BROWN UNIVERSITY

Scientists at Brown University's Carney Institute use a powerful super-resolution microscope, SoRa, to study addiction, memory, reward, brain development, and function. The SoRa, funded by the Center for the Neurobiology of Cells and Circuits, allows high-resolution imaging within neurons, aiding research on dopamine circuits and drug effects in fruit flies, which share similarities with human brains.

The first state-sanctioned safe consumption site for illegal drugs in the U.S. opened in Providence, RI, operated by Project Weber/RENEW and VICTA. Researchers at Brown University aim to study its impact on overdose prevention and community integration. Despite controversy, OPCs are seen as a way to reduce drug-related deaths and connect users with treatment. The federal stance on OPCs is unclear, with some support and legal challenges.

AI analyzed 40,000+ clinical trials to determine inclusion of pregnant participants, revealing less than 1% included them, with rates unchanged over 15 years. The research highlighted the importance of AI in efficiently processing large datasets, emphasizing the need for cautious, test-driven development in AI research.

The Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at MGH awarded the sixth annual Sean M. Healey International Prize for Innovation in ALS to Leigh Hochberg, M.D., Ph.D., and the BrainGate Consortium team for their groundbreaking Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs) aimed at restoring communication, mobility, and independence in neurological diseases including ALS.

Brown University will provide 30,000 sq ft of space at no cost for Rhode Island's first commercial life sciences startup incubator, Ocean State Labs, valued at $13 million over 10 years. The Rhode Island Life Science Hub will invest up to $10 million, with the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission contributing $1 million. The facility aims to support early-stage biotech and medical companies, featuring private and open lab spaces, co-working areas, and cutting-edge technology. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2025.

Veterans Affairs announces $1.5 million grant for MDMA-assisted therapy study on PTSD and alcohol use disorder among veterans, marking the first department-funded psychedelic research in over five decades. The study, to be conducted at Providence and West Haven VA Medical Centers, will be overseen by researchers from Brown and Yale Universities, with enrollment starting early next year. The five-year project aims to gather definitive scientific evidence on the efficacy and safety of psychedelic compounds.

President-elect Trump nominates Dr. David Weldon for CDC, Dr. Martin Makary for FDA, and Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for surgeon general, under controversial HHS head Robert F. Kennedy Jr., raising concerns about the politicization of health agencies.

New research links personal care products like makeup, hair dyes, and nail polish to higher PFAS levels in pregnant women's blood and breast milk, potentially leading to health issues for babies.

The Department of Family and Preventive Medicine's three applications were accepted into the Vice President's Clinical and Translational Research Scholars Program, set to begin in 2025. Dr. Teresa DeAtley will focus on tobacco cessation treatments for TB in South Africa, Dr. Tiffany Ho on gender-affirming care safety and efficacy, and Dr. Jennifer Mundt on behavioral sleep medicine interventions, aiming for NIH funding.

Sitting over 10.6 hours daily increases heart disease and death risk, even with recommended exercise, according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.