A University of Pittsburgh research team led by Dr. Kang Kim has received a $2.8 million NIH grant to develop super-resolution intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) technology that can visualize the tiny vessels surrounding arteries, called the vasa vasorum. These vessels play a key role in the development of vulnerable plaques that can lead to heart attacks. By combining advanced ultrasound sensors, microbubble contrast agents, and novel signal processing, the team aims to detect plaque vulnerability earlier and more accurately—potentially transforming how cardiovascular disease is diagnosed and prevented.

A new study from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology reveals that just 30 days of guided mindfulness meditation can significantly enhance key aspects of attentional control — especially how quickly and accurately people direct their focus — regardless of age. The study is among the first to use eye tracking, a powerful and objective measure of attention, to test the effects of mindfulness training on young, middle-aged, and older adults. The findings demonstrate that even short-term meditation can lead to measurable cognitive improvements.

UCLA scientists have identified a potential new strategy to prevent, and even reverse, immune checkpoint inhibitor–induced type 1 diabetes, a rare but life-threatening side effect of cancer immunotherapy, using an existing class of autoimmune drugs.

A new study that looked at gut length variation between cichlid fish species found that some of the genetic loci for the trait are sex-specific even though males and females of the same species have the same gut length. 

A new large-scale study spotlights postoperative delirium as a preventable and high-impact complication, which is driven by patient frailty and surgical stress—and one that can be addressed through low-cost, evidence-based interventions.