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A study in human and mouse heart cells identifies a faulty molecular brake in the most common form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young people and athletes and the most common genetic disease of the heart The faulty brake, found about a quarter of all genetic mutations in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, interferes with the heart muscle’s ability to contract and relax, a hallmark of the disease Treatment with a chemical compound successfully restores normal contractility and relaxation in human heart cells If replicated in further studies, the findings can lead to much-needed drug therapies that correct the molecular failure driving the disease

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• First-of-its-kind study launched to examine the effects of personal networks on former NFL players’ health • Findings could inform health interventions to reduce risk • Short web-based survey provides personalized results and information for former players • Watch two videos that introduce the Personal Network Study

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• Analysis of insurance records of more than 56,000 twin pairs assesses the influence of genes and environment in 560 diseases • Going beyond the usual one-disease-at-a-time approach, the new method analyzes heritable and environmental factors across hundreds of common conditions • Insights can propel genetic and epidemiological research for a range of diseases, inform clinical decisions, health policy

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• Scientists reveal activated structure of a receptor critical for blood pressure, salt homeostasis • Receptor is a target for drugs widely used to treat hypertension

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Recognizing the threat that climate change poses to both human health and the health care system itself, Harvard Medical School and its affiliated hospitals and clinical institutes have committed to extensively decarbonize their operations.

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Research in mouse cells identifies defective metabolic pathway in aging immune T cells. The pathway is critical for switching T cells from dormancy into illness-fighting mode. In experiments, researchers restored lagging T-cell function by adding small-molecule compounds. Findings suggest possible mechanism behind weakened immunity common in the elderly.

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Research in mice identifies a set of neurons responsible for sustained pain and resulting pain-coping behaviors. Findings point to the existence of separate neural pathways that regulate threat avoidance versus injury mitigation Existence of separate pathways may account for failure to develop effective pain medications Study can inform new ways to gauge the efficacy of candidate pain therapies by assessing behaviors stemming from different pathways

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New study shows low use of telehealth services for substance use disorder. More than 20 million Americans have substance use disorders related to alcohol, opioids and other drugs. Less than one in five receive treatment for substance use disorder, in part because of lack of providers, especially in rural areas. Telehealth—which allows clinicians to evaluate and treat patients via video conferencing—could help fill this unmet need, but increasing use must overcome regulatory barriers and target rural areas.

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Children who enter elementary school younger than their peers are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. Children born in August in states with a Sept. 1 cutoff birth date for school enrollment have a 30 percent higher risk for ADHD diagnosis than peers born in September, which may reflect over-diagnosis.

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The first high-quality ancient DNA data from Central and South America reveals two previously unknown genetic exchanges between North and South America, one representing a continent-wide population turnover Findings link the oldestCentral and South American samples with the Clovis culture, the first widespread archaeological culture of North America; however, this lineage disappeared within the last 9,000 years Analyses show shared ancestry between ancient Californians from the Channel Islands and groups that became widespread in the southern Peruvian Andes by at least 4,200 years ago

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The $200-million commitment will fund: o Fundamental curiosity-driven research and a therapeutics initiative to catalyze the development of new treatments o Integrated data science and artificial intelligence capabilities and applications o Cross-disciplinary research across the Harvard life sciences ecosystem o LifeLab Longwood, an incubator for early-stage, high-potential biotech start-ups In honor of the gift—the largest in Harvard Medical School history—the School will name a research institute for the donor to recognize the pioneering work of its basic science and social science departments.

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The grants are designed to foster cross-disciplinary cooperation among leading basic, translational and clinical neuroscientists in an effort to propel discoveries from laboratory to clinic.

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Three Harvard Medical School scientists have received the prestigious Allen Distinguished Investigator awards for their work in the fields of neuroimmunology, developmental biology and cancer.

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Research in mice adds to evidence that dips in the activity of serotonin neurons may increase SIDS risk. The study reveals the activity of serotonin-producing neurons in the infant mouse brain contributes to a fail-safe switch that allows recovery from interrupted breathing. If replicated in human studies, findings could pave the way to screening for SIDS risk, new therapies.

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Nearly 30 percent of outpatient opioid prescriptions in the United States lack documented clinical reasons to justify dispensing the drugs.

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Harvard Medical School has selected the 2018 fellows for its annual Media Fellowship program, Sept. 24-28. The program, now in its 21st year, brings top health and science journalists together with preeminent researchers and physician-scientists for a weeklong educational immersion.

