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SFU cell biologist to talk at AJAS conference on Feb. 16

Lynne Quarmby, a Simon Fraser University scientist with a passion for promoting the importance of science to life's sustenance, will have a captive audience during the world's largest science fair in Vancouver.

13 Feb 2012

President's budget not expected to tackle entitlement costs

President Barack Obama's budget proposal Monday will offer several measures to trim the federal deficit in the next 10 years. But it would leave largely unchanged the biggest drivers of future government spending: the Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security programs that are expanding rapidly as the baby boom turns into a senior boom. Calling for major changes in the popular programs would be politically treacherous in an election year because of fierce opposition from seniors, who vote in large numbers.

13 Feb 2012

Censorship of public health websites by Russian drug agency an 'assault' on HIV prevention

"Amidst pro-democracy protests, the Russian authorities have taken what is an ongoing assault on HIV prevention to the next level by moving to silence public health advocates whose only infraction has been to spread lifesaving information online and to criticize the government for its own failures," Eka Iakobishvili, a human rights analyst at Harm Reduction International, and Claudia Stoicescu, an analyst on Harm Reduction International's public health research team, write in this Huffington Post opinion piece.

13 Feb 2012

WHO convening meeting in one week to explore opinions surrounding H5N1 bird flu research

NPR's health blog "Shots" previews an upcoming WHO-convened meeting to discuss the recent news that two research teams have created H5N1 bird flu strains that are easily transmissible among ferrets, which are used as lab models for humans.

13 Feb 2012

Health spending, insurance profits down

Health spending has declined, according to a new study, and it appears to be affecting insurance company bottom lines.

13 Feb 2012

Benin's government fighting malaria with free treatment, cadre of community health workers

The Guardian's "Poverty Matters Blog" examines how the government of Benin "is making headway in attempts to reduce deaths from malaria" by cracking down on counterfeit treatments, offering malaria treatment free-of-charge in public clinics and hospitals, and creating "an army of ordinary citizens in the battle against preventable diseases like malaria."

13 Feb 2012

Obama administration signals contraception compromise

The Obama administration, seeking to rein in a runaway political furor over birth control and religious liberty, is set to announce a possible compromise on Friday that is meant to calm ire from the right about a new administration rule that would require health insurance plans - including those offered by Roman Catholic hospitals, universities and charities - to offer free birth control to female employees.

13 Feb 2012

Research roundup: Predicting the health law's effects on small business, uninsured, disparities

Using a RAND assessment tool, researchers aimed to "predict the effects of self-insurance and grandfathering exemptions on coverage and premiums available" on policies for small businesses sold in the insurance exchanges.

13 Feb 2012

Negotiations stalled on House-Senate package that would avert Medicare pay cuts for doctors

The Republican plan to pay for the package, which includes extending a payroll tax cut, calls for a premium increase for upper-income Medicare patients that has been rejected by Democrats. Democrats have offered to trim unemployment benefits by six weeks.

13 Feb 2012

Leavitt says exchanges are here to stay

As efforts to implement the health law move forward, Politico Pro talks to Michael Leavitt about state exchanges, and KHN examines the administration's strategy for prevention funding.

13 Feb 2012

Grand Challenges Canada, Gates Foundation announce grants for innovative Global Health projects

"Grand Challenges Canada on Thursday announced 15 grants valued in total at more than $1.5 million awarded to some of Canada's most creative innovators from across the country in support of their work to improve global health conditions," according to a press release from the Sandra Rotman Centre for Global Health, which hosts Grand Challenges.

13 Feb 2012

State legislatures face tough decisions on long-term care, abortion rules, pain prescriptions, coordinated care

Cost-saving measures proposed by Gov. Scott Walker's administration to Family Care programs for frail elderly and people with disabilities are coming under fire ... County Executive Chris Abele said the county didn't have the staff to do "intensive prevention efforts" envisioned by the state reform ideas. ... The state's proposed sustainability modifications to the program include an emphasis on shifting clients from publicly financed help to "natural supports" - meaning a greater reliance on family members for care.

