Latest news with #NIH
CNN
15 hours ago
- Health
- CNN
Two years after train derailment, NIH to commission longer-term health studies of East Palestine residents
The National Institutes of Health said Thursday that it will fund longer-term health studies of the residents of East Palestine, Ohio, after a 2023 train derailment that sent more than a million pounds of hazardous chemicals into the soil, water and air. The community has long asked the government to do more to help answer questions about the mental and physical effects of the disaster, which some people say they continue to struggle with more than two years later. The funding will be available through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. In 2024, under the Biden administration, the institute funded six two-year rapid-response projects to study different aspects of exposures and health problems after the disaster. Those projects were worth more than $1 million in total. The new grants will award up to $10 million for one to three projects over the next five years. Vice President JD Vance, who was a senator from Ohio when the derailment occurred, pushed for the funding, the NIH said. 'NIH is working to ensure that the people of East Palestine and the surrounding communities are listened to, cared for, and get the answers they deserve,' NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said in a news release. 'This multi-disciplinary research program will focus on public health tracking and surveillance of the community's health conditions to support health care decisions and preventive measures.' East Palestine resident Misti Allison, who ran for mayor after the disaster and campaigned for long-term health studies in the area, said she was pleasantly surprised by the announcement. She sits on the board of one of the current community health studies. 'This next level of funding will enable us to conduct comprehensive and high-impact studies that can truly make a difference in the area,' Allison said. She notes that the funding announcement mentions that the research will be co-developed with input from the community. 'This will really ensure that our concerns and needs are at the forefront,' she said. 'So that is really great.' More than two years after the disaster, there's been a surge in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, respiratory complaints and even some cancers, Allison said. Because cancers have many causes, however, it's difficult to tie those directly to chemical exposures from the derailment, she noted. Jessica Conard, whose son developed asthma a few months after breathing toxic fumes from the derailment, said the announcement brought 'a complicated mix of emotions.' 'We have had real symptoms now for 2½ years, and all we've received is gaslighting and dismissals from state, local and federal agencies,' Conard said. 'We still need an organized medical response, and this should have happened immediately after the disaster,' she said. 'This feels like a political afterthought. 'My hope is that this $10 million doesn't just fund another academic report that sits on the shelf without any actionable takeaways,' she said, 'We desperately need real medical support.' Allison said the community has advocated for an emergency declaration to activate special provisions for victims of environmental exposures that would enable residents to receive Medicare benefits to help pay for their ongoing health needs. 'These funds would be a lifeline for many families who are still grappling with health concerns and some economic hardship,' she said. Dr. Andrew Whelton, a civil and environmental engineer at Purdue University who helps communities assess the impacts of disasters, said the need for the funding is unfortunate. The government and community would have been better served if they'd made more money available up-front to prevent exposures to residents in the first place, he said, and inadequate indoor air testing allowed residents to be exposed to chemicals in their homes for months after the disaster. 'It's positive that there is funding to potentially help people investigate long-term health impact questions, but none of it would have been necessary if the right decisions were made and people in agencies didn't fail the public' in the first place, Whelton said. The NIH said it will accept applications for the East Palestine study grants until July 21.
CNN
15 hours ago
- Health
- CNN
Two years after train derailment, NIH to commission longer-term health studies of East Palestine residents
The National Institutes of Health said Thursday that it will fund longer-term health studies of the residents of East Palestine, Ohio, after a 2023 train derailment that sent more than a million pounds of hazardous chemicals into the soil, water and air. The community has long asked the government to do more to help answer questions about the mental and physical effects of the disaster, which some people say they continue to struggle with more than two years later. The funding will be available through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. In 2024, under the Biden administration, the institute funded six two-year rapid-response projects to study different aspects of exposures and health problems after the disaster. Those projects were worth more than $1 million in total. The new grants will award up to $10 million for one to three projects over the next five years. Vice President JD Vance, who was a senator from Ohio when the derailment occurred, pushed for the funding, the NIH said. 'NIH is working to ensure that the people of East Palestine and the surrounding communities are listened to, cared for, and get the answers they deserve,' NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said in a news release. 'This multi-disciplinary research program will focus on public health tracking and surveillance of the community's health conditions to support health care decisions and preventive measures.' East Palestine resident Misti Allison, who ran for mayor after the disaster and campaigned for long-term health studies in the area, said she was pleasantly surprised by the announcement. She sits on the board of one of the current community health studies. 'This next level of funding will enable us to conduct comprehensive and high-impact studies that can truly make a difference in the area,' Allison said. She notes that the funding announcement mentions that the research will be co-developed with input from the community. 