Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
University of Oklahoma: OVPRP Strategic Equipment Investment Program Funds Two New Research Proposals
NORMAN, Oklahoma, March 27 -- The University of Oklahoma issued the following news release:
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OVPRP Strategic Equipment Investment Program Funds Two New Research Proposals
NORMAN, OKLA. - Two proposals have been selected for funding through the Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships' Strategic Equipment Investment Program. Equipment purchased under this program is expected to significantly advance research and creative activities across the university.
SEIP provides funding for the acquisition of strategic research equipment that enhances the capabilities and national
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NORMAN, Oklahoma, March 27 -- The University of Oklahoma issued the following news release:
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OVPRP Strategic Equipment Investment Program Funds Two New Research Proposals
NORMAN, OKLA. - Two proposals have been selected for funding through the Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships' Strategic Equipment Investment Program. Equipment purchased under this program is expected to significantly advance research and creative activities across the university.
SEIP provides funding for the acquisition of strategic research equipment that enhances the capabilities and nationalcompetitiveness of interdisciplinary teams. The selected projects are expected to "provide new opportunities for advancing the team's ability to achieve new goals in terms of creativity, discovery, innovation and competitiveness in securing external funding."
The awarded proposals are:
* Multiscale Light-Sheet Microscope for Biomedical Research: This proposal is led by Qinggong Tang, an associate professor of biomedical engineering in the Gallogly College of Engineering and an associate of the Cellular and Behavioral Neurobiology Graduate Program.
* A State-of-the-Art Seismic Instrument using Fiber Optic Distributed Acoustic Sensing for Energy Transition and Natural Hazard Assessments: The proposal is led by Hao Hu, an assistant professor of geosciences in the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy.
This is the eighth offering of the Strategic Equipment Investment Program. Learn more about SEIP and other internal seed funding opportunities at ou.edu/research.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state's flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
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Original text here: https://ou.edu/news/articles/2025/march/strategic-equipment-investment-program-funds-two-new-research-proposals
University of Nebraska: Survey - Younger, Unemployed People More Likely to Report Loneliness
LINCOLN, Nebraska, March 27 -- The University of Nebraska issued the following news:
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Survey: Younger, unemployed people more likely to report loneliness
By Deann Gayman
A majority of Nebraskans say they are not lonely, but about a third report feeling lonely at least some of the time -- and reported loneliness is higher among younger, unemployed, single and lower-income residents.
That is according to the latest Nebraska Snapshot, a bi-monthly report using data from the most recent Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey, which gathered opinions from 2,232 Nebraskans during summer and
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LINCOLN, Nebraska, March 27 -- The University of Nebraska issued the following news:
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Survey: Younger, unemployed people more likely to report loneliness
By Deann Gayman
A majority of Nebraskans say they are not lonely, but about a third report feeling lonely at least some of the time -- and reported loneliness is higher among younger, unemployed, single and lower-income residents.
That is according to the latest Nebraska Snapshot, a bi-monthly report using data from the most recent Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey, which gathered opinions from 2,232 Nebraskans during summer andfall 2024.
Overall, 65% of Nebraskans surveyed said they had not felt lonely in the last four weeks when answering the survey, while 19% said they felt lonely a little bit of the time and 17% said they felt lonely some to all of the time. The results from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Bureau of Sociological Research, which produces the snapshot, align closely with national surveys on loneliness. Gallup's most recent well-being report showed that about 20% of American adults said they were very lonely, and the American Psychiatric Association's poll showed that 30% of U.S. adults reported feelings of loneliness at least once a week over the past year.
Nebraskans who are unemployed had the highest rate of loneliness, with 40% of those surveyed reporting feeling lonely some or all of the time, compared to just 14% of employed residents. Similarly, 8% of those who are married said they felt lonely some to all of the time, compared with 30% of their unmarried counterparts.
"It is likely that those who are unemployed and unmarried have fewer chances to interact with others since they don't see coworkers at work or a partner at home, leading to feeling lonely more often," said Amanda Ganshert, co-author of the Nebraska Snapshot and assistant director for research and methods with the research bureau.
Lower-income residents are also more lonely. More than half -- 52% -- of respondents with less than $50,000 annual household income reported feeling lonely a little, some or all of the time. About a third of those making $50,000 to 100,000 per year reported feelings of loneliness a little, some or all of the time, while 27% of those making more than $100,000 reported the same.
