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Challenges and advances in HIV treatments: It was recently announced that a seventh (7th) person had been “cured” of HIV using a stem-cell transplant, a method that is effective in patients with both HIV and cancer that require bone marrow transplants; however, unsuitable for widespread use due to potential complications. Current HIV research is concentrated on long-acting injectable treatments, vaccines and gene therapies aimed at controlling latent reservoirs of infected cells or targeting the CCR5 receptor that HIV uses to enter cells, with some approaches in early clinical trials.

A team of scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has developed an eye drop that successfully slowed vision loss in mice with an inherited eye disease.

United State (US) manufacturing has not been hollowed out, writes a Senior Research fellow at George Mason University. “Industrial production is higher than ever.”

Tampon-based test shows promise in detecting endometrial cancer: The Mayo Clinic and Exact Sciences have developed a tampon-based test to detect endometrial cancer by analyzing vaginal fluid for methylated DNA biomarkers. This noninvasive method offers a potential alternative to traditional endometrial sampling, reducing discomfort for patients.

Despite the uncertainty currently sweeping through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. regulator has passed a final vote of confidence from the Senate with little friction.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reportedly rescinding $11.4 billion in funds to states, cities and organizations receiving grants for COVID-19 efforts.

Industry groups call for significant reforms to MDR, IVDR: Industry stakeholders say the European Union’s Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and In Vitro Diagnostics Regulation (IVDR) have created significant hurdles for manufacturers and threaten patient access to treatments. They are calling on European legislators to make significant changes to the regulations, as well as the Clinical Trials Regulation (CTR) to rectify the problems.

H5N1 is firmly entrenched in the United States, experts say: Avian influenza is evolving unpredictably, adapting to mammals and raising concerns about its potential to cause a human pandemic, says computational biologist Martha Nelson, a Scientist at the NIH who has been monitoring H5N1 outbreaks. Confirmation of infections in rodents near farms is particularly concerning, says veterinarian and epidemiologist Meghan Davis. “There is absolutely no chance of containment, and we now have to think about mitigation and monitoring,” said epidemiologist Natasha Bagdasarian.

Universities brace for NIH grant cuts: Columbia University is facing a major funding crisis after the Trump administration canceled $250 million in NIH grants, citing alleged antisemitic harassment. The move, which affects one-third of Columbia’s NIH funding, has halted research projects and prompted the University to negotiate with officials while supporting staff and students. Other universities are on alert as the administration investigates 59 more schools for similar issues.

Antibody studies offer new hope for HIV prevention, cure: The Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections highlighted promising advancements in HIV research amid funding cuts. Gilead Sciences presented data showing a single injection of lenacapavir could prevent HIV for a year, surpassing previous pre-exposure prophylaxis methods. Additionally, studies on broadly neutralizing antibodies demonstrated potential in controlling HIV without antiretroviral drugs, with some participants maintaining viral suppression for extended periods.