HHS terminates a workforce diversity program
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has made the decision to terminate a National Institutes of Health grant program aimed at supporting students from marginalized backgrounds in the biomedical sciences. This move comes as a result of President’s executive order prohibiting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) measures. The termination of this program has raised concerns within the research community, with many expressing worries about the impact this will have on future discoveries and advancements in the field of biomedicine.
Pharmacologist Karen Wilcox highlighted the potential consequences of this decision, stating, “There’s going to be a lot of cures for cancer that won’t be discovered because the person didn’t realize they could get into graduate school.” The elimination of this program adds to the recent cuts in funding related to DEI efforts, further exacerbating the challenges faced by underrepresented individuals in the scientific community.
How chatbots talk about suicide
A recent study conducted by RAND has shed light on how AI chatbots respond to questions about suicide. The study evaluated the responses of three major chatbots – ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini – to various levels of risk related to self-harm. While these chatbots generally provided appropriate responses to low and high-risk questions, there were inconsistencies in their handling of questions that fell in the middle range of risk.
Of particular concern was the variability in responses when users asked about resources for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts or how to help a friend who is suicidal. The study underscored the importance of fine-tuning chatbot algorithms to ensure consistent and accurate responses to individuals in crisis.
The first lung transplant from a pig
In a groundbreaking medical procedure, a 39-year-old individual in China became the first person to receive a lung transplant from a pig. The organ was sourced from a CRISPR’d pig and implanted into the patient’s chest for a period of nine days. This pioneering procedure aimed to assess the viability of using gene-edited pigs as a potential source of organs for human transplants.
This milestone in xenotransplantation represents a significant advancement in the field of organ transplantation. While previous procedures have involved pig hearts and kidneys, this was the first attempt at a lung transplant from a pig. The success of this procedure could pave the way for future innovations in organ donation and transplantation.
What you need to know about screwworm (sorry)
In a concerning development, a person who recently traveled to El Salvador has been diagnosed with New World screwworm, marking the first reported case in the U.S. linked to travel to a country with an ongoing outbreak. New World screwworm flies lay eggs in open wounds and body openings, leading to parasitic infestations that can be life-threatening.
While rare in humans and not transmissible between individuals, New World screwworm poses a serious risk to those affected. The CDC is collaborating with the U.S. Agriculture Department to prevent further spread of this infection, particularly as cattle infestations have been moving north through Central America and Mexico.