The age group that feels the most lonely is Nebraskans aged 19-44, with 24% of respondents reporting loneliness a little of the time and 21% reporting loneliness some to all of the time. Seniors aged 65 and up are the least lonely age group, with only 16% of respondents saying they feel lonely a little and 13% reporting feeling lonely some to all of the time.
Rural residency did not seem to increase feelings of loneliness. Those living on a farm or in open country are less lonely than their town or city peers, the survey found. Less than a quarter of rural respondents, or 22%, reported feeling lonely a little, some or all of the time, compared to 38% of residents who live in a town or city.
"It is surprising that those in living on a farm or open country feel lonely less often than those who live in a town or city," Ganshert said. "The physical distance between homes in these rural areas does not lead to increased loneliness, and people living in towns or cities with less physical distance between homes still feel lonely."
The full March 2025 Nebraska Snapshot, as well as previous snapshot reports, are available on the Bureau of Sociological Research website.
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Original text here: https://news.unl.edu/article/survey-younger-unemployed-people-more-likely-to-report-loneliness
UNTHSC Launches SteadFAST Academic Journal
FORT WORTH, Texas, March 27 -- The University of North Texas Health Science Center issued the following news:
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UNTHSC launches SteadFAST academic journal
By: Eric Griffey Research
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth's physician assistant studies program has launched SteadFAST, an academic journal dedicated to exclusively publishing articles written by students. It is the first such journal in Texas and one of the few in the nation.
The inaugural edition features 10 case studies written by third-year students based on their clinical experiences, providing
... Show Full Article
FORT WORTH, Texas, March 27 -- The University of North Texas Health Science Center issued the following news:
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UNTHSC launches SteadFAST academic journal
By: Eric Griffey Research
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth's physician assistant studies program has launched SteadFAST, an academic journal dedicated to exclusively publishing articles written by students. It is the first such journal in Texas and one of the few in the nation.
The inaugural edition features 10 case studies written by third-year students based on their clinical experiences, providinga platform for emerging physician assistant professionals to contribute to medical literature. Each student in the program completes a master's capstone project, which includes a professional-level case study. However, only a select few are chosen for publication in SteadFAST.
Vic Holmes, an associate professor in the physician assistant program, oversees the master's project course. He said much of the logistical heavy lifting of creating the publication was done by the staff in UNTHSC's Gibson D. Lewis Library.
"I've been running the master's project course for the last six years, and I've noticed that the quality of the writing has been steadily increasing," he said. "One of the things that both the faculty and the library staff here talked about was the fact that we had so many great entries but nowhere to really put them. The library group as a whole got together and talked about what could happen if we were to publish these ourselves."
Grace Buchen's article was one of the 10 selected for the inaugural edition.
"This is a really great opportunity," said the third-year physician assistant student and Dallas native. "I was excited to potentially see my name in a paper journal one day, so I hopped on the opportunity and was accepted."
Buchen's case study explores the use of low-dose aspirin to prevent preeclampsia in pregnant patients. While on her women's health rotation, she noticed a pattern of patients taking baby aspirin and investigated further.
"I asked a patient why she was taking it, and she explained that she had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy," Buchen said. "That led me down a rabbit hole of research into the guidelines, how it's initiated in practice and which patients benefit the most from it."
Sydney Clayton, another third-year physician assistant student, contributed a case study focusing on an alternative treatment for PTSD-related nightmares. While working in psychiatry, she encountered a patient suffering from severe nighttime disturbances.
"The standard treatment, prazosin, lowers blood pressure, but this patient already had very low blood pressure," Clayton said. "The provider I worked with suggested mirtazapine, an atypical antidepressant, instead. My study examined the efficacy of that treatment."
Clayton added that she felt the support of the entire faculty throughout the publication process.
"I think it just shows the amount of respect that they have for their students and the opportunities for growth they allow the students to pursue," she said. "I'm very appreciative of the school and its trust and willingness to help us grow and become better versions of ourselves."
According to Holmes, the program traditionally encourages students to seek publication in national medical journals, but that process is costly and highly competitive.
"We try to get them published in national journals, but it's an expensive proposition," Holmes said. "You can only do five a year, and with 75 students, that just doesn't work."
