JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

Dr. Doug Flora, Executive Medical Director of Oncology Services at St. Elizabeth Cancer Center, discusses the growth of the program, attracting top providers, CMS 5-star rating, unique blend of local talent and renowned specialists, clinical trials, personalized medicine, nurse navigation, and whole-person care.

New updates to the McDonald diagnostic criteria aim to improve MS diagnosis accuracy by integrating advanced imaging, biomarkers, and age-specific criteria. Presented at ECTRIMS 2024, key changes include recognizing radiologically isolated syndrome as MS, adding the optic nerve as a diagnostic location, and using tools like central vein sign and paramagnetic rim lesions. The revised criteria aim to enhance diagnostic precision and improve patient outcomes, with plans for global education to implement these updates effectively.

In 2024, AI's role in precision medicine expanded, focusing on cancer diagnosis, therapy personalization, and outcome prediction. Companies like Zephyr, VieCure, and Tempus raised significant funds for AI-driven healthcare solutions. Biopharma giants invested in AI for clinical trials and drug development. AI tools for cancer screening, such as Qure.ai's qXR and Imidex's VisiRad XR, gained FDA clearance. AI-driven biomarkers and digital pathology advanced, with tools like Novigenix's LITOSeek and Ataraxis AI's digital pathology test showing promise. The future points towards larger, multimodal AI models for improved patient care.

Marcia Cruz-Correa, part of NCI's Cancer Equity Leaders (CEL), discusses her career addressing cancer disparities among Hispanic populations, her efforts in colorectal cancer screening in Puerto Rico, and the importance of health equity research. She emphasizes the need for access to care, health education, and Hispanic participation in clinical trials to advance cancer health equity.

A sharp rise in whooping cough cases, with over 18,500 confirmed nationwide, is linked to post-pandemic exposures, waning immunity, and decreased vaccination rates. Vaccination, including boosters every 10 years, is crucial for protection, especially for infants and pregnant women. Recognizing symptoms early and practicing good hygiene can help prevent spread.

Apollo 13's crisis led to an early digital twin concept, using simulators to save astronauts. Today, digital twins, enhanced by IoT and AI, revolutionize industries, including healthcare, by predicting and solving problems in virtual models before applying solutions in reality, despite challenges in data quality, ethics, and accessibility.

In Oregon's first full year of its psilocybin program, 31 service centers and 356 facilitators have served about 8,000 clients with few adverse effects. The Healing Advocacy Fund aims to refine the program and study its impacts by 2025. Issues of cost, availability, and insurance coverage persist, with preliminary research results expected in early 2025. A proposed 'Psilocybin Program Improvement Bill' seeks to enhance legal protections and continuity of care.

The Cancer History Project, launched in 2021, aims to preserve oncology's history, exploring milestones like EGFR mutations in lung cancer and the 1964 Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health. The project, supported by The Cancer Letter, features multimedia series, podcasts, and institutional histories, attracting growing readership.

Mayor Brandon Scott plans to push for drug consumption sites in Baltimore, supported by George Soros and harm reduction groups. These sites aim to prevent overdoses by supervising drug use. Scott visited such sites in New York in 2022, funded by Open Society Foundations. Critics argue these sites don't effectively reduce overdose rates, suggesting focus on treatment instead.

The BMJ investigation reveals data reporting issues in the PLATO trial, which supported ticagrelor's approval. FDA initially rejected due to higher US deaths, but later approved. Subsequent studies failed to replicate PLATO's positive results, raising questions about its validity and ticagrelor's guidelines.