Latest news with #UMassChanMedicalSchool
Boston Globe
24-06-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
UMass Chan Medical School chancellor to step down after nearly 20 years
The turmoil around federal funding did not influence his decision to leave, Collins said. Advertisement 'It's been obvious to me that my 70th birthday was coming,' Collins said. 'I feel a responsibility to the institution that, if you're good at the job you do, you should also be good when you decide you're going to go.' Collins will stay as chancellor through 2025-2026 school year to give the UMass Chan time to select his successor. He alerted UMass President Marty Meehan of his intentions a few months ago. 'The medical school has far exceeded expectations when it first opened with a small number of students,' Meehan said. 'No one could have imagined how the medical school has grown or the impact it's had, and Michael Collins' fingerprints are on so many of its achievements.' Advertisement As much as the 2024-2025 academic year was marked by low lows for the state's only public medical school, it has also been defined by the highest highs. UMass Chan researcher Victor Ambros UMass Chan Medical School researcher Victor Ambros, PhD, (right) was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Media, He was joined by colleague and fellow Nobel Prize winner Craig Mello. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Then, in February, UMass announced a Collins is also responsible for the largest-ever gift at UMass: graduate schools were renamed after the parents of billionaire investor Gerald Chan. Under Collins, enrollment at the school has grown nearly 50 percent to about 1,500 in 2024 from about 1,000 in 2007. The incoming medical school class has more than doubled from 100 to 233 students, producing more doctors to combat a national physician workforce shortage. Collin's also added 55 new endowed chairs, prestigious, permanent professorships funded by donors. They're part of his strategy to recruit and retain top-notch faculty. The team he's built, he said, is the legacy he's proudest to leave behind. Kate Fitzgerald, now vice provost for basic science research at the school, recalled that in 2015 she was being recruited to other medical centers in her home country of Ireland. Collins found out and summoned Fitzgerald to his office and laid out his vision of a leading medical research center that would make an impact locally, nationally and globally. Advertisement 'He said, 'We're not done yet here. There's still a lot more to do and this is a place where you can have an impact,'' Fitzgerald said. 'He saw it in me, that leadership potential and really helped me realize it.' The uncertain times as Collins prepares to exit mirror those at the beginning of his tenure. Collins saw the institution through the uncertainty of the Great Recession after he was tapped to serve as interim chancellor of the medical school in June 2007 and appointed to the position in September 2008 -- the same month the global financial system plunged into crisis. Before arriving at UMass Chan, Collins served as CEO of Caritas Christi Health Care for 10 years, followed by a two-year stint as chancellor of UMass Boston. He is a tenured professor of population and quantitative health sciences and medicine and serves as senior vice president for health sciences for the UMass system. Collins, an internal medicine physician by training, emphasized that he's 'not really leaving' when his chancellorship ends. He plans to teach, mentor and continue to raise money for the school. 'He's been a trusted advisor,' said Gov. Maura Healey 'I'm glad that he's not going far.' The Education and Research Building at the UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester. Faith Ninivaggi In this final year, Collins is advocating for federal grants and finding alternative funding. He said he believes the school will eventually receive the funding already allocated by the National Institutes of Health. The funding has sat in limbo as the NIH navigates new priorities and staffing changes under President Trump. Advertisement That sense of hope is a hallmark of Collins' leadership, said UMass Chan Provost Dr. Terry Flotte, who has worked with Collins for 18 years. 'I value the approach that he's taught really all of us, which is to be prepared for difficulties' Flotte said, 'but at the same time be planning for success.' Marin Wolf can be reached at
22-05-2025
- Science
Nanotech contact lenses give humans 'super vision,' even in total darkness with eyes shut: Study
Humans can now see in the dark -- and even with their eyes closed -- using nanotechnology contact lenses that turn invisible infrared light into visible images, according to a new study published in the journal Cell. After first testing in mice, scientists from China and the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School created contact lenses for humans infused with specialized "nanoparticles," thousands of times smaller than a grain of sand, that let people see in the dark and in foggy conditions. These nanoparticles are scattered throughout the soft lens material, where they absorb infrared light and convert it into images the human eye normally can't see. Gang Han, the study's lead author and a Ph.D.