NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to overhaul HHS agencies, including FDA, CDC, and NIH, focusing on ending FDA's 'war on public health,' reversing CDC's fluoride recommendations, and shifting NIH's budget to 'preventive, alternative and holistic approaches.' He also advocates for Medicare and Medicaid to cover gym memberships and healthier foods instead of expensive weight-loss drugs.

33.1% of adults eligible for GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment for weight loss were excluded from clinical trials due to conditions like depression and hypertension, highlighting the need for screening and real-world evidence in these populations.

UW-Madison ranks 6th in U.S. university research expenditures, reaching $1.7 billion, with a 13.7% increase. Federal awards contribute nearly half, and UW-Madison prioritizes research improvements. Notable grants include $29 million for blindness research, $19 million for dairy industry innovation, and $22.3 million for community health expansion. WARF supports AI research with $15 million over three years. RISE initiatives focus on AI, environment, and health. UW-Madison partners with over 3,000 state businesses annually.

A University of Arizona Health Sciences study identified retigabine, an anti-epileptic drug, which reduced cocaine desire in rats without affecting sugar reward pathways, suggesting a potential treatment for substance use disorders.

NIH developed TrialGPT, an AI algorithm to match potential volunteers to clinical trials, reducing screening time by 40% while maintaining accuracy. The tool aims to enhance trial recruitment and diversity, aligning with FDA's focus on health equity and clinical trial inclusivity.

Lantidra, a new pancreatic islet cell therapy for brittle type 1 diabetes, is now available at UI Health in Chicago. This FDA-approved treatment, derived from deceased donor pancreases, aims to regulate blood glucose by infusing islet cells into the patient's liver. Clinical trials showed that 70% of patients no longer required insulin one year post-transplant, and over 90% experienced no hypoglycemia. Patients must take immunosuppressants and may need multiple infusions. Eligibility criteria include age, diabetes duration, insulin dependency, and specific health conditions.

PIONEER, an AI-powered tool, predicts human protein interactions, aiding in cancer research and precision medicine by analyzing mutations and treatment responses. Developed by Haiyuan Yu and Feixiong Cheng, it extends AlphaFold's capabilities to complex protein-to-protein interactions, with potential applications in various disorders.