NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

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.

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.