-level nanoparticle researcher at UMass Chan Medical School, told ABC News the lenses enhance how someone sees color. "When wearing them, you still see everything normally," Hans said. "The lenses simply add the ability to see infrared images on top of what we already normally see." Wearing the lenses, participants were able to recognize coded flashes of infrared light — similar to Morse code — identify basic shapes and patterns, and even distinguish colors in the infrared range, effectively adding a new dimension to human vision, Han explained. They could even perceive the images with their eyes closed, thanks to the ability of infrared light to pass through eyelids, he said. Humans can naturally see only visible light, a small slice of the full light spectrum that includes invisible wavelengths like ultraviolet and infrared. Night vision goggles can detect infrared light, but they're bulky, often need a power source, and usually show images in green or black and white, Han said. "What's special about our contact lenses is that they let you see infrared light in color — like red, green and blue — so you can tell different things apart more easily," Han emphasized. So far, the lenses have only been tested on a small group of individuals in China, all with normal vision. Han said the researchers now need to test them in a more diverse population, including people with different vision capabilities. "While we haven't specifically studied these lenses for people with vision impairments or eye diseases, this is an important area we hope to explore in the future," he said, adding that there needs to be further assessment to test their safety and spot any long-term effects to the eye. Advances in nanotechnology could bring everyday benefits, especially for first responders. "Our lenses help rescuers see clearly and navigate safely in dangerous environments like fires or dense fog," he said. Doctors already use infrared technology to highlight tumors treated with special dyes visible to infrared cameras. Han noted that the new lenses could enhance this approach by allowing surgeons to see near-infrared signals directly in their line of sight, without needing to glance at separate monitors. "This study opens the door to many exciting applications of wearable technology, potentially transforming how we see and interact with our environment, especially in challenging conditions," he said. The study was supported by the Human Frontier Science Program and included collaboration with U.S. scientists.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nanotech contact lenses give humans 'super vision,' even in total darkness with eyes shut: Study
Humans can now see in the dark -- and even with their eyes closed -- using nanotechnology contact lenses that turn invisible infrared light into visible images, according to a new study published in the journal Cell. After first testing in mice, scientists from China and the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School created contact lenses for humans infused with specialized "nanoparticles," thousands of times smaller than a grain of sand, that let people see in the dark and in foggy conditions. These nanoparticles are scattered throughout the soft lens material, where they absorb infrared light and convert it into images the human eye normally can't see. Gang Han, the study's lead author and a Ph.D.-level nanoparticle researcher at UMass Chan Medical School, told ABC News the lenses enhance how someone sees color. "When wearing them, you still see everything normally," Hans said. "The lenses simply add the ability to see infrared images on top of what we already normally see." Wearing the lenses, participants were able to recognize coded flashes of infrared light — similar to Morse code — identify basic shapes and patterns, and even distinguish colors in the infrared range, effectively adding a new dimension to human vision, Han explained. They could even perceive the images with their eyes closed, thanks to the ability of infrared light to pass through eyelids, he said. MORE: FDA plans to limit COVID shots to those over 65 or with high-risk conditions Humans can naturally see only visible light, a small slice of the full light spectrum that includes invisible wavelengths like ultraviolet and infrared. Night vision goggles can detect infrared light, but they're bulky, often need a power source, and usually show images in green or black and white, Han said. "What's special about our contact lenses is that they let you see infrared light in color — like red, green and blue — so you can tell different things apart more easily," Han emphasized. So far, the lenses have only been tested on a small group of individuals in China, all with normal vision. Han said the researchers now need to test them in a more diverse population, including people with different vision capabilities. "While we haven't specifically studied these lenses for people with vision impairments or eye diseases, this is an important area we hope to explore in the future," he said, adding that there needs to be further assessment to test their safety and spot any long-term effects to the eye. MORE: Tropical cyclones may be linked to infant mortality in at-risk low- and middle-income countries, new research suggests Advances in nanotechnology could bring everyday benefits, especially for first responders. "Our lenses help rescuers see clearly and navigate safely in dangerous environments like fires or dense fog," he said. Doctors already use infrared technology to highlight tumors treated with special dyes visible to infrared cameras. Han noted that the new lenses could enhance this approach by allowing surgeons to see near-infrared signals directly in their line of sight, without needing to glance at separate monitors. "This study opens the door to many exciting applications of wearable technology, potentially transforming how we see and interact with our environment, especially in challenging conditions," he said. The study was supported by the Human Frontier Science Program and included collaboration with U.S. scientists. Dr. Karen Tachi Udoh is an internal medicine resident at Johns Hopkins Hospital and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit. Nanotech contact lenses give humans 'super vision,' even in total darkness with eyes shut: Study originally appeared on
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
America first? More like ‘America last,' Mass. Gov. Healey slams Trump during MSNBC interview
