the medical research foundation

Veterans Medical Research Foundation

Honoring Service with Science ®

Every Veteran will receive the finest research-based care.

Welcome to VMRF

The Veterans Medical Research Foundation and its researchers are addressing the unique health concerns experienced by our fine men and women who voluntarily risk their lives to serve our country and to defend our values. The Veterans Medical Research Foundation is here to help ensure that the conditions which disproportionately affect the veteran population benefit from highest standard scientific inquiry and discovery.

Those who courageously serve in our nation's military deserve exceptional care. The Veterans Medical Research Foundation's mission is to enhance the health of veterans of all generations through research and education.

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Welcome to the Medical Research Foundation

• Schedule of Planned Procurement 2024
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The Medical Research Foundation of Trinidad & Tobago

A centre for clinical excellence and leadership, the medical research foundation is the largest hiv treatment and care clinic in the english-speaking caribbean., for our patients.

Persons living with HIV/AIDS are offered free medical, nursing, psycho-social and counselling services, as well as onsite laboratory and pharmaceutical facilities.

Dedicated to improve your quality of care.

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A comprehensive suite of services for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

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Our Strategy to 2029

Our new organisational strategy – Giving hope through life-changing medical research – outlines our aims and priorities for the next five years.

Harnessing AI in healthcare

How could AI be used to detect cardiovascular and respiratory diseases? Dr Alison Simmons, our Director of Research, explains.

Take on a challenge event this Autumn

Looking for your next challenge? Whether it is something you love, or a challenge you never thought you could do - sign up for something amazing and help raise funds for medical research.

We support vital research in underfunded areas, giving hope to people with overlooked health conditions.

Our research and what we fund

Donations from our supporters are funding a wide range of vital medical research.

Help our researchers to change lives by supporting the Foundation.

Andrea's story

Four years on from the tragic death of his wife, Andrea - Robert Colvile talks about his remarkable charity appeal, which has raised over £130,000 for ground-breaking new research into autoimmune hepatitis.

Fund life-changing research with a regular or one-off donation

Your generosity is helping the very best researchers to advance medical research, improve human health, and change people's lives.

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Introducing the Eating Disorders and Autism Collaborative (EDAC)

A project working to bridge the gap between eating disorder and autism research.

Awardees selected for Meade Travel Grants

We’re pleased to announce the latest recipients of our Meade Travel Grants in Epidemiology.

Animation depicts the experience of remote healthcare for eating disorders

Learnings from the pandemic

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Since 1979, The Children's Medical Research Foundation, Inc. has been dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children and their families affected by childhood illness and disease. Proud of our long history, our primary focus has been to support Ireland's pediatric research in Children’s Health Ireland. Through the continued generosity of our donors, we have been able to not only ensure the highest standard of care for Ireland's sickest children, but also to fund the work of world-leading scientists to better understand serious illnesses, so they can be more quickly diagnosed, more effectively treatment and even cured. A non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the Foundation is based in Manhattan and is affiliated with The Children's Health Foundation in Ireland.

In Spring of 2023, the CMRF announced a 4-year campaign that aims to raise $10 million by 2026 to support pediatric research.

Save a life>, the foundation and its partners organize a number of events annually in a variety of states across the country. check out the events calendar for more details or contact us for more information., event calendar >, at cmrf inc., we are proud of the partnerships we have established with the american and irish communities, and we would be honored to work with your team to design a partnership program., become a corporate partner, have you thoughts about giving your time in a different way and joining a non-profit board our board of directors and emerging leaders board are always looking for enthusiastic, engaged and passionate people to spread the mission., find out more >, event programme 2024.

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Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Construction Supports Inclusive Immunology Research and Proactive Initiatives

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) has been working toward a more inclusive, collaborative future by supporting research and training focused on underrepresented minorities, environmentally conscious architecture (Figure 1), and forward-thinking scientific initiatives. Funding from three ORIP construction grants ( C06RR014570 , C06RR017446 , and C06RR030593 ) supported renovations to facilities for research in molecular immunology and genetics, cardiovascular biology, and autoimmune diseases. Grant C06RR030593 was administered through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant program, which aimed to stimulate the U.S. economy, create and preserve jobs, and advance scientific research. With this funding, OMRF has been able to expand the breadth of its research, recruit exceptional scientists and trainees, and foster exciting collaborations across Oklahoma and the nation. 

Funds from ORIP supported three construction projects: (1) renovation of an existing building to provide modern, safe laboratory facilities; (2) conversion of outpatient and mechanical spaces into new laboratory and clinical spaces; and (3) construction of a new multidisciplinary laboratory and clinical space with an associated cryo-storage facility. These renovations improved clinical care, allowed OMRF to expand and strengthen its clinical research infrastructure, stimulated advancements across OMRF’s research continuum, and led to a dramatic growth in collaborations and grants. OMRF’s economic impact studies confirmed that research conducted in these facilities enabled investigators to acquire funding for additional research and added significant income and jobs to the community. “These grants have been incredibly key in helping us recruit and retain really bright individuals and being able to enhance the diversity of our patient populations, clinical staff, and scientists,” said Dr. Judith James , Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of OMRF and Professor and Program Chair of the Arthritis & Clinical Immunology Research Program. “They have been crucial in bringing together different types of scientists and helped us think about the really pivotal questions that will improve the lives of patients.” 

Many autoimmune diseases disproportionately affect women, and some conditions—including systemic lupus, erythematosus, Sjogren’s syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis—are more prevalent and more severe in people with African American, Latinx, and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) heritage. Many of the programs in the upgraded areas address the differences in outcomes for patients from underrepresented minority communities. With the integration of research and clinical space, OMRF also has increased its focus on strengthening connections among clinicians, researchers, and patients. “It’s been really motivational for our basic scientists to meet some of the patients and see how impactful the disease they’re studying is on the lives of patients and their families,” Dr. James said. “They can see that their discoveries may be insightful for future patients who will benefit from NIH-funded research.” 

One particular focus area has been Native American health and partnerships with local Tribes. “This is a passion of mine, and also of the institution,” Dr. James said. OMRF has been involved in the NIH-funded Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) grants, which are awarded to several Tribes in the region. Additionally, NARCH has partnered with OMRF for more than 16 years to help focus OMRF’s research on questions that are meaningful to Tribal communities. Standard blood biomarkers often are less predictive for the Oklahoma Tribal citizens; as a result of this partnership, OMRF and Tribal clinicians were able to identify better blood markers for the Oklahoma Tribal citizens and change the way that rheumatic diseases are screened for. OMRF and NARCH awardees also have been working to understand the mechanisms of accelerated molecular aging in Tribal populations and find ways to address the lower life expectancy of Native populations. OMRF and partnering Tribes have coordinated an exchange of knowledge, with staff physicians working closely with members of Tribal nations and Tribal clinical coordinators receiving specialized training at OMRF. In addition, the OMRF team worked collaboratively with Tribes in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

OMRF also provides training and education opportunities for students from underrepresented research backgrounds. Through collaborations with NARCH awards, more than 20 undergraduate students with AI/AN citizenship or heritage have conducted research at OMRF focused on autoimmune diseases, immunology, inflammation, or molecular biology, with some focusing on immune responses that are dysfunctional in AI/AN populations. Former trainees have found careers in medicine and academia, including several who focus their work on osteoarthritis, which affects AI/AN populations disproportionately and causes significant disability in AI/AN individuals. OMRF hosts summer undergraduate research fellows from Langston University, a historically Black university, who can then gain experience working in NIH-funded laboratories, including those in the renovated space. Students interested in continuing their project through the next school year are supported by adjunct faculty members at Langston University. This program supports mostly Black-identifying students, but many participants are members of Tribal nations as well. 

In addition to the renovated laboratory and clinical space funded by the construction grants, usable space within the mechanical floor of OMRF’s new research tower was developed into a centralized long-term cryo-storage facility to house and protect large collections of patient samples (Figure 2). This biorepository highlights OMRF’s scientific capability and would not have been possible without the funding provided by the ORIP grant. The grant allowed the opportunity to consolidate and expand OMRF’s existing biorepositories and improve the data systems required to support state-of-the-art research. It is now one of the largest ‍−80°C biorepositories in the world, and many collaborators throughout the nation use its resources. “It’s really been transformational,” said Dr. James. “It’s allowed us to be able to become a centralized biorepository for many different kinds of collaborative grants that we would not have been able to do otherwise.” The biorepository also allowed OMRF to continue expanding its collaborations with local Tribes, and OMRF staff have helped Tribal Nations develop their own repositories. 

One particularly unique aspect of the research tower is its environmentally conscious design. The facility is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certified; features include a state-of-the-art HVAC system, natural sunlight, reduced water usage, wind turbines, active chilled-beam units, and linoleum composition floor tiles from rapidly renewable resources. “When we first started the building, that was a very unique and new idea in the United States and in Oklahoma,” Dr. James said. “It changed how we think about our buildings.” OMRF’s architectural partner designed wind turbines in the shape of DNA double helices to capture Oklahoma’s famous “wind that comes sweeping down the plains” and use it to power the facilities. The landscaping includes native grasses, water collection systems, and features that change depending on weather and rainfall, making the OMRF campus a harmonious part of the local landscape, as well as a memorable landmark (Figure 1). 

