Office of Medical Communications

New findings, reported in Nature Communications and published by UVM researchers, describe the discovery of a unique dependence of cancer cells on a particular protein, which could lead to desperately-needed treatment for hard-to-treat cancers.

Amid the biomedical science world’s race to develop and distribute vaccines and treatments for COVID-19, a hard-working team made up of a Larner College of Medicine scientist and partners at Lebanon, N.H.-based Celdara Medical are busy building a potentially game-changing therapy to fight RNA viruses like SARS-CoV-2.

In developing therapies for hard-to-treat breast and ovarian cancers in patients with BRCA gene mutations, scientists aim to identify ways to keep cancer cells from using DNA break repair pathways. New findings from researchers including UVM Professor Sylvie Doublie demonstrate a previously-unknown capability for a key enzyme in this repair function that shows promise as a new avenue for treatment development.

(FEBRUARY 8, 2021) Associate Dean for Public Health and Health Policy and Professor of Medicine Jan Carney, M.D, M.P.H., Is featured in a WalletHub article titled "2021's Healthiest & Unhealthiest Cities in America."

The number of children presenting with mental health issues is on the rise, and pediatricians are often the first to assess how best to offer support. They can have trouble finding help, as the number of mental and behavioral health specialists hasn’t kept pace with need. Two new programs have emerged to enhance training for both pediatric and psychiatry residents.

The CVRI Board of Directors is requesting applications for new members for its Early Career Advisory Committee, which is tasked with identifying and addressing the needs of our Early Career scientists and involving them in CVRI’s cardiovascular-related activities.

International adult aortic surgery expert Chris Rokkas, M.D., Ph.D., was invested as the inaugural Frank P. Ittleman Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine during a remote investiture ceremony held on February 2, 2021 in front of guests from across the United States and around the world.

Members of the Larner College of Medicine’s medical Class of 2023, leaders, medical educators, and staff gathered virtually January 28 to celebrate the students’ achievements and recognize the faculty and staff who have supported them during an online Foundations Celebration event.

​For Professor Elizabeth Bonney, M.D., M.P.H., juggling the roles of scientist, clinician, mentor, and advocate has been the norm for decades. So, it’s no surprise that in a year turned upside-down by the COVID-19 pandemic, the delayed reckoning with racial injustice in America, and political turmoil, she has forged ahead with her science, delivered care on the front lines, and used this pivotal moment in history to raise issues of critical importance not only to science, but society.

The presentation introduced UVM’s Center for Biomedical Innovation and highlighted several ongoing projects that aim to develop new technologies for remote assessment and intervention. A new approach for rapid and objective fall risk characterization and a mobile application for providing physiological biofeedback to help manage panic attacks was discussed.

A Joint Catalyst Award on rural health and the environment, presented in partnership with UVM’s Larner College of Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, and the Northern New England Clinical & Translational Research Network, has been awarded to Gund Fellow Meredith Niles (CALS).

UVM’s Center for Biomedical Innovation (CBi) is looking for project ideas for devices and software to improve rural delivery of medicine in Vermont and across the country.

An interdisciplinary team of Vermont researchers and a partner at Yale's Smilow Cancer Center, conducted an economic evaluation to establish an overall cost-effectiveness comparison of two approaches to the treatment of low-volume metastatic prostate cancer. Their findings, published in JAMA Network Open, strongly support the addition of prostate radiation therapy to standard androgen deprivation therapy.

Congratulations to Oliver Dienz, PhD in the Boyson Lab on being first author in the publication: “Critical Role for SLAM/SAP Signaling in the Thymic Developmental Programming of IL-17– and IFN-γ–Producing γδ T Cells” in the Journal of Immunology.

Dr. Majumdar was a co-corresponding author in the publication “SARS-CoV-2 Disrupts Splicing, Translation, and Protein Trafficking to Suppress Host Defenses” in the journal Cell.

While public health and infectious disease experts have discussed strategies to enhance adherence, including the potential use of financial incentives, an examination of the scientific evidence on incentivizing vaccine adherence has not been discussed. A new Commentary in Preventive Medicine by Vermont Center on Behavior and Health Director Stephen Higgins, Ph.D., and colleagues addresses that gap.

A new study conducted by a team of health economists and public health faculty at the University of Vermont suggests that the behavior public officials are now mandating or recommending to slow the spread of COVID-19--wearing a face covering--should come with a caveat. If not accompanied by proper public education, the practice could lead to more infections.

While public health and infectious disease experts have discussed strategies to enhance adherence, including the potential use of financial incentives, an examination of the scientific evidence on incentivizing vaccine adherence has not been discussed. A new Commentary in Preventive Medicine by a team led by Stephen Higgins, Ph.D., director of the Vermont Center on Behavior and Health and professor of psychiatry at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine, addresses that gap.

Medical education leaders and scholars gathered virtually on January 13 and 14, 2021 for the Larner College of Medicine Teaching Academy’s 2021 Induction and Award Ceremony and Snow Season Education Retreat. Co-presented with the University of Vermont Health Network Medical Group, the ceremony recognized medical educators and kicked off the annual education program, which this year featured several sessions on diversity, equity, and inclusion.