Under the microscope
CALS research
Digital cadavers
The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise purchased a new anatomage table that enhances traditional anatomy instruction with modern computer and imaging capabilities. Using real medical imaging scans, the table provides a look inside the human body, a look that is unmatched by cadavers or textbooks. The technology helps students grasp the spatial relationships of anatomy and the locations of hard-to-identify structures.
George Washington Carver fellows
Dez-Ann Sutherland, a George Washington Carver Assistantship fellow and animal and poultry sciences doctoral student, co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications, engaged in collaborative research, and pursued a study abroad opportunity in Sweden. The Carver program enables underrepresented students to pursue graduate degrees and provides a nurturing environment of financial, academic, sociological, and psychological support.
Computer simulation to understand Alzheimer's
A biochemistry research team has discovered insights into the stabilizing forces of amyloid fibrils that are associated with Alzheimer's disease and Type 2 diabetes. The research focuses on applying computer simulations to understand mechanisms of protein aggregation that are difficult or even impossible to re-create in a laboratory setting.
Man’s best friend benefits from $1.7 million grant
Erica Feuerbacher, an assistant professor of animal and poultry sciences, is an expert in anthrozoology, the study of human-animal bonding. She recently received part of a $1.7 million grant to evaluate and help improve pet-fostering programs at animal shelters.
Milk protein alleviates chemotherapy side effects
Susan Duncan, associate director of the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station and a professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology, and graduate student Aili Wang discovered that lactoferrin, a protein found in milk, may bring relief to cancer patients who lose their sense of taste and smell when undergoing chemotherapy.
Spot the spotted lanternfly?
Agricultural Research and Extension Center researchers and Virginia Cooperative Extension agents are tracking the invasive spotted lanternfly and developing ways to fight the bug responsible for the destruction of agricultural crops along the East Coast.