Topic: research
Oral Health and HIV
Researchers at the Tulane National Primate Research Center will examine how chronic oral infections affect the severity of HIV infection and the efficacy of antiretroviral therapies used to treat HIV. A $1.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will fund this research, which will be led by Prasun Datta, associate professor of microbiology and immunology.https://tulane.it/oral-health-hiv
Research, Scholarship & Artistic Achievement Second Annual Awards
Tulane’s Research, Scholarship and Artistic Achievement Awards were presented for the second year on Nov. 4, 2022.
BRAIN INSTITUTE LEADER
Award-winning neuroscientist Matthew Dalva has been appointed as director of the Tulane Brain Institute and the university’s newest Presidential Chair. Dalva, whose research focuses on how the connections of the brain form and are changed by experience, will succeed Professor Jill Daniel, who has served as director of the institute since its inception in 2016.https://tulane.it/brain-institute-leader
OMICRON VACCINE
Researchers at the Tulane National Primate Research Center co-authored a study that shows a new COVID-19 vaccine offers protection against Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 for at least six months. The trial tested a vaccine, which is currently in use in South Korea, on nonhuman primates.https://tulane.it/omicron-vaccine
COVID-19 COMPLICATIONS
An interdisciplinary team of engineers and doctors are researching the development of new technology designed to detect severe COVID-19 complications. The goal is to develop a diagnostic test that uses a drop of blood from a finger prick and could be performed at a hospital, in a clinic or at home. https://tulane.it/covid-19-complications
COLLEGE VACCINES
A study co-authored by Emily Cook, assistant professor of economics, shows that colleges that required COVID-19 vaccinations averted an average of 339 cases per 100,000 residents and almost 7,300 deaths within their surrounding communities in fall 2021. The research group used data on colleges’ vaccination policies, semester start dates and county-level public health outcomes. https://tulane.it/college-vaccines
CELLS’ NUTRIENTS
Tulane immunologist Clovis Palmer analyzed the metabolic changes that occur in cells when viral invaders, such as HIV, hepatitis B, or SARS-CoV-2, pose a threat. Palmer concluded that the way in which cells use nutrients in the presence of a viral pathogen can determine disease outcome and severity.https://tulane.it/cell-nutrients
FREE NEUTRONS
Fred Wietfeldt, professor and chair of physics and engineering physics, has been awarded an $8.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation — the largest ever direct NSF award to Tulane.
WHAT TRIGGERS STROKES?
For the first time, researchers at Tulane University and Ochsner Health were able to genetically sequence plaque tissue collected from patients within days after a stroke.
MENSTRUAL CHANGES
Katharine Lee, assistant professor of anthropology, co-authored a study that found COVID-19 vaccines affected people’s menstrual periods, especially those who don’t typically have periods due to long-acting contraceptives, gender-affirming hormone treatments or menopause. The study began shortly after vaccines became widely available and individuals reported through social media changes in their menstrual cycles after receiving the vaccines.https://tulane.it/menstrual-changes
