#KUResearch
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Help us congratulate Life Span Institute affiliated researcher Alice Zhang. She was among those recognized by the Kansas Board of Regents as among the 2026 Faculty of the Year. #KUresearch
Congratulations 2026 Faculty of the Year Alice Zhang, Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy at the University of Kansas Medical Center
October 1, 2026 at 4:03 PM
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ATLAS Insights showcases how we bridge the gap between #research and practice in #education.
🔍 ATLAS Insights: atlas.ku.edu/news/article...
📢 Let us know what resonates with you, or share how you're using research to drive impact in your own work.
#ResearchToPractice #KUresearch
Advances in teaching, learning, and assessment
Spotlight on ATLAS's work to improve educational outcomes for all students
atlas.ku.edu
May 21, 2025 at 3:01 PM
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Students across #Kansas — and the country — struggle to meet writing benchmarks. Now #educators have a new tool with #AI technology developed by #KUresearch that has shown to help students growth in #writing competency. ✍️

Learn more: loom.ly/N4sTC9Q
KU researchers developing AI-boosted program to help teach writing skills to students with disabilities
A KU research team is developing and expanding Project AI-Score, a system that uses artificial intelligence technology to help instructors more efficiently teach writing to students with disabilities.
loom.ly
February 24, 2025 at 10:31 PM
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Autistic children are more likely to experience gastrointestinal (GI) problems. Researchers at the Laboratory of Affective Sensory Research are working to better understand why.

Learn about options for participating in the study at https://loom.ly/lb_0c-s

#KUresearch #AutismResearch #autistic
"We know that these issues, like stomach pain and difficulties with meals, are common in autism and affect a lot of areas of life." Dr. Alisa Zoltowski, Laboratory of Affective Sensory Research
December 12, 2025 at 3:07 PM
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Attention Researchers!
Join the Cofrin Logan Center's Fall Seminar Series as it hosts Joshua Grubbs, PhD, for his talk: “A Risky Bet? A Longitudinal Consideration of Sports Gambling and Alcohol Use” at Sept. 12 at 11:30 AM CT
https://loom.ly/X8mjnTE

#KUResearch #SportsGambling #Alcohol #Research
September 5, 2025 at 4:05 PM
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You just found out you're #pregnant. Is it time to eliminate seafood from your diet? KU researchers join others in advising changes to federal guidelines to make clear — the omega-3s in fish are essential for the developing fetus. 🔗 https://loom.ly/3YyKv34

🧪 #KUresearch #nutrition
June 12, 2025 at 2:06 PM
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Attention #researchers! Get out of your "information silo" and join the Collaborative Research Luncheon, hosted by the KU Office of Research, at noon Sept. 9. Space is limited! So register soon for this — or one of others scheduled this year. 🔗 Learn more: https://loom.ly/aas5WOg

#KUresearch
People in boxes separated from each other
September 3, 2025 at 2:05 PM
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#KUresearch on understanding of the needs of the LGBTQ community can improve programs that serve individuals who use them as part of their #recovery. 🔗 https://loom.ly/dYP0-g8

#pridemonth #pride #LGBTQ
An image of a red cube among rows of white spheres. Text reads: "Many LGBTQ individuals experience barriers to successful involvement in 12-step groups." Briana McGeough, investigator
June 16, 2025 at 2:05 PM
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Some traits of #autism may be shaped by early sensory differences, according to #KUresearch. Scientist Carissa Cascio explains how these differences can trigger a cascade that shapes how children explore, learn, and connect. #SPD #SensoryProccessing

