Jill Hruby, undersecretary for nuclear security in the US Department of Energy (DOE) and administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), recently visited the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE), along with US Representative Joseph Morelle and representatives from the offices of US Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.

During her visit, Hruby met with Rochester researchers and students and toured the LLE’s OMEGA EP laser facilities to learn more about how the LLE plays a key role in providing the science and expertise to support the DOE and NNSA in ensuring a safe, reliable, and secure nuclear security enterprise.

The LLE was established at the University in 1970 and is the largest US DOE university-based research program in the nation. As a nationally funded facility, the LLE conducts implosion and other experiments to support a DOE program to explore fusion as a future source of energy, to develop new laser and materials technologies, and to conduct research and develop technology related to high-energy-density phenomena.

The LLE is recognized nationally and internationally for its substantial contributions to the DOE’s inertial confinement fusion and high-energy-density physics programs. In addition, the LLE provides graduate and undergraduate educational programs to students at Rochester and other universities across the country, and it operates the National Laser Users’ Facility, a national program that allows qualified researchers throughout the United States to conduct research using its facilities.

Like many neurological diseases, there’s a lot we don’t understand about fragile X syndrome. But, after studying the disorder for several years, Lynne Maquat’s lab knew two important things: the enzyme AKT, which plays a key role in cell growth and survival, and the quality control pathway known as NMD (nonsense-mediated mRNA decay), are both in overdrive in fragile X.

In a new study in the journal Molecular Cell, the team reveals how these two major players interact, highlighting a complex molecular dance that could inform the development of future treatments for fragile X syndrome.

For example, the team treated neural stem cells that mimic fragile X syndrome with a drug called Afuresertib and found that it not only inhibits AKT but decreased NMD as well. Next steps in the research include testing drugs like Afuresertib in a mouse model of fragile X.

The genetic condition causes a range of developmental problems including learning disabilities and cognitive impairment. Usually, males are more severely affected by this disorder than females.

Learn more.

Left to right, Richard Dunne, Karen Mustian, and Po-Ju Lin.

Wilmot Cancer Institute scientists Karen Mustian, Richard Dunne, and Po-Ju Lin will conduct clinical and translational research to improve the understanding of cachexia and develop therapies as part of a $100 million global Cancer Grand Challenges initiative targeting some of toughest obstacles in treating cancer. The University will receive about $2.6 million as part of the collaboration.

Cancer cachexia, which causes weight loss and a wasting of muscle tissue, is a complicated, little talked about condition that often gets lost in the competing pressures oncologists and their patients face. The global cachexia team is spread across 14 institutions.

“What’s wonderful about the Cancer Grand Challenges program is that it forms ‘dream teams’ of researchers to investigate pervasive problems on a large scale,” says Mustian, who also is a dean’s professor of surgery. “It brings together a group of multidisciplinary scientists that wouldn’t have gotten together but for this award.”

The Wilmot investigators are part of a sub-team that will conduct the largest clinical trial to date for cancer cachexia in order to study the natural progression of the condition and its biological underpinnings. Wilmot investigators will also build a large bank of bio-specimens devoted exclusively to studying whether the laboratory findings from bench scientists can be transferred to humans. Learn more.

New research led by Laurent Glance at the Medical Center shows that clinicians may be overly cautious in how long they urge patients to wait before undergoing surgery after having a stroke.

A scientific statement from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) issued in 2021 indicates that individuals should wait at least six months, and possibly as long as nine months, after a stroke before undergoing non-urgent surgery in order to reduce risk of a recurrent stroke. This was based in part on a study in Denmark.

However, Glance, a professor of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine and public health sciences, and other authors of a study published in JAMA Surgery instead examined the health records of more than 5.8 million Medicare patients in this country who were 66 years of age or older and underwent elective non-neurologic, non-cardiac surgery.

They found that overall the incidence of perioperative stroke was rare in patients without a history of stroke (0.3%). However, individuals who underwent elective surgery within 30 days of a stroke were eight times more likely to suffer a perioperative stroke, two and a half times more likely to die, and three times more likely to be discharged to a skilled nursing facility, compared to patients without a history of stroke.

But the risk of stroke levels off after 90 days, as opposed to the six-nine months suggested in the Danish study. Learn more.

Reporting study results back to participants not only helps them make informed decisions about their health but can build their trust in science and research. In the latest edition of Environmental Factor, a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences newsletter, Medical Center environmental medicine and public health researcher Katrina Korfmacher weighs in on the importance of “report back” in research.

Cassandra Houser, microbiology and immunology, noon, July 18, 2022, Ryan Case Method Room 1-9576 (Medical Center) Zoom link
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor modulation of T follicular helper cell differentiation and function during respiratory viral infection
Host: Paige Lawrence

A virtual workshop from 10 to 11:30 a.m. today will provide an overview of Carnegie, Guggenheim, and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) fellowship opportunities.

The workshop, presented by the Office of the AS&E Dean for Research, will include a panel discussion and questions and answers with these fellowship recipients:

• John Osburg, associate professor of anthropology, Andrew Carnegie Fellow (2018)
• Laura Smoller, professor of history, Guggenheim (2004) and NEH (2022)
• John Tarduno, dean for research in AS&E, John Simon Guggenheim Foundation (2006)

Register in advance here to receive a confirmation email with information to join the meeting.

The Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry invites late-breaking poster submissions for the International College of Psychosomatic Medicine 26th World Congress to be hosted September 7-9 in Rochester. To have your submission considered, please complete a proposal using the template here and send to Stephanie Bruder by July 31.

Early registration pricing for the World Congress ends today, July 15. To register, visit the World Congress website.

The University is providing an opportunity for grant writing/consulting assistance to its researchers who are planning to partner with a small business to develop and submit a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) proposal.  Please visit: https://redcap.link/UR_SBIR_STTR

The initial application deadline is August 1 (followed by open/rolling review of applications, while funding is available).

Launched in 2014 by the Community Engaged Learning Program in the Center for Community Engagement, the grant provides funds to faculty and staff whose projects or courses combine academic learning and community engagement opportunities for undergraduate students in Arts, Sciences & Engineering. Each proposal has a maximum award of $3,500 per course. Contact Lauren Caruso with any questions. Apply by Monday, August 1. Learn more.

The University’s EHSC supports a limited number of pilot projects to advance new translational environmental health sciences research. These grants provide a means for investigators to:

• obtain preliminary data for extramural grant applications
• develop new innovative research initiatives
• access novel technologies
• build new opportunities to address community needs

Contact Martha Susiarjo or Pat Noonan-Sullivan for questions. Apply by Monday, August 1. Learn more.

The Greater Rochester Practice-Based Research Network (GR-PBRN), which includes 147 member practices from primary care specialties and all local health systems, brings together primary care clinicians and researchers in a collaborative model designed to improve patient care and outcomes. The University’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute (UR CTSI) offers consultation on conducting practice-based research and recruiting from primary care practices, including protocol development, making linkages with practices, letters of support and more. To connect with the GR-PBRN, submit a request online.