As we move into 2021, let’s recap some of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine’s top research news stories of 2020.

It’s probably no surprise that COVID-19-related research accounts for quite a few stories. The ongoing blog by USF Health’s Dr. Christian Brechot, president of the Global Virus Network, holds the #1 spot. Since March, the blog has offered a global perspective on new coronavirus findings and the scientific community’s response to the unprecedented pandemic.

Check out the following Top 12 list. The ranking is based on the number of page views for online stories amplified via Facebook and Twitter:

1. Dr. Brechot’s COVID-19 blog

2. Coronavirus Q& A with USF Health virologist Michael Teng

3. USF Health team invents 3D printed nasal swab used worldwide to facilitate COVID-19 testing

4. USF Health and Tampa General Hospital selected to participate in COVID-19 vaccine trial

5. New vaccine targeting toxic amyloid-β could help halt Alzheimer’s disease progression, preclinical study finds

6. USF Health celebrates 30th Research Day with record number of poster submissions

7. Clinical trial shows first 3D printed nasal swabs work as well as commercial swabs for COVID-19 diagnostic testing

8. Tampa General Hospital, USF Health announce joint Office of Clinical Research to build upon research excellence

9. USF Health among top U.S. medical centers to test new ALS treatment shown to significantly benefit patients

10. Beta-arrestin2 increases neurotoxic tau driving frontotemporal dementia

11. New study identifies inflammatory molecules controlling capillary loss common in many diseases

12. Compounds halt SARS-CoV-2 replication by targeting key viral enzyme