Columnist Allysia Finley references OHSU laboratory research finding breakthrough infections generate a robust immune response to multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Isabella Rauch, Ph.D., provides outside expert commentary on a University of Illinois, Chicago-led study explaining the cascading steps related to a type of cell death involved in immunological response known as pyroptopsis: “There is more than just the activation of the pore-forming proteins that contributes to what’s actually happening to the cell.

Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek say they are following advice from infectious disease doctors at OHSU in conducting all committee meetings during the upcoming state legislative session virtually.

Judith Guzman-Cottrill, D.O., on the impact on kids: "Across the country and in my own state, we are seeing more sick children being hospitalized with COVID pneumonia, croup, and bronchiolitis."

"Federal regulators have charged Oregon Health & Science University with breaking federal animal welfare laws," after PETA publicized a USDA violation issued in December due to the death of a Mongolian gerbil.

Quotes Fikadu Tafesse, Ph.D., about new research from OHSU and Oregon State University that reveals compounds in hemp demonstrate an ability to prevent the virus that causes COVID-19 from entering human cells: “To me it was very surprising -– I knew cannabis had some interesting compounds from a scientific point of view, but I wasn’t involved in that world at all. I never thought it would have an effect on [coronavirus] infections. There’s so much nature can provide us.” The research is also covered by print-only farm industry publications across the country, as well as local and national outlets, including.

Dawn Nolt, M.D., answers questions about the spread of omicron in schools, and emphasizes safe practices to curb COVID in both schools and the community: “A layered approach to protecting yourself, and your children, including vaccination (and boosters), hand washing, distancing and masking, can help to lower the risks of COVID-19 and MIS-C.”

The OHSU statewide COVID-19 forecast finds that Oregonians are reducing the spread by adhering to public health measures like masking and avoiding large indoor gatherings.

In a recent press conference, Oregon Health & Science University’s (OHSU) Peter Graven estimated about 65 percent of all Oregonians do not have immunity against omicron due to not being up to date with their booster shot or being unvaccinated, meaning that “a majority of Oregon” could get infected with the virus as it sweeps through the state.

A profile on the future of CAR-T, Richard Maziarz, M.D., says: “We are seeing the birth of a field. For three decades, cellular immune therapy was based mostly in laboratories and academic centers, but CAR T cell therapy is now approved by the FDA … Many other cell therapy initiatives are in development, the knowledge is being disseminated, and cell therapy is spreading across the world and outside of the traditional academic medical centers.”