By Sophia Friesen, Ph.D., Manager, Research Communications, University of Utah Health Why it matters: A new surgical device developed through University of Utah research is saving animals’ lives by helping them heal from serious, hard-to-treat infections—and providing a proof of concept for potential use in people. It wasn’t looking good for Major. The terrier had been badly […]
Read MoreAs use of the popular anti-diabetic and weight-loss drug Ozempic skyrockets, so have concerns about the medication’s side effects. One side effect is loss of “lean mass”—body weight that isn’t fat—raising concerns that Ozempic could be reducing muscle mass and strength. New research in mice suggests that muscle mass changes less than expected, but muscles […]
Read MoreOver six million Americans live with heart failure. In most cases, the disease is caused by a blockage of blood to the heart from coronary artery disease or a heart attack, leading to what’s called “ischemic” heart failure. Treatment options for ischemic heart failure generally aim to slow the progression of the disease rather than […]
Read MoreHogle Zoo and University of Utah Health have collaborated to diagnose and treat one of the zoo’s California sea lions, Diego, which fell ill in September 2024. Through a combination of anesthesiology, veterinary science, and advanced imaging, the team identified the cause of the sea lion’s reduced activity as advanced spinal disease and determined an […]
Read MoreA new gene therapy can reverse the effects of heart failure and restore heart function in a large animal model. The therapy increases the amount of blood the heart can pump and dramatically improves survival, in what a paper describing the results calls “an unprecedented recovery of cardiac function.” Currently, heart failure is irreversible. In […]
Read MoreMost of what parents pass down to their children biologically is passed down through DNA. DNA in the egg and sperm make up a biological blueprint that influences traits from eye color to cancer risk. But eggs and sperm contain more than just DNA, and some of the other molecules they carry can also influence […]
Read MoreThere are misconceptions about why this work is important, how it’s done, and the care animals receive. Read more on Animal Research here.
Read MoreMany autistic people experience gastrointestinal (GI) issues, such as constipation and abdominal pain. Still unknown, though, was whether GI problems themselves might contribute to the differences in social behaviors that are associated with autism. Now, research in mice has found that repeated GI irritation can make individuals less socially active, even after GI symptoms have […]
Read MoreA heart attack will leave a permanent scar. But some animals—including some fish, amphibians, and even very young mammals—have the ability to completely repair damage to their hearts by growing new heart muscle. Understanding how a damaged heart can regenerate could help scientists develop therapies to heal human hearts in the wake of heart attack […]
Read MoreBlack American populations have a higher risk of stroke and tend to experience more severe stroke outcomes than White populations. Now, researchers at University of Utah Health have found that differences in a gene involved in blood clotting may contribute to this disparity, affecting both the severity of the stroke and which stroke medications are […]
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