Using near-atomic imaging, OHSU researchers mapped where disease-associated autoantibodies bind to the extracellular domain of the NMDA receptor. The highlighted region — colored yellow through red, based on how frequently it is targeted — reveals small areas of the receptor recognized by autoantibodies in both mice and people with anti-NMDAR encephalitis, making it a promising … Read more
Michael Riscoe, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology at Oregon Health & Science University, is involved in a multi-institutional study published in Nature. The study demonstrates that combining drugs that kill the malaria-causing parasite with insecticide-treated bed nets can reduce infection rates. (OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks) Researchers have identified a type … Read more
New OHSU research reveals an important role in brain function involving an abundant, but often-ignored, star-shaped type of glial cell known as astrocytes. Scientists say the discovery suggests new approaches to treat or prevent neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases. (OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks) An often-ignored type of cell in the brain plays a dynamic … Read more
Could a protein linked to Parkinson’s disease also fuel melanoma? New research reveals that alpha-synuclein, the protein often associated with Parkinson’s, plays a surprising role in the advancement of skin cancer. Learn how this discovery could revolutionize the understanding and treatment of both Parkinson’s and melanoma. Protein Linked to Parkinson’s May Drive Melanoma,Study Finds Table … Read more
Archyde Parkinson’s and Melanoma: Unraveling the Unexpected Connection by Archyde News, April 9, 2025 In a surprising twist, research conducted at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) has uncovered a shared culprit behind two seemingly disparate diseases: Parkinson’s disease and melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer. The study, published in Science Advances in early … Read more
Vivek Unni, M.D., Ph.D., of Oregon Health & Science University, and colleagues have discovered that the alpha-synuclein protein known to clump together as “Lewy bodies” in Parkinson’s disease also has a role in melanoma. (OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks) A small protein involved in neurodegeneration leading to Parkinson’s disease also drives a type of skin cancer known … Read more
In a new study, researchers Jonathan Pruneda, Ph.D., right, and Michael Cohen, Ph.D., have uncovered a new way proteins can be changed inside cells, increasing understanding of how the immune system works. (OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks) A study by Oregon Health & Science University researchers has uncovered a new way proteins can be changed inside cells. … Read more
New research reveals the patterns of gene expression in individual neurons that enable the brain to process sound. (Getty Images) New research from Oregon Health & Science University and collaborating institutions reveals the complex orchestration of neurons in the brain that turns raw noise — the compression of airwaves and pressure on the inner ear … Read more
Hiroyuki Nakai, M.D., Ph.D., works with his team in his Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics lab in the OHSU School of Medicine. Nakai and his team have identified ways to improve gene delivery to the kidney, paving the way for more effective treatments. (OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks) Researchers are making strides in improving gene therapies … Read more