Latest Headlines
WSU launches new online training for childhood speech and language disorders
July 16, 2024
An accredited online course developed by Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences researchers at Washington State University now offers professional training in an innovative early intervention method for childhood speech and language disorders. Speech-language pathologists can take the course for continuing education and parents and other caregivers can take it for their learning.
WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Professor Emeritus Nancy Potter, PhD, CCC-SLP, and Associate Professor Mark VanDam, PhD, created the Babble Boot Camp approach with collaborators in Washington, Arizona, and Minnesota as a proactive and evidence-based way to prevent or minimize speech and language disorders in babies and toddlers with conditions that put them at risk for such disorders.
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Protein discovery could help prevent cancer treatment-related heart damage
June 4, 2024
Blocking a protein known as CDK7 could prevent heart damage associated with a commonly used cancer chemotherapy medication, according to a study led by scientists at Washington State University. Importantly, the researchers also found that inhibiting CDK7 could help enhance the medication’s cancer-killing capability.
Based on an animal model, the study findings could provide a foundation for future treatment strategies to reduce chemotherapy-related heart toxicity and increase treatment effectiveness. This could ultimately help increase the lifespan of people with cancer.
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Pharmacists prove effective, less costly care option for minor illnesses
May 28, 2024
Greater use of pharmacists to treat minor illnesses could potentially save millions of dollars in health care costs, according to new research led by Washington State University. The findings also indicate a way to improve healthcare access by expanding availability of pharmacists’ clinical services including prescribing medications, amid an ongoing shortage of primary care providers.
The study found that care for a range of minor health issues — including urinary tract infections, shingles, animal bites and headaches — costs an average of about $278 less when treated in pharmacies compared to patients with similar conditions treated at “traditional sites” of primary care, urgent care or emergency room settings.
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Study shows how night shift work can raise risk of diabetes, obesity
May 9, 2024
Just a few days on a night shift schedule throws off protein rhythms related to blood glucose regulation, energy metabolism and inflammation, processes that can influence the development of chronic metabolic conditions.
The finding, from a study led by scientists at Washington State University and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, provides new clues as to why night shift workers are more prone to diabetes, obesity and other metabolic disorders.
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WSU sleep scientist Kimberly Honn elected president of Working Time Society
May 2, 2024
Washington State University sleep scientist Kimberly Honn has been elected as president of the Working Time Society, serving a three-year term that started on April 1.
The Working Time Society is the academic counterpart of the Scientific Committee on Shiftwork and Working Time of the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH), a non-governmental organization recognized by the United Nations.
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ChatGPT fails at heart risk assessment
May 1, 2024
Despite ChatGPT’s reported ability to pass medical exams, new research indicates it would be unwise to rely on it for some health assessments, such as whether a patient with chest pain needs to be hospitalized.
In a study involving thousands of simulated cases of patients with chest pain, ChatGPT provided inconsistent conclusions, returning different heart risk assessment levels for the exact same patient data. The generative AI system also failed to match the traditional methods physicians use to judge a patient’s cardiac risk.
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Contingency Management is gaining favor for treating addiction
April 9, 2024
Washington State University scientists have published study after study showing that reinforcement-based addiction treatment works. WSU is considered a leader in the field, in fact.
Contingency management, or CM, is a behavioral therapy that rewards people for avoiding the habits they’re trying to quit. Someone in CM treatment might visit a clinic regularly for a urine test, and if it’s drug-negative, they immediately get a gift card or prize. Despite the evidence in its favor, uptake of the treatment has been slow. Federal and state regulations have been a major hurdle, as has a mindset that people shouldn’t be paid to abstain from drugs and alcohol. That’s now changing.
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Blood sugar lows, highs hamper brain function in individuals with Type 1 diabetes
March 25, 2024
Large swings in blood glucose tied to Type 1 diabetes may impact the brain’s ability to quickly process information, according to a study led by scientists at Washington State University and McLean Hospital in Massachusetts. The research also showed that some individuals are more severely impacted by these changes, which includes older people and those with certain health conditions.
