Important finding as the U.S. enters wildfire season: Per study in Nature, smoke particulate matter could result in >71k excess deaths annually by 2050 under a high-warming scenario, a 73% increase from the 2011-2020 estimate of annual excess deaths from smoke: https://ow.ly/NUZi50Yybue #SciSky 🧪

🧪Women retract fewer medical research papers than men, though reasons are unclear. Women made up 16.5% of first authors and 12.7% of last authors on retracted papers, a study in Nature found, vs. over 41% and 26% of first and last authors respectively across all papers in the same journals. #MedSky

🧪 BA.3.2, a genetically distinct Covid variant from those circulating in the US since 2024, has been detected in clinical samples and wastewater. In the lab, BA.3.2 evades antibodies, likely due to spike protein mutations. Clinical severity remains unclear, per CDC: https://ow.ly/jrkC50YySOA

A new therapy could become the first new class of malaria drug approved in >25 years. The drug GanLum shows promise for treatment of artemisinin-resistant parasites, found in Asia & Africa. Per study in Nature, it cured 97.4% of participants in a clinical trial, outmatching an existing drug (94%). 🧪

#ICYMI: Nearly half of people with Down’s syndrome are born with a congenital heart defect. Study in Nature#ICYMIexplores the genes responsible and implicates an increased dosage of the HMGN1 gene as a major contributor to this high incidence of heart defects. #SciSky #MedSky 🧪

🏆🧪A big win for science: Research!America has awarded microgrants to 17 groups, allowing students to initiate civic engagement & edu outreach activities in their communities. This program is supported by the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, Dana Foundation, Rita Allen Foundation, & Dennis Mangan.

🧪🧠Assessment of tau protein may help predict outcomes & track treatment response after ischemic stroke, per study in Science Translational Medicine Science Magazine. Higher tau levels linked to worse injury; lower levels seen with full recanalization & nerinetide treatment: https://ow.ly/CaHX50Yw2Tq

🐟🧪 Chronic, low-dose exposure to the pesticide chlorpyrifos reduces lifespan in wild fish by inducing telomere degradation & accelerating the aging process, study in Science Magazine found. Even small pesticide doses might pose long-term longevity risks, researchers stress: https://ow.ly/jbxS50Yw2Iu

67% of U.S. adults trust career scientists at federal health agencies vs. 43% who trust agency leaders, per new University of Pennsylvania survey. Confidence is higher for non-government groups like National Academy of Sciences, American Heart Association, and The American Academy of Pediatrics. 🧪

Frustration is a key part of scientific discovery, says #LaskerLaureate Napoleone Ferrara. “It’s not to be discouraged.” 🧪 Ferrara won a 2010 Clinical Award for the discovery of an important signaling protein. 🎧 Listen to an interview with him in the March newsletter: https://ow.ly/Gkko50YoekP

🧪Shingles vaccine may slow dementia progression, per a study in Cell Press. In 280K adults in Wales aged >79, vaccine recipients had fewer MCI diagnoses and fewer dementia deaths, with stronger effects in women than men: https://ow.ly/4fie50Yw2iE #MedSky #SciSky

Protein PRDM16, which promotes “beiging” of white fat, protects mice against hypertension, per study in Science Magazine. 🐁 🧪 Absence of the transcription factor for PRDM16 in mice caused remodeling of adipose tissue around blood vessels, elevating blood pressure: https://ow.ly/jIcg50Yw28t

Hi, #SciSky and #MedSky communities! 🦋🧪 I’m Claire Pomeroy, President of Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation and Board Member of Morehouse School of Medicine, Research!America#SciSky#MedSky more. Follow to see my favorite biomed papers and news—I’m passionate about infectious disease research and #PublicHealth.

🧪Pregnancy and childbirth complications are no longer the leading causes of U.S. maternal death, per study in NEJM.org. From 2018-23, 2,018 of 7,901 maternal deaths were by homicide, suicide, and drug overdose—showing need for added discussion to address these causes: https://ow.ly/rgrf50YspEj

Roll camera… action! 🎥 🧪Early-career biomedical scientists, we’re looking for videos explaining why a question you’re studying could benefit science & patients. Submit before Apr. 2 at 2p.m. ET. Winners announced in July and featured by Journal of Clinical Investigation: https://ow.ly/xf2u50Yo9sh

❤️‍🩹 Thank you to the The American Academy of Pediatrics & its partners for reminding us that medical guidelines (including vaccine recommendations) should be evidence-based, non-partisan, & dedicated to advancing our shared mission of a healthier world for all: https://ow.ly/SJyk50YvicN #MedSky NPR 🧪

A WHO analysis reaffirms that #Vaccines do not cause autism. The report evaluated 31 studies published from 2010-2025, finding immunization safe for children and pregnant adults. 🧪❤️‍🩹 In 50 years, "childhood immunization has saved at least 154 million lives," WHO states: https://ow.ly/hzQM50YqFPl

🧪Study in NEJM.org shows more evidence for use of long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy to reduce risk of regimen failure among #HIV patients who struggle to take daily oral medication. ❤️‍🩹 Monthly shots can reduce structural barriers, side effects, stigma, & more: https://ow.ly/m9Mi50YsmuB

More evidence that public investment in science pays off. 🔬🧪 New analysis from United for Medical Research found that funding from the NIH generated >$94B in economic activity & supported nearly 391K jobs in 2025, despite the fewest grants being awarded in nearly 30 years: https://ow.ly/nC3m50Ytc5m

