Topic: research

MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES
More than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, behavioral health concerns continue to disrupt the lives of Americans, and addressing those concerns should be a priority, according to a study by the School of Social Work. Published in the journal Scientific Reports, research from Patrick Bordnick, dean of the school, and Tonya Hansel, a disaster mental health expert who oversees the school’s doctorate program, says that despite vaccinations and lifted restrictions, mental health issues continue to be a crucial concern as the pandemic enters a recovery phase.https://tulane.it/covid-mental-health

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
The Provost’s Award for Excellence in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion recognizes research that addresses societal inequities and promotes social change.

Research, Scholarship & Artistic Achievement
The Tulane University Research, Scholarship, and Artistic Achievement Awards were presented for the first time in November at a gala at the Higgins Hotel near The World War II Museum in New Orleans.

Hall of Fame
For the first time, Research, Scholarship and Artistic Achievement Awards were bestowed on Tulane’s stellar researchers and scholars. We devote several stories to them in this issue of the Tulanian.

VIRAL LOAD
A study co-led by Dr. Xiao-Ming Yin, chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and the Dr. Donald R. and Donna G. Pulitzer Professor, found that cycle thresholds from PCR tests — an indicator of the amount of virus an infected person carries — aren’t a reliable gauge for identifying those most likely to transmit COVID-19. https://tulane.it/viral-load

INHALED VACCINE
Researchers at the Tulane National Primate Research Center found that an inhaled vaccine currently being developed induces a robust and long-lasting immune response against SARS-CoV-2 in nonhuman primates, similar to the protection provided by the Moderna vaccine. https://tulane.it/inhaled-vaccine

WASTEWATER DETECTION
Tiong Aw, assistant professor of Environmental Health Sciences at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, is developing more efficient ways to test and measure viruses in wastewater so engineers can evaluate how to best eradicate them.https://tulane.it/wastewater-detection

Tick Group
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has selected Monica Embers, associate professor of microbiology and immunology and director of vector-borne disease research at the Tulane National Primate Research Center, to serve as one of 14 members of the 2021 Tick-Borne Disease Working Group. The primary function of the Working Group is to develop a report of findings and recommendations regarding the federal response to tick-borne disease prevention, treatment and research. https://tulane.it/tick-group

Senior Theses Digitized
The 2021 cohort of Newcomb-Tulane College Senior Theses and Projects are available to view online through Tulane University Libraries’ Digital Repository. The repository includes 67 theses and research projects from recent Tulane graduates that cover a wide range of subjects such as motherhood in prison and healthcare delivery barriers experienced by the Navajo Nation.https://tulane.it/senior-theses-digitized