NIH uncertainty amid federal restrictions, leadership changes; a brain mechanism that suppresses fear; hospital ventilation may spread viruses – Morning Medical Update

Author(s):

Austin Littrell

Key Takeaways

NIH faces disruptions from federal restrictions and leadership changes, raising concerns about impacts on medical research and critical disease research setbacks.
UCL researchers identified the ventrolateral geniculate nucleus as key in fear suppression, challenging traditional views and offering potential anxiety disorder treatments.
Hospital ventilation systems may spread viruses, necessitating revised airflow strategies to prevent infections and ensure effective containment in healthcare settings.

The top news stories in medicine today.

NIH faces uncertainty amid federal restrictions, leadership changes

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is grappling with disruptions under the new Trump administration. A communications blackout, halted recruitment of patients for clinical trials and a hiring freeze have created widespread confusion, anxiety and fear among NIH scientists and doctors. While some restrictions are easing, concerns remain over the potential impact on medical research. The prospect of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leading the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, directing the NIH has intensified fears within the scientific community, with experts warning of potential setbacks in critical disease research. Read more from NPR.

Scientists discover brain mechanism that suppresses fear

Researchers at Sainsbury Wellcome Centre (SWC) at University College London (UCL) identified a key brain mechanism that helps animals suppress instinctive fear responses — a discovery that could lead to new treatments for anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Published in Science, the study reveals that the ventrolateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN) stores fear-suppression memories, rather than the cerebral cortex, challenging traditional views on learning and memory.

The process is regulated by endocannabinoids, which decrease inhibitory signals to vLGN neurons, allowing the brain to adapt fear responses. Researchers aim to explore these findings in humans, paving the way for targeted therapeutic interventions.

Hospital ventilation may spread viruses

Additional new research from UCL and UCL Hospitals suggests that hospital ventilation systems and air purifiers may unintentionally spread viral particles, increasing the risk of infections. Published in Aerosol Science & Technology, the study found that built-in ventilation increased aerosol migration by up to 5.5 times and portable air cleaners sometimes worsened viral spread. The research underscores the need for infection preventionists to rethink airflow strategies, including closing doors — a simple, yet effective containment method. The findings call for data-drive ventilation designs to prevent unintended virus transmissions in hospitals. Infection Control Today has the full story.