Author: healthadmin

London-based Global Healthcare Opportunities and Singapore-based CBC Group have announced plans to merge, creating what they are calling the largest healthcare-focused investment management firm with more than $21 billion in assets. The deal brings together two specialized healthcare investors and more than 200 investment and operations professionals across 13 offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Together, these regions account for approximately 90% of global healthcare R&D spending, according to the companies. The investment firm said in a press release that the combination of its expansive footprint, network and global connectivity allows it to take advantage of “high-growth, innovation-driven…

House appropriations officials on Wednesday unveiled funding proposals for the Interior Department and the EPA, cutting deeper into science and research programs, ramping up mining on public lands and approving the Trump administration’s new Wildland Fire Authority authorization. The House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee announced a $38.9 billion spending bill for fiscal year 2027, which includes a 20% (about $1.8 billion) cut to the EPA. Mr. Interior’s funding will increase by about 2%. “America’s public lands and natural resources are not just part of our heritage; they are strategic assets that support recreation, connect communities, expand opportunity, and strengthen…

new research in cell report medicine Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have identified key characteristics that may help predict which types of rare cancers are likely to respond to immunotherapy. In a phase 2 trial of 154 patients with rare cancers led by Aung Naing, MD, professor of cancer therapy, the immunotherapy pembrolizumab had a modest overall response rate of 14.8% and a clinical benefit rate of 26.8%. However, researchers have found that certain other features of the tumor microenvironment may serve as predictive markers of response beyond what can currently be provided by genomic…

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired two leaders of a commission that advises the federal government on which preventive services should be covered by insurance. Vice Chairman John Wong and Vice Chairman Ether Davis were removed from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in a letter sent by President Kennedy on May 11. The letter, seen by STAT, fires the vice chair due to a review of his current appointment. “This action is administrative in nature and has nothing to do with your performance or years of dedicated service to the task force. It should…

It’s no surprise that someone experiences memory loss, or a “blackout,” while drinking. Although power outages are common, they are considered a public health concern related to injuries, arrests, assaults, and overdoses. Given these results, being able to identify and intervene in outages could reduce people’s risk of alcohol-related harm. Researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine have developed a way to identify power outages in real time. In this study, 63 participants completed a memory test while actively drinking. They looked at the images and had to report what they remembered after 15 minutes. In theory, not…

Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have identified a new potential way to treat Alzheimer’s disease by targeting an enzyme in the brain called IDOL. Laboratory studies have shown that removing the enzyme from neurons significantly reduces amyloid plaques, one of the main biological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, and may also increase the brain’s resistance to damage associated with the disease. The discovery comes as scientists continue to search for improved treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. In recent years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two disease-modifying drugs, lecanemab and donanemab, that work by clearing the buildup of…

Recent research suggests a potential causal relationship between certain gut bacteria, blood metabolism, and the development of postpartum depression. By analyzing large genetic databases, scientists mapped how microbial communities change gene switches and cholesterol levels, which in turn affects mothers’ mental health. The study results were published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Postpartum depression affects approximately 14% of people after giving birth. This condition affects the mother’s quality of life and the infant’s attachment. Currently, the biological mechanisms that cause this disease are not fully understood, and treatments remain limited. By the time symptoms appear, doctors have few options…

Maven, a virtual provider for women’s and family health, has launched a direct-to-consumer product featuring virtual care, GLP-1, and hormone therapy. Products are available for cash payment, including specialty care visits where you pay per visit. The goal is to bridge the gap between prescription and follow-up required for GLP-1 and hormone therapy. “Hormones affect metabolism, metabolism affects mental health, and reproductive history affects all of that,” Maven founder and CEO Kate Ryder said in a press release. “Women don’t experience their health in silos. Maven was built to connect the dots. Now, any woman in the country can seek…

Scientists have discovered that ancient rocks deep underground in Canada naturally emit hydrogen gas, providing new evidence that Earth itself may have significant untapped sources of clean energy. Researchers from the University of Toronto and the University of Ottawa studied the Canadian Shield, a vast region that contains some of the oldest rock formations on Earth. For the first time, they directly measured the hydrogen escaping from these billion-year-old rocks, tracked how it accumulates over time, and mapped where the gas is concentrated. The survey results are Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciencescould help determine whether naturally occurring hydrogen,…

Plastic food wrappers, bottles, lids and caps are the most common litter on the world’s coastlines, a study has found.Researchers reviewed data from more than 5,300 surveys of coastal litter to conduct the first global analysis of its kind. They found data from 355 existing studies on the subject.”It’s something we use every day,” says Richard Thompson, founder of the International Marine Debris Research Unit at the University of Plymouth. “Even in countries where waste management is very advanced, these are the norm on the coast.”He said he wasn’t surprised that the data included large amounts of single-use plastics, but…