Zebrafish make a big splash

If you look at the range of research models available to scientists today (from fungi to flies to mice and larger), one little guy stands out – a tropical freshwater fish from the rivers of Bangladesh called the zebrafish. While it may be small, this fish is having a big impact on medical science, especially in genetics, stem cell biology, and drug screening, as covered recently in the Wall Street Journal. [Read more]

Spotting dyslexia before a child starts school

Children at risk for dyslexia show differences in brain activity on MRI scans even before they begin learning to read, finds a study at Children’s Hospital Boston. Since developmental dyslexia – a kind dyslexia that is not due to brain trauma – responds to early intervention, diagnosing children at risk before or during kindergarten could head off difficulties and frustration in school, the researchers say. [Read more]

Could texting reduce hospital readmissions?

The immediate hours and days after being discharged from the hospital can be something of a whirlwind, and making sure that prescriptions get filled and new appointments made can sometimes get lost in the shuffle. To help families from ending up back in the hospital, a Children's pediatrician wants to create a system that automatically texts families the day after discharge to make sure they have everything they need and no concerns. [Read more]

Check out our timeline of Recent Advances and Featured Science and Innovations.