Nebraska

Nebraska Medicine researchers making strides in Alzheimer’s treament

Published

2 years ago

January 3, 2024

Nebraska Medicine researchers making strides in Alzheimer’s treament

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Nebraska Medicine and UNMC have been leaders in health and research for decades, and now, the institution is touting its accomplishments when it comes to reducing and reversing the effects and severity of Alzheimer’s.

Inside the walls of the Durham Research Center on UNMC’s campus, research is being done and breakthroughs are being made that could eventually change the lives of millions.

“I think if one has to look at all medical science, medical research, medical investigations, medical therapeutics and pick one that they would like to have a major impact on, it would be neurodegenerative diseases,” said Dr. Howard Gendelman, a UNMC professor of Pharmacology and Internal Medicine.

Dr. Gendelman has dedicated more than two decades to neurodegenerative research, namely, Alzheimer’s.

“So why Alzheimer’s? Alzheimer’s disease is not simply a disease that affects a single person. It affects a family and it affects a community,” Dr. Gendelman said.

The research started with a simple thought: When you scrape your elbow, your immune system responds with redness, swelling, and some pain. After that, your body starts to make repairs to the affected area.

“We reasoned, why can’t we take this simple repair mechanism that is operative on a day-to-day basis in millions of people and look at ways we can harness that to repair the brain in the face of neurodegenerative disease?” said Dr. Gendelman.

So, that’s exactly what the doctor and his team started working towards.

But there were two major obstacles.

The first was simply identifying, isolating, and studying which cells are involved in repairing injuries, like that scraped elbow. After identifying the cells, the next obstacle was figuring out how to get them to respond specifically to the brain.

They found the answer in genetic engineering. Simply put, they’re training the cells to learn a new function, like teaching a dog a new trick.

“We were able to change the repertoire of these immunological cells,” Dr. Gendelman said. “We’re able to get these cells into the area of the brain, have them grow in that area of the brain and ultimately repair the damage that has occurred and improve cognitive function and improve the neurological manifestations of the disease and clear the cause, these plaques that form as Alzheimer’s evolves over time.”

This process is what sets UNMC’s research apart from other Alzheimer’s research and therapies, Gendelman says.

The cellular therapy was then tested, and it did what they hoped and hypothesized that it would do. Dr. Gendelman and his team tested it on mice with the disease and reported that infected mice saw improvements in cognitive function, like learning and memory.

Now, Gendelman says they have the tools, research, and resources to test the therapy in humans, but need to wait for approval from overarching health organizations like NIH and FDA.

It will take time, but they hope to begin human testing in the next two to three years.

“Our biggest reflection of why we do what we do is to say that we’ve made a difference, we’ve made this world better than before we were here before we were involved,” Dr. Gendelman said.

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Nebraska

Dylan Raiola’s quarterback brother, Dayton, decommits from Nebraska

Published

9 hours ago

November 19, 2025

Press Room

Dylan Raiola’s quarterback brother, Dayton, decommits from Nebraska

There won’t be a Raiola succession plan in Lincoln.

Dayton Raiola — a three-star passer in the 2026 recruitment class and the brother of current Cornhuskers QB, Dylan — decommitted from Nebraska on Wednesday morning before the early signing period. Dayton is the seventh-ranked uncommitted pocket passer, according to ESPN.

Nebraska now no longer has a 2026 quarterback commit with Raiola’s decision.

“My recruitment is 100% open,” Raiola told Rivals’ Chad Simmons.

He had originally committed to play for Nebraska in September 2024 after selecting the Big Ten program over Appalachian State and Charlotte.

Raiola has been a two-year starter at Buford High School in Georgia.

The move by him puts the Cornhuskers’ 2026 recruiting class in a precarious position with just nine pledges three weeks before the early signing period.

Nebraska already has one of the smallest recruiting classes in the FBS for 2026.

The Raiola name carries a bit of weight with the Nebraska football program, with Dayton and Dylan’s father, Dominic, having played for the Cornhuskers in the late ’90s and early 2000s and their uncle, Donovan, currently the offensive line coach for the program.

Dylan Raiola is out for the remainder of the year after he broke his fibula on Nov. 1 against USC, but prior to the injury, he had passed for 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns in nine starts for Nebraska this season.

