Alumnus to share 50 years of progress in treating cancer through immunotherapy

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:32:00 -0400

Lewis Lanier ’75 will share what he’s learned in nearly five decades as a cancer immunologist when he delivers the next Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture in Roanoke on Thursday, April 16.

Understanding how cells adapt after exercise

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Xuansong Mao of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC will use a Lyerly Postdoctoral Excellence Award to research the role of exercise in Alzheimer’s, metabolic conditions, and age-related cognitive decline.

12 new members join Academies of Faculty Service and Leadership

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:48:00 -0400

In a first for the university, two faculty members have received appointments to both academies.

Brain School: An inside look at how our genes contribute to healthy brain development and what can go wrong

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:47:00 -0500

The public is invited to explore the body’s most complex organ on March 9 at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.

The complexities of human milk and infant brain development

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 16:07:00 -0500

A James R. Carter Sr. Memorial Award is supporting doctoral student Blakely Lockhart as she studies how maternal health and infant nutrition shape early neurodevelopment.

Improving cardiac treatments and ‘patient quality of life’

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:00:00 -0500

With support from a Ray A. Gaskins graduate fellowship, Md Ruhul Amin is exploring the therapeutic potential of milk-derived exosomes in treating heart attacks and tissue damage.

From Ghana to glioblastoma: Solving problems with science

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0500

A Ray A. Gaskins graduate fellowship will support translational biology, medicine, and health doctoral candidate Caleb Mensah in investigating new cancer treatments.

Graduate students turn biomedical research into business ideas

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 11:24:00 -0500

First-year translational biology, medicine, and health graduate students presented during the annual Health Sciences and Technology Hokie Pitch competition.

Brain pathway may fuel both aggression, self-harm

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 14:15:00 -0500

A new study by Virginia Tech Assistant Professor Sora Shin shows that two behaviors — aggression and self-harm — can arise from a shared biological mechanism in how the brain processes pain, particularly in individuals exposed to early-life trauma.

The hidden currents of the brain

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:30:00 -0400

To biomedical engineer Jennifer Munson, the liquid movements within the brain hold powerful clues about how disease takes hold — and how healing might begin.

‘How drunk do you feel?’: Ozempic, Wegovy may help reduce alcohol use

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute researchers found that after a cocktail, study participants taking medications for diabetes and weight loss saw delayed effects from alcohol.

Pain during opioid addiction treatment tied to worse outcomes

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0400

A Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC study of 602 people found that uncontrolled pain was associated with not only less success from treatment, but depression, withdrawal, continued craving, and an overall lower quality of life.

Biomedical innovator to open Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture series in Roanoke

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 11:16:00 -0400

Robert Gourdie, who leads programs at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and who co-founded biotech companies in Virginia and South Carolina, will help mark the research institute’s 15th anniversary in Roanoke with insights from his groundbreaking research on Thursday, Sept. 18.

Summer research fellows showcase studies at annual symposium

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 13:41:00 -0400

Students in the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC’s neuroSURF and cardioSURF programs, as well as students from other summer fellowships, shared posters and competed for prizes at the symposium.

Meike van der Heijden appointed to Dystonia Foundation’s medical and scientific advisory council

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 10:50:00 -0400

Council members are international leaders in dystonia care and research. They review research grants for funding and attend workshops to discuss the most pressing research directions.

Former Neuromotor Research Clinic Patient Returns – as a Student Researcher

Arden Grim suffered a stroke in utero, and visited the Neuromotor Research Clinic for therapy multiple times as a child. Now she’s back at the clinic at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, but as summer undergraduate research fellow.

Researchers identify why some heart rhythm drugs heighten risks when sodium levels drop

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:00:00 -0400

New research explains how low levels of the electrolyte sodium in the blood can disrupt the timing of the heartbeat in patients taking widely used rhythm-control medications such as flecainide.

‘Every time we wait, we lose someone who might have made it’

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:32:00 -0400

Cancer Researchers Spurred to Move Faster at the Cancer Research Symposium

For every careful step forward in cancer research, there is a patient waiting — a family holding its breath in the middle of the night. That reality was clear at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s Cancer Research Symposium in Roanoke. The annual event, organized this year by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Cancer Research Center in Roanoke, was created to bring together researchers — including faculty, clinicians, and students — who are united by a passion to understand cancer, improve treatments, and develop cures.

Virginia Tech announces new Institute for Advanced Computing in the Washington, D.C., area

Tue, 27 May 2025 15:02:00 -0400

The institute will support new industry and government partnerships that advance research and learning opportunities and enable graduate students to address global-scale problems in close proximity to the nation’s capital.

Defying Imagination, One Step at a Time

Born with cerebral palsy and severe global motor delays, JD Lofton faced challenges that his parents thought would last a lifetime. But everything changed when they discovered the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute's Neuromotor Research Clinic. Through the clinic’s groundbreaking ACQUIRE Therapy program, JD began making remarkable strides. Learn more about JD’s journey—and how innovative therapy is changing lives, one step at a time. https://fbri.vtc.vt.edu/research/research-centers/neuromotor.html

Shawn McDaniel to direct development for Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC

Tue, 27 May 2025 02:08:00 -0400

A veteran fundraiser, McDaniel will lead philanthropic efforts for biomedical research as well as health sciences and technology at Virginia Tech.

Exploring a rare genetic disorder that almost exclusively affects girls

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 09:07:00 -0400

A geneticist who uncovered the cause of Rett syndrome will share how her discovery continues to fuel brain-development research at the next Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.

Brain School Brings Neuroscience to Life

More than 150 curious minds gathered in Roanoke for Brain School, an exciting event hosted by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. Attendees explored the wonders of the brain through hands-on activities, interactive exhibits, and expert lectures from leading neuroscientists at Virginia Tech.

Postdoctoral Excellence Awards celebrate promising scientific research

The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Postdoctoral Excellence Awards, established through the generosity of Mary Denton Roberts and David Lyerly, recognize exceptional research potential and professional development. The most recent recipients are Ignacio Aiello, Xiaobo Wu, and Mark Renton. The awards recognize the potential for impactful individual scientific contributions. Recipients are selected based on the likelihood that their research proposal will lead to novel contributions as well as their mentors' ability to enhance their professional development. Roberts taught microbiology and immunology at Radford University from 1980 to 2006. Lyerly is a co-founder and chief science officer of the Blacksburg-based medical diagnostics company TechLab Inc. He and colleague Tracy Wilkins founded the company in 1989, based on discoveries from their research on Clostridium difficile, the major cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea and colitis.

Statewide initiative aims to position Virginia as a leading hub for biotechnology innovation

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Virginia Tech is collaborating with the Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance and Carilion Clinic to lead efforts to strengthen Southwest Virginia’s position at the forefront of fields such as medical devices, oncology therapeutic research, and neurotechnology.

Virginia Tech student explores promising treatment avenue for lupus

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0500

With support from a new National Institutes of Health Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award F30 award, Oakland is exploring an approach that uses DNA-like molecules that imitate bacterial DNA and have the potential to possibly ease lupus symptoms.

At Hokie Pitch, graduate students present business plans for biomedical innovations

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0500

Translational biology, medicine, and health graduate students gathered for a "Shark Tank"-style event, pitching research-driven commercialization ideas to solve health problems.

Roanoke initiative shapes next generation of health science researchers

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0500

This fall, a third cohort of Virginia Tech undergraduate students began the Integrated Health Sciences and Research experience.

Groundbreaking Virginia Tech Graduate Program marks decade of transdisciplinary education

The Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program, headquartered on the Health Sciences and Technology campus in Roanoke, celebrated its first 10 years recently by inviting back alumni now serving in academia, industry and policy-making for a symposium.

Warren Bickel, global pioneer in addiction recovery research, leaves lasting legacy

A hallmark of his career has been his collaborative approach to science, which was highlighted during a celebration of his career. He has mentored 14 doctoral students and 30 postdoctoral researchers, and served on the editorial board of 16 journals.

Unlocking Secrets of the Mind

Pendleton Read Montague Jr., a computational neuroscientist at Virginia Tech, is on a mission to unlock the mysteries of the human mind. His work, a bridge between psychology and cutting-edge neuroscience, is redefining our understanding of how we think, feel, and perceive the world.

Summer students share findings at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute symposium

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

During the programs at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, high school and university undergraduate students tackle research questions in the biomedical and health sciences.

Virginia Tech, Children’s National Hospital, and industry experts explore the impact of AI on health care

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 10:06:00 -0400

While exploring the potential of artificial intelligence, old fashioned networking and human relationships held the floor.

Cancer researcher wants to make treatment better, more accessible

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0400

DaeYong Lee, assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, aims to use biomaterials to improve cancer immunotherapy and reduce disparities in treatment outcomes.

Applications open Oct. 1 for medical school’s immersive undergraduate program

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 08:50:00 -0400

The Early Identification Program provides intensive preparation over two summer sessions for rising undergraduate juniors and seniors.

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute to host talks by nationally renowned AI, cancer, addiction experts

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0400

Several renowned scientists, including members of the U.S. National Academies of Medicine, Science, and Engineering, will talk about the research making headlines at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute during the 2024-25 academic year.

Senior health science industry innovation leader joins Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 15:08:00 -0400

Sally Allain, formerly the Head of Johnson & Johnson Innovation JLABS @ Washington, D.C., has been named the chief of health sciences growth and innovation officer with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and the Office of Health Sciences and Technology.

John Chappell to direct Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 10:00:00 -0400

Building on a decade of growth, the interdisciplinary research program prepares graduates for impactful careers in a dynamic biomedical landscape.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is widespread in wildlife, Virginia Tech scientists find

An animated simulation of how SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, adapts and mutates to survive in a new host, such as common wildlife.

New technique could help treat aggressive brain tumors

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 10:03:00 -0400

Burst sine wave electroporation was found to cause less damage to cells and tissue but more disruption to the blood-brain barrier.

Director named for Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Cancer Research Center

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 09:53:00 -0400

An accomplished biomedical engineer who studies the biophysical setting of brain cancer has been named director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC’s Cancer Research Center in Roanoke

Controlling the precise timing of electrical pulses may offer promise for treating mild traumatic brain injury

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 14:59:00 -0400

An awkward beat doesn't help on the dance floor, but it could help people who are recovering from mild traumatic brain injury.

Focusing on ultrasound research at Virginia Tech

Three Virginia Tech faculty members talk about their approaches to a wide range of Focused Ultrasound research. The university's overarching vision is to push the boundaries of Focused Ultrasound clinical treatment through technological innovation, as well as therapeutic innovation in veterinary and human medicine. More than 30 researchers and technicians across Virginia Tech are involved in the effort.

Is dementia preventable? Acclaimed neurologist shares latest Alzheimer’s breakthroughs

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 12:04:00 -0400

Kristine Yaffe will discuss strategies for preventing dementia and cognitive aging in public lecture at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC on April 11.

Unveiling a hidden threat: Researchers show viral infections pose early heart risks

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 11:36:00 -0500

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute scientists challenge traditional assumptions and open a new window to help people with cardiac infections.

Low-intensity ultrasound shows promise as a noninvasive approach to alleviate pain

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0500

In a Journal of Neuroscience study, Virginia Tech scientists demonstrated the effectiveness of using low-intensity focused ultrasound to modulate activity in a critical region in the brain that processes and regulates pain signals.

Researchers find that using patients’ own blood rather than saline helps preserve veins in coronary bypass grafts

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 13:00:00 -0500

A Fralin Biomedical Research Institute cardiovascular scientist and a Carilion Clinic surgeon team up for a clinical trial with the potential to improve health outcomes.

Thought-leaders in biomedical research share ideas from addiction recovery to zebrafish brains during Pioneers in Biomedical Research Seminar Series

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 14:13:00 -0500

The spring season of the lecture series, which begins Jan. 12, features 21 experts sharing leading discoveries at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute sites in Roanoke and Washington, D.C.

Buzz kill: Virginia Tech researchers find drugs used to treat Type 2 diabetes reduce alcohol cravings, use in individuals with obesity

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 11:00:00 -0500

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute study analyzed social media posts and self-reported experiences among patients who use drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro.

It’s the ‘thing in my life that shaped me the most,’ participant says of life-changing therapy

After experiencing a stroke in utero that caused weakness on the left side of her body, Keya Shapiro found a home at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s Neuromotor Research Clinic – which is celebrating 10 years of research into the therapy.

2023 marks a year of firsts for Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0500

The interdisciplinary program saw its first student assigned full-time to a Fralin Biomedical Research Institute lab in Washington, D.C., its first students from Nepal and Ghana in an internationally diverse incoming cohort, and its first student to be awarded a prestigious grant for future physician-scientists.

Universitywide team to lead Carnegie Community Engagement Classification application

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 11:30:00 -0500

The designation recognizes “collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities for the mutually beneficial creation and exchange of knowledge and resources.” Virginia Tech was first classified for community engagement in 2006.

New program creates TRAILblazers of diversity and inclusion

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 11:29:00 -0500

This fall, the Transformational Allyship for Inclusive Leadership program brought together 27 senior leaders from across campus to commit to making change — in themselves and in their corners of the university.

Moving forward: Neuroscientist explores movement, rehabilitation in public lecture

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 11:04:00 -0400

Motor learning expert and National Academy of Sciences member Amy Bastian will deliver the next Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture on Nov. 2 at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute.

Digging for data: Researcher seeks new therapeutic interventions for progressive, chronic lung disease

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 11:00:00 -0400

A new Postdoctoral Excellence Award from the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC will help fuel Samar Antar’s research.

Researchers use pioneering new method to unlock brain’s noradrenaline system

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 11:01:00 -0400

An international team of researchers has provided valuable insights into the brain’s noradrenaline system, which has been a longtime target for medications to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

University launches Virginia Tech Advantage and a $500 million fundraising effort to support students with financial need

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 14:10:00 -0400

Alumni and friends of Virginia Tech join university leaders and guests to celebrate the launch of Virginia Tech Advantage, kick off a $500 million fundraising effort for the initiative, and recognize a $10 million gift for student scholarships.

‘There is no Planet B’: Climate expert explores gap between science, policy, and opinion

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 16:04:00 -0400

J. Marshall Shepherd, former NASA scientist and skilled science communicator, will explore the complex interplay between climate change data, public communication, and policy decision-making in a public lecture Oct. 19 at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.

Henrietta Lacks statues unveiled where her legacy thrives

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 11:19:00 -0400

Mirroring this week’s statue dedication ceremony at Lacks Plaza in Roanoke, small-scale statues of the woman whose ‘immortal’ cells changed the world of medical research were dedicated at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, and Carilion Clinic.

Brooks Casas named College of Science Faculty Fellow

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 15:39:00 -0400

A member of the Virginia Tech faculty since 2010, Casas is a decision neuroscientist with expertise in quantifying neural mechanisms underlying value-based choice. His work is at the forefront of the emerging field of computational psychiatry, which is set to be a predominant area of applied cognitive science and neuroscience.

Landmark $50 million gift to dramatically expand health sciences research at Virginia Tech

The Richmond, Virginia-based Red Gates Foundation recently committed $50 million to the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC to accelerate health sciences research at Virginia Tech. The gift is among the largest ever made to the university. https://news.vt.edu/articles/2023/09/fbri-gift.html

Machine learning and thought, climate impact on health, Alzheimer’s, children's health among topics for 2023-24 Maury Strauss public lectures

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 08:16:00 -0400

The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC announced its 14th annual Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture Series, which showcases health innovators and thought leaders.

Growth and impact highlight FY '23 research numbers

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Based on fiscal year 2023 data estimates, federal, state, local, and private research awards grew a combined 17 percent, while research expenditures rose 12 percent in a single year. Over a two-year period, awards have seen a 31 percent increase and expenditures a 28 percent increase.

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC: Growth of an innovator

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 14:33:00 -0400

Since its founding in 2010, the research institute has become a focal point for biomedical research across Virginia Tech. It now has more than 450 faculty, staff, and students in Roanoke and Washington, D.C., supporting research fueled by $173.7 million in external grants.

Lecture series features experts in addiction research, cardiovascular science, child development, metabolic disease

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 10:33:00 -0400

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute launches the 12th season of the Pioneers in Biomedical Research Seminar Series on Sept. 8.

Fundamental understanding of a molecule‘s normal function could inform treatments for a variety of brain disorders

A team of investigators in John Chappell’s lab at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC made a discovery that could inform new therapies.

Pregnant? Virginia Tech researchers recruiting for nation’s largest early childhood brain development study

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 11:56:00 -0400

The ambitious national HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study seeks to better understand what influences brain development from birth through age 10.

¿Qué piensas? Graduate School program provides platform for idea-sharing with Latin American visitors

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 08:08:00 -0400

Ten academics from the University of San Francisco d’Quito in Ecuador had the opportunity to reflect on the future of higher education.

Speaking the language of hope

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 08:30:00 -0400

Dozens of immigrant and refugee children in Roanoke are given free school physicals and their parents are given peace of mind through a collaboration between the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Bradley Free Clinic, Roanoke City Public Schools, Carilion Clinic, and the Roanoke City Health Department.

Therapy framework reveals promise for intensive pediatric rehabilitation for children with motor disabilities

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 12:58:00 -0400

Virginia Tech researchers with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC have demonstrated that children with a wide range of diagnoses that affect their motor function improve after receiving intensive pediatric rehabilitation called ACQUIRE Therapy.

Joining forces: Virginia Tech Cancer Research Alliance scientists to share ideas, innovations

Tue, 23 May 2023 09:55:00 -0400

For its second annual retreat, the Virginia Tech Cancer Research Alliance is broadening its reach and opportunities for collaboration and innovation. The 2023 event will take place May 24 and May 25 in Washington, D.C., at the Children’s National Research and Innovation Campus.

Cancer researchers team up against deadliest brain tumors in children

Experts from Children's National, Virginia Tech, and Columbia University join forces to explore new tactics to fight lethal childhood brain cancer.

Scientists discover brain circuit underlying spontaneous synchronized movement of individuals in groups

Mon, 15 May 2023 14:33:00 -0400

Individual fish in schools scatter in unison when a predator is in their midst. Precisely coordinated group movements and immobility during threats have long been observed in insects and mammals. Now, for the first time, a brain pathway has been discovered that enables individual animals to rapidly coordinate a unified response with no rehearsal required.

Graduate student tour guides offer visitors a glimpse of life at Virginia Tech

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 16:07:00 -0400

The Graduate School recently revamped its campus tour program, enlisting 13 graduate students to guide visitors around Virginia Tech's campuses, answer questions, and share their passion.

Researchers associate early life stress with pro-inflammatory processes later in life during pregnancy

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 13:14:00 -0400

Women who experienced high stress during childhood and adolescence may be preset for inflammation during pregnancy, according to Sharon Landesman Ramey of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.

Virginia Tech leaders explore issues of trust in science during high profile Research!America panel discussion

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 09:18:00 -0400

The National Academy of Sciences panel, moderated by Donna Shalala, a former U.S. secretary of health and human services and member of the U.S. House of Representatives, featured leaders of research, academia, and industry including Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Executive Director Michael Friedlander and health care executive Heywood Fralin.

Brain School 2023 at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

An annual Brain Awareness Week campaign hosted by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC that included brain-healthy foods, hands-on exploration, and short seminars by Virginia Tech brain experts.

Brain School: Is the brain able to change or am I wired this way for life?

Join us on March 13, 2023 at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute from 5 to 7:30PM for Brain School: The Electric Brain. https://fbri.vtc.vt.edu/events/annual-brain-school.html

Brain School: Can the brain be changed without surgery?

Join us on March 13, 2023 at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute from 5 to 7:30PM for Brain School: The Electric Brain. https://fbri.vtc.vt.edu/events/annual-brain-school.html

Brain School: Is the electricity in my brain the same thing that powers my phone?

Join us on March 13, 2023 at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute from 5 to 7:30PM for Brain School: The Electric Brain. https://fbri.vtc.vt.edu/events/annual-brain-school.html

Brain School: What's going on inside your brain when you're dreaming?

Join us on March 13, 2023 at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute from 5 to 7:30PM for Brain School: The Electric Brain. https://fbri.vtc.vt.edu/events/annual-brain-school.html

M.D.+Ph.D student to advocate on Capitol Hill as Society for Neuroscience Policy ambassador

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 11:16:00 -0500

Katelyn Stebbins, a third-year M.D.+Ph.D. student who studies how the brain decodes visual signals, is one of 10 members selected from a national applicant pool to visit lawmakers on March 6 to explain the importance of brain research during the Society for Neuroscience's Capitol Hill Day.

Virginia Tech researcher's discovery may lead to a better understanding of mental health disorders related to stress, anxiety

By studying zebrafish, Albert Pan and his team at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute found a molecule critical in development of the brain's stress response.

