Newly mapped brain networks link far-flung regions
Science News
A new study in Nature reveals a previously unknown transport system in the brain composed of star-shaped cells called astrocytes, which links distant brain regions. Melissa Cooper, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Neuroscience at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and her colleagues found that these networks could facilitate communication between brain regions previously thought to be unconnected. The research, conducted in mice, suggests these networks may play roles in disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injuries, and stroke, potentially opening a new area of neuroscience research.
5/04/2026
5 Blood Tests You Might Not Be Getting at Your Annual Physical
TIME
An article recommends patients discuss several non-routine tests with their doctors for early detection of hidden health risks. These include hemoglobin A1C for prediabetes, Lp(a) for genetic heart disease risk, and hs-CRP for inflammation. Morgan Grams, MD, PhD, the Susan and Morris Mark Professor of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and co-director of the Division of Precision Medicine, notes that the UACR test, which can indicate kidney damage by measuring albumin in urine, is 'rarely tested.' Grams also highlights the FIB-4 risk score, which combines common biomarkers to help diagnose liver fibrosis.
5/04/2026
NYU Langone Health plans to build new $1B teaching hospital, research center in Melville
Newsday
NYU Langone Health plans to spend at least $1 billion on a new teaching hospital and research center in Melville at the Huntington Quadrangle, Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine told Newsday. NYU Langone spokesman Steve Ritea declined to comment on the plan. Romaine said the transaction had not yet closed but called it a “game changer,” adding: “The county government will work hand in glove with NYU Langone to make sure that the process moves forward and doesn't have any speed bumps” that delay the project from being completed." Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth told Newsday he would support the health system bringing a major medical facility to the area. “It’s a project of a scale that you can’t overstate the positive economic impact it would have for the region," Smyth said.
Also reporting was: Long Island Business News, Huntington Now
5/05/2026
NYU Langone Health raises operating margin to 2.6% in Q2
Becker's Hospital Review
NYU Langone Health reported an operating income of $107.1 million, representing a 2.6% operating margin, in the second quarter of 2026, according to its April 29 financial report. This marks an increase from an operating income of $55 million, or a 1.5% margin, during the same period last year. Total operating revenue for the three months ending February 28 reached $4.1 billion, up from $3.7 billion. Within the system, NYU Langone Hospitals recorded an operating income of $193.4 million, while the NYU Grossman Schools of Medicine posted an operating loss of $86.5 million.
5/04/2026
25 Ways to Improve Gut Health That Go Beyond Just Eating Yogurt
Women's Health
An article offers 25 tips for improving gut health, featuring advice from nutrition experts and gastroenterologists. Among the recommendations, Roshini Rajapaksa, MD, a gastroenterologist at NYU Langone Health and clinical associate professor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, advises against juice cleanses. She explains that juicing removes most of the fiber from fruits and vegetables, which is a crucial nutrient for fostering a healthy gut microbiome. The article also suggests other strategies such as staying hydrated, getting consistent sleep, exercising regularly, and managing stress to support digestive wellness.
Also reporting was: Yahoo Health
5/04/2026
Hantavirus deaths on cruise ship highlight dangers of rodent-borne disease
Fox News
A suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship has led to at least three deaths, prompting an international investigation. The rare rodent-borne disease has a fatality rate of nearly 40% and no specific antiviral treatment. According to experts, the virus typically spreads when humans inhale particles from disturbed rodent urine, droppings, or nesting materials. Marc K. Siegel, MD, primary care physician and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Fox News senior medical analyst, explained that hantavirus can spread via dust from rodents' saliva and urine, noting the deer mouse is the most common carrier in the US.
Also reporting was: Yahoo, Aol
5/04/2026
Health Care Workers In A Storm’s Path
A Health Podyssey
A physician reflects on the impact of Hurricane Irma on Miami's healthcare workers, detailing the stress, logistical issues, and patient care challenges faced during and after the storm. The author references a study conducted a year after Superstorm Sandy, which surveyed over 500 nurses at NYU Langone Health. The research highlighted the long-term mental health effects on staff following the hospital's emergency evacuation and significant damage. The article concludes by advocating for improved emergency planning, including better accommodations and mental health services, to protect healthcare workers during climate-related disasters.
5/04/2026
Defining Maintenance Therapy and Unmet Needs in ES-SCLC
Targeted Oncology
In an interview, Joshua K. Sabari, MD, a thoracic medical oncologist, director of High Reliability Organization Initiatives at NYU Langone Health's Perlmutter Cancer Center, and assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, discusses the clinical complexities of treating extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. He addresses the challenges of defining maintenance therapy in a disease with near-universal recurrence. Dr. Sabari notes he would consider lurbinectedin for fit patients who want to be aggressive with treatment, emphasizing the oncologist's role in managing toxicity. He also comments on the evolving and limited role of prophylactic cranial irradiation and identifies the most pressing unmet need as a biomarker to guide treatment selection.
5/04/2026
Gut microbiome may help predict melanoma recurrence after immunotherapy
Managed Healthcare Executive
New research published in Cell suggests that specific gut microbiome patterns could predict recurrence-free survival in patients with high-risk melanoma receiving immunotherapy. According to lead author Jiyoung Ahn, PhD, director of epidemiology and cancer control program and associate director of population research at Perlmutter Cancer Center, as well as a professor in the Department of Population Health and Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine the study provides strong evidence that the gut microbiome is a reliable predictive marker for treatment outcomes. The investigators analyzed stool samples from 674 patients and identified several bacterial groups linked to survival, raising the possibility of using stool-based biomarkers to personalize cancer treatment decisions.
5/04/2026
ASE Releases Guidelines for Cardiac Ultrasound Artifacts
Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology
The American Society of Echocardiography has released new guidelines to help cardiovascular ultrasound professionals better recognize and manage cardiac ultrasound artifacts to enhance diagnostic accuracy. The document offers a structured approach to identifying these misleading image features, which can lead to misdiagnoses. Muhamed Saric, MD, PhD, clinical director of Non-Invasive Cardiology and professor of medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, who chaired the guideline committee, noted the guidelines are essential for reducing the risk of misdiagnosing critical conditions and helping to optimize patient care.
5/04/2026
Colonoscopy Trial Highlights Strengths, Weaknesses in Benefits
MedPage Today
Updated findings from a European trial show that colonoscopy screening significantly reduces colorectal cancer incidence, but its effect on mortality remains less clear after 13 years of follow-up. In an accompanying commentary, Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, the Robert M. and Mary H. Glickman Professor of Medicine, co-director of Translational Research Education and Careers (TREC), and director of Outcomes Research for Gastroenterology and Hepatology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, wrote that the results compel a recalibration of what the procedure can achieve. She noted that while colonoscopy prevents some cancers, its incremental mortality benefit shrinks as treatments for clinically detected cancer improve, making its benefits more modest than previously assumed.
Also reporting was: News Health
5/05/2026
Immigrants Get RFK Jr. Blame for Polio, TB. Doctors Disagree.
Bloomberg Law
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has blamed immigrants for the threat of infectious diseases like polio and tuberculosis, a claim that doctors and infectious disease specialists say lacks evidence. A 2025 policy analysis found no significant link between immigrant populations and disease rates. Experts emphasize that vaccines and treatment access are key to prevention. Commenting on the issue, Arthur Caplan, PhD, the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor of Bioethics, Department of Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, stated that continued immunization against polio is essential because the virus is highly contagious, even though cases in the US are rare.
5/04/2026