This forward-thinking architectural design, combined with the multidisciplinary scientific opportunities available to researchers and the thoughtful integration of community and patient collaborations, “definitely helps us with recruiting and retention, and it helps bring everyone together with this common goal of being better stewards,” Dr. James said. OMRF’s efforts to diversify research representation extend to staff—each research core of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences–funded Oklahoma Shared Clinical and Translational Resources U54 includes an associate director from an underrepresented minority, many from Tribal Nations, and several of them have gone on to become directors. “We’ve been very, very appreciative of these ORIP grants because they’ve helped us leverage other kinds of funding to build things we didn’t know were possible,” Dr. James said. “They’ve also helped us forge collaborative networks of scientists and build collaborations with some amazing partners throughout Oklahoma and across the nation, and we hope this happens with every construction project.” 

Visit ORIP’s website for more information on the ARRA program and awards .

9 Best Charities That Advance Medical Research (Complete 2024 List)

By Alycia O'Dell

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Around the world, advances in medical research are saving lives by introducing healthcare providers to the newest and most innovative techniques in the prevention, treatment, and cure of disease. For example, in 2022, 426,709 clinical studies were conducted across all 50 states and 221 countries to find treatments for fatal diseases. To investigate their game-changing ideas, researchers rely on funding from various institutions, including grants from nonprofit organizations. So, we had to ask: What are the best charities that advance medical research?

The best charities that advance medical research are the American Heart Association and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Charities like the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the American Foundation for AIDS Research fund research into new approaches to eradicate potentially fatal diseases.

Whether you want to fund research to cure childhood cancer, ensure that the field of heart health continues to make strides against heart disease, or investigate new and improved ways to treat depression, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities that advance medical research are all about, how they work, and what your best way would be to contribute.

Here’s What All the Best Charities That Advance Medical Research Have in Common

The charities on this list were chosen based on their mission, impact and transparency ratings, and achievements.

The majority of these charities operate primarily throughout the US and Canada, but some work to advance medical research internationally.

Many of these charities focus on advancing research to find the best treatments to end diseases affecting specific populations, like women or children. Others focus on finding new ways to treat issues affecting broader populations, such as mental illness or hearing loss.

Some work to finally eradicate potentially fatal diseases, like HIV and AIDS, while others tackle the health of vital organs, such as the heart or the kidney.

Yet, they all share a common goal; to save as many lives as possible by advancing medical research.

These Are the 9 Best Charities That Advance Medical Research in 2024

Below are our favorite charities for advancing medical research (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article) :

Best Charities That Advance Medical Research

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Breast Cancer Research Foundation

American Foundation for AIDS Research

Brain and Behavior Research Institute

The V Foundation

American Hearing Research Foundation

CURE Childhood Cancer

(At the end of this article we’ll also share our six-step approach on how you can select the best charity to support.)

American Heart Association: Research for Healthier Hearts

The American Heart Association was founded in 1924 by a group of 6 cardiologists to conduct research into prevention strategies and treatments for heart disease. Today, they are an international organization dedicated to advancing medical research to reduce cardiovascular-related fatalities.

Their transparency & ratings :

Charity Navigator gives the American Heart Association a 4-star rating. GuideStar gives the charity a Platinum Seal of Transparency. 

“ Life is why. ” American Heart Association

What they do :

The American Heart Association advances medical research by funding various grants and projects to support the work of some of the brightest researchers in the country. For example, their Strategically Focused Research Networks bring together researchers from top institutions to collaborate on specific topics, like the cardiovascular effects of Long COVID . As another example, their Merit Awards provide funding for creative approaches with the potential to move a field of science forward. And, their One Brave Idea initiative awards $75 million to a single research team aiming to cure coronary heart disease.

What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, the American Heart Association has invested more than $4.8 billion across over 47,000 research projects to improve the heart health of millions of people around the world. For example, they have funded the work of 14 Nobel Prize-winning scientists , and their efforts have contributed to a 15.1% reduction in deaths from heart disease and a 13.6% reduction in deaths from stroke since 2018.

Ways to contribute :

You can make a one-time donation to the American Heart Association via their website, or you can register to give monthly . You can also support the charity by volunteering or participating in an event in your local community.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Advancing Research to Advance Cures

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was founded in 1962 by Danny Thomas to give back to communities after he found success as an entertainer. Today, the organization is a leading force in the understanding and treatment of childhood diseases, including childhood cancer.

Charity Navigator gives St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital a 4-star rating. GuideStar gives the charity a Silver Seal of Transparency. 

“ No child should die in the dawn of life .” St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital advances cures and prevention for pediatric diseases through research and treatment. They do this by providing direct treatment to children with life-threatening diseases, including experimental or specialized treatment for children who have not responded to standard care. They also provide resources and support services free of charge to families at all stages of treatment. In addition, they fund research to better understand diseases, including childhood cancer, and to develop breakthrough treatments. Furthermore, they offer training to future clinicians and biomedical researchers.

Since their founding, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital has become known as one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers . Their investment in research has helped to push the overall survival rate for childhood cancer from 20% to over 80% , and they are responsible for some of the most significant developments in the treatment of pediatric diseases in the field’s history. For example, in 1996, St. Jude doctor Peter Doherty was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine for his research on viral infections and organ transplants.

You can donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital via their website. You can also participate in a fundraiser or volunteer at a chapter in your community.

Breast Cancer Research Foundation: Investing in the Cure

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation was founded in 1993 by Evelyn Lauder and Dr. Larry Norton to advance breast cancer research. Today, the charity remains dedicated to funding cutting-edge research to prevent, treat, and eventually cure breast cancer.

Charity Navigator gives the Breast Cancer Research Foundation a 3-star rating. GuideStar gives the charity a Gold rating for transparency. 

“Research is the reason.” Breast Cancer Research Foundation

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation advances medical research by providing critical funding in the fight against breast cancer. Recognizing the complexity of the disease, they support different areas of focus to ensure they are investigating it from all angles. For example, their tumor biology research analyzes the anatomy of cancerous tumors to better understand how they react to different treatments. In addition, their heredity and genetics research focuses on how family history, race, and ethnicity impact one’s breast cancer risk. 

Since their founding, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation has raised over $1 billion to end breast cancer, making them the world’s largest private funder of breast cancer research. Investigators supported by the charity have been involved in every major breakthrough in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, metastasis, and survivorship during that time. For example, a study conducted by Dr. Nancy Lin led to the approval of Tukysa (tucatinib), as the first-ever drug to treat HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to the brain. 

You can donate to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation via their website. You can also contribute by fundraising , shopping pink , or attending an event .

American Foundation for AIDS Research: Ending the AIDS Epidemic Through Research]

The American Foundation for AIDS Research was founded in 1985 by Dr. Mathilde Krim and Dr. Michael Gottlieb to raise funds for research on HIV and AIDS. Today, they are one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations for AIDS research.

Charity Navigator gives the American Foundation for AIDS Research a 3-star rating. 

“ Making AIDS history .” American Foundation for AIDS Research

The American Foundation for AIDS Research advances medical research by awarding grants to researchers working to eradicate AIDS. For example, their Mathilde Krim Fellowships in Biomedical Research program helps new researchers investigate novel ideas by helping them transition from their doctoral program to an independent research career. As another example, their Target Grants fund teams of researchers working to cure AIDS by eliminating infected cells left behind by existing treatments. Furthermore, they fight HIV and AIDS on a global scale through their TREAT Asia program, a network connecting clinics, research institutions, hospitals, and civil society to ensure the safe and effective delivery of HIV treatment across Asia and the South Pacific.

Since their founding, the American Foundation for AIDS Research has invested nearly $617 million in their programs and awarded 3,500 grants to advance AIDS research. For example, in 2021 alone, they supported 30 research teams and funded $600,000 toward research on gene therapy to cure HIV. In the same year, their TREAT Asia program was awarded a $15 million renewal grant by the National Institutes of Health to continue its research and treatment efforts across Asia and the South Pacific. Their network currently consists of 21 pediatric and 21 adult sites across the region. 

You can donate to the American Foundation for AIDS Research via their website. You can also host a fundraiser or purchase merchandise from their online store.

KidneyCure: Eradicating Kidney Disease Through Research

KidneyCure was founded in 2012 by the American Society of Nephrology to reduce cases of kidney disease across the US. Today, the charity works to prevent kidney disease and related complications through research and innovation. 

Charity Navigator gives KidneyCure a 4-star rating. GuideStar gives the charity a Gold Seal of Transparency.

“ Fund it. Find it .” KidneyCure

KidneyCure advances medical research by providing funds to prevent, treat, and cure kidney disease. They do this by awarding independent grants to new researchers exploring novel ideas in kidney disease and related complications. And, they help the next generation of investigators gain experience by allowing students and fellows to participate in their research projects. Furthermore, they fund clinical scholars to advance nephrology education.

Since their founding, KidneyCure has invested over $46 million in the fight against kidney diseases. For example, in 2019 alone, they provided approximately $3 million in grants across 46 leading kidney researchers and educators to advance the field of kidney care. As an example, in 2022, they awarded a Ben J. Lipps Research Fellow Award Grant to Johnny Bou Saba to study the potential reparative outcomes of regulatory T-cell therapy to promote early tissue repair in kidney transplant patients. 

You can donate to KidneyCure via their website. You can also join their fundraising campaigns or apply for an independent research grant .

