University of Utah Health Research

Knowing how human DNA changes over generations is essential to estimating genetic disease risks and understanding how we evolved. But some of the most changeable regions of our DNA have been off-limits to researchers—until now. A team of researchers from University of Utah Health, University of Washington, PacBio, and other institutions has used multiple DNA sequencing technologies to develop the most comprehensive atlas yet of genetic change through generations. The new investigation revealed that parts of the human genome change much faster than was previously known, laying the foundations for new insights into the roots of human disease and evolution. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/epw-tQUk

NIH funding is hard to measure—its impact is everywhere. From new drugs to trials, it touches every state. Utah included. This University of Utah Research infographic highlights just a few of those impacts.

Celebrating research excellence at University of Utah Health! Tonight’s Vitae 2025 event features an incredible lineup: Jessica Osterhout, Guillaume Hoareau, Sara Bybee, Peter Fino, Aaron Petrey, and Elizabeth Keating — with vignette videos from Julie Fritz and 2025 TIME100 honoree Wesley Sundquist. Can’t attend in person? Join us online to hear from the scientists shaping tomorrow. https://lnkd.in/g3Ybp3QB

NIH research fuels health progress in Utah and beyond. #ResearchMatters

Pioneering the Future: Paths Toward Better Population Health When it comes to public health, knowledge is power. Everyone needs reliable information about health risks and disease prevention, and healthcare workers must identify where the biggest needs are before they can figure out how to help. Sometimes that means looking beyond the kinds of things most often discussed in medical settings. At University of Utah Health, studies of social and environmental factors that impact health are equipping people with knowledge to help them improve their own well-being and that of others. -At a time when cannabis use in the U.S. is increasing quickly, U of U Health researchers have found that use during pregnancy increases the risk of adverse outcomes. -Cholesterol-lowering statins are drugs that reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, but U of U Health scientists determined that only 30% of people at highest risk take advantage of this potent preventive treatment. -Unmet social needs, such as food insecurity or housing instability, can impact health significantly. U of U Health researchers are addressing these gaps by developing hospital programs that screen and connect patients with services that can help. By understanding these emerging issues—and developing solutions—U of U Health is working to create a healthier future for everyone. Take a closer look at each impact: https://lnkd.in/g9_kYEH3

Here’s a closer look at the foundational research behind lenacapavir and Dr. Wesley Sundquist’s impact on advancing HIV prevention. #TIME100 #HIVPrevention #HIVResearch #Science #GlobalHealth Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gCdx6A3R University of Utah Health University of Utah Research

Congratulations to Wesley Sundquist, PhD! We are excited to announce that Dr. Sundquist has been named one of TIME’s 100 most influential people in the world. The list recognizes the impact, innovation, and achievement of the world’s most influential individuals. 🌟 His research at #UofUHealth led to lenacapavir, a drug developed by Gilead Sciences, that prevents HIV infection with 99.9% to 100% efficacy. A single dose provides six months of protection and could significantly reduce global infection rates. Sundquist’s accomplishment is a testament to the critical role of basic science in forming the foundation of discoveries that save lives.  Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ghdd5P8w #TIME100 #HIVPrevention #HIVResearch #Science #GlobalHealth 

Leading scientists from across the Mountain West region joined forces at the third annual meeting of the Mountain West Microbiome Alliance (MoWMA), exploring the rapidly evolving field of how the microbes that live in and on our bodies can be leveraged to understand human health, improve health care, and provide real-world solutions to important problems. “This is an amazing group of people,” said June Round, PhD, professor of pathology in the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah and a member of the alliance. “We represent five different states, 10 different institutions, 60 different PIs, and there are strengths at every institution. We’ve got clinicians, immunologists, chemists, basic scientists, bioinformaticians, microbiologists—the list goes on.” Round added, “I think this is a unique opportunity for us to work together across institutions to move into novel areas of science. Our research is strengthened by the unique features of the Mountain West, spanning a dramatic range of elevation that includes both urban centers and rural frontiers.” Collaboration was a key feature of the symposium—from the start, participants had the opportunity to share their research interests for the future and find common ground with potential collaborators. For many of the speakers, the conference was their first time meeting the Alliance in person—providing ample opportunities for new connections to be made. Conference sessions were designed to foster active engagement, interactions and new ideas. Continue reading to learn more about this exciting collaboration and its potential to transform health care. https://lnkd.in/g9n7HahF

Movement Disorder Exposed Spinocerebellar ataxia type 4 (SCA4) is a rare movement disorder whose symptoms—usually difficulty walking and a loss of balance—begin to set in during adolescence or adulthood. As the disease progresses, individuals may experience muscle weakness, lose sensation in their hands and feet, and lose their reflexes. The condition was first described in Utah families and was also identified in families from the U.S. and Europe, all of whom are likely of Swedish descent. But until recently, its specific genetic cause was not known, because the mutation associated with SCA4 falls within a region of DNA that was particularly difficult to analyze. With the latest DNA sequencing technology, University of Utah Health scientists led by neurologist Stefan Pulst, MD, were finally able to pinpoint the genetic cause of SCA4: a stretch of repetitive DNA in a gene called ZFHX3 that is longer than it should be. It took researchers 25 years to uncover the mutation, but already that knowledge provides relief for patients and their families. Now they can undergo genetic testing to determine if they or their children are likely to develop the disorder. The discovery has also enabled Pulst and his team to dig into exactly why the genetic change is toxic for neurons, which they hope will help develop an effective treatment. “The only step to really improve the life of patients with inherited disease is to find out what the primary cause is,” Pulst says. “We now can attack the effects of this mutation potentially at multiple levels.” The team’s experiments suggest one effect is an impaired ability to recycle unwanted cellular debris inside neurons. A drug designed to overcome this type of defect is already being tested in clinical trials for another movement disorder, SCA2. Given the similarities they have uncovered, the researchers say it’s possible that treatment might also benefit patients with SCA4. https://lnkd.in/gaAhkKdT

Stacey L. Clardy, MD PhD FAAN, a clinical researcher at University of Utah Health, shares the story behind anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, a rare autoimmune disorder with no FDA-approved treatments, and how the University of Utah is leading the first international Phase 2b trial. #Research