Latest news with #UTDallas
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
UT Dallas breakthrough medical study could revolutionize spinal cord recovery
The Brief Researchers at UT Dallas have miniaturized an implantable device for spinal cord injury recovery. Paired with physical therapy, the device has shown significant improvement, with potential even for patients injured decades ago. The breakthrough challenges long-held medical beliefs, offering new hope for those with chronic spinal cord injuries to their neck. DALLAS - Researchers at UT Dallas say they've made a historic breakthrough in spinal cord injury recovery with a recent implant study. According to a Nature paper released on Wednesday by the researchers, a minuscule new implantable device paired with physical therapy has achieved significant recovery in clinical trial patients, including one 45 years post-injury. The groundbreaking technology is the next generation of Vagus Nerve Stimuli (VNS), which the UT Dallas Nature study says is 50 times smaller than traditional devices. The tiny implantable device, pictured below sitting on a penny, is used for a neurorehabilitation process called "Closed-Loop Vagus Nerve Stimulation," or CLV. The first in-human study of the treatment took place in North Texas. The researchers say their new VNS, when used in tandem with targeted physical therapy, led to significant recovery of hand and arm function in people with chronic spinal cord injuries in their neck. One participant included in the study sustained their injury over 45 years ago, they say. Participants in the study who received the miniaturized VNS were reportedly found to have a dose-dependent improvement in their recovery, meaning the more therapy given, the better. In addition, the researchers have found no ceiling to the recovery potential. The paper says clinical measures in the trial also improved identically to real-world function for the participants. Why you should care According to a Wednesday release from Dr. Jane G. Wigginton, emergency medicine physician and Chief Medical Officer for the Texas Biomedical Device Center at the University of Texas at Dallas, the discoveries laid out in the new paper challenge long-held medical beliefs. Wigginton says the study's findings show that recovery is possible for spinal cord injury patients even decades after losing motor function; a discovery that defies "medical dogma." Wigginton notes the North Texas achievement is a scientific success and a beacon of hope for patients all over the world. What they're saying "We're not just seeing gains on clinical tests — we're seeing patients fasten their own necklaces, zip jackets in seconds instead of minutes, and throw balls for their dogs again. These are the moments that change lives," Wigginton said. The Source Information in this article came from a UT Dallas Nature paper and UT Dallas' Dr. Jane Wigginton.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Say Shock Collar-Like Device Can Treat PTSD
Using a device that vaguely functions like a shock collar, researchers say they have found a promising way to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Neuroscientists at the University of Texas at Dallas and Baylor have developed a tiny chip that, when fitted inside a soft collar and placed just over the vagus nerve — a brain stem cluster that controls bodily functions like heart rate, digestion, immunity, and mood — elicits mild electric impulses that can help ease PTSD symptoms. The underlying concept behind vagus nerve stimulation, or VNS, is intriguing. Scientists believe that stimulating the nerve can help one's brain adapt and change on a neurological level. For years now, VNS has been used to treat everything from epilepsy and depression to sleep deprivation and tinnitus. Today, there are even handheld VNS devices on the market that allow people to mildly zap their brains at home. This new experimental treatment, however, diverges from prior VNS applications because it not only involves hyper-targeted nerve stimulation, but also works in tandem with a traditional talk therapy method known as "prolonged exposure therapy" or PET, in which PTSD survivors confront their traumatic memories in hopes of getting past them. In phase 1 trials, the Texan neurological researchers had nine patients complete a total of 12 sessions involving both vagus nerve stimulation and prolonged exposure therapy. After those sessions concluded, the patients went to four check-ins over a period of six months — and remarkably, all of their PTSD symptoms were gone by the end. In the school's press release, UT Dallas neuroscience professor and study leader Michael Kilgard said the results were "very promising" — despite a very small sample size. "In a trial like this, some subjects usually do get better, but rarely do they lose their PTSD diagnosis," Kilgard, who also co-authored a recent paper on the trial for the journal Brain Stimulation, said. "Typically, the majority will have this diagnosis for the rest of their lives. In this case, we had 100 percent loss of diagnosis." This advance in PTSD treatment could, according to Baylor clinical psychologist and paper coauthor Mark Powers, completely change the game. A veteran VNS researcher, Powers has seen the technology "dramatically" change his work on psychological trauma — and this latest study drives home how revolutionary it can be. "Our gold-standard treatments for PTSD have about an 85 percent response rate, with 40 percent no longer having their diagnosis, and a 20 percent dropout rate," the psychologist said. "Soon we could have the option of VNS for people who don't get better with cognitive behavioral therapy alone." More on brains: Scientists Scanned the Brains of Authoritarians and Found Something Weird
