HHS cuts thousands of workers, CDC hit hard; AI speeds up heart failure clinical trial enrollment; 8 emerging public health trends – Morning Medical Update

Author(s):

Austin Littrell

Key Takeaways

HHS workforce reduction affects 5,200 employees, including 1,300 CDC staff, raising public health concerns.
AI tool RECTIFIER significantly accelerates heart failure trial enrollment, doubling the rate compared to manual screening.
Emerging public health trends focus on mental health, medical technology, climate impact, and preventive care, indicating evolving challenges.

The top news stories in medicine today.

HHS cuts thousands of workers, CDC hit hard

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) dismissed roughly 5,200 probationary employees on Friday as part of the Trump administration’s workforce reduction efforts, according to an internal National Institutes of Health (NIH) meeting recording. The cuts include 1,300 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff — about 10% of its workforce — and all first-year officers in the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) — a disease response unit. Some terminated employees may receive four weeks of paid leave, though HHS has not disclosed specifics. Critics warn the layoffs could undermine public health operations, while administration officials frame them as part of a broader effort to streamline government. Read more from The Associated Press.

AI tool speeds up heart failure clinical trial enrollment

A new study from Mass General Brigham, published in JAMA, demonstrates that artificial intelligence can significantly accelerate patient screening for clinical trial enrollment. Researchers compared a generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool—called RAG-Enabled Clinical Trial Infrastructure for Inclusion Exclusion Review (RECTIFIER) — to manual screening in a heart failure trial and found that AI screened 458 eligible patients versus 284 manually screened patients. The AI-assisted process also led to nearly double the enrollment rate. The study suggests AI can reduce trial enrollment time while maintaining accuracy and avoiding bias. Researchers aim to expand AI screening to trials for cancer and diabetes, among other conditions.

8 emerging public health trends

In an article published Monday morning, WorldHealth.net highlighted eight emerging trends shaping the future of public health. Covering topics including mental health initiatives, advancements in medical technology, climate’s impact on health, and the growing focus on preventive care, the list explores how the field is evolving to meet modern challenges. The full list can be found here.