Medicine

The Trump administration is retreating from a planned executive order that would have given the White House greater control over National Institutes of Health grant decisions. Semafor reports the proposal is now considered effectively dead after widespread pushback from scientists, universities, and lawmakers who argued it would politicise biomedical research funding. Observers are watching whether further attempts to centralise NIH grant approvals will follow.

Stanford Medicine is reported to have revealed that the human brain functions as two separate organs rather than one. The claim, picked up by KRON 4, is drawing wide attention as it would challenge the standard understanding of the brain as a single unified organ. Details of the research, its methods and peer review have not been made clear in available reporting.

A new blood test can tell apart bacterial and viral infections in newborns, according to a report by Inside Precision Medicine. If confirmed in wider use, the test could help doctors avoid unnecessary antibiotics in babies with fever, a long-standing challenge in neonatal care where distinguishing infection types quickly is difficult. Details on the study's size, accuracy and developers were not provided.

Ellis Medicine is hosting a community forum in Schenectady to discuss the future of healthcare in the city. The event gives residents a chance to hear from hospital leadership and raise questions and concerns about local medical services. Local coverage highlights the forum as an opportunity for the community to weigh in on decisions affecting care in the region.

A federal bill has been proposed that would ban the corporate practice of medicine across the United States. If enacted, the legislation would restrict corporations from owning or employing physicians, a model that has expanded rapidly through private equity investment in healthcare. Law firms and healthcare industry observers are examining the proposal's potential effects on hospital ownership, staffing companies and patient care.

Moderna has begun a Phase 1 clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine targeting the Zaire strain responsible for the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The trial marks the first human testing of the candidate, which uses the same mRNA technology behind Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine. Coverage is highlighting the company's growing pipeline and the urgent need for new Ebola countermeasures in central Africa.

A thyroid medication has been recalled and the recall has been classified at the FDA's most serious risk level, meaning the agency considers the issue potentially life-threatening. The announcement is drawing attention as patients who rely on thyroid medicine are urged to check whether their supply is affected and follow FDA guidance on returning or replacing it.

Insilico Medicine has signed a co-development deal worth tens of millions of dollars with an unnamed foundation-model laboratory, joining forces to apply large AI models to drug discovery. The Hong Kong-based biotech, known for using generative AI to design drug candidates, has not disclosed its partner or the exact terms, leaving observers speculating about which AI lab is behind the agreement.

Concerns over the cost of veterinary medicines continue among pet owners even after the Competition and Markets Authority moved to increase the cap on prescription charges, according to Veterinary Times. The report suggests the regulatory change has not fully reassured clients, who remain wary that prices at veterinary practices still exceed those available elsewhere. The findings underline ongoing scrutiny of the UK veterinary medicines market.

A life-size replica of the Yuan dynasty Buddha of Medicine mural has gone on show at the National Arts and Crafts Museum in Beijing. The work reproduces one of the most celebrated surviving murals from China's Yuan era, depicting the Medicine Buddha surrounded by attendant figures. The exhibition gives visitors a close-up view of the mural's detail and craftsmanship, drawing attention to conservation and reproduction efforts around fragile ancient religious art.

Southern Cross University is pursuing a strategy in India aimed at building a stronger evidence base for traditional medicine. The Australian institution's approach involves validating traditional treatments through scientific research, reflecting growing global interest in integrating traditional medicine with modern evidence-based healthcare practices.

New reporting indicates that heart and kidney complications in people with type 2 diabetes increase as the disease progresses over time. The findings highlight the cumulative burden of cardiovascular and renal disease among diabetes patients, a group already at elevated risk. Medical observers are likely weighing the implications for earlier treatment and long-term monitoring of organ health in these patients.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents has voted to approve the university's representatives to the Nebraska Medicine board. The move formalises which officials will sit on the governing body of the health system that works closely with the university's medical centre. Details on the individual representatives and the terms of the arrangement were not immediately available.

The II Ibero-American Symposium on Ethnoveterinary Medicine is drawing attention across the region, with the Food and Agriculture Organization among those highlighting the event. The gathering focuses on traditional and community-based animal health practices, bringing together researchers, veterinarians and practitioners from Ibero-American countries to share knowledge and strengthen research into plant-based and folk veterinary remedies.

Wake Forest beat 16th-ranked Louisville 30-27 in an away game, pulling off one of the notable upsets of the college football weekend. The Demon Deacons took down the ranked Cardinals on their home field, a result that could shake up the Atlantic Coast Conference race and the national rankings.

The pairings for Sunday's singles matches at the Presidents Cup at Medinah have been released, setting up the final-day matchups between the United States and the International team. Golf fans are following the announcement closely, as the singles lineup can decide which side lifts the trophy.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents has approved the university's representatives to the Nebraska Medicine board. The move formalizes which university officials will sit on the board of the health system tied to the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Further details about the appointees or the vote have not been widely reported.

The New York Times has published an opinion piece examining why clinical trials for cancer drugs take so long to complete. The article addresses the lengthy timelines between developing experimental cancer therapies and making them available to patients, a source of ongoing frustration for patients, families and researchers. Discussion centers on whether regulatory processes, patient recruitment and trial design could be accelerated without compromising safety.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents has appointed four new members to the board of Nebraska Medicine, the state's largest health system. The appointments fill seats overseeing the hospital network affiliated with the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. No further details about the appointees or their terms were immediately available.