Use of Video Games & Virtual Reality in Healthcare

The video game industry–a multibillion-dollar industry in the United States–has long been a cause of concern for many. However, in recent years, gaming has been used to improve health outcomes and transform how the healthcare field operates. The video game industry was estimated to be worth $159.3 billion in 2020 and is predicted to increase […]

Forever Chemicals in the Biden Administration: Inevitable PFAS Regulation and Water Utilities

Growing Trend of PFAS litigation Last month the Pennsylvania-American Water Company (PAWC) sued manufacturers of Per and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Compounds, commonly known as PFAS. The lawsuit alleges the manufacturers either knowingly or negligently allowed contamination into public drinking water supplies. PAWC joins an increasing trend of water utility companies suing over PFAS contamination in public […]

Bowman, Ludlow and Johnson Publish Article on “Three-Parent IVF”

Dr. Diana Bowman, Karinne Ludlow and Walter Johnson recently published an article on Slate, exploring the option of human genome editing in In vitro fertilization. The article, titled “‘Three-Parent IVF’ Might Open the Door to Human Genome Editing” discusses the research from Spain and Greece on mitochondrial donation that led to six pregnancies. The trial resulted with almost one-quarter of the 25 women enrolled successfully conceiving with mitochondrial donation.

Study Reveals Factors Causing Serious Injuries on Victorian Roads

A study co-authored by Dr. Diana Bowman was released late November, revealing the major causes of injuries on Victorian roads. The Enhanced Crash Investigation Study (ECIS) examined over 400 seriously injured drivers, the factors and the severity of their crashes, all drawn from August 2014 to December 2016. The report, conducted by the Monash University […]

Bowman and Johnson Discuss Possible Roadblock on Cutting Edge Reproductive Technologies

TUMEGGY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images Diana Bowman and Walter Johnson recently released an article on The Conversation discussing how the dispute over when life begins may block reproductive technologies. The nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court has brought the argument back into the spotlight as she has ties to an ad describing […]

Marchant on Arizona’s Controversial New Frozen Embryo Law

Arizona is the first state to pass a law governing disputes over frozen embryos in divorce proceedings. Last week, Governor Doug Ducey signed SB 1393 into law. The law requires that, in a dispute over the use of frozen embryos, courts must award the embryos to the spouse “who intends to allow the … embryos to develop […]

Research Fellow Dr. Klein on Healthcare and CVS-Aetna Merger

CVS Health and Aetna Insurance recently announced their intent to merge. This would combine the nation’s largest pharmacy chain and the nation’s largest health insurer. The healthcare industry has seen consolidation on several fronts. But a merger of this kind may be driven by a potential new, tech-savvy competitor: Amazon. Having a tech giant step into […]

LSI Alum Sarah Wetter Works to Improve Health Equity

Tip for undergrads: you can satisfy the requirements of a major in Biology and a minor in Spanish by taking classes on minority health issues. As Sarah Wetter found, you will also uncover inequities in the fabric of health policy – a mismatch in information and resources available for people in need. Working in that […]

FDA Moves on Regulation of Medical Laboratory Tests

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently authorized a new laboratory developed test (LDT) for genetically profiling tumors. This test uses next generation sequencing (NGS) to help doctors develop strategic treatment plans for cancer patients. The FDA traditionally did not provide oversight of LDTs, which are developed and administered by doctors in laboratories. Rather, […]

Marchant Co-authors Commentary on Human Gene Editing

Center Faculty Director Gary Marchant co-authored a commentary on the promise of CRISPR gene editing technology and the need for international collaboration to enable further research. Human Embryo Editing: Opportunities and Importance of Transnational Cooperation (free download available) was published in the latest issue of Cell Stem Cell. The first reported use of CRISPR on human stem […]