09 Jul MEDICAL RESEARCH NEWS #1

All the latest news about medical research compiled by Okomeds.

Medical Research Council Funds Phase 2 Multi-Center Study

XBiotech announced that the Medical Research Council (MRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, has awarded funding to study bermekimab therapy in a Phase 2 multi-center study in advanced cancers. The MRC will provide funding for all clinical costs of the Phase 2 study to treat patients with advanced lung, pancreatic and ovarian cancers.  Read more here

Women’s World Cup Highlights Sex Differences – In Medical Research

Recent years have seen a growing awareness of the lack of research on women throughout the health care ecosystem. For decades drugs and devices have been created using male test subjects and clinical trial enrollees. With results from those extrapolated to women. Even women in the military serve wearing gear designed for male bodies – increasing their likelihood of physical injury. But without fundamental information specific to women, crucial decisions about everything from equipment to care to treatment will continue to be insufficient. Read more here

New research may explain why evolution made humans ‘fat’

Scientists have compared fat samples from humans and other primates and found that changes in DNA packaging affected how the human body processes fat. Our bodies need fat to store energy and protect vital organs. Fat also helps the body absorb some nutrients and produce important hormones. Read more here

Giving up alcohol may significantly boost mental health

The debate as to whether moderate drinking is good, bad, or has no effect on health has been ongoing for years. Now, a new study suggests that people — especially women — who give up alcohol can experience better mental health and reach levels of well-being almost on a par with those of lifelong abstainers. Read more here

Teens less likely to use cannabis when it’s legal, US study finds

Teenagers are less likely to use cannabis in places where the drug has been legalised, a new study suggests. Researchers at Montana State University looked at health surveys of US high school pupils between 1993 and 2017. Read more here