Health :: Rice unveils $100 million initiative for world health technology

Rice University today unveiled plans for a $100 million initiative to create an institute to develop technologies to combat pressing health problems in the developing world, such as HIV/AIDS and child mortality. The initiative was announced today during the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York.

Education :: Program provides blueprint for recruiting minorities to science and engineering

The Model Institutions for Excellence Program (MIE) funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has developed a body of work over the past 11 years demonstrating successful strategies for recruiting underrepresented minority students to science and engineering fields and supporting their successful completion of science degrees.

Blood :: Possible safer target for anti-clotting drugs found

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have identified a new molecular target in the process of blood clot formation, which seems to reduce clotting without excessive bleeding, the common side-effect of anti-clotting agents.

Huntington’s Disease :: Stem cells show promise for treating Huntington’s Disease

Paying close attention to how a canary learns a new song has helped scientists open a new avenue of research against Huntington’s disease – a fatal disorder for which there is currently no cure or even a treatment to slow the disease.

Liver :: Immune system modulation can halt liver failure

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers have a developed a totally new approach to treating liver failure – manipulating the immune response. If the results of the animal study can be applied in human patients, the approach may be able to keep patients alive until donor organs become available or to support liver function until the organ can regenerate itself, eliminating the need for a transplant.