Latest news with #UF
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida football coach Billy Napier says safety Asa Turner no longer with the team
Former Florida football safety Asa Turner was granted a seventh year of eligibility by the NCAA. But Florida Gators coach Billy Napier said during his media day press conference on July 29 that Turner won't be playing football for UF this season. "Asa is transitioning out of football," Napier said. "He's had really three years of significant injuries in college football. I actually met with Asa this morning. Look, Asa did a great job when he got here and was a really big contributor early in the season. Got injured and then hasn't quite been the same guy, if you really look at Washington the last couple of years." A transfer from Washington, Turner appeared in just one game for Florida last season, making a tackle against Miami before being sidelined for the rest of the 2024 season with a knee injury. "Asa contributed to our team last year," Napier said. "Very thankful for the way he approached being a teammate, his attitude. But he's at a point where he's not going to play." Florida has developed depth at safety with Bryce Thornton and Jordan Castell emerging as the two starters for UF. Freshman Drake Stubbs also showed promise at safety during UF's spring game, recording an interception. Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun's Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@ Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators' national championship basketball season in 'CHOMP-IONS!' — a hardcover coffee-table collector's book from The Sun. Details at This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Former Florida S Asa Turner unable to work his way back from injury
CNBC
23-07-2025
- Health
- CNBC
Healthy Returns: Researchers move closer to a universal cancer vaccine
A universal cancer vaccine – what once seemed like a pipe dream – may be inching closer to becoming reality. On Friday, University of Florida researchers said findings from a new study could lead to the development of a universal shot that can jumpstart the immune system to fight cancer. The study in mice, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, showed that an experimental mRNA vaccine boosted the tumor-fighting effects of a common cancer drug called immune checkpoint inhibitors. The vaccine is not designed for a specific virus or cancer cells, but engineered to "wake up" the immune system against the disease, "spurring it to respond as if fighting a virus," according to a UF release. "What we found is by using a vaccine designed not to target cancer specifically but rather to stimulate a strong immunologic response, we could elicit a very strong anticancer reaction," Dr. Duane Mitchell, a co-author of the study and professor of neurosurgery at the university's College of Medicine, said in the release. That's unlike current approaches to cancer vaccines, which involve finding a target expressed by many cancer patients or, in the case of Moderna and Merck, developing personalized vaccines tailored to each patient's specific tumor. The universal vaccine has the potential to be used broadly across cancer patients, "even possibly leading us to an off-the-shelf cancer vaccine," Mitchell said. The UF researchers are still working to replicate the findings in humans. If they do, a one-size-fits-all vaccine could provide an alternative to surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Here's how the vaccine works: The mRNA shot essentially tells the body to produce certain proteins that stimulate the immune system, including one called PD-L1, which is often found on the surface or inside of cancer cells. Those cells often use PD-L1 to hide from immune attacks. But by boosting PD-L1, the vaccine can actually make tumors more vulnerable to immune checkpoint inhibitors that block that protein, helping the immune system recognize and destroy the cancer. The study showed promising results on treatment-resistant tumors in skin cancers by combining the mRNA vaccine with a monoclonal antibody, a common immunotherapy drug that attempts to alert the immune system that a tumor is foreign and should be attacked. It also showed positive results when tested on mouse skin, bone and brain cancers as a solo treatment. In some cases, the tumors were eliminated entirely. "This paper describes a very unexpected and exciting observation: that even a vaccine not specific to any particular tumor or virus – so long as it is an mRNA vaccine – could lead to tumor-specific effects," said senior author Dr. Elias Sayour, a UF Health pediatric oncologist, in a release. Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika at We're just days away from the peak of digital health earnings season, and this quarter is sure to be an interesting one. The two companies that went public earlier this year, Hinge Health and Omada Health, will report results for the first time since their debut. And since President Donald Trump's tax-and-spending bill passed and his Aug. 1 tariff deadline is approaching, we'll get some insight into how digital health companies have been operating against a volatile macroeconomic and policy backdrop. Here are some of the reports CNBC will be watching for: Hinge Health – Aug. 5 Omada Health – Aug. 7 Hims & Hers Health – Aug. 4 Doximity – Aug. 7 Teladoc Health – July 29 We'll have plenty to dive into in the coming weeks, so be sure to keep up with CNBC's coverage. Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Ashley at
