Brain pathway links inflammation to loss of motivation, energy in advanced cancer

The fatigue and lack of motivation that many cancer patients experience near the end of life have been seen as the unavoidable consequences of their declining physical health and extreme weight loss. But new research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis challenges that long-held assumption, showing instead that these behavioral changes stem […]

Pollina honored for innovations in neuroscience

Elizabeth Pollina, PhD, an assistant professor of developmental biology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has received the 2025 MIND Prize from the Pershing Square Foundation. The MIND (Maximizing Innovation in Neuroscience Discovery) Prize funds research by early- to mid-career investigators who are making innovative and cutting-edge contributions to the understanding, prevention […]

Leuthardt, Mitra selected as AIMBE fellows

The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) has named two new fellows from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The two faculty members join 30 of their WashU colleagues already in the organization, including seven who were inducted last year. Robi Mitra, PhD, the Alvin Goldfarb Distinguished Professor of Computational Biology in […]

Highly accurate blood test diagnoses Alzheimer’s disease, measures extent of dementia

A newly developed blood test for Alzheimer’s disease not only aids in the diagnosis of the neurodegenerative condition but also indicates how far it has progressed, according to a study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Lund University in Sweden. Several blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease are already clinically […]

Seven WashU faculty elected to AAAS

Seven faculty members at Washington University in St. Louis are among the 471 new fellows selected by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), one of the most distinct honors in the scientific community. AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals. New Fellows will […]

Grant supports PET scans to track inflammation in Parkinson’s disease

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is supporting a WashU Medicine effort to track neuroinflammation in the brains of patients with Parkinson’s disease. The five-year $3 million grant will allow co-principal investigators Zhude (Will) Tu, PhD, a professor of radiology, and Joel S. Perlmutter, MD, a professor of neurology and of radiology, to use radiotracers to track […]

Boosting brain’s waste removal system improves memory in old mice

As aging bodies decline, the brain loses the ability to cleanse itself of waste, a scenario that scientists think could be contributing to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, among others. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report they have found a way around that problem by […]

Jansky/Bander Family Fund supports movement disorders fellowships, brain bank

The Jansky/Bander Family Fund, a generous commitment of $1.1 million over five years, has been established to advance critical initiatives within the Section of Movement Disorders in the Department of Neurology at WashU Medicine. This significant financial contribution is earmarked for two primary functions under the direction of Joel S. Perlmutter, MD: funding fellowships and supporting […]

A closer look at biomolecular ‘Silly Putty’

Biomolecular condensates are shifting blobs in our cells that organize cellular matter. They are distinct molecular communities made of DNA, RNA and proteins that “condense” molecules to key locations, yet they frequently defy description. Partly this is because they are so small, they cannot be measured using traditional microscopes. “These blobs were once described as […]

2025 Poletsky and Blumenfeld Awards recipients announced

The Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center (Knight ADRC) is honored to recognize the achievements of these three promising investigators. The Richard and Mildred Poletsky Award Recipients: The Richard and Mildred Poletsky Education Fund was initiated in 1995 by the family of Mr. Richard Poletsky, a native of St. Louis and alumnus […]

$4.5 million supports pathbreaking neuroimmunology research

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has received a three-year $4.5 million grant from the Carol and Gene Ludwig Family Foundation, aimed at advancing research on neuroimmunology and neurodegeneration with the ultimate goal of developing new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. Administered by WashU Medicine’s Brain Immunology & Glia (BIG) Center, the Carol and Gene […]

Two WashU Medicine projects compete in STAT Madness tournament

For people who may not follow college basketball but want to share in the March tradition of cheering for a team as it tears through a tournament bracket, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has come through for you. STAT, an online publication focused on medicine, health and scientific discovery, has included two […]

WashU Expert: The disruptions of daylight saving time

A one-hour adjustment to the clock on the wall may not sound dramatic. But our biological clock begs to differ. On Sunday, March 9, at 2 a.m. local time, the U.S. “springs forward,” moving the clocks ahead one hour as we enter daylight saving time. Most of us need a few days to adjust to […]

Five named National Academy of Inventors senior members

Five researchers from Washington University in St. Louis have been named senior members of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Among the new senior members are three researchers from the School of Medicine: Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD, Aaron DiAntonio, MD PhD, and John DiPersio, MD, PhD; along with Sophia Hayes, PhD, a ​professor of chemistry […]

Undiagnosed diseases clinic expands outreach to underserved communities

For people living with rare and puzzling medical symptoms, getting a diagnosis is often a long and frustrating process punctuated by many tests and few results. The Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) Diagnostic Center of Excellence was established in 2019 to solve the trickiest medical mysteries in Missouri and nearby […]

