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MCG scientists investigate arthritis drug’s impact on Alzheimer’s disease
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and one in nine of those people is 65 or older. Although that number is expected to grow, researchers at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University are making progress on studies that could turn into life-saving treatments. Qin Wang, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine at MCG and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in neuropharmacology, recently published a study titled “The PKCι‑β‑arrestin2 axis disrupts SORLA retrograde trafficking, driving its degradation and amyloid pathology in Alzheimer’s disease,” in Molecular Degeneration, a leading journal in neurodegeneration. In the study, Wang and her team explored how certain proteins and enzymes interact in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Key players include the SORL1 gene, the PKCι enzyme and proteins SORLA, β‑arrestin2 and amyloid. SORL1 encodes SORLA, which helps regulate amyloid. Amyloid can form plaque in the brain, contributing to Alzheimer’s. People with the disease often have lower SORLA levels, which amplifies plaque production. “The goal is to increase SORLA levels in patients with AD. If we can boost it up, that would be great,” Wang said. “But if you want to know how to boost it up, you have to know how it is degraded, so that’s what our work is about – we’re trying to understand how its stability is regulated.” Wang’s research team found that PKCι can add a phosphate group to SORLA, which helps SORLA interact with β‑arrestin2. The PKCι‑β‑arrestin2 axis leads to SORLA degradation, reducing its levels and allowing amyloid plaques to grow unchecked, thereby worsening the disease condition. They discovered this by using biochemical methods and a mass spectrometer managed by Wenbo Zhi, PhD, at the Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry core lab at AU. “We conducted biochemical studies and found that SORLA can be phosphorylated. We identified the phosphorylation site and the interacting enzymes,” Wang explained. “Using the mass spectrometer with PKCι, we saw increased phosphorylation of SORLA at certain sites. Preventing that could stop SORLA degradation.” That’s where a rheumatoid arthritis drug called auranofin comes into play. “While it is an arthritis drug, it can also inhibit the PKCι enzyme,” Wang explained. The team conducted tests using Alzheimer’s mouse models and human iPS cells developed into neurons. For the mouse models, they treated the mice with auranofin for eight weeks, resulting in decreased amyloid levels, reduced neuroinflammation and improved cognitive function. Similar results were seen in human cells with increased SORLA levels and decreased amyloid levels. “A good thing about this is, because this is an FDA-approved drug, it’s ready to be tested in Alzheimer’s patients,” Wang said. “People often worry about drug safety because of long-term use in chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s, but, in this case, existing safety data for chronic use gives a good starting point for testing in Alzheimer’s patients. “I hope a drug company can pick that up for a trial with Alzheimer’s patients because we are trying to translate our bench work all the way to the bedside for treatment,” she continued. The study wraps up a five-year National Institute on Aging grant, a collaborative effort between Wang’s lab and the Kai Jiao, MD, PhD, lab in AU’s Center of Biotechnology and Genomic Medicine. Wang’s team is also working on other grant-funded Alzheimer’s-related projects and hopes to continue making advancements toward finding a cure for this debilitating disease. “All of our projects share the goal of finding a better treatment,” Wang said. “Related to this project in particular, we want to know how the SORLA protein works in different types of brain cells, given the brain’s complexity. Then we can determine how to specifically target that protein to develop more effective therapies.” Qin Wang, MD, PhD, researches the neuropharmacology and signaling mechanisms underlying neurological and psychiatric disorders. If you're interested in learning more about her work or booking an interview, simply click on her icon now to arrange a time to talk.
Why College Students Are Storming Fields More Often
In his most recent Forbes article, Dr. Marshall Shepherd takes a scientific look at why college students and fans storm football fields, blending insights from psychology, meteorology, and social dynamics. He explains that field-storming is not simply a burst of emotion—it’s a predictable outcome of collective excitement and shared identity. After an unexpected win or a high-stakes rivalry game, thousands of people simultaneously experience what psychologists call “emotional contagion,” amplifying feelings of unity and celebration. This shared surge, combined with environmental cues like stadium acoustics and crowd density, transforms the act into what Shepherd calls a form of “social weather event.” “Storming the field isn’t chaos—it’s choreography fueled by emotion and crowd physics.” Shepherd also examines the logistical and safety implications. He notes that while universities often celebrate these spontaneous displays of school pride, they carry risks ranging from crowd injuries to property damage. Yet, institutions are reluctant to ban them outright because these moments reinforce fan loyalty and media attention. Shepherd suggests that the solution lies in better understanding crowd behavior: designing stadiums with safe egress routes, training security teams to manage surges, and anticipating emotional tipping points rather than reacting afterward. “Understanding the science behind fan behavior lets us manage energy, not suppress it.” Ultimately, Shepherd’s piece reframes field-storming as a fascinating mix of culture and physics—where joy, identity, and momentum collide. He urges universities to see these moments not as mere rule-breaking but as opportunities to study human behavior in motion, and to design environments that celebrate passion without compromising safety. Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. Dr. Shepherd was the 2013 President of American Meteorological Society (AMS), the nation’s largest and oldest professional/science society in the atmospheric and related sciences. View his profile here Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is available to speak with the media about this interesting topic - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.