🧪 https://loom.ly/rQ_okog
How understanding sensory differences can help parents support autistic children
Sensory processing disorder has been estimated to occur in as much as 90% of children with autism, compared to occurring in an estimated 5-17% of the general population.
lifespan.ku.edu
October 9, 2025 at 2:04 PM
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KU researchers are studying the link between Alzheimer's and #dementia in individuals with #DownSyndrome to learn what drugs and other interventions, such as diet and exercise, can stave off the onset of disease. #KUresearch 🧪 Read more: https://loom.ly/aJK49zk
KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center leading the nation in work with Down syndrome and dementia
One of only two Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers with a Down syndrome research program, KU ADRC has worked to increase community involvement in clinical trials.
www.kumc.edu
September 29, 2025 at 4:05 PM
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Narrative language skills are an essential part of literacy and communication, but as much as 90% of #AAC interventions focus on making requests. #KUresearch tested a storytelling-based AAC approach that improved communication and #literacy skills for nonspeaking students. 🔗 https://loom.ly/BHSWcdM
Using AAC with storytelling boosts literacy skills in proof-of-concept study
Children who depend on AAC to communicate are not usually encouraged to tell stories. This includes 25 to 30% of autistic children who never develop functional spoken communication even with early intervention.
lifespan.ku.edu
September 25, 2025 at 2:05 PM
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Projects such as WRITE, VOISS, and AI-SCORE show how technology can help make learning more accessible, engaging and effective for students with disabilities and diverse learning needs.

#Literacy #SpecialEducation #KUResearch
3 KU-developed tools for educators that use technology to make learning more accessible, engaging and effective for diverse learners. Swipe to find out. VOISS: Virtual reality Opportunity to Integrate Social Skills. VOISS is the research-backed extended reality platform designed to help middle school students develop essential social skills with scenario-based play. https://www.voissxr.com AI SCORE: Artificial Intelligence Scored Composition to Improve Outcomes for Written Expression. AI SCORE: Artificial Intelligence Scored Composition to Improve Outcomes for Written Expression. https://lifespan.ku.edu/aiscore WRITE: Writing stRategies for Instructional Technology in Education. WRITE provides educators with evidence-based strategies, technology recommendations, and resources to help all students develop essential writing skills that unlock academic success. https://writingclassroom.org
September 10, 2026 at 2:04 PM
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Cofrin Logan Center's Jessica Powers has been recognized as the inaugural recipient of the Judy Janes Professorship in Addiction Research. The honor supports better understand of addiction research while helping train future scientists and clinicians. #AddictionScience #KUresearch
Congratulations. Inaugural Judy Janes Professor in Addiction Research. Jessica Powers. Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment.
September 22, 2026 at 7:01 PM
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🎉 Congratulations to Life Span Institute-affiliated researcher Raúl Rojas on being selected as one of 10 KU faculty members for the 2026-27 Senior Administrative Fellows cohort! #KUResearch #LifeSpanInstitute
Congratulations. Senior Administrative Fellow 2026-27. Raul Rojas. Director of the Bilingual Language Laboratory.
September 17, 2026 at 4:03 PM
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KU researcher Tera Fazzino has received grant to investigate whether hyperpalatable foods may have addictive properties. The study could help inform future food policy and regulation. Learn more: https://loom.ly/dydCMtE

#KUResearch #PublicHealth #NutritionScience #AddictionResearch
Five different bowls of chips are shown with text: Hyperpalatable foods are formulated with artificially high levels of fat, salt and carbohydrates, combinations that are uncommon in nature and may increase a food's reinforcing effects.
September 3, 2026 at 2:04 PM
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We are proud to highlight the work of Lyndsie Koon, KU Life Span Institute researcher. The latest "I Am Striving" series shared how she's helping to change expectations of what people with mobility disabilities can achieve through inclusive functional fitness. https://loom.ly/-qmQ8Yg #KUresearch
"I was originally inspired by people with mobility disabilities who were already participating in functional fitness. They were ... showing the world what they could do, and they were showing the world the effects that it had on their health." Lyndsey Koon, Assistant research professor at the KU Life Span Institute
July 15, 2026 at 2:04 PM
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How does our childhood environment shape the decisions we make as adults? 🧠🌱 A recent meta-analysis from the KU Life Span Institute reveals a powerful link between early home environments and adult decision-making. 🧪

