Latest Research News

The F.D.A. Says Fluoride Pills May Harm Children’s Health. Researchers Disagree

Thursday, May 15, 2025
University of Iowa dentistry professor Steven Levy is interviewed about how fluoride affects children's health.

Welsh receives Canada Gairdner International Award for cystic fibrosis discoveries

Friday, April 11, 2025
Michael Welsh, University of Iowa physician and professor of internal medicine, has received the 2025 Canada Gairdner International Award for his research on cystic fibrosis, which paved the way to new therapies that have transformed the health and life expectancy of people with the disease. The award, which is bestowed annually by the Gairdner Foundation, recognizes five 2025 Canada Gairdner International Award laureates for seminal discoveries or contributions to biomedical science.

Castellano named 2025 Goldwater Scholar

Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Seren Castellano, who is pursuing a double major in biology and anthropology and a minor in ancient civilizations, on March 28 learned she received the 2025 Goldwater Scholarship, the country’s premiere undergraduate scholarship for students pursuing research careers in the sciences, engineering, and math.

4 UI faculty elected to latest class of AAAS fellows

Thursday, March 27, 2025
Four University of Iowa faculty members have been named 2024 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest general-scientific society and publisher of the journal Science.

Farag receives American Nurses Association 2025 Innovation Award

Wednesday, March 12, 2025
The Innovation Awards highlight, recognize, and celebrate exemplary nurse innovators who improve patient safety and health outcomes within their communities.

Out-of-balance bacteria is linked to multiple sclerosis: The ratio can predict severity of disease

Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that results when the immune system mistakenly attacks the brain and spinal cord. It affects nearly one million people in the U.S. and over 2.8 million worldwide. While genetics play a role in the risk of developing multiple sclerosis, environmental factors such as diet, infectious disease and gut health are major contributors. The environment plays a key role in determining who develops multiple sclerosis, and this is evident from twin studies. Among identical twins who share 100% of their genes, one twin has a roughly 25% chance of developing MS if the other twin has the disease. For fraternal twins who share 50% of their genes, this rate drops to around 2%.

2025 ‘Cancer in Iowa’ report highlights cancer survivor needs

Tuesday, February 25, 2025
The 2025 Cancer in Iowa report highlights the array of needs for cancer survivors. The report notes that while there are nearly 172,000 cancer survivors currently living in Iowa, survivor needs vary by cancer type and by each individual survivor.

Why do we twitch in our sleep?

Wednesday, February 19, 2025
A seemingly small question has shifted how scientists understand the relationship between the brain and the body.

Florida bill would legalize UTVs on highways, despite manufacturer warnings

Friday, February 14, 2025
Dr. Charles Jennissen, a pediatric emergency physician and professor at the University of Iowa’s Carver College of Medicine, has made ATV and UTV safety one of his core research areas.

Tracking federal updates: A message from UI leadership

Thursday, February 13, 2025
As you know, recent developments at the federal government level have the potential to impact various aspects of our university’s academic, operational, and financial landscape. We want to assure you that we are actively monitoring these changes and taking proactive steps to advocate on behalf of our university.

Meet phosphine, a gas commonly used for industrial fumigation that can damage your lungs, heart and liver

Monday, January 27, 2025
Researchers know that phosphine, also known as PH₃, is a highly toxic gas connected with deaths. So, are there ways to prevent more of these deaths moving forward?

Iowa researchers study effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs on kidney function

Friday, January 24, 2025
A University of Iowa research team has found that a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs have no effect on kidney function.

Earth Sings with Mysterious Chorus Waves—And Deep Space Does, Too

Thursday, January 23, 2025
In this story in Scientific American, UI professor Allison Jaynes, a space weather physicist, describes how the earth's chorus waves were discovered.

UI expert explains: What you need to know about bird flu

Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Mike Pentella, professor of epidemiology in the University of Iowa College of Public Health and director of the State Hygienic Laboratory at the UI, explains that bird flu is a disease caused by certain influenza viruses that usually spread among birds, not humans, and that public health surveillance is critical to prevent its spread.

Fruit flies’ courtship song may hold key to controlling mosquitoes

Tuesday, January 21, 2025
University of Iowa researchers have found and confirmed a gene that allows female fruit flies to get on the same frequency as courting males. Mosquitoes have the same gene and a similar courtship ritual, meaning that canceling the gene could in theory control mosquito population growth.

Iowa researchers study role of genes in eye disease that leads to vision loss

Wednesday, January 15, 2025
A University of Iowa study looks to find a nonsurgical way to treat a common eye disease.

Wang wins 2024 Joanne Simpson Medal

Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Jun Wang, University of Iowa’s Lichtenberger Family Chair in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, was awarded the 2024 Joanne Simpson Medal for mid-career scientists in recognition of significant contributions to Earth and space science.

CSSI Welcomes the Participants of the 2025 Grant Writing Residency Program

Tuesday, January 14, 2025
The Center for Social Science Innovation (CSSI) recently accepted four participants for its spring 2025 Grant Writing Residency Program.

Get moving! UI study finds physical activity reduces chronic disease risk

Thursday, January 2, 2025
University of Iowa researchers are recommending all patients be surveyed about their physical activity levels, after a new study underscores the link between physical activity and chronic disease. Results appear in "Preventing Chronic Disease," from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

UI researchers to study ways to remove barriers to diabetes care

Friday, December 13, 2024
UI professor Arinze Nkemdirim Okere will lead a group that will develop recommendations to address the needs of visually impaired patients who need diabetes care.