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Harvard Medical School researchers identified a molecular link between aging and a major genetic cause of both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, two related neurodegenerative diseases with shared genetic risk factors. The finding reveal possible new targets for treatment of these and other neurodegenerative diseases.

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Scientists have identified the sensor protein responsible for hearing and balance

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Adolescents make up more than a quarter of the population in developing countries. Only 1.6 percent of global development assistance for health from 2003-2016 went to adolescent health. Resource allocation failed to address many of the diseases that take the worst toll on adolescent health, such as depressive disorders, anemia and injuries.

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Scientists have designed a way to monitor cellular decision making by measuring the rate of RNA change over time. RNA is the “interpreter” or “decoder” of genetic instructions that tell cells how much of which protein to make. The new method is an algorithm that quantifies changes in various RNA markers—the molecular footprints of a cell’s past and present and an indicator of its future, providing clues about what the cell is trying to become. The approach sets the stage for understanding cellular behavior during human development and may offer a way to rapidly monitor how cells respond to medications and other treatments.

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A new study finds that the class of neurons responsible for transmitting information from the inner ear to the brain is composed of three molecularly distinct subtypes. The findings could inform efforts to develop therapeutic strategies to treat or protect against hearing loss.

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Researchers have discovered a new, rare type of cell in the human airway. These cells appear to be the primary source of activity of the gene which causes cystic fibrosis.

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New study reveals that a male fruit fly’s decision to court or ignore a female stems from the convergence of motivation, perception and chance that affects the balance of excitatory versus inhibitory signals in the brain to influence decision making. Findings may yield insights about addiction disorders, depression.

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Scientists have defined the structure and key features of a human immune-surveillance protein that guards against cancer and bacterial and viral infections The identification of two human-specific variations in the protein closes a critical knowledge gap in immunology and cancer biology The variations explain why the human protein is more precise and more selective than mammalian forms of the protein and why it targets certain types of DNA but ignores others The findings can inform the design of more precisely targeted immune therapies against cancer and a range of immune-mediated diseases

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The Bertarelli Foundation has announced that it is redoubling its investment in this area of research, with a gift of $6.35 million to Harvard Medical School (HMS) to build on the previous successes of the Bertarelli Program in Translational Neuroscience and Neuroengineering.

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Researchers discover new clues about a recently identified blood cell condition known as clonal hematopoiesis, implicated in hematologic cancers, cardiovascular illness Surprisingly, the study reveals that inherited genetic variants can drive the condition by fueling additional mutations later in life The findings can help inform ways to gauge disease risk based on specific mutations, develop strategies to avert disease Clonal hematopoiesis is estimated to affect more than 1 in 10 people older than 65

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Research reveals dramatic geographic differences in end-of-life care spending across the United States. Spending variations stemmed from doctors’ beliefs about end-of-life care and style of practice and from availability of health care services. Patient beliefs and preferences did not contribute to spending differences. Health care spending in the last month of life for patients with end-stage cancer in some regions is twice as high as that in other regions. The additional spending is wasteful and possibly harmful.

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A new study finds that a mysterious component of the inner ear acts as a pressure-relief valve, formed by a thin barrier of cellular projections that opens and closes to regulate the release of inner ear fluid.

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The 2018 Warren Alpert Foundation Prizehas been awarded to five scientists for transformative discoveries in the fields of genetics, physiology, pulmonology and pharmacology that have led to the development of life-altering precision-targeted treatments for the devastating multiorgan disease cystic fibrosis (CF).

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Harvard Medical School’s Media Fellowship program, now entering its 21st year, is accepting applications for its fall 2018 session.

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Research in mice shows that a protein made by the stem cells that give rise to neurons, but not by neurons themselves, is key to brain cells’ ability to migrate during development and assume their proper positions. This primordial protein acts by clinging onto thousands of sites in the genome, affecting the activity of multiple genes that regulate brain development. The findings could yield valuable clues for a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders.

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Eight million largely preventable deaths from treatable diseases cost $6 trillion in lost economic welfare in low- and middle-income countries in 2015. If current conditions persist, low- and middle-income countries could lose collectively $11 trillion in gross domestic product by 2030, or 2.6 percent of total GDP in low-income countries. New analysis believed to be first to quantify global economic toll due to inadequate access to high-quality medical care. Findings stem from analysis of diseases in 130 low- and middle-income countries that are treatable with approaches commonly available in higher-income settings.

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Meharry Medical college first among historically black schools to offer online Harvard Medical School courses to students

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Some cancers express unusually high levels of a neural calcium channel known as the ‘wasabi receptor,’ which plays a role in detecting pain, cold and other sensations. New research finds cancer cells co-opt this neural channel to increase their tolerance against toxic oxidative stress.

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Four Harvard Medical School scientists are among the 19 individuals named Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators on May 23.

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Harvard Medical School researchers lead the first whole-genome analysis of ancient human DNA from Southeast Asia Study identifies at least three major waves of human migration into the region over the last 50,000 years, each shaping the genetics of Southeast Asia “to a remarkable extent” Findings reveal a complex interplay among archaeology, genetics and language

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New research in mice reveals how specialized neurons allow the brain to construct sequences of movements. Damage to these neurons disrupts the ability to correctly string together movements into desired actions. The findings may inform the study and eventual treatment of movement disorders such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s.

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From burning your palm on a hot pan handle to memorizing the name of a new acquaintance, “anytime you experience something, your neurons are active,” says Kelsey Tyssowski, a graduate student in genetics at Harvard Medical School. Different experiences stimulate different patterns of activity in brain cells. Researchers want to track these activity patterns to better understand how the brain makes sense of the world, but they’ve been limited by the transient nature of the activity and by the tiny fraction of neurons they’re able to study at once—only a few thousand out of an estimated 100 billion.

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Newly published research shows that a protein long known to play pivotal roles in cell secretion—the basis of cell-to-cell communication—also ensures that a key lipid is present when needed to ensure efficient cell communication. The observations can help explain what allows cells to secrete chemicals at the right place when they receive a “fire away” signal. The findings may have implications for neurologic and other diseases marked by impaired cellular secretion.

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Research conducted in vitro shows two human antibodies made in response to vaccination against one hemorrhagic fever virus can disarm a related virus, for which there is currently no vaccine. The proof-of-principle finding identifies a common molecular chink in the two viruses’ armor that renders both vulnerable to the same antibodies. The results set the stage for a single vaccine and other antibody-based treatments that work against multiple viral “cousins” despite key differences in their genetic makeup. Such therapies can alleviate challenges posed by current lack of vaccines and prevent outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers.

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Although rare, flesh-eating disease is challenging to diagnose promptly and can rapidly become fatal. A study conducted in mice reveals that neurons play key role in the development of flesh-eating disease. The findings show that a bacterium that causes flesh-eating disease hijacks the normal crosstalk between nervous and immune systems to avoid immune destruction, thus ensuring its own survival. Two approaches prevent infections, halt disease progression in mice.

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Harvard Medical School scientists developed a new technique to analyze, with unprecedented quantitative precision, how cells initiate the removal of defective mitochondria by the cell’s autophagy, or “self-eating,” system.

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Four scientists from Harvard Medical School are among 84 members and 21 foreign associates elected in 2018 to the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of “their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research,” the NAS announced on May 1.

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In three landmark studies, Harvard researchers systematically profiled every cell in developing zebrafish and frog embryos to establish a roadmap revealing how one cell builds an entire organism—an unprecedented resource for the study of developmental biology and disease.

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Four Harvard Medical School scientists have been elected to the American Academy of Arts and SciencesClass of 2018 for exceptional scholarship in the field of biomedicine.

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Despite deep rifts in health care opinions across party lines, a physician’s party affiliation appears to have no effect on clinical decisions in end-of-life care. Researchers found no cross-party differences among physicians in their choice of care protocols, including the intensity of life-sustaining treatments, among terminally ill patients.

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Scientists will discuss latest research, new gene therapies at international sensory biology conference

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Hospital payment experiment in Maryland failed to deliver on the promise of shifting care from hospitals toward less expensive outpatient and primary care settings. Researchers say that weak incentives for physicians may have limited the program’s effectiveness.

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• Scientists untangle the structure of a recently discovered bacterial wall-building protein, found in nearly all bacteria • The discovery unveils potential weak spots in the protein’s molecular make-up • Findings can pave the way to next-generation broad-spectrum drugs that disrupt the protein’s function and disarm harmful bacteria

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-Scientists identify mechanism behind vascular aging, muscle demise in mice. -Treatment with chemical compounds reversed vascular aging, stimulated blood vessel growth and blood flow, boosted exercise capacity in aging animals. -Findings set the stage for therapies in humans to stave off a range of conditions linked to vascular aging.