Dr. Chengguo Xing’s Kava Clinical Study Makes the Cover of Cancer Prevention Research
Kava’s reputation in preventing cancer just received a boost from the American Association for Cancer Research. The May 2020 cover of the organization’s flagship journal, Cancer Prevention Research, featured a clinical study on kava led by Chengguo “Chris” Xing, Ph.D., a professor of medicinal chemistry and the Frank A. Duckworth Eminent Scholar Chair in the UF […]
UF Study Offers More Evidence That Deet Is a Safe Way to Ward Off Mosquitoes
Summer is back, with warmer temperatures, longer days, and… mosquitoes. When mosquitoes feast on humans, they can leave more than irritating bites behind. They can also carry Zika, West Nile virus and malaria. The insect repellent N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, or DEET, is considered one of the most effective defenses against mosquitoes and ticks. It has been used […]
Catnip’s Chemical Attractant Is New Twist on Old Family Tradition
Catnip is most famous for its ability to launch felines into a euphoric frenzy, but the origin of its cat-attracting chemical is a remarkable example of evolutionary innovation. While the compound nepetalactone drives two-thirds of cats batty, likely by mimicking sex pheromones, its real purpose is protecting catnip from pests. Nepetalactone belongs to a class […]
Guidelines for Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation During COVID-19 Pandemic
In an article published in the journal Brain Stimulation experts offer strategies and guidelines for clinical and research applications of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and low intensity transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) during the COVID-19 crisis. “There is an evident, and in cases, urgent need to maintain NIBS operations through the COVID-19 pandemic, including anticipating future […]
The Pandemic Can’t Keep Nursing Students from Clinical Practice Experience
Shadow Health’s ‘Digital Clinical Experiences’ fill a need, especially now One potential casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic might have been nursing programs. Might have been but wasn’t, due to a virtual-patient interaction program created by University of Florida researcher Benjamin Lok. Because personal protective equipment was in high demand, nursing students, such as those at […]
Is This Mushroom Safe? Expert Fields More Concerned Calls During Pandemic
For mushroom identification expert Matt Smith, spring is usually a slow time of year. “Mushrooms are less common during the spring in Florida, so this time of year I hardly have anyone contacting me about someone having eaten a mushroom that might be poisonous. But since everyone started staying home because of COVID-19, I’ve been […]
3D-Printed Model Mimics Spinal Cord Injury to Aid Research
Includes biochemical compositions and mechanical properties of natural spinal cords with structural integrity A unique collaboration between two University of Florida engineering departments has produced a valuable and holistic 3D model of spinal cord injuries. UF researchers Dr. Christine Schmidt and Dr. Thomas Angelini combined their engineering expertise to create a 3D-printed model that mimics […]
Could Rapid Home-Based Coronavirus Tests Become Reality?
Piyush Jain, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and a member of UF Health Cancer Center, developed an inexpensive home-based rapid testing kit that can detect the coronavirus without needing to go to the hospital. “My research group recently engineered a sensitive CRISPR-based technology, that we named CRISPR-ENHANCE, and used it to create a rapid […]
Quicker Reviews, Designated Funding Speeds COVID-19 Research Efforts at UF Health
Amid the worst public health emergency in a lifetime, UF Health leaders have taken steps to speed novel coronavirus research, recognizing the urgent need to provide answers and options to the communities they serve. There are two key components of this effort: IRB retooled its approval process for coronavirus trials, and the UF Clinical and Translational […]
UF Mobilizes Campus, Exactech Expertise to Make Vital COVID-19 Nasal Swabs
When University of Florida Health needed a massive supply of nasal swabs for expanded COVID-19 testing, the solution was right on campus and just across town. It came from Forrest J. Masters, Ph.D., P.E., a professor and the associate dean for research and facilities at UF’s Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. Working with the 3D printing lab […]