Nova Southeastern University (NSU) researchers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, have been awarded a US$3-million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to investigate whether exposure to toxic mold byproducts affects the symptom severity and immune system in patients diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), a debilitating illness that affects as many as 3.3 million Americans
The project, funded by the NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke through April 2031, will examine how environmental exposure to mycotoxins, harmful compounds produced by certain molds, may contribute to immune dysfunction in people with ME/CFS. By investigating the potential link, researchers aim to improve understanding of the disease, leading to earlier diagnosis, more personalized treatment approaches, and new insights into factors that may contribute to its development.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 836,000 and 3.3 million Americans are living with ME/CFS, and an estimated 90% remain undiagnosed. The complex chronic illness affects multiple body systems and can cause extreme fatigue, brain fog, post-exertion malaise, cognitive impairment, sleep disturbances, and other debilitating symptoms. Despite its impact, ME/CFS has no diagnostic test and few effective treatment options
“ME/CFS is a systemic disease,” said Lubov Nathanson, Ph.D., associate professor at the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, genomics group director for NSU’s Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, and the study’s principal investigator. “It affects many parts of the body, including the gut and the brain. For many patients, symptoms begin after exposure to viruses or other environmental factors, but we still don’t fully understand what causes the disease to start.”
Previous surveys have shown that some ME/CFS patients report symptom onset following exposure to mold-contaminated environments. To better understand this potential connection, researchers will collect biological samples from over 200 study participants and measure their exposure to mycotoxins. Using advanced techniques, researchers will evaluate whether specific environmental exposures are associated with biological changes linked to ME/CFS
“For decades, patients with ME/CFS have faced delayed diagnoses, limited treatment options, and significant uncertainty about the causes of their illness,” said Dr. Nancy G. Klimas, co-investigator on the project and director of NSU’s Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine. “Understanding how environmental factors influence disease development could help identify biomarkers; improve diagnosis; and, ultimately, lead to more targeted treatments.”
Nathanson’s co-investigators include Klimas, Irina Rozenfeld, D.N.P., M.S.H.S., A.P.R.N., ANP-BC; Violetta Renesca, D.N.P., A.P.R.N., NP-C, IFMCP; and David Quesada Saliba, M.S., Ph.D
Las Vegas Cleans Up the Strip
Cleaning crews will be coming nightly to clean elevators, pedestrian bridges, and sidewalks
July 22, 2026
Though large areas of Las Vegas Boulevard are private property, Clark County, where Las Vegas resides, hires contractors for custodian services on pedestrian bridges, elevators, escalators, bollards, and sidewalks in addition to wheelchair ramps, curb line/gutter/drop inlet grates, and newsstands along the Strip, a local news affiliate reported
According to Clark County Commission documents, a current contract appropriates US$13,400 a month for evening shift cleaning on Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays. To mandate nightly cleanings including holidays, an amended contract would raise costs to $21,000 a month
The funds would come from “dedicated resort corridor maintenance funds,” used for the sole purpose of Strip maintenance, the county said. The amended contract item will be presented soon to the county’s board of commissioners
“We are focused on ‘heads in beds’ and making sure that we have midweek business here,” Michael Naft, Clark County Commission chair told FOX5. “I need our trash cans emptied on every day of the week. I need our elevators cleaned and maintained and swept and our escalators, our sidewalks, and our bridges to be cared for every single day of the week—so making sure that that contract is accountable, has strong oversight, is something that I think is critically important to the overall maintenance of Las Vegas Boulevard.”
According to a recent CMM report, Las Vegas was also found to be one of the lowest-ranked North American destinations for hotel cleanliness
Latest Articles
July 22, 2026Kennedy Moreno
July 20, 2026Richard Halsall
July 17, 2026Jeff Cross
Sponsored Articles
July 16, 2026Sponsored by Optisolve
July 7, 2026Dr. Rebecca Bascom & Dr. Gavin Macgregor-Skinner & Dr. Omrana Pasha-Razzak
July 2, 2026
Recent News
