By mimicking cell membrane environments, new custom-designed proteins make water-repelling proteins soluble without detergents. IPD WRAPs researcher Ljubica Mihaljevic works at a lab bench at the Institute for Protein Design. Embedded in the boundary between the inside and outside of each cell are membrane proteins. They act as first responders by sensing signals, regulating which molecules enter and leave the cell, and enabling cells to quickly adapt

Researchers examine the origins, destinations and behavioral effects of rotating waves of neural activity in the brain. Steinmetz Lab 3D renderings of mouse brain show (left) an example rotating wave as a circular rainbow coloration, where color indicates wave progression and (right) spatial distribution of rotating wave centers -- brighter colors indicate more centers. Spiraling waves of neural activity appear and travel in the brain. Scientists hope to learn if these rotati

Washington DFI Observes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 15 State agency serves as “local cops on the beat” protecting people from financial fraud Olympia – Today the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) joins organizations worldwide to observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). As financial exploitation reaches record highs, state regulators and financial education partners are reaffirming their commitment to protecting senior investors from

Seattle, WA — Community members, elected officials, partners, and supporters gathered on June 5 in Rainier Beach for a soil-turning ceremony marking the start of construction on the Tubman Health Center, a 26,000-square-foot community-designed health facility years in the making. Located within walking distance of the Rainier Beach light rail station, the future site became a place of ceremony and reflection, honoring the collective effort that brought the project to this

More than 550,000 children got $120 in nutrition benefits last summer OLYMPIA—This summer, as many as 577,000 Washington children will receive SUN Bucks––funds to help buy food when school is not in session––through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program. The SUN Bucks benefits, a one-time payment of $120 per eligible child, will be deposited onto new SUN Bucks cards starting early June 2026.In December 2022, the federal government aut

A national center helps healthcare systems embrace an approach to more transparent communications with patients. FatCamera / Getty ImagesA female patient speaks with a clinician. A national center urges healthcare leaders to more proactively address hospital-based errors. A misdiagnosis. A medication dosing error. A retained foreign object after surgery. A delay that contributes to a patient’s grave injury or death. Adverse effects of medical care can be minor or catastrop

A large study suggests risk exists independent of tobacco and alcohol use. Surprisingly, no parallel vulnerability was seen in men. Oral cancers are relatively rare, and historically more common among men over 60 who have used tobacco and alcohol regularly. But rates of these cancers have been slowly rising among younger people, women in particular, who have never smoked. That trend prompted researchers to analyze whether people’s diets might play a role. Their newly publis

Analyses of electronic health records and electrocardiograms create a path to lowering incidence of the often-fatal event. Creatas Video / Getty Images A patient's electrocardiogram, or EKG, is shown on a monitor. Researchers have developed artificial intelligence (AI) models that can scrutinize electronic health records (EHR) and electrocardiograms to identify individuals in the general population at elevated risk for sudden cardiac arrest — a condition that causes more than

Q&A: Integrated care, routine screening and tailored therapies help address long COVID’s physical and emotional toll. Milan Markovic / Getty Images A man practices diaphragmatic breathing to activate the body's relaxation response, one of many strategies to help patients with long COVID manage anxiety and depression. While the pandemic era of masking and social distancing may seem a distant memory, for the estimated 15 million Americans dealing with long COVID — post-infectio

A 10th-grader explores the upsides of chronic sinusitis, including building a ‘bionic nose’ that earned science-fair recognition. UW Medicine At UW Medical Center – Montlake, where he receives care, Oliver Cho displays his invention. Meet Oliver Cho, 16. He’s an upbeat 10th grader in Bellevue, Washington. He also happens to be among the roughly 2% of U.S. children who live with chronic sinusitis, a condition driven by persistent inflammation of the sinus lining. Over time, it

In 7 U.S. states, older adults with cognitive decline affecting their daily activities are more likely to live with unsecured firearms. Milan Jovic / Getty Images An older man cleans a firearm. In the study, people ages 65 and older were surveyed about their cognitive health and their firearm storage at home. Older adults who report experiencing worsening confusion or memory loss that affects their daily activities are more likely to live in homes where firearms are not store

Health officials encourage vaccination and staying home when sick to help reduce spread OLYMPIA – Measles cases continue to increase in Washington this year, including three recent cases with no known source of exposure. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is urging people to watch for symptoms, stay home and contact their health care provider if they feel sick, and make sure they’re up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. To date, Washington

Getty Images: The Pediatric Guideline Adherence and Outcomes (PEGASUS) program for brain injuries was designed at Harborview Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center. from UW Medicine | Newsroom A study involving 16 South American hospitals has shown that a program developed at a Level I Trauma Center in the United States to promote guideline adherence can improve care of children with severe traumatic brain injury. The study appeared March 27 in the journal Critical Care

Public Health – Seattle & King County is informing the community of a confirmed measles case in a King County infant who may have exposed others to the measles virus. Public Health – Seattle & King County was notified of a confirmed measles case in a King County infant. The infant was at locations in Bellevue and Northeast Seattle and used public transit while infectious. Spread of measles can occur before people know they have the disease, before a rash appears. Please visi

April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month….. The esophagus connects your throat to your stomach. It is where what you swallow travels to your stomach. Esophageal cancer can be diagnosed anywhere in that tube. There are several forms of esophageal cancer. The type that is more prevalent in Black people is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Unfortunately, if diagnosed, the survival rate is low. Some of the symptoms include, heartburn, difficulty swallowing, weight

A survey conveys clinicians’ experiences, concerns and their lack of training to adequately care for those who seek help. Denis Borisov / Getty Images - UW Medicine | Newsroom A man holds his abdomen as he enters a bathroom. Washington state clinicians commonly reported nausea and vomiting as adverse health symptoms of cannabis use. In a survey of nearly 400 Washington state clinicians, more than half expressed strong concern about the mental-health risks of cannabis use, an

Fully optimizing electronic medical record systems mean safer, faster and more coordinated patient care, the clinical informatics leader says. FS Productions / Getty Images A nurse talks to a patient in a hospital bed while typing on a computer. UW Medicine was honored for its effective use of electronic medical records to improve patient care. UW Medicine in Seattle has earned the highest possible validation from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society

Q&A: New recommendations support diagnoses based on symptoms and imaging, and earlier treatment, says UW Medicine OB-GYN By UW Medicine Vladimir Vladimirov / Getty Images A woman holds her stomach. Abdominal pain is a common symptom of endometriosis. The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists published updated clinical guidance on endometriosis in February. The condition, which originates in the pelvis, is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can cause pain and in

Funding supports mental health care for families during and after pregnancy OLYMPIA – When people have access to mental health support during pregnancy and after birth, families are healthier and lives are saved. To help make that support easier to access, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is awarding Perinatal Mental Health Access and Capacity Building grants to community organizations across the state. The funding is provided through the Washington State Peri

Q&A: Only a fourth of psychologists advertise providing ADHD care, far below the rates for other psychiatric conditions. Psychologists are underserving adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study recently published in the Journal of Attention Disorders . Cognitive behavioral therapy, often facilitated by psychologists, and medication, are the two most effective treatments for ADHD. Insufficient access to cognitive behavioral therapy may b

February is National Cancer Prevention Month……………….. It is estimated that two million Americans were diagnosed with various types of cancer in 2024. More than 600,000 of them died. Almost half of those deaths could have been prevented. Those lives could have been saved by taking actions such as losing weight, quitting smoking, regularly exercising, and limiting sun exposure, to name a few. It is unfortunate that African Americans are disproportionately diagnosed with canc

One pint of donated blood can save up to three lives OLYMPIA – Two of the three regional blood banks serving Washington state are facing a severe blood shortage due to the lingering effects from heavy rains and floods in December, combined with a slowdown in donations. The shortage is especially bad for Type O blood and platelets, which are in high demand for emergency treatments, surgeries, and other life-saving procedures. Both Bloodworks Northwest and the American Red Cro

Telebupe Hotline brings rapid, low-barrier care to people statewide OLYMPIA – People across Washington now have an easier way to get help for opioid use disorder. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is partnering with the University of Washington (UW) to expand the Washington Telebuprenorphine (Telebupe) Hotline statewide. Washington residents can now access same-day medical treatment via phone or video no matter where they live in the state by calling 206-2