James Byrne appreciates a well-made cappuccino, but not because he’s a connoisseur of espresso drinks. He’s more interested in the foam. For Byrne, MD, PhD, an assistant professor in the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Department of Radiation Oncology, it’s using foam—and creams, hydrogels, and solids—to create new, biocompatible materials that may improve the effectiveness of…

Israel Wipf wants to understand whether fat is a rich energy source that fuels cancer cells’ movement. And he’s using fruit flies to test the connection. Wipf, a fourth-year graduate student in the University of Iowa Department of Biology, stitched together these seemingly disparate topics into a winning presentation at this year’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, organized by the Graduate…

Results from a randomized, phase 2 clinical trial show that adding high-dose, intravenous (IV) vitamin C to chemotherapy doubles the overall survival of patients with late-stage metastatic pancreatic cancer from eight months to 16 months. “This is a deadly disease with very poor outcomes for patients. The median survival is eight months with treatment, probably less without treatment, and the…

Iowa Neuroscience Institute researchers find that sleep deprivation affects each part of the brain differently, allowing for distinct computations influencing behavior, emotion, and memory. Sleep. It’s cherished. It’s avoided. It’s sought after and protected—and yet often sacrificed. Above all else, it’s completely necessary. A lack of sleep has been shown to harm mental health, immune systems,…

James Byrne, MD, PhD, assistant professor of radiation oncology at University of Iowa Health Care, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, recognizing his groundbreaking work aimed at improving outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Byrne is one of 40 early career scientists across the nation to receive this award, which is…

As UI Health Care works to increase access for all Iowans, the organization is actively adopting new, innovative technologies to support its teams, reduce the administrative burden involved with patient care, and enable a stronger connection with patients. To guide the development of UI Health Care’s technology strategy, leaders gathered feedback from clinicians across the organization to…