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‘It’s really a scary time:’ WVU researcher works to keep high school athletes safe across U.S.

As they settle into a new school year, student-athletes don’t just have to protect themselves from COVID-19. They also have to protect themselves from the heat, cardiac arrests, traumatic brain injuries and several other catastrophic injuries. West Virginia University researcher Samantha Scarneo-Miller and her colleagues at the University of Connecticut investigated the policies that high schools across the country use to protect their student-athletes from the most common safety threats. They also are traveling from state to state to meet with policymakers to ensure that life-saving policies are adopted nationwide. Their findings appear in the American Journal of Sports Medicine.

WVU researcher studies inflammatory effects of toxic chemicals

Many of us face safety risks at work, but those serving in the military or working in law enforcement and industrial settings are at greater risk for dangerous chemical exposures. This risk is significant, as nearly 10% of occupational illnesses or injuries that lead to death are caused by exposure to chemicals. Jonathan Boyd—a West Virginia University School of Medicine researcher—is investigating the inflammatory responses produced by exposure to chemical agents. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency recently awarded him over $2 million for the project.

Sniffing out an alternative: WVU scientists developing nasal mist vaccine targeting COVID-19

The only approved way to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is through a good ‘ol shot in the arm. Eventually, West Virginia University medical researchers could change that narrative. Scientists say they’ve developed a nasal mist that you would inhale through your nose and would offer protection against SARS-CoV-2 and its emerging variants. “The more I watched the vaccine race as a bystander, I kept thinking, ‘We should really test the idea of a nasal mist,’” said Heath Damron, director of the WVU Vaccine Development Center.

BeWell Blog — "Try This Tuesday: Take a REST"

Have you noticed yourself often saying things in the heat of the moment that you did not mean? Or perhaps you frequently make decisions that you later regret. Maybe sometimes your emotions overwhelm you like a tidal wave, and you feel helpless against them.

Mask guidance updated for WVU Medicine employees located at Health Sciences Campuses

WVU Medicine recently updated masking guidance for all employees who work at non-clinical, administrative sites, including the Health Sciences campuses in Morgantown, Eastern and Charleston. Individuals who are employed by the WVU Health System, including WVU Hospitals and University Health Associates, are required to resume wearing masks when working at the Health Sciences campuses, regardless of whether the employee is vaccinated or not. The Delta variant, now the predominant variant in the United States, is highly contagious, much more so than the original virus and some of the earlier variants. The best protection against the Delta variant however remains the available vaccines: initial studies indicate that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 88% effective against symptomatic disease and 96% effective against hospitalization from Delta, while Oxford-AstraZeneca (which is not an mRNA vaccine) was 60% effective against symptomatic disease and 93% effective against hospitalization. The studies tracked participants who were fully vaccinated with both recommended doses. All employees are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated – they’re free; they’re readily available at Employee Health and through the Monogalia County Health Department or local health departments in areas around the State; they’re safe; and they work. WVU is hosting a series of pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics this weekend for all students, faculty and staff on the Morgantown campus as well as members of the community. Questions may be directed to Health Sciences Incident Command at HSIC@hsc.wvu.edu.

BeWell Blog — "Try This Tuesday: Strengthen that Funny Bone"

The BeWell team is offering a series of helpful tips for mental health and wellbeing called "Try This Tuesday." This week, Layne Hitchcock discusses the power of laughter. Research says that laughing can help with improving overall wellbeing, reducing unpleasant emotion, and directly impacting our mental health. It also assists with decreasing pain, promoting muscle relaxation, and reducing stress hormones.