George Washington University Biologist Discovers New Dinosaur in China

Fossil remains found by a George Washington University biologist in northwestern China have been identified as a new species of small theropod, or meat-eating, dinosaur.

Sri Lankan Snake Study Reveals New Species, Rich Biodiversity in Island Country

Alex Pyron’s expertise is in family trees. Who is related to whom, who begat whom, how did they get where they are now. But not for humans: reptiles.

University of Maryland, George Washington University and Virginia Tech Awarded $3.75M by NSF to Launch National Innovation Network Regional Node

Three top universities in the Mid-Atlantic region are teaming to tackle an enduring challenge: how to translate $60 billion in research funding into new products and companies that benefit society.

George Washington University Researchers Find Variation in Foot Strike Patterns in Predominantly Barefoot Runners

A recently published paper by two George Washington University researchers show that the running foot strike patterns vary among habitually barefoot people in Kenya due to speed and other factors such as running habits and the hardness of the ground. These results are counter to the belief that barefoot people prefer one specific style of running.

Black Piranha, Megapiranha Have Most Powerful Bites of Fish Living or Extinct, Finds George Washington University Researcher

The black piranha and the extinct giant piranha, or megapiranha, have the most powerful bites of carnivorous fishes, living or extinct, once body size is taken into account, finds researchers in a paper recently published in Scientific Reports. The research paper, Mega-Bites: Extreme jaw forces of living and extinct piranhas, highlights the piranhas’ specialized jaw morphology, which allows them to attack and bite chunks out of much larger prey.

The George Washington University Receives Funding for Healthy Growth Research

George Washington University will receive over $2 million in grant funding through the Achieving Healthy Growth program within the Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative. This initiative was launched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to overcome persistent bottlenecks preventing the creation of new and better health solutions for the developing world.

Increasing Drought Stress Predicted to Challenge Vulnerable Hydraulic System of Plants, George Washington University Professor Finds

The hydraulic system of trees is so finely-tuned that predicted increases in drought due to climate change may lead to catastrophic failure in many species. A recent paper co-authored by George Washington University Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Amy Zanne finds that those systems in plants around the globe are operating at the top of their safety threshold, making forest ecosystems vulnerable to increasing environmental stress.

The George Washington University Receives Record 5-Year, $134 Million Grant to Study Type 2 Diabetes Medications

John Lachin, professor of biostatistics, epidemiology and statistics at the George Washington University, has been awarded a five-year, $134 million grant from the National Institute of Health’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to conduct a clinical trial examining the long-term effectiveness of several glucose-lowering medications for treatment of people with type 2 diabetes. The grant sets a record as the largest sum award GW has ever received.