OHSU’s board of directors approved a resolution allowing the university president to negotiate with the NIH about potentially transitioning the Oregon National Primate Research Center to a primate sanctuary. The discussion emphasized investments in new approach methodologies at OHSU. Shereef Elnahal, M.D., says, “OHSU is a global leader in cutting-edge science, and we are eager to discuss new scientific frontiers with NIH. OHSU researchers are already 3D-printing blood vessels, making organs-on-a-chip, and more. That is just the start of OHSU-driven innovation. It is also an opportunity to make OHSU the national leader in developing the research methodologies of the future."

-- The Marshall Project reports on varying state practices of turning over to law enforcement drug tests at childbirth. Oregon is one of the states that automatically does this. Deborah Cohen, who said she had no idea state authorities forwarded reports of such patients to law enforcement, says, “I do not see how that’s helpful.”

A Portland-based filmmaker has released a new short documentary, “SUMUD: A doctor’s report on genocide and survival in Gaza,” which follows the volunteer medical work of Travis Melin, D.O., in Gaza.

OHSU’s board of directors approved a resolution allowing the university president to negotiate with the NIH about potentially transitioning the Oregon National Primate Research Center to a primate sanctuary. The discussion emphasized investments in new approach methodologies at OHSU. Shereef Elnahal, M.D., says, “OHSU is a global leader in cutting-edge science, and we are eager to discuss new scientific frontiers with NIH. OHSU researchers are already 3D-printing blood vessels, making organs-on-a-chip, and more. That is just the start of OHSU-driven innovation. It is also an opportunity to make OHSU the national leader in developing the research methodologies of the future."

OHSU’s board of directors approved a resolution allowing the university president to negotiate with the NIH about potentially transitioning the Oregon National Primate Research Center to a primate sanctuary. The discussion emphasized investments in new approach methodologies at OHSU. Shereef Elnahal, M.D., says, “OHSU is a global leader in cutting-edge science, and we are eager to discuss new scientific frontiers with NIH. OHSU researchers are already 3D-printing blood vessels, making organs-on-a-chip, and more. That is just the start of OHSU-driven innovation. It is also an opportunity to make OHSU the national leader in developing the research methodologies of the future."

The Oregonian reports that a bill in the Oregon Legislature would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for cervical cancer screenings and follow-up procedures, potentially making Oregon the first state to do so. Julia Tasset, M.D., testifies that cervical cancer is “almost entirely preventable” when screening and vaccination guidelines are followed. But she said gaps in insurance coverage cause patients to fall out of care at a critical moment.

Medscape reports on a new study that finds older adults enrolled in Medicaid who received regular home visits in the month before extreme heat events experienced similar increases in emergency department visits during the heat as those who did not, suggesting the visits were not associated with reduced ED use. “While these findings suggest that home visits did not reduce acute care use during extreme heat, they could mean that such visits facilitated appropriate care-seeking when heat-related symptoms arose,” writes the research team, led by Hyunjee Kim, Ph.D.

Continued news coverage of a new federally funded OHSU research initiative to make the human eye a window revealing the earliest signals of Alzheimer’s disease. Lei Wang, Ph.D., says, “The retina is a neural sensory extension of the brain. If we can detect a buildup of amyloid in the retina, it may be possible to flag early-stage Alzheimer’s among patients who aren’t yet experiencing any symptoms.”

The OHSU board of directors announces a special public meeting regarding a resolution to authorize the OHSU president to enter negotiations with the NIH about potentially transitioning the Oregon National Primate Research Center into a primate sanctuary.

Willamette Week reports that Oregon lawmakers are considering reducing funding for medical residency programs amid discussions about health care workforce needs. At OHSU, reduced funding would result in a 10% cut to an incoming class. Joyce Hollander-Rodriguez, M.D., notes that a doctor shortage undermines health care nationwide, and medical residency programs are the bottleneck. Plus, physicians who study in Oregon tend to stay in Oregon.