YALE UNIVERSITY

SciSparc receives FDA approval for Phase IIb clinical trials of SCI-110, a potential Tourette Syndrome treatment, to be conducted at Yale, Hannover Medical School, and Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. The trial aims to assess efficacy, safety, and tolerability in adult patients, with a focus on tic severity reduction.

Mona Shahriari discusses psoriasis prevalence, clinical manifestations, treatment modalities, and research gaps in the US Hispanic population, emphasizing the need for diverse clinical trials and cultural sensitivity in treatment.

NIH lab mimics bar to study if anti-obesity drugs curb alcohol cravings; evidence suggests GLP-1 receptor agonists may reduce various addictions. Clinical trials underway, with potential benefits beyond weight loss, including reducing cardiovascular risks, easing sleep apnoea, and slowing Parkinson’s development. Understanding drug mechanisms could optimize responses and mitigate side effects.

Vaccine manufacturing is critical for future pandemic preparedness, requiring global collaboration and optimized processes. Inequitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines highlights the need for manufacturing in low- and middle-income countries. Challenges include diverse vaccine platforms and regional infrastructure differences, necessitating significant process optimization. Collaborative efforts like BioNTech/CEPI in Rwanda aim to address these issues.

John Krystal, MD discusses the potential of ketamine and other psychedelics in treating psychiatric disorders, highlighting the antidepressant effects of ketamine and the development of drug combinations at Freedom Biosciences to extend ketamine's efficacy. The FDA's recent decision on MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD has spurred further research into psychedelics for conditions like major depression, PTSD, migraine, and substance use disorders.

Samah Fodeh-Jarad received two grants to enhance health care for underrepresented populations using AI, focusing on patient-centered outcomes in mental health and cancer care. The studies involve national collaborations and aim to develop AI tools like PVminer and EPPCminer to analyze patient concerns and preferences, improving patient-provider communication and health outcomes.

The article profiles various professionals in health and statistics, including John R. Lumpkin, M.D., M.P.H., Mollyann Brodie, Ph.D., Kennon R. Copeland, Ph.D., Tara Das, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.L.I.S., Scott H. Holan, Ph.D., V. Joseph Hotz, Ph.D., Bradley Malin, Ph.D., Sally C. Morton, Ph.D., Lucila Ohno-Machado, M.D., M.B.A., Ph.D., Andy Peytchev, Ph.D., C. Matthew Snipp, Ph.D., Kelly Hoover Thompson, J.D., and David R. Williams, Ph.D., detailing their roles, achievements, and contributions to their respective fields.

Researchers from Renmin Hospital and Yale University developed a plant-based nanoparticle treatment using bardoxolone methyl to target glioblastoma cells in mice, overcoming challenges of tumor cell killing and brain penetration, with minimal systemic toxicity.

The 'Clinical Trials: Psychedelic Therapeutics' report reviews global trials, highlighting non-industry sponsors leading (58%), Yale University as top non-industry, Johnson & Johnson as top industry, and CNS as top therapy area (92%). The US leads in trials, and Phase II trials dominate since 2013.