Advances in understanding autism, based on “mosaic” mutations

Two studies in today’s Nature Neuroscience, led by researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), and Harvard Medical School (HMS), implicate mosaic mutations arising during embryonic development as a cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The findings open new areas for exploring the genetics of ASD and could eventually inform diagnostic testing.…

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Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation awards $2.65M to innovative scientists

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation announced that seven scientists with novel approaches to fighting cancer have been named 2021 recipients of the Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award. Five initial grants of $400,000 over two years were awarded to early career scientists whose projects have the potential to significantly impact the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of…

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Potential jurors favor use of artificial intelligence in precision medicine

Reston, Virginia–Physicians who follow artificial intelligence (AI) advice may be considered less liable for medical malpractice than is commonly thought, according to a new study of potential jury candidates in the U.S. Published in the January issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM). The study provides the first data related to physicians’ potential liability…

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Why COVID-19 pneumonia lasts longer, causes more damage than typical pneumonia

‘This effort truly represents a “moonshot” in COVID-19 research’ Scientists identify target to treat COVID pneumonia and reduce severity Clinical trials with new experimental drug to begin early in 2021 Goal is to develop treatments that make COVID-19 no worse than a common cold First comparison between immune mechanisms driving COVID-19 pneumonia with other pneumonias…

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Canada must dismantle anti-Black racism in medicine

Canada must dismantle anti-Black racism in health care to address its harmful effects on people’s health, argue authors of a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) //www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.201579 Racism has significant negative effects on the physical and mental health of Black people and people of nondominant racial groups. For example, there have been significantly higher…

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Youth using e-cigarettes three times as likely to become daily cigarette smokers

An analysis of a large nationally representative longitudinal study by University of California San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science report that starting tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, before the age of 18 is a major risk factor for people becoming daily cigarette smokers. Reporting in the January 11, 2021 online…

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