Covering Hurricane Melissa? Our Expert is Here to Help with Your Coverage
Hurricane Melissa has exploded into a record-breaking Category 5 storm, tearing through the Caribbean with catastrophic force. It made landfall in Jamaica with sustained winds near 185 mph, unleashing torrential rain, landslides, and widespread destruction across the island — the strongest storm ever recorded there. The hurricane has already caused fatalities in Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, and now barrels toward eastern Cuba and the Bahamas, where mass evacuations are underway. Meteorologists warn of up to 30 inches of rainfall in some areas, storm surges reaching 11 feet along southern coasts, and a severe risk of flash flooding and mudslides due to the storm’s slow, grinding pace. Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. Dr. Shepherd was the 2013 President of American Meteorological Society (AMS), the nation’s largest and oldest professional/science society in the atmospheric and related sciences. View his profile here While Melissa is expected to weaken slightly as it moves north, its enormous size means destructive winds, life-threatening flooding, and dangerous coastal waves will persist through the week — with Bermuda now bracing for potential impact and the U.S. East Coast monitoring for high surf and rip currents as the storm churns offshore. Covering? We can help. Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. His expertise has been sought recently by ABC News, Forbes Magazine and The New York Times. He's available to speak with the media about this ongoing story and storm - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.
Experts in the Media: CBD may help treat and reduce inflammation in Alzheimer's disease
In a recent Medical News Today article, Corrie Pelc reported on a study led by Babak Baban, PhD, in which inhaled CBD (cannabidiol) was tested in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease to examine its effects on neuroinflammation. Baban, associate dean for Research with AU's Dental College of Georgia and a professor with appointments in neurology and surgery in the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, explained that previous work from his group showed inhaled CBD to be more effective than oral or injected forms for certain neurological conditions, motivating them to explore its potential in Alzheimer’s research. He emphasized that Alzheimer’s is driven by multiple interacting biological processes – not just amyloid plaques – and sees inflammation as a promising new therapeutic target. In the study, inhaled CBD lowered activity in two major immune “alarm” pathways – IDO (indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase) and cGAS-STING – both implicated in chronic inflammation. By dampening these pathways, CBD reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines and helped restore a more balanced immune environment in the brain. Baban framed this as a shift from symptom treatment to addressing underlying immune dysfunction, and noted that the findings could reorient how Alzheimer’s is approached. At the same time, he stressed that human trials are still needed: his team is preparing translational studies and holds an active Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the FDA for inhaled CBD in neuroinflammatory conditions, with Alzheimer’s disease as a natural next step. Read the full article here: Babak Baban, PhD, is a professor, immunologist and associate dean for research at the Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University where he has served for 13 of his 20 years as a translational and clinical immunologist. View his profile here Looking to know more about this important research or to connect with Babak Baban, PhD? He's available to speak with media – simply click on his icon to arrange an interview today.
In a September article featured in Forbes, Marshall Shepherd reports on a new tool launched by Project Drawdown that aims to deliver personalized climate-action strategies to different users—including policymakers, businesses, and individuals. In the piece, he explains that the tool helps match context-specific emissions reduction or resilience options to the particular needs, geography, and capacities of the user, rather than prescribing one-size-fits-all solutions. Shepherd also emphasizes that tools like this can help bridge the gap between climate science and real-world decision-making. He argues that equipping stakeholders with tailored pathways could accelerate uptake of effective interventions by making them more relevant, feasible, and compelling. Ultimately, Shepherd presents the new Drawdown resource as a promising model for democratizing access to climate solutions, enabling individuals and organizations to engage in strategies best suited to their specific circumstances. Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. Dr. Shepherd was the 2013 President of American Meteorological Society (AMS), the nation’s largest and oldest professional/science society in the atmospheric and related sciences. View his profile here Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. He's available to speak with the media about this topic - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.
