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Office of Research and Creative Activity News

Thursday, December 18, 2025
  1. UNO
  2. Office of Research and Creative Activity
  3. ORCA News
indextrue176313991050945562049News RoomNews from the Office of Research and Creative Activity at the University of Nebraska at Omaha1462078800000News Room/news/indexOffice of Research and Creative Activitysite://Office of Research and Creative Activity/news/indexcnebel17194374713624556204917660864063021761714000000
News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1760677200000UNO faculty can now share achievements more easily and help elevate the university’s local, national, and global reputation. /news/2025/10/img/20250121_rue-gillespie_003.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2025/10/img/20250121_rue-gillespie_003.jpgwww20250121_rue-gillespie_003.jpg1582691200800University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) doctoral candidate Kaitlin Fraser, left, and UNO researcher Jorge M. Zuniga, Ph.D., make adjustments to a prosthetic limb. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications Researchers adjust a 3D-printed prosthetic limb with precision tools on a workbench. ///YouTube

What’s new: The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Office of Research and Creative Activity (ORCA) has launched Share Your Success, a new submission platform designed to spotlight faculty accomplishments in research, scholarship, and creative activity on college and university storytelling platforms.  


💡 Why it matters: Sharing research and creative activity successes help position UNO as an engine of innovation, supports faculty recognition, and boosts institutional visibility for rankings, grants, and media opportunities. 


🔎 Zoom in: Eligible Share Your Success entries include: 

  • Peer-reviewed journal articles and scholarly publications 
  • Published books and book chapters 
  • National and international awards or recognitions 
  • Creative works (performing/fine/literary/digital arts, film, architecture, etc.) 
  • Conference presentations 

✅ How it works:  

  • Once entries are submitted, they are reviewed by ORCA staff and shared with the Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications (MarComm) staff and college communicators.  
  • Entries may be publicized on a wide array of platforms, including the UNO News Center, campus newsletters, social media, and news releases.  

🎤 What they’re saying:  

  • Phil He, Ph.D., Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs: “When we amplify the work of one faculty member, we raise the visibility of all faculty and the institution as a whole. Your success strengthens our academic community and reinforces UNO’s leadership in research, creativity, and impact.” 

  • Sara A. Myers, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Creative Activity: “UNO faculty are doing impactful, life-changing work every day. The Share Your Success platform is about making sure that work gets the attention and recognition it deserves. Whether it’s a national award, a published book, or a presentation at a major conference, these achievements demonstrate the depth and breadth of Maverick expertise.” 


⚡ What’s next: Faculty are encouraged to submit their recent achievements using the Share Your Success platform year-round. Questions? Contact ORCA staff at unoorca@unomaha.edu. 

////Yes/news/2025/10/share-your-success-new-platform-elevates-uno-faculty-research-and-creative-activitydepartmentOffice of Strategic Marketing and Communications phoneemailunonews@unomaha.educategoryOffice of Research and Creative ActivitiesProspective StudentsAlumniCurrent StudentsFacultyStaffMediaParents and FamiliesResearchGeneral Publiclocationevent-startsevent-endssite://www/news/2025/10/share-your-success-new-platform-elevates-uno-faculty-research-and-creative-activitywwwshare-your-success-new-platform-elevates-uno-faculty-research-and-creative-activityShare Your Success: New Platform Elevates UNO Faculty Research and Creative ActivityShare Your Success: New Platform Elevates UNO Faculty Research and Creative ActivityUNO faculty can now share achievements more easily and help elevate the university’s local, national, and global reputation. UNO faculty can now share achievements more easily and help elevate the university’s local, national, and global reputation. Sam Peshek UNO faculty can now share achievements more easily and help elevate the university’s local, national, and global reputation. Oct 17, 2025 12:00 AM
News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1761541200000UNO has received a $6 million award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue groundbreaking research at the Center for Research in Human Movement Variability (MOVCENTR). /news/2025/10/img/20230915_biomechanics_celebration_30-1.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2025/10/img/20230915_biomechanics_celebration_30-1.jpgwww20230915_biomechanics_celebration_30-1.jpg1528711200800A student demonstrates treadmill equipment at the University of Nebraska at the Omaha (UNO) Biomechanics Research Building Open House in 2023. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications A person walks on a motion-capture treadmill surrounded by projection screens displaying digital graphics inside UNO’s Biomechanics Research Building.///YouTube

