STANFORD UNIVERSITY

Samuel Simmons, with ichthyosis, spends hours daily scrubbing dry, scaly skin. Research for a cure is slow, with dermatologists repurposing drugs for other skin conditions. Ichthyosis, a family of genetic skin diseases, causes skin cell turnover issues, leading to dry, cracked skin. Despite some progress with retinoids, a cure remains elusive. Dermatologists like Amy Paller and Joyce Teng are exploring immunomodulatory drugs used for psoriasis, revealing shared immune signatures. Clinical trials with IL-17-targeting drugs have shown mixed results, highlighting the need for personalized treatments due to ichthyosis's diversity. Simmons, frustrated but hopeful, keeps an eye on ongoing research.

Climate change linked to 1 in 5 dengue cases; could cause 40-60% increase by 2050. Dengue thrives in 68-82°F, posing higher risk as temperatures rise. 257 million people in areas where cases could double in 25 years. No specific treatment, vaccine available for high-risk children.

Scientists fear Trump's administration could undermine public health achievements, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. potentially leading a radical antiestablishment movement. Vaccine mandates, new vaccine approvals, and FDA decisions could be impacted, along with potential mass firings of dissenting scientists. Kennedy and allies advocate for dramatic public health changes, criticizing government agencies for promoting unhealthy practices and dangerous drugs. The potential for significant changes in federal health agencies, including the NIH and CDC, is concerning to many health professionals.

A study on providing feedback to pharmacists in the Veterans Affairs system showed increased HF patient encounters and GDMT uptitration, driven by greater MRA use. The modest GDMT change highlights the need for a multipronged strategy to improve HF medical therapy.

Stanford Medicine's CAR-T cell therapy trial showed significant benefits for children with deadly brain and spinal cord tumors, including DIPG, with one patient experiencing complete tumor disappearance and long-term health.

AI-driven medical devices, including brain-computer interfaces by Elon Musk's Neuralink, are transforming healthcare, prompting increased FDA scrutiny. Dr. Michelle Tarver takes over the FDA's device division amid concerns over industry influence and ethical conflicts, particularly with former director Dr. Jeffrey Shuren's ties to the device industry. The FDA's reliance on industry user fees raises questions about public health protection versus industry profit. AI in healthcare, though promising, faces challenges in oversight and potential biases, with the FDA acknowledging its limitations in regulating the rapidly evolving field.

Markin Lab uses HT-MEK technology to study enzyme-level DNA sequence effects, enabling rapid, cost-effective profiling of thousands of variants on a microfluidic chip.

Trace Neuroscience, a startup, raised $101 million to develop genetic medicine for ALS, leveraging recent discoveries from Stanford, UCL, and NIH. The company aims to enter human trials in early 2026, drawing lessons from Biogen's Qalsody. CEO Eric Green emphasized the importance of a unified approach and robust human genetics to guide their research.

AI model SEQUOIA predicts gene expression from cancer biopsy images, achieving over 80% correlation in some cases. It outperforms in predicting large genomic programs and could replace expensive gene expression tests, potentially guiding treatment decisions.

Using texting abbreviations like IDK or GOAT can make texters seem insincere and less likely to receive replies, according to a study by Stanford's David Fang. The research, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, involved over 5,300 participants across 37 countries and found that abbreviations led to shorter and fewer responses, and reduced chances of receiving contact information. Despite their common use, abbreviations were not favored by younger texters either, potentially contributing to loneliness. Fang suggests abbreviations are context-dependent, useful for quick interactions but detrimental in building sincere social ties.