Good morning! While I’m not usually a fan of gamification, I make an exception for three things: my Survivor fantasy league, Oscars predictions, and STAT Madness. This week, I get to enjoy all three—especially the excitement of voting in STAT’s annual competition where readers pick the best biomedical and health research of the past year.
Here are some updates from federal health agencies like HHS and NIH:
- On Saturday, Francis Collins, a well-known geneticist and former NIH director, announced his retirement. He left a challenging situation behind, with budget cuts and layoffs affecting the agency.
- On Friday, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared a proposal to stop allowing public comments on HHS plans. This move contradicts his earlier promises to improve accessibility and transparency at the agency.
Researchers are feeling anxious after being cut off from a vital dataset known as PRAMS. This dataset gathers important information on maternal and infant health from annual surveys, and it helps identify issues leading to high maternal mortality rates in the U.S. Without access to this data, experts worry they can’t create effective public health strategies. The CDC has said this interruption is temporary, due to compliance changes related to executive orders.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a troubling outbreak has healthcare officials concerned. Reports indicate a mix of illnesses and possible toxic exposure in western regions. The WHO has recorded nearly 1,000 cases and over 50 deaths recently, with investigations ongoing. While Ebola has been ruled out, many tested individuals show positive results for malaria.
Looking ahead to future pandemics, researchers are exploring how to fast-track vaccine production. Following the H1N1 outbreak, there were opportunities for quick vaccine approvals due to existing technologies. HHS awarded Moderna a significant contract to develop influenza vaccines, including for strains like H5N1. This is now under reconsideration by the current administration.
A recent study suggests that using race-neutral formulas to assess lung function can identify more Black children with asthma symptoms compared to traditional race-specific equations. Experts warn, however, that purely race-neutral approaches can inadvertently overlook the complexities of health disparities.
On the topic of Medicaid cuts, Rachel Litchman shared her experience as one of millions who depend on these services for long-term care. Proposed cuts threaten to limit the vital assistance she relies on, casting a shadow over the future of care for many disabled individuals.
Here are some articles we’ve been reading:
- Iowa has high cancer rates, and CDC and NIH cuts are having an impact.
- Scientific research is facing scrutiny as ‘woke’ funding becomes a hot topic.
- STAT reports on a concerning new label, ‘post-vaccination syndrome.’
- Texas is experiencing one of the biggest measles outbreaks in decades.
- Trump’s firings threaten the functions of Medicare and Medicaid agencies, according to STAT.
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