Thank you from the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute - #VTGivingDay

On behalf of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, thank you very, very much for your generosity on Giving Day. Every day your support helps us to bring to the public health the advances and innovation of our faculty, students and staff. Thank you!

Robert Gourdie named senior member of the National Academy of Inventors

Robert Gourdie, the Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund Eminent Scholar in Heart Reparative Medicine Research, was recognized by the National Academy of Inventors as a rising leader in his field. A professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Gourdie is a cell biologist and entrepreneur who creates knowledge and translates discoveries into solutions for medical problems.

Leslie LaConte promoted to associate dean for research at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 09:40:00 -0500

LaConte will further develop the school’s comprehensive, four-year research education curriculum and will work closely with the administration of the medical school, the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, the Virginia Tech Office of Research and Innovation, and Carilion Clinic to advance and facilitate research activity.

Scientists eye role of fatty acid deficiency in sight-robbing condition

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 07:56:00 -0500

As the number of children born with a vision-impairing condition known as optic nerve hypoplasia increases, scientists with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC are investigating potential ways to prevent and treat the disease.

‘The right place’: Sisters with rare disorder find help

When Emily Burkhart’s daughter was diagnosed with a rare gene mutation, the family found help at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s Neuromotor Research Clinic. When the seemingly impossible happened a second time with her sister, they knew where to turn.

Biomedical innovations take stage during 'Shark Tank’-style pitch competition

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 11:56:00 -0500

Students dig deep into innovation during 2022 Health Sciences and Technology Hokie Pitch at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.

The Green Labs Program at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

The goal of the Green Labs Program at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC is to create a culture of sustainability in the research institute community by bringing awareness to the environmental impacts of a lab, creating and sharing best practices to support green lab projects and goals, and to explore ways to reduce the environmental impact of our research.

State iTHRIV partnership awards $200,000 in pilot funds

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 08:23:00 -0500

The integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia, has awarded teams of physicians, researchers, veterinarians, and data scientists at Virginia Tech, Carilion Clinic, and the University of Virginia $200,000 in pilot funding. The funds will be used across four multi-institutional research projects to accelerate health breakthroughs in the fields of pediatrics, prenatal care, and cancer treatment.

Virginia Tech researcher’s 3D model of brain tumor environment could aid personalized treatment

Jennifer Munson and her research team’s model of the glioblastoma tumor microenvironment could help with understanding why the cancer is so resistant to treatment and so often returns after surgery.

Veterinary college launches revolutionary cancer studies, seeks expanded teaching hospital

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 11:00:00 -0500

The Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine has garnered national attention with the launch of a center specializing in the treatment and study of cancer in companion animals, M. Daniel Givens, dean of the college, told the Board of Visitors at its November meeting.

Virginia Tech scientist uncovers possible link between early-life trauma and binge-eating disorder

Sora Shin, an assistant professor of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, led a study published in Nature Neuroscience that shows how adversity early in life may alter a brain circuit induce the development of binge eating and obesity.

Neuromotor Research Clinic: Changing Lives

Sophie Stiglitz was born with a genetic disorder that limits brain development in the areas that facilitate movement and communication. Doctors informed her parents, Joe and Emily, that their daughter may never walk or talk. After her second therapy session with the Neuromotor Research Clinic at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Sophie has defied all odds. To support the Neuromotor Research Clinic or learn more about their research, please visit https://fralinbiomed.info/nrcdonate.

Virginia Tech scientist to accept international prize for medical research

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 08:35:00 -0400

Zhen Yan, a top scientist in the field of exercise and metabolism, will accept a leading international honor for extraordinary achievements in medical research in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program’s entering class comprises a rich mix of students

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 13:31:00 -0400

The new class includes 11 women pursuing doctoral degrees and three students in the new M.D.+Ph.D. track. The program enrolled its first class in 2014.

The 'living history' of Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine set to retire

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 10:42:00 -0400

Daniel “Dan” Harrington helped to launch the medical school as a unique public-private partnership and as an official college at Virginia Tech. As vice dean, he has played an integral role in developing the school's path toward a strong future.

Innovation drives research forward

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 08:59:00 -0400

Virginia Tech sponsored research expenditures and awards increased by 12 percent, with growth in federal, state, private, and local funding.

Leigh Anne Kelley named director of communications for the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 16:19:00 -0400

Kelley will direct communications for the institute, whose world-class research teams are working to better understand human health and develop innovative approaches to preventing, diagnosing, and treating disease.

Office of Research and Innovation’s Research Development Fall Series kicks off Sept. 9

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 12:39:00 -0400

With events focused on different facets of sponsored research, from sponsor-specific perspectives to how to work with partners, this webinar series will answer researcher’s biggest questions and enlighten scholars at every step in their career.

Acclaimed medical educator assumes leadership role at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 09:15:00 -0400

Jed Gonzalo is currently a professor of medicine and public health sciences at Penn State, where he is also associate dean for health systems education. His new position at the medical school takes effect on Sept. 1.

Global leader in cellular exercise research joins Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 16:11:00 -0400

A top scientist who studies the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms through which exercise provides unmatched health benefits is joining Virginia Tech to lead research to preserve good health and prevent disease. Zhen Yan, an international molecular exercise and physiology researcher, will become the inaugural director of the new Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Center for Exercise Medicine Research.

Internationally recognized scientist joins Virginia Tech to lead new Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Center for Exercise Medicine Research

Zhen Yan, a top international molecular exercise and physiology researcher, will become the inaugural director of the new Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Center for Exercise Medicine Research (CEMR).

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute expands Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program

Thirty-one undergraduate and high school students moved to Roanoke this summer to join an expanded lineup of four competitive, research-intensive mentorship programs hosted by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC. The cohort recently presented posters demonstrating their research at the 3rd Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium hosted by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in the atrium of 4 Riverside Circle on Virginia Tech’s Health Sciences and Technology campus in Roanoke.

From west to east: Student travels 2,442 miles and finds home at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 08:44:00 -0400

As a Mexican American, Julia De Luca is well aware of the struggles disenfranchised populations often face when obtaining equitable, accessible health care, and she’s passionate about making a difference.

Professor supports Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine students’ research projects through endowment

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 08:46:00 -0400

Established by Charles J. Schleupner, professor of internal medicine at the school and infectious disease physician at Carilion Clinic, four students at the medical school will pursue summer research fellowships.

So long, Roanoke; get ready, Denmark, for the 2024 Precision Neuroscience conference

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 10:37:00 -0400

Researchers, clinicians, and students from four countries recently worked side-by-side for three days in Roanoke, sharing ideas to help the nearly 1 billion people worldwide coping with brain disorders.

Juneteenth Celebration of Black Scientists and Engineers

The Virginia Tech community gathered at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC for the Juneteenth celebration on June 17 in Roanoke. Black researchers, educators, and leaders described their career paths and research contributions in the health sciences. The program also highlighted the importance of embracing opportunities for all under-represented groups through diversity, equity, and inclusion advocacy.

Juneteenth event to celebrate Black scientists and engineers

Audra Barnes, Kenneth Young, and Monet Roberts are part of the organizing committee for the Juneteenth Celebration of Black Scientists and Engineers, hosted by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC on June 17, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will showcase the stories and achievements of eight Black leaders among those succeeding in STEM fields, who will describe their journeys – including barriers, challenges, and opportunities. In-person attendance is encouraged. People may register to attend on the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute website.

Nationally renowned cancer center director to speak on importance of health for Black men

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 09:29:00 -0400

Robert Winn, director of VCU Massey Cancer Center, will provide a talk called "Generational Health: An Intimate Conversation on Black Men and Health Disparities" at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine on July 14.

Richard Vari honored with emeritus status

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 08:10:00 -0400

A founding member of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine faculty in 2008, Vari helped to establish and oversee the curriculum of the new medical school and his leadership and extensive work contributed to the school’s full accreditation.

World-renowned researchers gather at the Precision Neuroscience Conference in Roanoke

The international Precision Neuroscience Conference builds on a collaboration between European and U.S. universities to advance neuroscience-based precision medicine, including diagnosis and treatment. The 2022 Conference explored four thematic areas: Mental Health, Neurodevelopment, Brain Cancer; and Aging, Neurodegeneration, and Injury.

Neuroscientists will probe the functional brain circuitry that underlies learned preferences for tasty food

Tue, 24 May 2022 09:49:00 -0400

Sora Shin, an assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, will analyze the functional neuronal circuitry in the brain that lead to overconsumption of high-fat foods with new National Institutes of Health funding.

Scientists detect deadly arrhythmia trifecta: Salt, swelling, and leaky sodium channels

Tue, 24 May 2022 08:47:00 -0400

Cardiovascular researchers led by Steven Poelzing at Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC have published a new study describing how deadly arrhythmias arise from elevated sodium levels, heart tissue irritation and swelling, and sodium channel abnormalities associated with Long QT syndrome.

Biomedical initiatives are boosted by strong public support, survey finds

Tue, 03 May 2022 12:57:00 -0400

In a statewide survey of more than 1,000 people, residents support investing taxpayer funds to incentivize innovation, attract and support biotech start-ups, and fund biomedical and health science research.

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute hosts Juneteenth celebration of Black scientists and engineers

Tue, 03 May 2022 08:16:00 -0400

The hybrid event on June 17 will uplift the contributions of Black scientists and engineers, underscoring the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion among underrepresented minorities in health sciences research.

Biomedical initiatives are boosted by strong public support, survey finds

Virginia residents want the commonwealth to be a leader in education and biomedical research — and they are willing to pay for it. In a statewide survey of more than 1,000 people released last week, residents support investing taxpayer funds to incentivize innovation, attract and support biotech start-ups, and fund biomedical and health science research. What’s more, top concerns for Virginians are mental health, opioid addiction, the cost of health care, and children's health. Support is strong for research and education to address these issues and drive progress.

Pioneer in brain-computer interface to speak at next Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture

Mon, 02 May 2022 11:44:00 -0400

Bin He will discuss the significance of this revolutionary work at a public lecture titled “Dynamic Brain Mapping and Brain-Computer Interface” at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 5. The presentation is free and open to the public at 2 Riverside Circle in Roanoke.

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine graduation speaker encourages students to focus on those they serve and do something extraordinary

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 08:00:00 -0400

Renowned medical educator Nancy Hardt to emphasize the importance of studying social determinants of health.

Poll finds Virginians strongly support health and biomedical research

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 04:47:00 -0400

Research!America president and CEO Mary Woolley will share the survey results as part of a Virginia Research & Innovation event this afternoon at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC in Roanoke focused on the state and national impact of research and innovation. The event will be webcast at 3 p.m.

Health Sciences and Technology campus: Thriving in the spirit of Ut Prosim

The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine both opened in 2010, continuing the university’s 150-year legacy of service while transforming the surrounding community.

Cancer Research Alliance forges new collaborations, strengthens research programs at inaugural retreat

More than 100 cancer researchers from across Virginia Tech met at the first Cancer Research Alliance retreat hosted by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC on March 18.

Robert Gourdie elected fellow of American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 14:29:00 -0400

Robert Gourdie, a cardiovascular scientist, biomedical engineer, and professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, has been named to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows.

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine students celebrate their day in the sun on Match Day

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 16:45:00 -0400

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine celebrates its Match Day, when graduating students learn where they will go for their residency programs. The school received a 100 percent match for the Class of 2022 with students selected for prestigious residencies and specialties across the country.

Scientists to present ninth annual 'Brain School' event for the community to celebrate Brain Awareness Week

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 12:29:00 -0500

Our brains enable us to understand the world, to build memories, to create, and to feel emotions. They endow us with all the qualities that make us human. Now, for the ninth straight year, Virginia Tech scientists will celebrate the amazing brain with its annual Brain School program, “The Adaptive Brain in Health and Disease,” from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, March 14.

#VTGivingDay - Seale Innovation Fund at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

The first seven Virginia Tech research teams each to receive one-year, $75,000 Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Seale Innovation Fund awards have been selected. The awarded pilot projects address a broad spectrum of biomedical and health science challenges that have impact on millions of Americans, including cancer, chronic pain, brain development, obesity, and COVID-19 complications. Your donation today matters! When we receive 175 gifts, we'll unlock $10,000 additional in match funding for the Seale Innovation Fund. Support potentially lifesaving research by giving a gift of $5 or more to the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute for #VTGivingDay. https://givingday.vt.edu/amb/fbri2022

Medical school to host virtual panel discussion on impact of generational trauma on individual and societal health

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 09:17:00 -0500

The virtual panel discussion, hosted by the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 17.

Josh Meyer joins Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine as director of communications

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 10:17:00 -0500

Meyer was most recently the director of marketing and strategic communications for Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke for nearly 11 years.

Researchers aim to improve diabetes management in rural and urban communities with low-cost intervention

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 08:39:00 -0500

Jeff Stein at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute has received a $990,000 National Institutes of Health grant to study the effects of applying a psychological treatment for addiction to help patients manage Type 2 diabetes.

Biomedical innovations take center stage during 'Shark Tank'-style pitch competition on HS&T campus

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 09:38:00 -0500

The competition involved students from the Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health graduate program, who selected intellectual property, worked with real-world business mentors, and created an entrepreneurial plan to develop and commercialize biomedical discoveries.

Virginia Tech science graduate students trade traditional communication for a blank canvas

In partnership with the Taubman Museum of Art in downtown Roanoke, the Virginia Tech Communicating Science Club hosted Science on Canvas, an event for science graduate students to develop creative techniques focused on communicating scientific discovery through non-traditional mediums.

Neuroscientists explore differences in mitochondria of memory cells in the brain with new NIH funding

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 13:00:00 -0500

With a new five-year, $2-million National Institutes of Health grant, Shannon Farris, assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, is mapping out the diverse bioenergetic and molecular characteristics of CA2 neuronal circuits to learn more about how social memories are formed, stored, and forgotten.

