NYC Health News

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Mount Sinai Finds New Pancreatic Cancer Target

Mount Sinai researchers have identified a biological mechanism that may help explain why pancreatic cancer has been particularly resistant to immunotherapy. The research focuses on how a relatively small share of tumor cells can alter their immediate surroundings, creating protected areas that make it harder for the immune system to attack the cancer. Scientists also identified specific proteins and interactions involved in establishing these defenses, providing possible targets for future therapies. In preclinical testing, interfering with the mechanism weakened the tumors’ immune protection and improved the performance of immunotherapy. While the findings are not yet ready to change patient treatment, they offer researchers a promising direction for developing combination therapies against one of the most difficult cancers to treat.

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NYU AI Improves 5-Year Breast Cancer Risk Prediction

Researchers at NYU Langone Health and Perlmutter Cancer Center have developed an artificial intelligence system designed to improve how doctors estimate a woman’s likelihood of developing breast cancer within five years. The technology evaluates changes visible across multiple years of 3D mammograms rather than relying on a single screening or primarily on traditional risk factors. In a large study involving more than 161,000 women, the approach outperformed models based on one 3D mammogram, AI-assisted 2D imaging and a commonly used clinical risk assessment. Researchers say the findings could eventually help physicians personalize breast cancer screening by identifying women who may benefit from additional monitoring while reducing unnecessary supplemental testing for patients whose imaging indicates lower risk.

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Weight Loss Drug Use Rising Fast Among Young Children

GLP-1 medications, widely known as weight loss drugs, are still rarely prescribed to young children with obesity, but their use is increasing quickly across the United States. New research from NYU Langone Health examined prescribing patterns among children ages 8 to 11 and found substantial growth since 2019, particularly among those with severe obesity or related health problems. The findings also point to differences in access, with children in higher-income communities more likely to receive the medications. Researchers say GLP-1 drugs may help address serious long-term health risks associated with childhood obesity, while emphasizing the need for continued safety monitoring and broader access as prescribing expands and clinical trials include even younger children.

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1,000+ NYC Families Get Food and Health Support

More than 1,000 New Yorkers received food assistance, health resources, school supplies and benefits support during a back-to-school wellness event serving families in Harlem and Washington Heights. Organized by Public Health Solutions in partnership with ModifyHealth, the event brought health plans and community organizations together to provide screenings, nutrition and housing assistance, and help residents connect with programs including SNAP, WIC and Medicaid. The initiative also introduced eligible families to WholeYouNYC, a social care network designed to connect Medicaid members with ongoing support for food, housing, transportation and other essential needs.

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NYU Study Links GLP-1 Drugs to Male Hair Loss Risk

A new NYU Langone Health study has identified a genetic connection that may help explain why some men experience hair loss while using GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound. Researchers found that men already genetically predisposed to androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as male-pattern hair loss, could face an additional 7 percent risk associated with GLP-1 activity. The findings go beyond previous theories that hair shedding among people taking the medications is primarily caused by rapid weight loss. Researchers say additional studies are needed to understand the biological mechanism and determine whether a similar genetic relationship exists in women.

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Mount Sinai Launches Genomic AI Research Center

Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine has established a new research center that will explore how genetics and the microorganisms living in the human gut may work together to influence disease development and patient outcomes. Using advanced sequencing technologies and artificial intelligence, researchers plan to analyze complex biological data in search of patterns that could help explain why diseases progress differently among patients and why individuals can respond differently to the same treatments. Initial research will concentrate on Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and gastrointestinal cancers, with the broader goal of supporting more personalized approaches to disease risk, diagnosis and treatment.

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$2.2B Maimonides, NYC Health + Hospitals Deal Advances

Maimonides Health is a step closer to becoming part of NYC Health + Hospitals after a New York State health planning committee unanimously approved the proposed transaction. The plan now heads to the full Public Health and Health Planning Council, which is scheduled to consider it on September 17. The partnership is supported by $2.2 billion in state funding over five years and is designed to strengthen Maimonides’ financial position while preserving critical hospital and specialty services in Brooklyn. The funding would also support major improvements, including a transition to the Epic electronic health record system and upgrades to hospital facilities, while bringing Maimonides access to higher Medicaid reimbursement rates.

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NYP Brooklyn Methodist NY Nurses Ratify New Contract

Nearly 1,600 NYSNA nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital have approved a new three-year labor agreement following months of negotiations over working conditions and patient care. The deal strengthens staffing requirements, expands measures aimed at protecting hospital workers from violence, establishes protections concerning the use of artificial intelligence in clinical decision-making, and provides annual pay increases. The agreement also changes parts of the arbitration process, giving nurses additional mechanisms to address staffing disputes and other workplace concerns.

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NYU Langone Study Finds Teacher Training Builds Trust

New research from NYU Langone Health shows that specialized professional development can help early childhood teachers build stronger, more trusting relationships with families. In two studies of New York City universal pre-K programs, parents reported better communication, greater trust, and more inclusive school leadership when educators received ParentCorps training. The findings highlight teacher development as a promising approach to strengthening family partnerships and advancing greater equity in early education.