By Mackenzie Smith, C2ST Intern, Loyola University

Imagine your child is sick, and no amount of doctor visits provides a satisfying answer as to what they are facing. Before 2016, this was the case for families affected by a rare disease known as Okur-Chung neurodevelopmental syndrome, or OCNDS. This all changed when researchers discovered mutations in the gene “CSNK2A1.” These mutations cause what is now known as OCNDS. I sat down with the Chief Scientific Officer of the CSNK2A1 foundation, Dr. Gabrielle Rushing, to reflect on this earth-shattering finding now that nearly a decade has passed. Together we discussed the important question: When a rare mutation is found, what are the next steps to make meaningful changes in the lives of patients?

By Rowan Dunbar, C2ST Intern, University of Illinois Chicago

By Frances Clinite, C2ST Intern, Loyola University

During my first year of school, my roommate pulled out a massive case of water bottles from the shelf in our college-town Target. As an environmental major, I was mortified. I asked her why she would buy plastic water bottles when we have access to high-quality drinking water from Lake Michigan. Tap water is more regulated than most plastic water bottles anyway. She was worried that lead or other contaminants could end up in our drinking water. That night, I researched if our dorm was connected to a lead service line using Chicago’s lead service line inventory. Fortunately, it wasn’t. However, up to 2.7 million Chicago residents are at risk of lead exposure from their drinking water. The threat of lead exposure can be intimidating, but federal and local governments have implemented programs to assist Chicagoans and address its adverse health effects.

By Ella Coley, C2ST Intern, Waubonsee Community College

From frozen waffles to deli meat and mixed greens, it seems like a new recall is posted every few weeks for the foods sold at our grocery stores and fast food restaurants. An analytical report by Trace One on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) data shows that food recalls have been on the rise, with a 20% increase in the total number of recalls from 2020 to 2023. This data, along with the recent increase in news headlines about food being recalled off the shelves, has Americans concerned about the foods they’re consuming.

Continue reading “Why Do Food Recalls Seem To Be On The Rise?”

By Zyara Morton, C2ST Intern, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The holiday season can bring to mind many traditions. Maybe after Thanksgiving dinner, your family watches a movie or begins setting up the Christmas tree. Or maybe as the temperatures drop and snow starts to fall, you put on your mittens and boots, and make your way straight to the pharmacy for your yearly flu shot! While less ‘festive’ than these other traditions, it is still very important to protect yourself against the flu, especially as the holiday season kicks in. However, why are we urged to receive these shots every year, around the same time? In this blog post, we will dive deeper into why yearly flu shots are necessary, and the search for a universal flu vaccine.

Continue reading “Replacing a Holiday Tradition: The Search For a Universal Flu Vaccine”

By Ella Coley, C2ST Intern, Waubonsee Community College

Clostridiodes difficile, more commonly called C. diff is a bacteria many people carry in their gut without issue. However, if given the chance to grow out of control, it can cause one of the world’s most debilitating and hard-to-treat infections. An estimated half a million cases of C. diff infections occur in the U.S. every year, and around 30,000 of those affected die. Creating a widespread and accessible vaccine against this bacterial infection would help protect those in vulnerable populations and reduce others from spreading it.

Continue reading “The Future of Infection Control: mRNA Vaccines for C. diff”