NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

A new AI tool, PIONEER, predicts protein interactions, aiding research in precision medicine and therapy development. Applied to 33 cancer types, it predicts drug responses and patient survival rates. Available as a web platform and software, it also supports research in model organisms like mice. Developed by Haiyuan Yu and Feixiong Cheng, it builds on AlphaFold, enhancing understanding of protein-to-protein interactions.

NIH developed TrialGPT, an AI algorithm matching potential volunteers to relevant clinical trials on ClinicalTrials.gov, aiding clinicians in navigating trial options efficiently. TrialGPT processes patient summaries, identifies eligible trials, and explains eligibility criteria, reducing clinician screening time by 40% while maintaining accuracy. The tool aims to improve clinical trial enrollment and accelerate medical research progress.

Natera co-founder and executive chairman Matthew Rabinowitz named 2024 R&D Leader of the Year by R&D World for pioneering work in genetic testing and precision medicine, including development of Panorama™, Signatera™, and Prospera™.

CND Life Sciences received a $4.2 million grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation to study the Syn-One Test, which quantifies phosphorylated alpha-synuclein in skin samples to aid in diagnosing Parkinson’s disease and tracking its progression. The Syn-Q trial will enroll 75 Parkinson’s patients and 25 with REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, aiming to understand the natural progression of alpha-synuclein deposition and its utility in treatment response and disease monitoring.

Duke Cancer Institute researchers identified biomarkers predicting checkpoint inhibitor drug failure, leading to melanoma hyper-progression. The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, suggests a strategy to inhibit hyper-progression, potentially benefiting 10% of patients. The NLRP3 inflammasome in tumors was found to trigger resistance to checkpoint inhibitors, with high baseline inflammasome molecule concentrations linked to inferior survival. The team is developing predictive biomarkers and a clinical trial targeting the inflammasome.

Levothyroxine, commonly prescribed for hypothyroidism, may be linked to bone loss in older adults, even when TSH levels are within normal range, according to a Johns Hopkins study presented at RSNA.

Weill Cornell Medicine study in *Nature Communications* identifies EZH2 enzyme's role in driving treatment-resistant prostate cancer growth, suggesting new therapeutic approaches by targeting EZH2 or TGF-β pathways.

In 2018, Samoan measles vaccine tragedy led to low immunization rates and a devastating outbreak. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited and criticized vaccination efforts. Trump nominated Kennedy to lead U.S. Health and Human Services, despite Kennedy's controversial views on vaccines, fluoride, and COVID remedies. Kennedy's concerns about chronic disease and corporate influence in healthcare could align with public health priorities, but his unscientific stance may hinder his confirmation.