Published in npj Digital Medicine, the study found that very low and very high glucose levels were associated with slower and less accurate cognitive processing speed, with the most dramatic effect seen at low glucose levels.
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Rural and minority dementia patients face disparities in access to neurologists
March 20, 2024
Getting dementia diagnosed can be a long and difficult process for anyone, but some may face additional challenges based on race or ethnicity and where they live, according to a study led by Washington State University researchers.
The study of nearly 95,000 Washington state residents found that people living outside of urban areas as well as Native American and Hispanic people face longer travel distances to be seen by neurologists. The researchers said these disparities could be contributing to delayed diagnoses, which can result in higher costs of care, reduced chances of preserving cognitive function and lower quality of life for dementia patients.
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Multiple air pollutants linked to asthma symptoms in children
March 13, 2024
Exposure to several combinations of toxic atmospheric pollutants may be triggering asthma symptoms among children, a recent analysis suggests.
The study, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, showed that 25 different combinations of air pollutants were associated with asthma symptoms among 269 elementary school children diagnosed with asthma in Spokane, Washington. In line with previous research, the WSU-led study revealed a socioeconomic disparity—with one group of children from a lower-income neighborhood exposed to more toxic combinations, a total of 13 of the 25 identified in this research.
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AI research supports health equity in rural Washington
February 22, 2024
Washington State University sociologist Anna Zamora-Kapoor is studying how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) could help improve cancer survival outcomes among the Pacific Northwest’s rural Hispanic population.
As one of 25 fellows in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) AIM-AHEAD leadership program, and in partnership with Three Rivers Hospital in Brewster, Washington, Zamora-Kapoor is using AI generated text messages and a text-based intervention to help identify, schedule, and follow up with patients eligible for a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan, an efficient and effective way to screen for lung cancer.
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Research Highlights
Making an Impact
Researchers use computer simulations, AI to speed up drug development
Every year, the FDA approves a few dozen new drugs. The approval marks the conclusion of a drug development process that can take up to 15 years and costs an estimated $2.6 billion for a single drug. The hefty price tag of bringing new drugs to market includes the cost of failed drugs; for every drug that makes it, thousands of others get shelved.
Reducing the time and cost to develop new drugs has been front of mind for Senthil Natesan, an associate professor in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Natesan’s expertise is in computer-aided drug design, which uses high-performance computing resources and techniques to study proteins involved in various diseases. It also identifies potential drug molecules to target those proteins.
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Researcher on the Rise
Q&A with Poppy Gardiner
As a young girl growing up in the United Kingdom, Poppy Gardiner was “that annoying child that always asked ‘why.’” Her natural curiosity and love of people piqued her interest in psychology, which she started studying at the early age of 16. This ultimately led her to pursue a career in research. Since early 2023 Gardiner has been at WSU, where she works as a postdoctoral research associate in the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine’s Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology and the WSU Sleep and Performance Research Center.
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Registration is open for Seattle Children’s & WSU Joint Research Symposium
Both registration to attend and application to present are now open for the first-ever joint research symposium between Washington State University and Seattle Children’s Research Institute, to be held at the WSU Spokane campus on Friday, Sept. 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The goal of the symposium is to facilitate engagement and generate opportunities for research collaboration across the two institutions, which could help improve the lives of children and families in the region.
After the symposium, researchers will be invited to apply for collaborative seed grants supporting projects between our institutions. Both early-career and established researchers are encouraged to apply for a podium or poster presentation by Friday, August 2. Selected presenters will be notified by Monday, August 12. Those planning to attend the symposium should register by Friday, August 23. All WSU researchers, faculty and employees are invited to attend.
Learn more on the event page and reach out Lois James at lois_james@wsu.edu with questions.
Media Mentions
Hans Van Dongen (College of Medicine/Sleep and Performance Research Center) was quoted in Washington Post article that explored whether sleeping in on weekends can help make up for sleep loss during the week. In addition, his recent study—with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)—on how night shift work can lead to type 2 diabetes received additional attention on TriCities-based TV news station KNDU.
