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“Mini-Brains” Provide Clues About Early Life Origins of Schizophrenia

Multiple changes in brain cells during the first month of embryonic development may contribute to schizophrenia later in life, according to a new study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

The researchers, whose study was published in Molecular Psychiatry on Nov. 17, used stem cells collected from patients with schizophrenia and people without the disease to grow 3-dimensional “mini-brains” or organoids in the laboratory. By comparing the development of both sets of organoids, they...

a younger and older adult sitting beside each other

Researchers Identify Significant Differences in Tumor Characteristics Between Younger and Older Cancer Patients

Investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine have identified significant differences in the molecular characteristics of tumors from younger and older cancer patients across several cancer types.

Their research, published Dec. 7 in Cell Reports, suggests that cancer treatment could potentially be tailored by age. The study also identified pre-existing drugs that could target mutations predominantly found in younger cancer patients—promising candidates for future clinical research.

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Inflammatory immune cells in the spinal cord of mouse

Novel Immune Cell Population May Trigger Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis and other Brain Disorders

A group of immune cells that normally protect against inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract may have the opposite effect in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other brain inflammation-related conditions, according to a new study by Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian researchers. The results suggest that countering the activity of these cells could be a new therapeutic approach for such conditions.

The researchers, who reported their finding Dec. 1 in Nature, were studying a...

Antibodies Help Keep Harmful Forms of Gut Fungi in Check

Antibody protection against harmful forms of fungi in the gut may be disrupted in some patients with Crohn’s disease—a condition caused by chronic inflammation in the bowel—according to a new study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

Previous studies have shown that the immune system plays a key role in maintaining a healthy balance of gut bacteria. In the new study, published Nov. 22 in Nature Microbiology, senior author Dr. Iliyan Iliev, associate professor of immunology in...

COVID-19 May Trigger Hyperglycemia and Worsen Disease by Harming Fat Cells

COVID-19 may bring high risks of severe disease and death in many patients by disrupting key metabolic signals and thereby triggering hyperglycemia, according to a new study from researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian.

In the study, reported Sept. 15 in Cell Metabolism, the researchers found that hyperglycemia—having high blood sugar levels—is common in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and...

Antibody-Producing B Cells May be "Predestined" for their Fates

The master regulator behind the development of antibody-producing cells has been identified in a study by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine. The findings provide new insight into the inner workings of the immune system and may help understand how tissues develop and how certain cancers arise.

The study, published Sept. 23 in Nature Immunology, combined computational analyses with advanced molecular biology and genomic techniques to identify a protein called Oct2 as the key...

Weill Cornell Advances TB Research with Support from NIH

Tuberculosis (TB) is a wily old killer, one of the deadliest infectious diseases in history and one of the few that naturally infects only humans. Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have been pursuing treatments for tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) since the 1950s, and the program continues to excel at explaining TB’s mysteries and pushing toward more effective therapies.

Currently, Weill Cornell Medicine investigators are leading or...

Weill Cornell Medicine Awarded $28.5 Million NIH Grant to Lead HIV Cure Research

Weill Cornell Medicine has been awarded a five-year, $28.5 million Martin Delaney Collaboratory grant from the National Institutes of Health to lead a multi-institutional effort aimed at finding a cure for HIV.

HIV remains a top global health concern, with nearly 38 million people worldwide infected with the virus, and 770,000 deaths from AIDS in 2018, according to the World Health Organization. While modern...

Commentary: Multisector Research Collaborative Aims to Advance Tuberculosis Treatment

A better understanding of the biology of tuberculosis (TB) infection and improved drug combinations for the disease are two areas of research in which the TB Drug Accelerator (TBDA) has made strides since its inception a decade ago, according to a commentary whose authors include three Weill Cornell Medicine investigators and an investigator at Cornell University’s Ithaca campus who participate in the collaborative network.

TB is an infectious disease that typically affects the lungs...

Office of Diversity and Inclusion Named Diversity Champion

Weill Cornell Medicine’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion has been recognized as a Diversity Champion by Crain’s New York Business as part of its first annual Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Awards, announced July 15.

The Diversity Champion award recognizes organizations in all industries that have committed to a diverse workforce and have programs or initiatives advancing the promotion of diversity in the workplace. Weill Cornell Medicine won in the large-company category.

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