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New St. Jude CEO Dr. Charles Roberts says childhood cancer treatments are at 'the dawn of a new era'

New St. Jude CEO Dr. Charles Roberts says childhood cancer treatments are at 'the dawn of a new era'

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has named Dr. Charles W
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St. Jude announces new CEO to succeed James R. Downing

St. Jude announces new CEO to succeed James R. Downing

Dr. Charles W.M. Roberts will begin his new role on Jan. 1, 2027, following Dr. James R. Downing's decade-long tenure.
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Countdown Appoints Julie Teer as CEO to Accelerate Mitochondrial Science and Medicine

Countdown Appoints Julie Teer as CEO to Accelerate Mitochondrial Science and Medicine

Countdown, a global nonprofit dedicated to advancing mitochondrial science and medicine, has announced the appointment of Julie Teer as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective September 1, 2026. Teer, a nationally recognized executive in healthcare, nonprofit, and public affairs, will be responsible for leading Countdown's strategy, fundraising, partnerships, operations, and overall growth. The organization, founded by Mitzi Solomon, aims to accelerate scientific discovery, enhance public awareness, and position cellular energy as central to human health. Countdown has already funded significant mitochondrial research and established a Scientific and Medical Advisory Board. Teer's appointment comes as interest in longevity, disease prevention, healthy aging, and human performance increasingly highlights the importance of cellular health and mitochondrial function.
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First Ascent Biomedical Appoints Dr. Gilberto Lopes as Chairman of Medical Advisory Board to Advance Functional Precision Oncology

First Ascent Biomedical Appoints Dr. Gilberto Lopes as Chairman of Medical Advisory Board to Advance Functional Precision Oncology

First Ascent Biomedical, a precision oncology company, has announced the appointment of Dr. Gilberto Lopes as the Chairman of its Medical Advisory Board. Dr. Lopes, who is the Chief of the Division of Medical Oncology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Associate Director for Global Oncology at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, will guide the company's scientific strategy, clinical study design, health-economic research, and the development of standards for Functional Precision Oncology (FPO). This appointment comes at a crucial time for FPO, especially following a recent Clinical Notice from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) that distinguished contemporary Functional Precision Medicine from older chemosensitivity assays. ASCO's notice supports the advancement of modern FPM to improve clinical outcomes and clarifies that historical guidelines should not impede research or patient access to contemporary FPM assays. First Ascent Biomedical's xDRIVE platform combines l...
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Maternal Genes Implicated in Trophoblastic Tumor Relapse Post-Immunotherapy

Maternal Genes Implicated in Trophoblastic Tumor Relapse Post-Immunotherapy

Recent research indicates that cancer cells in placental site trophoblastic tumors (PSTTs) can acquire uninherited maternal genes, potentially leading to tumor relapse after immunotherapy. This finding, reported by Kyosuke Kagami of Kanazawa University and colleagues, suggests a novel mechanism of tumor adaptation through intercellular DNA transfer. Unlike normal placental situations where material exchange between mother and child is highly selective, PSTT cancer cells appear to incorporate functional genetic material from surrounding cells. Whole-genomic sequencing results point to cell-cell fusion as a possible method for this acquisition. The acquired maternal genes enable PSTT cancer cells to produce the antibody immunoglobulin, which explains the clinical observation of renal antibody accumulation in these patients. This research highlights a new route for tumor adaptation, particularly in the context of cancer relapse following immunotherapy.
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Shorter Antibiotic Courses Found Effective, Challenging Long-Standing Medical Advice

Shorter Antibiotic Courses Found Effective, Challenging Long-Standing Medical Advice

