Kelly Malcom
Lead Research Communicator
Malcom is a lead research communicator for Michigan Medicine and research communications strategist for the U-M Medical School, with more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications, marketing, and health and science writing. She covers the basic science departments, pulmonary and critical care medicine, infectious disease, pathology and anesthesiology. Contact: [email protected]
Health Lab
Mutations attracted to the X chromosome amplify disease risk
Researchers have discovered that the human X chromosome attracts an unusual kind of DNA mutation, potentially doubling the associated risk of certain genetic disorders, including haemophilia and muscular dystrophy.
Health Lab
Lung health expert weighs in on Zyn and other nicotine pouches
Michigan Medicine’s MeiLan Han, M.D., provides her professional and medical thoughts on the use of nicotine pouches.
Health Lab
CRISPR acts as commander-in-chief for backup defenses in bacteria
A new study uncovers a previously underrecognized feature of the type I CRISPR-Cas system in the bacteria Neisseria: the presence of additional embedded innate immunity genes.
Health Lab
Scientists discover that bacteria use an understudied polymer found in all life to protect cell functions during stress
New study discovers that polyphosphate, a molecule that exists in all lifeforms but has to date been hard to study, could be a fundamental element worth exploring, say Michigan Medicine researchers.
Health Lab
New algorithmic tool enables to scientists to see cells “talk” to one another
A new U-M study, featured in Nature Genetics, details a technique to infer cell-cell communication using spatial transcriptomics
Health Lab
The Y chromosome is home to surprising jumping genes
Researchers at Michigan Medicine are studying deer mice to outline how the Y chromosome defends itself against decay by acquiring gene families while holding its own to maintain fertility.
Health Lab
Supplementing with peptides: Good for extra pep or a needless step?
Health Lab talks to Jorge Ruas, Ph.D., of the U-M Department of Pharmacology, about peptides, how they work and whether supplementing them lends any benefit.
Health Lab
New study reveals a missing step in a weight control pathway that could be targeted for obesity treatment
New research led by Liangyou Rui, Ph.D., of the Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology at the University of Michigan Medical School outlines a missing step in one of these alternative pathways, an important discovery in the fight against obesity.
Health Lab
Hantavirus: Do we need to worry about this rare infection?
Emily Abdoler's message to the public about hantavirus is to not panic–and to acknowledge that public health is vital to managing the ever-present threat posed by communicable diseases.
Health Lab
New study hints at cause of pachyonychia congenita and a long-awaited potential treatment
New University of Michigan-led offers much needed answers about a specific protein, called keratin 16 (K16), implicated in pachyonychia congenita and other skin conditions.
Health Lab
New study hints at the cause of a painful skin condition—and at a long-awaited potential treatment
New University of Michigan-led research from the lab of Pierre Coulombe, Ph.D. offers much needed answers about a specific protein, called keratin 16 (K16), implicated in pachyonychia congenita (PC) and other skin conditions.
Health Lab
Surviving sepsis: New guidelines harness life saving evidence for treating adults
An updated clinical guideline for treating sepsis in adults emphasizes pre-hospital care and judicious use of antibiotics and antifungals
Health Lab
Post-operative prescription-fill patterns differ amongst patients on high dose opioids
A team at University of Michigan Medical School noted a lack of evidence around prescription practices for patients who come to surgery on high doses of opioids for chronic conditions.
Health Lab
Researchers uncover why a rare disease resulting in abnormal fat loss can also lead to diabetes
With help of patients with FPLD2, a research team has finally found some answers to why familial partial lipodystrophy can lead to diabetes and metabolic disease.
Health Lab
An upgrade to U-M developed tech enables researchers to see even finer transcription detail inside cells
A technology developed at University of Michigan called Seq-Scope revolutionized the ability to map gene activity within intact tissue at microscopic resolution, enabling researchers to measure all expressed mRNA molecules and determine precisely where they are located within the tissue, using an Illumina sequencer machine. The team behind the Seq-Scope method has recently taken the technology even further. Their findings are described in Nature Communications.