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Science
- USA Today
Meet the robo-bunny: This tiny, furry robot is taking on invasive pythons in Florida
Burmese pythons have terrorized the Florida Everglades for years. Scientists are hoping robotic bunnies will end the reptile's reign over the region. Among the cypress and sawgrass of South Florida, a new weapon in the state's fight to remove invasive pythons lurks, waiting to entice its prey. Yes, it's a mechanical rabbit. Just don't call it the Energizer bunny. Researchers at the University of Florida have outfitted 40 furry, fake toy rabbits with motors and tiny heaters that work together to mimic the movements and body temperature of a marsh rabbit — a favorite python meal. The fluffy army's mission? Help conservationists remove the highly destructive serpents that have invaded the state's ecosystem Florida's 10-day python challenge: Why hunters are chasing invasive snakes in the state Why are they using robot rabbits? The bunnies spin. They shake. They move randomly, and their creation is based on more than a decade of scientific review that began with a 2012 study that transported rabbits into Everglades National Park to see if, and how quickly, they would become python prey. 'The rabbits didn't fare well,' said Robert McCleery, a UF professor of wildlife ecology and conservation who's leading the robot bunny study that launched this summer. Subsequent studies revealed that pythons are drawn to live rabbits in pens with an average python attraction rate of about one snake per week. But having multiple live rabbits in pens spread across a formidable landscape is cumbersome and requires too much manpower to care for them. So, why not robot bunnies? 'We want to capture all of the processes that an actual rabbit would give off,' McCleery said. 'But I'm an ecologist. I'm not someone who sits around making robots.' Instead, colleague Chris Dutton, also a UF ecology professor but more mechanically adept, pulled the stuffing out of a toy rabbit and replaced it with 30 electronic components that are solar-powered and controlled remotely so that researchers can turn them on and off at specific times. The rabbits were placed in different areas of South Florida in July 2025 for a test phase that includes a camera programmed to recognize python movement and alert researchers when one nears the rabbit pen. One of the biggest challenges was waterproofing the bunnies so the correct temperature could still be radiated. McCleery was reluctant to give specifics on where the rabbit pens are located. 'I don't want people hunting down my robo-bunnies,' he said. Version 2.0 of the study will add bunny scent to the stuffed rabbits if motion and heat aren't enough to fool the snakes. Why are Burmese pythons a problem? Burmese pythons aren't native to Florida. They were introduced to the state through the pet trade in the 1970s and release over time into the wild. The snakes gained a foothold in Everglades National Park by the mid-1980s, according to the 2021 Florida Python Control plan, and quickly proliferated, threatening other key species in the ecosystem. A 2012 study by the United States Geological Survey found the pythons had contributed to population declines of a half-dozen animals, including racoons, opossums, bobcats, foxes, marsh rabbits and cottontail rabbits The United States Geological Survey puts the Burmese python population in the Everglades in the tens of thousands. Pythons have migrated north from the park, and researches believe they may be able to survive as far north as Georgia if temperatures continue to warm and the snakes burrow during cold snaps. What else is Florida doing to control the python population? State officials trying to mitigate the python population have turned to many strategies – with varying degrees of success. Renowned snake hunters from the Irula tribe in India were brought in to hunt and share their skills. People have used near-infrared cameras for python detection and specially designed traps. Some pythons are tracked by the DNA they shed in water. The annual Florida Python Challenge has also gained legendary status, attracting hundreds of hunters each year vying for the $10,000 grand prize. The 10-day challenge was developed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to remove the pythons from state land. This year's challenge runs through July 20. Starting in 2017, the South Florida Water Management District and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also began paying 100 bounty hunters hourly wages and bonuses based on the length of the snake caught. The hunters have removed an estimated 15,800 snakes since 2019 and were called the 'most effective management strategy in the history of the issue' by district invasive animal biologist Mike Kirkland. Kirkland oversees the district's hunters. Kirkland oversees the district's hunters and is involved in other python removal projects, including the robo-bunny experiment. 'It's projects like (McCleery's) that can be used in areas of important ecological significance where we can entice the pythons to come out of their hiding places and come to us,' Kirkland said at the board meeting. 'It could be a bit of a game changer.' Euthanasia or execution? Lawsuit says government wrongly killed Peanut the squirrel McCleery said he's pleased state officials are willing to experiment. 'Our partners have allowed us to trial these things that may sound a little crazy,' McCleery said. 'Working in the Everglades for 10 years, you get tired of documenting the problem. You want to address it.' McCleery said researchers did not name the robot rabbits, although he did bring one home that needed repair. His son named it 'Bunbun.' Contributing: Kim Luciani and Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY Network
