News from NYU Langone Health
CURE Magazine
Augusto Villanueva Rodriguez, MD, PhD, medical director of the Liver Cancer Program at NYU Langone Health, explained that liver cancer treatment has changed dramatically over the last decade. He noted that while there was previously only one targeted therapy option for advanced disease, there are now 10 FDA-approved drugs. Villanueva emphasized that immune-based therapy is now the foundation of systemic treatment, with three combinations improving survival. Response rates have climbed to around 30-35%, leading clinicians to reconsider management and even apply curative therapies like surgery for patients who were not previously candidates.
11/19/2025
Newsday
A new influenza A subvariant, subclade K, is likely circulating in the New York region, according to infectious disease experts. This variant is responsible for severe flu seasons in Japan and the United Kingdom. Asif M. Noor, MD, a pediatric infectious disease expert at NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, chief of Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, clerkship director of Pediatrics, said it is 'highly likely' the subvariant is present locally. Bruce Farber, MD, of Northwell Health, added that H3N2 infections tend to be more severe. Experts urge vaccination, noting that while the current vaccine may be less effective, it still significantly reduces hospitalization and death.
11/21/2025
Fox News
In a segment, Marc Siegel, MD, clinical professor of medicine, Fox News senior medical analyst, discusses the rise of artificial intelligence in healthcare. He notes that while AI is a useful tool, it cannot replace a doctor's empathy and requires physician oversight. Dr. Siegel highlights that AI is better than Google for initial diagnoses and points to innovative uses at NYU Langone Health, such as 'opportunistic imaging,' where AI analyzes scans for secondary conditions like osteoporosis while examining a primary area, which can save money and improve diagnoses.
11/20/2025
New Scientist
Research led by Robert Froemke, PhD, professor in NYU Langone's Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, and the Skirball Professor of Genetics, Department of Neuroscience, found that mice assist pregnant females during difficult births. In the study, experienced mother mice acted as 'midwives' for pregnant mice genetically engineered to lack oxytocin receptors, which are crucial for uterine contractions. These midwife mice helped pull out stuck pups and opened their amniotic sacs. This assistance significantly increased the survival rate for both the mothers and their litters, suggesting caregiving behaviors are more common in the animal kingdom than previously thought.
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11/20/2025
Healthcare Innovation
During a discussion on AI in medical education, Verity Schaye, MD, MHPE, assistant dean for education in the clinical sciences in the Office of Medical Education at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, assistant director, Curricular Innovation in Medical Innovation, addressed concerns about de-skilling versus the promise of upskilling. She stated that for the foreseeable future, high-order critical thinking will remain a human-plus-AI task, requiring clinicians to have enough skill to critically appraise AI-generated suggestions. Other experts from Northwestern and Stanford discussed the importance of using AI to augment clinical reasoning and the need to teach students how to use these tools responsibly.
11/20/2025
American Academy of Neurology
At the AAN Brain Health Summit 2025, Gbenga Ogedegbe, MD, MPH, the Dr. Adolph and Margaret Berger Professor of Medicine and Population Health, Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and director, Institute for Excellence in Health Equity, presented on reducing stroke disparities among Black and Hispanic survivors. He highlighted the role of social determinants of health and discussed pragmatic trials. One trial found that adding nurse case management to home blood pressure telemonitoring led to greater reductions at 12 months but did not lower recurrent stroke rates at 24 months. Ogedegbe concluded that scaling health equity-focused strategies rooted in community realities is essential to address these disparities.
11/20/2025
SciTechDaily
Researchers have discovered that neurons release an enzyme called vertebrate lonesome kinase (VLK) that activates pain signaling from outside the cell. This finding could lead to safer pain treatments that do not target receptors inside neurons, avoiding serious side effects. The study, published in Science, found that removing VLK in mice dulled pain, while adding it increased pain responses. The research was a collaboration between Tulane University, the University of Texas at Dallas, and several other institutions, including the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. The discovery also has implications for understanding learning and memory.
