The Record

Blocking immune cells’ path into brain limits neurodegeneration

In a mouse study, WashU Medicine researchers show that a drug injected into the body can reduce damage caused by a protein called tau, which accumulates in the brain in Alzheimer’s and related neurological diseases.

Wild crabapple genes could improve domestic varieties

WashU Arts & Sciences plant scientist Ben Mansfeld is studying the genome of wild crabapples to find helpful traits to develop in domestic apple varieties.

Cancer survivors less likely to be physically active, study finds

Adults with a history of cancer are less likely to be physically active than those without a cancer history, finds a new study from the WashU Brown School.

Notables

Seth Denizen and Montserrat Bonvehi Rosich, both at the WashU Sam Fox School, have won the 2026 John Brinckerhoff Jackson Book Prize for “Thinking Through Soil: Wastewater Agriculture in the Mezquital Valley.”

Research Wire

WashU Medicine researchers Aaron Lee and Cecilia Lee have won a $400,000 prize for creating a free online tool to help scientists track and showcase the real-world value of the raw research data they share with the public.

Announcements

Metro pilots single-car trains

Metro Transit has begun piloting single-car MetroLink trains through spring 2027. The pilot will roll out in phases, and riders should occasionally expect trains with only one car instead of two.