By observing electrons that have been accelerated to extremely high energies, scientists are able to unlock clues about the particles that make up our universe.

Accelerating electrons to such high energies in a laboratory setting, however, is challenging: typically, the more energetic the electrons, the bigger the particle accelerator. For instance, to discover the Higgs boson—the recently observed “God particle” responsible for mass in the universe—scientists at the CERN laboratory in Switzerland used a particle accelerator nearly 17 miles long.

In a paper published in Physical Review Letters, scientists at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) outlined a method to shape intense laser light in a way that accelerates electrons to record energies in very short distances.

The researchers estimate the accelerator would be 10,000 times smaller than a proposed setup recording similar energy, reducing the accelerator from nearly the length of Rhode Island to the length of a dining room table. With such a technology, scientists could perform tabletop experiments to probe the Higgs boson or explore the existence of extra dimensions and new particles that could lead to Albert Einstein’s dream of a grand unified theory of the universe. Read more here.

Rochester’s NextCorps incubator is about to hatch more companies that will focus on clean energy. 

The New York State Energy Research and Development Agency announced last week that NextCorps will receive $10 million over five years to develop the program, based on the proof-of-concept Nexus-NY center it developed that launched 22 cleantech companies.

Another accelerator, NEX-NY in Brooklyn, will receive $6 million over 2 ½ years to generate similar economic development in the clean energy space.

NextCorps is an affiliate of the University and the region’s only state- and federally-designated business incubator.

Read more here.

Marvin Doyley, professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Benjamin Miller, Dean’s Professor of Dermatology with joint appointments in biomedical engineering, biochemistry and biophysics, and optics, who have been inducted as fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). Doyley was selected for “outstanding contributions in developing algorithms for elastography and the application of elastography to vascular mechanics and disease.” Miller is being recognized for “the development and application of versatile optical biosensor platforms, including Arrayed Imaging Reflectometry and integrated photonic sensors.”

Steve Gonek, a professor of mathematics, who has been named a 2020 fellow of the American Mathematical Society for his “contributions to the study of the Riemann zeta function, and for service to the mathematical community.”

Tiffany Panko, a postdoctoral researcher in the Rochester Postdoc Partnership, who was named one of 125 IF/THEN ambassadors by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She’s currently conducting a study – the first of its kind – to investigate whether deaf women have the same level of understanding about contraceptives and family planning as hearing women.

The Office of Undergraduate Research cordially invites you to this year’s Virtual Undergraduate Research Exposition.

In a time of change and uncertainty, we are determined to show our unwavering support of our student researchers and their mentors.

Today through April 24, please join us in viewing, asking questions, commenting, and “liking” student contributions on this year’s electronic Expo platform. In addition to projects in Engineering & Mathematics, Humanities & Performance, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences, we are happy to feature two special guests: Rochester Center for Community Leadership’s Community Engaged Scholarship Cohort and Hajim’s Grand Challenges Scholars.

Here are three important links for researchers:

• University’s COVID-19 website for important updates and guidance on working, teaching, and learning remotely
• University of Rochester Medical Center website for restrictions, resources, and news
• Office of Research and Project Administration (ORPA) site on Coronavirus 2019 resources related to sponsored programs

The Medical Center is launching a new study to understand how the body’s immune system responds to COVID-19, including if and when a person could be re-infected with the virus and whether some people have pre-existing immunity. The findings could have significant implications for the public health response to the pandemic, the development of COVID-19 vaccines, and decisions related to re-opening the economy and society.

The new coronavirus research is being led by David Topham, Angela Branche, and Ann Falsey under the URMC New York Influenza Center of Excellence (NYICE), one of the five international centers in the Centers of Excellence in Influenza Research and Surveillance network. The research is supported by approximately $5 million in funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is headed by Anthony Fauci.

“This research will seek to answer several important questions, including the durability of immunity from the virus once a person has been infected and recovered, whether the virus is mutating, whether previous exposure to other seasonal coronaviruses provides a degree of protection from COVID-19, and how long potential vaccines could provide immunity from the virus,” says Topham.

The study will recruit up to 100 COVID-19 positive individuals across all age groups from the Rochester community and follow them for 90 days. The researchers will collect samples that will enable them to isolate and study the virus, and measure immune response to the infection.  Read more here.

Request Reagents at URMC: If you are in need of services, equipment, or supplies for a COVID-19 study, peruse the over 30 reagents that are available at URMC and contact ResearchHelp@URMC.rochester.edu to request.

