University of South Florida Research

10/23/2026

USF Health Morsani College of Medicine researchers, in partnership with Tampa General Hospital and Hokkaido University in Japan, have uncovered a groundbreaking mechanism that helps metastatic colorectal cancer evade the body’s immune defenses, opening the door to new, more effective therapies for the world’s second-leading cause of cancer deaths.

This international study, published in the Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research, reveals that a process once believed to occur only inside cancer cells actually plays a crucial role in the environment surrounding metastatic tumors. This discovery links immune suppression, advanced disease and poorer patient survival to the tumor microenvironment.

In the lab, scientists blocked two key components of this pathway, allowing killer T cells to return and attack cancer cells, offering hope for patients whose tumors resist current immunotherapies.

By analyzing 574 human colon cancer samples, researchers found that as cancer spreads, pro-cancer growth lipids (S1P) rise while cancer-killing lipids (ceramide) drop. Advanced mapping showed these molecules concentrate in surrounding tissue and immune cells, fueling inflammation and blocking immune response.

A newly identified three-gene signature signals aggressive cancer and poor response to standard treatments. Targeting the S1P/S1PR3 pathway could help immune cells fight back, potentially improving survival rates for patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Learn more about this promising research: https://ow.ly/lvSC5100vKC

10/22/2026

USF Research is reaching new heights! 🚀 This year, the University of South Florida achieved a record $775 million in research funding, representing a 3% increase from last year and an incredible 42% growth over five years. In a time when federal research funding is shrinking nationwide, USF is defying the odds, with a 38% jump in National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards and major support from agencies like the National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of War.

From Professor Tansel Yucelen’s work with the U.S. Army on next-gen autonomous systems, to Professor Maya Trotz’s efforts to safeguard coastal communities, and Professor Lingling Fan’s partnership with Tampa Electric to create a digital twin of the power grid, USF is at the forefront of real-world solutions.

Our partnerships with over 700 private and industry leaders, including clinical trials that could change lives for patients with Parkinson’s disease, are fueling discoveries that matter. USF Health researchers alone secured $185 million in NIH grants, tackling challenges like Type 1 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.

Discover how USF is turning groundbreaking research into real-world impact: https://ow.ly/ug4451004FA

10/21/2026

A single moment on the field changed everything for Mathis Fürst Haugen and the ⚽USF Men's Soccer team when he experienced a severe dehydration episode that ended his season, but sparked a game-changing idea. Inspired by his experience, Haugen (now a USF alumnus) and Rima El Brouzi, a USF computer science master’s student, set out to transform how athletes approach hydration.

They created syp, a smart hydration-monitoring system that pairs a removable bottle sleeve with a mobile app, delivering real-time, personalized hydration insights. Unlike traditional bottles, syp’s technology automatically tracks liquid intake, syncs with wearables for activity and physiological data and factors in everything from weather to workout intensity.

Launched in 2024, syp is now being piloted by USF student-athletes through the Founding Athletes Program. Backed by USF’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and now expanding to other universities, syp is on the path to revolutionize athletic health. The team is gearing up for a Kickstarter launch in early 2027.

Discover the full story: https://ow.ly/AbhJ50ZZKgH

10/19/2026

We're investing in 10 research projects that showcase the innovative work happening across our college.

From helping teachers integrate AI into their classrooms to studying exercise addiction, our faculty are exploring new ways to address challenges that affect our communities.

University of South Florida Research

Full story:🔗⬇️

10/19/2026

Who has access to hearing aids — and who is being left behind?

A new study led by Michelle Arnold, an audiologist and associate professor in the University of South Florida Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, reveals persistent gaps in mandated hearing aid insurance coverage, particularly among older and lower-income adults.

🔗 Read more: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/news/2026/usf-study-finds-persistent-gaps-in-hearing-aid-coverage-especially-for-older-and-lower-income-adults.aspx

University of South Florida Research

10/16/2026

A $2 million grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is launching the first-ever Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Makerspace at a Florida university—right here in the USF Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing. 👏

This state-of-the-art facility will empower students and faculty to build, test and refine emerging technologies, advancing research and education in secure and trustworthy AI. With cutting-edge equipment for advanced computing, hardware experimentation and secure data research, the makerspace will support hands-on learning in networking, embedded systems, microcontroller design, reverse engineering and vulnerability analysis.

Thanks to U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee’s advocacy, this project was selected as a federal funding priority, ensuring its success. More than 800 USF students each year will benefit, and faculty are already planning innovative courses like Pe*******on Testing, Hands-on Cybersecurity, Edge-AI, Malware Analysis, and Capture the Flag.

Discover more:

University of South Florida

10/16/2026

Congratulations to University of South Florida Team NeuTrode on winning the People's Choice Award at the National Inventors Hall of Fame College Inventors Competition! 👏 Read more about their invention: https://ow.ly/f0mh50ZYpvV

10/14/2026

Imagine if national security leaders could preview their next move before making it. 🤫At University of South Florida's brand-new Security Analysis and Innovation Lab (SAIL), that’s now possible. By blending expertise in human behavior, artificial intelligence and predictive modeling, SAIL empowers national security partners to anticipate outcomes and make smarter decisions.

USF just celebrated the grand opening of SAIL and its INSIGHT Core facility with a ribbon cutting attended by USF President Moez Limayem, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, USF College of Arts and Sciences Dean Elizabeth Spiller and other champions of innovation.

Supported by a $1.63 million federal appropriation, SAIL is a game-changer for USF’s national security research. The INSIGHT Core team, led by experts recruited from U.S. Central Command, brings advanced modeling and analytics to real-world challenges, connecting USF’s strengths in behavioral science, AI, engineering and more.

SAIL is also a showcase for USF’s HIBAR approach, uniting researchers and partners from the start with the goal of creating a university-wide Human Dynamics and National Security Network that links expertise across disciplines and industries.

Discover how USF and SAIL are shaping the future of national security. Read more: https://ow.ly/A4UE50ZXAsW

10/12/2026

Countdown to history! 🚀 Tomorrow at 6:15 a.m., a microgravity research experiment created by a team of University of South Florida undergrads will launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center to the International Space Station. This marks USF’s first-ever selection for the prestigious Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP)—chosen from over 420 proposals nationwide! Join us in cheering on our Bulls as their innovation heads to space. Don’t miss the live launch:

Coverage of the Launch of NASA’s SpaceX 35th Cargo Resupply Mission to the International Space Station

10/10/2026

When Kate Heath noticed her 12-year-old pug, Ivy, quietly staring at a wall, she sensed something was deeply wrong. As Ivy’s world faded—her vision dimming, hearing slipping away and nights spent wandering lost—Kate became her constant guardian, watching over her beloved companion through the challenges of canine dementia.

For countless dog owners, this heartbreaking journey is all too familiar. But now, USF Health researchers are working to change the story.

Aurelie Joly, research associate at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, is pioneering a gene therapy to treat canine cognitive decline—a condition strikingly similar to Alzheimer’s in humans. While current treatments only manage symptoms, Joly’s approach targets the root cause, using a harmless virus to deliver genetic instructions that help brain cells protect themselves from age-related damage.

Supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Florida High Tech Corridor’s Early-Stage Innovation Fund, Joly and her team at Blue Zone Therapeutics are moving this promising therapy closer to real-world veterinary use. Their work could offer hope to pet owners like Kate, who faced the devastating reality of losing Ivy in 2024.

Discover how this research could change the future for dogs and people alike: https://ow.ly/YYeT50ZWmsS