UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

Authors from various departments and institutions contributed equally to the research.

The CHOICE Institute at the University of Washington hosts the 2025 Western PharmacoEconomics Conference (WPEC) from March 31 to April 2, 2025, in Seattle. Key dates include abstract submission and registration deadlines. Sponsorship opportunities are available, with funds supporting the conference and CHOICE program students.

Judge may force FDA to revisit mifepristone policies; AG Ferguson fights for reproductive freedom, arguing FDA's restrictions are illegal. A preliminary injunction by Judge Rice prevents FDA interference in WA, OR, DC, and 16 states. Mifepristone's restrictions, under FDA's Risk Evaluation & Mitigation Strategy, are deemed scientifically baseless and burdensome by advocates. The lawsuit aims to remove these restrictions, allowing any qualified provider to prescribe mifepristone without special certification.

A study finds significant disparities in Americans' well-being by region, with the lowest scores in the southern U.S., Appalachia, and Rust Belt states, and the highest in Colorado, Maryland, New York, California, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The Human Development Index (HDI) shows an overall U.S. increase from 2008 to 2019, then a decline in 2020 due to COVID-19. White men represent the largest group with the lowest well-being, while Asian American women have the longest life expectancy. The study calls for targeted social programs to address structural inequalities.

UNMC College of Medicine received over $7 million in new funding in September, with grants awarded to various faculty members for studies ranging from cardiovascular disease diagnosis to HIV/SIV reservoirs and COVID-19 eye studies, among others.

Linaclotide (Linzess) provides significant relief for functional constipation in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, according to a posthoc analysis presented at NASPGHAN 2024. The analysis showed similar benefits and safety profiles compared to the overall trial population, with high compliance rates.

2024 chemistry Nobel awarded to John Jumper and Demis Hassabis for AlphaFold, an AI tool predicting protein structures, and David Baker for computational protein design, both transforming biology and drug discovery.

Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI announces 29 graduate and postdoctoral fellows for 2024-25, representing diverse research areas including AI safety, digital health, energy science, and precision medicine. Fellows will collaborate with Stanford faculty on human-centered AI challenges.

Nicole Fleming, MD, joins Fred Hutch Cancer Center as deputy chief medical officer, bringing expertise in gynecologic oncology and minimally invasive surgery. She aims to improve care efficiency and expand services, drawing from her experience at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Fleming emphasizes the importance of balancing professional and personal life, advocating for patient-centered care and clear communication.

New study in *Nature* unveils artificial receptors targeting coronaviruses via modular design, potentially revolutionizing antiviral drug development.