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Grand jury indicts 14 UT Dallas pro-Palestinian protesters, 7 have charges dismissed
The Brief 14 of the 21 people arrested last May after a pro-Palestinian protest on the UT Dallas campus have been indicted. They're now facing a misdemeanor charge of obstruction of a passageway. Charges were dropped against 7 of the people who were arrested. RICHARDSON, Texas - A Collin County grand jury indicted more than a dozen people because of last year's pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas at Dallas. What we know The grand jury decided to charge 14 of the 21 people who were arrested in May. Prosecutors said they built an encampment with tents, tarps, wooden structures, tires, chains, and other materials on the UTD campus. The university asked them to remove the structures because they were blocking pedestrian walkways. Some protesters refused to clear the area and instead locked arms. They were arrested for criminal trespassing. After reviewing the evidence, the grand jury charged them with obstruction of a passageway, which is a Class B misdemeanor. All charges were dropped against seven of the protesters. What they're saying "Free speech is protected. Blocking access and refusing lawful commands is not," said District Attorney Greg Willis. "These charges reflect that a clear line exists between protest and unlawful disruption." What we don't know The DA's office didn't release information about why some of the charges were dismissed. The Source The information in this story comes from the Collin County District Attorney's Office.
CBS News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Grand jury indicts 14 for pro-Palestinian encampment, protest at UT Dallas
A Collin County grand jury returned indictments for 14 people in connection with last year's pro-Palestinian protest and encampment at UT Dallas. According to District Attorney Greg Willis, the 14 people were indicted for obstruction of a passageway, which is a class B misdemeanor. Seven others who were arrested following the May 1, 2024, protest were no-billed, meaning they will not be prosecuted. Class B misdemeanors in Texas carry a maximum sentence of 180 days in jail and a $10,000 fine. The protest at UT Dallas was one of many that cropped up nationwide last year as students protested Israeli military action in Gaza. Among the students' demands was for the university to divest from corporations that do business with the Israeli military. The encampment at UT Dallas on May 1, 2024 CBS News Texas/Jason Allen At the protests, come students set up barriers like wooden pallets to block a walkway on campus. The district attorney's office said that university officials instructed the protesters to remove the encampment, and law enforcement moved in when some protesters refused. "While many individuals complied and left the area, a group of 14 protesters sat down in an outward-facing circle, locked arms, and refused repeated commands to clear the walkway. Officers arrested 21 individuals for Criminal Trespass, a misdemeanor offense under Texas law," the district attorney's office said in a statement.
Sharjah 24
20-02-2025
- Business
- Sharjah 24
AUS teams up with UT Dallas for 4+1 Engineering Programme
Earning dual degrees in just five years The agreement allows students in the AUS College of Engineering (CEN) to earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree in just five years, rather than the traditional six or more, from the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at UT Dallas. Eligible AUS students will complete their undergraduate studies at AUS and then transition to UT Dallas to pursue a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering, provided they meet all degree requirements. Scholarships and financial support Students accepted into the graduate programs at UT Dallas are eligible to apply for scholarships, providing additional financial support as they advance in their academic and professional careers. Commitment to academic growth and global competitiveness Dr Moahmed El-Tarhuni, Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost, emphasized the commitment to offering transformative opportunities through the partnership with UT Dallas. 'This partnership shows our dedication to providing pathways that enhance both academic growth and global competitiveness, ensuring our students are well-prepared for leadership in the evolving world of engineering and technology.' Focus on research, exchange, and global education The agreement also focuses on research and development training, with the potential for exchange and study abroad programs. This aligns with AUS's mission to provide globally recognized educational opportunities and prepare students to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. UT Dallas' prestigious ranking and future collaboration UT Dallas is ranked among the top 55 higher education institutions in the U.S. and third in Texas, according to the U.S. News Best Colleges Ranking 2025. Dr. Fadi Aloul, Dean of the College of Engineering at AUS, noted, 'Our collaboration with UT Dallas offers students the opportunity to gain international academic experience, save time and tuition costs, and enhance their career prospects by fast-tracking their graduate education.' Expanding the 4+1 Programme partnership With this partnership, CEN now has three 4+1 programme agreements with prestigious institutions, further demonstrating its commitment to equipping students with the skills, knowledge, and global experience necessary to lead in the fast-evolving fields of engineering and technology. For more information on AUS academic programs, visit