Lauren Camarillo, a UNTHSC librarian, collaborated with faculty to develop the in-house journal as a solution.
"We wanted to create a publication that highlights the hard work and research of our students," Camarillo said. "SteadFAST gives them the opportunity to contribute to academic discourse in a way that wouldn't be feasible through traditional publishing avenues."
The physician assistant studies program, housed in UNTHSC's College of Health Professions, hopes the journal will provide lasting recognition for students' research and serve as a valuable learning tool for future cohorts.
"It's really comforting to graduate from a program that took the initiative to create a journal just so that our work could be published," Buchen said. "It means a lot as a student to be backed like that by a big institution."
Holmes sees SteadFAST as a reflection of the program's commitment to academic excellence.
"It speaks to the respect we have for our students and the opportunities for growth that we provide," Holmes said. "Our faculty is invested in helping students refine and publish their work, and that's something truly special."
As the first physician assistant program in Texas to establish such a journal, UNTHSC is setting a precedent for other institutions to follow. Faculty and students alike hope SteadFAST will continue to grow and highlight the contributions of future physician assistant students to the medical field.
"It shows how the program and the school are embracing the way medicine is evolving," Buchen said. "They saw the value in our work and made a way for it to be shared. That's an incredible thing to be a part of."
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Original text here: https://www.unthsc.edu/newsroom/story/unthsc-launches-steadfast-academic-journal/
McCain Institute 2025 National Security & Counterterrorism Fellows Convene in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Arizona State University's McCain Institute issued the following news:
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McCain Institute 2025 National Security & Counterterrorism Fellows Convene in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 26, 2025) - The McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) convened its 2025 National Security & Counterterrorism (NSCT) Fellows in Washington, D.C., this week to kick off this year's fellowship. These 16 young leaders each serve in roles that place them at the forefront of efforts to deal with terrorism and other national security challenges. They will emerge from this
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Arizona State University's McCain Institute issued the following news:
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McCain Institute 2025 National Security & Counterterrorism Fellows Convene in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 26, 2025) - The McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) convened its 2025 National Security & Counterterrorism (NSCT) Fellows in Washington, D.C., this week to kick off this year's fellowship. These 16 young leaders each serve in roles that place them at the forefront of efforts to deal with terrorism and other national security challenges. They will emerge from this12-month fellowship equipped with an invaluable network of new professional contacts, practically focused leadership training, and a greater understanding of the knowledge and skills needed to combat threats to global security.
This fellowship, coordinated and executed in partnership with the Australian National University (ANU) National Security College, connects young leaders from the Five Eyes (FVEY) alliance--Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States--and brings them face-to-face with senior leaders at government agencies that make up the national security community, as well as thought leaders from outside of government.
"Since this program's inception in 2019, the Washington, D.C., module has served as the foundation for the fellowship as fellows meet for the first time and develop a more comprehensive understanding of the United States' national security priorities," said Nicholas Rasmussen, founder of the NSCT Fellowship and former director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) "Engaging directly with top intelligence and policy officials and other distinguished thought leaders provides fellows with insight and perspective on how the United States approaches global security."
During the week, the cohort met with the McCain Institute's Dr. Evelyn Farkas and top security leaders in the United States including former Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and former White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough. The group was also privileged to meet with other leaders with significant national security experience to include Lisa Monaco (former deputy attorney general and former homeland security and CT adviser to President Obama), Matt Olsen (former assistant attorney general for national security and former director of NCTC), and Christine Abizaid (former NCTC director under President Biden).
"The threat landscape is quickly taking new form, propelled by shifting structural forces and an expansive constellation of malign actors. We will not find durable solutions on autopilot," said NSCT Fellow Austin Doctor. "I am grateful for the opportunities that the McCain Institute NSCT Fellowship provides to learn from mission-driven leaders across the FVEYs, to reinforce our commitments, and to prepare for our shared national security challenges."
The 2025 cohort also met with currently serving senior officials at the State Department and Central Intelligence Agency, as well as a group of journalists who cover national security and intelligence. Fellows also laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in honor of Senator John McCain.
The cohort will next convene for a full week of programming in Canberra and Wellington in summer 2025 and in London in winter 2025.
