It’s Taylor Swift’s birthday, and she’s now old enough to run for president of the United States (although that’s not to say she should). In other news, a year ago, a little girl named Shelby underwent a grueling gene therapy miracle cure. The saga of the child in California who was thought to have contracted bird flu after drinking raw milk has come to an unsatisfying conclusion. While one test initially showed influenza A, further tests were unable to confirm the illness definitively.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute is changing its criteria for funding in 2027 to diversify its recipients and institutions. Researchers at Rockefeller University have discovered a promising new antiviral strategy targeting a different part of the virus machinery. However, the Biden administration’s Antiviral Program for Pandemics, which funded this research, is running out of funding due to other priorities.
M. Ihsan Kaadan, a Syrian-American doctor, reflects on the American dream and the challenges faced by immigrant doctors in the U.S. The treatment landscape for chronic lymphocytic leukemia is evolving, with promising results from AbbVie’s drug Epkinly offering hope for patients resistant to other therapies.
In other news, a hospital turned to solar power to help patients pay their utility bills, AI is shaping the future of biotech, and scientists warn of a potential “second tree of life” wreaking havoc. Patients with Long COVID are turning to online drug markets for treatment, and Centene warns against cuts to Medicaid or ACA subsidies.
These are just a few of the stories making headlines in the world of health and medicine. Stay informed and stay tuned for more updates.