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation: Funding Mental Health Innovation

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation was founded in 1987 by a small group of family members of individuals with mental illnesses, who were determined to increase the pace of research to find causes, treatments, and cures for mental illness. Today, they are the top non-governmental funder of mental health research grants in the US.

Charity Navigator gives the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation a 3-star rating. GuideStar gives the charity a Platinum Seal of Transparency. 

“ Funding cutting-edge research to find cures for mental illness. ” Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation advances medical research by funding the most innovative ideas in neuroscience . For this, they award grants to scientists researching new ways to understand, prevent, and treat mental illness. For example, in 2005, they funded research on a new technology called Optogenetics , which is now in use at thousands of labs around the world to identify the mechanisms that cause depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Since their founding, the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation has awarded more than $430 million to fund more than 6,200 grants in mental health research. Their funding has directly contributed to some of the biggest breakthroughs in the mental health community, including the first fast-acting antidepressants , non-invasive brain stimulation , and computer-guided early diagnosis of mental illness .

You can make a monetary donation to the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation via their website . You can also get involved by sponsoring an event or creating your own fundraiser .

The V Foundation: Victory Over Cancer

The V Foundation was founded in 1993 by famed college basketball coach Jim Valvano during his own fight with cancer, to find a cure for the disease. Today, the organization remains committed to funding research on all types of cancer.

Charity Navigator gives The V Foundation a 4-star rating. According to their financial report , the charity spent 81.4% of their expenditure on grants and 7.9% on fundraising.

“ Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up .” The V Foundation

The V Foundation advances medical research by funding game-changing research to combat cancers affecting adults and children. Through a highly competitive selection process, The V Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Committee awards grants to the most promising people and projects. For example, grants for childhood cancer research are funded through the charity’s Dick Vitale Fund for Pediatric Cancer . These include research into new therapy treatments for pediatric cancer patients, as well as better ways to protect the reproductive health of young cancer patients . 

Since their founding, The V Foundation has awarded nearly $290 million in research grants to more than 154 institutions in 40 states in the US and Canada. Furthermore, the Dick Vitale Fund for Pediatric Cancer has awarded almost $67 million to end childhood cancer, including the development of genetic therapies that target the PPMID gene, which causes tumor growth.

You can donate to The V Foundation’s Dick Vitale Fund for Pediatric Cancer via their website. You can also participate in an event or support a fundraiser .

American Hearing Research Foundation: Funding Hearing Innovation

The American Hearing Research Foundation was founded in 1956 by Dr. George E. Shambaugh to fund research on hearing loss and balance disorders. Today, the organization works to better understand hearing and balance, and educate people on hearing loss prevention. 

Charity Navigator gives the American Hearing Research Foundation a 100% rating for Finance and Accountability. GuideStar gives the charity a Gold rating for transparency. 

“Making new discoveries possible for more than 60 years.” American Hearing Research Foundation

The American Hearing Research Foundation advances medical research by providing seed grants for novel research to better understand and overcome hearing and balance disorders of the inner ear. Their Research Committee chooses 5 to 10 projects to fund a year, prioritizing proposals that include groundbreaking research ideas . For example, in 2002, they funded research that led to the discovery of the human deafness gene . They also work to educate the public about hearing loss prevention through their bi-annual newsletter and through educational resources on their website .

Since their founding, the American Hearing Research Foundation has funded hundreds of projects to advance the understanding of hearing and balance disorders. For example between 2010 and 2022, they funded 106 projects with over $2.5 million in grants , including a project that led to the discovery of hair-cell roots , changing the way scientists think about the inner ear.

You can donate to the American Hearing Research Foundation via their website. You can also sign up to receive their newsletter .

CURE Childhood Cancer: Fighting Cancer, Supporting Families

CURE Childhood Cancer was founded in 1975 by Emory University Pediatric Oncologist Dr. Abdel Ragab to fund the development of the University’s Pediatric Oncology Program. Today, the charity is dedicated to conquering childhood cancer through research and patient support.

Charity Navigator gives CURE Childhood Cancer a 4-star rating. GuideStar gives the charity a Gold Seal of Transparency.

“ Until there is a cure, there’s CURE .” CURE Childhood Cancer

CURE Childhood Cancer advances medical research to eradicate all cancers affecting children. They prioritize research that will lead to more efficient treatment, such as the use of precision medicine to determine the best course of treatment for each individual child. They also offer emotional, financial, and practical support to families. For example, their Open Arms Meal Program provides meals to families in the hospital. In addition, their Early Outreach Program provides newly diagnosed families with a tote bag containing essential resources, such as an educational booklet written by experienced parents, and connects families with a community of emotional support.

Since their founding, CURE Childhood Cancer has improved the lives of millions of children with cancer and their families. For example, since 2010, they have invested over $38 million in cutting-edge cancer research, including the development of genetic testing for children with high-risk tumors. Furthermore, in 2021, their Open Arms Meal Program provided 13,000 boxed meals to families in hospitals. In the same year, their Early Outreach Program distributed 342 tote bags to newly diagnosed families.

You can donate to CURE Childhood Cancer via their website. You can also attend an event or host a fundraiser .

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities for advancing medical research. However, you may have a particular charity you want to support. Let’s look at what you can do to ensure your contribution has the most significant impact.

• Check out the charity website. Charities that are worthy of your donations are transparent in their mission and their figures. Familiarise yourself with their history, mission, and values. Their website usually is the best place to start.
• Identify the charity’s mission. Without a goal, the charity is likely to fail. If the charity’s mission isn’t clear, it’s probably worth looking for a charity that does have a clear mission. 
• Check if the charity has measurable goals. An effective charity has clear goals. You want to know if your donation will help the charity reach its goals. But if it doesn’t have targets, it’s likely to fail or squander your gift. The charity should be able to account for its spending and supply evidence of the work they do.
• Assess the successes or goals the charity has achieved. You wouldn’t invest in a business if it kept missing its targets. In the same way, charities are like this too. If no one is assessing a charity’s progress in reaching its targets, the chances are they’re not making a substantial positive change.
• Check the charity’s financials and stats . Trustworthy organizations will publish financial statements and reports each year. Some might be exempt from having to do so, but they should be able to provide them to public members who are interested in donating.
• Locate sources who work with or benefit from the charity. Word of mouth and first-hand experience of a charity’s work lets you know the charity’s quality. If you can do so, check out the charity for yourself or speak to someone familiar with it. This way, your donation will go to the right place. 

How Can You Best Support These Charities?

After you’ve made your decision, it’s time for you to decide on how you’d like to help the charities you’ve chosen. Check how you can help – each charity runs specific programs that have unique aims. Find out what the aim of such programs is and whether they are right for you. 

Here are a few ways you can help your chosen charity:

• Donate money. You can find donation pages on the website of most charities. Your donation can be a one-time payment, or you can set it to be deducted regularly at different intervals. You can mostly pay via credit card, but some charities also take PayPal or Bitcoin payments.
• Buy their official merchandise. Charities can also raise money by selling merchandise. So, you can support them by buying the mugs, shirts, caps, pens, pencils, and any other such items they may be selling. Ideally, you should buy as much as you can to share and spread the word about the charity’s activities.
• Engage in volunteer work. As you’ve seen from our descriptions above, some charities engage in a lot of local and grassroots programs. You can help by taking on and organizing the program in your local area.
• Help their fundraising efforts. You can spread the word about the charity in your workplace, school, church, etc., and hold creative fundraising drives on social media or offline within your small circles.
• Share their stories. Most charities have compelling stories that you can share with your audience to attract more people to the cause.

Final Thoughts

Now it is up to you to select the charity that resonates most with you. And whichever charity you end up choosing and contributing to, we are sure that they will immensely appreciate your support. Hopefully, the information within this article has made this selection process a bit easier for you to support charities dedicated to advancing medical research – based on the causes that matter most to you.

PS: Finally, I want to leave you with a thought-provoking TED talk from Dan Pallotta, a leading philanthropic activist, and fundraiser, about what is wrong with the way we think about charities – and what we can do about it:

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The reincarnation of a shuttered Los Angeles retail mecca as a sprawling UCLA research center has received a major boost from billionaire philanthropist Dr. Gary Michelson and his wife, Alya, who will give $120 million to ramp up the project.

Michelson, a spine surgeon and inventor, said the money will help launch the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, which aims to create breakthrough discoveries that prevent and cure diseases including cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s.

The institute will be a tenant in UCLA Research Park, which is under construction in the former Westside Pavilion. The indoor mall two miles south of the university at Pico and Westwood boulevards was a 1980s icon popular with shoppers and filmmakers before falling out of favor. Most of its stores closed by 2019.

The shopping center was being converted to offices when the UC Regents bought it for $700 million in January to create the research park. Along with the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, it will house the UCLA Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, as well as other science and medicine programs.

By purchasing the former shopping center, UCLA saved years of toil to build such a facility on its campus, which is the smallest of the nine UC undergraduate campuses and has very little room for growth.

“That building would have gone on the last available piece of property on the UCLA campus,” Michelson said, “and it would have been extraordinarily expensive to build there. As a real estate matter, this was just an extraordinary opportunity.”

The immunology institute had been planned for years, while a full-scale research park was something “we’ve always dreamed of having ... but we always recognized we could never find a piece of property that big close to campus. We had sort of given up on the idea many years ago — and it came alive,” said former UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, who was instrumental in the purchase of the former Westside Pavilion.

