News & Events
NIH Grant Supports Development of AI Tools To Identify High-Risk COVID-19 Patients
TROY, N.Y. — With COVID-19 still spreading in the United States, where it has already killed more than 140,000 people, improved screening and treatment options are critically important for high-risk patients with comorbidities, such as diabetes, pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disease.
In Cell Studies, Seaweed Extract Outperforms Remdesivir in Blocking COVID-19 Virus
In a test of antiviral effectiveness against the virus that causes COVID-19, an extract from edible seaweeds substantially outperformed remdesivir, the current standard antiviral used to combat the disease.
Common FDA-Approved Drug May Effectively Neutralize Virus That Causes COVID-19
A common drug, already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), may also be a powerful tool in fighting COVID-19, according to research published this week in Antiviral Research.
Protein Linked to Cancer Acts as a Viscous Glue in Cell Division
New research, published online today in Developmental Cell, shows that PRC1 – a protein that serves as a telltale sign in many cancer types, including prostate, ovarian, and breast cancer – acts as a “viscous glue” during cell division, precisely controlling the speed at which two sets of DNA are separated as a single cell divides.
Designer Peptides Show Potential for Blocking Viruses, Encourage Future Study
TROY, N.Y. — Chemically engineered peptides, designed and developed by a team of researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, could prove valuable in the battle against some of the most persistent human health challenges.
CAREER Award Supports Research to Deepen Understanding of Osteoarthritis
TROY, N.Y. — Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting more than 32.5 million adults in the United States. The key to preventing or even reversing its painful and debilitating effects may be uncovered through a better understanding of the biomechanics that influence a specific molecular component that is central to the body’s joints.
Unique System for Using UVC Light to Sterilize Masks in Bulk Developed at Rensselaer
TROY, N.Y. — The shortage of critical personal protective equipment (PPE) has been a persistent problem for medical and other front-line workers as they battle the COVID-19 pandemic at close range day after day. A team of researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has developed a potential solution: a machine that uses ultraviolet (UVC) light to sterilize thousands of protective masks each day, rendering them safe for reuse.
New Findings and Approaches Emerge from Remote Investigation
TROY, N.Y. — On a typical April day, Jackie Pelham would spend most of her time in a lab coat and goggles. Working at a laboratory bench, she would examine proteins found in the body. But lately, Pelham has traded her lab coat for a laptop and her lab bench for a desk in her home. Rather than observing biochemical processes, she is poring over previously collected data. Somewhat unexpectedly, even to her, Pelham sees this temporary trade-off as an opportunity.
With NSF Support, Engineers Look for New Ways to Optimize PPE During Pandemic
TROY, N.Y. — An interdisciplinary team of engineers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is answering a national call for solutions to the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) available in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Second Season of RPI Podcast To Tackle Topics from Earth’s Origins to Supercomputers
Are mushrooms the building material of the future? What can people do to address the opioid epidemic? These and other questions are all explored in the latest season of a podcast recorded and produced at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Originally launched in the fall of 2019, Why Not Change the World? The RPI Podcast brings together leading experts from different disciplines to discuss the interconnected challenges facing humanity around the globe. All episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and other major podcasting platforms.
Mechanical Engineers Develop Tumor Model that More Closely Mimics the Body
TROY, N.Y. — There is a growing appreciation within the research community for the ways in which the biomechanics of the tumor environment may contribute to how its cells grow and even spread throughout the body. The closer researchers can get to re-creating those mechanical factors in the lab, the better they will understand tumor cell migration and how to stop cells before they invade other tissue.