach that allows for faster insights without any risk to patient privacy. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Synthetic data can benefit medical research — but risks must be recognized

Artificially generated data can help to train AI models when real data are scant, but more focus is needed on validating the results.

www.nature.com

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WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · 12d

WashU Medicine’s Richard Stanton, Vice Chancellor for Medical Finance and Administration, urges scientists to craft alternatives to proposed NIH caps on indirect costs in their federally funded research — through accountability and engaging policymakers. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Improve the stewardship of federal research funds

Federal spending for scientific research in the United States is at a pivotal point of change. The funding system is now under close scrutiny by the Trump administration and Congress for the return it...

www.science.org

WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · 13d

🔗: medicine.washu.edu/news/novel-w... Thank your brown fat. Scientists uncovered a new way it burns calories — helping our bodies produce heat, regulate weight and support metabolic health. See how this research, published in @nature.com, may lead to new therapies for obesity and metabolic disease.

WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · 13d

Too often, new moms with hepatitis C miss crucial follow-up care. Now, an innovative study led by Dr. Laura Marks and Dr. Jeannie Kelly is changing that — increasing cure rates by ensuring antiviral treatment begins the moment their child is born. medicine.washu.edu/news/innovat...

Innovative approach helps new mothers get hepatitis C treatment | WashU Medicine

Delivering medications to women while they are still in the hospital after giving birth dramatically improves cure rates, a new study finds.

medicine.washu.edu

WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · 14d

Colon cancer is rising in adults under 50. And while reasons are still unclear, Dr. Will Chapman — a top colorectal surgeon — tells @USAToday.com that early screening still saves lives. His message: don’t wait. Know the risks. Get screened early. www.usatoday.com/story/life/h...

Colon cancer is rising in people under 50. Does lifestyle have anything to do with it?

You can't change your family history of colon cancer, but could these lifestyle shifts lower your risk?

www.usatoday.com

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WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · 16d

The new Barnes-Jewish Hospital Plaza West Tower isn’t only a state-of-the-art facility. It’s where WashU Medicine physicians will deliver the most advanced, research-driven heart and vascular care — making world-class expertise accessible in St. Louis and beyond. medicine.washu.edu/news/barnes-...

Barnes-Jewish Hospital unveils state-of-the-art patient care tower | WashU Medicine

The new 16-story BJC facility reflects the latest major investment by BJC and WashU Medicine to increase access to highly specialized clinical care and improve patient experience

medicine.washu.edu

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WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · 26d

When symptoms don’t add up, our experts unite to uncover the answers. Thanks to pioneering research by Fumihiko Urano, MD, PhD, on the genetics of Wolfram syndrome, Rachel Hyman received clarity about her rare condition — one that puzzled doctors for years. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Medical Mysteries: Woman who develops colorblindness, diabetes gets rare diagnosis

She’d been fit and healthy all her life. Then with her first pregnancy she got gestational diabetes. Over the coming years things just cascaded, puzzling doctors until she finally got a scary diagnosi...

www.washingtonpost.com

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WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · 27d

🔗: source.washu.edu/2025/09/wash... Our biomedical footprint is growing — Catalyst: Powered by WashU is a $100M development in the Cortex District that will further cement St. Louis as a global hub for innovation. See how this state-of-the-art facility will accelerate more breakthroughs.

WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · 29d

Scientists discovered our cells, well, toss their cookies. But they're not sick — they're healing. This surprising new basic science finding in collaboration with @bcmhouston.bsky.social reveals a cellular process that could help predict some cancers. medicine.washu.edu/news/cells-v...

medicine.washu.edu

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WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · Sep 2

An existing Alzheimer's drug could be key to treating or even stopping the most common pediatric brain tumors. “Now that we’ve figured out how these cells work and grow, the sky’s the limit,” said the study's senior author, David Gutmann, MD. medicine.washu.edu/news/study-s...