Learn more about the National Security & Counterterrorism Fellowship HERE.
About the McCain Institute at Arizona State University
The McCain Institute is a nonpartisan organization inspired by Senator John McCain and his family's dedication to public service. We are part of Arizona State University and based in Washington, D.C. Our programs defend democracy, advance human rights and freedom, and empower character-driven leaders. Our unique power to convene leaders across the global political spectrum enables us to make a real impact on the world's most pressing challenges. Our goal is action, not talk, and like Senator McCain, we are fighting to create a free, safe, and just world for all.
About Arizona State University
Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American research university, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.
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Original text here: https://www.mccaininstitute.org/resources/press-releases/mccain-institute-2025-nsct-fellows-convene-in-washington-d-c/
[Category: International]
Indiana University Law School: Professor Katz's Upcoming Book Receives Glowing Reviews
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, March 27 -- The Indiana University McKinney School of Law issued the following news release:
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Professor Katz's Upcoming Book Receives Glowing Reviews
IU McKinney Professor Robert Katz is writing Antisemitism and the Law, the first casebook on the subject, to be published by Carolina Academic Press in July 2025. Professor Katz's book received a glowing review in a blog post by Clifford Rieders on The Times of Israel's website and several comments highly praising the book from the Center for the Study of Law and Antisemitism (CSLA).
The book will be a resource for
... Show Full Article
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, March 27 -- The Indiana University McKinney School of Law issued the following news release:
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Professor Katz's Upcoming Book Receives Glowing Reviews
IU McKinney Professor Robert Katz is writing Antisemitism and the Law, the first casebook on the subject, to be published by Carolina Academic Press in July 2025. Professor Katz's book received a glowing review in a blog post by Clifford Rieders on The Times of Israel's website and several comments highly praising the book from the Center for the Study of Law and Antisemitism (CSLA).
The book will be a resource forunderstanding the legal history of antisemitism and legal strategies to combat it. It explores how legal systems have been wielded both to oppress Jews and to fight antisemitism, offering a global and historical perspective on the intersection of law and antisemitism.
"Much of the compendium is a historical evaluation which will help the reader fully appreciate that antisemitism and the law is not always about the law exclusively," Rieders writes in the blog. "In fact, this book can easily be read by those who are neither lawyers nor law students."
From the CLSA website:
"Antisemitism and the Law is more than a thoughtful and comprehensive casebook," said Stephen Macedo, the Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Politics and Human Values at Princeton University. "With it, Professor Katz is building the foundation for a new field of study, identifying canonical texts and organizing questions. It is a call for sustained scholarly engagement with the legal dimensions of antisemitism."
"Against a backdrop of increasing hostility towards Jews, this comprehensive and meticulously researched casebook could not come at a more valuable time, said Anthony Julius, professor and chair of Law and the Arts of the Faculty of Laws at University College London. Julius also is deputy chairman of Mishcon de Reya. "By chronicling and analysing landmark Jewish cases, including an incisive and enlightening treatment of Irving v. Lipstadt, this book provides indispensable insight into how Jews and their allies can best utilise the law, both as a sword and shield, to combat antisemitism."
Professor Katz will teach a course on antisemitism and the law using the casebook at McKinney in fall 2025. He is a member of the ABA Presidential Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, a senior research fellow for the Anti-Defamation League's Center for Antisemitism Research, and director of the Center for the Study of Law and Antisemitism, a nonprofit organization he founded to promote research and education at the intersection of law and antisemitism.
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Original text here: https://mckinneylaw.iu.edu/news/releases/2025/03/professor-katzs-upcoming-book-receives-glowing-review-.html
Florida State University Announces Plan to Build 'FSU Health' Hospital in Panama City Beach
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, March 27 -- Florida State University issued the following news:
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Florida State University announces plan to build 'FSU Health' hospital in Panama City Beach
By: Amy Farnum-Patronis
With the goal of improving access and innovation in health and health care in Northwest Florida, Florida State University has announced plans to build an acute care hospital in Panama City Beach under the FSU Health name.
Pending approval by the State of Florida, the plan paves the way to construct a state-of-the-art medical facility that will serve the residents of Bay and Walton counties.