A review of over 120 randomized controlled trials has revealed that shorter courses of antibiotics for common infections can be as effective and safer than longer courses, while also being no more likely to promote antibiotic resistance. This finding challenges the long-held medical advice, prevalent since the 1940s, that patients must always complete their full course of antibiotics. Experts, including population health researcher Alistair Thorpe of the University of Utah, indicate that unnecessary prolonged exposure to antibiotics might actually contribute to the problem of antibiotic resistance. The study, published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases, surveyed 1,475 U.S. respondents, finding that a majority (892) preferred longer courses, often due to prior medical advice and a belief that longer treatments are inherently better. However, many respondents (58.4 percent) expressed comfort with the idea of stopping antibiotics when feeling better, if advised by their clinician.
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Exercise Can Improve Quality of Life for Cancer Survivors

Exercise Can Improve Quality of Life for Cancer Survivors

Physical activity is increasingly recognized not only for its general health benefits but also for its significant role in cancer prevention and im...
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What was happening in Memphis history on Aug.17? A look back through the years

What was happening in Memphis history on Aug.17? A look back through the years

From earthquake preparedness in Horn Lake to the Hebe statue and hair stylists on the Mid-America Mall, here's what was making headlines.
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Study Reveals Higher Cancer Mortality Risk for Pilots and Flight Attendants Due to Radiation Exposure

Study Reveals Higher Cancer Mortality Risk for Pilots and Flight Attendants Due to Radiation Exposure

A new study published by JAMA Internal Medicine indicates that flight attendants and pilots face the highest risk of dying from radiation-related cancers compared to other occupations, including those working with radioactive materials. The research, which analyzed national data from over 12 million death certificates, found that flight attendants had approximately 50% higher odds of dying from radiation-related cancers, while pilots had about 36% higher odds. These cancers include leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and cancers of the skin, breast, thyroid, prostate, and central nervous system. The study's authors, including Dr. Vishal Patel of Harvard Medical School, noted that cosmic radiation exposure at high altitudes is a significant factor. Commentary writers Catherine Olsen and Ken Karipidis, who were not involved in the research, supported the hypothesis that occupational radiation exposure, rather than lifestyle or socioeconomic factors, underlies the observed excess cancer rates. The Federal A...
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Precigen Reports Strong Q2 Earnings, Outperforming Expectations with Early Profitability

Precigen Reports Strong Q2 Earnings, Outperforming Expectations with Early Profitability

Precigen Reports Strong Q2 Earnings, Outperforming Expectations with Early Profitability
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Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute Study Links Daily Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption to Increased Gastric Cancer Risk

Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute Study Links Daily Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption to Increased Gastric Cancer Risk

A new study published in the Gastro Hep Advances journal by researchers at the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute has found a significant association between consuming at least one sugar-sweetened beverage daily and a more than doubled risk of developing gastric cancer. This finding is based on decades of data collected from over 100,000 individuals in the U.S. The study defined sugar-sweetened beverages to include regular soda, energy drinks, and juices with added sugars. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 63% of U.S. adults aged 18 or older report drinking these beverages one or more times daily. Dr. Andrew T. Chan, a senior author and gastroenterologist/epidemiologist with the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute, highlighted that this is the first study to demonstrate such an association in a U.S. population, noting that gastric cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death globally, yet its dietary contributors are not well understood. Previous research has also linke...
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Nigeria Aims for Local Cancer Equipment Production by 2030 to Enhance Healthcare

Nigeria Aims for Local Cancer Equipment Production by 2030 to Enhance Healthcare

Dr. Iziaq Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, announced Nigeria's ambition to achieve local production of radiotherapy and imaging equipment by 2030. This strategic goal is part of a broader effort to strengthen cancer care within the country. The announcement followed the Link Global Summit on Innovation and Practice in Oncology held in Beijing, China, where discussions focused on improving cancer outcomes across Africa and globally. Salako emphasized that Nigeria is actively seeking stronger international partnerships to translate oncology innovations into practical solutions accessible to more patients. The initiative includes plans for technology transfer, as well as the local assembly and servicing of essential cancer treatment equipment. The Federal Government is supporting these efforts through zero-duty and zero-VAT incentives for health manufacturing, aiming to build domestic capacity in the healthcare sector. Additionally, Nigeria is advocating for joint clinical trials a...