Medical Research

Aurora, Colorado – October 19, 2026 -- Four University of Colorado Anschutz faculty members have been elected to the National Academy of Medicine, the largest group the university has had elected in a single year.

The academy elects up to 100 new members annually: up to 90 regular members and 10 international members. Candidates go through a nomination and selection process that evaluates their professional achievements and contributions to health and medicine.

Four physician-researchers join the 2026 class

The 2026 inductees are Lilia Cervantes, Matthew Wynia, Vik Bebarta and Lauren S. Hughes. Their work spans kidney care, bioethics, combat medicine and rural health policy.

Cervantes is a physician-researcher whose work has documented inequities in kidney care for undocumented immigrants. She combines community-engaged research, clinical care and policy advocacy.

Costa Mesa, Calif. – October 02, 2026 -- Nearly 40% of women with postpartum depression showed a hyperfrontal/anterior cingulate cortex brain-activity pattern, more than double the 19.4% rate found in patients with major depression, according to new research from Dr. Daniel Amen and colleagues at Amen Clinics.

Brain scan comparison covers 26,135 patients across two depression groups

Researchers analyzed brain SPECT imaging scans from 58 women diagnosed with postpartum depression (PPD) and compared them against scans from 26,077 people with major depression. Each scan was classified into one of six brain-function categories: hyperfrontal/ACC, limbic, hypofrontal, toxic/diffuse low perfusion, brain trauma/acquired injury, or mixed patterns.