Does the Brain Really Make Its Own DMT? New Study Ignites Debate
A new study by Mikael Palner at the University of Southern Denmark examined rat brains ex vivo and found no detectable endogenous N,N‑dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in serotonin‑producing neurons, despite using MAO inhibitors to block degradation. This contrasts sharply with a 2019 microdialysis study that reported DMT synthesis and release in several brain regions, including the visual cortex. The researchers attribute the discrepancy to methodological differences, noting that ex vivo tissue handling may miss transient DMT spikes captured by in vivo probes. The findings reignite debate over whether the mammalian brain naturally produces the “spirit molecule.”
Establishing 5G Connectivity to Enable a Smart Regional Health System
Singapore’s National University Health System (NUHS) has signed a strategic agreement with GSMA Foundry to embed private 5G across its hospital cluster. The partnership will integrate 5G private networks with digital twins, XR, IoT and ambient AI to accelerate remote...
Cough Drops From Several Brands Being Recalled, FDA Says
On March 20, the FDA initiated a Class II recall of 15 cough‑drop products sold under five private‑label brands after an inspection of the Chinese manufacturer Xiamen Kang Zhongyuan Biotechnology revealed unspecified concerns. The affected items, many bearing lot 20241030 and expiring...
Medical Assistance in Dying: Thoughtful Planning at End of Life
Canada’s medically assisted dying (MAID) program is a tightly regulated service that lets eligible adults end intolerable suffering with physician‑administered medication. The law does not require a terminal diagnosis, but patients must have decision‑making capacity, a serious incurable illness, and...
Biotech Insights - Spring 2026
The FDA’s post‑approval change framework now spotlights GLP‑1 products, exemplified by Wegovy’s tablet approval, and mandates reporting based on the change’s impact—major and moderate changes require supplemental NDAs, while minor changes go in the annual report. In parallel, the Federal...
Will Retatrutide Help Me Lose Weight or Look ‘Shredded’?
Retatrutide, an experimental triple‑hormone peptide, has shown more than 20% body‑weight loss in a 48‑week clinical trial, outperforming existing GLP‑1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Researchers say it works by modulating GLP‑1, GIP and glucagon pathways to suppress appetite and...
Indian Wastewater Rife with Drug Resistance Genes
Researchers examined 447 wastewater samples from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, uncovering abundant antimicrobial‑resistance (AMR) genes that were strikingly similar across the four metros. The Nature Communications study highlights sewage as a critical hotspot where resistant bacteria proliferate and exchange...
Medicare Payment Policy Changes for 2027: Key Signals From Kennedy Hearings
During House hearings on the FY27 budget, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. outlined several Medicare payment reforms. He advocated for bundled payment models that include nutrition therapy, remote monitoring, and preventive services, while supporting legislation to expand coverage for...
Obesity Treatment Firm Kailera Upsizes IPO to Raise $625 Million
Kailera Therapeutics Inc., a clinical‑stage biotech specializing in obesity treatments, announced an upsized initial public offering. The company sold roughly 39 million shares at $16 each, raising $625 million, the largest U.S. biotech listing since 2021. The offering was priced at the...
RFK Jr. Shifts Tone on Vaccines in Congressional Hearing
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shifted his stance, stating the measles vaccine is safe and effective for most people and safer than contracting measles. He acknowledged the vaccine may have saved two Texas children who died earlier this year....
From Lockdown to the Lab: Researcher Develops 'Decoy Molecule' To Slow Down Coronavirus
During the COVID‑19 lockdown, Ph.D. candidate Koen Rijpkema engineered decoy molecules that bind tightly to the coronavirus Mac1 enzyme, which normally dampens immune signaling. By mimicking the enzyme’s natural substrate, the decoys keep Mac1 occupied, allowing the immune system to detect...
Nurses with Higher Cultural Competence Don’t Always Perform Better – New Study
A new study of New Zealand nurses finds that higher cognitive cultural intelligence – the factual knowledge of cultural norms – is associated with poorer job performance and lower satisfaction. In contrast, nurses who excel in meta‑cognitive cultural intelligence, the ability...