'This will really ensure that our concerns and needs are at the forefront,' she said. 'So that is really great.' More than two years after the disaster, there's been a surge in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, respiratory complaints and even some cancers, Allison said. Because cancers have many causes, however, it's difficult to tie those directly to chemical exposures from the derailment, she noted. Jessica Conard, whose son developed asthma a few months after breathing toxic fumes from the derailment, said the announcement brought 'a complicated mix of emotions.' 'We have had real symptoms now for 2½ years, and all we've received is gaslighting and dismissals from state, local and federal agencies,' Conard said. 'We still need an organized medical response, and this should have happened immediately after the disaster,' she said. 'This feels like a political afterthought. 'My hope is that this $10 million doesn't just fund another academic report that sits on the shelf without any actionable takeaways,' she said, 'We desperately need real medical support.' Allison said the community has advocated for an emergency declaration to activate special provisions for victims of environmental exposures that would enable residents to receive Medicare benefits to help pay for their ongoing health needs. 'These funds would be a lifeline for many families who are still grappling with health concerns and some economic hardship,' she said. Dr. Andrew Whelton, a civil and environmental engineer at Purdue University who helps communities assess the impacts of disasters, said the need for the funding is unfortunate. The government and community would have been better served if they'd made more money available up-front to prevent exposures to residents in the first place, he said, and inadequate indoor air testing allowed residents to be exposed to chemicals in their homes for months after the disaster. 'It's positive that there is funding to potentially help people investigate long-term health impact questions, but none of it would have been necessary if the right decisions were made and people in agencies didn't fail the public' in the first place, Whelton said. The NIH said it will accept applications for the East Palestine study grants until July 21.
The Hill
15 hours ago
- Health
- The Hill
GOP leaders negotiate with Medicaid holdouts
The Big Story Senate GOP leaders are looking to cut a deal with members of their conference who have balked at the impact of Medicaid cuts on rural hospitals. Greg Nash, The Hill Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) are in talks with Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), among others, to create some kind of direct financial assistance for rural hospitals that would be in danger of closing if the Senate bill passes in its current form. The senators have expressed concerns that scaling back the provider tax would negatively impact rural hospitals. Details are still being worked out on how much money would be put into the fund and how the money would be distributed. But leadership wants to have the bill on President Trump's desk by July 4, so the ambitious timeline means they need to win over the holdouts quickly. States impose taxes on providers to boost their federal Medicaid contributions, which they then direct back to hospitals in the form of higher reimbursements. Critics argue it's a scheme for states to get more federal funding without spending any of their own money. But provider taxes have become ingrained into states' Medicaid financing systems. States and provider groups say the taxes provide a steady source of financing for hospitals that operate on thin margins and would otherwise face closure. The Senate legislation would effectively cap provider taxes at 3.5 percent by 2031, down from the current 6 percent, but only for the states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The cap would be phased in by lowering it 0.5 percent annually, starting in 2027. Read more here. Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: NIH launching long-term health studies of East Palestine train crash The Trump administration is launching a research initiative into the long-term health outcomes stemming from the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. According to an announcement seeking research applications, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to allocate up to $10 million across five years (fiscal 2025 through 2030) to fund one to three awards. The project aims to evaluate the impacts of … Alcohol linked to increased risk of pancreatic cancer: Study Alcoholic beverages, particularly beer and spirits, may increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer, according to a new study led by the UN World Health Organization. The research, which pooled data from nearly 2.5 million people across Asia, Australia, Europe and North America, revealed a 'modest but significant' link between alcohol consumption and pancreatic cancer risk, regardless of sex or smoking status. 'Alcohol … Carville: RFK Jr. 'is going to kill more people than any Cabinet secretary, maybe in history' Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville criticized Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine approach, warning the secretary's policies could have fatal consequences for the country. 'Bobby Kennedy is going to kill more people than any Cabinet secretary, maybe in history, with his idiotic vaccine policy,' Carville said Wednesday in an interview on Fox News Channel's 'The Will Cain … Around the Nation Local and state headlines on health care: What We're Reading Health news we've flagged from other outlets: What Others are Reading Most read stories on The Hill right now: Senate GOP leader faces pushback after members blindsided by Trump bill Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is facing strong pushback from members of the GOP conference over the Finance Committee's piece of … Read more LA Dodgers deny ICE access to stadium grounds The Los Angeles Dodgers said Thursday they denied Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents entry to their stadium grounds. 'This morning, … Read more What People Think Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩 Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
His custom cancer therapy is in an NIH freezer. He may not get it in time.
