UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM

Opeyemi Iwaloye, a Nigerian researcher, has pioneered the use of medicinal plants for COVID-19 treatment, identifying bioactive compounds like melitric acid A and salvanolic acid A from Melissa officinalis. His work has garnered global recognition and over 300 citations, with ongoing projects exploring Artemisia annua and new imidazoles as potential COVID-19 therapies.

Dr. Tim Jancelewicz, co-principal investigator, leads an $11.4 million, multi-institutional clinical trial to study the efficacy of nitric oxide in treating newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). The NoNO Trial, funded by the NIH, involves 19 institutions and aims to determine if nitric oxide reduces the need for invasive care like ECMO. The trial also explores barriers to de-implementation of nitric oxide and its continued use despite lack of supporting evidence.

A genetic risk score predicts how Black individuals with hypertension respond to chlorthalidone and their likelihood of developing treatment-resistant hypertension. Lower ΔSBP scores correlate with better chlorthalidone response, while higher scores increase the risk of treatment resistance.

Iptacopan (Fabhalta) showed a clinically meaningful reduction in proteinuria and confirmed clinical benefit of alternative pathway inhibition in IgA nephropathy, with a 38.3% lower UPCR than placebo by month 9. The study also found significant decreases in complement pathway biomarkers, supporting selective alternative pathway inhibition.

New research suggests a low-carbohydrate diet may improve beta cell function in type 2 diabetes patients, potentially allowing some to discontinue medication.

Matt Phipps, Group Head of Biotechnology Equity Research at William Blair & Co, discusses the impact of the Fed's 50 basis point rate cut on the market.

A case study from the NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory describes an interim reassessment of sample size during an ongoing cluster randomized trial, FM-TIPS, which examines the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on movement-evoked pain in fibromyalgia patients.

Dupilumab (Dupixent) showed greater improvements in quality of life for COPD patients with type 2 inflammation compared to placebo, with a -3.4 point difference in SGRQ score at 52 weeks (P<0.0001). Dupilumab impacts symptoms, activity, and impacts domains significantly, and its benefits extend beyond exacerbation reduction and lung function improvement.

Montgomery announces Catalyst program offering free genetic testing and linking patients to clinical trials in Alabama, aiming to improve health outcomes in rural areas and diversify clinical trial participants.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a debilitating autoimmune disease. We aim to build a first-of-its-kind database with patient contributions. Your samples and information can enhance our understanding of lupus and future research. Participation is free, and tests can be part of routine care. This registry and biorepository study collects lupus data to aid research and future studies.