An earlier plan to build the institute on the campus called for tearing down a parking garage, digging a hole deep enough to replace the parking and erecting a new building on top, Block said.

The gift, through the Michelson Medical Research Foundation , designates $100 million to establish two research entities within the institute, each funded with $50 million; one will focus on rapid vaccine development and the other on harnessing the body’s microbiome to advance human health. The microbiome research will be conducted in collaboration with the new UCLA Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center , placing it among the largest microbiome research enterprises in the world, the foundation said.

The foundation is also funding a $20-million endowment to provide research grants to young scientists using novel processes to advance immunotherapy research, human immunology and vaccine discovery.

The institute will have labs of different sizes meant to serve biotech researchers who can start with small teams that can grow into larger labs if they find success.

“We’re going to create an entire ecosystem of biotech startups and they’re going to stay right here” and attract other players to the neighborhood, Michelson said. “We’re going to build out an entire ecosystem of biotech all through Westwood.”

He envisions 5,000 people, including 500 research scientists, working in the institute. Gov. Gavin Newsom estimated in January that it would take more than three years to fully transform the 700,000-square-foot complex, but Michelson hopes to have a large portion of the immunology institute operating in half that time, he said. At 360,000 square feet, the institute will be the research park’s primary tenant.

The former mall’s 12-screen multiplex movie theater may be converted into lecture halls or performance spaces offering programming across the arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences, the chancellor’s office said.

The gift is the Michelsons’ largest single donation in 30 years of philanthropy that includes $50 million to build Michelson Hall at the University of Southern California, which is home to the Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience. The Michelson name will not be attached to the new UCLA complex, he said, because other philanthropists — perhaps one who donates more than he did — may want the recognition.

“The gift will change countless lives here and across the globe,” UCLA interim Chancellor Darnell Hunt said.

The institute will operate as a nonprofit medical research organization funded by a public-private partnership and governed by an independent board that includes UCLA representatives, according to a UC Regents document . The institute will pay UCLA 7.5% of the net revenues generated by the sale of new medicines and other inventions its scientists create, the document said.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the project “has the potential to fundamentally change health outcomes around the world and create good jobs in Los Angeles.”

The purchase of the former Westside Pavilion marked the third major acquisition for the public university system in Los Angeles in less than two years.

Seeking to expand its footprint, UCLA announced in June 2023 that it had acquired the Art Deco-style Trust Building in downtown Los Angeles and renamed it UCLA Downtown.

Nine months prior, the school spent $80 million to buy two other major properties owned by Marymount California University, a small Catholic university that was shuttered last year. The purchase included Marymount’s 24.5-acre campus in Rancho Palos Verdes and an 11-acre residential site in nearby San Pedro.

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UVA Research Cracks the Autism Code, Making the Neurodivergent Brain Visible

Model Grounded in Biology Reveals the Tissue Structures Linked to the Disorder

A multi-university research team co-led by University of Virginia engineering professor Gustavo K. Rohde has developed a system that can spot genetic markers of autism in brain images with 89 to 95% accuracy. 

Their findings suggest doctors may one day see, classify and treat autism and related neurological conditions with this method, without having to rely on, or wait for, behavioral cues. And that means this truly personalized medicine could result in earlier interventions.

“Autism is traditionally diagnosed behaviorally but has a strong genetic basis. A genetics-first approach could transform understanding and treatment of autism,” the researchers wrote in a paper published June 12 in the journal Science Advances.

Rohde, a professor of biomedical and electrical and computer engineering, collaborated with researchers from the University of California San Franscisco and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, including Shinjini Kundu, Rohde’s former Ph.D. student and first author of the paper.

While working in Rohde’s lab, Kundu — now a physician at the Johns Hopkins Hospital — helped develop a generative computer modeling technique called transport-based morphometry, or TBM, which is at the heart of the team’s approach.

Using a novel mathematical modeling technique, their system reveals brain structure patterns that predict variations in certain regions of the individual’s genetic code — a phenomenon called “copy number variations,” in which segments of the code are deleted or duplicated. These variations are linked to autism.

TBM allows the researchers to distinguish normal biological variations in brain structure from those associated with the deletions or duplications.

“Some copy number variations are known to be associated with autism, but their link to brain morphology — in other words, how different types of brain tissues such as gray or white matter, are arranged in our brain — is not well known,” Rohde said. “Finding out how CNV relates to brain tissue morphology is an important first step in understanding autism’s biological basis.”

How TBM Cracks the Code

Transport-based morphometry is different from other machine learning image analysis models because the mathematical models are based on mass transport — the movement of molecules such as proteins, nutrients and gases in and out of cells and tissues. “Morphometry” refers to measuring and quantifying the biological forms created by these processes.

Most machine learning methods, Rohde said, have little or no relation to the biophysical processes that generated the data. They rely instead on recognizing patterns to identify anomalies.

But Rohde’s approach uses mathematical equations to extract the mass transport information from medical images, creating new images for visualization and further analysis.

Then, using a different set of mathematical methods, the system parses information associated with autism-linked CNV variations from other “normal” genetic variations that do not lead to disease or neurological disorders — what the researchers call “confounding sources of variability.” 

 Major discoveries from such vast amounts of data may lie ahead if we utilize more appropriate mathematical models to extract such information.

These sources previously prevented researchers from understanding the “gene-brain-behavior” relationship, effectively limiting care providers to behavior-based diagnoses and treatments.

According to Forbes magazine , 90% of medical data is in the form of imaging, which we don’t have the means to unlock. Rohde believes TBM is the skeleton key.

“As such, major discoveries from such vast amounts of data may lie ahead if we utilize more appropriate mathematical models to extract such information.”

The researchers used data from participants in the Simons Variation in Individuals Project, a group of subjects with the autism-linked genetic variation.

Control-set subjects were recruited from other clinical settings and matched for age, sex, handedness and non-verbal IQ while excluding those with related neurological disorders or family histories.

“We hope that the findings, the ability to identify localized changes in brain morphology linked to copy number variations, could point to brain regions and eventually mechanisms that can be leveraged for therapies,” Rohde said.

Publication

Discovering the gene-brain-behavior link in autism via generative machine learning was published online June 12, 2024, in Science Advances for the June 14 edition. 

Additional co-authors are Haris Sair of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Elliott H. Sherr and Pratik Mukherjee of the University of California San Francisco’s Department of Radiology.

The research received funding from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Radiological Society of North America and the Simons Variation in Individuals Foundation.

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The Nuremberg Code isn’t just for prosecuting Nazis − its principles have shaped medical ethics to this day

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After World War II, Nuremberg, Germany, was the site of trials of Nazi officials charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Nuremberg trials were landmarks in the development of international law. But one of them has also been applied in peacetime: the “ Medical Trial ,” which has helped to shape bioethics ever since.

Twenty Nazi physicians and three administrators were tried for committing lethal and torturous human experimentation , including freezing prisoners in ice water and subjecting them to simulated high-altitude experiments. Other Nazi experiments included infecting prisoners with malaria, typhus and poisons and subjecting them to mustard gas and sterilization. These criminal experiments were conducted mostly in the concentration camps and often ended in the death of the subjects.

Lead prosecutor Telford Taylor, an American lawyer and general in the U.S. Army, argued that such deadly experiments were more accurately classified as murder and torture than anything related to the practice of medicine. A review of the evidence, including physician expert witnesses and testimony from camp survivors , led the judges to agree. The verdicts were handed down on Aug. 20, 1947.

As part of their judgment, the American judges drafted what has become known as The Nuremberg Code , which set forth key requirements for ethical treatment and medical research. The code has been widely recognized for, among other things, being the first major articulation of the doctrine of informed consent. Yet its guidelines may not be enough to protect humans against new potentially “species-endangering” research today.

10 key values

The code consists of 10 principles that the judges ruled must be followed as both a matter of medical ethics and a matter of international human rights law.

The first and most famous sentence stands out: “The voluntary consent of the human subject is absolutely essential.”

In addition to voluntary and informed consent, the code also requires that subjects have a right to withdraw from an experiment at any time. The other provisions are designed to protect the health of the subjects, including that the research must be done only by a qualified investigator, follow sound science, be based on preliminary research on animals and ensure adequate health and safety protection of subjects.

The trial’s prosecutors, physicians and judges formulated the code by working together. As they did, they also set the early agenda for a new field: bioethics. The guidelines also describe a scientist-subject relationship that obligates researchers to do more than act in what they think is the best interests of subjects, but to respect the subject’s human rights and protect their welfare. These rules essentially replace the paternalistic model of the Hippocratic oath with a human rights approach.

Under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who had been the commanding general in Europe, the U.S. Department of Defense adopted the code’s principles in 1953 – one sign of its influence. Its fundamental consent principle is also summarized in the U.N.’s International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , which declares that “no one shall be subjected without his free consent to medical or scientific experimentation.”

Yet some physicians tried to distance themselves from the Nuremberg Code because its source was judicial rather than medical, and because they did not want to be linked in any way to the Nazi physicians on trial at Nuremberg.

The World Medical Association, a physicians group set up after the Nuremberg Doctors Trial, formulated its own set of ethical guidelines , named the “ Helsinki Declaration .” As with Hippocrates, Helsinki permitted exceptions to informed consent, such as when the physician-researcher thought that silence was in the best medical interest of the subject.

The Nuremberg Code was written by judges to be applied in the courtroom. Helinski was written by physicians for physicians.

