Latest News from: Tufts University

Filters close
29-Jan-2009 9:00 AM EST
Do You Know What Your Mother Did When She Was Young?
Tufts University

A study of brain function in young, memory-deficient mice reveals that a stimulating environment improves not only their memory but also the memory of their memory-deficient offspring. If this improvement also occurs in humans, a mother's youthful experiences may help shape her children's ability to learn.

Released: 27-Jan-2009 9:00 AM EST
SNAP Participation Influences Where Food is Purchased
Tufts University

Participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) spend more on groceries and less eating out, compared with non-participants who have the same low income level, a new Tufts University study says. The spending pattern could have benefits for the nutrition quality and household budgeting of participant households.

Released: 15-Jan-2009 9:00 AM EST
Tufts Receives Grant to Study Obesity Prevention in New Immigrants
Tufts University

Tufts University has received a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to design and study an obesity prevention program for new immigrants in Somerville, Mass.

9-Jan-2009 9:00 AM EST
Biologists Find Link Between CGG Repeats and Mental Disorders
Tufts University

CGG repeats not only stall the cell's replication process but also thwart the cell's capacity to repair and restart it. Tufts University researchers focused on this CGG repeat because it is associated with hereditary neurological disorders such as fragile X syndrome and FRAXE mental impairment.

Released: 9-Jan-2009 1:00 PM EST
Faculty Experts Offer Perspectives on Bush and Obama
Tufts University

President-elect Obama's inauguration marks a transition and historic moment. America will reflect on the outgoing Bush Administration but will also look ahead. Numerous issues will demand immediate attention during Obama's critical, first weeks in office. Tufts University political experts have insight and perspective on Bush and also on the challenges that lie ahead for Obama.

Released: 8-Jan-2009 8:35 AM EST
New Drug Development Still Takes 8 Years Despite Faster FDA Review
Tufts University

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Drug has quickened review and approval of new medicines, the complex nature of diseases for which new therapeutics are being developed has resulted in longer clinical development times, according to the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development.

Released: 15-Dec-2008 8:50 AM EST
New Gene Variants Present Opportunities in Nutrigenomics
Tufts University

A new study uncovers 11 gene variants associated with three blood lipids measured to determine cardiovascular disease risk: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides. Leading nutrigenomics researcher, Jose M. Ordovas, PhD, of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, says the discovery opens up new research opportunities.

Released: 11-Dec-2008 8:00 AM EST
Low-Carb Diets Can Affect Dieters' Cognition Skills
Tufts University

A new study from Tufts University shows that when dieters eliminate carbohydrates from their meals, they performed more poorly on memory-based tasks than when they reduce calories, but maintain carbohydrates. When carbohydrates were reintroduced, cognition skills returned to normal.

Released: 3-Dec-2008 8:45 AM EST
New "Control Knobs" for Stem Cells Identified
Tufts University

Natural changes in voltage that occur across the membrane of adult human stem cells act as a signal to delay or accelerate the decision of a stem cell to differentiate into a specific cell type. This discovery gives scientists in regenerative medicine a new set of "control knobs" to use in ongoing efforts to shape the behavior of adult stem cells.

Released: 2-Dec-2008 8:50 AM EST
Experts Discuss Applying Systematic Review to Nutrition Field
Tufts University

Performing systematic reviews of nutrition related topics raises unique challenges not often encountered in the field of medicine. In a new article, a team of researchers use specific examples to describe the steps, strengths, and limitations of systematic reviews relevant to nutrition and discuss the factors that impact the results.

Released: 1-Dec-2008 8:30 AM EST
Place of Birth Contributes to Asthma Disparity
Tufts University

Public health researchers from Tufts and colleagues are the first to report the possible role of nativity (place of birth) on asthma prevalence in a black population in the United States. The findings emerged unexpectedly from a community-based participatory survey related to asthma conducted in Dorchester, Massachusetts.

Released: 26-Nov-2008 8:50 AM EST
Vitamin K Linked to Insulin Resistance in Older Men
Tufts University

A Tufts University study of 355 non-diabetic elderly men and women found men who took a vitamin K supplement had less progression of insulin resistance over a period of three years compared to men not receiving vitamin K. Vitamin K did not appear to protect supplemented women from age-related increases in insulin resistance.