Collaborate and Share Information: The National Center for Advancing Translational Science and Center for Leading Innovation and Collaboration are partnering to facilitate discussions around COVID-19. University researchers can learn how to join a discussion forum and are encouraged to join the COVID-19 forum to discuss and identify efforts to manage the COVID-19 outbreak.

The National Center for Data to Health (CD2H) also has created a COVID-19 Resources page where researchers can search global publications for COVID-19 resources, access limited COVID-19 clinical data, and more.

Funding Opportunities: For the most up-to-date COVID-19 funding opportunities, regularly check the URMC COVID-19 Guidance for Researchers site as well as the funding calendar on the UR CTSI Funding page. Here are a few new opportunities:

• The National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Mental Health have issued a notice of special interest (NOT-AG-20-022) to highlight the urgent need for research on COVID-19. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until 5 p.m. Saturday, May 1, 2021.
• The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has issued a notice of special interest (NOT-ES-20-015) to address the urgent need for mission-relevant research to understand the impact of environmental exposures on COVID-19 and its causative agent, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2). Rolling submission dates through May 4, 2021.
• The National Human Genome Research Institute has issued a notice of special interest (NOT-HG-20-030) regarding the availability of up to $250,000 per year via competitive revisions for COVID-19 research. Applications accepted on a rolling basis until 5 p.m. Friday, May 15.

Colleagues in China have sent protective goggles, face shields, and hundreds of N-95 and surgical masks to the Eastman Institute of Oral Health to help ensure that healthcare providers and specialists there can safely treat vulnerable patients who have emergency dental needs.

“We’re very grateful that people are thinking about us in this time of need,” says Eli Eliav, professor and director, Eastman Institute for Oral Health. “Because of their support, we’re able to serve those in need while helping keep patients with dental emergencies out of hospital emergency departments.” Read more here.

With patients under lockdown and health workers at risk of infection, telemedicine is being embraced like never before.

Virtual visits with doctors have increased ten-fold in the last few weeks, say experts, as physicians and health systems worldwide race to adopt virtual treatment options that eliminate the need for physical meetings between patients and health providers.

“I’d estimate that the majority of patient consultations in the United states are now happening virtually,” says Ray Dorsey, director of the Center for Health and Technology at the Medical Center. He tells The Lancet “It’s as big a transformation as any ever before in the history of US health care.”

The stimulus package that passed recently as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act carried with it an assumption that “we’ll see a rapid economic recovery in the next 4 to 6 months,” says Narayana Kocherlakota, the Lionel W. McKenzie Professor of Economics. “My own forecast is that the downturn will be severe and last much longer.”

One reason for that prediction is that to resume economic activity, we need “mass testing, tracing, and quarantining,” says Kocherlakota, a former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. “I do not see enough leadership at the federal level to make that happen.” Read more here.

There’s been quite a public outcry against the mostly young people who have ignored social distance guidelines by gathering in large groups.

But what’s often seen as selfish behavior can also be an indication of personal attachment—even affection—according to Robert Foster, a professor of anthropology.

“Proximity is usually associated with intimacy, and distance with strangeness,” explains Foster. “The public challenge at the moment is that we must learn to express our care and concern by maintaining distance, which is counter-intuitive.”

In addition, “many of the items that people are hoarding are ‘care’ items—diapers, toilet paper, sanitizer—things that enable and represent the ability to give care to others,” says Foster.

Read more here.

(In light of the University’s new guidance on Coronavirus —and to help eliminate confusion about the status of upcoming University events during this rapidly evolving situation — Research Connections will not be including any event listings, at least for the short term. The best way to stay up to date on the status of University events is to check events.rochester.edu, which will include cancellations or other changes as they are announced. Thank you for your understanding.)

COMPETITION

Members of the University community are invited to cast their vote for the People’s Choice award, to be given as part of this year’s Art of Science Competition. Voting is now open at http://www.hajim.rochester.edu/art-of-science/  Click on each image to see accompanying description. Winners will be announced in May.

GRANT DEADLINES

April 20: Deadline to apply for Community-Based Participatory Research Program Pipeline-to-Pilot grants from the University’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute (UR CTSI).

May 1: Deadline to apply for pilot project funding from five programs, through the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience. Learn more.

May 3: Deadline to apply for pilot project funding from the Center for Research on Flavored Tobacco (CRoFT) for research to inform FDA regulation of tobacco products. The application should be submitted through the REDCap portal at http://j.mp/39bC1WF. Questions?  Application contact: Jacqueline Attia, WNY_CRoFT@urmc.rochester.edu Scientific/research contacts:  Scott Steele, scott_steele@urmc.rochester.edu or Deborah Ossip, deborah_ossip@urmc.rochester.edu