STANFORD UNIVERSITY

2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to David Baker for computational protein design and to Demis Hassabis and John Jumper for AlphaFold's protein structure prediction, marking significant advancements in the field.

CareDx appoints Jing Huang Ph.D. as Chief Data and AI Officer to lead data science initiatives, leveraging AI for enhanced patient care and operational efficiency. Huang's role supports CareDx's long-term growth strategy, to be detailed at an Investor Day on October 15, 2024.

Wellcome Leap’s Quantum for Bio program advances teams to Phase 2, offering up to $750,000 for classical simulations of quantum algorithms in healthcare. Finalists include Infleqtion, University of Nottingham, qBraid Co., University of Copenhagen, Harvard University, Stanford University, Algorithmiq Inc., and University of Cambridge. Phase 3 offers up to $5 million for significant quantum advancements in healthcare.

Bob Duggan's experimental cancer drug, ivonescimab, outperformed Keytruda in trials, boosting Summit Therapeutics' stock 700% and his net worth to $16 billion. The drug, now in 18 cancer trials, halved disease progression risk in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

The 55th RANZCO Congress in Adelaide, 1-4 November 2024, features a dynamic speaker lineup addressing eye transplant feasibility, uveitis insights, and sustainability. Early registrations are up 10% from last year, promising a vibrant event. Key speakers include Prof. Justine Smith on uveitis, Prof. Robyn Jamieson on precision medicine, and Prof. Jeffrey Goldberg on eye transplantation. The congress emphasizes sustainability and offers both in-person and online experiences.

Stanford Medicine researchers received ARPA-H contracts for precision cancer care, surgical innovation, and large language model-driven patient communication. Katherine Ferrara leads a $35 million project on precision radiopharmaceutical imaging and therapy, focusing on ovarian and head and neck cancers. Lisa Knowlton co-leads a $22.3 million effort to improve intraoperative anatomy visualization. Roxana Daneshjou and Akshay Chaudhari are awarded $4.8 million to develop AI-driven medical chatbots for patient assistance.

FDA approval of isatuximab with VRd for transplant-ineligible multiple myeloma highlights improved progression-free survival, though overall survival data is still immature. The IMROZ trial showed higher rates of peripheral neuropathy, suggesting real-world adjustments are necessary. The BENEFIT trial aims to address treatment in frail and elderly patients. Clinicians must balance benefits with risks of adverse events, particularly neutropenia and infections, when considering isatuximab plus VRd for older patients.

California has effectively reduced retinopathy of prematurity rates and racial disparities, with Hispanic and Asian infants showing the most improvement, due to diligent neonatal care and early screening practices, according to a Stanford Medicine-led study in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Chris Ollis, a deputy sheriff diagnosed with rare myopericytoma cancer, found hope through genomic testing and an NTRK clinical trial, leading to a successful recovery and fulfilling life with his family.