Released: 17-Nov-2008 9:00 AM EST
Biologist Michael Levin Joins Tufts University
Tufts University

Michael Levin, who headed the Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology at The Forsyth Institute and was on the faculty at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, has been named biology professor at Tufts University. He focuses on left-right asymmetry, bioelectrical controls of pattern formation, and how living systems learn and store information outside the brain.

Released: 10-Nov-2008 9:00 AM EST
SNPs Affect Folate Metabolism in Study of Puerto Rican Adults
Tufts University

Tufts researchers have linked several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the DNA of Puerto Rican adults to altered concentrations of blood homocysteine and folate and the content of uracil in blood DNA. These measures are indicators of altered folate metabolism, a putative risk factor for many diseases including cancer and neural tube defects.

Released: 3-Nov-2008 8:45 AM EST
Tufts’ Nelson A Leader on Physical Activity Guidelines Comm.
Tufts University

Tufts University's Miriam E. Nelson, PhD, served as vice-chair of the advisory committee for the new Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, written by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Based on the advisory committee's report, the guidelines contain individualized recommendations for population subgroups including adults, older adults and children.

Released: 22-Oct-2008 3:10 PM EDT
Professor of Computer Science Diane L. Souvaine named to NSB
Tufts University

Souvaine is chair of the Department of Computer Science in Tufts University's' School of Engineering. Her specialty is computational geometry, a field which focuses on the design and analysis of algorithms for solving geometric problems.

Released: 14-Oct-2008 9:00 AM EDT
Researchers Discover Oldest Fossil Impression of a Flying Insect
Tufts University

Tufts University student and a faculty lecturer uncover what they believe is the world's oldest known full-body impression of a primitive flying insect, a 300 million-year-old specimen from the Carboniferous Period. Surprise discovery made in a most unlikely place - behind a suburban strip mall.

Released: 15-Sep-2008 5:50 PM EDT
Perspective United States Military Policy in Iraq and Bush Legacy
Tufts University

President Bush's military policies in Iraq, and Afghanistan will become grist for debate as his administration moves into its final months. The country will also reflect on his accomplishments and difficulties during eight years in office.

Released: 15-Sep-2008 4:00 PM EDT
Comments and Perspectives on the 2008 Presidential Election
Tufts University

Barack Obama's lead in national polls has created a formidable challenge for John McCain. The race has taken on a combative tone and will likely become more contentious as November 4 approaches.

Released: 2-Sep-2008 8:40 AM EDT
B-Vitamin Deficiency May Cause Vascular Cognitive Impairment
Tufts University

A B-vitamin-deficient diet caused cognitive impairment and cerebral vascular changes without evidence of neurodegeneration in mice. These findings provide new insight into the mechanisms that may underlie human age-related cognitive decline.

Released: 7-Aug-2008 8:00 AM EDT
"Edible Optics" Could Make Food Safer
Tufts University

Tufts University scientists have shown that it is possible to design biologically active, biodegradable optical devices "“ made from silk and needing no refrigeration - with applications in medicine, health, the environment and communications. For example, edible optical sensors could detect harmful bacteria in produce, and be consumed right along with the food if it were safe.

Released: 1-Aug-2008 4:40 PM EDT
Expert: Al-Qaeda Resurfaces as New Breed of Taliban
Tufts University

Tufts University Professor Ayesha Jalal's book, "Partisans of Allah: Jihad in South Asia," provides cultural and historical context to jihadi ideals in South Asia, especially in the federally administered tribal areas (FATA) of Pakistan. In addition, she can comment on the Pakistan government's policy in FATA and U.S.-Pakistan relations.

Released: 29-Jul-2008 8:55 AM EDT
Obesity Predisposition Traced to the Brain’s Reward System
Tufts University

New research links overeating and obesity with the brain system implicated in pleasure and addictive behaviors strengthening the argument that obesity could be approached as an addictive disorder. This is the first study to demonstrate that obesity predisposition is associated with impairments in all midbrain dopamine systems that are in place early in postnatal life.

Released: 21-Jul-2008 8:55 AM EDT
Editor-in-Chief of New mAbs Journal Named
Tufts University

Dr. Janice Reichert, Senior Research Fellow at the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, has been named Editor-in-Chief of the newly created journal mAbs, the first international peer-reviewed journal of its kind, to focus exclusively on monoclonal antibodies.

Released: 21-Jul-2008 8:55 AM EDT
Nutrition Agenda 2008 Focus of Tufts Friedman School Symposium
Tufts University

Eileen T. Kennedy DSc, Dean of Tufts University's Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy announced the 3rd Annual Friedman School Symposium, a conference for nutrition professionals.