Kennedy Says MMR ‘Safe For Most’ In Heated House Hearing
On April 16, 2026, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told a House Appropriations subcommittee that the measles‑mumps‑rubella (MMR) vaccine is "safe for most people," marking a stark departure from his decades‑long anti‑vaccine narrative. The remark came amid pointed questioning...
Utah Becomes the New Center of U.S. Measles Cases
Utah now leads U.S. measles cases with nearly 600 infections, mostly children, since the outbreak began last summer along the Utah‑Arizona border. About one‑third of patients required emergency‑room care and 49 have been hospitalized. Vaccine exemptions among kindergarteners rose to...
Patients With Scarring Alopecia Value Expertise of Specialist Dermatologists
A new CAPAIR survey of 1,047 scarring alopecia patients shows that those who see hair‑specialist dermatologists (HSDs) report higher satisfaction and receive more aggressive therapy than patients seen by general dermatologists (GDs). HSDs were rated “excellent” for disease knowledge by...
Trinity Health to Open $226M Replacement Hospital April 19
Trinity Health will open a $226 million, 174,000‑square‑foot replacement hospital in Brighton, Michigan on April 19, moving the Livingston Hospital from its Howell site. The new four‑story campus adds 56 acuity‑adaptable beds, eight operating rooms and expanded cardiac CT and women’s imaging...
Sharp HealthCare Taps Apple Vision Pro for Surgical Innovation
Sharp HealthCare in San Diego has launched an IRB‑approved clinical study to evaluate Apple’s Vision Pro headset in cataract surgery. The feasibility and safety study will measure how spatial‑computing tools affect depth perception, workflow efficiency, and surgeon ergonomics. Conducted at Sharp...
Why AMA Data Shows Physician Burnout Is No Longer a ‘One-Size-Fits-All’ Crisis
New AMA data shows U.S. physician burnout continues to decline, reaching 41.9% in 2025, down from 48.2% in 2023. However, the improvement is uneven, with emergency medicine, urology and oncology still hovering near 50% burnout rates, while specialties like infectious...
Trump Nominates New CDC Director Amid Push For MAHA Image Makeover
President Donald Trump announced the nomination of Erica Schwartz, a former deputy surgeon general from his first administration, to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Schwartz is known for steering clear of high‑profile vaccine controversies, positioning her as a...
UW Health Inks Deal to Become Packers’ Official Healthcare Partner
UW Health, a Madison‑based health system, signed a multiyear deal to become the Green Bay Packers’ official healthcare partner. The agreement includes permanent signage at the stadium’s north gate, logo patches on practice jerseys, and presenting sponsorship of the Packers...
AHA Announces Carolyn Clancy, John A. Hartford Foundation as Recipients of 2026 Award of Honor
The American Hospital Association (AHA) will present its 2026 Award of Honor to former AHRQ director Dr. Carolyn Clancy and the John A. Hartford Foundation at the AHA Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes leaders who have driven major health‑policy...
Weight Loss, Obesity Drugs Bring Potential New MASLD, MASH Treatment Strategies
A new review in *Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism* shows that GLP‑1, GIP and glucagon‑based drugs, originally approved for obesity and diabetes, also improve liver outcomes in metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its progressive form MASH. A recent meta‑analysis...
Data Highlights Gaps in Finding In-Network Mental Health Coverage
The Kennedy Forum's Mental Health Parity Index reveals that members of the four largest U.S. commercial insurers—Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare—face lower reimbursement rates and fewer in‑network providers for outpatient mental health and substance‑use‑disorder services compared with outpatient physical...
California Hospital CEO Steps Down
Sandra Anaya will step down as CEO of Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe, California, after nearly 13 years of service, with her last day set for April 23. The departure occurs amid a 180‑day emergency department stabilization plan approved in...
