With more than more than 100 COVID-19 vaccines, therapies, and drugs in development, there is a national shortage of monkey’s typically used for biomedical research. But UTMB’s Vineet Menachery tells The Atlantic that hamsters may actually be a better test subject. This news also reported in DNYUZ and MSN.com

“People just aren’t aware that when someone has congestive heart failure and they have high blood pressure, the effects of depression on these illnesses itself can be devastating,” UTMB’s Tammie Michael told The Daily News. Michael spoke the local newspaper about the toll social isolation can have on seniors.

UTMB’s Megan Berman and Richard Rupp explain the clinical trials process in the quest to find a COVID-19 vaccine. They note that without volunteers willing to participate we would never have a licensed vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.

In his weekly column, Victor Sierpina explores the connection between a person’s religion and health. Sierpina writes that in his practice he has learned that a patient’s personal spiritual beliefs are a major part of how they face life and death.

UTMB’s Dr. Shawn Nishi is one of the local physicians interviewed by the local newspaper to find out what physicians have learned about treating COVID-19 patients, and how things have changed since the beginning of the pandemic.

A compound made from the flowering oleander plant has been in the news as a possible treatment for coronavirus. UTMB’s Scott Weaver has tested the product and says while it may inactivate coronavirus cells grown in lab dishes, much more research is needed to determine if it could help humans dealing with the illness. Yahoo! also covered the possible use of the compound.

National Public Radio’s interview Vineet Menachery to get his take on what the future may hold moving forward with COVID -19 continues to be broadcast on stations across the nation.