Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have received a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support training and mentorship for early-career physician-scientists. This relatively new funding opportunity — called Stimulating Access to Research During Residency (StARR) — will provide support for early-career physicians pursuing careers in cancer research. According to the NIH, the […]

A U.S. lawmaker is taking action after a KHN investigation exposed weaknesses in the federal system meant to stop repeat Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) said he decided to introduce a bill in the House late last week after KHN’s reporting revealed what he called a “shocking loophole.” “The ability of fraudsters to continue billing […]

Famed infectious diseases expert Anthony S. Fauci, MD, the recently retired director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a medical adviser to seven U.S. presidents, will address graduating MD and MD/PhD students at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis on May 15, when the new doctors […]

Diarrhea is no longer the killer it was in the mid-20th century, when an estimated 4.5 million children under age 5 died of it every year. While lifesaving oral rehydration therapy turned the tide, it doesn’t prevent infection. Millions of children in low- and middle-income countries still endure repeated bouts of diarrhea that weaken their bodies and leave them vulnerable […]

IntroductionTracing the Evolutionary History of Diseases through Ancient DNAExtraction, Detection, and Preservation of Pathogen Ancient DNAWhy is it Important to Continue Ancient DNA Research?SourcesFurther Reading Detailed studies of ancient DNA have provided important insights into the origins and history of infectious diseases. These studies have bettered the understanding of past human disease manifestations (e.g. leprosy, malaria, and tuberculosis). Additionally, it […]

BEECCause and symptomsEpidemiologyDiagnosis and treatmentReferencesFurther reading Bladder exstrophy-epispadias-cloacal exstrophy complex is the most severe form of the BEEC (Bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex), constituting 10% of all the cases. In this condition, an abdominal wall defect causes bladder and large intestine extrusion, leading to anal, genital, and colon abnormalities. BEEC is a rare, congenital, multisystemic condition and involves anomalies in the musculoskeletal, […]

IntroductionWhy is Sleep Important?How Much Sleep is Needed?What are the Signs of Sleep Deprivation?How to Improve Sleeping Time and Quality References Further Reading Good quality sleep is essential for optimal mental and physical functioning. The amount of sleep required for a healthy life varies with age. A lack of sleep can significantly affect the health of people with chronic diseases. Healthy sleep. […]

A new episode of our podcast, “Show Me the Science,” has been posted. In addition to reporting on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic, these episodes feature stories about groundbreaking research, as well as lifesaving and just plain cool work involving faculty, staff and students at the School of Medicine. Brain-computer interfaces connect activity in the brain to an external […]

IntroductionEvolutionary Roots of the Problem of SustainabilityHow does Antibiotic Resistance Develop and Spread?The Invention of AntibioticsClassifications of AntibioticsResponse from the World Health OrganisationReferencesFurther Reading Antibiotic resistance is a pressing issue that has been brought to the attention of the scientific community in recent times by the discoverer of the structure of DNA, James Watson. Antibiotic resistance. Image Credit: Fahroni/Shutterstock.com In […]