During normal times it can be difficult to find reliable and accurate news about health, medicine and science. But during a global pandemic, when information can directly affect our lives and our work, this challenge takes on far greater significance.
To meet this need we are launching a new initiative today called the EIPM News Roundup! Within our EIPM Teams channel we have created a folder called EIPM Weekly where you can find news from trusted sources like the New York Times, Science, and Nature. There is space under each article to add your own comment, thoughts and ideas (or an emoji!).
The best part of this new initiative is that you create the content. See a great news article you want to share with your colleagues? Post it on EIPM Weekly, and we will give twitter handle credit to those who contributed. Each Friday we will send this Weekly News Roundup summarizing articles into categories like COVID19; Data Science, AI & Technology; Precision Medicine; Clinical & Basic Research; Health Policy; and Society.
Please take a moment and visit EIPM Weekly today, check out the articles and maybe leave a comment on what you see. I hope you enjoy this new resource and use it often.
On a somewhat related note, I wanted to make sure everyone knew about our COVID19 digital questionnaire to identify potential geographic areas in which the coronavirus is spreading in the US. This anonymous research tool, which was featured in a New York Times article, will help locate areas with a high number of infected people. The data we are gathering is fascinating, I hope you will take a few minutes to explore it.
You can support this project by filling out a new questionnaire every day.
Thanks again to your commitment to our mission, especially during these very challenging times.
Sincerely,
Olivier Elemento, Ph.D.
EIPM Director
COVID19 News
“Potential Shortages of Hydroxychloroquine for Patients with Lupus During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.” Although there is no rigorous scientific evidence supporting the use of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 as of early April 2020, consumers are stockpiling the drug not only for treatment but also prophylaxis prompted by media reports of possible efficacy. JAMA Health Forum, April 10, 2020, by WCM’s Said Ibrahim, M.D.
“Haywire Immune Response Eyed In Coronavirus Deaths, Treatment.” Researchers are looking at treatments to suppress ‘cytokine storm,’ increasingly linked to the most severe Covid-19 cases. Wall Street Journal, April 9, 2020.
“A framework for identifying regional outbreak and spread of COVID-19 from one-minute population-wide surveys.” Coronavirus infection spreads in clusters, and early identification of these clusters is critical for slowing down the spread of the virus. authors propose that daily population-wide surveys that assess the development of symptoms caused by the virus could serve as a strategic and valuable tool for identifying such clusters and informing epidemiologists, public-health officials and policymakers. Nature Medicine, April 09, 2020. @hajirasouliha
Data Science, AI & Technology
“Tech companies are stepping up in the coronavirus pandemic response. Here’s how they’re dedicating resources.” Tech companies like Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Facebook and Microsoft are worth a collective $5 trillion dollars, but are they doing enough to police misinformation on their platforms? Stat News, April 01, 2020.
“Age adjusted rate of fatal lab confirmed COVID19 cases per 100,000 by race/ethnicity group.” New data from the NYC Department of Health strongly suggests that minority populations (Hispanics, African Americans) have at least twice higher COVID19 fatality rate compared to Caucasians and Asians. New York City Dept. of Health, April 6, 2020.
Precision Medicine
“Sensitive and specific multi-cancer detection and localization using methylation signatures in cell-free DNA.” Large scale prospective study with 6689 participants indicates that methylation profiling of cell free DNA can detect cancer with >99% specificity and 40-60% sensitivity. Annals of Oncology, February, 2020.
“Searching for a Coronavirus Cure in the Blood.” Scientists look to convalescent plasma, hyperimmune therapy, and monoclonal antibodies to treat COVID-19. Chemical and Engineering News, April 07, 2020.
“COVID-19 Presents an Opportunity for Precision Medicine to Play Expanded Role in Care.” Although it is recognized that there is a need to treat cancer patients during a pandemic, due to their immunocompromised state from the nature of their disease or type of treatment they are receiving, it is of paramount importance that the oncology care team develop and evolve a systemic approach that prioritizes patients, disease, and types of treatment. Targeted Oncology, March 30, 2020. @PeterfromNYC
Clinical & Basic Research
“COVID19 Vaccine Frontrunners.” Four vaccine candidates—two in the US, one in China, and one in the UK—have been approved for early testing in people. The Scientist (left) April 7, 2020.
“After ICU, Coronavirus Patients’ Ordeal Is Far From Over.” Covid-19 puts the sickest people on ventilators. The experience can make for a tough recovery; like ‘being buried alive.’ Wall Street Journal, April 08, 2020.
Health Policy
“COVID19 Testing Delays Shine Light on Lab-Developed Test Regulation Debate.” This month, lawmakers introduced a bill that would vastly change the oversight system for diagnostics in this country and give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration explicit authority to regulate tests developed by labs. Modern Healthcare, March 17, 2020.
“The Technology That Could Free America From Quarantine.” Contact tracing is working in South Korea and Singapore. But it raises privacy issues.” The Atlantic, April 07, 2020. (right).
Society
“Most New York Coronavirus Cases Came From Europe, Genomes Show.” Travelers seeded multiple cases starting as early as mid-February, genomes show. New York Times, April 08, 2020.
“How To Be Alone, But Not Lonely, Despite The Coronavirus.” By distancing yourself, you’re contributing to a societal act — a collective action — that is not only protecting yourself, but protecting others. National Public Radio, March 17, 2020.
“Being Together While Staying Apart.” At a time when so many of us are isolated in our homes to avoid catching and spreading coronavirus, we need to take a lesson from the highly connected teens and 20-somethings in our lives. New York Times, March 26, 2020.
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