College of Health Sciences

HealthSci Researchers Publish Papers Advancing Human Health

Several researchers in the College of Health Sciences have recently published papers on topics relevant to individual health.

Monday, 29 June 2026

Researchers in the College of Health Sciences recently published several peer-reviewed studies addressing practical health questions.

In Medicines, Chidambaram Ramanathan and Richard J. Bloomer (with collaborator Gus Romero) tested whether cinnamon-derived compounds could protect skin cells from UV damage. Exposing human skin cells to simulated sunlight, they found that one compound, Cinnamtannin D1, significantly reduced both UV-induced DNA damage and PD-L1—a protein tied to skin cancer risk—without harming the cells, pointing to its potential in future sun-protection formulas.
https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6320/13/2/20

In Drug and Alcohol Review, Cheri Kilmurray, Anna Langston, and colleagues examined an underexamined motivation for methamphetamine use: weight control. Analyzing online narratives, they traced a recurring pattern in which longstanding body dissatisfaction, peer normalization of the drug as an "easy diet," and the reinforcing rush of rapid weight loss drove use—often followed by shame and regret. The authors argue cessation efforts must also address body image and related distress, not just substance use.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dar.70206