Stick a needle in my eye

Not sure about you, but we’re not totally comfortable with the current way doctors treat some eye diseases: injections through the wall of the eye. Researchers at University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and Ohio State University have received a four-year, $1.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health/National Eye Institute to develop a drug delivery system other than conventional eye injections.

From a spider’s point of view

While we’re on the topic of cringey stuff, researchers at UC’s Morehouse Lab are trying to understand how paradise jumping spiders see the world, particularly in terms of facial recognition. Why spiders? According to Nate Morehouse, the head of the lab, they are incredibly clever and make all kinds of cognitive decisions. You can read about the lab’s experiments (and, unfortunately, get an up-close gander at one of the spider’s faces) by clicking here.

Treating depression with spinal stimulation

A researcher at UC’s College of Medicine is studying a new way to treat depression with a device that delivers stimulation to a patient’s spine. Dr. Francisco Romo-Nava, MD, PhD, says the technique could improve the feedback in the central nervous system that is sometimes disrupted in people with psychiatric disorders.

NKU offers upskilling

Need to get insight into a new career field before you commit? NKU’s College of Informatics is launching a set of initiatives that help people seeking upskilling in the technology field. NKU faculty, in collaboration with local industry practitioners, will provide participants with hands-on, personalized overviews of key fields.

New research chamber at Wright-Patterson

How do humans handle high altitude, acceleration and disorientation? The Air Force unveiled a $38 million research chamber at Wright-Patt that will be used to test altitude conditions on humans and equipment.

Faith and entrepreneurship

Miami University has received a seven-figure gift from an alumnus to help support an entrepreneurship-focused program that is one of the first of its kind in the world. The money will support the Leading the Integration of Faith and Entrepreneurship program, which is part of the Farmer School of Business.

$35M funding round for bariatric surgery company

Standard Bariatrics, Inc. announced the completion of a $35 million series B round led by U.S. Venture Partners. The money will be used to further transform the company’s work in bariatric surgery. In April, the company’s Titan SGS stapler received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration.