University of Puerto Rico

A novel nasal swab test developed by University of Pittsburgh researchers enables precise identification of childhood asthma subtypes without invasive procedures. Analyzing eight specific genes, it distinguishes between T2-high, T17-high, and low-low asthma types, offering potential for more accurate treatments and advancing research into understudied asthma forms.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh developed a nasal swab test for diagnosing specific asthma subtypes in children, aiming for precise medication prescriptions and better treatments for lesser-studied asthma types. Published in JAMA, the study highlights the disproportionate asthma rates among Black and Puerto Rican youths and the potential for personalized treatments through accurate endotype diagnosis.

NETL interns, known as the “NETL Bees,” won a $75,000 phase II award to commercialize a microwave-accelerated aqueous solvent regeneration technology for CO₂ capture, reducing water and energy requirements. The team, mentored by Fan Shi, includes Diego Costoso, Charrel Williams, and Ahmad Zaman, who developed a commercialization plan during Phase I.

NSF invests $75M in five new biofoundries to support bioeconomy, envisioning it as one of five future industries. These facilities will democratize access to technology, train workforce in biology, computer science, AI, and robotics, and standardize techniques for industrial scale. NSF also launched a new directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, focusing on biotechnology with over $530M in funding.