Graduate School of Medical Sciences
A partnership with the Sloan Kettering Institute

Targeting Inflammation May Help Overcome Drug Resistance in Colon Cancer

Chemotherapy drugs that target a common mutation in colorectal cancer rapidly lose efficacy in patients, leading to relapse. According to a new preclinical study by Weill Cornell Medicine and MD Anderson Cancer Center investigators, colorectal tumors often find multiple ways to survive treatment, including additional genetic mutations and activation of cellular pathways typically associated with inflammation and regeneration. Targeting this tumor-specific inflammatory process could enhance the efficacy of some anticancer therapies and prevent drug resistance.

Graduate Students Shine in School's First Dedicated Commencement

Video of Congratulations, Class of 2026! #graduation #classof2026 #weillcornellmedicine

When Dr. Louisa Schilling was 15 years old, she read a book called “The Brain that Changes Itself,” by Norman Doidge. Her father, who has a doctorate in microbiology and immunology, received it at a conference and it ended up in his daughter’s hands. Her immediate reaction: “I want to study the brain.”

Convocation Recognizes Graduate Students’ Achievements

Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences celebrated students in the Class of 2026 for their academic achievements during its May 13 convocation ceremony.

The ceremony, hosted by Dr. Barbara Hempstead, dean of Weill Cornell Graduate School, honored students who are graduating with their master’s and doctorate degrees, as well as those who earned special awards and prizes for their accomplishments in research, scholarship and service. The ceremony also recognized exemplary graduate school faculty.

2026 NSF GRFP Awardees and Honorable Mentions

Weill Cornell Graduate School congratulates the graduate students who received award offers and honorable mention recognition in the 2026 National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

A New Kind of Cold Sensor

All life forms need to continuously adapt to temperature changes to survive. Now, Weill Cornell Medicine investigators studying a bacterial protein have identified a new mechanism of sensing cold temperatures. The finding points to the possibility that this same type of mechanism exists in other organisms, including humans, and may have relevance for disorders involving faulty temperature regulation.

Should Medicaid Tie Drug Prices To What Other Countries Pay?

A pilot program aimed at reducing Medicaid drug spending has limitations, according to a multi-institutional research team including faculty from Weill Cornell Medicine.

Reverse Engineering Ketamine’s Effects May Lead to New Antidepressants

Weill Cornell Medicine investigators have “reverse engineered” ketamine’s antidepressant effects to identify potential new strategies for treating depression.

New Laws Cut Cannabis Arrests, but Racial Disparities Persist

While recreational cannabis laws have significantly reduced arrests for cannabis possession and sales, racial disparities in arrests still exist, according to a new study from Weill Cornell Medicine, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México and The University of Texas at Austin. The authors suggest that recreational cannabis laws do not fully resolve underlying systemic inequities.

45th Vincent du Vigneaud Symposium Celebrates Graduate Student Research

Rows of poster boards filled the Griffis Faculty Club at Weill Cornell Medicine, showcasing research ranging from cancer immunology and microbiome science to the emerging field of space biology. Standing beside them, graduate students explained months of work in a matter of minutes, fielding questions from judges, faculty and peers.

Nerves in Skin Can Slow Melanoma Growth

Nerve fibers within melanomas can slow the growth of these tumors, according to a study led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators. The findings help clarify the emerging field of cancer neuroscience and may inform future therapeutic strategies.