💪 What’s new:  

  • The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) has received a $6 million award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue its groundbreaking work at the Center for Research in Human Movement Variability (MOVCENTR). 
  • This new phase of funding, awarded through the NIH’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences, supports UNO’s continued leadership in biomechanics and biomedical research. 
  • Led by Nikolaos “Nick” Stergiou, Ph.D., assistant dean and director of MOVCENTR, the center’s researchers aim to deepen understanding of neuromuscular adaptability and develop innovative, mechanism-based therapies that restore optimal movement in individuals with disorders affecting coordination and balance.  

💡 Why it matters: 

  • Altered movement variability is increasingly linked to disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, and stroke-related impairments. 
  • By understanding the mechanics behind these changes, researchers can design targeted interventions that restore healthy movement patterns. 
  • The research also has far-reaching applications for injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance optimization in athletes and aging populations. 
  • MOVCENTR’s success has positioned UNO as a global leader in biomechanics, driving innovation that directly improves human health and quality of life. 

🔎 Zoom in: MOVCENTR was first established in 2016 with support from the NIH’s Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) program. Over its first two phases: 

  • The Center helped create UNO’s Department of Biomechanics, the university’s first research-focused academic department. 
  • Faculty affiliated with the Center secured more than $54 million in additional research funding, fueling a 36% average annual increase in UNO’s research portfolio. 
  • Since 2019, the Center’s work has generated an estimated $27.5 million economic impact in the Omaha area—a return of about $2.80 for every $1 invested by the NIH. 

Housed in UNO’s Biomechanics Research Building, the first facility in the nation dedicated solely to biomechanics research and created with the generous philanthropic support led by the Ruth and Bill Scott family, MOVCENTR’s world-class laboratories allow scientists to study movement at every level, from cells to full-body motion. 

The ultimate goal: to translate scientific discoveries into new therapies that restore adaptability in the human body. 

🎤 What they’re saying: 

  • Nikolaos “Nick” Stergiou, Ph.D., Assistant Dean and Director of MOVCENTR: “This continued investment from the NIH is a testament to the transformative work happening at UNO. Our goal is to restore variability in human movement—to help people move, adapt, and live healthier lives.” 
  • Neal Grandgenett, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences: “The continued success of MOVCENTR reflects UNO’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of discovery through collaboration and innovation. This kind of research not only advances our understanding of human movement but also creates transformative opportunities for students to engage in science that directly improves lives. 

🧾 Grant award information: 

  • Funding source: National Institutes of Health (NIH) – National Institute of General Medical Sciences 
  • Project title: Center for Research in Human Movement Variability 
  • Award number: 1P30GM159554 
  • NuRamp number: UNO-00068328 
  • Principal investigator: Nikolaos “Nick” Stergiou, Ph.D. 
  • Funding period: August 2025 – July 2030 
////Yes/news/2025/10/uno-receives-6-million-nih-award-to-advance-human-movement-variability-researchdepartmentOffice of Strategic Marketing and Communications phoneemailunonews@unomaha.educategoryMediaStaffAlumniFacultyCurrent StudentsResearchProspective StudentsParents and FamiliesGeneral PublicCollege of Education, Health, and Human Scienceslocationevent-startsevent-endssite://www/news/2025/10/uno-receives-6-million-nih-award-to-advance-human-movement-variability-researchwwwuno-receives-6-million-nih-award-to-advance-human-movement-variability-researchUNO Receives $6 Million NIH Award to Advance Human Movement Variability ResearchUNO Receives $6 Million NIH Award to Advance Human Movement Variability ResearchUNO has received a $6 million award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue groundbreaking research at the Center for Research in Human Movement Variability (MOVCENTR). UNO has received a $6 million award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue groundbreaking research at the Center for Research in Human Movement Variability (MOVCENTR). Bella Lockwood-WatsonUNO has received a $6 million award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue groundbreaking research at the Center for Research in Human Movement Variability (MOVCENTR). Oct 27, 2025 12:00 AM
News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1761195600000118 unique investigators received funding from 92 sponsors, including 21 different federal agencies and 12 different state agencies. /news/2025/10/img/20241216_boot-exoskeleton_31-1.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2025/10/img/20241216_boot-exoskeleton_31-1.jpgwww20241216_boot-exoskeleton_31-1.jpg1598521200809University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) graduate and undergraduate students attach motion sensors to boots as part of a U.S. Department of Defense-supported study. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications. Two students work in a lab setting outfitting tan military-style boots with small electronic sensors. One student focuses on attaching a sensor to the sole of a boot, while the other assembles components at a nearby computer workstation. ///YouTube

