Weill Cornell Medicine

A new preclinical study sheds light on how the heart muscle and vessels develop in a coordinated way. The findings could potentially inform innovative approaches for treating cardiovascular conditions that lead to heart failure. The researchers, led by Dr. Michael Harrison of Weill Cornell Medicine and lab colleagues, explored a cell layer called the epicardium. They discovered that the regions of coordinated growth of heart muscle and vessels are linked to areas where oxygen is low. When epicardial cells detect low oxygen, they activate a suite of genes that generate signals prompting the expansion of both muscle and vessels. The study also included contributions from Dr. Jonathan Butcher of Cornell University. Full story: https://bit.ly/4gfuUk5

Brain-resident immune cells that have reached an old-age state called “senescence” secrete a protein that causes dysfunction in other brain cells, according to a new preclinical study. The finding provides additional insight into how aging impairs memory and cognition and makes the brain vulnerable to neurodegenerative disorders. Led by Weill Cornell Medicine's Li Gan, researchers observed in a preclinical model that when brain cells enter the senescent state, they begin secreting a protein called DLK1. This protein disrupts other brain cells, in particular neurons and the oligodendrocytes that help protect nerve fibers. Full story: https://bit.ly/3TXxUtW

Influencers are promoting peptides like BPC-157, CJC-1295, and TB-500 for recovery, strength, and glowing skin. But most of these aren't FDA-approved, and they haven't been properly studied. Even though an FDA advisory panel voted to recommend allowing compounding pharmacies to make them, scientists and experts like Dr. Dhruv Khullar have raised concerns about their long-term risks. Early concerns include allergic reactions and even possible cancer links. Here's What We Know: despite the hype around peptides, more research is needed to understand their effectiveness and safety. Until then, it's best to rely on treatments that are supported by science. #peptides #wellness #glp1 #fda

Earlier use of a targeted radionuclide therapy delays metastatic prostate cancer progression when given as part of a trio of drugs, according to results from a phase 3 clinical trial Led by Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and researchers at several other institutions worldwide, the findings may change the standard of care for many patients with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive metastatic prostate cancer. The standard backbone of therapy had been an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI) paired with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). This trial showed that adding a targeted radionuclide therapy drug called 177Lu-PSMA-617 or lutetium PSMA 617 vipivotide tetraxetan to backbone therapy in patients with PSMA-positive cancer reduces the risk of disease progression as determined by scans or death by 28% when given soon after the diagnosis of metastatic cancer, “About 9 out of 10 patients with metastatic prostate cancer have tumors that are positive for PSMA,” said Weill Cornell Medicine's Dr. Scott Tagawa. “Now, we have a new therapy that, when added to the backbone therapy, extended radiographic progression-free survival for almost all patients with metastatic prostate cancer.” The drug’s success is the result of more than two decades of collaboration between a multidisciplinary team of Weill Cornell Medicine researchers and radiologists, including Dr. Joseph Osborne and the team’s colleagues at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Full story: https://bit.ly/4fWLJQJ

Join us in congratulating Dr. Eleni Andreopoulou who became the first woman to receive an honorary professorship in medicine from the University of Ioannina in Greece, her alma mater. "Being the first woman to receive this distinction by the University of Ioannina made it especially meaningful," said Dr. Eleni Andreopoulou "I hope it serves as an inspiration for young women pursuing careers in medicine and science, including my own daughter who joined me at the award ceremony." The academic gowns worn during the ceremony were hand-embroidered with designs inspired by antiquity. The University of Ioannina campus in Epirus, Greece is near the renowned ancient oracle and theatre of Dodona. The oracle is considered the oldest Hellenic oracle mentioned in literature, famously referenced in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. "Receiving this honor was deeply moving," Dr. Andreopoulou said. "It gave me an opportunity to reflect on my journey—from medical school in Greece to building an academic career in the United States. The recognition acknowledged not only my scientific work, but also my commitment to lifelong learning, mentorship, research, and patient care."