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UF football position preview: Specialists
GAINESVILLE — The 11th and final position-by-position preview of the UF football team leading up to SEC Media Days. TODAY: SPECIAL TEAMS What to expect The 2024 Gators had a 1-2 punch in the kicking game few if any teams could match. Now there is one. Placekicker Trey Smack is back for his final season, while record-setting punter Jeremy Crawshaw is off to the NFL. Advertisement Crawshaw might have been Florida's most consistent, reliable performer through the ups and downs of five seasons, three of them losing ones. He also endured a coaching change from Dan Mullen, who recruited the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Australia native to Gainesville, to Billy Napier. Crawshaw ended his career averaging a school-record 46.4 yards per punt, including the single-season mark of 48.9 in 2023. The 24-year-old was rewarded. The Denver Broncos selected him in the sixth round to make him the only punter chosen in the 2025 NFL draft. Michigan transfer punter Tommy Doman has big shoes to fill, but also a solid resumé. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior Doman averaged 42.6 yards on 49 punts this past season, including 15 downed inside the 20 and 10 of 50 yards or longer. Crawshaw finished last season with 25 of 59 punts inside the 20 and 19 of at least 50 yards. Doman will be receiving the ball from one of the best in the business. Former Orlando Boone standout Rocco Underwood returns for his fourth year at UF after he earned the 2024 Mannelly Award, given the best long snapper in college football, and was second-team All-SEC. The 6-foot-3, 231-pound Underwood, a former tight end, also has recorded seven tackles on special teams. Advertisement True freshman Hayden Craig, a 3-star prospect from Quebec, Canada, who attended Bridgton Academy in Maine, will be preparing for his chance in 2026. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Craig was No. 5 player at his position, according to 247Sports composite rankings. Evan Noel, the No. 1-rated kicker in the 2025 per 247Sports, will be Smack's heir apparent. The 6-foot-2, 155-pound native of Bay Saint Louis, Miss., set a state high school record with 61-yard field goal in 2024. He hit 25 of 40 attempts at St. Stanislaus High, but did miss 10 of 119 extra-point tries. Previous Quarterback Running back Tight end Receiver Offensive line Interior defensive line Edge rusher Linebacker Cornerbacks Advertisement What they're saying 'Tommy's gonna be an instrumental part this fall. The experience, being a two-year starter at Michigan, playing in tough conditions — also having a guy from a program that's won a national championship. So he's been on that journey before but the warm weather in Florida was an easy sell. We're very, very fortunate to have him.' — special teams coach Joe Houston on Doman. Returnees Trey Smack Rocco Underwood Departures Jeremy Crawshaw New arrivals Hayden Craig (Quebec, Canada), true freshman Evan Noel (Bay Saint Louis, Miss), true freshman Projected depth chart (offseason) PK — Trey Smack | Evan Noel P — Tommy Doman | Hayden Craig LS — Rocco Underwood Advertisement Previous Quarterback Running back Tight end Receiver Offensive line Interior defensive line Edge rusher Linebacker Cornerback Safeties and STARs Specialists Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@
Miami Herald
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
University of Florida defends Ono pick, says rejection undermines GOP reforms
The University of Florida's Board of Trustees wants Republican lawmakers to know they still believe in Santa. In a letter sent last week, UF trustees warned top GOP officials that the rejection of Santa J. Ono as the president of Florida's flagship university squandered the opportunity to prove that the state's higher education reforms are not only working, but are compelling enough to win over respected academic leaders seeking to distance themselves from progressive orthodoxies. The board is now forcefully defending their failed bid to name Ono, a respected immunologist and former University of Michigan president, as UF's next leader. The letter, sent July 3 to U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and U.S. Reps. Byron Donalds and Greg Steube, disputed key objections raised in a June 18 statement issued by the three legislators, which accused Ono of failing to support Jewish students at Michigan and of supporting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The trustees' seven-page response, signed by all 13 members, called the lawmakers' concerns 'not grounded in the facts' and warned that political pressure was undermining the university's ability to attract top leadership talent. Ono's appointment 'should have been seen as a powerful endorsement of the bold path our state has chosen — a moment of national validation that Florida's approach isn't just different, but better,' the letter read. 'That is not just a missed opportunity — it is a rejection of the very validation our reforms have earned and a moment when we could have led by example.' 