EurekAlert! National Institutes of Health

Latest news releases from NIH-funded organizations

Funded Research News

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 16-Dec-2025 01:11 ET (16-Dec-2025 06:11 GMT/UTC)

11-Dec-2025

Sexual minority individuals face higher cesarean risks

Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Individuals who identify as a sexual minority face higher risks of primary Cesarean birth compared with their completely heterosexual peers, according to a new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Risks varied substantially across sexual-orientation subgroups, with the largest increase observed among a rarely examined group: people who identify as heterosexual but report prior same-sex experience.

Journal: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas
Funder: NIH/National Institutes of Health

11-Dec-2025

Roundworms discovered in Great Salt Lake are new to science

University of Utah
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Roundworms recently discovered in Great Salt Lake are new to science. A new study by University of Utah biologists characterizes D. woaabi, the first of two nematode species collected from the lake's microbialites

Funder: NIH/National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Science Foundation, Society of Systematic Biologists, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

11-Dec-2025

Shape-shifting cell channel reveals new target for precision drugs

Northwestern University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A cellular gate, called PANX1, accommodates cargo of vastly different sizes. Study is first to find the channel uses a ring of amino acids to form a flexible gate that dilates and constricts. Researchers also found a common antimalarial drug binds to a previously unknown site in PANX1 to control the gate.

Journal: Nature Communications
Funder: NIH/National Institutes of Health, Pew Charitable Trusts, McKnight Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

11-Dec-2025

Rats may seek cannabis to cope with stress

Washington State University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

It isn’t just people – when given the chance rats may also use cannabis to cope with stress, according to a study by researchers at Washington State University.

Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology
Funder: NIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse, State of Washington

11-Dec-2025

Gut health à la CAR T

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory biologists have devised a way to stimulate cell growth and repair in the intestine. Their discovery lays the groundwork for new drugs that can address diseases like leaky gut syndrome and improve overall gut health.

Journal: Nature Aging
Funder: NIH/National Cancer Institute, Fundación Rafael del Pino, NIH/National Institutes of Health, Mark Foundation For Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, The Oliver S. and Jennie R. Donaldson Charitable Trust, G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation, Starr Cancer Consortium, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Northwell Health, Norn Group, National Institute on Aging