University of Massachusetts

06/16/2026

How much carbon do Massachusetts wetlands absorb, and how much do they release?

Researchers at the Massachusetts Geological Survey at UMass Amherst are working to answer that question with nearly $500,000 in funding from the Healey-Driscoll administration.

Measuring carbon exchange is essential to establishing a statewide baseline, providing the data needed to better understand the role wetlands play in carbon storage and informing decisions about future investments in wetland protection and restoration.

The project will track how carbon moves through wetland ecosystems across Massachusetts, gathering critical information to support conservation and climate resilience efforts.

In collaboration with researchers at Boston University, the team will also develop predictive tools to help guide decision-making for both natural wetlands and managed systems, including cranberry bogs.

Learn more about this initiative: https://bit.ly/4vWJWSc

The project will develop a Massachusetts-specific baseline to determine how much carbon wetlands absorb and release.

06/15/2026

Researchers at UMass Chan Medical School have developed a gene-silencing therapy for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide.

The therapy could one day reduce treatment from monthly eye injections to just once or twice a year, while helping slow or pause vision decline. By targeting key disease pathways in retinal cells, it shows promise for improving long-term eye health and quality of life for millions of patients.

As the research advances toward clinical application through Trinetra Therapeutics, it represents an important step forward in RNA-based medicine.

Read more about this research:

The siRNA-based therapy specifically targets photoreceptor cells in the eye, halting disease progression for six months to a year.

06/12/2026

A new outdoor education and research facility will be named the Ann-Margaret Ferrante Living Lab for Marine Science and Education after the late legislator.

06/11/2026

UMass Amherst food scientists have developed a fast, reliable method for detecting bacterial contamination using smartphone-based technology.

The system, called BactiSee, is based on more than a decade of research at UMass Amherst and has been spun off into a company called HertZ Innovation, Inc., which is working to bring it to market.

Instead of requiring one to two days for laboratory results, BactiSee delivers findings in approximately five minutes through a mobile imaging system that enables rapid assessment of surface cleanliness.

The innovation aims to support faster, more reliable sanitation decisions in environments where hygiene is critical.

UMass Food Science

06/10/2026

Comedian and car enthusiast Jay Leno is supporting UMass Lowell students through a special online auction offering a tour of his famous Big Dog Garage in Burbank, California.

The auction is open until June 12, and proceeds will benefit the Dorsey Memorial Scholarship at UMass Lowell, which supports physical therapy students and honors Dr. Frank Dorsey, founder of the university’s physical therapy program, during its 50th anniversary year.

Leno has supported education-focused causes through similar garage tours for more than 30 years, with proceeds benefiting a range of charitable initiatives. Jay Leno's Garage

Learn more:

Auction Proceeds Will Support Scholarships for the University’s Physical Therapy Students Image by Courtesy Jay Leno will provide one lucky winner the chance to meet him and tour his Big Dog Garage to benefit UMass Lowell. 06/04/2026 Media Contacts: David Joyner, executive director of communicatio...

06/10/2026

From artificial intelligence to quantum computing to energy, the 2026 honorees are on the cutting edge of the region's technology industries.

06/08/2026

The two main criteria for inclusion on WBJ’s Power 100 are: How much power does a Central Massachusetts professional hold, and how do they use it?

06/08/2026

Congratulations to UMass Boston Professor Katherine Dafforn, co-founder of the Living Seawalls project, for being named a 2026 Boston Climate Leader.

Through Living Seawalls, Dafforn helped pioneer an innovative approach to coastal resilience using 3D-printed concrete panels that create habitat for marine life along existing seawalls in Boston Harbor. This award recognizes her role in advancing a groundbreaking solution that is improving biodiversity while helping communities adapt to a changing climate.

Thanks to Dafforn, the UMass Boston Stone Living Lab, and their collaborators, Boston became the first city in North America to install Living Seawalls in Boston Harbor in 2024.

Learn more about her award-winning work:

Katherine Dafforn, a distinguished professor at UMass Boston and co-founder of the Living Seawalls project, was presented with the Boston Innovation Award on April 28 at a ceremony hosted by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston’s Environmental Department.

06/05/2026

More Massachusetts high school students will have access to Early College opportunities thanks to the Healey-Driscoll Administration's latest expansion. Students will be able to earn college credits, explore future careers, and experience college-level learning before they graduate.

We're proud that UMass Early College is helping make these opportunities possible through partnerships with schools across the Commonwealth. By giving students a head start on their college journey, we're helping make higher education more accessible, affordable, and within reach for more Massachusetts families.

Read more about the Healey-Driscoll Administration's Early College expansion:

29 new partnerships approved, more than 12,000 high school students to participate in Early College in 2026-27 school year

06/05/2026