Moving the needle in higher education

‘Lifesaving’ ketamine offers new hope for PTSD sufferers

A growing number of Americans are turning to ketamine — long used as a surgical anesthetic and known for recreational misuse — as a powerful treatment for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. A new University of Florida study, led by 2024 graduate Shahar Almog, Ph.D., suggests that the drug may offer even more mental health benefits than previously thought.

UF researchers get closer to saliva test for breast cancer

University of Florida researchers have improved a potentially transformative handheld device to detect breast cancer in saliva, simplifying the design and confirming its accuracy. The pocket-sized biosensor quickly and accurately detected breast cancer and distinguished the type by measuring biomarkers in saliva samples, a study published in the journal Biosensors found.

Surprising finding could pave way for universal cancer vaccine

An experimental mRNA vaccine boosted the tumor-fighting effects of immunotherapy in a mouse-model study, bringing researchers one step closer to their goal of developing a universal vaccine to “wake up” the immune system against cancer.

Florida scientists to send seeds to ISS to study farming solutions for Earth’s harsh conditions

As drought and extreme heat test American farmers more than ever, University of Florida researchers are looking to another harsh environment to create durable crops: space. Wagner Vendrame, professor in the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) environmental horticulture department and part of UF’s Astraeus Space Institute, sent four types of UF-bred seeds to the International Space Station on August 1, 2025 on the payload of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

University of Florida research spending at record $1.33 billion for FY2025, new awards at $1.2 billion

University of Florida faculty conducted a record $1.33 billion in research in fiscal year 2025, advancing new medical treatments, supporting Florida’s farmers and helping to grow statewide industries such as aerospace and semiconductors. Total research expenditures were up about 4.5%, or $57.3 million, over FY 2024.

UF Health Shands liver and lung transplant programs top in the nation

According to ratings by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, choosing UF Health for a liver transplant over any other program in the country gives patients the best overall outcomes. Collectively, this means a shorter wait time for a new organ, the lowest likelihood of dying while waiting and the highest chances of surviving after transplant.

University of Florida sets new records in technology transfer metrics for fiscal year 2025

The University of Florida has once again demonstrated its leadership in innovation and technology transfer, setting new records in key metrics for fiscal year 2025, which ended on June 30. The university registered 446 technology disclosures, a substantial increase from the 369 disclosures reported in the previous fiscal year. This record number of disclosures is a critical indicator of the translational research being conducted at UF.

From classroom to cosmos: Students aim to build big things in space

UF engineering associate professor Victoria Miller, Ph.D., and her students are pushing the boundaries of possibilities. In partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, known as DARPA, and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, the University of Florida engineering team is exploring how to manufacture precision metal structures in orbit using laser technology.

Forecasting the final frontier: How research prepares U.S. for the next solar storm

At the University of Florida, space physicist Alicia Petersen, Ph.D., is working on solutions that could help shield the nation from the next big solar storm. Her work is small piece of a growing federal push, involving NASA, NOAA, and the U.S. Space Force, to respond to changes in the space environment and build more accurate prediction systems.

Digital twin technology simulates strawberry farm, boosts AI tools and cuts costs

Digital twins are virtual replicas of objects, systems or processes that can predict system behavior as they interact in a simulated environment. Dana Choi and her team of University of Florida scientists have now shown that that the robotic system, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), is accurate and that it saves time and labor. That’s critical for the $500 million-a-year Florida strawberry industry and could also be crucial for an industry worth $2 billion annually across the United States.