{"id":214987,"date":"2026-04-01T20:24:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T20:24:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/214987\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T20:24:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T20:24:11","slug":"fiu-alzheimers-breakthrough-advances-to-national-finals-of-science-competition-stat-madness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/214987\/","title":{"rendered":"FIU Alzheimer\u2019s breakthrough advances to national finals of science competition \u2018STAT Madness\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Representing FIU in this year\u2019s STAT Madness finals is a research team from the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work<\/a>, led by Tom\u00e1s R. Guilarte (right), dean of Stempel College, and Daniel P\u00e9rez Mart\u00ednez, a doctoral candidate in biochemistry.<\/p>\n

Just as March Madness reaches its peak, FIU is making another championship run of its own. This time in science.<\/p>\n

For the second year in a row, FIU has advanced to the final round of\u00a0STAT Madness<\/a>, the annual bracket-style competition organized by\u00a0STAT\u00a0<\/a>that highlights some of the most innovative and impactful biomedical research published in the past year.<\/p>\n

Representing FIU in this year\u2019s finals is a research team from the\u00a0Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work<\/a>, led by Tom\u00e1s R. Guilarte, dean of Stempel College, and Daniel P\u00e9rez Mart\u00ednez, a doctoral candidate in biochemistry. Their\u00a0study explores TSPO, a protein associated with brain inflammation, as a potential early biomarker of Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/a><\/p>\n

The research identified increased levels of TSPO in key memory-related regions of the brain long before cognitive symptoms appear. Using advanced imaging and human brain tissue samples, the team found evidence suggesting that Alzheimer\u2019s-related changes may begin decades before diagnosis. The findings point to TSPO as a promising marker for early detection and a potential target for future therapies aimed at slowing disease progression.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing selected for STAT Madness two years in a row reflects the strength and consistency of the research at Stempel College,\u201d Guilarte said. \u201cLast year, Dr. Azzam\u2019s team demonstrated the impact of our cancer research. This year, our TSPO work continues that momentum by advancing innovation in Alzheimer\u2019s science.\u201d<\/p>\n

FIU\u2019s return to the championship round follows last year\u2019s strong showing, when\u00a0Dr. Diana Azzam\u2019s precision cancer research<\/a>\u00a0also advanced to the STAT Madness finals. Back-to-back appearances in the competition\u2019s final round underscore FIU\u2019s growing national profile in biomedical research and the university\u2019s continued momentum among leading research institutions.<\/p>\n

The winner of STAT Madness is determined by online public voting, and the FIU community is once again being encouraged to show its support.<\/p>\n

Voting for the championship round is now open and closes\u00a0Monday, April 6.\u00a0To vote, participants must follow these steps:<\/p>\n

Visit\u00a0go.fiu.edu\/STATMadness26<\/a>
\nCreate a free account
\nScroll trough the center of the bracket until you find FIU under \u201cChampionship\u201d
\nClick on \u201cVote Now\u201d
\nSelect FIU and click on \u201cVote\u201d<\/p>\n


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Click Here<\/a><\/p>\n

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