The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

09/01/2026

How does JC polyomavirus evade the immune system?

New research involving Walter Atwood, chair of molecular biology, cell biology, and biochemistry at the Warren Alpert Medical School, sheds light on how mutations in the virus can alter antibody recognition and help it evade an immune response.

The findings, published in PNAS, identify mechanisms that could inform the development of new approaches to preventing and treating infections with JC polyomavirus — including progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a severe and often fatal disease in people with compromised immune systems.

Atwood’s team also found that one antibody could protect cells against both JC and BK polyomaviruses, pointing toward the potential for therapies or vaccines that target both viruses.

Read more about the research: https://ow.ly/Y0S250ZGJKb

09/01/2026

⚽️🌱 A piece of World Cup history is getting a little help from Brown science.

When the Cape Verdean Museum received a piece of turf from the spot where Sidny Lopes Cabral scored his historic equalizer against Argentina, Brown Herbarium scientists stepped in to preserve it — grass, dirt and all.

See how Brown’s biologists and Earth scientists turned an unusual preservation challenge into a lasting piece of Cape Verdean history. 👇

When the director of the Cape Verdean Museum in Rhode Island received a souvenir piece of turf from one of the tournament’s most memorable games, he knew just who to call.

08/31/2026

Could a medication best known for treating erectile dysfunction have a role in preventive health?

Tadalafil, better known as Cialis, is attracting attention in longevity circles for its potential cardiovascular benefits. But the science is still evolving—and experts caution that observational studies don’t prove the drug extends life.

Martha Miner, clinical professor of surgery and of family medicine, is helping advance the conversation around how tadalafil might fit into preventive health.

Miner, who directs the Men's Health Center at Brown, spoke with NPR about the emerging evidence and why some physicians are considering tadalafil for certain men at elevated cardiovascular risk.

Read the story for a closer look at what researchers know, what they don’t and where the science may go next.

In some wellness circles, tadalafil is promoted as a longevity drug. There is evidence showing a link between it and a lower risk of death in men, but there are no well-controlled trials in humans.

08/31/2026

What happens in the brain when something surprises us? 👁️🧠

New research led by Matt Nassar, associate professor of neuroscience, finds that moments of surprise trigger rapid changes in physical alertness—including pupil dilation—that help the brain adapt to new information.

The findings suggest these brief shifts in arousal can reduce the influence of prior expectations, sharpen perception and help us learn more effectively when circumstances change.

The work offers new insight into the neural mechanisms underlying attention, learning, decision-making and cognitive flexibility.

Read more about Nassar’s study and what pupil dilation can reveal about how the brain responds to surprise.

New research shows pupil dilation signals brain changes that help you adapt, learn faster, and reduce bias in surprising situations.

08/28/2026

Dementia risk doesn’t look the same everywhere.

Zachary Kunicki MPH’19, assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior, served as co-first author on a study of 214,000+ older adults across 14 countries and regions.

The findings reveal striking geographic differences in modifiable dementia risk factors—and suggest prevention strategies may need to be tailored to individual populations.

Read more: https://www.futura-sciences.com/en/dementia-risk-isnt-universal-44-9-of-older-americans-have-this-one-factor-vs-13-3-in-india_37688/

A new USC-led study involving more than 214,000 older adults across 14 countries and regions found striking geographic differences in several modifiable dementia risk factors, including limited education, high blood pressure, and smoking. The findings suggest that relying on one universal dementia p...

08/28/2026

A first for Rhode Island. 🩺

Joseph Gil RES’18, associate professor of orthopaedics, has become the first surgeon in Rhode Island to perform a thumb joint replacement using TOUCH CMC 1, a prosthesis recently approved by the FDA.

The implant offers another treatment option for people living with painful thumb arthritis — with the goal of reducing pain and restoring function.

Read more about this milestone in Providence Business News.

PROVIDENCE – A University Orthopedics Inc. surgeon has become the first in Rhode Island to perform a thumb joint replacement using TOUCH CMC 1, a prothesis recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Joseph A. Gil performed the replacement in August at Rhode Island Hospital. Kn...

08/27/2026

More Americans under 55 are dying from heart attacks, according to new data.

Susan McIlvaine, assistant professor of medicine, discussed what the findings mean and the warning signs everyone should know in a recent WPRI 12 interview.

Watch the full interview.

New data shows more Americans under the age of 55 are dying from heart attacks.

08/27/2026

Why are Rhode Island’s emergency departments so crowded?

Emily Shearer, assistant professor of emergency medicine, spoke with Ocean State Media about the challenges facing the state’s healthcare system, including ER crowding, primary care access and the healthcare workforce.

Read the full conversation with Dr. Shearer.

Emergency medicine physician Dr. Emily Shearer explains the pressures straining the state’s healthcare system — and where she sees reasons for optimism

08/26/2026

🌱 Gardening can be good for more than your garden.

In a new Vox story about the health benefits of gardening, Dannie Ritchie MPH’03, clinical assistant professor of family medicine, shares how getting outside, working with your hands and connecting with others can support well-being.

Ritchie helped establish a community garden in Providence and describes gardening as “life-affirming” — a chance to breathe, listen, move and connect with the living world around you.

And you don’t need a big backyard to get started. A few seeds, some soil and a willingness to learn can be enough.

🌿 Read the story and get inspired to grow something of your own.

This story was originally published in The Highlight, Vox’s member-exclusive magazine. To get early access to member-exclusive stories every month, join the

08/26/2026

Freud may no longer occupy the place he once did in psychiatry, but his influence on the field is still worth examining.

In a new Boston Globe opinion piece exploring Freud’s legacy and the debate over psychoanalysis in modern psychiatry, Peter Kramer, clinical professor emeritus of psychiatry and human behavior, offers his perspective on what remains useful in Freud’s work — and what does not.

Kramer, author of Listening to Prozac, reflects on the Freudian concepts that have endured, including defenses such as denial and projection, while questioning the usefulness of classical psychoanalysis.

Read the opinion piece: “No one respects Freud anymore. Is that a mistake?”

A new book argues that psychoanalysis, no longer in fashion, is superior to drugs.