University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry: My Robot Therapist: The Ethics of AI Mental Health Chatbots for Kids

Mental healthcare can be difficult to access in the U.S. Insurance coverage is spotty, and there aren’t enough mental health professionals to cover the nation’s needs, leading to long waits and costly care. AI mental health apps, ranging from mood trackers to chatbots that mimic human therapists, are proliferating on the market. Learn more.

Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University Study Provides Evidence of Amyloidosis in the Brains of Some WTC Responders

Closing in on 25 years since the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks, WTC responders continue to suffer long-term effects from their exposures at Ground Zero. One issue of possible growing concern is signs of early dementia in responders. The results of a new brain imaging study led by researchers at Stony Brook Medicine indicates a link between WTC exposure duration and the presence of amyloid in the brain. Learn more.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: Personalized Cancer Vaccine Proves Promising in a Phase 1 Trial at Mount Sinai

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, led by Nina Bhardwaj, MD, PhD, Ward-Coleman Chair in Cancer Research and Director of the Vaccine and Cell Therapy Laboratory, have tested a promising new type of personalized multi-peptide neoantigen cancer vaccine, called PGV001, in a small group of patients. This early study (phase 1 trial) is an important step in finding better ways to help people fight cancer. Learn more.

Weill Cornell Medicine: Trial Shows Targeted Treatment for Childhood Brain Tumor Is Safe

A Phase I clinical trial demonstrated that a targeted approach to treating a deadly brain tumor in children called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is safe, reported Weill Cornell Medicine and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center investigators. This is the first larger scale study using a radiation-based direct drug delivery approach to treat and image DIPG. Learn more.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine: A Type of Common Mouth Bacteria Implicated in Colorectal Cancer

The bacterial species Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) inhabits plaque in the mouth and is rarely found in the gut—except in the case of colorectal cancer, when Fn can be isolated from patients’ stool samples and Fn DNA can be found in tumors.  In research published online on March 10 in mBio, Libusha Kelly, Ph.D., and colleagues report that Fn is actually composed of six genomically distinct populations that have different body site preferences. Learn more.

Weill Cornell Medicine: Omega-6 Fatty Acid Promotes the Growth of an Aggressive Type of Breast Cancer

Linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid found in seed oils such as soybean and safflower oil, and animal products including pork and eggs, specifically enhances the growth of the hard-to-treat “triple negative” breast cancer subtype, according to a preclinical study led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators. The discovery could lead to new dietary and pharmaceutical strategies against breast and other cancers. Learn more.

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons: Atlas of Brain’s Mitochondria Reveals High Cognition Areas Supplied with More Energy

Everything the brain does—from storing memories to interpreting sights to regulating emotions—requires energy, all produced by cellular organelles called mitochondria. However, surprisingly little is known about the distribution and diversity of the brain’s tiny energy processors and how they influence brain health. Learn more.

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at University at Buffalo Study Compares Hypervirulent Infections

Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor and chief of infectious diseases in the Department of Medicine at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, is a co-author on a new study analyzing clinical features and outcomes of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae infection, a serious condition that can severely sicken and kill healthy individuals. Learn more.

Norton College of Medicine at Upstate Medical University: Top Medical Journal Publishes Results of Joslin Center Clinical Trial on Automated Insulin Delivery

Individuals from Central New York were among the more than 300 clinical trial participants involved in a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that has demonstrated that automated insulin delivery (AID) systems can significantly improve glycemic control in adults with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes. Learn more.

Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University: Teenage Boys Who Experience Violence More Likely to Use Violence on Intimate Partner

A study that measured real-time violence exposure on adolescent boys (ages 15 to 19) using cell phone survey data reveals that boys who experienced recent violence were more likely to use violence directed at their partners. The research, led by Rachel Kidman, PhD, of Stony Brook University, uses data from weekly mobile phone surveys from nearly 500 adolescent boys living in Soweto, South Africa, during 2020 to 2022. Their findings are detailed in a paper published in PLOS One. Learn more.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Researchers Identify Key Gut Sensor That Regulates Digestion and Immunity

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have made an exciting discovery about how the gut senses the movement of food, which could lead to better treatments for digestive problems. Published in the journal Cell, this research demonstrates that Piezo1, a special pressure sensor in the gut, plays an essential role in maintaining gut motility (the ability of the muscles in the gastrointestinal tract to contract and propel food and waste through the digestive system) and immune balance. Learn more.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine: New Topical Curcumin Gel Shows Promise in Two Studies

Curcumin—the main component of the spice turmeric—has been used therapeutically since the 1700s, mainly because of its anti-inflammatory effects. However, curcumin is not well absorbed or therapeutically effective when given orally. Joel Friedman, M.D., Ph.D., has shown that dissolving high concentration of curcumin in a biocompatible solvent and adding a component of coconut-oil that promotes skin penetration yields a topical gel that makes curcumin much more bioavailable and therapeutically effective. Learn more.

