News

Shielding the Fetus From the Coronavirus The New York Times, March 2020
New studies suggest the virus can cross the placenta, but newborns have been mildly affected if at all.

Can you become immune to the coronavirus? The New York Times, March 2020
It’s likely you can, at least for some period of time. That is opening new opportunities for testing and treatment.

How long will coronavirus live on surfaces or in the air around you? The New York Times, March 2020
A new study could have implications for how the general public and health care workers try to avoid transmission of the virus.

Wondering about social distancing? The New York Times, March 2020
Answers to your most common questions about the best practices for stemming the tide of the coronavirus pandemic.

What pregnant women should know about the coronavirus The New York Times, March 2020
The risks, so far, seem no greater than for anyone else, but the research is thin and only applies to later stage of pregnancy.

They recovered from  the coronavirus. Were they infected again? The New York Times, February 2020
In a few cases, patients again tested positive for the virus after they were no longer ill. But little is known about the virus, and it’s possible that testing flaws may be to blame.

Why the New Coronavirus (Mostly) Spares Children The New York Times, February 2020
So far, very few young children seem to be falling ill. The pattern was seen in outbreaks of SARS and MERS, too.

Who Owns H.I.V.-Prevention Drugs? The Taxpayers, U.S. Says (with Donald McNeil Jr.) The New York Times, November 2019 
In an unexpected lawsuit, federal officials claim that Gilead Sciences willfully disregarded government patents on medicines necessary to end the AIDS epidemic.

F.D.A. Approves New H.I.V.-Prevention Drug, but Not for Women The New York Times, October 2019
Citing a lack of evidence, the agency will require Gilead to conduct further trials in women.

A Simple Regimen Can Prevent TB. Why Aren’t More People on It? The New York Times, September 2019
Two antibiotics, taken for a month, can stop a leading killer. But “when it’s for TB, people just sort of shrug.”

Intensive Anti-H.I.V. Efforts Meet With Mixed Success in Africa The New York Times, July 2019
Scientists tested a costly approach to curbing the AIDS epidemic: Test everyone in the community, and treat anyone who is infected.

Breast Milk is Teeming with Bacteria — That’s Good for the Baby The New York Times, June 2019
Breast-fed milk may nourish a baby’s microbiome in ways that bottled breast milk can’t.

Half of H.I.V. Patients Are Women. Most Research Subjects Are Men The New York Times, May 2019
Trials of vaccines and treatments have not included enough female participants. Now that scientists are exploring possible cures, the need to enroll women is greater than ever.

How to kill HIV: Target its “influencers” Scientific American, May 2019
Applying network theory to HIV’s structure has revealed the most valuable—and vulnerable—parts of the virus.

An H.I.V. cure: Answers to 4 key questions The New York Times, March 2019
Translating the latest success against the AIDS virus into a practical treatment will take years — if it happens at all. Here are answers to some of the most pressing questions raised by the news.

H.I.V. Is Reported Cured in a Second Patient, a Milestone in the Global AIDS Epidemic The New York Times, March 2019
Scientists have long tried to duplicate the procedure that led to the first long-term remission 12 years ago. With the so-called London patient, they seem to have succeeded.

Your sweat will see you now The New York Times, January 2019
A new device — wearable, wireless and battery free — improves the ability to monitor and diagnose health problems by analyzing the sweat on your skin.

‘Left behind’: Drug companies and researchers have overlooked patients who don’t respond to HIV meds STAT, January 2019
Drug companies and researchers aren’t actively pursuing new treatments that would boost the immunity of HIV non-responders, the tens of thousands of people for whom drugs now don’t work.

The world needs a urine test for TB. But it’s already here The New York Times, December 2018
The W.H.O. has recommended such a test for H.I.V.-positive patients since 2015. But in poor countries, few qualifying patients are receiving it.

Female scientists turn to data to fight lack of representation on panels The New York Times, September 2016
Noticing the skewed lineups at conferences, a Princeton neuroscientist and colleagues have started a website to compare the gender ratios at conferences.

Large study quantifies risk of autism in ‘baby sibs’  Spectrum, May 2015
One in every five younger siblings of children with autism will end up being diagnosed with the disorder, according to the largest analysis to date of these ‘baby sibs.’

One Year after Sandy, Uneven Recovery at New York University’s labs Scientific American, October 2013
Walking through Gordon Fishell’s lab now, you would never know that much of his research was swept away by last year’s superstorm. Other scientists at New York University’s medical center cannot say the same.

Superfast TB test slashes waiting time Nature, September 2010
Infection with tuberculosis can be diagnosed easily and accurately in less than two hours.

