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Medicine & Health

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 30-Oct-2026 02:17 ET (30-Oct-2026 06:17 GMT/UTC)

Researchers develop automated system to accelerate outbreak detection and disease surveillance

Brown University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New workflow developed by Brown University researchers compresses hours of manual lab labor into a single automated process, unlocking reliable genetic sequencing for local public health labs.

Journal: BMC Genomics

Higher blood levels of certain metals during pregnancy associated with autism-related traits in children

Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Higher levels of certain metals in mothers’ blood during pregnancy—including lead, mercury, and cadmium—were associated with autism-related traits in children, and higher levels of cadmium were associated with higher odds of an ASD diagnosis, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health’s Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.

Journal: Environmental Epidemiology

Invasive plants boost mosquitoes in low-income areas of Baltimore and DC

Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In many urban areas, low-income neighborhoods have more mosquitoes, making residents more vulnerable to mosquito-borne diseases. A new study co-authored by scientists at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies found that invasive, nonnative plants, which tend to be more common in low-income areas, boosted mosquito populations in Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC. The results, published in the Journal of Medical Entomology, suggest that cities and their residents could reduce mosquito infestations by planting native tree species.

Journal: Journal of Medical Entomology

Biggs Institute at UT Health San Antonio to lead $2.5 million national, multi-site study on dementia with Lewy bodies

The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center
Grant and Award Announcement

The Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio, has received a $2.5 million award from the Lewy Body Dementia Association to launch and lead a national, multi-site study to improve detection and diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies. They are teaming with the University of Florida, University of California San Francisco and Virginia Commonwealth University.

UNF receives NIH award to prepare students for innovative biomechanical pediatric research

University of North Florida
Grant and Award Announcement

The University of North Florida has been awarded a nearly $800K, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to provide immersive research education focused on pediatric rehabilitation and assistive technology.

Racial differences in secondary treatment pathways and survival in localized prostate cancer

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: In this cohort study of men treated for localized prostate cancer, treatment receipt after primary definitive treatment was similar by race. No mortality differences were found among those who received secondary treatment; however, observed mortality disparities among those who did not receive secondary treatment raise concerns about potential health care inequities.

Journal: JAMA Network Open

Screening eligibility and survival among patients with lung cancer in Korea

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: In this cohort study of Korean patients with lung cancer, international screening guidelines excluded 64.6% of patients, a substantial proportion of whom had no smoking history. Ineligible patients had lower mortality risk than screening-eligible patients. These findings suggest that population-specific strategies are needed to improve early detection among individuals not captured by current screening criteria.

Journal: JAMA Network Open

Birdsong and walks in the forest tied to significant mental health benefits

North Carolina State University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers studied how the sights and sounds of nature affected mental health by placing participants in either urban or natural environments, and having them listen to either birdsong or the sounds of traffic. They found that natural spaces and birdsong led to the greatest feelings of restorativeness and reductions in stress, while urban gray spaces increased stress and left participants feeling less restored. This study underlines the power of access to nature in improving mental health

Journal: Environmental Conservation

Medical device technology for bladder cancer treatment to be developed by UMass Amherst-led team

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Grant and Award Announcement

AMHERST, Mass. — Bladder cancer, one of the 10 most common cancers, is notoriously difficult to treat, with up to 80% of patients experiencing a post-treatment recurrence. A common practice is to surgically remove the entire bladder, but this leaves the patient incontinent. Now, a research effort led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst has been awarded a five-year grant providing up to $3.45 million from the National Institutes of Health to develop a new way to prevent the cancer’s recurrence, without removing the organ or aggressive repeated treatments.