Beaker Briefs

Obese children with Type 2 diabetes are likely to have poorer oral health than normal-weight or obese children without the disease. The first-of-its-kind study was conducted by an interdisciplinary UB research team. Their next step: exploring whether better dental care after diagnosis can buck the trend toward increased periodontal disease.

Led by: Pediatric endocrinology researcher Lucy Mastrandrea (PhD ’99, MD ’99)

For years, health experts have advised that children with elevated blood lead levels eat diets high in iron, calcium and vitamin C to bring their lead levels down. But a UB researcher found that, under scrutiny, the thin science behind the “lead diet” snaps like a No. 2 pencil.

Led by: Epidemiology and environmental health researcher Katarzyna Kordas

The future of therapy is online. A UB study will use telemedicine to bring a childhood obesity clinic to 144 families in rural Kansas, engaging them in group therapy through video chat. Each household will undergo family-based treatment, allowing researchers to reach children whose condition could have otherwise gone untreated.

Led by: Counseling, school and educational psychology researcher Myles S. Faith