New York Medical College: Menopause Reshapes Skin Health from Hair Loss to Acne

Menopause isn’t just a life transition—it can also impact skin health in surprising ways. A recent study from New York Medical College researchers, presented at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting in Orlando, sheds new light on how menopause can play a major role in the presentation of common skin conditions like alopecia, psoriasis, and acne. Learn more.

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University Leaders Transform HIV Research and Care for Women

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, observed annually on March 10, highlights the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls, especially in underserved communities. This day underscores the urgency of targeted prevention, testing, and treatment strategies to reduce disparities and improve health outcomes. Learn more.

Norton College of Medicine at Upstate Medical University Research Could Pave the Way for Improved Glaucoma Treatments

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, affecting an estimated 80 million people. Yet, much about how the disease impacts the eye is still unknown. Preethi Ganapathy, MD/PhD, will use her experience creating 3D models of optic nerve cells to better understand how the cells react to interocular pressure (IOP), a common cause of nerve damage in glaucoma patients. Learn more.

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons: Nurses and AI Collaborate to Save Lives

An AI tool that analyzes nurses’ data and notes detected when patients in the hospital were deteriorating nearly two days earlier than traditional methods and reduced the risk of death by over 35%, found a year-long clinical trial of more than 60,000 patients led by researchers at Columbia University. The new AI tool, CONCERN Early Warning System, uses machine learning to analyze nursing documentation patterns to predict when a hospitalized patient is deteriorating before the change is reflected in vital signs, allowing for timely, life-saving interventions. Learn more.

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at University at Buffalo: Eating Chili During Pregnancy May Help Lower Risk of Gestational Diabetes

As lean sources of protein, complex carbohydrates and fiber, beans are known worldwide as providing lots of nutritional power at a very affordable price. Now, a University at Buffalo study suggests that when consumed in chili during pregnancy, beans may help lower one’s risk for gestational diabetes. Learn more.

New York Medical College: Study Reveals Noninvasive Method for Early Intraventricular Hemorrhage Detection in Preemies

Worldwide, nearly half of the premature babies born before 32 weeks of gestation each year develop intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), a condition that can cause severe neurological damage and developmental delays. Yet, current diagnostic tools can only detect brain bleeds after they occur. Now, a recent study published in Frontiers of Pediatrics by a team of basic scientists and clinicians at New York Medical College (NYMC) offers new hope. Learn more.

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University: Lead, Mercury, and Motherhood: Protecting Mothers and Children from Environmental Harm

Environmental pollution affects everyone, but women—especially during pregnancy—face distinct risks from toxic substances like lead and mercury. Laura Geer, Ph.D., MHS, Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, recently joined an International Women’s Day webinar hosted by Pure Earth to explore how these toxins impact women and children—especially in global urban, immigrant, and low-resource communities. Learn more.

Albany Medical College Awarded $2M Grant to Study Organ Failure

Scientists at Albany Medical College, a member of the Albany Med Health System, have received a five-year, $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the role of endothelial cells in organ failure. “Previous research by my lab and others has shown that the endothelium play a key role in critical illness, when one or more organs fail to function properly,” said Alejandro Adam, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, who is leading the study. Learn more.

Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra Northwell: Student Awarded $50,000 Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Fellowship

The Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell is proud to announce that Adrian Chen, a third-year medical student, has been selected as a 2025-26 Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Fellow. The prestigious Sarnoff Fellowship, founded in 1979 by Dr. Stanley J. Sarnoff, provides a fully funded opportunity for select medical students to conduct cutting-edge research under the mentorship of the nation’s foremost cardiovascular scientists. Learn more.

More News

Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra Northwell: New Solutions for Med School Grade Appeals Amid Competitive Residency Landscape

Samara B. Ginzburg, MD, vice dean and dean for education at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell led a multi-institutional team of researchers in a new study published in Academic Medicine that explores the increasing frequency of medical school clerkship grade appeals. Dr. Ginzburg and the team, representing six public and private medical schools in the Northeastern United States, analyzed the underlying reasons for grade appeals and offered a novel approach for improving medical assessments, enhancing learning and promoting student success. Learn more.

University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry: Why Research is the Backbone of NCI Designation

National Cancer Institute designation brings a cachet to the clinical side of any cancer center. So, it might be surprising to learn that achieving this highest honor is primarily based on research success. The designation recognizes Wilmot Cancer Institute’s ability to advance science toward impactful treatments and to meet the unique needs of the community. Learn more.