It creeps up on you.

First you think you’re just feeling “blue.” Your eating and sleeping habits change. You’re irritable. You feel worthless, guilty, exhausted…

Then your blood test confirms it. You are experiencing major depression.

Wait, what?

Okay, that last part is still fantasy, but it might not be for much longer.

Researchers have discovered a strong correlation between major depression and RNA markers that can be found in blood. What’s more, the markers later disappeared in patients whose depression receded as a result of cognitive behavioral therapy.  

These results need to be verified before the development of a clinical blood test: the study included just 32 patients with depression and an equal number without.

For now, the research is a reminder of the complex links between biochemistry and state of mind. 

According to Dr. Eva Redei, the study’s lead investigator:

 “We’ll get to the point where there won’t be any discrimination between physical illness and mental illness.”

Of course,  if you or someone you know is experiencing depression, please seek help.  Although depression may be tricky to diagnose, it is highly treatable. 

Renetta Tull, Associate Vice Provost of Graduate Student Development and Postdoctoral Affairs, is seeking equity in STEM for all.

Tull was recently the lead author on an article for peerReview titled, “The Jessica Effect: Valuing Cultural and Familial Connections to Broaden Success in Academe.” The article begins:

Jessica Soto-Pérez, daughter of Antonio Israel Soto and Luz N. Pérez, received her undergraduate degree from the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez. She was a promising chemical engineering graduate student at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) and peer mentor for its National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) program—PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP.

Jessica’s future plans included returning to her native Puerto Rico to pursue a career as an engineering professor. Unfortunately, she didn’t reach that goal because in 2004, she was tragically killed by her husband.

Tull makes the argument that institutions need to “definitively invite and actively include the family members and friends of graduate students in informative and celebratory events and programs.” She writes:

This practice of “family and friend” inclusion is the legacy of Jessica. It ultimately achieves several purposes including, but not limited to (1) serving as an advising model that faculty and administrators can utilize to both recognize and value the cultural and familial connections of their graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and colleagues in the STEM disciplines, (2) promoting an understanding of the university experience among those who may not be familiar with academic processes and timelines, (3) reducing feelings of isolation on the part of students and family members, and (4) expanding the opportunities for family members to offer their students the support necessary for degree completion.

Tull is now heading to the Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center in Washington, D.C. to participate in “A New America: Empowering Hispanic Millennials for Tech Leadership,” organized by the National Journal and The Atlantic.

Tull will discuss how we can reverse the trend of Hispanic underrepresentation in STEM professions and better prepare Hispanic students for high tech careers. Other event participants include U.S. Representative Tony Cárdenas; Cecilia Muñoz, Assistant to the President and Director of the Domestic Policy Council for the White House; Rafael Bras,Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology; Alejandra Ceja, Executive Director, White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics; and Deborah Santiago, Co-Founder, COO and Vice President for Policy of Excelencia in Education.

Director of UMBC Upward Bound Corris Davis ’98, biology, and academic counselor Brittany Walker spoke to Capital News Service about how Upward Bound is changing to better serve low-income students. Upward Bound, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, teaches low-income high school students skills in leadership, communication and academics.

UMBC Upward Bound supports 140 students from east Baltimore and Baltimore County. Since 2007, the program has trained graduating students to mentor high school students. As a senior in high school, Walker became a peer leader for underclassmen and said the program “[brought] everyone together as one.”

Now, peer leadershp has become a mainstay of the Upward Bound program and Davis presented on UMBC’s experience with it at the Council for Oppotunity in Education’s national conference this week.

Click here to read “As Upward Bound Turns 50, Program at UMBC Evolves to Serve Students.”