Tulane National Biomedical Research Center

June is CMV Awareness Month.

CMV is the most common infectious cause of birth defects in the United States, yet many people have never heard of it.

At the TNBRC, researchers are working to better understand how CMV affects pregnancy and why some babies are more vulnerable than others.

Recent studies have shown that CMV may affect fetal growth even when infection is not detected in the fetus itself, highlighting the important role of the placenta in protecting developing babies.

By studying how CMV interacts with the placenta and the maternal immune system, TNBRC scientists are helping advance research that could one day lead to better vaccines, prevention strategies, and healthier outcomes for mothers and babies.

Special thanks to TNBRC pathologist, Dr. Robert Blair, for providing the image below of placental tissue at the maternal-fetal interface. Different colors highlight different cell and tissue structures, helping researchers study how CMV interacts with the placenta.

Yesterday, the TNBRC celebrated Mr. Ronnie Berg, who is “retiring” after 21 years of unpaid service as the public, non-affiliated member of our Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, or IACUC.

An IACUC is a federally required committee that helps make sure animals involved in research are cared for humanely and responsibly. The committee reviews research plans, animal care programs, and facilities to help ensure that all required guidelines and regulations are followed.

The public member is a critical part of the IACUC. This person is not employed by or connected to the institution, which means they bring an outside, community perspective to the conversation. Their contributions help to ensure that the public’s voice is represented in the oversight of animal care and use in research.

Ronnie gave his time, attention, and thoughtful perspective to this important work, and we are deeply grateful for his service to the TNBRC and our research mission.

The TNBRC is always open to new community members who may be interested in serving in this capacity, or as alternates. If you would like to learn more about this important public role, please contact us.

Ah, one of our *favorite* days, and the best way to kick off a long Memorial Day weekend: our annual TNBRC crawfish boil.

A huge thanks to our tireless Employee Events Committee and facilities team for all their hard work putting this event on; to the Executive Committee for serving up heaps of crawfish and fixings; to our faithful DJ for keeping the vibe strong with great music; and to the weather for holding off just long enough for us to enjoy some sunshine and warm breezes.

Gut dysfunction is a persistent challenge in HIV, even when the virus is well controlled.

A new study led by Namita Rout, PhD, associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center, suggests that diet-derived compounds found in vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage may help support immune activity involved in gut repair, opening the door to further research into nutritional strategies that could support long-term health for people living with HIV.

Congratulations to Dr. Rout and the TNBRC team on this important work.

Study suggests diet-derived compound could repair gut damage caused by HIV Even when HIV is controlled, damage to the gut caused by the disease can persist. A new study found early evidence that diet-derived compounds found in vegetables from the mustard family, such as broccoli and cabbage, may help support immune activity involved in gut repair.

Members of the TNBRC community rolled up their sleeves this week for Tulane’s Day of Service Wave of Green, dedicating their time and energy to serving our local community.

Employees volunteered across the Northshore, organizing inventory at Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West, clearing trails at Northlake Nature Center, and cleaning housing while giving plenty of love to the animals at St. Tammany Parish Department of Animal Services. Others served right here on campus by making 219 enrichment toys for our rhesus macaques.

We are proud of our employees, not only for the important work they do every day to advance biomedical research, but also for the care, generosity, and community spirit they bring beyond our campus.

Thank you to everyone who took part in this meaningful day of service.

A hearty congratulations to the wonderful group of Tulane BMS students who graduated last week after conducting their doctoral research at the TNBRC: Tabi Manuel, Folasade Adekanmbi, Naveen Suresh Babu, and Katherine Turbull (not pictured.)

We are so proud to have been part of your graduate training and grateful for all of your contributions to our community.

Congratulations from all of your TNBRC friends and colleagues!

We were thrilled to host students from Tulane's Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program at the TNBRC. During their visit, students explored how our work connects with the concepts they are learning in their program's Advanced Research Methods and Advanced Virology courses.

After tours of the center, the students heard from Jennifer Manuzak, PhD, about her lab's research which is centered around HIV/malaria co-infection.

It is always a pleasure to host students who are passionate about biomedical research, public health, and medicine.

Yesterday, Tulane hosted leading scientists and pediatricians from across the country for a Scientific Advisory Board meeting focused on one urgent question: How can we better protect babies from congenital CMV?

CMV is a common virus, but when it passes from mother to baby during pregnancy, it can cause serious birth defects and lifelong health challenges. It is also the leading infectious cause of hearing loss in infants.

Tulane is helping lead this work through its unique congenital CMV research model, giving scientists a rare way to study how the virus spreads during pregnancy and how it might be stopped.

Throughout the day, researchers shared new insights into how the immune system may help prevent transmission, how CMV crosses the placenta and how next-generation vaccines could better protect mothers and babies.

Congratulations to Tabitha “Tabi” Manuel, one of several Biomedical Sciences students at the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center graduating next month from the Tulane University School of Medicine.

In the lab of Amitinder Kaur, Tabi’s doctoral research focused on congenital cytomegalovirus, or CMV, the leading infectious cause of birth defects and a significant cause of hearing loss in infants. During her time in the program, she also worked as a newborn hearing screening technician, giving her valuable real-world experience in pediatrics and health care.

We are proud to see Tabi recognized by Tulane and grateful for all she has contributed to our community during her time at TNBRC. We wish her continued success as she takes the next step toward a career in pediatrics.

PhD grad hopes to use her work to help families Tulane University News and Press Releases

A new review co-authored by Monica Embers, PhD, examines an important and still-unsettled question: What do we know about Lyme disease in pregnancy?

Published in Frontiers in Medicine: Obstetrics and Gynecology, the paper draws on human case reports, prospective studies and animal research across multiple species to assess the current evidence.

It also presents research recommendations, highlighting the need for further study to better understand whether infection may pass from mother to baby during pregnancy, birth or the postpartum period, and what that could mean for long-term health outcomes.

Frontiers | Perinatal transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi: advancing scientific and clinical understanding of Lyme disease in pregnancy Perinatal transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bb), the spirochetal agent of Lyme disease, is an issue of public health importance and research s...