Researchers improve method to map brain cell connectivity in zebrafish

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 09:53:00 -0400

The advance could improve understanding of how the human brain functions.

Nature, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC host international Glial Biology in Medicine Conference

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 07:32:00 -0400

The virtual conference, which took place Oct. 25–26, featured talks on how glial cells develop, age, adapt to injury or disease, and are involved in learning and memory.

Alicia Besenyei joins the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine as assistant dean of advancement

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 07:30:00 -0400

Besenyei brings a strong background in advancement, marketing, and media relations to the position. Most recently, she was vice president for advancement at Concord University in Athens, West Virginia.

Physician establishes endowment to support student research at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 08:43:00 -0400

The first five recipients of Charles J. Schleupner’s endowment have spent the summer pursuing their research projects. In order to graduate, students must complete a four-year, hypothesis-driven project of publishable quality.

Medical student puts studies on pause to earn doctorate in university's Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health program

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 09:30:00 -0400

After Oscar Alcoreza was named a fellow in the Howard Hughes Medical Research Fellows program for a year for his research at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute while he was in medical school, he decided to spend three additional years in the TBMH program.

Dual degree program and NIH grant allow medical student to pursue doctorate before graduation

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 09:25:00 -0400

Kenneth Young is pausing his studies the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine to pursue a doctorate through Virginia Tech’s Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program, with his first year of research funded by a National Institutes of Health Diversity Supplement grant.

Large doses of intensive therapy better for children with cerebral palsy, Virginia Tech scientists, partners find

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 00:01:00 -0400

The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, shows that higher doses of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy – 20 three-hour sessions over four weeks – yield significant and lasting improvement in use of their arms and hands, especially in everyday functional activities.

Physician, alumnus underwrites medical school students’ white coats

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 08:35:00 -0400

Steeped in tradition at medical schools across the country, the White Coat Ceremony is a much-anticipated event that marks the beginning of a student’s journey into the profession. Students at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine’s class of 2025 will receive their white coats in a ceremony on Oct. 15

Virginia Tech celebrates Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC addition grand opening

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 17:37:00 -0400

The $90-million, 139,000-square-foot expansion enables the institute to double its workforce by 2027.

Officials to celebrate Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC addition grand opening

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 11:56:00 -0400

Virginia Tech leaders, key partners, and government officials will formally open the $90-million, 139,000-square-foot facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday at 2 p.m. The event will be live-streamed on the research institute’s website.

Virginia Tech names assistant vice president of advancement for health sciences and technology and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Martha Quinn previously served as executive director of development for Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Cancer Center and senior director of development for Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.

Biomedical engineering and industrial design students collaborate in design sprint for health care solutions

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 06:02:00 -0400

Elham Morshedzadeh, assistant professor in the School of Architecture and Design in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies, and Chris Arena, associate professor of biomedical engineering and mechanics in the College of Engineering, brought industrial design and biomedical engineering and mechanics students together for a unique collaboration.

Angelica Witcher promoted to assistant dean of student vitality at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 10:45:00 -0400

Witcher has been with the school since it opened in 2010, serving in progressive leadership roles.

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows present neurobiology and advanced imaging findings

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 08:12:00 -0400

The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC hosted 20 undergraduate students this summer for a 10-week experience in two research programs that explore neurobiology and cutting-edge imaging technology to visualize living systems.

New Fralin Biomedical Research Institute faculty member to advance addiction, pain research with focused ultrasound

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 10:04:00 -0400

Wynn Legon, a neuroscientist and pioneer in the use of focused ultrasound, will continue advancing this technology when he joins the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC as an assistant professor on Sept. 1.

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine welcomes its 12th class

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 11:00:00 -0400

The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine will welcome 49 new students on Monday, July 25. The Class of 2025 was selected from more than 6,400 applicants.

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute scientists uncover how molecule improves appearance of surgery scars

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 16:58:00 -0400

In a new study, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute scientists discovered that the alphaCT1 molecule may help repair the skin’s collagen matrix by altering how scar-forming cells behave. The findings were published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal.

TBMH student receives competitive NIH award to study molecule’s role in healthy brain development

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 13:04:00 -0400

Raymundo Hernandez, a graduate student in Virginia Tech’s Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Program, studies how a specific molecule in the brain influences important aspects of healthy neurodevelopment. He was awarded a six-year $466,699 National Institutes of Health grant that will fund his remaining doctoral and postdoctoral research.

Board of Visitors hears update on growing health sciences efforts

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 09:58:00 -0400

Provost Cyril Clarke, Vice President for Health Sciences and Technology Michael Friedlander, faculty, and students discussed the university’s growth in health sciences.

iTHRIV announces incoming 2021 Scholars Program cohort

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 12:00:00 -0400

The integrated Translational Research Institute of Virginia (iTHRIV) has announced its fifth class of iTHRIV Scholars. Seven researchers from the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech will participate in the structured, two-year research, training, and mentorship program.

Scientists say active early learning shapes the adult brain

Through the Abecedarian Project, an early education, randomized controlled trial that has followed children since 1971, researchers from Virginia Tech and the University of Pennsylvania have discovered an enhanced learning environment during the first five years of life shapes the brain in ways that are apparent four decades later. Authors of the study include professors Sharon Landesman Ramey, Craig Ramey, and Read Montague of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute of Virginia Tech, and Martha Farah, director of the Center for Neuroscience & Society at Penn. The study appears in the June edition of the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience.

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute researchers discover link between blood chemistry and deadly heart arrhythmias

In a new study, a cardiovascular research team led by Steven Poelzing, associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, describes how subtle changes in potassium, calcium, and sodium levels regulate heartbeats. Poelzing said the results could help researchers and physicians understand the nuances of cardiac arrhythmias, as well as a group of genetic disorders that impact sodium channel function, such as Brugada syndrome.

Virginia Tech launches ‘next generation’ human brain imaging lab

Researchers at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC have received a $2.4 million National Institutes of Health grant to deploy a breakthrough new brain imaging technique called optically pumped magnetometry to study the nuances of social interactions.

Mind the gap: Heart cells cozy up to prevent deadly arrhythmias, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute researchers find

Mon, 03 May 2021 15:56:00 -0400

Steven Poelzing, associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, leads a team of cardiovascular scientists studying electrical conduction in the heart. Poelzing’s lab recently published a study that showed increasing sodium and calcium levels in the bloodstream helps keep dangerous heart rhythms, triggered by potassium overdose, at bay.

TBMH graduate student awarded two grants to advance brain cancer research

Joelle Martin, a graduate research assistant in the Sontheimer Lab at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, received a Zeta Beta Tau Cancer Research Award and a student fellowship funded by Virginia Tech alumnus and benefactor Ray Gaskins.

Meet Scientists Working at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

From cancer cells to human behavior - learn about some of the fascinating, high-impact research that female faculty members at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute are working on.

Applications are open for the 2021 Virginia Tech Health Sciences and Technology Commercialization Fellows Program

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 07:47:00 -0500

Applications for the new program cohort are due online by 5 p.m. on March 12. Graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and research assistants and associates from across Virginia Tech who conduct health sciences and technology-related research are eligible.

Meet our Scientists: Dr. Chiu, Dr. DeLuca, Dr. LaConte, Dr. Robel, and Dr. Stein

The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC’s researchers have diverse backgrounds. Learn more about their research, hobbies, backgrounds, and why they became scientists in our 2021 weekly video series.

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC partners with Thermo Fisher Scientific, bringing state-of-the-art imaging equipment to Roanoke lab

The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC’s Fox Laboratory recently received a brand new scanning electron microscope, allowing for unprecedented visualization of cellular architecture with automated 3D reconstructions. The research institute collaborated with Thermo Fisher Scientific to purchase a state-of-the-art Thermo Scientific Volumescope. This equipment will help researchers at the institute continue to work at the frontiers of biomedical discovery to address cancer, neurological and behavioral disorders, and heart disease.

Meet a Neuroscientist: Shannon Farris, Ph.D.

In honor of International #WomenInScience day, we'd like to introduce you to one of our faculty members, Dr. Shannon Farris! Her #neuroscience lab studies how the genes in a specific cell type, located in the brain's hippocampus, enable memory storage.

We asked our faculty: Why did you become a health scientist?

From art and medicine, to zoology and playing cricket - four faculty members at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC open up about the memories and moments that sparked their scientific curiosity and passion for health research.

Hokies at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Help Neighbors in Roanoke, Virginia Overcome Food Insecurity

The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC recently partnered with the City of Roanoke’s Public Libraries to donate and distribute 500 hams to help neighbors throughout the Roanoke Valley overcome food insecurity. Dozens of faculty, staff, and students volunteered to pack and hand-deliver bags of food as part of the City’s Feed and Read program.

Meet our Scientists: Dr. Farris, Dr. Johnstone, Dr. LaMantia, Dr. Montague, Dr. Shin, and Dr. Munson

Why Meg Supports the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

Meg Carter, a native Virginian, has served on the research institute’s advisory board since the spring of 2020. She and her husband Frank support the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s research efforts and scientific contributions to society.

Step Inside the New Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Expansion in Roanoke

We welcome you to take a virtual tour through the new Fralin Biomedical Research Institute expansion. Michael Friedlander, Ph.D., Virginia Tech’s vice president for health sciences and technology, and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s founding executive director, will walk you through each wing, describing some of the latest instrumentation and research projects along the way.

Undergraduate Scientist Awarded National Institute of Mental Health Research Supplement

Niesha Savory, an undergraduate student at Virginia Tech working in the Farris Lab at the Fralin Biomedical Research at VTC, was recently awarded a Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research from the National Institute of Mental Health. She studies memory and learning in the lab of Shannon Farris, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the research institute in Roanoke. She previously completed a competitive neuroSURF Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in 2019, and Savory aspires to pursue graduate studies in medicine and biomedical research after graduation.

Inside Virginia Tech's COVID-19 analysis lab

Carla Finkielstein, the director of the Virginia Tech Molecular Analysis Laboratory at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, takes us on exclusive tour. With expanded testing crucial to controlling the pandemic in Virginia and the nation, Virginia Tech faculty, staff and graduate students went to work to answer the challenge. This lab was crucial to that response.

Virginia Tech COVID-19 lab ready to test thousands of student samples

“We are going to be super ready for the students,” said Carla Finkielstein, director of the Virginia Tech Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.

The researchers have already assembled 10,000 collection units that will be used to collect samples from students to analyze for coronavirus, which causes COVID-19.

“When this pandemic exploded and we were verge of deciding what to do next, the university had two options,” Finkielstein said. “One was to wait for someone to help us, and the other one was to put our collective heads and resources together and do something to serve our community. Our university chose to be proactive. We want to help take care of our students. We are bringing them back, and we are testing them. On top of that, working closely with the health departments, we are able to provide test analysis for many other people in the communities around us.”

Scientists discover cellular structure of poorly understood visual brain region

The brain’s ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN) receives signals from the eye, but it is not associated with classical image-forming. For decades little was known about this brain region’s cellular structure and purpose. In a new study published in the Journal of Neurochemistry, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC neuroscientists reveal newly identified brain cell subtypes unique to this region that form a striking layered formation.

Parents say baby with rare condition makes progress after intensive therapy at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion

Evie was at her six-week-old checkup near Dublin, Ireland, when doctors noticed her head was not growing as fast as it should. Five months later, doctors diagnosed her with a rare genetic disorder – a form of microcephaly caused by a mutation in a gene called CASK. Doctors said her condition was only reported in only 53 females worldwide, and it was associated with insurmountable developmental problems.

From those beginnings, Evie’s parents Emma Nolan and Keith Purdy embarked on a journey that would take them from their home in Ireland to talk with Virginia Tech scientists at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Neuromotor Research Clinic in Roanoke, Virginia. They met Stephanie Deluca, co-director of the Neuromotor Research Clinic, and occupational therapist Megan Price. Together, the group would prove a lot of people wrong about how much Evie really could accomplish.

Virginia Tech scientists develop new COVID-19 tests

After weeks of working around the clock, Virginia Tech scientists developed a new COVID-19 test and secured federal and state approvals to begin processing samples at on-campus labs in Blacksburg and Roanoke.

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute expansion melds world-class research and sustainable architecture

From its meadow garden green roof to its underground rainwater cistern, the new research expansion located at 4 Riverside Circle in Roanoke is a model for smart green design. The building is currently being evaluated from the U.S. Green Building Council for a LEED Version 4 Rating.

Virginia Tech researchers develop new COVID-19 tests to combat backlogs, shortages

Virginia Tech scientists at the Fralin Life Sciences Institute and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute have a developed a new coronavirus test and have secured federal and state approvals to begin processing samples at on-campus labs in Blacksburg and Roanoke. The university will support local health departments throughout the region to provide timely analysis to identify patients suspected of having COVID-19 — a critical step in the process of slowing the pandemic in Virginia.

Neuroscientists show how common parasitic infection causes seizures and psychiatric illness for some

Forty million Americans are infected with a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. For most patients, the infection is mild, while others develop seizures or psychiatric disorders. A new study led by Michael Fox at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute describes how brain circuits change as the parasite finds long-term shelter inside brain cells. The study’s first author and doctoral candidate, Gabriela Carrillo, explains this discovery.

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute expansion building moving forward

Take a peek inside the new VTC Biomedical Research Addition, a 139,000-square-foot building slated for a grand opening in fall 2020 at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in Roanoke. The state-of-the-art facility will be home to at least 25 new teams of Virginia Tech biomedical researchers specializing in cardiovascular research, obesity and metabolism, body-device interfaces, cancer, and more. The building will also feature a green roof, classrooms, wet and dry lab space, offices, and a LINAC particle accelerator to help pets with cancer. Stay tuned for more updates as construction nears completion this spring!

New compound could help improve heart attack recovery

Robert Gourdie, a professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, is working on a way to limit the damage of hypoxic ischemic injury, allowing the nearby heart muscle cells to remain intact.

