An international research collaboration, co-led by researchers at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) and the University of Oxford, has captured for the first time in a laboratory setting the process thought to be responsible for generating and sustaining astrophysical magnetic fields.

Publishing their results in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team reports the findings could help explain the origin of large-scale magnetic fields that have been observed but didn’t match theoretical calculations.

The work is the latest to further refine scientists’ understanding of a once-elusive phenomenon known as a “turbulent dynamo,” an astrophysical process that amplifies magnetic fields. By creating experimental conditions that mimic most hot, diffuse plasmas in the universe—conditions in which the turbulent dynamo mechanism is thought to operate—the team was able to quantify the rate at which a turbulent dynamo amplifies magnetic fields. Up until now, the rate had only been predicted theoretically and via numerical simulations.

“The rapid amplification we found exceeds theoretical expectations and could help explain the origin of the present-day large-scale fields that are observed in galaxy clusters,” says Petros Tzeferacos, an associate professor of physics and astronomy at Rochester and a senior scientist at the LLE. Read more here.

University researchers have developed the first 3D research model of the human retina to study age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease that causes loss of central vision. The new model is already unlocking new understanding of the disease and could speed the development of therapies – including personalized treatments.

This “retina in a dish,” described in a paper in Cell Stem Cell, was developed by faculty members Ruchira Singh, associate professor of ophthalmology, and Danielle Benoit, professor of biomedical engineering and director of the Materials Science Program. The model combines stem cell-derived retinal tissue and vascular networks from human patients with bioengineered synthetic materials in a 3D matrix.

This is the first human model that incorporates both areas of the human eye that are affected by AMD. Singh believes this revolutionary model can help researchers resolve the long-standing debate of what causes AMD: defects in the retina itself or other systemic issues, for example, in the blood.

But most exciting is this model’s potential to test new drugs for a disease that has no cure. Read more here.

As more states expand eligibility and vaccination rates continue to rise, pre-pandemic normalcy is on the horizon.  The question now on many people’s minds is how long vaccines will provide protection.  While the short answer is it’s too soon to know with certainty, experience with other infectious diseases can help scientists make an educated guess.  And it is good news – your immune system will probably be able to detect and quickly respond to the coronavirus for many years.

“Long-term data from vaccinated individuals will give us the definitive answer, but all signs point to the fact that a level of protection from vaccines should last for a significant period of time, potentially two to three years or longer,” says David Topham, the director of the Rochester Medical Center Translational Immunology and Infectious Diseases Institute.  Topham and his colleagues at URMC have decades of experience studying the immune response to respiratory infections.

One of the sources of uncertainty is the simple fact that currently approved COVID vaccines are new, so researchers don’t have hard data on the durability of immunity to the virus.  While around 100 million Americans have received at least one dose, the bulk of these vaccinations have only occurred in the last couple of months.

However, data from a smaller group who participated in clinical trials provide some evidence that vaccines are producing a long-lasting immune response.  Both Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech recently announced that their vaccines remain 91% effective in preventing infection, and 100% effective in preventing severe disease six months after the second dose. Read more here.

Research coordinators are in high demand lately. The UR CTSI’s UR Connected tool can help researchers in need find qualified, available research coordinators.

In the tool, coordinators can post their qualifications, advertise availability and browse posted jobs or opportunities to contribute unfunded time.

Administrators can search for coordinators with qualifications and availability that match current needs and can advertise jobs and other opportunities.

If you need help using UR Connected, submit a request online.

The Ernest J. Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience will offer up to $900,000 in support of 17 pilot projects with a focus on novel basic, clinical and translational research in the neurosciences.

The awards are open to all faculty in the Medical Center and at the University.

Submission deadline has been extended by one week to 5 p.m. on Monday, April 26.

The Cell and Molecular Imaging core of the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center is offering up to $5,000 in individual pilot grant funding to support intellectual and developmental disability research.

The core comprises advanced imaging and analysis technologies and corresponding faculty expertise to support in vitro and in vivo study of phenomena at the subcellular, cellular, tissue and whole animal scale.

The awards are open to all faculty in the Medical Center and the University. If additional information is needed, contact Ania Majewska, Ph.D. or Edward Brown, Ph.D. Apply by Wednesday, May 5. 

The annual University Technology Showcase, to be held virtually from 1-5 p.m. on April 29, is an opportunity for faculty and researchers in optics, imaging and photonics, data science, energy and materials, and biomedical technology to share their work with industry professionals.

The showcase, hosted by the Center for Emerging & Innovative Sciences and the Center of Excellence in Data Science, includes guest speakers.  Students and faculty alike are encouraged to participate in a poster session.

To present a poster virtually, send the poster title and a brief abstract to ceisweb@ur.rochester.edu. Register for the Showcase here. Contact Paul Ballentine with any questions.

Here are important links for researchers:

• The University’s COVID-19 Resource Center for important updates and guidance on working, teaching, and learning remotely
• University of Rochester Medical Center website for restrictions, resources, and news
• The University’s COVID-19 “Restart and Recovery” web page

PLEASE NOTE that the University’s COVID-19 Dashboard is updated daily and dashboard numbers may reflect additional cases confirmed later in the day. When a new case is known, the contact-tracing process begins immediately with the Monroe County Health Department, with confirmed exposures being contacted and required to quarantine. Remember:

If you feel like you’re experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, it’s best to report them through Dr. Chat Bot immediately. Even if you think your symptoms might be something else, like a cold, seasonal congestion, or allergies, it’s still important to tell University health professionals and contact tracers what you are experiencing—they always want to receive more, not less, information.

Common COVID-19 symptoms include:

• A temperature of 100 °F (37.8 °C) or higher
• Chills
• Muscle or body aches
• Severe fatigue
• Headache
• Congestion or runny nose
• Sore throat
• Loss of taste, smell, or appetite
• Cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea