STAT - Reporting from the frontiers of health and medicine

Elizabeth D. Herman for STAT Dr. Peter Walter spent decades understanding the inner workings of the cell.…

Elizabeth D. Herman for STAT Serendipity, a stuffed unicorn meant to represent the serendipity of scientific discoveries,…

Elizabeth D. Herman for STAT A PhD student works in the tissue culture room in the Walter…

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Biochemist Peter Walter spent decades exploring the inner workings of cells. His latest find: a curious and risky molecule that could heal damaged brains.

In the Lab

Peter Walter discovered a molecule that makes mice smarter. Can it heal a human brain?

By Usha Lee McFarling

Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

BRIEFLY

A new report suggests the first person who died while infected with Zika virus in the US actually died from his infection, not a previous illness.

Health

First Zika death in the US was indeed caused by the virus, officials say

By Helen Branswell

Harry Todd/Fox Photos/Getty Images The staff at Courage's Anchor Brewery in London receive a flu vaccine…

BRIEFLY

While the flu is a common illness, that hardly means the science around it is static. Recent studies are upending our understanding of flu vaccinations.

Health

A guide to the changing science of flu shots

By Helen Branswell

Medtronic The first "artificial pancreas" was developed by Medtronic.

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The first so-called artificial pancreas is expected to lift the burden for some diabetics on the daily grind they must go through to keep their blood sugar levels stable.

Health

FDA approves first ‘artificial pancreas’ for diabetes treatment

By Rebecca Robbins

Brendan Smialowski/AFPGetty

BRIEFLY

Illinois regulators suspended the license of a suburban Chicago doctor who allegedly gave patients modified vaccinations containing cat saliva and vodka.

In the Lab

Regulators: Doctor concocts vaccines with cat saliva, vodka

By Associated Press

Adam E. Jakus

BRIEFLY

Northwestern University researchers have developed a new ceramic-polymer blend, and replacement bones made of the material quickly integrated with the surrounding tissue, allowing real bone tissue to regenerate.

In the Lab

Flexible 3-D printed scaffolds could mend broken bones

By Leah Samuel

John Moore/Getty Images A panel at Boston HUBweek took a look at the opioid crisis…

BRIEFLY

At HUBweek on Tuesday, a group of experts on opioids and opioid addiction discussed the science behind addiction and ways to treat it.

Health

Understanding opioid addiction to better fight it

By Allison Bond

APStock

BRIEFLY

Is the FDA approval process broken? HUBweek panelists explored that question in light of the FDA's decision last week to approve a controversial drug for a rare disease.

Health

Does the FDA have a high enough standard for drug approvals?

By Shayla Love

Dan Kitwood/Getty Images/Cancer Research UK

BRIEFLY

The Precision Medicine Initiative promises a specific treatment for a specific disease. Does that mean we should view every disease as a rare disease?

Health

Is every disease a rare disease?

By Shayla Love

Jeff Chiu/AP Jesus Alonso (center) holds a sign between other volunteers after a May…

BRIEFLY

San Francisco Bay Area voters in November will consider a tax on soda, which many health experts say contributes to diabetes, obesity, and tooth decay.

Health

US soda tax battle bubbles up in San Francisco Bay Area

By Associated Press

Rich Pedroncelli/AP

BRIEFLY

Firm evidence is lacking on whether hormonal contraception can cause depression. And experts say a new study, the largest of its kind, doesn't go very far in making the picture…

Health

Does hormonal birth control put women at risk for depression?

By Rebecca Robbins

Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP A lab operator works on the purifying process for Aldurazyme at BioMarin…

BRIEFLY

A new survey of 36 payers that cover more than 74 million patients in the United States found that their coverage polices are unlikely to change much over the next…

Pharmalot

Most insurers unfazed by high price of orphan drugs

By Ed Silverman

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

BRIEFLY

A study found that more than half of the FDA's hematology-oncology experts between 2001 and 2010 went on to work for the biopharmaceutical industry.

Business

From FDA expert to biotech insider: The drug industry thrives on the revolving door

By Sheila Kaplan

Matthew Orr/STAT “I think we’ve met. Science class? Seventh grade?"

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I've been writing Morning Rounds for a year now. I've learned how hard it is to write short takes on science — and how vital it is, too.

Don't Miss

Reflections on a sleep-deprived, science-filled year

By Megan Thielking

Drew Angerer/Getty Images Epinephrine auto-injectors are the only treatment proven to halt a food allergy…

BRIEFLY

The size and timing of the EpiPen price hikes played a role in the fracas. But less discussed is a change in how insurance covers access to prescription drugs.

First Opinion

EpiPen pricing controversy reflects larger issues in pharma industry

By James R. Baker Jr.

STAT

BRIEFLY

Three US Senators are asking for a Justice Department investigation into whether Mylan broke federal law when it classified its EpiPen as a generic product.

Pharmalot

Lawmakers ask Justice Department to probe Mylan over Medicaid rebates

By Ed Silverman

APStock The Health Project recognized the Boise School District's wellness program for gains…

Joe Raedle/Getty Images Employees' blood pressure increased overall after the Boise schools adopted a workplace…

Luis Acosta/AFP/Getty Images The Boise wellness program includes required annual health screenings, which include blood…

BRIEFLY

The workplace wellness industry's top award is going to a school district where most measures of employee health got worse.

Health

Top wellness award goes to workplace where many health measures got worse

By Sharon Begley

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images NBA champion Chris Bosh is battling blood clots, an illness that may…

BRIEFLY

Blood clots usually resolve themselves. But when they don't, they can be deadly. NBA superstar Chris Bosh suffers from them, and they could mean the end of his career. Here's…

Health

Chris Bosh’s NBA career is in jeopardy because of blood clots. Here are five things you should know

By Amitha Kalaichandran

Alex Hogan/STAT

BRIEFLY

By remaining largely silent in the drug pricing debate, patient advocacy are failing their members, critics say.

Pharmalot

Pharmalot, Pharmalittle: Patient advocacy groups are failing their members in the drug pricing debate

By Ed Silverman

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

BRIEFLY

On Tuesday HUBweek panelists discussed how to make medical education and health care more diverse, and why that's a necessity.

Hospitals

Experts discuss how to improve diversity in medicine

By Patrick Skerrett

Nature Communications

BRIEFLY

The STAT Morning Rounds newsletter keeps you ahead of the day's health and science news.

Morning Rounds

Magic biomaterials, redefining healthy & eliminating measles

By Megan Thielking

Alex Hogan/STAT

BRIEFLY

Welcome to The Readout, your guide to what's new in biotech.

The Readout

CAR-T’s FDA odds & Congress’s biotech dilemma

By Damian Garde and Meghana Keshavan

APStock

BRIEFLY

Banning "pay-for-delay" deals to postpone the entry of generic drugs would not lower drug prices as much as eliminating authorized generics.

First Opinion

Clinton’s proposed ban on pay-for-delay deals would do little to lower drug prices

By Farasat A.S. Bokhari

Alberto Pellaschiar/AP

BRIEFLY

Rising public concern over makeup, hair dyes, and fragrances has led lawmakers to try to toughen the regulatory framework for the $60 billion industry.

Politics

Cosmetics may face new safety regulation — and, surprisingly, the industry is on board

By Sheila Kaplan

Andy Wong/AP WHO says there is no evidence that face mask, such as the…

BRIEFLY

WHO says that 92 percent of people live in areas where air quality exceeds its limits, with southeast Asia, eastern Mediterranean and western Pacific regions hardest hit.

Health

Overwhelming majority of world’s population live in areas with dirty air, WHO says

By Associated Press

Fred Grinberg/Sputnik via AP The city of Sverdlovsk, now called currently Yekaterinburg, in the 1970s.

BRIEFLY

An accidental release of deadly anthrax from a Soviet military facility killed 64 in Siberia in 1979. American researchers just pieced together the story.

In the Lab

Analysis identifies lethal strain of anthrax the Soviets produced as bioweapon

By Karen Weintraub

Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Senator Ed Markey.

BRIEFLY

Senator Ed Markey's request comes less than a week after 35 states filed an antitrust lawsuit accusing Indivior of engaging in a scheme to block generic competition.

Pharmalot

Senator urges FTC to step up investigation into maker of addiction treatment

By Ed Silverman

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