Study sheds light on how pediatric brain tumors grow | WashU Medicine

Blocking a chemical messenger in the brain that helps tumor cells multiply could offer a new route to treatment.

medicine.washu.edu

WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · Sep 2

Newly developed WashU Medicine technology is powering sensors that can detect airborne flu and COVID-19. "It’s going to change everything we do when we think about how to diagnose and treat patients with infectious diseases,” said John Cirrito, PhD. www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...

Company using WashU tech to detect airborne germs moves to St. Louis from New York

Governor, mayor hail move as a solid win for the region's biotech ecosystem.

www.stltoday.com

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WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · Aug 25

When rare and undiagnosed conditions feel hopeless, science can unlock answers. Thanks to a new $12.4M NIH grant, WashU Medicine’s Megan Cooper, MD, deepens her work studying genetic causes to better diagnose and treat children with rare immune disorders medicine.washu.edu/news/researc...

Research explores genetics underlying immune system disorders | WashU Medicine

A $12 million NIH grant awarded to Megan Cooper, MD, PhD, will support the effort to understand and diagnose immune deficiencies.

medicine.washu.edu

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WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · Aug 22

Leading WashU Medicine Long COVID expert
@zalaly.bsky.social is guiding national conversation around the summer’s rise in COVID cases in this week's New York Times — read what’s driving transmission and what to watch for next. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/w...

Why Covid Is Spreading Again This Summer

www.nytimes.com

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WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · Aug 22

WashU Medicine researchers are one step closer to understanding a person's lifetime cancer risk by seeking to understand new interactions between mutated cells. The ultimate goal? Identify and eliminate pre-cancerous cells before they form. medicine.washu.edu/news/genetic...

Genetic study suggests ways to catch blood cancer earlier | WashU Medicine

New research from WashU Medicine reveals how genetic mutations interact, which could pave the way for earlier detection of blood cancers.

medicine.washu.edu

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WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · Aug 19

Tuberculosis is the world's deadliest disease, claiming 3,400 lives daily. And cases are rising. See how Christina Stallings, PhD, and her team — national leaders in infectious disease and public health — are fighting back. source.washu.edu/2025/08/the-...

The world’s deadliest disease

WashU scientists are collaborating to unlock secrets of a millennia-old scourge. Efforts may lead to an increased understanding of and improved treatments for tuberculosis, which is once again on the ...

source.washu.edu

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WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · Aug 18

Advantage: @wtatour.bsky.social. Thanks to leadership from WashU Medicine’s Dr. Megan Gornet, the Women’s Tennis Association adopted a new national rule letting players freeze eggs or embryos — without sacrificing a season or their pro ranking in the process. www.stlmag.com/health/washu...

The WashU physician changing the fertility game for professional tennis players

Dr. Megan Gornet led the charge for a new national rule that protects athletes undergoing fertility treatments.

www.stlmag.com

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WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · Aug 15

For children with cerebral palsy, diagnosing dystonia — an involuntary movement disorder — has long been subjective. But now, a WashU Medicine team led by Bhooma Aravamuthan, MD, has built objective metrics for doctors to guide care and improve treatment. medicine.washu.edu/news/new-met...

New method accurately assesses movement disorder in children | WashU Medicine

A study in humans and mice from WashU Medicine could inform new treatments for leg dystonia, a common complication of cerebral palsy.

medicine.washu.edu

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WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · Aug 15

St. Louis Public Radio dives deeper into a landmark AI tool developed at WashU Medicine to analyze mammograms that predict a patient’s five-year breast cancer risk. This innovative technology recently received FDA Breakthrough Device designation.

WashU Medicine @washumedicine.bsky.social · Aug 14

Elijah Schultz was born with limb differences — but thanks to Dr. Goldfarb’s life-changing surgical care, this 13-year-old multi-sport athlete is shining on the field and off, while redefining what it means to be able-bodied. youtu.be/zDAFpPLScSg

From the OR to the End Zone: Elijah & Dr. Goldfarb’s Journey

YouTube video by WashU Medicine

youtu.be

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