Substance use researcher Michelle Peavy (College of Medicine) talked to the Seattle Times for an article on a state pilot of contingency management—an incentive-based behavioral intervention to reduce substance use—in supportive housing settings in the Seattle area.
(Note: Nonsubscribers can view a limited number of articles. If you cannot access the article, try opening the link in a different browser).
A new study led Julie Akers (College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences) that showed that increased use of pharmacists for the treatment of minor illnesses could provide significant health care cost savings was covered in health news outlets around the nation, including U.S. Pharmacist, HealthDay, Becker’s Hospital Review, and Pharmacy Times.
Steve James (College of Medicine) was quoted in a National Public Radio story on the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers. James studies how law, policy, training, and practice relate to law enforcement officers’ operational performance. A study led by James that looked at the impact of a fatigue management program on Seattle police employees’ sleep, mental health, and wellbeing was highlighted in Sleep Review Magazine.
Medical news outlet Healio published a Q&A with Joshua Neumiller (College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences). The highlight was prompted by a recent American Diabetes Association award given to Neumiller. For more details, scroll down to the Awards and Honors section.
Pablo Monsivais (College of Medicine/Program in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology) spoke to Inlander food writer Eliza Billingham for a myth-busting story about the potential dangers of eating cyanide-containing almonds.
Research led by Jae Kennedy (College of Medicine) in collaboration with a researcher at the University of Texas was mentioned in a Chicago Parent article on life insurance planning for parents of children living with a disability. The 2017 study compared health care costs for working-age adults living with a disability to the costs faced by their nondisabled peers.
A study led on how fluctuations in blood sugar levels can impact cognitive function—co-led by Naomi Chaytor (College of Medicine) and her McLean hospital collaborator Laura Germine—was highlighted by the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports mental health-related scientific research.
Awards & Honors
Joshua Neumiller, Allen I. White Distinguished Professor in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, recently received the American Diabetes Association’s 2024 Outstanding Educator in Diabetes Award. As part of the honors that come with the award, Neumiller delivered the Outstanding Educator in Diabetes Award Lecture at the association’s annual conference in Orlando, Florida, in June. The award was given to Neumiller to recognize his longstanding volunteer service to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). He currently serves as the association’s president-elect for health care and education. In addition, he is a contributing author for the ADA’s book, “Practical Insulin,” and a co-editor for its “Guide to Medications for the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus.” Previously, he served as editor-in-chief for the association’s journal, Diabetes Spectrum, and as chair of its professional practice committee. At WSU, Neumiller conducts clinical and translational research related to patient care for diabetes and kidney disease. For more background on Neumiller’s achievements, read this Q&A published by health care news provider Healio.
Cole Allick, a research assistant professor in the College of Medicine and the Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health (IREACH), has been appointed to the Washington State Dementia Action Collaborative. A part of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services’ Aging and Long-Term Support Administration, the Dementia Action Collaborative is a group of public and private partners committed to preparing Washington state for the growth of the population living with dementia. Allick, who is a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, conducts research on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias with Tribal communities. His work on the collaborative will ensure that the unique dementia care needs of Tribal communities are integrated into the Washington State Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, which serves as a blueprint for action for the next five years.
Publication Highlight
(The article below was adapted from a College of Medicine news article written by Elizabeth Chambers.
A growing population of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) over 55 face unique challenges and opportunities for healthy aging, according to a study led by researchers Cole Allick and Marija Bogic at the Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health (IREACH) in the WSU College of Medicine.
Published in the journal Genealogy, the study is one of the first to directly engage AI/AN Elders in a discussion about their needs. AI/AN populations face disproportionately high rates of age-related Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, largely due to social factors, but are underrepresented in research and often left out of discussions about potential solutions.
Findings from a community listening session at the 2021 National Indian Council on Aging Annual Conference in Reno, Nev., showed a range of barriers to Elders receiving necessary social support and care for aging-related diseases.
