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IUPUI researcher awarded $1.1 million grant to develop tools to improve care for chronic pain patients

An Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis researcher has been awarded $1.1 million to develop information-based tools to help primary care providers improve care for patients with chronic pain, a condition that affects 100 million Americans at a cost of $630 billion annually in health care costs and lost worker productivity.

10 Mar 2016

Early childhood intervention guide can help prevent substance use disorders

An online guide about interventions in early childhood that can help prevent drug use and other unhealthy behaviors was launched today by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health.

10 Mar 2016

NIH scientists show how neurons in the eye may use math to differentiate moving objects

Our eyes constantly send bits of information about the world around us to our brains where the information is assembled into objects we recognize. Along the way, a series of neurons in the eye uses electrical and chemical signals to relay the information. In a study of mice, National Institutes of Health scientists showed how one type of neuron may do this to distinguish moving objects.

8 Mar 2016

FDA allows marketing of one-time use contact lens to help measure patient's intraocular pressure

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today allowed marketing of a one-time use contact lens that may help practitioners identify the best time of day to measure a patient's intraocular pressure (IOP). Elevated IOP is often associated with the optic nerve damage that is characteristic of glaucoma.

7 Mar 2016

Complex biomarker tests for molecularly targeted therapies lack evidentiary standards

Potentially useful biomarker tests for molecularly targeted therapies are not being adopted appropriately into clinical practice because of a lack of common evidentiary standards necessary for regulatory, reimbursement, and treatment decisions.

7 Mar 2016

PACE: A community-based long-term care model for elderly

A new article "A Case Exemplar for National Policy Leadership: Expanding Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)," in the March 2016 Journal of Gerontology, chronicles the beginnings of PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) and outlines its rise to nationwide acceptance. PACE is a viable and sustainable model of community-based long-term care that provides coordinated and comprehensive services with an interdisciplinary patient-centered team model that is paid for through Medicare, Medicaid, and other insurers.

7 Mar 2016

Omalizumab treatment significantly decreases colds in inner-city children with allergic asthma

Treatment with omalizumab significantly decreases the number of colds in inner-city children with allergic asthma, researchers reported at a press conference today at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2016 Annual Meeting in Los Angeles. Omalizumab, sold under the brand name Xolair, is an injectable antibody that can be used to treat asthma cases not controlled by inhaled corticosteroids.

7 Mar 2016

Idelvion approved for use in children and adults with Hemophilia B

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Idelvion, Coagulation Factor IX (Recombinant), Albumin Fusion Protein, for use in children and adults with Hemophilia B. Idelvion is the first coagulation factor-albumin fusion protein product to be approved, and the second Factor IX fusion protein product approved in the U.S. that is modified to last longer in the blood.

7 Mar 2016

Air pollution increases risk of preterm birth for asthmatic pregnant women

Pregnant women with asthma may be at greater risk of preterm birth when exposed to high levels of certain traffic-related air pollutants, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions.

2 Mar 2016

FDA takes actions to help women, doctors better understand potential problems associated with Essure

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today actions to provide important information about the risks of using Essure and to help women and their doctors be better informed of the potential complications associated with implantable forms of sterilization.

1 Mar 2016

FDA announces availability of $2 million for rare disease research

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the availability of $2 million in research grants to fund natural history studies in rare diseases. The aim is to collect data on how specific rare diseases progress in individuals over time so that knowledge can inform and support product development and approval. This will be the first time the FDA will provide funding through its Orphan Products Grants to conduct these types of studies for rare diseases.

1 Mar 2016

Maraviroc drug safe, well-tolerated when taken as PrEP to prevent HIV infection

Maraviroc, an oral drug used to treat HIV infection, is safe and well-tolerated when taken daily as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection by HIV-uninfected men who have sex with men (MSM) at increased risk for acquiring HIV.

25 Feb 2016

Two investigational Ebola vaccines well-tolerated in Phase 2 clinical trial

Two investigational vaccines designed to protect against Ebola virus disease were well-tolerated and induced an immune response among 1,000 vaccinated participants in the Phase 2 randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial called PREVAIL I.

25 Feb 2016

Ebola survivors and close contacts have high burden of illness

Preliminary findings from PREVAIL III, a study of Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors being conducted in Liberia, indicate that both Ebola survivors and their close contacts have a high burden of illness. However, the prevalence of eye, musculoskeletal, and neurological complications was greater among the individuals who survived EVD.

25 Feb 2016

Poll: 59% of parents rate flu vaccine less favorably than other childhood vaccines

Parents who do not get their children flu shots rate the flu vaccine less favorably than other childhood vaccines, a national poll finds.

23 Feb 2016

Scientists find that lifespan of supportive cells in tumor may control cancer metastasis

Researchers have discovered that eliminating cells thought to aid tumor growth did not slow or halt the growth of cancer tumors. In fact, when the cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), were eliminated after 10 days, the risk of metastasis of the primary tumor to the lungs and bones of mice increased dramatically.

22 Feb 2016

Community-based weight management program more effective in preventing prediabetes than self-initiated program

A new randomized controlled study conducted by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers and published online today in the American Journal of Public Health found that adults with prediabetes who followed a nationally-available weight management program with a prediabetes-specific component, Weight Watchers, lost significantly more weight and experienced better blood glucose control than those following a self-initiated program using supplemental counseling materials.

18 Feb 2016

FDA issues new guidance to reduce risk of Zika blood transmission

As a safety measure against the emerging Zika virus outbreak, today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a new guidance recommending the deferral of individuals from donating blood if they have been to areas with active Zika virus transmission, potentially have been exposed to the virus, or have had a confirmed Zika virus infection.

18 Feb 2016

Pioglitazone drug may prevent recurrent stroke and heart attacks

Pioglitazone, a drug used for type 2 diabetes, may prevent recurrent stroke and heart attacks in people with insulin resistance but without diabetes.

18 Feb 2016

HHS awards 1.2 million grant to Boston Center for Refugee Health & Human Rights

Boston Medical Center (BMC) has been awarded a three-year, $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration to support the Boston Center for Refugee Health & Human Rights.

15 Feb 2016

Health and Human Services News and Research

IUPUI researcher awarded $1.1 million grant to develop tools to improve care for chronic pain patients

Early childhood intervention guide can help prevent substance use disorders

NIH scientists show how neurons in the eye may use math to differentiate moving objects

FDA allows marketing of one-time use contact lens to help measure patient's intraocular pressure

Complex biomarker tests for molecularly targeted therapies lack evidentiary standards

PACE: A community-based long-term care model for elderly

Omalizumab treatment significantly decreases colds in inner-city children with allergic asthma

Idelvion approved for use in children and adults with Hemophilia B

Air pollution increases risk of preterm birth for asthmatic pregnant women

FDA takes actions to help women, doctors better understand potential problems associated with Essure

FDA announces availability of $2 million for rare disease research

Maraviroc drug safe, well-tolerated when taken as PrEP to prevent HIV infection

Two investigational Ebola vaccines well-tolerated in Phase 2 clinical trial

Ebola survivors and close contacts have high burden of illness

Poll: 59% of parents rate flu vaccine less favorably than other childhood vaccines

Scientists find that lifespan of supportive cells in tumor may control cancer metastasis

Community-based weight management program more effective in preventing prediabetes than self-initiated program

FDA issues new guidance to reduce risk of Zika blood transmission

Pioglitazone drug may prevent recurrent stroke and heart attacks

HHS awards 1.2 million grant to Boston Center for Refugee Health & Human Rights

Event guide: 6th Operationalize Expanded Access Programs Summit East eBook

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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