Joel Nigg, Ph.D., and co-authors write about how a parent’s life experiences may shape the expression of genes in their offspring even before a child is conceived.

A Forbes article details the background of how the drug nirogacestat received FDA approval for the treatment of desmoid tumors. Shivaani Kummar, M.D., who conducted the Phase 2 clinical trial study while at the National Cancer Institute, says: “Desmoid tumors can result in significant impact on functioning and quality of life of patients. Seeing the responses and clinical benefit reported by the investigators in the Phase I trial, I felt strongly that we should further evaluate this new drug for its likelihood to benefit patients with this rare tumor.”

OHSU researcheres leveraged a large national dataset and neuroimaging to confirm the brain-wide effects of ADHD. Michael Mooney, Ph.D., says, “By evaluating the cumulative effects of regions across the entire brain, we are now looking at ADHD as a whole-brain issue, which could make it easier to predict which kids have ADHD and how severe it may be. Down the road, we hope this will help with early identification of kids at most risk, so they can get the help they need as soon as possible.”

A Medriva story on the complexities of genetic testing for cancer highlights the collaboration between the OHSU Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics and the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute to offer services for patients with breast, ovarian and GI tract cancers.

An article by Salon about in increase in eating disorder diagnoses cites statistics from the OHSU Center for Women’s Health.

Elisa Boden, M.D., provides outside expert commentary on a study that found switching to medications that are biosimilar to the inflammatory bowel disease drug infliximab does not cause flare-ups. She says, “This study gives me data to be able to tell patients that they don’t need to worry if their insurance is requiring them to switch.”

An Axois story about Oregonians not getting enough sleep cites tips from OHSU.

Claudio Mello M.D., Ph.D., shares insight on how parrots can give clues to the evolution of human intelligence: “Parrots have acquired duplicate copies of various genes, some of which are known to be important for brain development and speech in people.”

In a column for Stat News, Ben Hoffman, M.D., calls on Congress to approve a bipartisan tax package that would help the child tax credit reach more families: “We need our lawmakers to act without delay if we are to reverse the alarming trends in child poverty we’ve witnessed. When we support children with evidence-based programs and services to address their basic needs, we support their lifelong health and development, improving their well-being and decreasing risk for adverse outcomes. Simply put, this can set up future generations for success.”

Gordon Mills, M.D., Ph.D., will give a webinar presentation to the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine on the impact of personalized medicine on the FDA approval process and the results of the SMMART Clinical Trial, which tracks a patient’s cancer over time through biopsies and tests, and uses that information to adjust drug combinations to stay ahead of the cancer.