NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

BU researchers are working to diagnose CTE in life through the Bank CTE study, aiming to identify biomarkers in blood samples and correlate them with postmortem brain findings, potentially transforming CTE into a treatable disease.

Walter developed a CRISPR-based gene drive method for HSV-1, showing high co-infection and gene drive frequency in mouse models of acute and latent infections. The goal is to use this technique to prevent or cure HSV-1 and HSV-2 diseases, potentially reducing viral shedding and symptomatic disease.

The FDA granted orphan drug designation to LMP744, an indenoisoquinoline-based topoisomerase I inhibitor for gliomas. LMP744 crosses the blood-brain barrier effectively and targets topoisomerase I and cMyc oncogenes. A phase 2 trial with NIH is planned for recurrent gliomas. LMP744's phase 1 study showed a maximum tolerated dose of 190 mg/m2 with limited monotherapy activity in heavily pretreated patients.

A study by Weill Cornell Medicine and New York Genome Center identifies antiviral enzymes and chemotherapy as key mutagens in bladder cancer, with overactive genes in circular DNA structures driving therapy resistance, offering new therapeutic targets.

A study led by Brigham and Women’s Hospital found persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection in 43% of long COVID patients, suggesting antiviral treatment could alleviate symptoms. The study, published in Clinical Microbiology and Infection, analyzed 1,569 blood samples and detected viral proteins in twice as many long COVID patients compared to those without symptoms. The research raises questions about multiple causes of long COVID, including immune dysfunction.

Sandoz launches first FDA-approved generic paclitaxel for metastatic breast cancer, a single-dose 100 mg vial for IV use, developed with Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals. Indicated for patients with metastatic breast cancer after chemotherapy failure, it carries warnings of severe myelosuppression and requires monitoring for neutropenia.

A $14M NIH grant funds gene-editing research at Penn and CHOP for rare metabolic diseases, focusing on urea cycle disorders using advanced CRISPR technology, aiming for personalized treatments and potential lifelong cures.

UCI MIND mourns the loss of founder Dr. Carl Cotman, who established the UCI Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and recruited prominent researchers. His legacy includes the Southern California Alzheimer’s Disease Research Conference and the UCI ADRC brain bank. UCI MIND plans to honor Cotman through awards and donations. The article also highlights recent collaborations, service awards, and initiatives like the Beall Scholar Program aimed at inspiring young minds in dementia research.

HIVR4P 2024 conference highlights safety of dapivirine vaginal ring during early pregnancy, no interactions between long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) PrEP and long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), early-stage HIV vaccine findings showing potential to generate broadly neutralizing antibodies, discovery of monocytes expressing IL1B associated with smaller HIV reservoirs, and a novel refillable controlled-release antiretroviral drug implant for PrEP and ART.

NIH selects OHSU, UW, and WVU as inaugural hubs for CARE for Health, a primary care–focused clinical research network aiming to improve access to clinical research for underserved communities. The $30 million initiative will engage rural communities in existing NIH-funded studies on pain management, polysubstance abuse, and gout, with the goal of improving patient outcomes and expanding research opportunities.