There have been no subsequent international trials on human experimentation since Nuremberg, even in the International Criminal Court, so the text of the Nuremberg Code remains unchanged.

New research, new procedures?

The code has been a major focus of my work on health law and bioethics , and I spoke in Nuremberg on its 50th and 75th anniversaries, at conferences sponsored by the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. Both events celebrated the Nuremberg Code as a human rights proclamation.

I remain a strong supporter of the Nuremberg Code and believe that following its precepts is both an ethical and a legal obligation of physician researchers. Yet the public can’t expect Nuremberg to protect it against all types of scientific research or weapons development.

Soon after the U.S. dropped atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki – two years before the Nuremberg trials began – it became evident that our species was capable of destroying ourselves.

Nuclear weapons are only one example. Most recently, international debate has focused on new potential pandemics, but also on “ gain-of-function” research , which sometimes adds lethality to an existing bacteria or virus to make it more dangerous. The goal is not to harm humans but rather to try to develop a protective countermeasure . The danger, of course, is that a super harmful agent “escapes” from the laboratory before such a countermeasure can be developed.

I agree with the critics who argue that at least some gain-of-function research is so dangerous to our species that it should be outlawed altogether. Innovations in artificial intelligence and climate engineering could also pose lethal dangers to all humans, not just some humans. Our next question is who gets to decide whether species-endangering research should be done, and on what basis?

I believe that species-endangering research should require multinational, democratic debate and approval. Such a mechanism would be one way to make the survival of our own endangered species more likely – and ensure we are able to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Nuremberg Code.

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Conducting Research in the New Abortion Care Policy Landscape

• 1 University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy, Ann Arbor
• Research Letter A Cautionary Note on Trends in Maternal Death Post- Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Amanda Jean Stevenson, PhD; Leslie Root, PhD JAMA Network Open

The public policy chaos fueled by the June 2022 Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court decision has created a critical need for objective and high-quality abortion policy evaluation research. Stevenson and Root 1 rose to this challenge by conducting a convincing analysis of recent trends in maternal mortality, motivated in part by pro-life advocate claims that the recent observed decline in pregnancy-related death is the counterintuitive result of more restrictive abortion policies post– Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health . Using 5.75 years of monthly national maternal mortality data from January 2018 through September 2023, their decomposition approach considered spikes in mortality from COVID-19 and potential seasonal fluctuations in maternal deaths. The findings clearly demonstrate that the observed decline in maternal mortality after the 2022 Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health ruling is the result of a resolution of the COVID-19 mortality shock, not because of new restrictive abortion laws being passed by state legislatures.

This work is among the first published analyses of the potential effects of restrictive state abortion policies in the post– Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health aftermath. Additional research on a wide array of potential outcomes needs to be conducted to fully understand the range and magnitude of the outcomes of state-level abortion policies. Based on a plethora of prior research regarding unintended pregnancy and abortion, reduced access to abortion care is thought to decrease the incidence of abortion but also increase the risk and incidence of myriad adverse maternal and infant health outcomes. 2 Restrictive abortion policies are also expected to increase child poverty, increase the number of families that experience serious financial instability or hardship, and put additional pressures on underresourced social welfare systems. 2 In addition, there is great concern that restrictive abortion laws will negatively impact physician choice regarding where to train or practice and the availability of obstetric care across states. 3

After major public policy reforms, it is common for stakeholders—proponents and opponents alike—to look for positive and negative policy effects immediately. While easy to conduct, armchair policy impact pontification is fraught with error and false conclusions. Identifying the impact of public policy change is not a simple task. Besides the obvious cautionary chant that correlation is not causation, evaluating the degree to which public policy shifts are having both intended and unintended consequences requires sound approaches to methods, timely access to quality data, and sophisticated statistical analyses that control for underlying trends and confounding factors. 4

Furthermore, there is often discussion and debate among researchers themselves regarding how to investigate the effects of important public health, medical, and health care interventions and policies. The convening of expert panels or working groups to provide guidance regarding research priorities and best approaches to research design, data or measurement, and analyses on specific topics is long-standing. It can provide essential scientific direction to emerging issues, including ones fraught with political controversy. For example, the National Academy of Medicine has convened many methods-focused committees in challenging areas of research, including reports such as Priorities for Research to Reduce the Threat of Firearm-Related Violence (2013) and A Framework for Assessing Mortality and Morbidity After Large-Scale Disasters (2020).

There is a crucial need for investment in scientific discourse regarding how best to investigate the wide range of potential medical, public health, and social welfare effects of public policy related to abortion care. 5 An organization with authority and resources, such as the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, or a foundation with a health-related mission, should quickly convene an ad hoc panel of experts to produce a nonpartisan, nonideological consensus document that provides guidance for objective public policy evaluation research associated with state-level restrictive abortion care policies. Such a panel could help create a priority research agenda for funders and provide guidance regarding data or measurement, research designs, statistical analyses approaches, and other methodology issues. This includes guidance for taking advantage of state differences in policy design, timing, and state contextual factors (eg, state Medicaid policy) and for subpopulation analyses since restrictive abortion laws are likely to have differential effects based on race or ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, and geography.

In summary, the analysis by Stevenson and Root 1 provides a convincing assessment of an issue regarding abortion policy: the recent decline in maternal mortality after the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health ruling may be the result of a decrease in COVID-19–related maternal death rather than state legislatures’ new power to ban or severely restrict abortion care. However, there are many other important research questions regarding the health and social effects of the new abortion policy regime in the US. Investments in public policy evaluation research must be made quickly, including guidance for a priority research agenda and associated objective research designs, methods, and analysis approaches. Otherwise, the erroneous musings of amateur analysts of all ideological perspectives are likely to obscure a deep understanding of the actual effects of restrictive abortion policies on individuals and on population health outcomes, including medical care access, maternal and infant health, and the social welfare of families and children.

Published: August 27, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.30000

Open Access: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC-BY License . © 2024 Lantz PM. JAMA Network Open .

Corresponding Author: Paula M. Lantz, PhD, MS, University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy, 735 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-3091 ( [email protected] ).

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

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Donating a kidney is safer than ever, reassuring research finds

There's never been a safer time to give a kidney. 

The risk of death for people who donated a kidney has dropped by more than half in the last decade, according to a study published Wednesday. 

“It’s just becoming safer and safer for people to donate,” said Dr. Dorry Segev, a transplant surgeon at NYU Langone Health and senior author of the study. 

The overall risk of death for a kidney donor has always been low, but advances in surgery and medical care, along with more careful donor selection, have improved the odds even more. 

The kidneys play a vital role in health, responsible for filtering harmful toxins out of our blood and regulating blood pressure. As rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure — both may contribute to renal disease — have increased, the need for kidney donors has become more urgent.

Nearly 90,000 people are waiting for kidney transplants in the U.S., with the average wait time around three to five years. Kidneys are the most commonly transplanted organ, with an estimated 27,000 kidney transplants performed annually.

For the new study, published in JAMA , doctors looked at data on people who died within 90 days after a kidney transplant surgery from 1993 to 2022. Data came from both the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients and the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, a nonprofit organization that administers the nation’s only transplant network authorized by the U.S. Congress.

In total, there were 164,593 kidney donors included in the study. Thirty-six died within 90 days after donation. 

From 1993 to 2002, there 13 total deaths after the procedure for a mortality rate of 3 per 10,000 people; from 2003 to 2012, there were 18 deaths, a mortality rate of 2.9 per 10,000. 

Deaths dropped significantly from 2013 to 2022, to just five, or a mortality rate of 0.9 per 10,000. 

During this time, laparoscopic surgery — a minimally invasive technique where surgeons use small incisions and specialized instruments to remove the kidney — became the standard of care, Segev said. Previously, patients underwent open donor nephrectomy, which required a much larger incision that needed longer recovery time and more risk of complications.

In previous decades, donors who were male and people with a history of high blood pressure were more likely to die within 90 days of surgery than other donors. Most of the deaths occurred in the first seven days after surgery. The most common cause of death from the procedure was excessive bleeding, or hemorrhage.

“It’s really important for us as a community that takes care of these patients to make sure the message is consistent,” said Dr. Kassem Safa, associate medical director for the kidney transplant program at Massachusetts General Hospital. “We tell them the truth about the risks they’re taking, and this study just validates the fact that it’s a very safe surgery with a very tiny risk — but not a zero risk.”

It is critical that this procedure be as safe as possible, as many patients who donate kidneys are previously healthy with no medical problems.

“The first thing we tell donors is you don’t have to do this and you’re not going to get any medical benefits from it,” Safa said.

Fortunately, long-term data from organ donors has shown that their kidney function tends to remain stable and the risk of developing chronic kidney disease is only slightly higher than in those who do not donate , Safa said. 

Doctors are hopeful that reassuring data like this will ultimately help solve the shortage of donors in the U.S. 

“Anything that comes along that says being a living donor is getting safer and safer over time will hopefully encourage more people to step forward and donate and give the gift of life,” said Dr. John Friedewald, medical director of the kidney transplant program at Northwestern Medicine.

Friedewald, who was not involved with the study, said this updated data will ultimately help doctors better consent patients who are about to undergo the procedure. 

Tracy McKibben, chair of the board of directors at the National Kidney Foundation, donated a kidney to her mother in 2009. Her mother, who was previously a very active person and a frequent traveler, had stopped doing much of what she enjoyed as she had to frequent a dialysis center three days a week. 

