Breakthrough Recognition for Pediatric Behavioral Health
WVU Medicine Children’ s Neuroscience Center’ s Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry earned a Top 50 national ranking, marking a milestone achievement for pediatric mental healthcare in the state.
“ This ranking is a historic milestone that reflects our team’ s dedication and the urgent need for high-quality mental healthcare in West Virginia,” said Kari-Beth Law, MD, vice chair of clinical services for the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry.“ It underscores that world-class behavioral healthcare is not only possible here, but it’ s happening here, every day.”
For the 2025 – 2026 report, U. S. News & World Report, in partnership with RTI International, analyzed data from 118 children’ s hospitals and surveyed thousands of pediatric specialists nationwide.
WVU Researchers Explore Methods to Fight Proteins Linked to Neurodegenerative Disorders
Researchers at the WVU School of Medicine are using innovative genetic techniques to help cells fight neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’ s and Parkinson’ s diseases.
The research project was led by David Salcedo-Tacuma, a fifthyear student in WVU’ s Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine Graduate Program. Salcedo-Tacuma trains in the lab of David M. Smith, PhD, professor for the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine.
“ In order to stay healthy, cells in the body rely on a sophisticated waste management system, powered by proteasomes, which break down and dispose of old and damaged proteins,” he said.“ In diseases like Alzheimer’ s and Parkinson’ s, this garbage system gets overwhelmed and toxic proteins known as IDPs pile up, causing neurodegeneration. Our research aimed to explore methods of modifying these proteasomes to help cells dispose of these toxic proteins faster and more efficiently.”
Using the gene editing tool CRISPR, Salcedo-Tacuma and his team altered a key proteasome in the protein management process. Normally closed at both ends, the proteasome was modified to stay open, creating a state of hyperactivity. This caused the cell to nearly double its rate of protein synthesis while also rapidly breaking down and disposing of old, damaged proteins.
“ This open-gate proteasome is not just faster; it’ s also surprisingly selective, showing a clear preference for identifying and disposing of the faulty proteins that contribute to life-altering neurodegenerative disorders,” he said.
Researchers found that models with altered open-gate proteasomes contained 50 % fewer neurodegenerative proteins. When tested on the toxic protein linked to Parkinson’ s disease, models with the hyperactive proteasomes destroyed the harmful protein at five times the normal rate. The hyperactive proteasomes also more quickly and efficiently destroyed the harmful protein that causes alpha antitrypsin deficiency.
The findings were accepted for publication in the October, 10, 2025 issue of Science Advances.
“ Receiving publication for this study is a significant milestone for us, as it signifies the hard work put into this project over the last several years,” Salcedo-Tacuma said.“ We are grateful for this recognition but know our work is far from over. We will continue to test the open-gate proteasome in more advanced laboratory and disease models.”
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If you have a drug or alcohol problem, or are suffering from a mental illness, you can get help by contacting the West Virginia Medical Professionals Health Program. Information about physician’ s, podiatrist’ s and physician assistant’ s participation in the program is confidential. These practitioners entering the program as self-referrals without a complaint filed against them may remain confidential and are not reported to their licensing board.
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West Virginia Medical Journal • December 2025 • 31