NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

SPRINT and ACCORD-BP trials pooled for post-hoc analysis; SPRINT tested intensive BP control (SBP < 120 mmHg) vs. standard (SBP < 140 mmHg) in high CVD risk non-DM participants, while ACCORD-BP used a 2x2 factorial design in high CVD risk DM participants. Outcome of interest was stroke-free survival (SFS), analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models. Data available at https://biolincc.nhlbi.nih.gov.

FDA approval of venetoclax inspired a scientist's passion for bridging research and medicine at WEHI. The collaborative atmosphere and diverse knowledge inspire continuous innovation. The scientist's motivation stems from impacting patient lives through medical and scientific advancements. Immunology's complexity and potential excite, while experiences at NIH and pioneering degrees highlight career highlights and challenges. Collaboration is key, and outside the lab, the scientist enjoys Melbourne's food scene and travel.

About half of metastatic melanoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors survive cancer-free for 10+ years, per a 10-year follow-up study from Weill Cornell Medicine and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The CheckMate 067 trial, involving 945 patients, showed nivolumab and ipilimumab combination significantly improved outcomes, with no new safety concerns. Median survival increased from 6.5 months to over 6 years, and patients free from cancer progression at 3 years likely remain disease-free at 10 years.

Free Narcan vending machines launching in Deep Ellum, aiming to reduce opioid overdoses. By year's end, over 30 machines will be placed. Narcan, an opioid antagonist, temporarily reverses overdoses and is now available over-the-counter. Naloxone, the active ingredient in Narcan, works for 30-90 minutes, requiring immediate medical attention post-use. Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, remains a significant threat, with 'rainbow fentanyl' targeting young adults.

New dual-layer nanopore system, GURU, offers precise detection and control of molecules like DNA, enhancing sequencing technology and overcoming limitations of protein-based systems.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center joins ReVAMPP, a $100 million/year NIH program to develop vaccines and antibody therapies against viral threats, with a $13 million/year grant for bunyaviruses and picornaviruses research.

NIH establishes pandemic preparedness research network, ReVAMPP, to develop vaccines and monoclonal antibodies for high-priority pathogens, focusing on virus families known to infect humans. NIAID commits $100 million annually to fund the program, aiming to fill knowledge gaps and enhance pandemic response capabilities.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute awarded $355,935 to Blacksburg’s Biotherapeutics, Inc. for asthma research. Biotherapeutics, formed in 2008, integrates nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and informatics for precision medicine. This follows a $288,986 grant in August.