News

We’re all different. But when we visit the doctor, our treatments are often the same. The All of Us Pennsylvania Research Program thinks one day health care should be tailored for you. This is called precision medicine. And research can help us get there. All of Us wants one million or more people to join. Your participation can help shape the future of health for generations to come. The program will last for 10 or more years. People who join will share information. This might be about their...

The Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) at the University of Pittsburgh is pleased to announce that Pitt+Me—a program that links people of all ages to hundreds of in-person and remote research studies at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC—enrolled its 300,000th volunteer. This large and diverse group of adult and pediatric volunteers helps researchers make groundbreaking discoveries, gives Western Pennsylvanians access to innovative research studies, and contributes to...

Craving and Smoking Behavior Study Are you 26-55 years old and interested in quitting smoking? You may be eligible for a study to test new methods aimed at helping individuals quit smoking. This is not a treatment study. This study includes 10 in-person visits. Study procedures involve completing questionnaires and undergoing an EEG (measures brain activity) and tDSC (non-invasive brain stimulation). Compensation is provided. Learn more about this study here!   Telehealth and Memory Study ...

Every year during the month of May, there is a national movement to raise awareness about the importance of mental health. It is a time to educate the public, address the stigma that surrounds mental illness, to provide support to those that struggle, and celebrate the professionals who provide critical mental health care services. Did you know, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 adults in the US experience mental illness each year but less than half of them...

The holidays can be a painful time of year for people experiencing the loss of a loved one and challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic may make coping with the loss even more difficult. University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry researcher Sarah T. Stahl, PhD, whose work focuses on improving the mental and physical health of bereaved older adults, shares her tips for getting through the holidays without your loved one. “In our work with bereaved spouses, we have learned that while...

During the global pandemic, it has become apparent that COVID-19 disproportionately affects minority communities, which have traditionally been underrepresented in research. In an effort to improve health equity, the University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) recently awarded $25,000 grants to four research groups who propose to identify and reduce disparities in the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics. A look at the funded projects: • COVID-19...

Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition that results in an irregular heartbeat and can lead to higher risks for cardiovascular disease, including stroke. Treatment with blood thinning drugs may reduce the risk of stroke by as much as 70% and is the standard of care for atrial fibrillation, but a recent study showed that members of minority communities with the disease are less likely to be treated with blood thinners than white patients. The study examined Veterans Health Administration (VA...

Asthma – a lung disease that prevents people from properly breathing – is an extremely common condition that impacts over 300 million people worldwide. The current standard for treatment is corticosteroid administration through an inhaler, but this type of treatment does not work for everyone. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered that not all asthma has the same underlying disease mechanism, a finding that may lead to improvements in treatment options available to asthma...

Women who experience hypertension – or high blood pressure – during pregnancy are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life. However, the mechanism behind this association is not well understood, which has limited medicine’s ability to predict and prevent CVD among these women. Research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has revealed that hypertensive disorders during pregnancy have long-term impacts on the structure of the heart, which may serve as...

Antipsychotic drugs are commonly prescribed to treat conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. However, many patients experience weight gain while taking these medications – a side effect that has puzzled medical professionals for years. Research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has revealed that dopamine – a chemical that binds receptors in the brain to control feelings of pleasure, motivation, and learning – plays a more complex role in the body...

According to data from the National Institute of Mental Health, about 51.5 million adults in the United States experienced some form of mental health disorder in 2019. Young adults are disproportionately affected by these issues, with the same data showing nearly a third of 18–25-year-olds have mental health challenges. Collaborative research from the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of California, San Diego, suggests that this issue is only worsening as...

Telehealth or telemedicine, which allows patients to connect with healthcare providers via videoconference, has become more widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two recent studies expanded the use of telehealth to help veterans who use Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT), such as motorized wheelchairs. Results indicate that remote visits were effective in improving patient mobility and both participants and clinicians reported a high degree of satisfaction with remote clinical...

Immunotherapy drugs that work with the body’s immune system to target and attack cancer cells are commonly used to treat certain types of cancers. One specific type of immunotherapy, called anti-PD-1 treatment, has been shown to provide substantial long-term benefits to patients with advanced melanoma. However, only about 40% of melanoma patients respond effectively to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Responsiveness to anti-PD-1 has been associated with composition of the gut microbiome—the community...

  The Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) at the University of Pittsburgh is pleased to announce that Pitt+Me—a program that links people of all ages to hundreds of in-person and remote research studies at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC—enrolled its 250,000th participant in April 2021. This large and diverse group of adult and pediatric participants helps researchers make groundbreaking discoveries, gives Western Pennsylvanians access to innovative research studies, and...

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common injury, caused by a bump or blow to the head that disrupts the normal functioning of the brain. TBIs can range from mild concussions to severe head injuries. Long-term effects of TBI can include problems with memory, thinking, movement, vision, and hearing. In some cases, TBIs also cause emotional problems such as personality changes and depression.  Given the potential for negative consequences resulting from TBIs, optimizing treatment of these...