For the third straight year, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) exceeded $40 million in grant awards.  

➡️ What’s new: In total, investigators secured $40,783,060 in external funding for FY 2024-2025, UNO’s Office of Research and Creative Activity (ORCA) announced. 

📈 By the numbers:  

  • Funding was provided by 92 unique sponsors, including 21 different federal agencies and 12 different state agencies.  
  • 210 proposals were awarded.  
  • 118 unique principal investigators (PIs) were awarded external grants.  
  • The total number of new submissions increased by more than $18 million from FY 2023-2024.  
  • ORCA awarded 205 student awards for a total of more than $624,810.  

🎤 What they’re saying:  

  • Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA: “The momentum we are seeing today in the direct result of a shared vision for excellence in research and discovery across every college, department, and division of our university. Our investigators sent a loud and clear message that we solve real problems and serve the public good. This university-wide success shows what’s possible when our people come together with purpose and passion.” 
  • Phil He, Ph.D., Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs: This is truly something to celebrate. I’m so happy for our faculty because this accomplishment is a testament to their vision, commitment, and belief in the work they do. It takes time, energy, and persistence to seek funding and deliver real-world impact, and they’ve done that in extraordinary ways. Thanks to them, our students, our city, our state, and even the nation are seeing the benefits of research done with purpose. I’m deeply grateful to support such an inspiring academic community.” 
  • Sara Myers, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Creative Activity: “This year’s grant awards tell a powerful story of grassroots momentum fueled by creativity, curiosity, and a deep connection to our community. I’m especially proud of the faculty who mentored and led our student researchers. Their leadership is helping shape a new generation of innovators who are learning, growing, and changing the world, starting right here in Omaha.” 

🔎 Zoom in: Notable projects that received funding in 2024-2025 include:  

  • College of Public Affairs and Community Service Associate Professor Chenyu “Victor” Huang, Ph.D., received a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to help pave the way for safe integration of uncrewed aircraft – including drones – alongside traditional aircraft in the national airspace system.  
  • College of Information Science & Technology Associate Professor Dario Ghersi, M.D., Ph.D., teamed up with Princeton researchers to develop an AI-powered tool to improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies. Their work was supported in part by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant and published in the leading scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.  
  • College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences professors partnered with Connecticut-based company Motive Labs to test the FlyBand® ExoBoot, an exoskeleton embedded inside a regulation combat boot. Their work was supported by U.S. Department of Defense-Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. 
////Yes/news/2025/10/uno-secured-40.7-million-in-research-funding-in-2024-2025departmentOffice of Strategic Marketing and Communications phoneemailunonews@unomaha.educategoryGeneral PublicParents and FamiliesAlumniAwardsCurrent StudentsStaffMediaResearchFacultyProspective StudentsOffice of Research and Creative Activitieslocationevent-startsevent-endssite://www/news/2025/10/uno-secured-40.7-million-in-research-funding-in-2024-2025wwwuno-secured-40.7-million-in-research-funding-in-2024-2025UNO Secured $40.7 Million in Research Funding in 2024-2025UNO Secured $40.7 Million in Research Funding in 2024-2025118 unique investigators received funding from 92 sponsors, including 21 different federal agencies and 12 different state agencies. 118 unique investigators received funding from 92 sponsors, including 21 different federal agencies and 12 different state agencies. Sam Peshek 118 unique investigators received funding from 92 sponsors, including 21 different federal agencies and 12 different state agencies. Oct 23, 2025 12:00 AM
News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1765951200000A $2.7 million NIH grant is supporting the development of the first therapy that can directly remove arterial calcification and improve blood flow in patients with peripheral artery disease./news/2025/12/img/shutterstock_2503090999-web.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2025/12/img/shutterstock_2503090999-web.jpgwwwshutterstock_2503090999-web.jpg399581200800Illustration of a clogged artery. Photo: Shutterstock Yellow buildup clogs an artery in an artist's rendering. ///YouTube

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects more than 200 million people, and over 70% of them develop calcium deposits in their leg arteries – lesions that complicate every treatment and quadruple the risk of amputation. Yet no current therapy can remove this hardened calcium. 

