UR Health Research

01/23/2026

Nursing Home Capacity Has Dropped Since the Pandemic
One quarter of U.S. counties experienced declines in nursing home capacity of 15% or more, with the greatest declines reported in rural areas.

Nursing home operating capacity dropped by five percent between 2019 and 2024, but one quarter of U.S. counties experienced declines of 15 percent or more, with the greatest declines reported in rural areas.

01/08/2026

WCI Study: Accelerated Aging Occurs in Child, Young Adult Cancer Survivors »

Led by AnnaLynn Williams, assistant professor of Surgery in Cancer Control, in collaboration with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the research intricately links cellular aging and brain health in long-term survivors. Ongoing research is focused on whether healthy lifestyle changes can reverse premature aging and, if so, the appropriate time to intervene.

01/06/2026

Brain Immune Cells May Cause More Harm in Females with Alzheimer’s
Scientists led by M. Kerry O’Banion at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience found that microglia—special immune cells in the brain—may cause more damage in females than in males. The study, published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, looked at how these cells react to amyloid-β plaques. These plaques are sticky clumps of protein that build up in the brain during Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers discovered that female microglia turn on more genes related to interferons, which help fight viruses. This stronger response could lead to extra harm in the brain. The study also showed that this difference was not linked to changes in female hormones.

New research led by researchers at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience discovered that the immune cells in the brain, known as microglia, act differently in the male and female Alzheimer’s brain, and appear to cause residual harm in the female brain.

01/05/2026

What is perimenopause, and what should you do about the symptoms?

Dr. James Woods, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology, explains what happens with your body during perimenopause and gives tips on managing symptoms.

Perimenopause and menopause are not the same thing. Find out the differences, evidence-backed solutions to symptoms, and current research on perimenopause.

12/10/2025

Tips for keeping sledding, winter playtime injury-free

Dr. Anne Brayer, a professor of pediatrics, of emergency medicine, and at the Center for Community Health and Prevention, offers tips for keeping winter play safe for kids.

Sledding is one of the most common causes of cold-weather injuries. Remember these physician-recommended ways to make sledding and other activities safe for your children this winter season.

12/04/2025

Nathaniel Bayer: Care for Medically Complex Kids Growing More Intensive »

The associate professor of Pediatrics helped lead the study, published in JAMA Network Open, which shows sharp increases in hospitalizations, bed days, and costs for children with complex chronic conditions. This care is increasingly concentrated in urban teaching children’s hospitals, raising significant challenges for staffing, training, and Medicaid reimbursement.

The new study shows sharp increases in hospitalizations, bed days, and costs for children with complex chronic conditions, care that is increasingly concentrated in urban teaching children’s hospitals.

12/03/2025

Success at the Crossroad of Patients and Science »

The Center for Health and Technology (CHeT) has become a national leader in translating scientific discoveries into effective treatments for people with neurological diseases. Under director Chad Heatwole, MD, CHeT continues to innovate by using data modeling, remote technologies, and new measurement tools to make trials faster, more equitable, and reflective of patients’ real-world experiences.

The University of Rochester Center for Health + Technology (CHeT) stands as one of academic medicine’s most successful experiments in translating science into patient benefit. Over nearly four decades, CHeT has played an instrumental role in bringing 12 drugs and devices to market—including land...

12/01/2025

Physician shortage in rural areas of the US worsened since 2017

The national shortage of primary care physicians has been a concern for years. A new study led by Colleen Fogarty, the William Rocktaschel Chair in Family Medicine, underscores how urgent the problem is and where the biggest pain point lies: in rural parts of the country that are seeing the largest population spikes in nearly a century.

The national shortage of primary care physicians is an ongoing concern and a new study in the Annals of Family Medicine underscores how urgent the problem is and where the biggest pain point lies: in rural parts of the country, with the greatest losses in the Northeast.

11/25/2025

How to reduce holiday stress for kids—and yourself

Laura Cardella, an associate professor of psychiatry and of pediatrics, shares tips to help families manage holiday stress together.

Here's what to know »

Busy schedules, family dynamics, and unrealistic expectations can leave kids and parents feeling stressed during the holidays. Reduce holiday stress for yourself and your children with these expert tips.

11/24/2025

Nutrition tips for cancer prevention

Wilmot Cancer Institute experts offer evidence-based guidance and strategies on how nutrition can play an integral role in both preventing cancer and helping during and after treatment.

Preventing cancer isn't always possible because finding a direct cause can be difficult. But researchers have found one important thing that makes a difference: nutrition.

11/19/2025

Protein provides clues to identifying and treating crippling bone infections
Efforts to find a way to spot and treat staph infections early—which can trigger devastating health consequences, including septic shock and death—have failed so far, but researchers at the School of Medicine and Dentistry believe they’ve found answers in a small protein known as a chemokine.

Staph (Staphylococcus aureus) is the most common germ to afflict humans, and one of the most damaging: it causes diseases like osteomyelitis (bone infection), endocarditis (heart inflammation), and skin infections that ...

11/18/2025

Where might we look for inspiration for new cancer therapies? Some researchers say the bowhead whale may offer clues.

Where might we look for inspiration for new cancer therapies? Some researchers say the bowhead whale may offer clues.