14-Jul-2008 11:15 AM EDT
Researchers Find Link Between DNA Palindromes and Disease
Tufts University

Long DNA sequences, or palindromes, change the shape of the molecule from double helix to hairpin-like formation, which causes replication to stall. Altered or stalled replication causes chromosomal breaking, resulting in cancers and diseases.

Released: 10-Jul-2008 9:00 AM EDT
Tufts University to Fund Green Energy in Low-Income Communities
Tufts University

Tufts University students, faculty and staff are first college campus in Massachusetts to join an effort that will finance development of renewable energy projects in low-income communities across the state. School will also solicit donations to purchase renewable energy credits (REC's).

Released: 8-Jul-2008 2:40 PM EDT
CIRCLE Joins Tufts University
Tufts University

CIRCLE (the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement) has moved to the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University. The move will strengthen research on youth civic and political engagement.

Released: 30-Jun-2008 8:45 AM EDT
Scientists to Develop Morphing "Chemical Robots"
Tufts University

Tufts University has received federal funding to develop chemical robots that will be able to squeeze into spaces as tiny as 1 centimeter, then morph into something 10 times larger, and ultimately biodegrade. The "chembots" could access urban environments, tunnels, caves and debris fields, and carry out other risky operations in complex environments.

Released: 24-Jun-2008 8:00 AM EDT
The Truth about Drug Innovation
Tufts University

A new report co-authored by Manhattan Institute senior fellow Benjamin Zycher, and Joseph DiMasi, and Christopher-Paul Milne, researchers from the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, examines case histories for thirty-five important pharmaceutical innovations.

Released: 19-Jun-2008 9:10 AM EDT
NIH Funds Highway Pollution & Health Study in Boston, Somerville
Tufts University

Tufts University researchers and five Boston-area community groups received a 5-year, $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the health effects of pollution exposure in neighborhoods adjacent to major highways.

Released: 16-Jun-2008 10:40 AM EDT
The APCs of Nerve Cell Function
Tufts University

Best known for its role in colorectal cancer, the protein adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) has recently been found to play an essential role in the nervous system. This new study provides novel insights into the molecular basis of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, mental retardation, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorders.

11-Jun-2008 1:15 PM EDT
Cell Surface Receptors Are All “Talk” in T Cell Stimulation
Tufts University

Using imaging techniques, researchers have revealed the dynamic processes that allow receptors to communicate with one another to stimulate the immune system. By understanding this "crosstalk" researchers expect to gain insights into autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

9-Jun-2008 1:00 PM EDT
Need MicroRNA Processing? Get Smad
Tufts University

In a study published in Nature, researchers at Tufts report that Smad proteins regulate microRNA (miRNA) processing. Understanding the role of Smad proteins enables researchers to investigate abnormal miRNA processing, a contributing factor in the development of cardiovascular disorders and cancer.

Released: 5-Jun-2008 8:00 AM EDT
Tufts Researcher Leads Revision of Osteoporosis Guidelines
Tufts University

Tufts University researcher Bess Dawson-Hughes, M.D., chaired the committee that recently updated the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) Clinician's Guide to Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis. The new Clinician's Guide incorporates the World Health Organization (WHO) absolute fracture prediction algorithm (FRAX®).

Released: 4-Jun-2008 9:00 AM EDT
Weather, Stomach Bugs and Climate Change: Refining the Model
Tufts University

Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and the University of Western Ontario introduce a model for predicting infectious disease outbreaks that takes into account weather and other factors. Accounting for these factors creates a more accurate model for forecasting infectious disease outbreaks and designing early warning systems.

Released: 3-Jun-2008 7:00 AM EDT
Veterinary Medicine Contributes $3.3 Billion to New England Economy
Tufts University

Veterinary medicine contributes $3.3 billion to the economies of New England"”and the region faces a shortage of as many as 658 veterinarians by 2014, according to a study released today by the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.

Released: 20-May-2008 8:50 AM EDT
Trends of Vitamin B6 Status in US Population Sample
Tufts University

In an epidemiological study, Tufts University researchers identified trends of vitamin B6 status in a sample of the United States population based on measures of plasma pyridoxal 5'- phosphate (PLP) levels in the bloodstream. Some study participants demonstrated inadequate vitamin B6 status, despite consuming the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of vitamin B6.