A team led by the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Department of Biomechanics – working in collaboration with vascular surgeons at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and scientists at Virginia Tech – is aiming to change that. 

➡️ What’s new:  

  • The team led by Alexey Kamenskiy, Ph.D., director of UNO’s Center for Cardiovascular Research in Biomechanics, has received a $2.7 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 grant to develop a first-of-its kind local treatment for peripheral artery disease (PAD). 
  • Researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Virginia Tech are partnering with UNO to test whether a localized EDTA chelation therapy can safely remove arterial calcium – a major cause of treatment failure, impaired blood flow, and amputation in PAD patients. 

💡 Why it matters: Current PAD treatments — including angioplasty, stenting, bypass surgery, and atherectomy – can improve blood flow, but none can remove the hardened calcium embedded in the arterial wall. Calcification makes blood vessels rigid, difficult to dilate, and prone to dissection; it also causes severe kinking and flow loss when the leg bends. As a result, calcified lesions have far higher rates of complications, treatment failure, and amputation.

  • The team’s approach uses a microneedle catheter to deliver EDTA directly into the calcified arterial wall, targeting the calcium itself rather than working around it. This localized delivery aims to remove calcium at its source while avoiding the dangerous systemic side effects associated with whole-body EDTA chelation.
  • If successful, the project could enable the first therapy capable of directly removing arterial calcium and restoring vessel flexibility – a shift that could dramatically improve outcomes for patients with calcific PAD. 

🎤 What they’re saying:

  • Alexey Kamenskiy, Ph.D., Director of the UNO Center for Cardiovascular Research in Biomechanics (CRiB): “Our goal is to give physicians a safe, targeted way to remove arterial calcium and restore vessel compliance - something current treatments can’t achieve.”
  • Jason N. MacTaggart, M.D., FACS, Professor, UNMC Department of Surgery: “This therapy could be life-changing for patients with severe PAD, offering a new, targeted method to improve artery function and prevent amputations.”
  • John Eberth, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Tech: “By integrating human tissue analyses with in vitro experimentation and a novel preclinical model, we can establish a strong translational framework to connect basic science to effective real-world therapy.” 

⚡️ What's next: The multi-year study (2025–2029) will begin with extensive testing on calcified human donor arteries to optimize dosing, delivery, and safety of the local EDTA therapy. These findings will then guide preclinical studies in large-animal swine model that closely replicates human peripheral artery calcification. If the approach proves safe and effective, the results will provide the critical foundation needed to advance toward first-in-human clinical trials. 

📌 Award information:

  • Funding source: National Institutes of Health
  • Grant amount: $2,688,180
  • Award #: R01HL180371 
////Yes/news/2025/12/uno-led-team-pioneers-first-catheter-based-treatment-to-eliminate-arterial-calciumdepartmentphoneemailunonews@unomaha.educategoryCollege of Education, Health, and Human Scienceslocationevent-startsevent-endssite://www/news/2025/12/uno-led-team-pioneers-first-catheter-based-treatment-to-eliminate-arterial-calciumwwwuno-led-team-pioneers-first-catheter-based-treatment-to-eliminate-arterial-calciumStandard Page - wwwUNO-Led Team Pioneers First Catheter-Based Treatment to Eliminate Arterial CalciumA $2.7 million NIH grant is supporting the development of the first therapy that can directly remove arterial calcification and improve blood flow in patients with peripheral artery disease.Sam PeshekA $2.7 million NIH grant is supporting the development of the first therapy that can directly remove arterial calcification and improve blood flow in patients with peripheral artery disease.Dec 17, 2025 12:00 AM
News
News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1761627600000A five-year collaborative project including UNO Professor Ryan Wong will explore how competition and aggression shape biodiversity, bringing together researchers from the U.S., Switzerland, and Tanzania./news/2025/10/img/shutterstock_603582512.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2025/10/img/shutterstock_603582512.jpgwwwshutterstock_603582512.jpg1490891200800Exotic freshwater fish in an aquarium. Photo: Shutterstock. Exotic freshwater fish in an aquarium. ///YouTube

🧠 What’s new: A research team led by Central Michigan University, in collaboration with the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and the University of Texas at Austin, has been awarded a $1.8 million Collaborative Research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to investigate how aggression and competition influence the evolution of species. 

