Weill Cornell Medicine

A new technology enables the control of specific brain circuits non-invasively with magnetic fields, according to a preclinical study. The technology holds promise as a powerful tool for studying the brain and may aid the development of future treatments for neurological and psychiatric conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, depression, obesity and complex pain. “We envision that magnetogenetics technology may someday be used to benefit patients in a wide range of clinical settings,” said Dr. Michael Kaplitt of Weill Cornell Medicine, who led the study with researchers from The Rockefeller University and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Full story: https://bit.ly/4eY9BRV

Dr. Ali Jalali has been awarded the National Institutes of Health Director’s New Innovator Award through its Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative. This highly competitive and prestigious award supports creative, early-stage researchers conducting cutting-edge work that has the potential to impact significant scientific challenges. Over three years, the $2.5 million grant from The National Institutes of Health will support Dr. Jalali’s project to address the difficulties of analyzing data from randomized controlled trials that evaluate opioid use disorder treatment interventions. Full story: https://bit.ly/40iHskz

The origins and progression of bladder cancer have been uncovered in unprecedented detail in a new study. The findings shed light on bladder cancer biology and may help drive new strategies to treat bladder cancer, which affects about 80,000 people per year in the United States. The team led by Dr. Bishoy Faltas and Dr. Olivier Elemento of Weill Cornell Medicine and Dr. Nicolas Robine of New York Genome Center found that antiviral enzymes that mutate the DNA of normal and cancer cells are key promoters of early bladder cancer development, and that standard chemotherapy is also a potent source of mutations. The researchers also discovered that overactive genes within abnormal circular DNA structures in tumor cells genes drive bladder cancer resistance to therapy. Full story: https://bit.ly/480Lz6i

We’re getting into the thick of the academic year and, in looking at priorities for the year ahead, innovation is always top of mind. As a physician, I constantly seek advances to help diagnose or treat people, using translational science to advance health. Bringing new treatments to the commercial market is essential. After working in the Bay Area at Stanford and with my roots in Boston, both highly respected for entrepreneurship, I hope to drive a similar culture of collaboration and innovation here in New York. We have the science and NYC is a financial epicenter. I'm excited to lead Weill Cornell Medicine, creating an ecosystem that showcases NYC's potential as the next corridor of entrepreneurship. Stay tuned.

A self-guided therapy app called Maya greatly reduced symptoms of anxiety in young adults facing mental health challenges, according to a new study. The free app, developed by Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital researchers, uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people shift their thinking and behaviors and develop coping skills. A self-guided therapy app called Maya greatly reduced symptoms of anxiety in young adults facing mental health challenges, according to a new study. The free app, developed by Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital researchers, uses cognitive behavioral therapy principles to help people shift their thinking and behaviors and develop coping skills. Researchers said Maya may be an effective temporary tool for people ages 18 to 25 with anxiety who are waiting to see a mental health professional. Full story: https://bit.ly/3zVS5yL

Young adults eligible to be covered by their parents' health insurance said they would hesitate to share complete health information with their doctors if their parents could access their medical records through online patient portals. As a result, some young adults may be at risk for undiagnosed sexually transmitted infections or untreated mental health disorders, according to new survey findings from Dr. Marianne Sharko and Dr. Erika Abramson of Weill Cornell Medicine. The researchers said although portal confidentiality policies are in place, they vary between institutions and health care systems must prioritize confidentiality protection for patient portals Full story: https://bit.ly/47OGpKR

Dr. Randy Longman and colleagues have received the NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award to study how gut microbes affect human health and drive inflammatory bowel disease. People with the disease have an altered gut microbiome, but the functional effects of these changes or how therapies like dietary changes might alter them are not yet apparent. Part of the High-risk High Reward program at The National Institutes of Health, the Transformative Research Award helps fund large-scale, unconventional projects that may create new research tools or technologies or develop radically different diagnostic or therapeutic approaches. The award will provide about $5.6 million over five years to Dr. Longman of Weill Cornell Medicine, Dr. Aaron Wright of Baylor University and Dr. Chun-Jun Guo of Weill Cornell Medicine. Full story: https://bit.ly/3U1VjaW

We're proud of physician assistants and PAs in training who strive to put excellence into action in the communities we serve every day. We applaud the significant impact of their collaborative and compassionate patient care and thank them for their tremendous contributions to changing medicine. Join us in celebrating our physician assistants and students! #physicianassistants #paweek #patientcare #weillcornell #changingmedicine

A common mutation in the KRAS gene is associated with improved overall survival in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) compared with other variants, in part because the mutation appears to lead to less invasiveness and weaker biological activity. The new study, led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, may provide doctors with valuable information about patient prognosis and potentially guide treatment strategies. Full story: https://bit.ly/4808A9B