News from NYU Langone Health
This mRNA vaccine could potentially prevent the deadliest form of skin cancer
CBS News
Drug manufacturers Moderna and Merck say a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine plus a drug called Keytruda reduced the return and spread of melanoma in high-risk patients. Jonathan LaPook, MD, Mebane professor of Gastroenterology in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and Janice Mehnert, MD, director of the melanoma medical oncology program at NYU Langone Health and associate director of clinical research at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, have more information.
8/20/2026
Moderna's cancer vaccine hits key goal in melanoma trial with NYU Langone link
Newsday
A Long Island hospital helped pharmaceutical giants Moderna and Merck test an experimental personalized cancer vaccine that helped keep melanoma, the deadliest form of cancer from returning or spreading in late stages. The Phase 3 trial included one patient from NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island said Janice Mehnert, MD, director of the melanoma medical oncology program at NYU Langone Health and associate director of clinical research at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center.
8/21/2026
Merck and Moderna say cancer vaccine shows promise in preventing recurrence of melanoma
NBC News
Moderna and Merck announced that their experimental mRNA vaccine, Intismeran, combined with the drug Keytruda, significantly prevents melanoma from returning or spreading in high-risk patients. This personalized treatment trains the immune system to target specific cancer mutations identified in a patient's tumor. Janice Mehnert, MD, director of the melanoma medical oncology program at NYU Langone Health and associate director of clinical research at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, a senior investigator for the research, notes that melanoma is "exquisitely vulnerable to the immune system." Celebrating the promising Phase 3 results, Mehnert stated she is "excited to see science win" with such a novel and innovative approach.
8/19/2026
Yankees’ Aaron Judge fractured worst rib possible and better not dive this year, doctor reveals
NJ.com
In a Q&A, Spencer Stein, MD, a sports orthopedic surgeon at NYU Langone Health, discusses the recovery of Yankees captain Aaron Judge from a fractured first right rib. Stein explains that a first rib fracture is unique because it is near the shoulder and crucial neurovascular structures, which can complicate recovery. He notes that while the bone may heal within three months, it might not be fully matured for up to six months. Due to the heightened risk of re-injury from high-impact plays, Stein suggests that Judge should avoid diving for the rest of the year.
Also reporting was: Yahoo Sports, Pinstripe Alley, Yahoo Sports
8/20/2026
Bryan Johnson wants to live forever. But why? *
The New York Times
The article profiles tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson and his extreme quest for longevity, which recently faced a challenge when he was diagnosed with autoimmune gastritis. While Johnson suggests his intense health regimen may have been lurking for decades, Rabia de Latour, MD, gastroenterologist and associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health, comments that there is no known cause for the condition. The piece explores the philosophical and medical critiques of the 'live-forever' movement from health experts like Ezekiel Emanuel, former Obama administration health policy adviser.
8/21/2026
Town sets hearing for $650M NYU Langone expansion in East Patchogue
Long Island Business News
A public hearing is scheduled for 27 August for a planned $650 million expansion of NYU Langone Suffolk in East Patchogue. The project for NYU Langone Health includes a new five-story, 322,000-square-foot inpatient pavilion with 144 beds. Construction of the new building is estimated to cost $400 million and will take about 30 months, with the rest of the investment funding renovations. This development follows plans to build a new medical center in Melville, which will include the NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine.
Also reporting was: Patch
8/20/2026
How do I prevent Alzheimer’s? 4 doctor-backed daily habits that protect your memory
Woman's World
New research highlights lifestyle habits that can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, even for those with a genetic predisposition. Jordan Weiss, PhD, assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, explains that while normal aging involves slower memory recall, dementia is more severe, such as forgetting entire conversations. Weiss states that exercise is one of the most powerful interventions for the aging brain, increasing blood flow and a molecule that acts like 'fertilizer for neurons.' He also notes the negative physiological impact of prolonged sitting and emphasizes that sleep is crucial for clearing metabolic waste associated with Alzheimer's.
