News from around Yale and the World

A non-invasive test uses a combination of lasers and ultrasound to detect red blood cells infected with malaria parasites with acoustics.

Here's what experts have to say about getting your shot during the week of the holiday.

To improve health outcomes for children and families across socioeconomic gradients and sociocultural contexts, it is crucial to understand biological embedding of adversity and mobilize this new knowledge to inform health policy. This understanding is especially timely during changes in presidential administrations. Accordingly, the Yale Biological Embedding, Global Research & Intervention Network (BEGIN) Faculty Network of the Yale Institute for Global Health convened a facilitated dialogue on November 4th to launch a new project, “New BEGINnings: Presidential Policy Platform,” which seeks to embed health equity in federal initiatives by advancing policies that promote health and well-being for children and families. It takes a holistic, “Triple Bottom Line” justice approach, committing to equity in health, the environment, and economics.

On November 15th, participants in the Yale Sustainable Health Initiative Venture Development Program (VDP) pitched ideas for innovative global health ventures as part of the Kalyanpur-Maheshwari Grant for Global Health Innovation Pitch Competition. The winning group, Respond Crisis Translation, was selected by a panel of judges based on innovativeness, quality of their pitch, ongoing engagement with the VDP, and demonstration of impact. Respond received t $5,000 to support their ongoing work.

Over a decade ago, Dr. Nicola Hawley, PhD, connected with a colleague in American Samoa to learn more about prenatal care delivery and how pregnancy might provide an opportunity to impact chronic disease prevention interventions. Obesity and overweight are highly prevalent among pregnant Samoan women, and a previous study conducted by Dr. Hawley and her colleagues found those conditions to be associated with adverse maternal and infant health outcomes. They also discovered a lack of data about gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the U.S. territory, but they estimate that about 40% of women in American Samoa will develop GDM during pregnancy. At the time, screening rates for gestational diabetes were low, largely due to a lack of awareness about the condition and issues with supply-side service provision.

DIslodged by COVID early in the pandemic, tuberculosis is once again the infectious disease that takes the most lives each year. And the number of cases set a new record. YSPH's Dr. Luke Davis, an expert on TB and HIV, comments.

The 2024 Lancet Countdown on health and climate change, an annual international assessment of progress toward the climate mitigation goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement — co-authored this year by three members of the Yale Center on Climate Change and Health — contains some of the most dire projections to date associated with persistent global inaction over the pressing climate emergency.

The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has announced the election of two Yale School of Medicine (YSM) faculty members as new NAM members. Erol Fikrig, MD, is Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases), professor of epidemiology (microbial diseases) and of microbial pathogenesis, and section chief for infectious disease in YSM’s Department of Internal Medicine. Haifan Lin, PhD, is Eugene Higgins Professor of Cell Biology; professor of genetics; of obstetrics, gynecology & reproductive sciences; and of dermatology; and director of the Yale Stem Cell Center. They are among 90 newly elected regular members of NAM, along with 10 international members.