This spring, more than 5,500 University of Iowa students will receive their degrees during in-person and livestreamed commencement ceremonies, beginning with the College of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy ceremony on May 15 and concluding with College of Dentistry ceremony on June 6.

Since early 2024, a different kind of flu called bird flu, formally known as avian influenza, has been spreading in birds as well as in cattle. The current bird flu outbreak has infected 70 Americans and caused two deaths as of April 8, 2025. Public health and infectious disease experts say the risk to people is currently low, but they have expressed concern that this strain of the bird flu virus may mutate to spread between people. The viruses that cause seasonal flu and bird flu are distinct but still closely related. Understanding their similarities and differences can help people protect themselves and their loved ones.

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.

As the university advances plans for a new, state-of-the-art Cancer Research Building, leaders say the facility will pave the way for significant discoveries to be made at the University of Iowa.

Fifty-two University of Iowa colleges and programs were recognized among the best in their field in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings. Seven of these programs received a top five ranking in this year’s report.

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.

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%.

Four University of Iowa faculty members are recipients of the 2025 President and Provost Award for Teaching Excellence, recognizing their exceptional and ongoing contributions to student learning and success.

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.

Executive Vice President and Provost Kevin Kregel has named Ann McKenna, dean of the College of Engineering, and Adam Dupuy, associate professor in the Carver College of Medicine, as co-chairs of the search committee for the next associate provost for graduate and professional education and dean of the University of Iowa Graduate College.

A University of Iowa study looks to find a nonsurgical way to treat a common eye disease.

The University of Iowa is beginning to plan for the construction of a new cancer-focused research building on the west side of campus that will provide the ability to perform state-of-the-art cancer-themed research and enhance existing collaborations among the UI’s health sciences colleges and programs.