IRP Discoveries

Exercise Releases Brain-Healthy Protein

Reblogged from the NIH Director's Blog.

Five images of different exercise activities

We all know that exercise is important for a strong and healthy body. Less appreciated is that exercise seems also to be important for a strong and healthy mind, boosting memory and learning, while possibly delaying age-related cognitive decline. How is this so? Researchers have assembled a growing body of evidence that suggests skeletal muscle cells secrete proteins and other factors into the blood during exercise that have a regenerative effect on the brain.

Caffeine's Fine Line Between Cognition and Addiction

A1RP

Research suggests that two-thirds of U.S. adults drink two or more cups of coffee a day. There are multiple reasons for this, likely because coffee has multiple effects on the body. Consider the standard morning scenario for many people.

Taking a “Moonshot” at Cancer

In his recent State of the Union address, President Barack Obama called America to action and asserted that our researchers can find the cure for cancer, a sentiment that received a standing ovation. We believe that Obama is right.

Statisticians Seek Improved Biomarker Utility

When you hear “biomarker,” what is the first thing that comes to mind? BRCA1? Fluorescently labeled G-proteins? Those are two well-known examples, but biomarkers (short for “biological markers”) are actually a much broader group of biological signs than just genetic or cellular traits.

Danping Liu and Aiyi Liu

Interdisciplinary Approaches to Addiction Research

By bringing together researchers from different disciplines, the IRP tackles some of the biggest questions in science from multiple angles. Here are just a few examples of the many diverse approaches that Intramural scientists take to better understand addiction.