Past News
Leadership Profile: Rethinking Systems for Sustainabilty
January 16, 2026
Chad Laux, Circular Economy Systems Co-Lead and Associate Professor & Graduate Education Chair, Purdue Polytechnic Institute, has always been drawn to systems — how they work, how they fail, and how they can be made better for people, industry, and the planet. His career began with a fascination for quality and efficiency in manufacturing, and over time evolved into something broader: a commitment to rethinking how we use resources entirely.
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FDA Issues Updated Guidance Loosening Regulatory Approach to Certain Digital Health Tools
January 15, 2026
On January 6, 2026, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued updates to its guidance documents governing clinical decision support (CDS) software1 and general wellness devices.2 FDA Commissioner Marty Makary touted these changes as a way for FDA to “get out of the way as a regulator.”3 Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the changes “[unlock] wearable devices for general wellness that have, for too long, been tied up in red tape.”4
FDA Issues Updated Guidance Loosening Regulatory Approach to Certain Digital Health Tools
$7.5 million grant to probe innermost circuits of the brain, the building blocks of cognition
January 13, 2026
The human brain houses some 80 billion neurons and a trillion supporting cells, weaving together nanoscale synapses and global circuits that orchestrate thought, memory and adaptability. Yet what sustains this vast network is not only its wiring but also its metabolism: every act of remembering, attending or deciding is powered by an intricate balance of energy. Unlocking how neuronal computations flex under shifting metabolic conditions could illuminate the hidden bioenergetic demands of cognition, bridging the microscopic mechanisms of circuits with the higher-order intelligence they enable.
$7.5 million grant to probe innermost circuits of the brain, the building blocks of cognition
Portable device enables rapid pathogen detection in diverse field environments
January 13, 2026
Purdue University researchers have developed a device for more conveniently detecting pathogens in health care settings, on farms and in food production operations.
Portable device enables rapid pathogen detection in diverse field environments
One dose of HPV vaccine as effective as two
January 13, 2026
A single dose of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine provided protection comparable to the current standard of two doses. The findings suggest that single-dose vaccine regimens could effectively prevent HPV and the cancers it causes, most notably cervical cancer.
ISF Broadens Reach – Expands Opportunities
January 12, 2026
ISF's mission is to promote research, partnerships, and engagement in areas including the environment, climate impacts and resilience, food-energy-water security, human and biosphere health, and sustainability as broadly defined by the Sustainable Development Goals. In the past year the Institute has added several new research groups to expand its reach.
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Stanford’s AI spots hidden disease warnings that show up while you sleep
January 6, 2026
Stanford researchers have developed an AI that can predict future disease risk using data from just one night of sleep. The system analyzes detailed physiological signals, looking for hidden patterns across the brain, heart, and breathing. It successfully forecast risks for conditions like cancer, dementia, and heart disease. The results suggest sleep contains early health warnings doctors have largely overlooked.
Stanford’s AI spots hidden disease warnings that show up while you sleep
Menopause symptoms are common even in elite endurance athletes
January 2, 2026
Menopause symptoms are common among female endurance athletes and often interfere with training and performance. A survey of women aged 40–60 who train regularly found high rates of sleep problems, exhaustion, anxiety, weight gain, and joint pain. Many athletes said these symptoms made it harder to train effectively or perform at their best. The results highlight a need for greater attention to menopause in active women.
Menopause symptoms are common even in elite endurance athletes
November Edition: Newly Issued Patents
December 31, 2025
Congratulations to Purdue University researchers across all campuses and academic disciplines. They have recently received 27 patents on their intellectual property from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Postdoc Portrait: Priya Prakas
December 30, 2025
This postdoc investigates how glial cells lose balance and fuel rare diseases like X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism.