Novartis division Sandoz recalls one lot of blood pressure drug
Novartis said on Thursday its Sandoz division was recalling one lot of losartan tablets after finding traces of a probable carcinogen in the blood pressure drug.
‘Remarkable’ decline in fertility rates
Half of the world’s countries now have too few babies being born to maintain their populations.
FDA to announce ban on flavored e-cigarettes as soon as next week – Washington Post
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to announce a ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes in convenience stores and gas stations across the country as soon as next week, the Washington Post reported on Thursday.
Poor diet a factor in one-fifth of global deaths in 2017 – study
Global survey says diseases such as cancer and diabetes behind almost 75% of deaths last yearAlmost 20% of deaths worldwide are attributable to an unhealthy diet, with high blood pressure and smoking completing the top three risk factors for reaching t…
A SMARTer approach to stroke care
Time is critical when it comes to stroke, and early treatment is associated with better outcomes. According to the Screening with MRI for Accurate and Rapid stroke Treatment (SMART) study, small changes in quality improvement procedures enabled…
Statement on the Long-Term Scientific Vision for the BRAIN Initiative
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Just over a year ago, President Obama launched the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative — a revolutionary effort to develop a dynamic view of what’s been called biology’s greatest mystery: the human brain. NIH, given its extensive expertise and investment in neuroscience research, is a leading player in this multi-agency venture focused on developing new tools to examine the activity of the brain’s billions of nerve cells, networks, and pathways in real time.
Since the President’s announcement, the BRAIN Working Group of my Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD) has been swiftly moving forward to identify the scientific goals, timeline, and budget for this pioneering initiative. Based on recommendations in the group’s interim report and the ACD’s subsequent endorsement, NIH announced its initial high-priority areas for NIH-funded BRAIN research in September, and, in December, called for applications to conduct $40 million in six different scientific areas.
Today, the BRAIN Working Group presented its final report to the ACD, which accepted its recommendations. I am excited about the bold vision laid out for BRAIN by this distinguished group of scientists, and have accepted the recommendations in their entirety. Not only will BRAIN revolutionize neuroscience, it will transform our efforts to help the millions of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, autism, epilepsy, schizophrenia, traumatic brain injury, and many other neurological disorders.
I encourage you to read the report to learn more about the BRAIN Initiative, how it will be carried out, and what we hope it will achieve.
Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, National Institutes of Health