The Consortium for State and Regional Interoperability has launched a new Health Data Utility Capability Model to standardize and define the capabilities of Health Data Utility organizations. These nonprofit entities aim to meet state health data needs across sectors, providing technical services like data normalization and real-time notifications. The model, developed with input from stakeholders and health information exchanges, outlines over 160 capabilities and categorizes HDUs from "emerging" to "aspirational."

A study from King's College London suggests that a polygenic risk score could help predict future breast cancer risk in women treated for ductal carcinoma in situ or lobular carcinoma in situ. The blood-based PRS313 test, which analyzes 313 gene variants, may guide treatment and surveillance strategies by identifying women at higher risk of developing invasive breast cancer. Surgical breast oncologist Salvatore Nardello emphasizes the potential of PRS313 to tailor treatment plans, though further validation is needed, especially for LCIS.

Valerie Black, a medical anthropologist, critiques the term "AI psychosis" used to describe issues with chatbots like ChatGPT and Character.AI, arguing it diverts attention from the real problem of misinformation and inadequate regulation by framing chatbot failings as human "insanity." Black highlights the societal reliance on chatbots due to scarce mental health resources and calls for holding tech companies accountable as these tools become de facto public health resources. Black emphasizes the need for better oversight and regulation to ensure chatbots are safe and reliable, especially as they handle sensitive health data.

"Naming a problem as 'craziness' tends to signal the abandonment of any societal commitment to asking how we might ensure better ways of doing things," Black writes.

Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a new approach that integrates AI with advanced molecular biology techniques to resolve a 25-year-old mystery regarding Crohn's disease, focusing on the role of the NOD2 gene. The study identifies a macrophage gene signature that distinguishes between inflammatory and noninflammatory macrophages, crucial for maintaining gut balance. The findings reveal that mutations in NOD2 disrupt its interaction with the protein girdin, leading to chronic inflammation. This breakthrough not only clarifies the genetic underpinnings of Crohn's disease but also opens avenues for potential treatments aimed at restoring gut immune balance.

The OpenFold Consortium has unveiled OpenFold3, an open-source AI model designed to predict 3D protein structures, aiming to rival Google DeepMind's AlphaFold3. Developed with a $17 million investment, OpenFold3 allows researchers and pharmaceutical companies unrestricted access, promoting the democratization of AI tools in structural biology. While not yet fully matching AlphaFold3's capabilities, the preview release invites feedback to enhance the model, with a full release planned soon.

Nvidia and Eli Lilly and Co. are working together to build a supercomputer and AI factory to speed up drug discovery and development, with the supercomputer expected to be completed by December and operational in January. Described as a novel scientific instrument akin to an enormous microscope for biologists, the supercomputer is designed to enable large-scale training of AI models for drug discovery, processing millions of experiments, using more than 1,000 of Nvidia's Blackwell Ultra GPUs connected via a unified, high-speed network.

Model Context Protocol is an open-source AI standard developed by Anthropic that enables large language models to securely connect with external databases and tools in real time. Released in November 2024, MCP is likened to USB Type-C for its ability to simplify integration across platforms, reducing the need for custom connectors. Major companies like OpenAI, Google DeepMind and Microsoft have adopted MCP, which supports multi-agent orchestration and cloud management. However, security risks such as incorrect server implementation and prompt injection remain concerns.

A new report from The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change reveals a significant rise in deaths due to heat and air pollution, with heat-related deaths increasing by 23% since the 1990s, totaling 546,000 annually. In 2024, wildfire smoke caused a record 154,000 deaths. Another 2.5 million deaths a year are attributable to the air pollution created from burning of fossil fuels like gasoline and coal, researchers found. The report emphasizes the continued expansion of fossil fuel production, despite the health and environmental consequences, and calls for urgent action to reduce fossil fuel dependency.

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