Health Research at URochester

09/25/2026

RSV vaccines are highly effective in older adults
Time, September 21

Since the rollout, a handful of studies have looked at the effectiveness of the two vaccines. “These have all—very interestingly, and comfortingly—really paralleled and mimicked the exact results of the efficacy trials,” says Edward Walsh, a professor of medicine.

A sweeping study covering the first year of RSV vaccinations in older adults finds dramatic results.

09/24/2026

Wilmot’s Novel Pancreatic Cancer Discoveries Lead to Prized $3M Grant

Co-investigators Darren Carpizo, Paula Vertino, and Brian Altman will use the NCI funding to further their research on how tumors hide from the immune system and spread, aided by a cell’s 24-hour “sleep-wake” cycle.

09/16/2026

25 Years Later, Still Studying the Health Effects of 9/11

In the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks, researchers from Environmental Medicine and Public Health Sciences helped investigate the potential health effects of dust and other environmental exposures—work that has evolved into ongoing research, community education, and care for local 9/11 responders.

What began with researchers studying World Trade Center dust has evolved into 25 years of environmental health research, occupational medicine, and clinical care for those exposed during the 9/11 rescue and recovery effort.

09/14/2026

Removing an inflammation-linked protein makes aging worse

URochester researchers have found that cGAS, a protein known for triggering inflammation, also plays a protective role in aging. The findings could have implications for developing treatments and therapies designed to target age-related inflammation.

URochester researchers have found that cGAS, a protein known for triggering inflammation, also plays a protective role.

09/09/2026

What is an mRNA flu vaccine?

Dr. Ann Falsey, a professor of medicine and an infectious disease specialist at URochester Medicine, explains how mRNA vaccines work, how the new mRNA flu shot differs from traditional flu vaccines, and what people should know heading into the 2026–27 flu season.

The first mRNA flu vaccine is now approved for adults 50 and older. Learn how the new flu shot works, its effectiveness, side effects, and who should get it.

08/27/2026

Ruchira Singh Finds Early Cause of Vision Loss in Batten Disease

A research team led by an associate professor of Ophthalmology has created the first 3D model of the human retina, the part of the eye that helps us see. Using this model, the team discovered how vision loss begins in CLN3-Batten disease, a rare genetic disorder that affects children. They found that cells that normally support the retina may play an important role in causing damage. The researchers also tested an experimental treatment called enzyme replacement therapy. The treatment improved the health of the retina in both lab-grown tissue and a large-animal model, giving hope for new treatments in the future.

Researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind 3D human retina model that reveals how vision loss begins in CLN3-Batten disease, a rare inherited disorder that affects children.

08/24/2026

The safety and risks of GLP-1 microdosing

With the growing popularity of GLP-1-based medications, new trends have emerged, including microdosing and the use of compounded GLP-1 medications. Here’s what Adnin Zaman, an assistant professor of medicine, wants patients to know.

What is GLP-1 microdosing? Learn about compounded GLP-1 medications, compounding pharmacies, safety concerns, and what doctors recommend.

08/20/2026

How light can fight abdominal infections

By combining a common blue dye with low-powered laser light, Timothy Baran, an assistant professor of imaging sciences, biomedical engineering, and optics, and his colleagues are testing whether a treatment called photodynamic therapy can destroy bacteria inside the body without relying solely on antibiotics.

Photodynamic therapy is being tested at the University of Rochester as a way to target stubborn abdominal infections without antibiotics.

08/14/2026

Can heat and humidity cause shortness of breath?

Michael Kamali, a professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, explains how summer weather affects breathing, puts added stress on the body and lungs, and when to seek medical attention.

Hot weather and humidity can make breathing harder, especially for people with asthma or other lung conditions. Learn how heat, humidity, and air quality affect breathing and when to seek care.

08/13/2026

What happens when you stop taking a GLP-1?

Millions of people have lost weight and improved their health with GLP-1 medications. But if you’ve reached your goal weight, are dealing with side effects, or your insurance no longer covers treatment, you might ask: What happens if I stop taking it?

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/publications/health-matters/what-happens-when-you-stop-taking-a-glp-1