University of Arizona Health Sciences

$4.5M NIDA grant will fund research to improve methadone treatment quality New clinical trial aims to reduce work-related trauma and traumatic stress symptoms among methadone treatment staff to improve treatment quality and patient retention.

Beth Meyerson (@bethmeyerson.bsky.social) is leading a national clinical trial to improve methadone treatment quality. By reducing clinic staff stress, the study aims to boost patient retention and expand access to life-saving care. More: tinyurl.com/bzfd5eyv

Anemia drug could have new life in treating nerve injuries University of Arizona orthopedic researchers showed how a drug that boosts red blood cells in people with anemia can help quicken the pace of healing nerve injuries in mice.

A drug used to treat anemia might hold the key to better nerve healing. U of A researchers found that erythropoietin speeds up recovery from nerve crush injuries in mice by helping cells clean up damage and rebuild protective coverings. More: tinyurl.com/2tyh6sn7

Heat and toxic exposures could harm kidneys in agricultural workers New findings published in the journal Environmental Research underscore the potential health risks of heat exposure and the need for safety precautions.

Farm workers in extreme heat are facing more than dehydration. U of A researchers studied a group of farm workers over a summer and found that high levels of arsenic, cadmium and chromium in the urine were linked to increased signs of kidney injury. More: tinyurl.com/3w66cye5

U of A’s new bachelor’s degree in Medical Device Development and Application starts spring 2026. It’s designed to meet biotech workforce needs with real-world training in medicine, engineering, business and law. More: bit.ly/43M5s0E @UAZMedTucson

The @AZRegents approved a three-year MD program at @UAZMedTucson and @UAZMedPhx. It is designed to meet Arizona’s growing need for primary care doctors by allowing students to graduate and enter residency training a year earlier than traditional programs. bit.ly/45nlgYW

Smart sensors and smarter health: How AI and wearables are reimagining preventive health care University of Arizona Health Sciences researchers are harnessing artificial intelligence and wearable tech to forecast labor, detect stress, and transform how we monitor our health—before symptoms app...

Researchers are using artificial intelligence and wearable technology to improve human health. A collaborative team is developing tools that can predict health changes before symptoms appear. More: bit.ly/4jEyHHh

$2.4M grant will fund imaging for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy U of A Cancer Center researchers hope to image nerve endings and create objective, quantitative biomarkers for CIPN, leading to better treatment and prevention opportunities.

Researchers at @UAZCancer received a $2.4 million grant from @theNCI grant to develop a noninvasive, confocal microscope to examine nerve endings of cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. More: bit.ly/3Zu22NF

@uarizonabme.bsky.social

Researchers identify drug candidate for difficult-to-treat heart disease College of Medicine – Tucson researchers found a way to potentially reverse heart failure with preserved ejection fracture.

Researchers at @UAZMedTucson identified a compound that may reverse the progression of HFpEF, a form of heart failure linked to stiff heart muscle. The study, published in Cell Metabolism, showed how sugar byproducts drive the disease. More: bit.ly/3Z44ZUK

College of Medicine – Phoenix celebrates Class of 2025

Led by a bagpipe and drum corps, @UAZMedPhx Class of 2025, walked in a procession through downtown Phoenix into their convocation ceremony at the Orpheum Theatre on May 12. More photos: bit.ly/45e4viG

@UAZMedTucson proudly graduated over 100 new physicians during its 2025 spring convocation at Centennial Hall. More photos: bit.ly/3SMvcU9

Celebrating the Coit College of Pharmacy’s Class of 2025

On May 16, @UAZPharmacy celebrated the Class of 2025. More photos: bit.ly/4dreAec

Zuckerman College of Public Health celebrates Class of 2025

About 200 @UAZPublicHealth graduates celebrated the successful conclusion of their programs in front of family, friends and faculty. More Photos: bit.ly/3YUzs7O

Children on the United States side of the border are four times more likely to develop asthma than those in Mexico. Researchers hope to uncover the reason through the Binational Early Asthma and Microbiome Study, or BEAMS. Learn more: bit.ly/4cByhja

What is drug-to-drug interaction? Todd Vanderah, PhD, director of the U of A Health Sciences Center for Pain & Addiction, explains why you need to understand drug interactions with cannabis.
Watch: youtu.be/HK2JSpNZfG0
If you have any questions, always talk to your physician and/or your pharmacist.

Should I talk to my doctor about cannabis? Pain management physician Mohab Ibrahim, MD, PhD, answers some important questions about the doctor-patient relationship when it comes to talking about cannabis.