... Show Full Article
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, March 27 -- Florida State University issued the following news:
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Florida State University announces plan to build 'FSU Health' hospital in Panama City Beach
By: Amy Farnum-Patronis
With the goal of improving access and innovation in health and health care in Northwest Florida, Florida State University has announced plans to build an acute care hospital in Panama City Beach under the FSU Health name.
Pending approval by the State of Florida, the plan paves the way to construct a state-of-the-art medical facility that will serve the residents of Bay and Walton counties.Bond financing for the project, estimated to be approximately $414 million, was approved Wednesday by the Florida Board of Governors, the 17-member board responsible for the operation and coordination of the state's 12 public universities. The 13-member FSU Board of Trustees approved the bond financing in a meeting earlier in the day.
The university will partner with an operator, anticipated to be Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) pending approval by the City of Tallahassee, to lease and operate the new hospital. This arrangement will ensure long-term quality performance that aligns with growing community needs and innovative best practices.
"The new hospital is a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing exceptional service and quality care to the community," FSU President Richard McCullough said. "We are creating a state-of-the-art facility that will meet the community's needs, support local physicians, and prioritize an outstanding patient experience, enhancing the overall health and well-being of our residents."
TMH President & CEO Mark O'Bryant underscored the importance of the partnership, stating, "This collaboration with FSU represents an exciting step forward in expanding high-quality health care services for Panama City Beach and the surrounding region. By combining our expertise and resources, we are ensuring this growing community has access to top-tier medical care, both now and in the future."
FSU has received approximately 16.5 acres of land donated by The St. Joe Company for the hospital's site at 1002 North Arnold Road at the intersection of Highway 79 and Philip Griffitts Senior Parkway. The new hospital will be located in the same medical district and adjacent to the new Medical Office Building which opened in July 2024.
The first phase of the hospital can accommodate up to 180 beds and will offer a broad range of health care services, including emergency medicine, general surgery, and diagnostic imaging. In addition, the agreement outlines the development of specialized service lines such as cardiac care, neurology, and orthopedics.
"Access to quality health care is essential for the well-being of all residents in Northwest Florida," said Jorge Gonzalez, president, CEO & chairman of The St. Joe Company. "FSU Health meeting a critical need for more health care options in tandem with education and research opportunities for students is transformative for the region."
A key component of the plan is the Academic Clinical Collaboration Agreement, which will govern future clinical research and medical education programs at the hospital. This partnership will create opportunities for FSU's graduate medical education initiatives and improve the much-needed talent development of health care professionals in the region.
"I'm thrilled to hear that FSU, in collaboration with Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and The St. Joe Company, has announced their intention to expand access to health care in Northwest Florida with a new hospital in Panama City Beach," said U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, who represents Bay and 15 other counties in Florida's 2nd Congressional District. "FSU and Tallahassee Memorial have a proven track record of improving health care outcomes across the communities they serve. This new facility represents the beginning of another outstanding chapter of collaboration between these organizations that will benefit the entire Bay County community."
The project is the next phase in FSU's longstanding commitment to improving health care in North Florida.
Notable milestones include the launch of FSU Health in 2022 and construction of an academic health center on the Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare campus, which is set to open in 2026.
"We are proud to be part of this region's future, and we look forward to opening the doors to a new era of health care that will benefit families and communities for generations to come," McCullough said.
The construction of the new Panama City Beach hospital is set to begin soon, with a targeted opening date in 2028.
About Florida State University
One of the nation's top public research universities, Florida State University serves more than 44,000 students from all 50 U.S. states and more than 120 countries. Located in Tallahassee, Florida's capital, FSU offers more than 272 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, including medicine and law, taught by exceptional faculty who are leaders in their fields. Whether they are Pulitzer Prize winners, Guggenheim Fellows or members of the National Academies, FSU faculty inspire students to reach their full potential with unparalleled opportunities in the arts, sciences and humanities. FSU's unwavering commitment to student success produces some of the highest retention and graduation rates in the nation. Florida State's welcoming campus is the oldest continuous site of higher education in the state and home to a growing research enterprise, the world-class National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, celebrated fine and performing arts programs, an entrepreneurial culture and championship athletics teams.
About Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, Inc.