3 Things A Climate Scientist Learned From Jane Goodall
In a recent Forbes article, Marshall Shepherd reflects on three key lessons he has drawn from the life and work of Dr. Jane Goodall. Shepherd frames Goodall’s legacy—spanning primatology, conservation, and public engagement—as deeply instructive for climate scientists and environmental advocates. He argues that her methods and mindset have more to teach than simply how to observe nature; they speak to how we engage with the world. First, Shepherd highlights immersion: Goodall’s decades of patient observation in the Tanzanian forests demonstrates the power of being physically—and emotionally—present to truly learn from ecosystems. For Shepherd, climate science must go beyond remote data collection: getting into the field and understanding local realities matters. Second, he emphasizes patience. Goodall’s willingness to wait, sometimes for years, for breakthroughs in understanding primate behavior offers a lesson for climate researchers, whose progress may unfold over decades. Third, he admires her tenacity—a commitment sustained over a lifetime, even under adversity. Shepherd suggests that tackling climate change requires that same kind of enduring resolve, especially when public attention or funding waxes and wanes. Through these reflections, Shepherd presents Goodall not just as an icon of conservation but as a model for scientific humility and perseverance. He invites readers to see the parallels between animal behavior research and climate work—and to adopt practices of listening, patience, and resolve in confronting our planet’s changing trajectory. Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. Dr. Shepherd was the 2013 President of American Meteorological Society (AMS), the nation’s largest and oldest professional/science society in the atmospheric and related sciences. View his profile here Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. He's available to speak with the media about this topic - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.
Experts in the Media: Hurricane Season Isn’t Shutdown. A Busy Week Looms For Meteorologists
When you think hurricane season is winding down, think again. Just as many people begin to relax after a stretch of calm weather, the atmosphere often has other plans. Meteorologists are warning that even as we head deeper into October, the tropics are far from done stirring. The “off-season,” as Dr. Marshall Shepherd puts it, can be one of the most deceptive times of year—when attention fades but nature remains restless. Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. Dr. Shepherd was the 2013 President of American Meteorological Society (AMS), the nation’s largest and oldest professional/science society in the atmospheric and related sciences. View his profile here In his recent Forbes article, Shepherd, a leading atmospheric scientist and former president of the American Meteorological Society, reminds readers that the Atlantic hurricane season doesn’t have an on-off switch. While it may appear to be slowing, meteorologists are bracing for a busy week ahead as multiple weather systems continue to develop. He explains that this year’s pattern demonstrates how tropical activity often ebbs and flows, and a lull in storms doesn’t mean the threat has passed. Shepherd highlights how experts are closely watching sea-surface temperatures, wind shear, and atmospheric moisture—factors that can quickly transform calm seas into cyclone breeding grounds. Despite the calendar inching toward November, he warns that conditions remain ripe for sudden storm formation. Ultimately, Shepherd’s message is one of preparedness and respect for nature’s unpredictability. Even when the radar looks clear, the tropics can still surprise us. His call to stay alert is a timely reminder that meteorology is not about predicting the past—it’s about anticipating the next twist in the weather’s unfolding story. Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. He's available to speak with the media about this topic - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.
Nursing researcher receives over $500K in prestigious grants
For the first time in nearly 15 years, a faculty member from Augusta University’s College of Nursing has been awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health. Blake McGee, PhD, has secured an R03 award of $176,331 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to study Medicaid’s expanded role in late postpartum maternal health. But he hasn’t stopped there as McGee is also part of the fifth cohort of Betty Irene Moore Fellows, a prestigious program for nurse leaders and innovators that has awarded CON half a million dollars to support his research project and leadership development. McGee, the prelicensure department chair and an associate professor, is collaborating with colleagues from other Georgia universities on both studies, which are occurring simultaneously. “I began my career as an ER nurse and have always wanted to ask bigger questions about the challenges facing patients and how we might best address them as a society,” said McGee, who was recently selected for publication in Blood Advances, the American Society of Hematology’s journal. “As nursing scientists, we are uniquely poised to ask questions about healthcare policy, specifically from the vantage point of the impact that policy choices have on patients and their health outcomes.” This century, the United States has seen rising maternal mortality rates with alarming racial disparities. Over half of these deaths occur in the postpartum period, with 23% occurring more than six weeks after delivery. Medicaid expansion covers pregnant women in households below 138% of the Federal poverty level through postpartum day 60, which has been associated with decreased mortality and reduced racial disparity in maternal death. At the time of grant submission, pregnancy Medicaid eligibility traditionally lapsed 60 days after delivery, leaving postpartum people vulnerable to disruptions in care. McGee’s