13 Feb 2012

Obama readies compromise on birth control mandate

The Obama administration Friday morning signaled a new compromise on a rule that would require even most religious employer health plans to cover contraception at no cost to employees.

13 Feb 2012

Proposed intellectual property agreement between E.U., India could affect generic drug exports, advocacy groups say

The Independent examines how "the cheap supply of antiretroviral drugs to people with AIDS across the world could be choked by an 'intellectual property' deal ... being negotiated on Friday at the 12th E.U.-India summit in New Delhi between the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh."

13 Feb 2012

Donor fatigue, funding cutbacks could mean another 50 years of AIDS epidemic, UNAIDS deputy executive director says

"With enough money spent in the right way, the world could soon reduce new HIV infections to zero, but global apathy and the financial crisis mean it might take another 50 years to stop the AIDS epidemic, a U.N. expert has said," AlertNet reports.

13 Feb 2012

Viewpoints: Contraception as Obama's 'gospel'; The right balance? Freedom at risk?; Examining Medicaid mandate

These guidelines, which increase access to contraceptive services for women while upholding the religious liberty of churches, mosques and synagogues, strike the proper balance between respecting the religious beliefs of all Americans and protecting the health of American women and families. They will reduce health costs, end long-standing gender discrimination in prescription drug coverage and further enable women to lead healthier lives.

13 Feb 2012

OptumHealth names Women & Infants as Center of Excellence for Neonatal Care

For the sixth consecutive year, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island has been named a Center of Excellence for Neonatal Care by the Clinical Sciences Institute of OptumHealth, an independent audit company.

13 Feb 2012

USC Occupational Science Symposium to be held on March 9, 2012

USC faculty and community experts are slated to convene on March 9 at the USC Occupational Science Symposium to share research and perspectives on autism and autism spectrum disorders with an audience of university colleagues and students, health professionals and public advocates.

13 Feb 2012

Examining Komen's history with Planned Parenthood; Rep. Blackburn wants expanded Planned Parenthood investigation

ProPublica examines Komen's shifting history with Planned Parenthood. In other news, Planned Parenthood's services for men are examined and a Republican congresswoman is asking for a larger investigation of the organization.

12 Feb 2012

Some high-profile Catholic Democrats are criticizing HHS rule

Sens. Robert Casey and Joe Manchin, Rep. John Larson and Obama adviser Tim Kaine are breaking with the White House on the contraception controversy.

10 Feb 2012

Healthcare News

SFU cell biologist to talk at AJAS conference on Feb. 16

President's budget not expected to tackle entitlement costs

Censorship of public health websites by Russian drug agency an 'assault' on HIV prevention

WHO convening meeting in one week to explore opinions surrounding H5N1 bird flu research

Health spending, insurance profits down

Benin's government fighting malaria with free treatment, cadre of community health workers

Obama administration signals contraception compromise

Research roundup: Predicting the health law's effects on small business, uninsured, disparities

Negotiations stalled on House-Senate package that would avert Medicare pay cuts for doctors

Leavitt says exchanges are here to stay

Grand Challenges Canada, Gates Foundation announce grants for innovative Global Health projects

State legislatures face tough decisions on long-term care, abortion rules, pain prescriptions, coordinated care

Obama readies compromise on birth control mandate

Proposed intellectual property agreement between E.U., India could affect generic drug exports, advocacy groups say

Donor fatigue, funding cutbacks could mean another 50 years of AIDS epidemic, UNAIDS deputy executive director says

Viewpoints: Contraception as Obama's 'gospel'; The right balance? Freedom at risk?; Examining Medicaid mandate

OptumHealth names Women & Infants as Center of Excellence for Neonatal Care

USC Occupational Science Symposium to be held on March 9, 2012

Examining Komen's history with Planned Parenthood; Rep. Blackburn wants expanded Planned Parenthood investigation

Some high-profile Catholic Democrats are criticizing HHS rule

Advancing brain microphysiological systems (bMPS)

PhD researcher at LifeArc

Unveiling Hidden Potential: Organoids for Disease Modeling in Neuroscience Research

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