Study highlights barriers to genetic testing for Black children

Studies have shown that Black children with serious illnesses are less likely than white children to obtain crucial genetic testing necessary to guide treatment decisions, but the reasons for this disparity have not been fully understood. A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis focused on children with neurological conditions finds […]

WashU Medicine launches center for rare diseases

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has launched the Center for Rare, Undiagnosed and Genetic Diseases, supported by an $8.5 million grant from Children’s Discovery Institute (CDI), a partnership with St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation and WashU Medicine. The new center brings together WashU Medicine researchers and the rare […]

Next-gen Alzheimer’s drugs extend independent living by months

In the past two years, the Food and Drug Administration has approved two novel Alzheimer’s therapies, based on data from clinical trials showing that both drugs slowed the progression of the disease. But while the approvals of lecanemab and donanemab, both antibody therapies that clear plaque-causing amyloid proteins from the brain, were greeted with enthusiasm […]

Patient defies genetic fate to avoid Alzheimer’s

Remarkably, Doug Whitney, 75, has escaped genetic destiny. Like many members of his family, Whitney inherited a rare genetic mutation that all but guarantees he would develop early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. But Whitney, whose relatives first showed symptoms of cognitive decline in their early 50s, remains mentally sharp with no signs of the devastating disease, and […]

2025 Olin Fellows & Kipnis Awardees

On behalf of the Medical Scientist Training Program Committee, we are pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Medical Science Fellows: The Olin Fellowships recognize superior accomplishments in biomedical research by doctoral students at Washington University. 32 outstanding students were nominated for the Olin Fellows Award this year, […]

Kerschensteiner Installed as Bernard Becker Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

On Thursday, January 23, 2025, esteemed colleagues, students, and distinguished guests gathered to honor Dr. Daniel Kerschensteiner, MD, as he was installed as the Bernard Becker Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. This prestigious professorship recognized Dr. Kerschensteiner’s exceptional contributions to vision science and his dedication to advancing our understanding and treatment of visual disorders. […]

2024 Bold Pioneer Award Winner Selected

Li-Feng Jiang-Xie, PhD, a postdoctoral research associate in WashU Medicine Department of Pathology and Immunology, was awarded $10,000 as the winner of the 2024 WashU Medicine Bold Pioneer Award. Jetske van der Schaar, research associate at Amsterdam University Medical Center, and Nicolas Barthélemy, PhD, assistant professor at WashU Medicine Department of Neurology, were awarded $2,000 […]

Fatal neurodegenerative disease in kids also affects the bowel

As a leading researcher of rare diseases that affect children’s brains, Jonathan D. Cooper, PhD, thought little about the gastrointestinal (GI) system. That is, until the parents of children with a condition that Cooper studies urged him to investigate why debilitating digestive issues troubled their kids, who suffer from an incurable and fatal neurodegenerative brain condition […]

‘Here and Next’ Seed Grants awarded

Washington University in St. Louis’ Research Development Office recently awarded its latest batch of “Here and Next” Seed Grants. The winning research teams are interdisciplinary and focus on five key elements of the university’s strategic plan: public health, global health, environmental research, digital transformation and research that impacts the St. Louis community. There are three […]

TRIADS announces new round of seed grants

The Transdisciplinary Institute in Applied Data Sciences (TRIADS) has announced its newest crop of seed grant recipients, with eight teams of researchers receiving funding. Featuring faculty from four different WashU schools (Arts & Sciences, Brown School, McKelvey School of Engineering, and the School of Medicine), these projects leverage data science to address pressing societal issues. Each research […]

Engineering better sleep

Clock on a wood surface with sunrise behind green-leaf woody space.

Complex biological networks control a range of functions in the human body from metabolic processes to the sleep cycle. Though scientists have ever-increasing volumes of data about the effects these complex systems produce, fully describing them mathematically has proven difficult. Without a firm understanding, effective interventions continue to be elusive, leaving more than 50 million […]

$5 million NIH grant to find causes of chronic pain after surgery

Healed scar visible on a person's skin

After surgery, pain is expected and often subsides within a few weeks. But for around 20% of patients, persistent pain may continue for months or even years after a procedure, impacting quality of life and putting patients at risk for opioid overuse. Symptoms vary widely in severity and in the type of pain experienced, making […]

Mwirigi awarded HHMI fellowship for exceptional early-career scientists

Neuroscientist Juliet Mwirigi, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been named a Hanna H. Gray Fellow by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). The fellowship supports promising early-career scientists as they transition to becoming principal investigators, by providing up to $1.5 million for up to eight years. Mwirigi’s research focuses […]

Brain structure differences provide clues to substance use risks

When studying substance use disorders, scientists had thought some of the effects on the brain could stem from use of the substances themselves: People start drinking alcohol in early teens, that alcohol has a neurotoxic effect on the developing brain that begets more alcohol drinking, and a similar dynamic occurs with other substances. But research […]