Wisp, Visby Partner to Expand Access to At-Home STI Test
Wisp has partnered with Visby Medical to offer Visby’s at‑home PCR test for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis. The palm‑sized test costs $149.99, delivers results in 30 minutes via a mobile app, and is FDA‑authorized. Positive results trigger free virtual follow‑up...
Re: BMA to Push for Private Practice as NHS Failings Prompt More Patients to Pay for Care
The British Medical Association is urging greater support for private general practice as NHS shortcomings push more patients to pay for care. A recent letter highlights that private medical insurance typically excludes independent GPs, limiting genuine patient choice. The author...
CMS Updates LEAD Model Request for Applications; Will Host Office Hour for Applicants
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued an updated request for applications (RFA) for its Long‑term Enhanced ACO Design (LEAD) Model, with submissions due by May 17, 2026. To help prospective participants, CMS will host a virtual office hour...
How CHS, HCA, Tenet, and UHS’ CEO-to-Worker Pay Ratios Ranked in 2025
In 2025 the CEO‑to‑worker pay ratios at four major for‑profit health systems diverged sharply. HCA Healthcare posted the widest gap at 420‑to‑1, while Tenet Healthcare’s ratio jumped to a staggering 711‑to‑1. UnitedHealth Services (UHS) held steady at 283‑to‑1, and Community...
Erica Schwartz Selected as New Nominee to Lead CDC
President Biden nominated former Navy Rear Admiral Erica Schwartz to become the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pending Senate confirmation. Schwartz, who currently serves as CDC’s chief of staff and previously led the agency’s Office of...
RFK Jr.’s New Normal
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., long known for anti‑vaccine rhetoric, faced a tense hearing before the House Ways and Means Committee, where he largely avoided repeating discredited claims. The White House has urged him to stay...
RFK Jr. Says He’ll Reform Preventive Task Force: 4 Hearing Takeaways
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to overhaul the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) during a Ways and Means Committee hearing. He pledged more frequent meetings, greater transparency, and the addition of new members with a clear...
New Guidelines Recommend AI-Based Breast Cancer Risk Assessments
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s 2026 Clinical Practice Guidelines now recommend image‑based artificial‑intelligence risk assessments as a primary tool for breast cancer screening. The guidance advises using AI‑derived five‑year risk scores from routine mammograms, with a 1.7 % risk threshold prompting...
10 Fastest-Growing Jobs for New Graduates
LinkedIn’s 2023‑2025 analysis identified the ten fastest‑growing entry‑level jobs for recent graduates, led by AI engineer and marketing coordinator roles. The study examined millions of member profiles, measuring growth based on the first full‑time post‑graduation position and excluding internships or...
Designing Implants that Don’t Scar the Brain
A new study systematically compared stiff silicon electrodes with flexible polyimide probes for intracortical neural implants. The researchers found that material choice dominates tissue response: polyimide probes trigger far less scarring and inflammation than silicon, while probe thickness or wireless...
Northwestern Medicine Posts 4.5% Operating Margin in Q2
Northwestern Medicine reported a $132.7 million operating income, translating to a 4.5% operating margin for Q2 2026, down from a 5.7% margin a year earlier. Total operating revenue rose to $3 billion, propelled by higher patient service and rental income, while operating...
Tenet’s 5 Highest-Paid Execs in 2025
Tenet Healthcare’s chair and CEO Saum Sutaria earned $43.1 million in 2025, a 75% increase from the prior year, driven largely by $31.7 million in stock awards and a $9 million non‑equity incentive. The Dallas‑based operator reported $21.3 billion in revenue, $4.6 billion in adjusted...
Trump Nominates Former Coast Guard Doctor as CDC Chief
President Trump nominated retired Rear Admiral Dr. Erica Schwartz, a former Coast Guard chief medical officer and deputy surgeon general, to become the next CDC director. The nomination requires Senate approval, with acting director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya continuing in the...
