Each day, 12,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes worldwide. Three USF graduates are working towards the antidote. They work on a team developing the first universal antidote to snake venom. In June, the team published details of its research in Cell, a peer-reviewed scientific journal. “This research is a big deal,” said co-author Mark Bellin MS ’22, a senior scientist at Centivax in South San Francisco. “According to the World Health Organization, snakes kill more than 100,000 people each year, so a universal antivenom could save millions of lives.” The research paper in Cell is essentially a recipe, Bellin said. Instead of keeping the antivenom recipe a secret as is common practice in the biotech industry, the team published it. “We want to share it so that other scientists can join us in working on it,” he said. More at USF News. (fb)

USF was recognized by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) this month with three 2025 Circle of Excellence Awards. The competition drew 4,460 entries from across the world. USF was honored in three categories alongside universities such as Stanford, MIT, Johns Hopkins, and NYU, among others. 🥉USF Magazine was awarded a bronze for being a top alumni magazine published twice a year. 🎙️Judges’ comments: "USF produces a thoughtful, creative magazine both visually and editorially. A standout." 🥈USF also won two silver CASE awards — for environmental design, for the Silk Family USF Hall of Fame museum installation, and for video (long) for a student audience, for a profile of Micah Ballard of the MFA program. 🎙️Judges’ comments on video creative work: “A beautifully shot and edited piece that creatively introduces a staff member in a way that feels authentic and engaging. The setting and storytelling make it easy for students to connect on a personal level.” 🎙️Judges’ comments on design: “It's a really lovely installation that shifts the audience from being in a college gym to a museum-like space of quiet reflection. We appreciated the research and student involvement. Beautiful execution. Timeless design. Really impressive.” (fb)