NIH grant funds study of cerebral small vessel disease

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have been awarded $7.5 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate a form of dementia caused by cerebral small vessel disease, the second-leading cause of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. The grant funds the Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID) Center, […]

Gratitude inspires generous support for WashU Medicine’s neurosurgery department

Andrew Taylor, an emeritus trustee of Washington University in St. Louis, and his wife, Barbara, have made a $50 million gift to WashU Medicine’s neurosurgery department to enhance groundbreaking research, innovative patient care and the training of the next generation of neurosurgery leaders. In recognition of the Taylors’ generosity, the department has been named the Taylor […]

Brain tumors hijack circadian clock to grow

Composite sketch photo concept abstract collage of arm hold magnifier glass study secrets of brain isolated creative drawing background

Virtually every cell in the human body has an internal clock. These clocks take their cues from a central clock in the brain. In a normal, biological process called synchrony, the central clock coordinates daily rhythms around the body, so that every cell and tissue recognizes the same external time of day. Knowing local time […]

Grant will fund development of vaccines to prevent dementia

Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia are devastating disorders that emerge following the buildup of misfolded proteins in the brain. The newest generation of Alzheimer’s therapeutics targets accumulations of the protein amyloid beta with engineered antibodies, but the results have been underwhelming, with some adverse effects, not to mention using engineered antibodies can be prohibitively expensive. […]

WashU Medicine reaches all-time high in NIH funding

In a testament to the quality and national competitiveness of biomedical research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the school secured $683 million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in federal fiscal year 2024 – a record high for WashU Medicine and an affirmation of its leadership in […]

The potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy

More than half a century after the U.S. government deemed psychedelic drugs to be of “no medical use,” scientists have begun re-evaluating that dismissive assessment with the tools of modern science. Dozens of clinical trials of psychedelic-assisted therapies for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other conditions are underway or planned. So far, the results […]

Evers honored with mentoring award

The Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research has announced that Alex Evers, MD, the Henry E. Mallinckrodt Professor of Anesthesiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, will receive the foundation’s 2024 Mentoring Excellence in Research Award. Recipients of the international award must be nominated by former mentees who are now in research, teaching or […]

Founders Day recognizes faculty, alumni, friends

The Washington University in St. Louis community came together Nov. 9 at its annual Founders Day celebration to honor the outstanding achievements of some of the university’s most distinguished faculty, alumni and friends. The event was held at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel. Four faculty were among those recognized at the event, which was […]

Yoo receives grant from Hereditary Disease Foundation

Andrew Yoo, PhD, a professor of developmental biology at WashU Medicine, has received the 2024 Transformative Research Award, a two-year $1 million grant from the Hereditary Disease Foundation. Yoo and his collaborator, Osama Al Dalahmah, MD, PhD, of Columbia University, will use this support to pursue potential therapeutics for Huntington’s disease, an inherited neurodegenerative disorder […]

Jin receives NIH grant to study congenital hydrocephalus

Sheng Chih (Peter) Jin, PhD, an assistant professor of genetics at WashU Medicine, has received a $3.2 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the genetic and molecular underpinnings of congenital hydrocephalus, a buildup of too much cerebrospinal fluid in the brain […]

Zhao, Musiek receive NIH grant to study neurodegenerative diseases

Guoyan Zhao, PhD, an assistant professor of genetics and of neurology, and Erik Musiek, MD, PhD, the Charlotte & Paul Hagemann Professor of Neurology, both of WashU Medicine, have received a $433,000 grant from the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study brain cells called astrocytes and their roles […]

Board grants faculty tenure

At the Washington University in St. Louis Board of Trustees meeting Sept. 27, numerous faculty members were granted tenure, effective that day. Granting of tenure Kirsten Gilbert Alberts, PhD as an associate professor of psychiatry at WashU Medicine; Robert A. Campbell, PhD as an associate professor of emergency medicine at WashU Medicine; Carmen M. Halabi, MD, PhD as […]

WashU Medicine celebrates first R01 recipients

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis celebrated rising investigators at the First R01 Celebration, marking a significant milestone for scientists embarking on their independent research careers. The event honored recipients of their first R01 research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The research grants represent the NIH’s recognition of investigators’ rigorous, […]

Engineering students selected for prestigious fellows program

uis PhD candidates have been selected for the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education Inc. (AAHHE) Graduate Student Fellows Program. The students — Allison Martinez Mejia and Gerson Moreno Romero — are both studying biomedical engineering at the McKelvey School of Engineering.  Martinez Mejia , a member of the McDonnell International Scholars Academy, researches […]