Weill Cornell Medicine

A study reveals new insights into the biological mechanisms that drive postpartum depression in women. The findings, led by Weill Cornell Medicine's Dr. Lauren Osborne, could potentially lead to a blood test during pregnancy to identify a woman's risk of developing PPD and start preventative treatment for those who could benefit. Full story: https://bit.ly/40yFURH

Using a novel method for mapping drug effects, scientists advanced the understanding of how mGluR2 activators work on the brain in a new preclinical study. Researchers, led by Weill Cornell Medicine's Dr. Joshua Levitz, found that activating a type of brain-cell receptor called the metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) in a specific circuit of the brain reduced anxiety in preclinical models without apparent side effects. Full story: https://bit.ly/40A8ulF

Congratulations to our newest class of physician assistant students! At our annual White Coat Ceremony, the Class of 2027 proudly put on their short white coats to mark the next step in their academic journey. Dr. Kelly R. Porta, director of Weill Cornell Medicine's physician assistant program, encouraged students to reflect on what the white coat means to each of them. “Perhaps the coat represents your commitment to humanism, to helping underserved communities and patient advocacy,” said Dr. Porta. Full story: https://bit.ly/4jwdOPW

The Translational Research Institute for Pain in Later Life has been awarded a five-year, $5 million renewal grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The New York City-based center, co-led by Weill Cornell Medicine's Dr. Cary Reid and Cornell University's Dr. Elaine Wethington, researches innovative, nonpharmacologic methods to manage persistent pain, estimated to affect nearly half of older Americans. Full story: https://bit.ly/40lxs8c

Communities of color had significantly less access to opioid medications commonly prescribed for moderate to severe pain than white communities, according to a new analysis of data from 2011 to 2021. The study, led by Weill Cornell Medicine's Dr. Yuhua Bao and Dr. Allison Ju-Chen Hu, looked at access to opioid medication across communities based on their racial and ethnic makeup and suggested that communities of color may be especially vulnerable to the unintended consequences of efforts to reduce unsafe use of opioid analgesics. Full story: https://bit.ly/4gaAt1f

We mark the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a reflection from first-year medical student Kwadwo Amoako-Boadu: 📃 🖋️ 💬 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, ''Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhuman.'' These words remain as relevant as ever. Growing up in Kingsbridge, Bronx, I witnessed these inequities firsthand. I recall how my family relied on government-subsidized insurance for our medical needs. The same disparities Dr. King spoke of shaped my upbringing and fueled my passion for addressing these systemic issues. As a medical scribe in the Bronx before medical school, I served in an urgent care setting between two shelters and Tracey Towers, a subsidized housing complex in the Bronx. I met patients whose lives have been deeply impacted by lack of access to care. I recall one patient with untreated skin ulcers who hesitated to seek care because of her demanding work and family obligations and lack of resources. Like many others, her story revealed the daily struggles of underserved communities— patients juggling health concerns with financial and systemic barriers, including a lack of primary care providers in their neighborhoods. Dr. King’s message reminds us that health is not merely a personal matter but a fundamental human right. Denying equitable access to healthcare is to strip away a person’s dignity, humanity and chance at a full and flourishing life. This injustice, which continues to plague underserved and marginalized communities, demands urgent attention and action. Dr. King spoke of the need for collective action to achieve justice. When he said, “I’ve been to the mountaintop,” he was urging us to envision a world where equity is realized and no one is left behind. My journey, from growing up in the Bronx to my current role as an aspiring physician, has been shaped by the very inequities Dr. King sought to eradicate. His words inspire me to commit not only to providing excellent care but also to transforming the systems that perpetuate injustice. In the spirit of Dr. King, we must stand together to create a future where injustice in health is eradicated. 💬

New research shows that efforts to provide naloxone kits to counteract opioid overdose in vulnerable communities have been effective in reaching those populations. The study found that 97% of people who received naloxone kits through various opioid overdose prevention programs were identified as high risk of overdosing or witnessing an overdose. But researchers, led by Weill Cornell Medicine's Dr. Czarina Behrends and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, noted fentanyl overdoses still disproportionally affect some racial and ethnic groups more than others. Full story: https://bit.ly/3Wldnhg

Congratulations to our three scientists who have been recognized with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. Dr. Steven Josefowicz, Dr. Ekta Khurana and Dr. Kristen Pleil of Weill Cornell Medicine were among 400 to receive the prestigious award, which is the U.S. government’s highest commendation for remarkable early-career scientists and engineers. “We are so thrilled for Drs. Josefowicz, Khurana and Pleil, and offer them our congratulations for this most-deserved accolade,” said Dean Robert A. Harrington. “They and their teams have advanced their fields of study through achievements in scholarship and innovative research. Each are outstanding examples of our talented and distinguished faculty body here at Weill Cornell.” The researchers, also of Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, study the mechanisms of disease in various fields. Join us in celebrating our scientists on this tremendous honor! Full story: https://bit.ly/4ajRXqE