Gail McCormick

A class of proteins that regulates cell repair and enhances cell growth-signaling systems could be a promising new target for the treatment of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State.

A new study has rewritten the conventionally understood evolutionary history of certain proteins critical for electrical signaling in the nervous system. The study, led by Penn State researchers, appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

August 21, 2024 UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Eberly College of Science's Lab Bench to Commercialization (LB2C) Grant Program is now accepting applications for its 2024-25 funding cycle.

September 4, 2024 UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Ray Schaak, DuPont Professor of Materials Chemistry in the Penn State Eberly College of Science

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State's herbarium — known as the Pennsylvania Agricultural College (PAC) Herbarium — is one of 71 institutions in the United States selected to participate in the Collections Assessment for Preservation (CAP) program.

A new method developed by Penn State biologists allows them to turn stripped-down plant cells into other types of cells, similar to the way stem cells differentiate into different cell types. Using this method, the research team explored the banding patterns that increase the stability of plant cell walls—much like the corrugated patterns in cardboard—and how they are created. Additionally, the researchers revealed how the assembly of these structures can go astray in different mutant plant cells, which they said could ultimately inform methods to break down plant cells for biofuels.

October 31, 2024 By Gail McCormick UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — David Radice, associate professor of physics and of astronomy and

Lifestyle can shape the composition of beneficial bacteria and other microorganisms within the mouth, according to a new study led by Penn State biologists. The international team revealed how the oral microbiome differs over a range of subsistence strategies—from nomadic hunter gatherers to farmers to industrialized groups—and found that lifestyle, as well as specific lifestyle factors like smoking, can shape the microbiome. A paper describing the results appears Nov. 4 in the journal Microbiome.

The Charles E. Kaufman Foundation has selected three Penn State researchers to receive scientific research grants: Grayson Sipe, assistant professor of biology; David Radice, associate professor of physics and of astronomy and astrophysics; and Romit Maulik, assistant professor of information sciences and technology.

The genome of a once-endangered songbird shows extensive signs of inbreeding, according to a new study by Penn State researchers. Because inbreeding can negatively impact survival and reproduction, the results could guide continuing conservation efforts for Kirtland's warblers, whose populations still rely on extensive management.