8/20/2026
Chinatown residents warn of health risks as megajail construction nears
Documented
A report from NYU Langone Health doctoral students on the megajail construction in Manhattan's Chinatown found persistent air quality concerns and a lack of sufficient monitoring. Tri Huynh, a doctoral student in environmental health sciences at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, said researchers recorded particulate matter levels near the site that were consistently higher than citywide averages. At a community town hall, Elaine Shum, MD, an oncologist and director of Cancer Screening Program at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, spoke about the data's suggestive trends regarding health risks, including lung cancer. Researchers are calling for stronger mitigation strategies and community-centered oversight.
8/20/2026
87 health systems named to Epic’s 2026 Honor Roll, Gold Stars
Becker's Hospital Review
EHR vendor Epic has named 87 US health systems to its 2026 Honor Roll, Gold Stars, and MyChart Honor Roll programs, which recognize the adoption of its best practices. NYU Langone Health was one of 12 health systems to earn the program's highest distinction, 'summa cum laude,' for meeting all eight components of the criteria. The Honor Roll program offers financial grants for implementing Epic's latest features. Among other local systems, Mount Sinai was recognized on the MyChart Honor Roll, while NYC Health + Hospitals and RWJBarnabas Health were named at the 'cum laude' level.
8/20/2026
100 great hospitals in America | 2026
Becker's Hospital Review
Becker's has named NYU Langone Tisch Hospital and Kimmel Pavilion to its 'Great Hospitals in America' list for 2026. The article highlights that NYU Langone Hospitals has been ranked the No. 1 comprehensive academic medical center by Vizient for four consecutive years. It also notes U.S. News & World Report credits NYU Langone Health with more No. 1-ranked specialties than any other hospital, including neurology and neurosurgery. The health system also received a $25 million NIH award. Other New York City hospitals listed include Montefiore Einstein Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
8/20/2026
Chemotherapy-free treatment shows promise for some patients with metastatic breast cancer
Medical Xpress
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have found that a chemotherapy-free combination of four targeted therapies shows promise as a first-line treatment for patients with HR-positive, HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. The findings are from the multicenter phase 1/2 ASPIRE clinical trial, which enrolled patients across five sites affiliated with Mount Sinai, NYU Langone Health, and Columbia University. In the study, 97% of patients experienced clinical benefit in the first six months, and lived a median of nearly 25 months before their disease progressed, suggesting an effective alternative to chemotherapy.
Also reporting was: MSN, SCIENMAG
8/20/2026
New places, new words: How outings can build early literacy
Texas Public Radio (San Antonio, TX)
An article examines how outings can build early literacy skills, featuring Northside Independent School District’s Even Start program. The piece includes commentary from Yu Chen, a postdoctoral fellow at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Chen states that new experiences make children excited and more attentive during conversations with parents, helping them absorb information. She explains that these opportunities allow for more abstract 'decontextualized talk,' which is helpful for language development. Chen also notes that skills developed in a first language can support learning a second one, a concept known as cross-linguistic transfer.
8/20/2026
Newsday
A study from the NYU School of Global Public Health reveals that 68.6% of patients view medical test results online before consulting a physician. Brooke Sophia, a registered nurse at NYU Langone Hospital – Suffolk, cautions that without medical training, patients may misinterpret terminology and self-diagnose incorrectly, leading to avoidable stress and 'the worst' assumptions before they have the chance to speak with a professional. Lead author José Pagán, chair of Public Health Policy and Management at NYU, notes that health systems must improve how they communicate findings, suggesting AI as a tool for plain-language summaries.
8/21/2026
How Jackson, Homeless Trust paid millions to woman whose ALFs state punished
Miami Herald
Jackson Memorial Hospital and the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust paid over $40 million to a contractor who placed vulnerable elderly patients into assisted living facilities, including her own chain of homes which had numerous state safety violations. The arrangements have raised ethical concerns regarding conflicts of interest. Commenting on the issue, Arthur Caplan, PhD, founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics and professor emeritus of Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, stated that allowing an individual to manage care arrangements and refer patients to their own facilities without oversight represents a 'huge mountain of conflict of interest' and 'as a matter of principle should not exist.'
8/21/2026