  • The project, co-led by Peter Dijkstra, Ph.D. (Central Michigan University), Hans Hofmann, Ph.D. (University of Texas at Austin), and Ryan Wong, Ph.D. (UNO), will examine the neurobiological and genetic mechanisms that drive aggression biases—when individuals direct aggression toward others that resemble themselves. 
  • By studying two species of social cichlid fish native to Lake Victoria, researchers aim to understand how these behavioral and physiological processes contribute to the emergence of new species and biodiversity. The project also includes international collaborators Ole Seehausen, Ph.D. (Switzerland) and Mary Kishe, Ph.D. (Tanzania). 

💡 Why it matters: 

  • Aggressive interactions are a fundamental driver of evolution, influencing how populations diverge and new species form. 
  • Understanding the neurobiology of aggression biases could explain how animals—and possibly humans—evolve complex social behaviors. 
  • The project strengthens UNO’s role in global, interdisciplinary research, providing opportunities for students to engage in genetics, bioinformatics, and behavioral neuroscience. 
  • It also promotes STEM engagement, including plans to develop an interactive museum exhibit on cichlid behavior for public education. 

🔎 Zoom in: The five-year NSF-funded study integrates social learning experiments, genetic mapping, and brain gene expression analysis to identify how aggression biases evolve and persist. 

  • Researchers will use cutting-edge tools to: 
  • Assess how social experience and context shape territorial behavior. 
  • Map genetic loci that regulate aggression and coloration in fish species. 
  • Examine neural activity and dopamine signaling to understand how the brain mediates aggression toward similar-looking competitors. 

This multi-institutional collaboration—spanning the U.S., Switzerland, and Tanzania—combines expertise across neuroscience, genetics, and evolutionary biology. Beyond advancing science, it will prepare undergraduate and graduate students for careers in STEM through immersive international research opportunities. 

🎤 What they’re saying: 

  • Ryan Wong, Ph.D., Principal Investigator and Associate Professor at UNO: “This project gives us the chance to uncover the biological mechanisms behind how competition and aggression shape evolution. It also creates incredible opportunities for UNO students to learn advanced techniques in genetics, neuroscience, and behavioral research alongside leading experts around the world.” 
  • Peter Dijkstra, Ph.D., Lead Principal Investigator, Central Michigan University: “By combining genetic, behavioral, and neural approaches, we can finally begin to understand how aggression influences species formation and coexistence. It’s an exciting step toward linking animal behavior with evolutionary change.” 
  • Hans Hofmann, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, University of Texas at Austin: “This research allows us to connect processes happening at the level of brain cells to patterns we see across populations in nature. It’s truly an integrative approach to studying evolution in action.” 

🧾 Grant award information: 

