Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
US Scientist Among Trio Awarded Nobel Prize In Medicine For Advances In Neuroscience
CNN: Nobel Prize In Medicine Awarded To Trio For Technique That Helps Decode Mysteries Of The Brain
The 2026 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine has been awarded to three scientists – Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel – for their work developing a technique to decode the inner workings of the brain. This method – known as optogenetics – acts as a “light-sensitive switch,” allowing scientists to “map which cells are responsible for which function” in the brain, said Anna Wedell, a member of the Nobel Prize committee, which announced the prestigious honor in Sweden on Monday. (Ronald and Hunt, 10/5)
In other developments —
CBS News: Sun Exposure Left A Woman In 'Insufferable Pain' — Until A Clinical Trial Changed Everything
Emily Pearson was 8 years old when the attacks started. Just minutes in the sun would leave her hands and feet hurting. Her extremities "felt like they were in a hot oven" while being poked "with pins and needles." A short while outdoors could leave her in pain for days. Worst of all, no one knew why. Over the next decade, Pearson's parents tried to identify the cause of her reactions. Sunblock didn't help. She started wearing protective clothing and staying indoors as much as possible. (Breen, 10/3)
Stat: Divergent Trial Results On Cancer Vaccines Have Field Grappling With Hard Questions
The recent success of a late-stage mRNA cancer vaccine, showing the drug stopped the return of melanoma, has boosted hopes that the approach can be successfully harnessed to attack other cancers. The question now is which ones — and whether mRNA is up to the task. (DeAngelis, 10/5)
The New York Times: Scientists Untangle The Biology Of An ‘Undruggable’ Cancer Gene
One of the most elusive and tantalizing targets in cancer is so common that scientists have a nickname for it: McGene. In 70 percent of cancers, this gene — whose proper name is MYC — is too active and fuels the aggressive growth, spread and survival of tumors all over the body. A study published on Friday reveals details about the control circuit that triggers cells to churn out extra copies of MYC — offering a new and potentially more tractable target for drugs. (Johnson, 10/2)
NBC News: In Early Clinical Trial, People With Type 1 Diabetes Are Able To Go Off Insulin
Katie Beth Hand was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 13 years ago. Since then, the 40-year-old said, she rarely went to sleep without thinking about her blood sugar. (Syal, Thompson and Herzberg, 10/4)
Fox News: Voice Disorders And Hearing Loss Linked To Dementia Risk, Study Finds
New research suggests that voice disorders, including shifts in vocal pitch, volume or clarity, could indicate a higher probability of developing dementia or cognitive impairment in the future. A study involving 833,417 participants aged 50 and older examined the connection between a voice disorder, hearing loss, or both with the chance of developing cognitive impairment or dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, beginning a year after the voice disorder and hearing loss diagnoses. (Chafe, 10/4)
