NYC Health News

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Bronx Gotham Health Gets $4.8M for Major Upgrades

A $4.8 million city investment will fund a significant modernization of NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health’s Gun Hill location, expanding healthcare resources for women, children and families in the Bronx. Most of the funding—$3.5 million—will go toward creating updated women’s health and pediatric facilities from space that is not currently being fully utilized. Another $1.2 million will finance improvements to areas where patients check in and wait for care, while $100,000 will purchase new diagnostic equipment for women’s health services. The City Council-backed investment is intended to increase the facility’s clinical capacity while making care more accessible and comfortable for Bronx residents. The project also strengthens Gotham Health’s role as a neighborhood provider of primary and specialty healthcare within New York City’s public health system.

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NYU Langone Children’s Hospital Ranks No. 1 in NY

NYU Langone’s Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital has earned the top ranking in New York State for pediatric pulmonology and lung surgery in the 2026–2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals guide. The Manhattan-based hospital provides advanced treatment for children with respiratory and thoracic conditions, supported by specialists across NYU Langone’s locations in Brooklyn and Long Island. Its services cover conditions including severe asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic lung disease and complex airway disorders, along with surgical treatment for children requiring specialized care. Hassenfeld is also home to the tristate area’s only dedicated pediatric lung transplant team. Nationally, the hospital placed No. 26 for pediatric pulmonology and lung surgery and ranked among the country’s top 50 children’s hospitals in four other pediatric specialties.

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Mount Sinai Expert Joins National COVID Brain Study

A Mount Sinai researcher in New York City will help evaluate what scientists currently understand about the potential effects of COVID-19 infection on memory, attention, learning and other areas of cognitive functioning. Jacqueline Becker, PhD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, has been selected to serve on a National Academies committee reviewing research involving people from childhood through older adulthood. The panel’s work will explore how cognitive outcomes may vary with infection severity, reinfection and long COVID, while also assessing evidence surrounding vaccination and neurological risks. Becker brings extensive experience studying post-COVID cognitive impairment and infection-related chronic conditions, including leadership roles in major federally funded research programs. The committee’s findings are expected to inform understanding of COVID-related cognitive health issues and their potential implications for military personnel, veterans and health care planning.

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Columbia: NYC Loses $300M in Natural Gas Annually

A Columbia University study offers new insight into a major source of methane emissions across the New York City metropolitan area, pointing to natural gas consumption in buildings rather than primarily to leaks from underground pipelines. Researchers found that methane releases closely followed seasonal gas demand, including during both winter heating and summer cooling periods. Their analysis suggests inefficient combustion in building systems may account for a significant share of emissions that previous inventories have underestimated. The researchers estimate methane associated with natural gas represents about 1.7% of gas delivered across the system, with the lost fuel potentially worth nearly $300 million based on recent retail prices. The findings could give New York City another avenue for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions while improving energy efficiency and lowering the economic cost of wasted natural gas.

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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.