Study participants cited an urgent need for more comprehensive and culturally informed services for Elders, including securing additional funding for existing services and timely federal approvals for proposed ones. These include community-based services so Elders can remain in their homes and communities as they age, as well as education to improve understanding and reduce stigma around Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Culturally informed services are necessary to address how intergenerational trauma has created mistrust in Western systems among Indigenous communities. Participants cited their apprehension about being forced into long-term care settings as they age as being connected to their knowledge of Elders’ historical experiences with forced removals from their families and placement into government-funded boarding schools designed to assimilate them into mainstream American culture.
Participants also called for restoring the relationship between youth and Elders, treating Elders with kindness and respect, and strengthening community connections to stave off loneliness.
In their paper, Allick and Bogic conclude that the study provides critical insights for future, larger-scale efforts to identify policy, practice and additional research that can address the concerns brought up by Elders. They argue that the insights and context shared in this dialogue need to be considered when creating ways to better serve AI/AN Elders over the next three decades.
Funding Highlights
Katy Cabbage (College of Medicine/Speech and Hearing Sciences) has received a four-year, $1.2 million subaward to collaborate with Florida State University on an NIH-sponsored study to measure academic progress in learning in elementary school children with speech sound disorders. Funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders, the new study will follow a total of 400 early elementary-aged children with speech sound disorders who are enrolled in school-based speech therapy services in Florida and Washington state for the academic year. The researchers will test each child for a variety of skills related to speech, language and reading at the beginning and end of the school year. They will also collect therapy-related data from each child’s speech-language pathologist, such as the therapy approach, duration of sessions, number of children seen in the session, and the number of treatment trials the child attempted. The goal is to find the links between the type of speech therapy children receive and their speech production, reading, spelling and working memory skills.
Siavosh Naji-Talakar, a PharmD graduate and current PhD student in the lab of researcher Bhagwat Prasad (College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences), has received $41,048 in funding from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. The award represents an NIH F31 National Research Service Award that supports a mentored research experience for promising predoctoral students. The three-year grant enables Naji-Talakar to study the potential interactions between diclofenac—a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat pain, migraines and arthritis—and curcumin, an herbal supplement used to treat inflammatory conditions such as metabolic syndrome, arthritis, anxiety, and high cholesterol. A previous WSU study found a high degree of variability in the expression of UGT2B17, an enzyme that is a major player in diclofenac metabolism. As a result, diclofenac may not work well in some people and put others at risk of harmful side effects, such as heart damage. This variability also increases the risk of interactions with other drugs or natural products. Since both curcumin and diclofenac are used to treat inflammatory conditions, diclofenac-curcumin interactions may exist that could impact how the drug moves through the body and potentially lead to heart damage. Findings from this study could help improve the safety and efficacy of diclofenac and other drugs that metabolize via the UGT2B17 enzyme.
A team of faculty led by Ken Roberts (College of Medicine) has been awarded a one-year, $179,107 Washington Research Foundation planning grant to support the creation of a center for excellence for translational neuroscience. The grant provides funds to develop and submit a funding proposal for this new initiative. The new center will bring together researchers from the WSU Spokane and Pullman campuses with clinician researchers at the WSU Steve Gleason Institute for Neuroscience and St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Medical Center in Spokane and neuroscientists at the Seattle Children’s Research Institute and the Seattle Institute for Biomedical and Clinical Research. The goal is to promote collaboration and interdisciplinary research aimed at advancing scientists’ understanding of the nervous system and the mechanisms of onset and progression of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. Work done within the future center will also shed light on how the function of the nervous system and its disease states are affected by various processes and factors, such as metabolism, sleep and circadian rhythms, pharmaceutical and psychoactive drugs, interactions between the gut microbiome and the host, and certain cellular processes within the brain. Knowledge gained through these efforts will be applied in ways that lead to improvements in health and wellbeing and decrease the burden of disease.
Grant & Contract Award Summary
April 1 – June 30, 2024
This summary provides an overview of funding activity in the third quarter of this fiscal year, which covers awards for new and continuing research and other sponsored projects received between April 1 and June 30.
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