The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR), is proud to recognize the outstanding contributions of Lauren Hunt, PhD, RN, FNP, with the 2025 Terrie Fox Wetle Rising Star Award in Health Services and Aging Research.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death globally.

Although some of the molecular changes associated with colorectal cancer are known, how they contribute to cancer development is not yet well defined.

In a study published in Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers used mouse models and studies of colorectal cancer tissues to show that loss of SOX9 gene promotes tumor progression and the pathway it regulates can be a potential target for future treatments.

About The Study: The findings of this study suggest that Texas’s abortion restrictions were associated with increases in mental distress among females of reproductive age, especially among younger individuals who may have less ability to overcome barriers to abortion care.

About The Study: This cross-sectional study of U.S. medical student matriculants found a decrease in the number of matriculants who were first-generation. These students were at significant risk of attrition from medical school, particularly when considering the intersectionality with low-income and underrepresented in medicine identities. These results suggest a need to recruit and retain these students, so that the physician workforce better reflects the backgrounds and experiences of the communities served.

About The Study: Nearly 19 million children were estimated to be living in a household with at least 1 parent with substance use disorder, accounting for one-quarter of all U.S. children in 2023. Children in such households are more likely to develop adverse health outcomes than their peers without exposure to parental substance use disorder.