Richard Schlueter, 56, was planting cucumbers and squash in his community garden plot in Greensboro, Georgia, in May when he tore open a bag of soil and heard a pop. His collarbone had snapped. In early June, a scan revealed that the cancer that started in his tonsils was racing through his bones. That day, he called a medical team at the National Institutes of Health that had created an experimental cell therapy, custom-made to attack his cancer as part of a clinical trial. He needed it. Now. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Instead, he received more bad news: His therapy would be delayed at least a month because of staff cuts at NIH. A week later, Schlueter and his wife, Michelle, saw NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya push back on concerns raised by his own staff that the ouster of essential employees and other disruptions to the biomedical research agency were harming science and patients. Bhattacharya said on X that objections raised in a document called the Bethesda Declaration contained 'fundamental misconceptions' about NIH's new direction. Each termination was being reviewed, and some workers were reinstated, he added. But the Schlueters had a front-row seat to the effects of the job losses. Richard's therapy was in a freezer, nearly ready to go. All along, they had been told the final step of preparation takes three to four weeks. But on June 3, his NIH doctor informed him that it would now take eight to 10 weeks because of cuts to essential lab personnel - a painful illustration of the life-and-death stakes of the administration's approach to shrinking the government workforce. 'I'm petrified. I have to do something,' Richard said. 'My cancer is on the move.' The Washington Post first reported in early April that the production of specialized immune-cell therapies for metastatic cancer patients was delayed. Two highly skilled technicians who prepared cells for treatments were fired in the probationary purge in February, according to Steven Rosenberg, an NIH immunotherapy pioneer who leads multiple trials. He declined to say how many patients were affected, but his team now treats one patient per week, down from two or three before the cuts. 'There are some patients who might have to wait until September,' Rosenberg said. 'These are all patients with metastatic cancer that is progressive. You can imagine the difficulty as we have to tell them these things.' An official with the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees NIH, said the agency had ways of addressing the delays. Rosenberg has been granted permission to hire contractors or to request help from other scientists from across NIH, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to criticize an employee. Rosenberg said he has been working urgently to try to rehire a scientist who was fired since he was given permission to do so last week, but the federal contracting process is slow and the scientist has been interviewing for other jobs. He noted that to prepare the cells for patients requires special training that takes four to six months. - - - National Institutes of Hope Richard's cancer nightmare started with what he thought was acid reflux. A few weeks after his annual physical in January 2024, he noticed a metallic taste in the back of his throat. Looking in the bathroom mirror, he saw little white pustules on one of his tonsils. A scan and biopsy showed it was head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, but an oncologist told him it was treatable, with an excellent chance of success. Unless it spread. On Richard's 55th birthday, March 11, 2024, he began chemotherapy and proton therapy. He had always taken good care of his health and was diligent with his treatments. But a scan in July revealed that the cancer had spread to his lungs and part of his chest cavity. 'It was heart-wrenching, and it was difficult,' said Richard, a founding partner of an Atlanta law firm. 'I'm a fact-finder, and I spend a lot of time researching and trying to find a path to remission or a potential cure. And it's a pretty bleak outlook.' Richard's efforts led him to NIH, where he felt blessed to qualify for a trial led by Rosenberg. Doctors would take a biopsy of his cancer and find and isolate immune cells called TIL, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. They would use lab tests to select the cells that recognized Richard's cancer and expand the population. Then, they would reinfuse them into his body. There are no guarantees with clinical research. Patients who qualify for the trial have exhausted standard treatments. But it gave the Schlueters something they had been missing: hope. 'Patients often refer to us not as the National Institutes of Health, but the National Institutes of Hope,' Rosenberg said. In January, Richard went to NIH for surgery to remove two tumors in his lungs and begin the process of isolating and testing the TIL cells. He read the NIH credo - to improve the human condition throughout the world - emblazoned on a wall of the Clinical Center and was so moved that he sent a photo of it to his three children. 'The staff, the physicians, the amount of empathy, care and mission that I've experienced over four visits to their research hospital has been just super gratifying,' Richard said. 'In many ways, I'm a guinea pig that may be helping other people. But I also have the byproduct that if it works, it will help me.' In late March, Richard returned to NIH, thinking it was go time. Instead a scan showed that the tumors in his lungs had unexpectedly become smaller. He returned home, knowing his therapy would be ready in the freezer if he took a turn for the worse. - - - No time to wait Rosenberg's team meets every Monday to discuss patient cases, and for months they have had to make difficult calls to seriously ill people. Richard is just one. Natalie Phelps, a mother of two from Bainbridge Island, Washington, with metastatic colorectal cancer, is waiting for cells in another of Rosenberg's trials. This one uses a different form of immunotherapy, but it is also slowed because of the loss of critical personnel. Last Friday, she gave The Post an update: 'So frustrating. I should be having treatment now, but instead I had to restart chemo and will be returning to start the treatment process' in late July. Two scientists on Rosenberg's team who have specialized skills to prepare cells for immunotherapy trials were among the thousands of probationary employees fired in the Trump administration's push to