The rise of COVID-Somnia, a term used to describe the increase in sleep disturbances caused by the pandemic, means many of us will be springing forward already sleep-deprived. “If your bank account is already empty, getting hit with a mandatory expense is extra stressful,” says Dr. Michael Grandner, Director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. “For people already starting out with sleep debt, that extra hour lost can have implications for mental and physical performance, that can have a measurable impact on health and safety.”

Boots on the ground interview with Sana Khan, a doctoral student in epidemiology at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and vaccination site volunteer at the UArizona POD in Tucson. Khan shares her first-hand experience on the ground, and what the 1-year mark means to her.

Dr. Cecilia Rosales, Associate Dean of Community Engagement and Phoenix Programs at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, is a guest on the show to discuss the facts about the COVID-19 vaccine and pregnancy.

Researchers used the gene-editing technique CRISPR to successfully repress the gene and increase pain tolerance in mice. The effects lasted up to 44 weeks. If it proves safe in people, the therapy could offer an alternative to opioids, the authors say. "The problem is, we need pain to live, "said Rajesh Khanna, a pharmacology professor and chronic pain researcher at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy who wasn't involved in the Navega Therapeutics study. "Pain serves as a warning signal that something is wrong."

The academic partnership prepares pharmacy and nursing students at UArizona Health Sciences for careers that address critical gaps in health care.

Dr. Amanda Sokan finds contentment in helping students develop intergenerational partnerships and building their awareness of the aging experience.

A study in mice shows certain types of pain can be prevented or reversed without apparent side effects by silencing a gene involved in pain signaling. "It's a beautiful piece of work," said Rajesh Khanna, a neuroscientist who studies pain mechanisms and potential treatments at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. Despite successes of gene therapy against rare and life-threatening disorders, few teams have explored genetic approaches to treating pain, he said. "I think this study is going to be our benchmark."

University of Arizona Health Sciences Innovation Building was named the best higher education/research project in Engineering News-Record's "Best of the Best Projects 2020."

Dr. John Galgiani, director of the University of Arizona Valley Fever Center for Excellence discusses the economic impact of valley fever on patients.

Around 3,000 Arizonans are participating in a COVID-19 study led by researchers from the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. The AZ HEROES study is led by Jeff Burgess, associate dean for research and professor at the UArizona College of Public Health.