Considering talking to your doctor about cannabis? Gain expert advice from Mohab Ibrahim, MD, PhD, medical director of the Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction at the University of Arizona Health Sciences. Find out why open communication is key: bit.ly/3xJttYz

Super fun evening at the UA Department of Medicine SOAR Research Forum. So proud of all the Stern Lab trainees presenting! @uazhealthsciences.bsky.social @uazbio5.bsky.social

Rick G. Schnellmann earns career achievement award

Rick G. Schnellmann, PhD, dean of the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy and the Howard J. Schaeffer Endowed Chair in Pharmaceutical Sciences, received the Career Achievement Award from the Mechanisms Specialty Section of the Society of Toxicology. More: bit.ly/4cVGHly

College of Pharmacy holds class of ’26 white coat ceremony

On April 4, the U of A College of Pharmacy class of 2026 celebrated its transition from academic coursework to advanced clinical training during the annual white coat ceremony at Centennial Hall. More photos: bit.ly/3XUX5N4

New center is at the forefront of biomedical education The College of Medicine – Tucson’s Comprehensive Education Center ensures support for undergraduate programs that will meet 21st century health care needs.

The College of Medicine – Tucson’s Comprehensive Education Center (CEC) supports students across all three of the college’s undergraduate programs, helping to meet the health care needs of Arizona and the nation. More: bit.ly/4lvsgZl

Improving veterans’ health through biomedical innovation, AI and implementation science Dr. Sai Parthasarathy testified in front of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs about the need to turn biomedical advances into clinical solutions.

Sairam Parthasarathy, MD, testified in front of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs about the need to turn biomedical advances into clinical solutions. Read more in his Q&A: bit.ly/42Dg4OI

Ready or not, AI is in your classroom Faculty are experimenting with ways to include artificial intelligence in their curriculum and allowing students to use AI platforms in their work.

Ready or not, AI is here to stay. Health Sciences educators are using AI to enhance learning for today’s students. Learn more: bit.ly/3FzLsVd

Immunotherapy may have potential as prostate cancer treatment, study shows - The Cancer Letter A study by University of Arizona Health Sciences researchers found that an immunotherapy previously shown to be ineffective against prostate cancer may have therapeutic potential when combined with a synergistic treatment approach. To access this subscriber-only content please log in or subscribe.If your institution has a site license, log in with IP-login or register for […]

Immunotherapy may have potential as prostate cancer treatment, study shows (research by @uazhealthsciences.bsky.social).
https://cancerletter.com/clinical-roundup/20250307_11d/

Check out this new #PhysiologyShort featuring Tally M. Largent-Milnes of @uazhealthsciences.bsky.social discussing research into the inhibition of diacylglycerol lipase α-induced blood–brain barrier breach 🧠 📢

📹 www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZE_...
📜 physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/...

@UAZMedTucson and @UAZMedPhx fourth-year medical students ripped open their envelopes at exactly 9 a.m. on March 21 to find out where they were matched for their upcoming residencies in their chosen specialties. More photos: bit.ly/4kHvBnT #Match2025 #MatchDay

$1.2M grant will fund study on neighborhood environment’s possible role in cancer risk A grant from the American Cancer Society will allow researchers to develop a comprehensive picture of the factors that may contribute to increased cancer risk in some neighborhoods.

Chris Lim, PhD, an assistant professor of environmental health sciences at the @UAZPublicHealth received a $1.2 million grant from the American Cancer Society to evaluate potential links between the neighborhood environment and cancer risk. More: bit.ly/3FBSd90

Match Day packs extra meaning for 2 Health Sciences families The Rubins and Chartrands will have added interest in the annual unveiling of residency matches on Friday.

A special #MatchDay2025 for Geoffrey Rubin, MD, MBA, and Kate Chartrand! Rubin will watch his daughter match into radiology, while Chartrand celebrates her husband ophthalmology match at UC Davis. More: bit.ly/3Y2zgmj @UAZMedTucson @UAZMedPhx

Cannabis terpenes offer potential new way to treat fibromyalgia pain A recently completed study found that certain terpenes in Cannabis sativa are effective at relieving post-surgical and fibromyalgia pain in preclinical models.

A recent study led by @UAZCCPA member John Streicher, PhD, found that cannabis terpenes may be effective at relieving post-surgical and fibromyalgia pain. The research was published in Pharmacological Reports. More: bit.ly/3DPxQEV

Regents approve U of A bachelor’s program in Medical Pharmacology and Toxicology The new undergraduate degree at the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy will prepare students to work in emerging areas of research and discovery across STEM fields.

The @AZRegents approved a new Bachelor of Science in Medical Pharmacology and Toxicology degree to be offered through the @UAZPharmacy starting in the fall of 2025. The program directly supports ABOR’s AZ Healthy Tomorrow initiative. More: bit.ly/41wNdeA

Common drug shows promise against rare type of heart disease An FDA-approved osteoporosis treatment might nudge a mutated protein back into shape and improve heart function, according to a study by University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson researchers.

An FDA-approved osteoporosis treatment might nudge a mutated protein back into shape and improve heart function, according to a study by @UAZMedTucson researchers. The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. More: bit.ly/3CTEU2U @heshamasadek @UAZHeart

Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science! Today, we’re honoring the incredible women at the University of Arizona Health Sciences who are leading groundbreaking research, shaping the future of health care, and inspiring the next generation of female scientists.