work aims to identify changes in maternal health care use and health outcomes 60 days to 1 year after delivery that were associated with state Medicaid expansions (2007–19). The team will examine whether the effects of expansion vary by maternal race or ethnicity and will explore whether patient-reported health care access and quality mediate the relationships between expansion and outcomes. “My hope is that after the study we’ll have a better understanding of how health and health care use change for women in this crucial late postpartum period and how they may differ for people of different backgrounds,” said McGee. “Due to the sample design, findings will reliably inform optimal policy for postpartum coverage duration.” He expects this study to provide preliminary data for a future R01-funded study that directly examines the impact of extending the duration of postpartum Medicaid under the American Rescue Plan. As part of the Betty Irene Moore Fellowship, McGee is one of 15 fellows across the nation in a curriculum co-delivered by the UC Davis School of Nursing and Graduate School of Management. A project coordinator from AU’s School of Public Health will also assist with the fellowship project. McGee hopes to involve graduate research assistants or recent alumni as research associates on the team. Specifically, McGee will be studying the Georgia Pathways to Coverage Program, making him one of the only academic researchers in the nation funded to do so. “As a researcher, it is always a privilege to engage in topics that directly impact the current state of health care, and I’m honored to tackle projects that are so relevant to today’s health policy headlines,” he said. Georgia stands out among other states that are exploring an extension of Medicaid to low-income, working-age adults who demonstrate a monthly commitment of 80 hours to an employment-related activity. By studying the effects of this program, McGee predicts the findings will be highly relevant to anticipating the impact of recent Medicaid changes at the federal level and may indicate differences between Pathways participants and those who might qualify but remain uninsured. This focus could provide data that helps the state target enrollment efforts. The state’s own logic model predicts that the program will reduce hospitalizations, and McGee is eager to determine the program’s success. “Our findings should be helpful to the state to better understand those enrolling, what their experience with increased access to care has been and how their health has improved after receiving coverage,” McGee said.
In the two years since Augusta University and Wellstar Health System formally signed an agreement on August 30, 2023, the historic partnership has continued to evolve into a truly collaborative alliance. At its heart, the mission hasn’t changed: improving the health and wellbeing of all Georgians while educating and preparing the next generation of health care providers through access to world-class training. That was the message shared by Augusta University President Russell T. Keen, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University Dean David C. Hess, MD, and former Wellstar President and CEO Candice L. Saunders at the recent Health Connect South conference held at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. During their panel “Advancing Healthcare Through Public-Private Partnerships,” the three leaders – each instrumental in helping to create, implement and mold the historic partnership – shared with close to 1,100 attendees their insight into what makes the partnership beneficial for all and how it can be a model for advancing health care and health care education in Georgia and beyond. The full panel discussion is available for viewing here: It was an important event, and a full article is attached below as well. And if you're interested in learning more about the partnership between Augusta University and Wellstar, or connect with Augusta's President Russell T. Keen - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.
First scientific paper on 3I/ATLAS interstellar object
When the news started to spread on July 1, 2025, about a new object that was spotted from outside our solar system, only the third of its kind ever known, astronomers at Michigan State University — along with a team of international researchers — turned their telescopes to capture data on the new celestial sighting. The team rushed to write a scientific paper on what they know so far about the object, now called 3I/ATLAS, after NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, or ATLAS. ATLAS consists of four telescopes — two in Hawaii, one in Chile and one in South Africa — which automatically scans the whole sky several times every night looking for moving objects. MSU’s Darryl Seligman, a member of the scientific team and an assistant professor in the College of Natural Science, took the lead on writing the paper. “I heard something about the object before I went to bed, but we didn’t have a lot of information yet,” Seligman said. “By the time I woke up around 1 a.m., my colleagues, Marco Micheli from the European Space Agency and Davide Farnocchia from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, were emailing me that this was likely for real. I started sending messages telling everyone to turn their telescopes to look at this object and started writing the paper to document what we know to date. We have data coming in from across the globe about this object.” The discovery Larry Denneau, a member of the ATLAS team reviewed and submitted the observations from the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile shortly after it was observed on the night of July 1. Denneau said that he was cautiously excited. “We have had false alarms in the past about interesting objects, so we know not to get too excited on the first day. But the incoming observations were all consistent, and late that night it looked like we had the real thing. “It is especially gratifying that we found it in the Milky Way in the