NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

Republicans and Democrats struck a health care policy deal, but President-elect Trump and Elon Musk killed the funding bill, excluding key health policies. Congress passed the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, providing $63 million for childhood cancer research, but other pediatric cancer measures were excluded. Republicans prioritized a simple funding bill over additional policies.

FDA issued a complete response letter to Zealand Pharma, stating the glepaglutide NDA for short bowel syndrome is not ready for approval and recommends an additional clinical trial. Zealand Pharma remains confident in glepaglutide's efficacy and safety, aiming to reduce parenteral support needs in SBS patients.

Dr. Huang's lab studies prostate cancer genetics, focusing on African Americans. The Hollander Foundation awarded him $25,000 for research. Dr. Robert Hollander, a prostate cancer survivor and winemaker, funds the foundation to support prostate cancer research.

Over 50 vapes collected in Kenton County schools since August through a vape disposal program led by the Northern Kentucky Department of Health. The program aims to address a vaping epidemic among students and comply with federal disposal laws. THC vapes dominate the collected items, highlighting accessibility issues. The health department plans to expand the program to other counties and emphasizes early education to combat the issue.

Researchers developed LNP67, a chemically simple nanoparticle without a targeting ligand, to deliver genetic instructions to HSCs, avoiding liver capture and enabling low-dose, effective delivery.

The Pediatric Clinical Trials Market is projected to grow from US$ 20.1 Billion in 2023 to US$ 33.0 Billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 5.0%. North America led in 2023 with a 39.10% share. Challenges include ethical concerns, limited recruitment, and high costs. Innovations like adaptive trials and digital technologies are enhancing efficiency.

Participating in lupus clinical trials offers access to potential new treatments, though concerns about misconceptions and uncertainties exist. Trials vary in focus, from treatment efficacy to quality of life, and participation can significantly improve patient outcomes. The informed consent process ensures understanding of trial details, risks, and benefits, with opportunities to ask questions and withdraw if needed. Key considerations include trial duration, treatment specifics, and compensation. Proactive research and support systems are crucial for informed decision-making and successful participation.

The Research to Prevent Blindness Board of Trustees urges protection of the National Eye Institute (NEI) amid a proposal to reduce NIH to 15 institutes, eliminating NEI. The statement highlights the $2.25 per person spent on US vision research and the $276 billion cost of eye disorders in 2025. Prevent Blindness calls for action through a form from the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research to support NEI funding.

European drug regulators review research linking Novo Nordisk's Ozempic to rare eye disorder NAION, following studies suggesting increased risk in Type 2 diabetes patients. The European Medicines Agency will examine Danish studies, while Novo Nordisk maintains the benefit-risk profile of semaglutide remains unchanged.

Nicholas Douville, M.D., Ph.D., and team aim to use precision medicine for better surgical care, exploring genetic factors in perioperative outcomes. Despite initial lack of strong genetic associations in acute kidney injury, they turn to the diverse All of Us Research Program dataset, proposing tools to map surgical procedures and study emergent health conditions, emphasizing genetics as one factor in precision medicine.