Year in Review: Top Research Stories of 2015
News articles about the origins of cancer, drugs that promote hair growth, and rising rates of heroin use were among the most-read research stories on CUMC web sites in 2015:
Finding Connections Between Birth Month and Health
Using an algorithm to investigate the relationship between birth month and disease, researchers from the P&S Department of Biomedical Informatics found that the risk of disease was lowest for people born in May and highest for those born in October.
Tracing Cancer Back to Its Origins
Researchers from P&S used a technique called fate mapping to accurately identify the cells from which tumors originate, which may influence the cancer’s susceptibility to treatment.
Blocking Enzymes in Hair Follicles Promotes Hair Growth
Topical application of drugs that inhibit JAK enzymes awakened dormant hair follicles and promoted rapid and robust hair growth in mice.
Growing Bone and Cartilage with Bone Stem Cells
Biologists identified a type of stem cell known as an osteochondroreticular cell that helps repair bone and cartilage after a fracture.
Long-Term Memories Are Maintained by Prion-Like Proteins
Memories are stored for the long-term with the help of prion-like proteins called CPEB. CPEB prions aggregate and maintain synapses that recorded the memory [“spines” in the bottom image]. When CPEB prions are not present or are inactivated, the synapses collapse and the memory fades [see upper image]. Image credit: Lab of David Sulzer, PhD, Columbia University Medical Center
Prions are best known for causing disease, but Eric Kandel and colleagues found that prion-like proteins play an integral role in maintaining long-term memories in mice.
Study Traces Biological Basis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Researchers from the Center for Infection and Immunity at the Mailman School of Public Health identified distinct immune changes in people with chronic fatigue syndrome, providing evidence that the disease is a biological illness rather than a psychological one.
Autistic Children Are More Likely to Have Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Infants and toddlers with autism spectrum disorder were 2.5 times more likely than children without autism to have persistent GI problems, in a study conducted by researchers at the Mailman School of Public Health.
Spike in Heroin Use Among Whites Who Abuse Prescription Painkillers
Mailman researchers reported that heroin use increased as much as 75 percent in white people who were abusing prescription opioid medications.
Does Isolation Prevent Multi-Drug-Resistant Infections in Nursing Homes?
A PhD candidate from the Columbia School of Nursing will be the first to investigate whether isolation is effective in reducing the risk of multi-drug-resistant infections in nursing homes.
Harnessing Stem Cells to Regenerate Tendons
Researchers from the College of Dental Medicine identified endogenous stem cells with the capability of regrowing tendon tissue in mice.