direction of the galactic center, which is a very challenging place to survey for asteroids because of all the stars in the background,” Denneau said. “Most other surveys don't look there.” John Tonry, another member of ATLAS and professor at the University of Hawaii, was instrumental in design and construction of ATLAS, the survey that discovered 3I. Tonry said, “It's really gratifying every time our hard work surveying the sky discovers something new, and this comet that has been traveling for millions of years from another star system is particularly interesting.” Once 3I/ATLAS was confirmed, Seligman and Karen Meech, faculty chair for the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawaii, both managed the communications flow and worked on getting the data pulled together for submitting the paper. “Once 3I/ATLAS was identified as likely interstellar, we mobilized rapidly,” Meech said. “We activated observing time on major facilities like the Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope and the Gemini Observatory to capture early, high-quality data and build a foundation for detailed follow-up studies.” After confirmation of the interstellar object, institutions from around the world began sharing information about 3I/ATLAS with Seligman. What scientists know about 3I/ATLAS so far Though data is pouring in about the discovery, it’s still so far away from Earth, which leaves many unanswered questions. Here’s what the scientific team knows at this point: It is only the third interstellar (meaning from outside our solar system) object to be detected passing through our solar system. It’s potentially giving off gas like other comets do, but that needs to be confirmed. It’s moving really fast at 60 kilometers per second, or 134,000 miles per hour, relative to the sun. It’s on an orbital path that is shaped like a boomerang or hyperbola. It’s very bright. It’s on a path that will leave our solar system and not return, but scientists will be able to study it for several months before it leaves. The James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope are expected to reveal more information about its size, composition, spin and how it reacts to being heated over the next few months. “We have these images of 3I/ATLAS where it’s not entirely clear and it looks fuzzier than the other stars in the same image,” said James Wray, a professor at Georgia Tech. “But the object is pretty far away and, so, we just don’t know.” Seligman and his team are specifically interested in 3I/ATLAS’s brightness because it informs us about the evolution of the coma, a cloud of dust and gas. They’ve been tracking it to see if it has been changing over time as the object moves and turns in space. They also want to monitor for sudden outburst events in which the object gets much brighter. “3I/ATLAS likely contains ices, especially below the surface, and those ices may start to activate as it nears the sun,” Seligman said. “But until we detect specific gas emissions, like H₂O, CO or CO₂, we can’t say for sure what kinds of ice or how much are there.” The discovery of 3I/ATLAS is just the beginning. For Tessa Frincke, who came to MSU in late June to begin her career as a doctoral student with Seligman, having the opportunity to analyze data from 3I/ATLAS to predict its future path could lead to her publishing a scientific paper of her own. “I’ve had to learn a lot quickly, and I was shocked at how many people were involved,” said Frincke. “Discoveries like this have a domino effect that inspires novel engineering and mission planning.” For Atsuhiro Yaginuma, a fourth-year undergraduate student on Seligman’s team, this discovery has inspired him to apply his current research to see if it is possible to launch a spacecraft from Earth to get it within hundreds of miles or kilometers to 3I/ATLAS to capture some images and learn more about the object. “The closest approach to Earth will be in December,” said Yaginuma. “It would require a lot of fuel and a lot of rapid mobilization from people here on Earth. But getting close to an interstellar object could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” “We can’t continue to do this research and experiment with new ideas from Frincke and Yaginuma without federal funding,” said Seligman, who also is a postdoctoral fellow of the National Science Foundation. Seligman and Aster Taylor, who is a former student of Seligman’s and now a doctoral candidate in astronomy and astrophysics and a 2023 Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Fellow, wrote the following: “At a critical moment, given the current congressional discussions on science funding, 3I/ATLAS also reminds us of the broader impact of astronomical research. An example like 3I is particularly important to astronomy — as a science, we are supported almost entirely by government and philanthropic funding. The fact that this science is not funded by commercial enterprise indicates that our field does not provide a financial return on investment, but instead responds to the public’s curiosity about the deep questions of the universe: Where did we come from? Are we alone? What else is out there? The curiosity of the public, as expressed by the will of the U.S. Congress and made manifest in the federal budget, is the reason that astronomy exists.” In addition to MSU, contributors to this research and paper include European Space Agency Near-Earth Objects Coordination Centre (Italy), NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Caltech (USA), University of Hawaii (USA), Auburn University (USA), Universidad de Alicante (Spain), Universitat de Barcelona (Spain), European Southern Observatory (Germany), Villanova University (USA), Lowell Observatory (USA), University of Maryland (USA), Las Cumbres Observatory (USA), University of Belgrade (Serbia), Politecnico di Milano (Italy), University of Michigan (USA), University of Western Ontario (Canada), Georgia Institute of Technology (USA), Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago (Chile) and Boston University (USA).
