University of British Columbia

Medicinal plants, valued at over $300 billion in 2023, face threats from climate change, impacting drug production and healthcare. Key drugs like Paclitaxel, Silymarin, and Quinine are derived from plants, highlighting their importance. Climate change disrupts plant habitats, affecting medicinal properties. Restoration and biotechnology efforts are crucial but may not be immediate solutions. The pharmaceutical industry lacks preparedness for climate impacts, with potential drug losses due to biodiversity decline. Traditional Chinese medicinal plants are also at risk, necessitating conservation efforts and technological advancements to secure their future.

Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI announces 29 graduate and postdoctoral fellows for 2024-25, representing diverse research areas including AI safety, digital health, energy science, and precision medicine. Fellows will collaborate with Stanford faculty on human-centered AI challenges.

Despite failed trials, hope is renewed in Huntington's disease treatment with a gene therapy showing 80% slowing of disease progression and another treatment seeking FDA accelerated approval.

AI in neurology raises ethical concerns, requiring collaboration between AI ethics and neuroethics. Key issues include privacy, AI 'hallucinations,' and informed consent. Neurologists must remain in control, ensuring AI tools enhance, not replace, human judgment and interaction.

BirchBioMed received Health Canada approval for Phase II/III trial of FS2, a kynurenic acid topical cream identified by UBC, showing potential in scar prevention and reduction. The trial will be conducted at multiple Canadian centres, managed by SGS Nutrasource.

Women with breast cancer who exercised aerobically during chemotherapy reported better cognitive function and quality of life than those who did not, according to the ACTIVATE trial. Despite neuropsychological test results showing no significant difference, self-reported improvements suggest exercise's potential benefits. Future research should explore longer interventions, multicomponent approaches, and virtual options to enhance accessibility.

Alpha-9 Oncology raised $175m in Series C funding to advance its radiopharmaceutical pipeline, including a Phase I study for A9-3202 targeting melanoma. The funding, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and Ascenta Capital, supports clinical trials, R&D, and manufacturing expansion. The radiopharma sector has seen significant investment, with Alpha-9 building on previous funding rounds to strengthen its position in the industry.

Dr. François Bénard, with over 20 years in radiopharmaceutical development, co-founded Alpha-9 Oncology. A BC Leadership Chair at UBC and Distinguished Scientist at BC Cancer, he focuses on novel radiopharmaceuticals for cancer diagnosis and therapy, clinical trials, and has over 200 publications. Trained in Sherbrooke and the University of Pennsylvania.

Authors and affiliations: Mohamed Ben-Eltriki, Aisha Rafiq, Arun Paul, Lauren E Kelly, Devashree Prabhu, Michael O. S. Afolabi, Robert Baslhaw, Salaheddin M Mahmud, Christine J Neilson, Thierry Lacaze-Masmonteil, Susan Marlin, Martin Offringa, Nancy Butcher, Anna Heath, Michelle Driedger. Contributions: MBE, AR, AP, DP, MO.S. A, CJ N, RB, SMM, TLM, SM, MO, NB, AH, MD, LEK. Correspondence: Mohamed Ben-Eltriki, Lauren E Kelly.