Ananya Sen

Sen covers cancer clinical care and pediatric cancer research, ophthalmology, endocrinology, diabetes, emergency medicine, survival flight, and children's and women's health. Sen completed her Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where she then worked as a science writer after graduation.

Sen Ananya
white pills falling out of orange pill bottle on a brown surface
Health Lab
Drug combination reduces breast cancer risk and improves metabolic health in rats
Researchers investigated the combined effects of bazedoxifene and conjugated estrogens in rat models as an alternative to tamoxifen.
blue body with red organ lit up
Health Lab
Drug targets identified for pancreatic cancer
U-M researchers have discovered that simultaneously targeting PIKfyve and KRAS-MAPK can eliminate tumors in preclinical human and mouse models.
mouse seeing three cookies with red dots out of brain
Health Lab
Researchers use nanoparticles to target glioblastoma in mice
University of Michigan researchers have created nanodiscs that can target cholesterol levels in GBM, starving the cancer cells and increasing survival rates of the treated mice.
woman sitting by laptop putting hands on eyes
Health Lab
For eye infections, delayed doctor visits and extent of damage affect vision outcomes
Physicians followed 562 patients in the U.S. and India over a three-month period to identify risk factors for eye infections that could be easily managed with early intervention.
man putting eye drops in eyes
Health Lab
Regular eye drop regimens are crucial for glaucoma patients
Paula Anne Newman-Casey, M.D., discusses the causes of glaucoma, how it’s diagnosed, treatment procedures and why many people miss doses of their medicated eye drops.
child in back seat of car in car seats
Health Lab
New child passenger safety laws in Michigan: What to know
Starting April 2, 2025, Michigan will be implementing new child passenger safety laws based on guidelines and best practices recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. 
sepia tone photo off grey with band member in yellow and blue highlighted in middle
Health Lab
‘Beating the odds’: hope for U-M drummer with inoperable brain tumor
Ethan White was diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma, a rare form of brain cancer where the survival time after diagnosis is 1-2 years. His treatment is going well and Koschmann is cautiously optimistic about his case.
man standing and throwing in track and field event
Health Lab
After prostate cancer surgery, 70-year-old track and field athlete takes on international competition
Just 8 months after undergoing robotic surgery to remove his cancerous prostate, Mark Cwiek, a 70-year-old track and field athlete, successfully competed in the World Masters Athletics Championship.
apple watch on wrist
Health Lab
Personalized app reduces cancer-related fatigue
Researchers at the Rogel Cancer Center, in collaboration with Arcascope, have developed and tested a personalized app that tracks a user’s circadian rhythm and makes behavioral recommendations to reduce daily fatigue.
drawing of blood monitor on person
Health Lab
Continuous glucose monitors can optimize diabetic ketoacidosis management
University of Michigan researchers show that using continuous glucose monitors can help measure glucose accurately during DKA and potentially prevent ICUs from being overwhelmed.
blue cell and red cell merging on dark blue screen
Health Lab
New cellular therapy trials for brain tumors
Michigan Medicine experts discuss CAR T therapy, its use in other clinical trials at U-M and the new Phase I trials that started in March 2025.
breast cancer checking graphic image in different pinks
Health Lab
How to assess your risk for breast cancer
Melissa Pilewskie, M.D., answers questions about how you can accurately assess your risk and what lifestyle changes can help reduce the likelihood of developing breast cancer.
two photos of the back of an eye
Health Lab
Managing your diabetes can help prevent associated vision loss
Diabetic retinal disease screening remains challenging because patients often do not have any symptoms in the early stages and, therefore, misunderstand the importance of regular screenings. In a recent publication Thomas Gardner discusses current screening recommendations and treatment options for DRD.
a patient with a medical professional in scrubs in an exam room talking
Health Lab
Speculum exams unnecessary for HPV screening
HPV screening usually entails a speculum-based exam, which is an uncomfortable experience for most patients. University of Michigan researchers are the first to demonstrate in the United States that self-sampling is just as effective as speculum-based testing for HPV detection.
orange cell in blue cells
Health Lab
Mitochondria may hold the key to curing diabetes
Mitochondria are essential for generating energy that fuels cells and helps them function. In a new study researchers used mice to show that dysfunctional mitochondria also trigger a response that affects the maturation and function of β-cells.