That all changed when McKibben gave her the ultimate gift. 

“It was just a world of difference for her and a world of difference for me,” she said. “Being able to see her have her old life that she hadn’t had for some time when she started having to undergo dialysis.”

CORRECTION:  (Aug. 28, 2024, 1:46 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the number of deaths and the death rates for kidney donors. From 1993 to 2002, there were 13 deaths and a death rate of 3 per 10,000, not a death rate of 13 per 10,000. From 2003 to 2012, there were 18 total deaths for a death rate of 2.9 per 10,000, not a death rate of 18 per 10,000. For 2013 to 2022, the death rate was 0.9 per 10,000, not 0.05 per 10,000.

Akshay Syal, M.D., is a medical fellow with the NBC News Health and Medical Unit. 

Medical research suffers from sex and gender bias. New standards hope to change that

ABC Health & Wellbeing

Topic: Women's Health

Considering sex and gender in health and medical research can improve health outcomes and reduce inequities. ( Getty Images: Tetra Images )

Evidence suggests there are clinically significant sex and gender differences across a broad range of diseases but these often aren't factored into research and treatment.

Australia's largest health and medical research funding body has recommended sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation be routinely considered in health and medical research.

What's next?

Experts say the new recommendations need to be incorporated into research funding applications to ensure research is more inclusive and equitable.

When Cheryl Carcel was in medical school, little attention was paid to the role that sex and gender can play in the detection and treatment of many major diseases.

"We weren't taught that men and women might present differently or have different outcomes."

Associate Professor Cheryl Carcel is a neurologist and head of the Brain Health Program at The George Institute for Global Health. ( Supplied: The George Institute of Global Health )

But Dr Carcel, a neurologist and head of the Brain Health Program at The George Institute for Global Health, said in her own field — and many other areas of medicine — such differences were stark.

Last year, she co-authored a study investigating the medical care that people with stroke receive before arriving at hospital in NSW , and found women were less likely to have their stroke recognised compared to men.

"[Women] were thought to be having a migraine, high blood pressure, or some type of headache or nausea," she said.

"And we think one of the reasons is because some of the symptoms of women are not recognised as being stroke."

Stroke isn't unique in this regard: women are less likely to be diagnosed and appropriately treated if they suffer a serious heart attack , less likely to have chronic pain acknowledged and treated , and more likely to be misdiagnosed or discharged during a serious medical event .

Bronwyn Graham, director of the Centre for Sex and Gender Equity in Health and Medicine, said part of the reason was because women had been under-represented in medical research for decades.

"Our models of how diseases emerge in humans, the ways they look and the ways they can be treated, are based on the male body, and those findings don't always translate," said Professor Graham.

"The consequence is that we see poorer health outcomes and treatments that are not evidence-based for certain sex and gender groups."

Major funding body calls for attention on sex and gender

In early August, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) released a statement encouraging sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation to be routinely considered in health and medical research.

The NHMRC is the largest public funder of health and medical research in Australia and distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in research grants every year, including through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

"What it means in practice is that researchers should consider these variables at all stages of the research process," said Professor Graham, who is also a professor of psychology at the University of New South Wales.

"So that's from the very start (what questions should we be asking?)  through to the conduct of the study (do we have equal representation of sexes and genders?) to how data are analysed and reported … and then how things get translated into healthcare practices."

Gender bias in medicine means conditions that primarily affect women and other under-represented groups have been understudied and are therefore less understood. ( Getty Images: dragana991 )

A growing body of evidence suggests there are clinically significant sex and gender differences across a broad range of diseases , from susceptibility and screening to risk factors, treatment and prognosis.

The aim of the statement, according to the NHMRC, is to improve health outcomes and ensure medical research produces evidence that is relevant to all people.

It encourages researchers to increase the representation and involvement of historically under-represented groups, including women, trans and non-binary people, people with variations of sex characteristics (intersex) and diverse sexual orientations.

A recent study showed while women were over-represented in research perceived to 'female-patient' dominated, they were they were significantly under-represented in other areas, such as cardiology.

Meanwhile, intersex and non-binary people were found to be severely under-represented across all areas of medical research.

"Women are often the people who are missing out here — women, intersex, trans and non-binary folk," Professor Graham said.

"We see in practice, for example, that women are 50 per cent more likely to have adverse reactions to drugs and vaccines than men; that pain medications don't work as effectively in women as they do in men; and that women are more likely to develop chronic pain conditions and addictions to pain medication."

Professor Bronwyn Graham is director of the Centre for Sex and Gender Equity in Health and Medicine, a collaboration of The George Institute, Deakin University and the Australian Human Rights Institute at UNSW. ( Supplied: The George Institute of Global Health )

In Australia, research shows women disproportionately experience delayed diagnosis, overprescribing, and a failure to have their symptoms properly investigated .

Professor Graham said that failing to consider biological and physical characteristics in research, as well as gender roles and behaviours, also meant that men miss out.

"If we're looking at things in a sex- and gender-blind fashion, we're also not thinking about what are the unique things about men that we need to pay attention to that might actually impact the prognosis of an illness … and also response to treatment."

Australia lags behind on sex and gender equity

Last year, a study co-authored by Dr Carcel found just 30 per cent of health and medical research publications in Australia analysed their findings by sex and/or gender.

"The NHMRC statement is groundbreaking for Australia," she said.

"It's not meant to increase the pool of researchers who focus on these variables, but is for all researchers applying for NHMRC and MRFF grants."

Historically, the tendency to conduct scientific research on men and generalise the findings, including to women, has been driven largely by concerns over potential harm to the female reproductive system.

Martha Hickey, a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Melbourne, said the exclusion of women was also a product of the misguided belief that female hormonal fluctuations may affect the reliability of study results.

"There were a number of false assumptions made at different levels," said Professor Hickey, an NHMRC Leadership Fellow.

"I think all of us have been surprised by how far down this goes. It wasn't just about [research on] people, it was also animals, and even cell-based research." 

Professor Hickey, who contributed to the development of the new NHMRC statement, said when it came to recognising sex and gender differences, Australia lagged behind Europe and North America.

"The Americans have been doing this for more than 20 years, by which I mean stating that there needs to be equal numbers of males and females and other important variable groups taken into consideration," she said.

"I think we've all learnt that research is better if it's inclusive, and it's more likely to be taken up."

Research grants should reflect new recommendations, experts say

While Professor Graham described the statement as "an incredibly positive step", she expressed concern that the new recommendations were not yet "written into policy".

"There is nowhere in the grant application process where researchers are required to indicate how they have taken sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation into account."

Traditionally, researchers have worked with male lab animals and primarily used men in clinical trials. ( Getty Images: SolStock )

In some circumstances, having equal gender representation or analysing data by sex may not be necessary, but she said researchers should still have clear reasoning as to why.

"They should still need to justify the sample: how is it actually representative? Is the research being conducted in the population that stands to benefit from this research?"

Dr Carcel agreed, and said the statement should be followed up with an implementation and evaluation plan requiring sex and gender to be addressed in grant applications where appropriate.

A spokesperson for the NHMRC said researchers and their institutions were being "encouraged to reflect on the statement and start doing what they can now", but no formal requirement was in place.

"The next phase of work will include consideration of how to incorporate the statement in granting processes," the spokesperson said.

Improving knowledge and healthcare requires sector-wide change

In addition to funding bodies, Dr Carcel stressed that universities, medical research institutes, and health and medical journals had a significant role to play in improving sex and gender equity.

"[Journal editors] act as gatekeepers of bad science, and bad science is what we get if we don't include sex and gender into our research."

Professor Graham agreed: "The places in which we practise research have a huge amount of control over our code of conduct. If [universities and medical research institutes] implement their own policies, that is a further support to ensure things like the NHMRC statement can gain momentum."

In 2023, the NHMRC introduced measures to ensure an equal number of men and women were awarded senior investigator grants , which Professor Hickey said would also help to "change the nature of research".

She added that there had been a major "feminisation" of the medical workforce and that awareness of sex and gender differences was "much more apparent" than in the past, but that improvements in knowledge wouldn't solve the problem alone.

"The bias isn't only around clinicians not understanding how women may present, it also appears to be how doctors and other health personnel respond to them," she said.

In a recent survey of almost 3,000 Australian women, two in three reported health care-related bias and discrimination , with many women feeling dismissed and disbelieved.

"We've got a lot to learn," Professor Hickey said.

Health in your inbox

Li Ka Shing Foundation funds non-invasive liver cancer treatment for Hong Kong patients

• Li Ka Shing Foundation donates Asia’s first cutting-edge, non-invasive device for treatment of liver cancer to city’s oldest university

The non-invasive ultrasound treatment will be offered to 20 hospital patients free of charge over the next two years as part of a research programme led by the university.

The first patient is expected to start treatment this week.

“We hope that after the research programme, the treatment will be made regular and benefit more patients at public hospitals in the future,” said Professor Albert Chan Chi-yan of the university’s department of surgery.

Liver cancer is the fifth most common form of cancer in Hong Kong, with about 1,800 new cases and more than 1,500 related deaths recorded each year. More than 80 per cent of all cases were also diagnosed at a late stage.

Treatment options for liver cancer currently include surgical resection, liver transplant, ablation, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy – all of which require patients to undergo a long recovery process.

Histotripsy is a non-invasive treatment that uses high-intensity ultrasound waves to precisely disrupt cancer tissue without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue.