Founded in 1948, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) is a private, nonprofit community health care system committed to transforming care, advancing health and improving lives with the ultimate vision of being known as the most engaged and supportive organization in America. Serving 21 counties in North Florida and South Georgia, TMH is comprised of a 772-bed acute care hospital, a surgery and adult ICU center, a psychiatric hospital, multiple specialty care centers, four residency programs, 50 affiliated physician practices and partnerships with Alliant Management Services, Apalachee Center, Calhoun Liberty Hospital, Capital Health Plan, Doctors' Memorial Hospital, Florida State University College of Medicine, Big Bend Hospice and Radiology Associates. For more information, visit TMH.ORG
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Original text here: https://news.fsu.edu/news/university-news/2025/03/26/florida-state-university-announces-plan-to-build-fsu-health-hospital-in-panama-city-beach/
Case Western Reserve School of Medicine: How Cells Respond to Stress is More Nuanced Than Previously Believed
CLEVELAND, Ohio, March 27 -- Case Western Reserve University's School of Medicine issued the following news release:
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How cells respond to stress is more nuanced than previously believed
Research discovery could lead to new targets for cancer therapy, neurodegenerative diseases
The body's cells respond to stress--toxins, mutations, starvation or other assaults--by pausing normal functions to focus on conserving energy, repairing damaged components and boosting defenses.
If the stress is manageable, cells resume normal activity; if not, they self-destruct.
Scientists have believed for
... Show Full Article
CLEVELAND, Ohio, March 27 -- Case Western Reserve University's School of Medicine issued the following news release:
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How cells respond to stress is more nuanced than previously believed
Research discovery could lead to new targets for cancer therapy, neurodegenerative diseases
The body's cells respond to stress--toxins, mutations, starvation or other assaults--by pausing normal functions to focus on conserving energy, repairing damaged components and boosting defenses.
If the stress is manageable, cells resume normal activity; if not, they self-destruct.
Scientists have believed fordecades this response happens as a linear chain of events: sensors in the cell "sound an alarm" and modify a key protein, which then changes a second protein that slows or shuts down the cell's normal function.
But in a new study published today in the journal Nature, researchers at Case Western Reserve University have discovered a cell's response is more nuanced and compartmentalized--not fixed or rigid, as previously thought.
The groundbreaking research suggests this adaptive response to stress--which the researchers call "split-integrated stress response" or s-ISR--could potentially be exploited to kill cancer cells and more effectively treat neurodegenerative diseases.
Maria Hatzoglou, professor of the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and the study's principal investigator, found for the first time a cell's response to stress can be fine-tuned depending on its nature, intensity and duration. This flexibility provides novel insights into how cells in organisms--from yeast to humans--adapt to their environment.
"This study represents a new way of thinking about cellular stress," Hatzoglou said. "ISR is not a one-size-fits-all system like we used to think. Instead, it can change and adjust depending on the type, strength and length of the stress the cell is experiencing."
The study
The study used mouse models of Vanishing White Matter Disease, which causes progressive degeneration of the brain's white matter in children, leading to neurological problems like motor difficulties, seizures and cognitive decline.
Hatzoglou's research revealed that cells carrying the gene causing the disease had mutations in the key protein normally responsible for shutting down operations in the cell under stress. Somehow, the brain cells adapt and mostly function normally but are exceptionally vulnerable, self-destructing even under mild stress.
The research team, which included colleagues at Case Western Reserve, McGill University and Karolinska Institute, determined how the cells reacted explains why patients show significant decline in cognitive and motor abilities after relatively minor stressors like fever or mild head trauma.
Other late-onset neurodegenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (better known as ALS) may share a similar mechanism, the researchers said. Diseased brain cells adapt to preserve functions under normal conditions, but modest stressors accelerate decline.
Understanding this adaptation to stress could lead to new targets for cancer chemotherapy, Hatzoglou said, because cancer cells respond to stressors like chemotherapy in one of two ways: either self-destruct or mutate to preserve their function, becoming resistant to the treatment.
With that knowledge, she said she plans to study chemotherapy-resistant breast cancer cells to better understand how those cells adapt to stress and find new targets for treating disease.
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Terry Fox Foundation Oncometabolism Team, Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Swedish Research Council, Swedish Cancer Society and National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
For more information, please contact Diana Steele, diana.steele@case.edu.
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Original text here: https://case.edu/medicine/about/newsroom/our-latest-news/how-cells-respond-stress-more-nuanced-previously-believed
