A study led by Sebnem Ece Eksi, Ph.D., finds that sympathetic nerves — those involved in the body’s sympathetic stress response — actively signal to CAFs, or cancer-associated fibroblasts, that surround pancreatic tumors and drive them into a state that promotes tumor progression or aggression.

The Oregonian notes that the Knights pledged $2 billion to the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute in 2025, the largest single donation to a college, university or academic health center in U.S. history.

Continued coverage of a secret shopper-style survey of four cities led by OHSU that finds barely one-third of the Portland clinics accept new Medicare patients. Jane Zhu, M.D., says: “Primary care is the front door to the health care system, connecting patients to chronic disease management, preventive health and long-term coordinated care to avoid costly hospitalizations and emergency room visits. The opposite is also true: Consistent access to primary care is associated with better health outcomes and lower overall costs.”

Sanjay Malhotra, PH.D., and team discover a new molecule that could open the door to treating triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of the disease.

The Glaucoma Research Foundation announces a series of awards to researchers across the country, including $55,000 to Kate Keller, Ph.D., to profile the glaucoma trabecular cell transcriptome.

Medscape reports on a new observational study led by Sen Yang, M.D., and Wei-Chun Lin, M.D., Ph.D., that finds preoperative use of the alpha-agonist brimonidine -- eye drops to reduce fluid and pressure -- is associated with a nearly threefold increased risk for trabeculectomy -- a surgical procedure to create a new drainage channel in the eye to lower fluid pressure and prevent further vision loss failure -- in patients with glaucoma.

In a Healio Gastroenterology story about new research finding a higher prevalence of colorectal cancer screening among Latino men and Latina women with expansion of Medicaid eligibility, Nathalie Huguet, Ph.D., says, “Latino men, in particular, have exhibited a notable low prevalence of completing colorectal cancer screenings, highlighting a critical area for intervention.”

In a Healio Neurology about new research on clinical screening for hoarding, Peter Pressman, M.D., says, “Our team suspected that hoarding was more common in behavioral neurology clinics than many people were catching. Many behaviors aren’t described unless you specifically ask, and hoarding often isn’t asked about systematically.”

A new city art trail in downtown Portland with crow sculptures will be auctioned to benefit Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

Vision Monday reports on recent research identifying a possible link between GLP-1 medications used for weight loss and a condition involving sudden, painless and often permanent vision loss caused by reduced flood flow to the optic nerve. Mitchell Brinks, M.D., says, “The risk appears higher with GLP-1 users who are obese and diabetic, though the available early data is incomplete.”