News and Highlights
General News
Publications
- Cho, E., Acosta, K., Henkin, J., Abzalimov, R. and Raskin, I. 2026. Synergistic antifungal effects of botanical extracts against Candida albicans. PloS one, 21(1), p.e0340665. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0340665
- Kaz, A., Thirunavukkarasu, K., Almosd, L., Cho, E., Henkin, J., Acosta, K., Abzalimov, R. and Raskin, I. 2025. Potent surface antimicrobial activity of hydrolyzable tannins from Aleppo oak galls. Scientific Reports, 16, 3088 (2026). doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-33013-7
- Fields, S.E., A. Elango, E.E. Akgun, A.M. Sweeney, E. Carry, A. Vasilatis, E. Bernstein, J.E. Simon, Q.L. Wu and N.T. Bello. 2026. Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) alkaloids influence on cardiopulmonary measures and high-fat diet-induced weight gain in mice. Physiology & Behavior 307 (2026) 115231. 10.1016/j.physbeh.2026.115231
- Xu J., Pan Y., Peter R.M., Chou P.J., Dave P.D., Shanner A., Sarwar M.S., L. Brunetti, J.E. Simon and A.T. Kong. 2025. Exploring the Epigenetic and Metabolic Pathways for Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Potentials of Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate. Curr Pharmacol Rep. 11(1):43. doi: 10.1007/s40495-025-00422-1. Epub 2025 Jul 26.PMID: 40727248.
- Allen, K.A, E.N. Gomes, O. Doni, Q.L. Wu and J.E. Simon. 2025. Elicitation Studies on Nepeta spp.: A Review. J. Medicinally Active Plants Vol. 14(4): 40-58.
- Allen, K.S., G.A. Delulio, R. Pyne, J. Maman, L. Guo, R. Lyon, E.T. Johnson, R.L. Wick, J.E. Simon, A. Gershenson and L.J. Ma. 2025. Identification of Novel Basil Downy Mildew Resistance Genes Using de novo Comparative Transcriptomics. Phytopathology. 14. doi: 10.1094/PHYTO-11-24-0369-R
- Ben Naim, Y., R. Mattera III, Y. Cohen, C.A. Wyenandt and J.E. Simon. 2025. Predicting the resistance of basil entries to downy mildew based on their genetics, pathogen race, growth stage, and environmental conditions. Planta 29;262(1):10. doi: 10.1007/s00425-025-04703-3
- Kotwal, S., Shin, J.W. & Bezabeh, T. Predicting and monitoring treatment response via 1-H NMR metabolomics of plasma, serum, and urine. 2026. Biophys Rev. doi: 10.1007/s12551-026-01405-2
Awards and Honors
- Jim Simon, Dena Seidel, Ramu Govindasamy, Mike Balick, Dave Bushek and Kevon Rhiney received a grant for their proposed research, "Food Security Policy Development for the States of Yap, Chuuk and Korsae and to Update the National Agricultural Policy for the Federated States of Micronesia". This project was awarded at $200,000 in support of the Federated States of Micronesia funded by the Green Climate Fund and administered through the Micronesian Conservation Trust (MCT SAP-0200).
Speaking Invitations
- Dena Seidel gave a seminar titled "Scientific Storytelling" at the Max Planck Institute in Florida. January 15, 2026.
- Dena Seidel led a workshop titled "Communicating Complex Concepts" at the Max Planck Institute in Florida. January 16, 2026.
- Jim Simon was invited and gave the plenary paper, "Bioexploration for Nutritional Food Plants and Medicinals: Case Studies from Sub-Sahara Africa", at the International Botanical Symposium: Embracing the Complexity of TCM/Herbal Medicine Using Innovative Approaches. The event is organized by the Research Centre of Chinese Medicine Innovation Hong Kong Polytechnic University, January 07-08, 2026.
Books and Book Chapters
Patents