NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

New study in the New England Journal of Medicine finds kidney transplants between HIV-positive donors and recipients are safe and effective, with similar one- and three-year survival rates and organ rejection rates. The research, led by Dr. Dorry Segev, suggests HIV-positive kidney donation should become standard practice.

UCSD researchers found that an FDA-approved breast cancer drug, palbociclib, effectively stabilizes tumor growth and reduces blood tumor markers in patients with peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis (PMC), a rare appendix cancer. This marks the first targeted therapy for PMC, with tumors containing GNAS mutations responding particularly well. The drug offers a well-tolerated alternative to chemotherapy and can be implemented immediately.

A study estimates 24-62% of U.S. depression patients could qualify for psilocybin-assisted therapy if FDA approves, potentially helping millions. Factors influencing eligibility include comorbidities and insurance coverage. The study emphasizes the need for flexible healthcare planning and resource allocation.

Columbia researchers engineered probiotic bacteria to educate the immune system to destroy cancer cells, potentially leading to personalized cancer vaccines. The bacterial vaccine, tested in mouse models, effectively suppressed or eliminated primary and metastatic cancers while leaving healthy tissues unharmed. Published in *Nature*, the study highlights the vaccine's efficacy over traditional peptide-based cancer vaccines and its potential to prevent cancer recurrence.

NIH-funded clinical trial of mpox vaccine in adolescents found it safe and generated robust antibody response, similar to adults. Presented at IDWeek2024, interim analysis supports vaccine's safety and immune response in adolescents, crucial for areas with mpox cases.

Researchers from Boston University and Boston Medical Center found that head and neck cancer clinical trials are becoming less racially and ethnically diverse over time, despite efforts by organizations like the FDA and NCI. The inequitable representation in cancer research has worsened in the last decade. BMC's initiatives have improved diversity in their trials, with 58% of participants from underrepresented groups, compared to the national average of 7-12%.

Research!America announces 2025 Advocacy Awards recipients, recognizing leaders advancing medical and health research. Awards presented at National Academy of Sciences event on March 12, 2025.

NIH and FDA leaders call for innovation in smoking cessation treatments, highlighting research gaps and opportunities in a commentary in the Annals of Internal Medicine. They emphasize the need for diverse stakeholder engagement and innovative therapeutic targets, including e-cigarettes, to address the urgent public health issue of smoking.

Despite national efforts, head and neck cancer clinical trials are becoming less racially and ethnically diverse, highlighting the need for more inclusive approaches to improve treatment outcomes for all patients.