Gordon Mills, M.D., Ph.D., joins the oncology-focused Scientific Advisory Board of Nuvation Bio, Inc.

Researchers at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute have secured more than $1 million to equip and expand a newly formed Knight Cancer Precision Biofabrication Hub to develop organs, bone for pioneering research into cancer, and more. Luiz Bertassoni, D.D.S., Ph.D., says: “The real focus is to recreate cancer tissues using these fabrication techniques. This will let us dissect the complexities of cancers and understand the contribution of each one of these cells and tumor building blocks."

The Oregonian covers the current obstacles facing the Oregon Legislature, including disagreements on abortion and gender-affirming care. The story notes medical providers including Planned Parenthood and OHSU require patients 14 or younger to have parents’ consent for abortion care.

Justin Leitenberger, M.D., discusses Mohs surgery in treating patients with melanoma: “Melanoma care is inherently multidisciplinary, and most surgeons can be an integral part of an expert team to provide the best outcome for these patients."

Hiromichi Park, D.O., presents findings from a recent study suggesting that patients hospitalized with COVID-19 received antibiotics for potential secondary bacterial infections without clinical indications suggesting they could benefit from the treatment.

In an Inverse story on the potential FDA approval of an over-the-counter birth control pill, Alison Edelman, M.D., says it’s a grassroots effort that’s been years, if not decades, in the making.

Bob Gulberg discusses the new design of the second science building on the UO Knight Campus in a story for KLCC-Radio. He mentions the UO’s collaboration with the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute on a joint biomedical center for data science. “There are lots of opportunities to combine our complimentary areas of strength and also be able to compete for larger funding opportunities from the federal government and elsewhere. We’re definitely embracing the partnership approach rather than building redundancies,” he says.

Having a heart attack may put you at risk of accelerated cognitive decline in later years, above and beyond what is considered appropriate for the aging mind, according to a new study, but the increase in the annual rate of decline for people who had heart attacks was small, writes Lisa Silbert, M.D., and her co-author in an editorial that accompanies the study.

Axios Portland notes a 210% increase in fentanyl-related fatalities in Oregon since 2020. Todd Korthuis, M.D., M.P.H., calls for a statewide real-time tracking system for nonfatal drug overdoses, saying, “Fentanyl won’t be the last thing in the drug supply. We need to build infrastructure for testing quickly, because more people are going to die if we can’t figure out a way to have less fentanyl around and prevent people from starting it.”

CNN reports on a new study that found having a heart attack may put you at risk of accelerated cognitive decline in later years. Lisa Silbert, M.D., co-wrote an accompanying editorial to the study suggesting: “It is possible that accruing subclinical decline over years or decades could eventually impair function or decrease cognitive reserve, making the person more vulnerable to the effects of age-related neurodegenerative pathologies.”