The devices uses the targeted ultrasound waves to form microbubbles within the tumour.

The bubbles then rapidly expand and collapse, generating shock waves that disrupt and liquefy the targeted tumour cells.

The new device has an advanced precision treatment arm, a therapy transducer and a water bath.

The procedure, which involves no incisions or radiation, is painless and does not leave scars on patients who are not at risk of infection or metastasis – the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body.

The treatment is considered more targeted and effective than traditional radiotherapy or surgical procedures.

Chan said the treatment also offered a speedier recovery, with patients able to be discharged on the same day as the procedure or a day later.

He added that each treatment using the new device costs US$8,000, or about HK$62,400.

The new technology was developed by the University of Michigan in 2001 and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration last year.

According to researchers, nearly 400 patients had been treated at US medical institutions using the new technology, with clinical data showing those who underwent the procedure recovered well after the operation.

They added that the patients had not suffered from any local recurrence of the targeted tumours or major complications, indicating the treatment was safe and effective.

Mike Blue, CEO of HistoSonics, the US manufacturer of the histotripsy system, said the new technology could also be used to treat other forms of cancer.

“It does not discriminate against the type of cancer. It will destroy any cancer cell,” he said.

Alongside the ultrasound device, the Li Ka Shing Foundation has also supported the training of six doctors and radiologists in using the technology by HistoSonics.

Another histotripsy system donated to the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s medical faculty is expected to arrive by the end of this year.

The foundation said it had set aside more than US$6 million as part of the donation of the two devices and patient treatment, as well as helping to cover the training of medical staff in the United States.

The organisation stopped short of revealing the exact cost of the new technology.

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Cochlear implant users reveal basic approaches for how people recognize words

by University of Iowa

University of Iowa researchers have defined how people recognize words. In a new study with people who use cochlear implants to hear, the researchers identified three main approaches that people with or without hearing impairment use to recognize words, an essential building block for understanding spoken language. Which approach depends on the person, regardless of hearing aptitude or ability: Some wait a bit before identifying a word, while others may tussle between two or more words before deciding which word has been heard.

When a person hears a word, the brain briefly considers hundreds, if not thousands, of options and rules out most of them in less than a second. When someone hears "Hawkeyes," for example, the brain might briefly consider "hot dogs," "hawk," "hockey," and other similar-sounding words before settling on the target word.

While the brain operates quickly and differences in word-recognition strategies may be subtle, the findings in this study are important because they could open new ways for hearing specialists to identify word-recognition difficulties in early childhood or in older adults (who tend to lose hearing) and more effectively manage those conditions.

"With this study, we found people don't all work the same way, even at the level of how they recognize a single word," says Bob McMurray, F. Wendell Miller Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and the study's corresponding author. "People seem to adopt their own unique solutions to the challenge of recognizing words. There's not one way to be a language user. That's kind of wild when you think about it."

McMurray has been studying word recognition in children and in older adults for three decades. His research has shown differences in how people across all ages recognize spoken language. But those differences tended to be so slight that it made it difficult to precisely categorize. So, McMurray and his research team turned to people who use cochlear implants —devices used by the profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing that bypass the normal pathways by which people hear, using electrodes to deliver sound.

"It's like replacing millions of hair cells and thousands of frequencies with 22 electrodes. It just smears everything together. But it works, because the brain can adapt," McMurray says.

The research team enlisted 101 participants from the Iowa Cochlear Implant Clinical Research Center at University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center. The participants listened through loudspeakers as a word was spoken, then selected among four images on a computer screen the one that matched the word they had heard. The hearing and selection activities were recorded with eye-tracking technology , which allowed the researchers to follow, in a fraction of a second, how and when each participant decided on a word they had heard.

The study is published in the journal Nature Communications.

The experiments revealed that the cochlear-implant users—even with a different way to hear—employed the same basic process when choosing spoken words as normal hearing people.

The researchers termed three word-recognition dimensions:

• Wait and See
• Sustained Activation
• Slow Activation

Most cochlear implant participants utilized Wait and See to some degree, the researchers found, meaning they waited for as much as a quarter of a second after hearing the word to firmly decide which word they heard.

Previous research in McMurray's lab has shown that children with early hearing loss have Wait and See tendencies, but this hasn't been observed more generally.

"Maybe it's a way for them to avoid a bunch of other word competitors in their heads," McMurray says. "They can kind of slow down and keep it simple."

The researchers also learned that some cochlear implant participants tended toward Sustained Activation, in which listeners tussle for a bit between words before settling on what they think is the word they heard, or they utilize Slow Activation, meaning they're slower to recognize words. Importantly, every listener seems to adopt a hybrid, with a different degree of each strategy.

The dimensions match the patterns by which people without hearing impairment, from youth to older ages, tend to recognize words, as shown in a previous study by McMurray's team.

"Now that we've identified the dimensions with our cochlear implant population, we can look at people without hearing impairment, and we see that the exact same dimensions apply," McMurray says. "What we see very clearly with how cochlear implant users recognize words is also going on under the hood in lots of people."

The researchers now hope to apply the findings to develop strategies that may help people who are at the extreme ends of a particular word-recognition dimension. About 15% of adults in the United States have hearing loss, which could cascade into cognitive decline, fewer social interactions, and greater isolation.

"We aim to have a more refined way than simply asking them, 'How well are you listening; do you struggle to perceive speech in the real world?'" McMurray says.

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Neuroscientists decode the brain’s response to unexpected sensory inputs

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Researchers have discovered how two brain areas, neocortex and thalamus, work together to detect discrepancies between what animals expect from their environment and actual events. These prediction errors are implemented by selective boosting of unexpected sensory information. These findings enhance our understanding of predictive processing in the brain and could offer insights into how brain circuits are altered in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs).

The research, published today in Nature, outlines how scientists at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre at UCL studied mice in a virtual reality environment to take us a step closer to understanding both the nature of prediction error signals in the brain as well as the mechanisms by which they arise.

Our brains constantly predict what to expect in the world around us and the consequences of our actions. When these predictions turn out wrong, this causes strong activation of different brain areas, and such prediction error signals are important for helping us learn from our mistakes and update our predictions. But despite their importance, surprisingly little is known about the neural circuit mechanisms responsible for their implementation in the brain." Professor Sonja Hofer, Group Leader at SWC and corresponding author on the paper

To study how the brain processes expected and unexpected events, the researchers placed mice in a virtual reality environment where they could navigate along a familiar corridor to get to a reward. The virtual environment enabled the team to precisely control visual input and introduce unexpected images on the walls. By using a technique called two-photon calcium imaging, the researchers were able to record the neural activity from many individual neurons in primary visual cortex, the first area in our neocortex to receive visual information from the eyes.

"Previous theories proposed that prediction error signals encode how the actual visual input is different from expectations, but surprisingly we found no experimental evidence for this. Instead, we discovered that the brain boosts the responses of neurons that have the strongest preference for the unexpected visual input. The error signal we observe is a consequence of this selective amplification of visual information. This implies that our brain detects discrepancies between predictions and actual inputs to make unexpected events more salient" explained Dr Shohei Furutachi, Senior Research Fellow in the Hofer and Mrsic-Flogel labs at SWC and first author on the study.

To understand how the brain generates this amplification of the unexpected sensory input in the visual cortex, the team used a technique called optogenetics to inactivate or activate different groups of neurons. They found two groups of neurons that were important for causing the prediction error signal in the visual cortex: vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-expressing inhibitory interneurons in V1 and a thalamic brain region called the pulvinar, which integrates information from many neocortical and subcortical areas and is strongly connected to V1. But the researchers found that these two groups of neurons interact in a surprising way.

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"Often in neuroscience we focus on studying one brain region or pathway at a time. But coming from a molecular biology background, I was fascinated by how different molecular pathways synergistically interact to enable flexible and contextual regulation. I decided to test the possibility that cooperation could be occurring at the level of neural circuits, between VIP neurons and the pulvinar," explained Dr Furutachi.

And indeed, Dr Furutachi's work revealed that VIP neurons and pulvinar act synergistically together. VIP neurons act like a switch board: when they are off, the pulvinar suppresses activity in the neocortex, but when VIP neurons are on, the pulvinar can strongly and selectively boost sensory responses in the neocortex. The cooperative interaction of these two pathways thus mediates the sensory prediction error signals in visual cortex.

The next steps for the team are to explore how and where in the brain the animals' predictions are compared with the actual sensory input to compute sensory prediction errors and how prediction error signals drive learning. They are also exploring how their findings could help contribute to understanding ASDs and SSDs.

"It has been proposed that ASDs and SSDs both can be explained by an imbalance in the prediction error system. We are now trying to apply our discovery to ASDs and SSDs model animals to study the mechanistic neural circuit underpinnings of these disorders," explained Dr Furutachi.

This research was funded by the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre Core Grant from the Gatsby Charity Foundation and Wellcome (219627/Z/19/Z and 090843/F/09/Z); a Wellcome Investigator Award (219561/Z/19/Z); the Gatsby Charitable Foundation (GAT3212 and GAT3361); the Wellcome Trust (090843/E/09/Z and 217211/Z/19/Z); European Research Council (HigherVision 337797; NeuroV1sion 616509); the SNSF (31003A 169525); Biozentrum core funds (University of Basel).

Sainsbury Wellcome Centre

Furutachi, S., et al . (2024). Cooperative thalamocortical circuit mechanism for sensory prediction errors.  Nature . doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07851-w .

