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.
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.
Health Lab
7-year-old faces cancer treatment with ‘optimistic sassiness’
Emilia Pigeon was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that starts in immature nerve cells. She was treated with chemotherapy and surgery and continues to do well.
Health Lab
Dietary changes could provide a therapeutic avenue for brain cancer
A team of researchers from Michigan Medicine tracked how glucose is used in glioblastoma tumor cells. They showed that dietary interventions can slow brain cancer growth in mice.
Health Lab
Study identifies key features of cancer cell response and resistance to treatment
University of Michigan researchers created a prostate cancer cellular atlas, identifying why some prostate tumor cells resist therapy and others respond to treatments.
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Brain neurons are responsible for day-to-day control of blood sugar
University of Michigan researchers have shown that a specific population of neurons in the hypothalamus help the brain maintain blood glucose levels under normal circumstances.
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FDA clears new DMG treatment: What it means for a deadly pediatric brain tumor
Diffuse midline gliomas are aggressive tumors that begin in the brain or spinal cord. It is universally fatal, and patients typically live for nine to 15 months after diagnosis. The FDA has approved ONC201 (dordaviprone) to treat recurrent H3K27M-mutant diffuse glioma. It's the first-ever FDA-approved treatment for this disease.
Health Lab
New technology called PathoPlex maps the location of proteins inside cells
Abnormal changes in protein levels and patterns can result in diseases. Understanding protein organization can improve treatments and minimize disease symptoms. A team of researchers developed a new technology called pathology-oriented multiplexing, or PathoPlex, to map more than 140 different proteins across 40 tissue samples.
Health Lab
Active surveillance helps men avoid unnecessary surgery for prostate cancer
About one in eight men in the United States are diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. However, each man’s risk can vary based on age, race, family history and lifestyle. Todd Morgan answers questions about the different stages of prostate cancer, when active surveillance is preferred and why surgical interventions can be harmful.
Health Lab
Inactivation of key pathway boosts the body’s immune response against tumors
Immunotherapy uses the body’s immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. However, many patients are resistant to this therapy, which poses a challenge to their treatment. A study led by researchers from the University of Michigan showed that targeting CDK12/13 improves the effectiveness of cancer therapies.
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Amino acid glutamine is important for eye health
Photoreceptor death is the cause of vision loss in many retinal diseases, and there are no effective therapies that improve their survival. In a new paper, University of Michigan researchers studied the dependence of photoreceptors on glutamine.
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Protein targets can act as a switch for obesity and anorexia
In the U.S., dietary obesity has a prevalence of 40% and obesity increases the risk of other chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Even though anorexia nervosa has a prevalence of 1%, it is the second-highest death rate of any mental illness. Roger Cone discusses how melanocortin receptors can be used to treat both obesity and anorexia.
News Release
U-M Health’s Ann Arbor hospitals recognized as No. 1 in Michigan, among best in nation by U.S. News & World Report
University of Michigan Health’s Ann Arbor adult hospitals were ranked best in Michigan and in the top 20 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings for 2025-2026.
Health Lab
New strides in Ewing sarcoma research
Patrick Grohar answers questions about symptoms, treatments and research initiatives that are being undertaken with respect to Ewing Sarcoma.
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Misfolded proteins accumulate in the mitochondria of patients with type 2 diabetes
Aging-related diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disorders and type 2 diabetes, are associated with defects in protein synthesis and folding. In a new study, researchers at the University of Michigan found that mitochondria also accumulate misfolded proteins, which kills insulin-producing β-cells of patients with type 2 diabetes.
Health Lab
How do spaceflights and long term planetary missions affect vision?
Joshua Ong, M.D., resident physician at University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center answers questions about how spaceflight affects vision and what protective measures astronauts use.