Research from Weill Cornell Medicine and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center unlocks new insights into one mechanism that drives lung metastasis in patients with cancer. Scientists found that a protein secreted by common cancer types makes blood vessels leakier, allowing metastatic tumors to form in the lungs, according to a study led by Dr. David Lyden and Dr. Shani Dror of Weill Cornell Medicine and colleague Dr. Jacqueline Bromberg, also of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The discovery could lead to new ways to monitor and reduce lung metastasis risk in cancer patients. Full story: https://bit.ly/4vVsTPP

Congratulations to the extraordinary members of our community on their recent achievements! 🏆 Dr. Francisco A. Blanco was named a recipient of the 2026 National Institutes of Health Outstanding Scholars in Neuroscience Award Program. 🏆 Dr. Adam Fenton was named a 2026 fellow by the Jane Coffin Childs Fund for Medical Research (JCC). 🏆 Dr. Mohamed Osman was selected as one of five finalists for the 2026 Regeneron Prize for Creative Innovation. 🏆 Joseph Safdieh MD was named Physician Advocate of the Year by the New York State Society of PAs. 🏆Doctoral student Ashna Singh was selected to receive a 2026 scholarship for neuroscience and neurobiology by the Dompé Foundation. Full story: https://bit.ly/4fQsA2R

Recent changes to the U.S. Department of Education’s definition of a “professional student” will subject physician assistant (PA) students—and students in several other essential health professions—to new federal borrowing limits. Medical students will also face revised loan limits that could force more students to rely on private loans, which often provide fewer consumer protections and less flexible repayment options. Dr. Joseph Safdieh MD, senior associate dean for education and Kelly Porta, associate dean of physician assistant studies, were on Capitol Hill last to advocate for Weill Cornell Medicine students and the future of the healthcare workforce. These recent policy changes highlight exactly why our ongoing advocacy is so crucial—to ensure all students have equitable access to the education and support they need. Ensuring that students across the health professions can afford their education is essential to building and sustaining the healthcare workforce needed for our patients and communities.

News of a virus outbreak can spark fears of another global pandemic. But not every virus has the same potential to spread widely around the world. Recent Ebola outbreaks in Central Africa have triggered questions about whether Ebola could cause the next pandemic. According to infectious disease expert Dr. Matthew Simon at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Ebola behaves very differently from airborne viruses like COVID-19 and influenza. Here's What We Know: - To cause a pandemic, a virus needs to spread easily between people, often before symptoms appear. In this way, a virus can spread rapidly through communities and across borders via international travel. - There is no evidence that Ebola spreads through the air. - Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of a person who is sick with the virus or has died from it. - People with Ebola are generally contagious after symptoms begin, which can make containment more feasible after case detection compared to COVID-19. Ebola is a serious disease that can cause fever, body aches, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, and other severe complications, killing 25-40% of those infected. Unique challenges in Central Africa are making this outbreak more difficult to contain than other Ebola outbreaks. In the United States, the risk of Ebola infection remains low. If you have questions about Ebola or plan to travel to affected areas, talk to your doctor. #Ebola #infectiousdiseases #globalhealth

From emergency brain surgery to a life reimagined. One ordinary moment changed everything for typographic artist Scott Albrecht. While running an errand on his skateboard, he fell and hit his head—turning a simple errand into a fight for his life. Scott, an artist who has worked with brands like Google and Spotify, was now in the ER in Brooklyn. His brain swelled. Dr. Ibrahim Hussain, MD, a neurosurgeon at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, performed an emergency craniectomy, removing part of Scott's skull to relieve pressure. Scott was induced into a coma. He doesn’t remember any of it. But his wife does. “I had a frank discussion with his wife, because if he did survive, we wouldn’t know the extent of any permanent neurologic problems,” Dr. Hussain says. He wasn’t sure Scott could recover from such a catastrophic event. Scott spent over a month in the hospital, where he learned how to walk again. Later, he underwent a cranioplasty—a surgery to replace the missing part of his skull with a polymer plate, a special plastic plate to hold broken bones together while they heal. The improvement was immediate, allowing him to begin physical therapy. During his physical recovery, Scott experienced depression, and even noticed that the way he saw colors had changed. Through all these challenges, he kept searching for meaning in his experience. A year after his accident, Scott mounted a gallery exhibition titled “What Holds Us.” The artwork in the show was inspired by his journey through injury and recovery. He wrote a book to accompany the exhibit. Scott returned to the hospital to give copies of his book to every member of the care team he could find. Two years later, his providers still remembered him. Dr. Hussain was incredibly touched. “It blew me away when he came back and showed me his artwork. He turned something so traumatic into something so beautiful,” he says. The experience forever changed Scott. “Being able to go back and say — you saved my life, and here’s what came of it — that was one of the most cathartic things I’ve done.” Read: https://bit.ly/4yXyIiu