📖 Read the full report: https://loom.ly/VLKzY8U

#KUresearch #AddictionScience
A woman holds her child with text that reads: Research shows children are significantly less likely to make impulsive and often destruction decisions later in life who when they grow up in homes without: verbal aggression, physical discipline, or humiliation
July 2, 2026 at 2:04 PM
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When diagnoses shift but symptoms persist, patients can fall through the cracks. #kuResearch highlights why symptom-level understanding may improve treatment planning.

Read about the study: https://loom.ly/RKjFEvw
"People are wanting a system that is going to be more clinically helpful and also convey more information about prognosis." Dr. Kelsie Forbush,Director of CARE at KU
June 26, 2026 at 4:05 PM
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Eating disorders often appear differently in men and boys. However, gender bias means they are less likely to be assessed or diagnosed. #KUresearch is looking to better understand the diversity of this mental health condition to better diagnosis and treat #EatingDisorders.

#MensHealthMonth
A man looks into the mirror at himself at a gym while reaching for weights. Text reads: About one in three people struggling with an eating disorder is male.
June 24, 2026 at 2:04 PM
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Ultra-processed foods are in the news a lot lately, but KU researcher Tera Fazzino traces this trend to when Big Tobacco took over food companies. @npr.org spoke with Dr. Fazzino about the impact of this shift. https://loom.ly/4vusi6I #KUresearch #AddictionScience
"They applied the same strategies to developing light and reduced food products with the express goal of retaining customers who might otherwise stop consuming some of their products, such as cheeses and other items that customers had concerns about due the health harms." ~ Dr. Tera Fazzino,Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment
June 16, 2026 at 2:05 PM
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How did tobacco marketing strategies shape today’s ultra-processed food industry? New research reveals how cigarette-selling tactics were adapted to promote food products worldwide — with far-reaching health impacts. https://loom.ly/TL-Lmzo

#UPF #UltraProcessedFood #KUresearch
A woman reads the nutrition label on a book of food at a grocery store. Text reads: At least 70% of the U.S. food supply are hyperpalatable, which are engineered to make you want to overeat.
June 15, 2026 at 4:13 PM
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In April, your support during One Day One KU helped raise $11,418 for eating disorder research at the Center for the Advancement of Research on Eating Behaviors. Today, we would like to say thank you. Your support for #KUresearch is making a difference.
June 2, 2026 at 2:04 PM
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New #KUresearch highlights a tough reality: chronic pain can drive smoking, and smoking can make pain (and mental health) worse over time. This is a “really vicious cycle,” said Cofrin Logan Center researcher Jessica Powers, who co-authored the study.

Learn more: https://loom.ly/lZI050M
A hand puts out a cigarette in an ash tray. Text reads: "Pain is driving smoking, smoking makes the pain worse, which makes it really hard to quit." — Jessica Powers, Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research & Treatment
May 8, 2026 at 2:05 PM
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What if mental health conditions like anxiety, depression and eating disorders aren’t separate, but deeply connected?
#KUresearch explores how these symptoms overlap, and what that means for diagnosis and treatment. #MentalHealthAwareness

Read more: https://loom.ly/A0aLWnQ
"The current system is categorical, so you either have the mental health condition or you don’t. ... So, in many cases, that yes-or-no label doesn’t really tell the clinician or therapist what is actually going on with a person." Kelsie Forbush,Director of the Center for the Advancement of Research on Eating Behaviors
May 6, 2026 at 10:12 PM
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Data is the foundation every good policy is built on. You can't fix what you can't measure. And you can't measure what you don't know.
KU researchers invest in research that helps individuals and communities across Kansas. #KUresearch #EvidenceBased
Illustration of people in rows with text that reads: Better data = Better policy
May 4, 2026 at 2:04 PM