health and well-being

Oct 27, 2011

NC State, Wake Forest, Collaborate to Bring Stem Cell Therapies to Humans, Animals

A new partnership between North Carolina State University and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center will make regenerative medical treatments more quickly available to both human and animal patients. NC State’s Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research (CCMTR) and the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center are pooling resources in order to… 

Oct 27, 2011

NC State Expert Offers Insight On E. coli Outbreak

An outbreak of pathogenic E. coli is currently affecting at least 9 individuals in North Carolina. This pathogen can cause nausea, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), vomiting and can result in long-term health consequences. Dr. Ben Chapman, a food safety researcher at North Carolina State University, is available to provide insights on limiting the spread of the… 

Oct 25, 2011

NC State Project Focuses On Education For Foster Children

When children are placed in foster care, it often means a disruption in their education, as well as a change in living situation – which can hurt their educational performance. Now NC State researchers are using a federal grant to launch a project designed to improve educational stability for foster children nationally and boost their overall… 

Oct 24, 2011

Research Finds Gallium Nitride is Non-Toxic, Biocompatible – Holds Promise For Biomedical Implants

Researchers from North Carolina State University and Purdue University have shown that the semiconductor material gallium nitride (GaN) is non-toxic and is compatible with human cells – opening the door to the material’s use in a variety of biomedical implant technologies. 

Sep 27, 2011

New Statistical Models to Link Climate Change, Effect of Pollution on Health

A new collaboration led by a North Carolina State University statistician aims to predict how a changing climate may impact the effect of airborne pollutants on human health. Dr. Montserrat Fuentes, professor and head of  NC State’s Department of Statistics, will lead the three-year project, which includes research partners from Duke University and the University of… 

Sep 13, 2011

“Hey Bobby, Slow Down!” Helicopter Parents Can Impede Child’s Ability to Play

Parental safety concerns may prevent children from getting good exercise, according to a new North Carolina State University study that examined how families use neighborhood parks. Results from the study suggest that children who were monitored too closely by hovering “helicopter” parents were less likely to engage in higher levels of physical activity. “It’s a… 

Aug 24, 2011

Common Bacterium Stops Mosquitoes from Transmitting Dengue Virus

Strains of a bacterium commonly found in fruit flies can prevent the Aedes aegypti mosquito from transmitting the virus that causes dengue fever, researchers have found. Their discovery could lead to a more effective way to control dengue worldwide. North Carolina State University mathematical biologist Dr. Alun Lloyd is part of the Eliminate Dengue program,… 

Aug 3, 2011

NC State Gets $25 Million Grant to Nullify Norovirus

North Carolina State University will use a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to strengthen food safety by studying human noroviruses across the food supply chain in an effort to design effective control measures and reduce the number of virus-caused food-borne illnesses. Human noroviruses… 

Jul 12, 2011

Food For Thought

From peaches to green beans, summer’s bounty is here. And eager home cooks are busy canning fruits and vegetables for the months ahead. But canning is one hobby that can kill you if not done properly. NC State is making sure people do it the right way. 

Jun 29, 2011

Genetic “Conductor” Involved With New Brain Cell Production in Adults

A team of North Carolina State University researchers has discovered more about how a gene connected to the production of new brain cells in adults does its job. Their findings could pave the way to new therapies for brain injury or disease. Most areas of the brain do not generate new brain cells, or neurons,… 

Jun 28, 2011

How Copper Folds Protein into Parkinson’s Plaques

Researchers at North Carolina State University have found out how copper induces misfolding in the protein associated with Parkinson’s disease, leading to creation of the fibrillar plaques which characterize the disease. This finding has implications for both the study of Parkinson’s progression as well as for future treatments. The protein in question, alpha-synuclein, is the… 

Jun 27, 2011

Study: Most Parents Unaware Of Teen Workplace Risks

Most parents are unaware of the risks their teenagers face in the workplace and could do more to help them understand and prepare for those hazards, according to a new study. 

Jun 9, 2011

New Parallelization Technique Boosts Our Ability To Model Biological Systems

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new technique for using multi-core chips more efficiently, significantly enhancing a computer’s ability to build computer models of biological systems. The technique improved the efficiency of algorithms used to build models of biological systems more than seven-fold, creating more realistic models that can account for uncertainty… 

Jun 2, 2011

Safer Sex: Study Examines Sexual Communication In Transgender Community

A new study from North Carolina State University shows that talking about safer sex is a complicated process for individuals in the transgender community. The finding may help efforts to promote safer sex practices in a community facing high HIV rates – and also sheds light on broader questions related to safer sex for everyone. 

May 12, 2011

Study: Most At-Risk Patients Don’t Adhere To Statin Treatment, Despite Real Benefits

A new study from North Carolina State University shows that the vast majority of patients at high risk for heart disease or stroke do a poor job of taking statins as prescribed. That’s especially unfortunate, because the same study shows that taking statins can significantly increase the quality and length of those patients’ lives.