  • Funding source: National Science Foundation (NSF) 
  • Project title: Collaborative Research: Male-male competition and speciation: behavioral and neuromolecular mechanisms underlying aggression biases in cichlids 
  • Award number: IOS-2444904 
  • NuRamp number: UNO-00067872 
  • Principal investigator: Ryan Wong, Ph.D. 
  • Collaborating institutions: Central Michigan University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Bern (Switzerland), University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) 
  • Funding period: 2025–2030 
////Yes/news/2025/10/when-fish-fight-science-winsdepartmentOffice of Strategic Marketing and Communications phoneemailunonews@unomaha.educategoryCollege of Arts and SciencesResearchOffice of Research and Creative Activitieslocationevent-startsevent-endssite://www/news/2025/10/when-fish-fight-science-winswwwwhen-fish-fight-science-winsWhen Fish Fight, Science WinsWhen Fish Fight, Science WinsA five-year collaborative project including UNO Professor Ryan Wong will explore how competition and aggression shape biodiversity, bringing together researchers from the U.S., Switzerland, and Tanzania.A five-year collaborative project including UNO Professor Ryan Wong will explore how competition and aggression shape biodiversity, bringing together researchers from the U.S., Switzerland, and Tanzania.Bella Lockwood-WatsonA five-year collaborative project including UNO Professor Ryan Wong will explore how competition and aggression shape biodiversity, bringing together researchers from the U.S., Switzerland, and Tanzania.Oct 28, 2025 12:00 AM
News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1761627600000A collaborative team including scientists from UNO, UT Southwestern, and European partners has identified a new factor in cancer mortality — one that could change how the disease is diagnosed and treated./news/2025/10/img/shutterstock_2420565221.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2025/10/img/shutterstock_2420565221.jpgwwwshutterstock_2420565221.jpg1508871200800Researcher working with samples of tissue culture in microplate in the bioengineering laboratory. Photo: Shutterstock. A close-up of a scientist wearing a blue glove using a multichannel pipette to transfer bright pink liquid into a 96-well plate in a laboratory setting. ///YouTube

🧬 What’s new: A team of international researchers, including scientists from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), has made a breakthrough discovery about how cancer spreads and becomes deadly. 

  • The study, recently accepted by Nature Medicine, identifies macrovascular infiltration — the invasion of large blood vessels by cancer cells — as a major, previously overlooked driver of cancer mortality. This discovery could redefine how cancers are staged and open new avenues for treatment and survival prediction. 
  • The research team includes collaborators from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, ETH Zurich, and multiple European institutions.  
  • The study included 31 patients enrolled prospectively at UT Southwestern and a retrospective, validation cohort of 1,250 patients (from German institutions). The data analysis for the whole study was carried out at the University of Nebraska at Omaha by Kirk Gasper, Ph.D. under the supervision of Dario Ghersi, M.D., Ph.D. 

💡 Why it matters: 

  • Despite major advances in cancer treatment, the precise reasons patients die from the disease have remained unclear. 
  • By identifying macrovascular invasion as a key factor in cancer progression, researchers have unveiled a biological process that could reshape how clinicians assess risk and design interventions. 
  • The findings have the potential to inform new therapeutic strategies, improve staging systems, and enhance patient outcomes. 

🎤 What they’re saying: 

  • Dario Ghersi, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor, UNO: “This work shows the power of collaboration between computation and clinical science. "Our expertise in complex data analysis played an important role in linking computational findings with biological and clinical observations, contributing to a discovery that could change how we view cancer." 
  • Matteo Ligorio, M.D., Ph.D.: “The big question we were trying to answer: What kills cancer patients? Why do they die one specific day rather than six months earlier or later?” 

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R37CA242070. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. 

////Yes/news/2025/10/uno-researchers-join-global-effort-to-catch-cancers-deadliest-secret-in-motiondepartmentOffice of Strategic Marketing and Communications phoneemailunonews@unomaha.educategoryResearchOffice of Research and Creative ActivitiesCollege of Information Science and Technologylocationevent-startsevent-endssite://www/news/2025/10/uno-researchers-join-global-effort-to-catch-cancers-deadliest-secret-in-motionwwwuno-researchers-join-global-effort-to-catch-cancers-deadliest-secret-in-motionUNO Researchers Join Global Effort to Catch Cancer’s Deadliest Secret in MotionUNO Researchers Join Global Effort to Catch Cancer’s Deadliest Secret in MotionA collaborative team including scientists from UNO, UT Southwestern, and European partners has identified a new factor in cancer mortality — one that could change how the disease is diagnosed and treated.A collaborative team including scientists from UNO, UT Southwestern, and European partners has identified a new factor in cancer mortality — one that could change how the disease is diagnosed and treated.Bella Lockwood-WatsonA collaborative team including scientists from UNO, UT Southwestern, and European partners has identified a new factor in cancer mortality — one that could change how the disease is diagnosed and treated.Oct 28, 2025 12:00 AM
News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1762754400000A class project sparked an interdisciplinary research collaboration between UNO students and Los Alamos National Laboratory, resulting in a machine learning tool to help safeguard hazardous waste storage./news/shutterstock_2655350509-resized-for-web.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/shutterstock_2655350509-resized-for-web.jpgwwwshutterstock_2655350509-resized-for-web.jpg438621200800A safety inspector surveys nuclear waste storage barrels—UNO students developed machine learning tools to detect damage like rust and dents in these containers as part of a national laboratory research partnership. Photo: ShutterstockA person in safety gear facing stacked yellow and black nuclear waste barrels at an industrial site under a cloudy sky. ///YouTube

What began as a classroom project in IT Project Management led University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) students into the world of machine learning and nuclear safety.  

