Healthcare Knuggets
Apr 10, 2026
Subject: Tastiness isn’t why people overeat
Sender: newsletter@statnews.com
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Contents:
– The Trump administration has dropped its Supreme Court challenge against a policy to reduce reimbursement rates for indirect costs on federal grants, signaling a retreat from this approach but possibly pursuing other methods.
– The U.S. saw its highest cesarean delivery rate in over a decade in 2025, with 32.5% of births via C-section, including 26.9% for low-risk pregnancies. Higher rates do not necessarily improve birth outcomes.
– The Pasteur Institute of Iran, a vital medical research center involved in vaccine and biopharmaceutical development, was heavily damaged during regional strikes, undermining public health services. The importance of protecting such facilities amid conflict is emphasized.
– A new “theranostic” smart contact lens is under development to help manage glaucoma by monitoring eye pressure and delivering medication as needed, representing an exciting advance in treatment.
– Research challenges the idea that the inherent tastiness of food drives overeating; instead, perception of tastiness is influenced by conditioning and metabolic state. Further research explores other causes of overeating beyond food deliciousness.
Subject: 📦 Pharma Iran shocks
Sender: vitals@axios.com
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Contents:
– The ongoing Iran conflict disrupts global drug supply chains, especially generic medicines passing through the Middle East, potentially causing shortages and price increases, especially in developing countries.
– Clinical trials for cancer, heart, and other treatments in neighboring countries are affected by logistics interruptions, notably impacting 6.7% of global trials with significant disruption to therapies for lung cancer, breast cancer, heart failure, and multiple myeloma.
– Steve Ubl, head of the pharmaceutical industry’s leading trade group PhRMA, announced he will step down at year-end after navigating major policy battles, including Medicare drug price negotiations and political challenges to vaccine safety and FDA stability.
– AbbVie sued to narrow the definition of an eligible patient for the 340B discount drug program to limit broad interpretations that allow hospitals to claim more discounts than intended.
– The U.S. Navy launched a recruitment campaign targeting clinicians disillusioned by administrative burdens in civilian healthcare, promising a focus on patient care without insurance hassles and increased provider appreciation.
Subject: I’ll be at AACR — Join me April 21 in San Diego
Sender: marketing@statnews.com
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Contents:
– STAT reporter Damian Garde invites readers to join STAT@AACR, an event held on April 21 during the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting in San Diego.
– The event will feature leading oncology experts including Susan Galbraith (AstraZeneca), Gregory Verdine (scientist and entrepreneur), and top cancer doctors Robert Winn, Lillian Siu, and Keith Flaherty, discussing emerging medicines, practice-changing data, and the future of cancer care.
– Attendees will enjoy drinks, light bites, expert insights, and networking opportunities to engage with the oncology community during this major industry gathering.
– Interested participants are encouraged to RSVP to secure their spot.
Subject: A treatment to reverse cellular ageing is about to be tested in people
Sender: briefing@nature.com
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Contents:
– For the first time, a clinical trial will test an experimental ‘partial reprogramming’ cellular de-ageing treatment in humans later this year. This approach uses targeted protein expression to reverse cellular ageing.
– If safe and effective, the treatment could revolutionize ageing concepts and potentially rejuvenate cells, organs, or the whole body. Risks include cells losing function or becoming cancerous if “wound back” too far.
– Other highlighted science includes: a DNA tweak causing sex reversal in female mice through the enhancer 13 site on the X chromosome; genetic variants influencing obesity drug effectiveness and side effects; pesticide impacts on gut microbiomes linked to diabetes; and the role of biocodicology in understanding historic manuscripts.
– The newsletter also draws attention to the ESA’s collaborative role in NASA’s Artemis Moon missions and calls for community action to protect astronomy from threats such as satellite megaconstellations and funding cuts.
– Readers are invited to engage with Nature Briefing’s diverse newsletters and resources to stay informed across scientific disciplines.
Stay Well!
