Health

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  • Breakthrough blood test developed for brain tumors

    Researchers have developed a liquid biopsy that can more accurately detect the most common type of adult brain tumors.

    A 3-D image of a human skull and brain depicting cancer.
  • Is go-slow schools’ reopening failing kids?

    Harvard Chan School’s Joseph Allen gives America an “F” on school reopening efforts, and says we’re in danger of losing thousands of virtual dropouts and wasting mild late summer/early autumn weather we could use to boost in-person learning.

    Joseph Allen.
  • Heart attack uptick attached to 2016 presidential election

    Two days after the 2016 presidential election, hospitalization rates for heart attacks and strokes were 1.62 times higher than the same two days the week prior, based on information supplied by a large southern California health system.

    Illustration of heart.
  • Protection against reinfection

    A new study shows that people who survive serious COVID-19 infections have long-lasting immune responses against the virus.

    Micrograph showing heavily infect COVID patient.
  • COVID-19 and cancer

    Study represents the most comprehensive scientific survey to date about the interrelationship between COVID-19 and cancer.

    Test tubes.
  • International forum cites strong government response as key in battle against COVID

    The international forum “Global Perspectives on COVID-19,” co-sponsored by Harvard Medical School, cited the importance of strong, coordinated government response as a key to stopping the novel coronavirus’ spread.

    Salim Abdool Karim.
  • At-home COVID testing launches in Boston

    The TestBoston study will facilitate at-home testing on 10,000 people for both the SARS-CoV-2 virus and antibodies against it to increase access to testing and surveillance.

    SARS-CoV-2 virus particles.
  • Sleep test predicts dementia in older adults

    A noninvasive sleep test may help diagnose and predict dementia in older adults by measuring brain activity.

  • Trial run

    Monica Bertagnolli is ensuring that more people in her home state of Wyoming are getting the health care that they need.

    Monica Bertagnolli standing in a mountain
  • The positive effects of optimism

    A Harvard Chan School study has found a link between optimism and hypertension, describing the positive force as having a “protective effect” on individuals, including those in combat.

    Smiley Face balloon.
  • Let there be light

    MGH-led study shows light therapy is safe, modulates brain repair, and may benefit patients with moderate traumatic brain injury.

    Researchers with helmet.
  • Battle against malaria taken to next level

    A team of researchers has developed a CRISPR-based malaria test that is fast, inexpensive and can be conducted in low-resource settings.

    Malaria Diganostic illustration.
  • What crowdsourced big data may be able to tell us about COVID

    How We Feel app lays groundwork to use big data to understand and predict coronavirus infection.

    “How We Feel” app.
  • Coffee connection gets stronger

    Data from a large observational study suggests coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of metastatic colorectal cancer progression and death.

    Cups of coffee.
  • A public-relations campaign to build trust in COVID vaccine?

    A public campaign to build trust may be needed if a successful vaccine candidate is to be taken by enough Americans to interrupt the COVID pandemic, a Harvard public health expert said.

    Vaccine being held in gloved hands.
  • Child’s best friend

    Mass. General study finds that the loss of a pet can potentially trigger mental health issues in children.

    Children with dog.
  • Curating the experience of Black America in the age of pandemic

    To document the effects of COVID-19 on Black Americans, two colleagues and friends created an open-source library guide to serve as a repository of material and a platform to start a dialogue.

    Tracie Jones and Sarah DeMott.
  • Each one, teach one

    A Harvard Medical School student from Tanzania is working to help other international students navigate the process of getting into a U.S. medical school.

    Azan Virji.
  • ‘Robust protection’

    BIDMC-led research team reports vaccine protection against severe COVID-19-related pneumonia and death.

    Vaccine.
  • Strong signals

    Study findings support use of county-level cell phone location data as tool to estimate future trends of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Hands holding a smartphone.
  • The value of talking to strangers — and nodding acquaintances

    How COVID-19 is evaporating our casual connections and taking an important source of happiness.

    People buying coffee.
  • Breathing freely

    Mass General study shows the benefits of inhaled nitric oxide therapy for pregnant patients with severe and critical COVID-19.

    Nitric oxide tanks.
  • $30M commitment supports development of therapies for viral infections

    Harvard University and AbbVie have announced a $30 million collaborative research alliance to study and develop novel therapies against emergent viral infections, with a focus on those caused by coronaviruses and by viruses that lead to hemorrhagic fever.

    Harvard Medical School
  • Children’s role in spread of virus bigger than thought

    A new study has found that children infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 were shown to have a significantly higher level of virus in their airways than hospitalized adults in ICUs for COVID-19 treatment.

    Youngster in mask holding a teddy bear.
  • More than biology influences COVID risk

    The GenderSci Lab at Harvard finds that more men than women are dying of COVID-19.

    Illustration of people linked together.
  • Medical immersion for students shifts online in pandemic

    Students from as far away as Africa and Asia are benefiting from a COVID-prompted shift online of an HMS program that gives high schoolers a taste of life in the exam room.

    Livia Rizzo talks with high school students.
  • Soothing advice for mad America

    The anger you’re seeing in the nation and your neighborhood — call it pandemic rage — is not in your imagination, according to a McLean hospital psychologist, who explains where it comes from and how to fight it.

    Clenched fists.
  • After the game is over

    Black, other athletes of color report more pain, physical impairment, mood disorders and cognitive problems than white peers.

    Football player.
  • Root of the problem

    Sheila Riggs is developing and implementing innovative dental health care solutions through research and hands-on community engagement.

    Sheila Riggs talks to a man
  • Cheap, frequent COVID tests could be ‘akin to vaccine,’ professor says

    Shifting the U.S.’s COVID-19 testing strategy to emphasize inexpensive, daily tests would break national transmission chains within weeks, an infectious disease testing expert said.

    Paper-based COVID test.