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]
News Release
$10 million NIH-award establishes new U-M center to study genomics of infectious disease pathogens
A new NIH award will establish the Michigan Infectious Disease Genomics (MIDGE) Center, the goal of which is to use whole genome sequencing and functional genomic assays to determine how genetic differences among strains or isolates affect the behavior, transmission, and drug resistance of viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens.
Health Lab
Circadian rhythm drives the release of important immune cells
A study shows circadian rhythm drives the release of important immune cells in the body.
Health Lab
Studies uncover the critical role of sleep in the formation of memories
Two new studies from University of Michigan reveal what's happening inside the brain during sleep and sleep deprivation to help or harm the formation of memories.
Health Lab
New drug could help those with CAH reduce the use of corticosteroids
Michigan Medicine researchers discover that a new drug could help those with CAH, or congenital adrenal hyperplasia, reduce the use of corticosteroids.
Health Lab
A universal heparin reversal drug is shown effective in mice
The newest version of the heparin reversal drug, described in a recent issue of Advanced Healthcare Materials, adjusted the number of protons bound to it, making the molecule less positive so it would preferentially bind to the highly negative heparin, resulting in a much safer drug.
Health Lab
Commonly used antibiotic brings more complications, death in the sickest patients
In emergency rooms and intensive care units across the country, clinicians make split-second decisions about which antibiotics to give a patient when a life threatening infection is suspected. Now, a study reveals that these decisions may have unintended consequences for patient outcomes.
Health Lab
Too much iron can cause big problems for the immune system
A study builds on previous work that found depriving T cells of iron prevented cells from proliferating. The current study, published in PNAS, found that excess iron is just as problematic.
Health Lab
How E. coli get the power to cause urinary tract infections
Research published in PNAS examines how the bacteria Escherichia coli, or E. coli—responsible for most UTIs—is able to use host nutrients to reproduce at an extraordinarily rapid pace during infection despite the near sterile environment of fresh urine.
Health Lab
More oversight of donated tissue products urgently needed, say experts and Michigan policymakers
A JAMA viewpoint outlines the tragic story of Shandra Eisenga, a patient who received spine surgery for back pain only to inexplicably contract tuberculosis.
Health Lab
Data shows medical marijuana use decreased in states where recreational use became legal
Data on medical cannabis use found that enrollment in medical cannabis programs increased overall between 2016 and 2022, but enrollment in states where nonmedical use of cannabis became legal saw a decrease in enrollment
Health Lab
Study reveals potential to reverse lung fibrosis using the body’s own healing technique
A recent U-M study uncovers a pathway utilized during normal wound healing that has the potential to reverse idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Health Lab
An updated rat reference provides more accuracy for research
An updated rat reference provides more accuracy for research; could help researchers using rat models for the study of DNA, RNA, evolution, or genes linked to disease risks
Health Lab
Discovery reveals how this common stinky gas is processed to promote blood vessel growth
A new collaborative study, examined the interaction between three naturally occurring gases — nitric oxide (NO), oxygen, and H2S — during generation of new blood vessels, called angiogenesis.
Research News
Teams to create one-stop resource for human pancreatic data to foster diabetes research
Leading investigators in diabetes, pancreas and islet biology, and computational biology have received $12.5 million in two five-year awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to create the world’s first, integrated knowledgebase of human-derived tissue- and cellular-level pancreatic information to support innovative, collaborative and reproducible research.
Health Lab
Fiber, genes and the gut microbiome: Study reveals possible triggers for inflammatory bowel disease
A new U-M study finds a complex interplay between diet, genes, and the gut microbiota that could explain why IBD develops.