shrink the federal workforce. The one who would have finalized Richard's infusion had worked at NIH since 2020 and was recently hired as a full-time employee because she was considered so effective, according to Rosenberg. But that made her vulnerable, as a probationary employee with fewer protections. Rosenberg is trying to hire her back on contract using nongovernment funding. Richard is an optimist. His biggest fear is not qualifying for the experimental immune cells that he hopes could beat back his cancer. Doing nothing isn't an option because his cancer is spreading rapidly. Radiation might buy him time but leave his white blood cell count too low to be eligible for the trial. Robert L. Ferris, a head and neck surgical oncologist at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, said patients such as Richard have tough and tragic cases where standard medical care has been exhausted. Ferris is not involved in Richard's care, but the doctor said the trajectory of a cancer like this is grim. It is unlikely the cell therapy will cure Richard, Ferris cautioned, but science progresses through individual cases like his. And if Richard is forced to wait too long, he could be too frail to try it. 'If the cells are ready, you would want to give it to him now,' Ferris said. In mid-May, Richard was golfing with his nephew and his son. He was running, swimming, biking and lifting weights. The only sign something was awry was a red rash on his face that resembled a sunburn, a side effect of one of his treatments. But as the cancer has spread through his bones, his arms have become weak, and he has a suspected microfracture in his right arm. Pain in a hip makes it hard to get out of a chair. The Schlueters' 30th wedding anniversary celebration in early June was a joyous occasion, but Richard struggled to walk down the aisle to renew their vows. Even if the therapy doesn't save Richard, his family hopes his experience can help others. 'If he misses [it], not only is it is it devastating for his family, but it's devastating for all the patients behind him that could have learned something scientifically - on why it was successful or not successful,' Michelle said. 'He's like a test pilot.' Related Content Trump is as unpredictable as ever, even when faced with war Field notes from the end of life: My thoughts on living while dying He's dying. She's pregnant. His one last wish is to fight his cancer long enough to see his baby.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
What happens if you don't eat for a week? New simulation reveals real risks and surprising body changes
Fasting for extended periods has gained popularity as a method for weight loss and health improvement. While intermittent and alternate-day fasting are widely practiced, complete fasting for a week pushes the boundaries of this trend. A new simulation on YouTube and supporting medical research from National Institutes of Health (NIH) now reveal what truly happens when someone avoids all food for seven consecutive days. Early Days: Hunger and Hormonal Shifts Within the first 24 to 48 hours of fasting, the body uses up its remaining carbohydrate stores. Once glucose from recent meals is depleted, a hormone called ghrelin spikes, triggering strong hunger signals. During this phase, most people begin to feel weak or irritable as their energy levels drop sharply. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. By the second or third day, the body starts to adjust. Growth hormone levels rise, which slows down muscle breakdown more than many expect. This adaptation aims to preserve lean mass while the body switches its primary energy source from carbohydrates to fat. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo Mid-Fast: Entering Fat-Burning Mode From the third to fourth day, glycogen reserves are gone, and the liver begins producing ketones—molecules created from fat to provide fuel for the brain and body. This marks the metabolic shift from sugar-burning to fat-burning, often referred to as the 'ketogenic state.' Around day four or five, a process called autophagy becomes more active. This is the body's internal cleanup system, where damaged cells and proteins, including potentially harmful ones, are broken down and removed. Some believe this process supports disease prevention and cellular rejuvenation. Late Stage: Healing or Harm? By days five to seven, autophagy is said to reach its peak. Some claim this period brings deeper healing effects, including improved mental clarity and inflammation reduction. However, risks also increase at this stage. While fat continues to be burned, muscle breakdown becomes more noticeable due to a lack of protein and essential nutrients. According to a controlled study conducted by health researchers, participants who fasted for 10 days under supervision lost nearly 10% of their body weight. Most of that came from fat, though some lean mass loss occurred. Pulse rates increased slightly, and blood pressure dropped. Importantly, a new metabolic balance was achieved between the third and sixth day, marked by stable ketone production. Physical Impact and Medical Observations Biochemical analysis from the 10-day study also revealed several shifts. Levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol went up, while levels of sodium and chlorine dropped. The kidneys showed minor stress, though liver function remained steady. Interestingly, fat-soluble vitamins increased during the fast, while energy levels were maintained through ketone use. Experts involved in the simulation and research caution that while a week-long fast may provide certain health benefits, it must be approached with care. The absence of food for this long can induce stress on multiple organ systems. Drinking water, herbal teas, or black coffee (without sugar or milk) is typically allowed to help manage symptoms, but professional medical supervision is highly recommended. A seven-day fast might offer detox-like effects through autophagy and fat burning, but it also puts the body under considerable strain. While short-term fasting methods like intermittent fasting are widely considered safe for many people, prolonged fasting is a different matter. Individual responses vary, and what begins as a health experiment can quickly turn dangerous if warning signs are ignored. Ultimately, anyone considering a week-long fast should seek medical advice beforehand. What seems like a powerful cleanse could easily become a very risky gamble without the right knowledge and guidance.