President Donald Trump's trade war, his attacks on universities, and his immigration policies are undercutting American competitiveness, driving up costs and advantaging rivals such as China, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said Wednesday. 'For a president who is about America first, he's making America last,' Healey said during an appearance on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' program. The Arlington Democrat, who has been boosting her nationwide profile as the Republican White House has escalated its attacks on the Bay State, offered some of her most comprehensive criticism yet of an array of Trump administration policies. Healey reflected on a visit to UMass Chan Medical School last week, where she and the school's leaders said cuts to the National Institutes of Health were already impacting the state's economy. 'Because of Donald Trump's cuts, they've had to lay off 200 faculty members,' Healey told 'Morning Joe' host Mika Brzezinski. 'They've had to rescind offers to 80 graduate students. Because these are scientists, okay?' Healey continued. 'These are people who are discovering and working on life-saving cures for cancer, Alzheimer's, ALS, you name it, and all of that is being shut down.' Read More: 200 jobs affected at UMass Chan in Worcester due to Trump cuts As a result, Trump's 'misguided attacks on our universities and on research,' at UMass, Harvard University and other schools 'are benefiting China,' Healey said. 'China is recruiting right now on our campuses, all those scientists and faculty members and students who've been laid off or had their offers rescinded and say, 'Come to China. We'll build you that lab,' she continued. Healey's comments on that score were substantially similar to those she made during an appearance on CBS News' 'Face the Nation' program on Sunday. Read More: Mass Gov. Healey: Trump's funding cuts, attacks on Harvard are 'bad for science' 'It's bad for patients, it's bad for science, and it's really bad for American competitiveness,' Healey said during that Sunday interview. 'As governor, I want Massachusetts to soar. I want America soaring. And what Donald Trump is doing is basically saying to China and other ... countries, come to the United States, take — take our scientists, take our researchers, and ... that's what's happening." As she has for weeks, Healey continued to stress that the state doesn't have the money to backfill the loss of billions of dollars of federal support that provide the underpinning for her $62 billion budget proposal for the new fiscal year that starts July 1. But she said the state is taking other steps, including meeting with business leaders and offering resources for those affected by tariffs. Read More: Are you a Mass. business feeling the bite from tariffs? New Healey admin effort aims to help 'It is challenging as a governor who cut taxes, as a governor who's building housing,' Healey, who signed a $5.1 billion housing bond bill into law last year, said. 'You know, it is so disruptive that we have these tariffs, where now my lumber is coming from Canada, and the gypsum and other materials are coming from Mexico, and Trump just made housing a lot more expensive to build,' she said. With Healey seeking a second term in 2026 and a growing field of Republican opponents emerging, the pressure is on the Democratic governor to deliver on a host of policy priorities. The twin challenges of Massachusetts' housing and shelter crisis have taken a toll on Healey's popularity, with a majority of respondents to a February poll giving her the thumbs-down on those two issues. On MSNBC on Wednesday, Healey laid the blame for the state's ills at Trump's feet. 'It's just another example of Donald Trump not showing up for everyday Americans, not delivering on results, making it very hard for governors like me, who want to deliver for our residents, who want to grow the economy,' she said. Hundreds of experts: US sliding toward authoritarianism GOP congressman asks audience 'Don't boo' after Elon Musk, DOGE remarks Mass. Sen. Warren, Dems ask inspector general for answers on Social Security cuts Trump supports no trials for undocumented immigrants before deportation Hollywood icon punches back with 3-word response to Trump taunt Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
200 jobs affected at UMass Chan in Worcester due to Trump cuts
UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester has laid off or furloughed about 200 employees, a spokesperson for the school confirmed to MassLive Thursday. The layoffs were conducted to make up for a shortfall of approximately $30 million in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, according to UMass Chan Media Relations Specialist Hayley Mignacca. The shortfall is due to long delays in funding new grants since the Trump administration took office in January, according to Mignacca. Last year, UMass Chan received $193 million from the NIH but is now preparing for financial uncertainties due to the Trump administration's plan to put a 15% cap on indirect costs on all future and existing grants from the NIH. UMass Chan could stand to lose $50 million next year as a result of this cap, according to the school's website. The furloughs and layoffs took place across the university, according to Mignacca. UMass Chan employs nearly 6,000 people. In response to these uncertainties, the school announced in March a hiring freeze, a spending freeze and rescinded admissions to the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. On Tuesday, Gov. Maura Healey visited UMass Chan to speak out against the decrease in funding from the Trump administration. 'The reason I am here today is because institutions like UMass Chan are under threat,' Healey said. 'These cuts don't reflect Massachusetts values. They don't reflect American values. They are not who we are.' A $100K salary isn't enough to live on in these cities — including 2 in Mass. Central Mass. school dedicates art show in honor of student who died Question on Worcester taking piece of college endowments to be on ballot