Genetic variant predicts heart disease risk Technology Review, January 2008
A newly identified risk factor for heart disease also seems to indicate which patients will benefit from popular statin therapies.

Discover Magazine’s Top 100 stories of 2008:

#3 The FDA tackles tainted drugs from China
The realities of globalization hit the U.S. drug industry.

#18 Two Alzheimer’s drugs show promise
The new drugs use a totally different mechanism than most would-be treatments.

#38 Cholesterol drugs are prescribed for high-risk kids
8-year-olds can now take statins to reduce the chances of heart disease.

#64 Spain gives great apes legal rights
The animals have the right to life and protection from harmful research practices.

New techniques preserve fertility hope for women Nature Medicine, November 2008

Gates Foundation looks to fund unconventional health solutions Nature Medicine, April 2008

Discover Magazine’s Top 100 stories of 2007

#5 Rx for the FDA
Faced with controversies over drug warnings and recalls, the drug agency tries to revamp itself.

#12 New vaccine blocks bird flu

#15 Male circumcision: A new defense against HIV

#18 FDA says cold medicine is not for children under 6

#26 Controversy over cervical cancer vaccine

#64 Cloned hamburger, anyone?

Scientists, NIH in conflict over precious HIV samples Nature Medicine, April 2007
The NIH won’t fund projects on acute HIV infection, researchers say.

Health agency pulls back on ‘patronizing’ treatment to TB treatment Nature Medicine, March 2007
Even the staunchest advocates admit that the approach needs to be revised.

Virtually incurable TB warns of impending disaster Nature Medicine, March 2007
Extensively drug resistant strains have appeared in every part of the world.

When the vaccine causes disease Nature Medicine, March 2007
For infants infected with HIV, risks of vaccination outweigh benefits.

Petition aims to maintain cheap drugs Nature, January 2007
Court case in India threatens to derail generic medicines.

Discover Magazine’s Top 100 stories of 2006

#27 FDA approves vaccine for cervical cancer

#29 DDT is back

#53 Low-fat diet a bust?

#60 Polio’s return traced to lapses in India

#98 Fat vaccine works in rats

Actions speak louder than images Nature, Dec 2006
Scientists warn against using brain scans for legal decisions.

Spain’s ill-conceived project leaves its scientists in the lurch Nature Medicine, October 2006
Those who returned to Spain for Ramón y Cajal fellowships are scrambling for jobs.

Health agency backs use of DDT against malaria Nature, September 2006
Much-maligned pesticide returns to the front line.

AIDS meeting spotlights pills to prevent infection Nature Medicine, September 2006
Antiretroviral drugs could be the best option for prevention in high-risk groups.

Heroin boom fuels AIDS epidemic Nature, August 2006
Drug trade from Afghanistan is spreading HIV.

Of mice and men Nature Medicine, July 2006
How reliable are mouse models of Alzheimer disease?

Discover Magazine’s Top 100 stories of 2005:

#3 South Korea makes custom stem cells

#11 Plants mend their own DNA

#26 Bush’s rules complicate AIDS relief

#27 The flap over fat

#46 HIV attacks the gut first

#77 FDA warning: Over-the-counter medicines risky

Scientists seek simple remedies to cloning conundrums Nature Medicine, May 2005
Less controversial alternatives to therapeutic cloning are finding favor.

Discover Magazine’s Top 100 stories of 2004:

#18 No evidence that childhood vaccines trigger autism

#34 Prostate cancer test questioned

Immune response to SARS sets up puzzling paradox Nature Medicine, December 2004

Struggling to make an impact Nature, August 2004
Hampered by bureaucracy and politics, the international Roll Back Malaria partnership is failing.

Asian epidemic, abstinence top AIDS meeting agenda Nature Medicine, August 2004

AIDS care ignores children Nature, July 2004
Companies fail to design drugs for kids.

AIDS epidemic set to escalate in Asia Nature, July 2004
Leaders urged to take immediate action.

China launches new molecular medicine institute Nature Medicine, May 2004

Contraceptive research pregnant with anticipation Nature Medicine, May 2004

Marijuana researchers reach for pot of gold Nature Medicine, October, 2003

Fertility’s new frontier takes shape in the test tube Nature Medicine, September 2003

SARS epidemic unmasks age-old quarantine conundrum Nature Medicine, May 2003

Nebulous new rules rouse fear and loathing in laboratories Nature Medicine, March 2003

SCID trials to remain on the ‘bubble’ Nature Medicine, March 2003

Scientific openness faces reality check Nature Medicine, February 2003

Troubled times force old pharma to learn new tricks Nature Medicine, April 2003

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