Dylan Raiola is out for the rest of Nebraska’s season. Getty Images

True freshman quarterback TJ Lateef has been starting for Nebraska with Raiola out with the injury, helping to lead them to a win over UCLA on Nov. 8 with a 205 passing yards and three touchdowns.

While the 2026 class may be small, Nebraska does have a commitment from four-star quarterback prospect Trae Taylor for 2027.

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Nebraska

'Before it gets out of hand': Nebraska auditor sounds alarm on millions in uncollected taxes

Published

1 day ago

November 18, 2025

Press Room

'Before it gets out of hand': Nebraska auditor sounds alarm on millions in uncollected taxes

Nebraska seems to be bucking the old saying from Benjamin Franklin about death and taxes, says State Auditor Mike Foley.”You can’t escape death, but you might escape your taxes,” he said. “And that’s not a good message for the, for the state to be issuing.”

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Nebraska

The ‘Finest Family Park Between Omaha And Denver’ Is A Nebraska Beauty With Free Amenities And Water Recreation – Islands

Published

2 days ago

November 18, 2025

Press Room

The ‘Finest Family Park Between Omaha And Denver’ Is A Nebraska Beauty With Free Amenities And Water Recreation – Islands

The world can be a stressful place, and it can be difficult to escape our everyday lives. However, getting outside and spending some time in nature can be really beneficial. If you’re visiting Nebraska, there is a perfect spot to relax and enjoy the outdoors with your kids, and it’s packed with free amenities and plenty to do. Yanney Heritage Park in Kearney, Nebraska, has been called the “finest family park between Omaha and Denver” by Only In Your State, and with good reason. This gorgeous place has just about everything you could ask for in a park, including acres of gardens, water playgrounds for kids, an amphitheater for shows, fishing, boating, hiking, biking, a senior center, a walking meditation labyrinth, and even swan boats to rent to drift around the lake.

One reviewer on AllTrails said of Yanney Heritage Park, “Wonderful park! Fairly new, on edge of new development. 10 story tower to climb, labyrinth, garden, picnic areas, several playgrounds, wide paved paths circling two small lakes, fishing, swans. In season the concessions/Marina rents SUP, kayaks, canoes. Great place to stop for a break!” When visiting, the first place you should check out in the park is the John & Carmen Gottschalk Tower, a lovely observation tower that lets you get a great overview of the entire area. The gardens alone are worth the trip. You’ll find a pollinator garden, a lilac and hydrangea garden, a native Nebraska garden, one full of edible plants, a rose garden, an annual garden, and a xeriscape garden, which features drought-tolerant plants. It’s free and open all year, though blooming depends on the season.

Hiking, biking, water sports, and more at Yanney Heritage Park in Nebraska

If you want to take a stroll, run, or bike through the park, you can explore all or part of the 9.1-mile Kearney Canal Trail, an easy route that is mostly paved and passes picnic areas if you need a snack break. You can even bring your leashed pup. There are two water play areas where kids can enjoy water sprays and dumping buckets, as well as Cathi’s Playground, with slides and climbing equipment. Seniors can visit the Senior Activity Center, try out the fitness pad, or wander the meditation labyrinth.

For some water sports, you can check out Vernon’s Point and North Shore Fishing Piers, or spend time birdwatching on the lake. However, if you want to get out there, you can take a kayak down the 2.3-mile Kearny Water Trail with two whitewater features. At the lake, you’ll find the Yanney Swan Shoppe, which rents kayaks, swan boats, paddle boats, stand-up paddle boards, and more for a mere $7 for half an hour, as of this writing. It also sells drinks and snacks, like candy and ice cream, and is open from late May through early August.

Yanney Heritage Park is about 130 miles from the airport in Lincoln, and if you’re flying in, take some time to visit another free Nebraska attraction, the Sunken Garden. However, you can also choose to fly through Kearney Regional Airport, located only 8 miles away. If you do, you’ll be close to Minden, Nebraska’s “Christmas City,” full of local shops and events to enjoy during the holiday season. Finally, if you’re going to spend the day (or several) in the sun at Yanney Heritage Park, you might want to check out travel pro Samantha Brown’s great budget Supergoop! Sunscreen dupe.

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