Posted in: Medical Science News | Medical Research News

Tags: Autism , Brain , Calcium , Charity , Cortex , Imaging , Molecular Biology , Neocortex , Neurons , Neuroscience , Optogenetics , Research , Schizophrenia , Thalamus , Virtual Reality

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Facility for Rare Isotope Beams

At michigan state university, user community focuses on the future of the field and fostering a diverse and equitable workforce.

The 2024 Low Energy Community Meeting (LECM) took place 7-9 August on the campus of the University of Tennessee Knoxville. LECM brings together members of the worldwide low-energy nuclear physics community to interact and discuss future plans, initiatives, and instruments. Over the course of the three days, 250 participants attended the meeting from 65 institutions and eight countries.

The LECM organizing committee includes representatives from FRIB, Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), the Association for Research at University Nuclear Accelerators (ARUNA), the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS), the Center for Nuclear Astrophysics across Messengers (CeNAM), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the FRIB Theory Alliance (FRIB-TA), and the FRIB Users Organization Executive Committee. FRIB hosted the meeting last year, and ORNL hosted this year. Texas A&M University will host next year.

LECM included plenary sessions, four working group sessions, and four workshops: Modular Neutron Array (MoNA) collaboration, Fission studies with rare isotope beams, early careers, and public engagement. 

The LECM plenary sessions featured presentations from the FRIB Achievement Awards for Early Career Researchers; a presentation on diversity and inclusion; Kairos Power’s Hermes demonstration reactor; and comments from representatives from the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. The meeting highlighted the status at major user facilities—FRIB, ATLAS, and ARUNA.

The 2024 LECM affirmation and resolutions stated:

Affirmation: Our community affirms in the strongest possible terms its commitment to foster a diverse and equitable workforce and to support and respect diversity in all its forms. Individually and collectively we commit to ensuring an inclusive and accessible environment for all and taking action if these values are not being upheld.

Resolution 1: The highest priority for low-energy nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics research is to maintain U.S. world leadership in nuclear science by capitalizing on recent investments. To this end, we strongly support: 

• Robust theoretical and experimental research programs and the development and retention of a diverse and equitable workforce; 
• The optimal operation of the FRIB and ATLAS national user facilities;
• Investments in the ARUNA facilities, and key national laboratory facilities; 
• The FRIB Theory Alliance and all its initiatives.

All are critical to fully realize the scientific potential of the field and foster future breakthroughs.

Resolution 2: The science case for an energy upgrade of FRIB to 400 MeV/u is compelling. FRIB400 greatly expands the opportunities in the field. We strongly endorse starting the upgrade during the upcoming Long Range Plan period to harness its significant discovery potential. We support instrument developments, including the FDS and ISLA, now that GRETA and HRS are underway. These community devices are important to realize the full scope of scientific opportunities

Resolution 3: Computing is essential to advance all fields of nuclear science. We strongly support enhancing opportunities in computational nuclear science to accelerate discoveries and maintain U.S. leadership by: 

• Strengthening programs and partnerships to ensure the efficient utilization of new high-performance computing (HPC) hardware and new capabilities and approaches offered by artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) and quantum computing (QC); 
• Establishing programs that support the education, training of, and professional pathways for a diverse and multidisciplinary workforce with cross-disciplinary collaborations in HPC, AI/ML, and QC; 
• Expanding access to dedicated hardware and resources for HPC and new emerging computational technologies, as well as capacity computing essential for many research efforts.

Resolution 4: Research centers are important for low-energy nuclear science. They facilitate strong national and international communications and collaborations across disciplines and across theory and experiment. Interdisciplinary centers are particularly essential for nuclear astrophysics to seize new scientific opportunities in this area. We strongly endorse a nuclear astrophysics center that builds on the success of JINA, fulfills this vital role, and propels innovation in the multi-messenger era.

Resolution 5: Nuclear data play an essential role in all facets of nuclear science. Access to reliable, complete and up-to-date nuclear structure and reaction data is crucial for the fundamental nuclear physics research enterprise, as well as for the successes of applied missions in the areas of defense and security, nuclear energy, space exploration, isotope production, and medical applications. It is thus imperative to maintain an effective US role in the stewardship of nuclear data. 

• We endorse support for the compilation, evaluation, dissemination and preservation of nuclear data and efforts to build a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce that maintains reliable and up-to-date nuclear databases through national and international partnerships. 
• We recommend prioritizing opportunities that enhance the prompt availability and quality of nuclear data and its utility for propelling scientific progress in nuclear structure, reactions and astrophysics and other fundamental physics research programs.
• We endorse identifying interagency-supported crosscutting opportunities for nuclear data with other programs, that enrich the utility of nuclear data in both science and society.

The community also presented a statement on isotopes and applications:

Applied Nuclear Science offers many tangible benefits to the United States and to the world. The Low Energy Nuclear Physics Community recognizes the societal importance of applied research, and strongly encourages support for this exciting and growing field with funding and beam time allocations that enable critical discovery science that will improve our lives and make us all safer.

Rare isotopes are necessary for research and innovation and must be available.  

Texas Tech Now

Texas tech partnering in nsf rubber production research center.

August 29, 2024

The National Science Foundation project sees Davis College partner with Ohio State University, North Carolina State University and the University of California, Merced.

Researchers from Texas Tech University ’s Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources have joined with three other institutions as part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center (ERC). 

The NSF ERC for Transformation of American Rubber through Domestic Innovation for Supply Security (TARDISS), led by Ohio State University, has been granted $26 million in federal funding. The aim of TARDISS is to bridge engineering, biology and agricultural fields to revolutionize and explore alternative natural rubber production from domestically grown crops.

Catherine Simpson , an associate professor in Davis College’s Department of Plant & Soil Sciences is a co-PI on the project and will be joined in her work by Texas Tech faculty members Sukhbir Singh and Haydee Laza . 

“This NSF Engineering Research Center will address several key areas related to sustainable agricultural systems important to West Texas, including agricultural and environmental sustainability, reducing water use and training a diverse next generation of thought leaders,” said Davis College Dean Clint Krehbiel . “Our region has a rich agricultural heritage and stands as one of the few areas in the United States capable of producing guayule, a valuable source of alternative rubber. 

“Our close ties to the agricultural industry, farmers and stakeholders uniquely position Texas Tech to support this project. I could not be prouder of Dr. Simpson for leading Texas Tech’s collaboration in this multi-state effort and am grateful to NSF for recognizing the value and importance of this work.”

The Texas Tech team will coordinate with faculty members from Ohio State, North Carolina State University and the University of California, Merced, on the crop engineering and agricultural components of the project.

“Alongside Dr. Singh and Dr. Laza, we will be studying the impacts of production and management practices on guayule in order to optimize latex and rubber production in field and greenhouse conditions,” Simpson said. “Physiological, phenotypic and environmental evaluations will allow for a better understanding of latex and rubber synthesis in situ and aid in better crop production practices for the future. 

“In collaboration with the other institutions, alternative rubber crop lines that produce higher quality and quantities of rubber will be identified and assessed. We envision that this region will become a key production capital for U.S. rubber, and we aim to better prepare future growers, workforce and industries through our efforts. It is an honor to be a part of the TARDISS ERC and play a role in such a critical and innovative project.”

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Omsk, oblast of -- moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of omsk, oblast of.

Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of Omsk, Oblast of

Global Credit Research - 21 Jul 2020

London, 21 July 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of Omsk, Oblast of and other ratings that are associated with the same analytical unit. The review was conducted through a portfolio review in which Moody's reassessed the appropriateness of the ratings in the context of the relevant principal methodology(ies), recent developments, and a comparison of the financial and operating profile to similarly rated peers. The review did not involve a rating committee. Since 1 January 2019, Moody's practice has been to issue a press release following each periodic review to announce its completion.

This publication does not announce a credit rating action and is not an indication of whether or not a credit rating action is likely in the near future. Credit ratings and outlook/review status cannot be changed in a portfolio review and hence are not impacted by this announcement. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history.

Key rating considerations are summarized below.

The credit profile of the Oblast of Omsk (Ba3) incorporates low likelihood of extraordinary support from the federal government. In addition, it reflects the region's historically moderate or weak operating performance, some concentration of tax revenues and substantial refinancing risks given the uneven repayment schedule with bulky repayments. The region suffers from elevated population migration given the subdued regional economic wealth compared to national average. Its economy demonstrates weak growth which translates into modest dynamics of tax revenues. Moderate operating performance and a consistent need for market access for debt refinancing mean the region remains relatively vulnerable to an ongoing supply of credit and possible adverse economic scenarios. More positively, the credit profile incorporates some resilience of revenues to economic cycles due to relative stability of the local economy and authorities' clear policy to reduce leverage which declined to moderate levels during the last three years.

This document summarizes Moody's view as of the publication date and will not be updated until the next periodic review announcement, which will incorporate material changes in credit circumstances (if any) during the intervening period.

The principal methodology used for this review was Regional and Local Governments published in January 2018. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.

This announcement applies only to EU rated and EU endorsed ratings. Non EU rated and non EU endorsed ratings may be referenced above to the extent necessary, if they are part of the same analytical unit.

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© 2020 Moody's Corporation, Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Moody's Analytics, Inc. and/or their licensors and affiliates (collectively, "MOODY'S"). All rights reserved.

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