Released: 14-May-2008 4:50 PM EDT
First PhD to Graduate from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
Tufts University

The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University will confer its first Doctorate of Philosophy in Comparative Biomedical Sciences to a student whose work may one day prove vital to understanding why Martha's Vineyard has played host to an outbreak of tularemia since 2000. Zenda L. Berrada will graduate alongside 78 new doctors of veterinary medicine and 14 students from the Cummings School's Master of Science in Animals and Public Policy program on Sunday.

Released: 16-Apr-2008 8:30 AM EDT
Early Exposure to Common Weed Killer Impairs Amphibian Growth
Tufts University

Tadpoles exposed to atrazine during an often overlooked growth phase named organ morphogenesis develop deformed hearts and kidneys, according to Tufts University research. Atrazine is widely used in the United States and is known to be harmful to amphibians in early and late developmental stages. But the research focuses on a critical third stage.

11-Apr-2008 9:15 AM EDT
Stopping Unwanted Cell Death: Implications for Drug Discovery
Tufts University

Researchers have established necrostatins as the first-in-class inhibitors of RIP1 kinase, a protein that can direct cells into necrotic death. The findings appear to provide a new avenue for drug development to prevent cell death related to acute disease events such as heart attack and stroke.

Released: 9-Apr-2008 8:35 AM EDT
Tufts Receives $136 Million, Largest Gift in its History
Tufts University

A philanthropic act by Boston technology pioneer and Tufts University graduate Frank Doble more than 40 years ago has resulted in a gift of $136 million, the largest in Tufts' history. Doble's generosity will allow the university to begin development of an interdisciplinary research lab and support financial aid. Tufts and Lesley University are sharing $272 million.

Released: 2-Apr-2008 8:00 AM EDT
Tufts Nutrition School Launches Graduate Program in UAE
Tufts University

Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition launches Master's Degree Program in Nutrition Science and Policy in Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.

Released: 24-Mar-2008 5:45 PM EDT
"Digital Skills Divide" Emerging
Tufts University

The Internet allows parents to have easy access to information about childrearing, but a new study from Tufts University shows that as the digital divide narrows, a digital skills divide is now emerging across socio-economic lines. The research "examines socio-economic status (SES) differences in parents' Web use, skills, and satisfaction."

Released: 21-Mar-2008 10:30 AM EDT
University Takes Visual Approach to Research and Teaching
Tufts University

Tufts University researchers have literally expanded the visualization concept with a new 14-foot by 8-foot visualization wall that translates the most abstract, complex scientific concepts into eye-popping 3-dimensional images that are clearer and more precise than what most conventional systems can produce.

Released: 19-Feb-2008 3:00 PM EST
Professor to Comment on Kosovo
Tufts University

For the past 12 years, Tufts University Professor R. Bruce Hitchner has been involved in public policy initiatives in the Balkans region, especially in Bosnia and Kosovo.

Released: 5-Feb-2008 9:00 AM EST
Maine Medical Center/Tufts Medical School Enter Partnership
Tufts University

Tufts University School of Medicine and Maine Medical Center today announce the establishment of a new partnership with a "uniquely Maine" curriculum. Medical students will spend their first two years at Tufts, then move to Maine Medical Center for the entire clerkship period in year three and portions of the monthly rotations in year four.

Released: 31-Jan-2008 8:00 AM EST
Caterpillar-Inspired Robot Morphs into Art
Tufts University

The prototype for the first fully soft-bodied robot - developed at Tufts University - will be part of an exhibition at New York's Museum of Modern Art. The exhibition will showcase some 200 examples of "disruptive innovation" created by scientists, researchers and designers from around the world.

Released: 30-Jan-2008 12:20 PM EST
Cummings School Receives Rockefeller Foundation Grant
Tufts University

The Rockefeller Foundation has awarded the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University a grant to assess veterinary health services in Indonesia and consider how advanced training of Indonesian veterinarians can enhance Indonesia's capacity to prevent and control infectious diseases shared by animals and people.

Released: 8-Jan-2008 9:00 AM EST
Afghanistan/Pakistan and Acute Malnutrition Experts Join Tufts
Tufts University

Andrew Wilder, PhD, and Kate Sadler, MSc, have joined the Feinstein International Center at Tufts University. Wilder leads the center's research on politics and policies in countries in conflict. Sadler is the center's new senior researcher focusing on public nutrition in emergencies.



close
0.2154