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11/20/2025
LabMedica.com
A global study conducted by NYU Langone Health and other centers suggests that a mismatch between two routine kidney function tests can be a warning sign of future illness. The research, involving 860,966 adults, found that when a cystatin C-based estimate of kidney filtration is substantially lower than a creatinine-based value, patients may face higher risks of kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, and death. The findings underscore the need for wider adoption of cystatin C testing to gain a clearer view of kidney health and guide safe dosing of medications.
11/20/2025
Let's Win Pancreatic Cancer
An article from Let's Win Pancreatic Cancer profiles seven early-career researchers supported by the American Association for Cancer Research. Among them is Mohamad Assi, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at NYU Langone Health. His research focuses on the extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding tumor cells. His work demonstrates that pancreatic cancer cells sense the ECM to support their survival through a process called autophagy. His findings suggest that targeting this ECM sensing mechanism could sensitize pancreatic tumors to various FDA-approved therapies, improving their limited efficacy when used as single agents.
11/20/2025
SHEfinds
To manage menopause symptoms, health experts recommend four lifestyle habits: eating a high-fiber diet, strength training, reducing alcohol, and ensuring good sleep. Samantha M. Dunham, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and co-director, Center for Midlife Health and Menopause, advises strength training to maintain bone mass, which can decline due to falling estrogen levels. Dr. Dunham also notes that alcohol can trigger hot flashes. Additionally, Laurie S. Jeffers, DNP, clinical assistant professor in NYU Langone's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, states that alcohol can worsen anxiety and depression, to which some women are more susceptible during the menopause transition.
11/20/2025
Women's Health
The article explores upcoming skincare trends for 2026, including lip peptide treatments, milky toners, and products for GLP-1 users. It also discusses the growing popularity of retinol body care. Lisa O. Akintilo, MD, assistant professor in the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at NYU Langone Health, comments on this trend, noting that retinol can improve skin texture on the body and fade liver spots. She recommends that patients give it up to 12 weeks of consistent use to see results and to introduce it gradually to avoid irritation. Other trends covered include neurocosmetics.
11/19/2025
The Vermilion
Medical researchers are making advancements in xenotransplantation, the practice of transplanting organs between species. A recent human clinical trial involved Towana Looney, who received a pig kidney with 10 gene edits in a surgery performed at NYU Langone Health. After four months and nine days, the organ stopped functioning and was removed, with Looney returning to dialysis. The article notes that such cases are providing more information on how the human immune system reacts to genetically-edited organs, which could help many people in need of a transplant.
11/20/2025
Aunt Minnie
A growing body of evidence suggests opportunistic screening, which uses routine imaging like CT scans to also check for conditions such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, could enable earlier interventions. The article highlights several research efforts in this area. A study from researchers at NYU Langone Health, the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute, and Massachusetts General Hospital estimated that opportunistic bone density screening on CT exams could increase osteoporosis screening by 113 percent. This approach could also save the healthcare enterprise almost $100 million annually. Other institutions mentioned include Weill Cornell Medicine and Montefiore-Einstein.
11/20/2025
Archynewsy
An article discusses the complexities and high costs of egg freezing and IVF in India, challenging the idea that it is an 'insurance policy' for women. The piece highlights the financial and emotional burdens of fertility treatments, noting they are often out of reach for most Indian women. It also points out that success is not guaranteed, citing a landmark 2022 study from the NYU Langone Fertility Center which found that the chance of a live birth from frozen eggs was only 39 percent over a 15-year period.
11/20/2025
Becker's Hospital Review
Hospital and health system CEOs are reading about a range of topics to prepare for future challenges. Steve Leffler, MD, Interim CEO of UVM Health, is reading “World Class: A Story of Adversity, Transformation, and Success at NYU Langone Health,” a book about the system's goal of becoming a five-star institution. Other leaders are focusing on subjects such as AI and precision medicine, healthcare financing, value-based care, leadership succession, and climate sustainability in healthcare operations to navigate the changing environment.
11/20/2025