💤 In a longitudinal study of 27K+ Canadians aged 45–85, adults with obstructive sleep apnea were ~44% more likely to have or develop a mental health condition, per JAMA Network Open. Study authors call for more integrated screening and intervention: https://ow.ly/OryU50Ysp0z 🧪#MedSky #WorldSleepDay

In a JAMA study of 320K+ UK adults aged 39–74, night owls had 79% higher rates of poor heart health than early birds. 🦉🌅Night owls were also more likely to have higher risk of heart attack & stroke, showing need for tailored cardiovascular interventions: https://ow.ly/I6Gg50YsmAq #WorldSleepDay 🧪

🧪16% of babies born to mothers who tested positive for Covid during pregnancy formed a neurodevelopmental condition by 3, compared to 10% in non-infected group, per study in Obstetrics & Gynecology (the Green Journal). Effects most pronounced after 3rd-trimester exposure: https://ow.ly/SIRp50Yqzht

Study of a Phase 3 trial published in NEJM.org suggests the drug atacicept may help treat the kidney disease IgA nephropathy. Patients taking atacicept had a ~46% drop in protein in their urine vs. ~7% with the placebo: https://ow.ly/Zf3w50YspqH 🧪 #NationalKidneyMonth #KidneyDay #MedSky

🧪 A Science analysis found 10,000 STEM PhDs left or lost federal jobs after Trump took office—three times the loss in 2024. Across 14 agencies, PhD exits outpaced hires 11 to one, costing the government vital subject-matter expertise: https://ow.ly/nRlW50YquRg #SciSky #MedSky Science Magazine

55% of the variation in human lifespan is explained by genetics when taking extrinsic elements, like accidents or infections, into account, per study in Science Magazine. 🧪 This is significantly greater than the heritability factor found by earlier research (6-25%): https://ow.ly/2JxK50YquGh #SciSky

🧪 Hypertension rates doubled (3 to 6%) in children 19 or under in 21 countries, shows meta-analysis in The Lancet. The condition appeared significantly more often in children with obesity, and many had masked #hypertension, showing a need for better screening and diagnoses: https://ow.ly/BQku50Yquza

🧪Four in 10 Americans have medical or dental debt. Now, a Reuters poll shows the public wants Congress to prioritize health care costs—even above food and housing (31% versus 22%). JAMA report shows what this means ahead of the 2026 election cycle: https://ow.ly/Hrij50YqulY #MedSky #SciSky

A recent randomized clinical trial published in PubMed found that chest CT scans reduce #LungCancer deaths among high-risk patients. <20% of eligible Americans are currently screened, though the study shows direct, in-person outreach can help: https://ow.ly/e6Ra50Yqu9E#LungCancer #PublicHealth #MedSky🧪

❤️‍🩹🧪 In a review of 23 studies, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers found that screening for social needs (e.g. housing & food insecurity) was most successful in smaller patient populations at sites with with adequate health care staffing: https://ow.ly/OMj950YomMx #PublicHealth

🧪Researchers identified a toxin-producing Aeromonas bacterium in humans with ulcerative colitis, but not in those without the disease. The bacteria were found to promote colon inflammation in mice. Treatment with an anti-aerolysin antibody reduced mice’s disease severity: https://ow.ly/wXMl50YomJe

What do long motorcycle rides have to do with the discovery of key signaling proteins in blood vessel formation? For #LaskerLaureate Napoleone Ferrara, the former helped him discover the latter. 🧪🎧 In the March newsletter, listen to our podcast episode featuring Ferrara: https://ow.ly/XGVy50Yocav

What happens when private equity acquires a hospital? 🧪Report in Annals of Internal Medicine found ICU and emergency staff pay cuts of >15%, as well as more patient transfers and deaths in the emergency dpts. of private equity-owned hospitals than at control hospitals: https://ow.ly/nMZZ50YoIlo

Report in Nature Medicine describes AI use to make a sepsis diagnosis breakthrough. 🧪 Using AI to analyze mRNAs in patients’ blood, the team distinguished between bacterial and viral infections with good accuracy (rule-in specificity >92% and rule-out sensitivity >95%): https://ow.ly/Nag650YoIr7

🧪 The U.S. experienced higher excess mortality rates during the Delta & early Omicron waves of Covid than 20 other wealthy countries, per study published in JAMA. States with higher vaccination uptake saw significantly fewer deaths, highlighting importance of immunization: https://ow.ly/ruAw50YofcF

Dive into last year’s Award details, Essay Contest winners, videos, podcasts, and more! The 2025 Annual Report is here, and it’s a part of our March newsletter. 🧪 See the full roundup and subscribe to our monthly newsletter here: https://ow.ly/wLjM50YncFk

#ICYMI: 🧪🧠 Neural organoids are transforming the ways scientists study the brain. Report published in Nov. emphasized the need for global collaboration to help ensure their ongoing development advances responsibly, upholds public trust, & benefits everyone. Science Magazine https://ow.ly/RWGY50Yo8iX

Are you studying (or would like to explore) a biomedical research question that could or should be addressed to benefit science and patients in the future? We want to hear from you! 🧪

I’m thrilled to join the science community here! For those of you who don’t know me, I’m the President of @laskerfdn.bsky.social and am passionate about medical research and public health. Follow me for breakthroughs in biomedical sciences—I love to share my favorite recent studies and takeaways.❤️‍🩹🧪