➡️ What’s new:

  • A student team at UNO turned an undergraduate IT Project Management class assignment into an interdisciplinary research partnership with a federal agency. The project originally began with students tasked by the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) to design outreach strategies for OSI’s cybersecurity services.
  • That classroom effort soon sparked a collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) focused on nuclear safety. Over the summer, Magie Hall, Ph.D., associate professor of Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis in UNO's College of Information Science & Technology (CIST), secured a grant from LANL and developed a prototype machine learning tool to detect rust and dents in hazardous waste storage drums.
  • The prototype, currently at Technology Readiness Level 4 (TRL-4), demonstrates the concept in a lab setting and lays out the groundwork for further refinement. 

💡 Why it matters:

  • Detecting corrosion or dents in nuclear waste drums is essential to national safety. Left unchecked, damage in these drums can lead to dangerous leaks or dangerous contamination events. By developing automated detection tools using machine learning, UNO students are helping to improve early warning systems for hazardous material storage.
  • Beyond its environmental implications, this project reflects the impact of experiential learning. Students gained hands-on research experience, built software with national security applications, and collaborated with federal scientists. The project underscores UNO’s commitment to preparing students for high-impact careers in data science, cybersecurity, and engineering. 

🔍 Zoom in:

  • The team’s prototype uses computer vision to scan images of 55-gallon drums and detect visible signs of rust or impact damage, which are key indicators of structural risk. Reaching TRL-4 validates the concept and opens the door to further refinement and real-world deployment.
  • Students involved in the project came from a variety of disciplines, including computer science, software engineering, IT innovation, and cybersecurity. The work culminated in a hands-on summer research experience, including a site visit to LANL in New Mexico where students toured a nuclear research facility and collaborated with LANL engineers and scientists.
  • Their efforts were supported and guided by UNO faculty, and the partnership continues to grow, with the potential for additional innovation in environmental safety technologies. 

🎤 What they’re saying:

  • Magie Hall, Ph.D., CIST Associate Professor of Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis: “This project is the perfect example of what happens when students are given the freedom to explore real-world problems with real-world partners. They rose to the challenge and exceeded expectations.”
  • Mohammed Njie, student in AI and Computer Science and Scott Scholar: "Going to New Mexico was such a fun experience, and seeing the inside of a nuclear facility was a once in a lifetime experience. This position gave us direction on what we want to do in the work force, and how real teams operate with deadlines and a user in mind." 

🧾 Grant information:

  • Funding source: Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Award number: C5702 
////Yes/news/2025/11/trash-talk-how-uno-students-are-teaching-machines-to-spot-dangerous-waste-drumsdepartmentphoneemailunonews@unomaha.educategoryCollege of Information Science and Technologylocationevent-startsevent-endssite://www/news/2025/11/trash-talk-how-uno-students-are-teaching-machines-to-spot-dangerous-waste-drumswwwtrash-talk-how-uno-students-are-teaching-machines-to-spot-dangerous-waste-drumsTrash Talk: How UNO Students Are Teaching Machines to Spot Dangerous Waste Drums Trash Talk: How UNO Students Are Teaching Machines to Spot Dangerous Waste DrumsA class project sparked an interdisciplinary research collaboration between UNO students and Los Alamos National Laboratory, resulting in a machine learning tool to help safeguard hazardous waste storage.A class project sparked an interdisciplinary research collaboration between UNO students and Los Alamos National Laboratory, resulting in a machine learning tool to help safeguard hazardous waste storage. Bella Lockwood-WatsonA class project sparked an interdisciplinary research collaboration between UNO students and Los Alamos National Laboratory, resulting in a machine learning tool to help safeguard hazardous waste storage.Nov 10, 2025 12:00 AM
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