'Actors with their own agendas' The trustees' missive comes a month after the State University System's Board of Governors blocked the UF board's unanimous nomination of Ono — a first-of-its-kind move that derailed what would have been UF's second presidential transition in less than three years. It was the culmination of a fiery opposition campaign focused on Ono's past affections for progressive ideas. 'We are concerned that much of the current discourse has relied on selectively edited materials promoted by actors with their own agendas,' the trustees wrote. UF has yet to announce a succession plan for interim President Kent Fuchs whose contract ends July 31. Trustees are scheduled to convene on July 23 to discuss raising out-of-state tuition, but the meeting agenda has not been made available to the public yet. By defying the demands of prominent GOP figures, UF trustees are potentially subjecting the upcoming presidential selection process to heightened political scrutiny.' 'Obviously this letter is deeply concerning and leads to even more questions about how this taxpayer funded process will move forward to ensure we have a qualified president to lead our flagship university and stand up for our Jewish students,' Scott said in a statement. (Neither Steube nor Donalds — the Trump-backed frontrunner in next year's governor's race — responded to the Miami Herald.) A central concern for Scott and his colleagues was Ono's handling of pro-Palestinian encampments at the University of Michigan earlier this year. The lawmakers accused him of endangering Jewish students by allowing the encampments to persist — a failure that made Ono unfit to lead UF, home to the largest population of undergraduate Jewish students in the country. 'Ono allowing an illegal, pro-terrorist encampment to take over the University of Michigan campus…was a complete disqualifier,' they wrote. But UF's trustees called that characterization 'unfair' and pointed to actions Ono took to ensure campus safety while avoiding violence. Trustees appended letters of support from notable Jewish leaders, including Michigan Hillel's top rabbi and the Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. Ono's defenders at UF also highlighted the university's own record on fighting antisemitism, including waiving admission deadlines for Jewish students seeking to transfer after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, expanding security and fostering partnerships with national Jewish organizations. The lawmakers also accused Ono of having a 'long history' of promoting DEI policies, which Florida's Republican leadership has aggressively sought to eliminate from state-funded institutions. But UF trustees argued that Ono had made a clear ideological shift. During the selection process, they said, he pledged not to bring DEI back to UF and emphasized merit and institutional neutrality. The trustees countered that under Ono's leadership, Michigan dismantled its once-sprawling DEI office and that he had demonstrated 'a willingness to lead hard reforms.' They criticized what they called a 'double standard,' where others have been praised for changing their views while Ono was penalized, noting that Florida's university system had its own DEI program less than five years ago. 'Inconsistent with the realities' Scott, Donalds and Steube, all outspoken critics of Ono, also contended in their June letter that UF's search process lacked transparency and that only one finalist being publicly named violated the spirit of Florida's closed search law, which encourages state universities to name multiple candidates. The lawmakers urged UF to commit to interviewing multiple candidates and making those interviews and application materials public ahead of time. 'It seems that [the law] is being abused by creating an unfair system that allows much of the selection process to be shielded from the public,' they wrote. In response, UF's trustees said they held 10 listening sessions with university stakeholders and opted for a sole finalist approach because many top-tier candidates, including sitting presidents at prestigious universities, would only participate if they were named sole noted that since 2022, 30 of 33 presidential hires at major research institutions have involved either sole finalists or internal promotions. 'Expecting the University of Florida to conduct a search with multiple public finalists and still attract the most qualified candidates is inconsistent with the realities of today's leadership market,' the letter read. The trustees also expressed frustration that neither the three lawmakers nor most of the Board of Governors members who voted against Ono had ever spoken with him. The letter states: 'Dr. Ono was available and willing to engage in good faith.' Only two members of the Board of Governors, both of whom served on the UF's search committee, had met with Ono, according to the letter. Trustees suggested that if others had done the same, concerns might have been resolved. Though the trustees' letter did not provide specifics about the next steps in UF's presidential search, it firmly defended the integrity of the previous process and suggested that a sole finalist approach remains the best method for securing top-tier candidates. 'While we welcome continued dialogue, we reiterate that we do not believe that going forward it is in the best interest of the University to commit to multiple finalists,' the trustees wrote.