What’s Driving Retention For An Evolving Home-Based Care Workforce
Home‑based care providers are shifting from hiring shortages to a retention‑first strategy as the aging boom and new worker generations reshape the market. Executives at a recent virtual staffing summit highlighted radical transparency and education‑as‑currency as the two most effective...
Kennedy: 90% Of FDA Reviewers Are Using AI For Faster Drug Approvals
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told the House Ways & Means Committee that more than 90% of FDA reviewers are now using artificial‑intelligence tools to speed drug approvals. The AI applications are also being rolled...
FDA Clears First AI-Enabled, Detector-Based Spectral CT System
Philips received FDA 510(k) clearance for its Verida spectral CT system, the first AI‑enabled, detector‑based scanner of its kind. The platform combines a dual‑layer Nano‑panel detector with AI‑driven image reconstruction, delivering always‑on spectral imaging without extra scans. Verida can reconstruct...
‘Shirtless in a Hot Tub with Kid Rock’: Dems Question RFK Jr. On HHS Priorities and Budget Decisions
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before the House Ways and Means Committee, expressing displeasure with the Trump administration’s proposal to cut $15.8 billion—12.5%—from HHS, including SNAP and WIC programs. He argued the cuts would undermine efforts...
Re: Managing Resistant Hypertension . . . And Other Research
A retired physician, David Levine, wrote to BMJ questioning the reported cardiovascular event numbers in a recent LDL‑lowering study, noting that the intensive‑therapy arm was listed with 147 events versus 100 in the conventional arm. He suggests the figures may...
Smarter Oncology Management Needed as Costs Continue to Climb
At the AMCP 2026 meeting, experts warned that oncology has become the largest cost driver for health plans, with cancer drugs accounting for 50‑60% of total cancer spend. They highlighted that expanding FDA approvals, longer treatment courses, and combination regimens...
Spotlight On: Biosimilar Litigations - April 2026
The April 2026 Spotlight On: Biosimilar Litigations memo outlines which patent disputes are tracked in the sector. It clarifies that lawsuits between biosimilar applicants or manufacturers and reference‑product sponsors are included, while conflicts solely among reference sponsors or non‑practicing entities are...
UK Says It Has Hit Target on Commercial Trial Set-Up Times
The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) reported that average clinical‑trial set‑up time fell to 122 days in the six months to March, beating its 150‑day target set for March 2026. The reduction follows a suite of reforms,...
HIMSS Executive Connect Brings 'Life-Changing' New Perspectives
The HIMSS Executive Connect program gave Sophia Brown, RN and CEO of Strategic Informatics Solutions, a fresh view on collaborative problem‑solving across health‑tech firms. By convening leaders from diverse organizations, the initiative highlighted shared challenges in AI, business intelligence and...
High-Dose Folic Acid Slashes Birth Defect Risks
A large Nordic study of over 13,000 pregnancies shows that high‑dose folic acid taken at least one month before conception cuts the risk of major congenital anomalies in children of women using antiseizure medications by about 45%, an absolute reduction...
How The Trump Administration Is Blocking Access To Home Care
The Trump Administration is simultaneously touting consumer choice while tightening two levers that restrict home‑based care: aggressive immigration curbs that shrink the caregiver pool and sweeping Medicaid reforms that slash federal funding. Over the next decade, the budget bill will...
Another Win for Opportunistic Screening: AI Turns Head CT Scans Into Heart Assessments
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have trained deep‑learning models on nearly 100,000 head CT scans to predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and estimate coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores. The AI‑derived CVD timing model outperformed the American Heart Association’s PREVENT risk...
Staging, ctDNA, and the Art of Personalizing Metastatic Breast Cancer Therapy: Hayley Knollman, MD
Hayley M. Knollman, MD, highlighted how estrogen‑receptor‑positive metastatic breast cancer still relies on conventional staging—blood work, imaging, and tissue biopsies—while emerging HER2‑low categories gain relevance only after disease spreads. She noted that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and broad genomic panels are now...