WashU

@washu.edu

Where people matter, and serious work is done. Share your experiences with #WashU and look for @ WashU on Instagram and on TikTok. WashU.edu

Does cannabis help or hurt seizures? 🍃 A recent WashU Medicine study found that adults with drug-resistant epilepsy who used cannabis frequently had over twice as many convulsive seizures each year compared to those who didn’t use cannabis. https://bit.ly/4jtaOWG

Frequent cannabis use tied to more severe epilepsy

A study led by WashU Medicine researchers found that near-daily cannabis users with drug-resistant epilepsy had over twice as many convulsive seizures as nonusers, and they became resistant to antisei...

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Understanding how Alzheimer's disease progresses requires long-term, high-resolution monitoring, something that's been nearly impossible with existing technology. Professor Song Hu and his team at the McKelvey School of Engineering are changing that. https://bit.ly/4lg3UTE

“While this study cannot determine cause and effect, the consistency of the evidence underscores loneliness as a serious public health concern.” A new international study led by researchers at the Bursky School of Public Health reveals a sobering trend. https://bit.ly/46MNFaS

Nearly half of young adults report loneliness in eight-country study

A multinational survey led by WashU public health researchers reveals strong links between social isolation and depression and anxiety, underscoring growing global mental health concerns.

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When a child needs surgery to remove part of their small intestine, it can save their life. But it can also lead to serious liver problems down the road. Researchers at WashU Medicine have developed a new compound that could change that. https://bit.ly/4rvDbnt

New compound stops common complications after intestinal surgery

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis researchers made and tested a new compound in mice that shows promise in protecting the liver from damage and improving nutrient absorption after small bowel resection surgery.

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Speaking the language: A global study of 4 million Facebook posts from 800+ political parties across 87 democracies reveals how language shapes political inclusion, representation, and participation. https://bit.ly/4dmGTuF

Will I find “my people” in college? As the new academic year approaches, philosopher and friendship expert Fannie Bialek reveals powerful strategies for forging meaningful friendships in college and maintaining connections, near and far. https://bit.ly/4zpjxyW

WashU Expert: Finding ‘your people’ in college: A philosopher’s perspective

Countless incoming college students are wondering if they will find “their people” at college. Fannie Bialek, a Washington University in St. Louis philosopher and friendship expert, tells students the...

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A glacier that has persisted since the last major Ice Age is now disappearing. 🏔️ Researchers at WashU found that parts of Wyoming's Sunlight glacier system are melting so rapidly that some areas could be ice-free within a decade. https://bit.ly/4bgEGA7

An investment in the future 🔬: An early-stage clinical trial found that a personalized vaccine for glioblastoma is safe, activates the immune system, and may help some patients stay cancer-free longer after surgery. https://bit.ly/49wetgI

Personalized vaccine shows promise against aggressive brain cancer

A WashU Medicine-led clinical trial has found that a personalized vaccine to treat glioblastoma appears to increase recurrence-free survival in a subset of patients after surgery.

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#ResearchSky: Nitazenes, a potent class of synthetic opioids, have been found in Missouri school wastewater, yet only 12% of survey respondents are aware of this threat. WashU research highlights the urgent need to raise awareness and take decisive action. https://bit.ly/4dahrcZ

WashU poll: St. Louisans largely unaware of deadly opioids in school wastewater

Nearly 70% of Missouri schools tested showed traces of potent synthetic opioids, as a new iHeard poll finds most St. Louis residents are unaware of the threat.

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KPop Demon Hunters is the most-watched film in @Netflix history, and WashU professor Mijeong Mimi Kim helped bring its world to life as a cultural consultant. Through her contributions, she helped ensure the film’s details felt authentic. 🎞️ https://bit.ly/3OOpR0f

Faculty Consulted on Blockbusters Like “The Pitt,” “Sinners”

From Only Murders in the Building to The Pitt, faculty members are lending their expertise to Hollywood to help tell an accurate story.

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Visual cues can’t always warn of excessive blood loss during birth. WashU engineers are designing a wrist device that monitors blood flow continuously, so doctors know immediately when a mom’s at risk. https://bit.ly/4nw5FfV

Tracking deadly and unpredictable postpartum hemorrhage

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are developing a wearable device that aims to track blood loss in pregnant women during delivery, with support from a $2.8 million grant from the Nati...

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Across 406 forest plots spanning from Brazil to Colombia, a team including WashU biologists has been tracking the fate of tropical trees in South America's forests. The findings reveal important shifts in tree biodiversity across the Amazon rainforest. 🔍 https://bit.ly/4dGMbDj

WashU scientists join 40-year study tracking changing tropical forests

WashU biologists Toby Pennington and Jonathan Myers contributed to an ambitious study on South America’s tropical forests, revealing important shifts in biodiversity.

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Romance is fly 🪰: Male fruit flies follow female eyes to direct their romantic moves with precision. Using AI tracking, researchers can map their flirtation patterns and gain insights into how the brain processes sensory information in real time. https://bit.ly/4leKONX

Courtship is complicated, even in fruit flies

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have a new model for understanding fruit fly courtship behavior, which can help for other sensory models in neuroscience research.

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#ResearchSky: A breast biopsy is often the only way to rule out cancer, but up to 80% turn out benign. Researchers at WashU developed imaging that could cut unnecessary biopsies by nearly 25%, helping reduce anxiety, costs and invasive procedures for patients. https://bit.ly/4qQV7JR

Imaging technique can reduce benign breast biopsies by 25%

Ultrasound-guided diffuse optical tomography reduces breast biopsies by 25% in a new study from researchers at Washington University in St. Louis.

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Ever wonder why some plants deteriorate despite careful watering? 🍅 Harmful bacteria can “listen” to a plant’s chemical signals and strike when it’s most vulnerable. WashU scientists are studying this to protect crops and the food we rely on every day. https://bit.ly/3IodBjS

How harmful bacteria hijack crops

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have identified the protein involved in costly plant infestations, pointing the way to possible protections.

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#ResearchSky: What if a simple blood test could help predict when #Alzheimers symptoms might begin? 🧠 WashU Medicine researchers developed a model that estimates onset within 3–4 years, an advance that could speed research on treatments to prevent or delay the disease. https://bit.ly/4ruRcTo

Blood test 'clocks' predict when Alzheimer's symptoms will start

WashU Medicine researchers have developed a method to predict when someone is likely to develop symptoms of Alzheimer's disease using a single blood test.

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