New techniques are enabling scientists to understand where certain cells are with respect to one another and how changes in their activity may affect your overall health. In one recent example of the power of this approach, NIH-funded researchers used a sophisticated method to map immune cells within human skin to get a more detailed picture of psoriasis.

Many cellular and molecular changes have been identified in the skin of people with psoriasis. But it’s not known how the various immune cells involved are distributed within the skin and how these differ between healthy and diseased skin, or whether they differ in psoriatic arthritis. To find out, an NIH-funded research team led by Drs. Jose U. Scher and Shruti Naik at NYU Langone Health used a technique called spatial transcriptomics.

On April 24 and 25, 2023, NIAMS Extramural program staff, Institute leadership, and other members attended the first scientific planning retreat under Dr. Criswell’s leadership. How to support science - How to use NIAMS funds for greatest impact? Learn from successes. How to better support investigators? What are NIAMS values and its reputation?

An international team of researchers funded in part by NIAMS sought to understand why skin nevi grow long hair. The team determined that senescent melanocytes within nevi produce large quantities of several signaling molecules. One such molecule, called osteopontin, causes dormant hair stem cells to wake up, which increases hair growth.

Researchers have found that people with obstructive sleep apnea have an increased cardiovascular risk due to reduced blood oxygen levels, largely explained by interrupted breathing. The findings show the mechanism mostly responsible for the link.

BACPAC is designed to take a comprehensive approach to understanding and treating back pain. This issue of Pain Medicine contains important information on these efforts.

The NIH has awarded $24 million in first-year funding to establish Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence. Part of NIH’s Implementing a Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) initiative, the centers will develop and evaluate innovative approaches to reduce pregnancy-related complications and deaths and promote maternal health equity. The grants are expected to last seven years and total an estimated $168 million, pending the availability of funds.