New faculty member links nature, nurture, and early brain development

Brittany Howell, assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, studies how maternal characteristics and behavior impact brain development in infants. Howell will start recruiting new mothers to participate in her lab’s research studies in 2020.

Welcome to the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC is an exciting place to research, train, and work. Established in 2010, the research institute is doubling in size and is actively recruiting 20-25 new core research teams to join the Virginia Tech Health Sciences Campus in Roanoke, Virginia. For more information about the research institute and employment opportunities, please visit: www.research.vtc.vt.edu

Sights and sounds from the regional forum hosted by Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic

On Thursday, Sept. 12, 97 government officials settled into the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine auditorium in Roanoke for a first-of-its-kind joint regional public forum. Governments from more than 20 localities spanning the New River Valley and Roanoke-Alleghany Valley were represented.

Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture Series

A Nobel prize winner and two National Institutes of Health leaders are among internationally known speakers programmed for the new season of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture Series in Roanoke.

TBMH graduate student awarded competitive individual NIH predoctoral fellowship to study cardiac arrest recovery

David “Ryan” King, a student in the Virginia Tech Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health (TBMH) graduate program at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, has won a National Institutes of Health (NIH) individual research fellowship to support the last two years of his doctoral research. King’s work examines how sodium concentrations in intravenous saline fluids influence cardiac function following injury.

Nation’s first clinical trial for infant stroke begins at Fralin Biomedical

Strokes are devastating events often associated with people over 65. But large numbers of infants have strokes, too. Now, in the nation’s first multicenter pediatric stroke recovery trial, researchers and clinicians from 12 sites across the United States, including the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, will evaluate a new approach.

Jeffrey Sachs at Fralin Biomedical

Wealth should lead to well-being, according to Jeffrey Sachs, a world-renowned economist and special advisor to three United Nations Secretaries-General. Sachs spoke at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC in Roanoke, Virginia.

Tags

Alumnus to share 50 years of progress in treating cancer through immunotherapy

Understanding how cells adapt after exercise

12 new members join Academies of Faculty Service and Leadership

Brain School: An inside look at how our genes contribute to healthy brain development and what can go wrong

The complexities of human milk and infant brain development

Improving cardiac treatments and ‘patient quality of life’

From Ghana to glioblastoma: Solving problems with science

Graduate students turn biomedical research into business ideas

Brain pathway may fuel both aggression, self-harm

The hidden currents of the brain

‘How drunk do you feel?’: Ozempic, Wegovy may help reduce alcohol use

Pain during opioid addiction treatment tied to worse outcomes

Biomedical innovator to open Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture series in Roanoke

Summer research fellows showcase studies at annual symposium

Meike van der Heijden appointed to Dystonia Foundation’s medical and scientific advisory council

Former Neuromotor Research Clinic Patient Returns – as a Student Researcher

Researchers identify why some heart rhythm drugs heighten risks when sodium levels drop

‘Every time we wait, we lose someone who might have made it’

Cancer Researchers Spurred to Move Faster at the Cancer Research Symposium

Virginia Tech announces new Institute for Advanced Computing in the Washington, D.C., area

Defying Imagination, One Step at a Time

Shawn McDaniel to direct development for Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC

Exploring a rare genetic disorder that almost exclusively affects girls

Brain School Brings Neuroscience to Life

Postdoctoral Excellence Awards celebrate promising scientific research

Statewide initiative aims to position Virginia as a leading hub for biotechnology innovation

Virginia Tech student explores promising treatment avenue for lupus

At Hokie Pitch, graduate students present business plans for biomedical innovations

Roanoke initiative shapes next generation of health science researchers

Groundbreaking Virginia Tech Graduate Program marks decade of transdisciplinary education

Warren Bickel, global pioneer in addiction recovery research, leaves lasting legacy

Unlocking Secrets of the Mind

Summer students share findings at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute symposium

Virginia Tech, Children’s National Hospital, and industry experts explore the impact of AI on health care

Cancer researcher wants to make treatment better, more accessible

Applications open Oct. 1 for medical school’s immersive undergraduate program

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute to host talks by nationally renowned AI, cancer, addiction experts

Senior health science industry innovation leader joins Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC

John Chappell to direct Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program

The virus that causes COVID-19 is widespread in wildlife, Virginia Tech scientists find

New technique could help treat aggressive brain tumors

Director named for Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Cancer Research Center

Controlling the precise timing of electrical pulses may offer promise for treating mild traumatic brain injury

Focusing on ultrasound research at Virginia Tech

Is dementia preventable? Acclaimed neurologist shares latest Alzheimer’s breakthroughs

Unveiling a hidden threat: Researchers show viral infections pose early heart risks

Low-intensity ultrasound shows promise as a noninvasive approach to alleviate pain

Researchers find that using patients’ own blood rather than saline helps preserve veins in coronary bypass grafts

Thought-leaders in biomedical research share ideas from addiction recovery to zebrafish brains during Pioneers in Biomedical Research Seminar Series

Buzz kill: Virginia Tech researchers find drugs used to treat Type 2 diabetes reduce alcohol cravings, use in individuals with obesity

It’s the ‘thing in my life that shaped me the most,’ participant says of life-changing therapy

2023 marks a year of firsts for Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program

Universitywide team to lead Carnegie Community Engagement Classification application

New program creates TRAILblazers of diversity and inclusion

Moving forward: Neuroscientist explores movement, rehabilitation in public lecture

Digging for data: Researcher seeks new therapeutic interventions for progressive, chronic lung disease

Researchers use pioneering new method to unlock brain’s noradrenaline system

University launches Virginia Tech Advantage and a $500 million fundraising effort to support students with financial need

‘There is no Planet B’: Climate expert explores gap between science, policy, and opinion

Henrietta Lacks statues unveiled where her legacy thrives

Brooks Casas named College of Science Faculty Fellow

Landmark $50 million gift to dramatically expand health sciences research at Virginia Tech

Machine learning and thought, climate impact on health, Alzheimer’s, children's health among topics for 2023-24 Maury Strauss public lectures

Growth and impact highlight FY '23 research numbers

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC: Growth of an innovator

Lecture series features experts in addiction research, cardiovascular science, child development, metabolic disease

Fundamental understanding of a molecule‘s normal function could inform treatments for a variety of brain disorders

Pregnant? Virginia Tech researchers recruiting for nation’s largest early childhood brain development study

¿Qué piensas? Graduate School program provides platform for idea-sharing with Latin American visitors

Speaking the language of hope

Therapy framework reveals promise for intensive pediatric rehabilitation for children with motor disabilities

Joining forces: Virginia Tech Cancer Research Alliance scientists to share ideas, innovations

Cancer researchers team up against deadliest brain tumors in children

Scientists discover brain circuit underlying spontaneous synchronized movement of individuals in groups

Graduate student tour guides offer visitors a glimpse of life at Virginia Tech

Researchers associate early life stress with pro-inflammatory processes later in life during pregnancy

Virginia Tech leaders explore issues of trust in science during high profile Research!America panel discussion

Brain School 2023 at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

Brain School: Is the brain able to change or am I wired this way for life?