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EVERYTHING
WHAM Launches Innovator’s Circle to Boost Women’s Health Funding
What: Despite women driving most healthcare decisions, they only get 2% of healthcare venture capital. WHAM (Women's Health Access Matters) announced a new "Innovator’s Circle", bringin together 20 founding funds that aim to not only focus on women's health but also create a network that can share information and shape investment strategies.
Key Line: “'The Innovator’s Circle is more than a network—it’s a platform to accelerate groundbreaking ideas into market-ready solutions,' said Carolee Lee, CEO and Founder of WHAM. 'By aligning early-stage investors with later-stage capital partners, we’re unlocking exponential opportunity for returns—and real health impact.'”
Source: Femtech Insider
Millions More Could Become Uninsured Due to Proposed Budget Changes
What: An analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation found Republican's proposed legislation could lead to nearly 14 million Americans losing health insurance coverage, through both Medicaid cuts and the expiration of tax credits that currently help some pay for ACA insurance coverage.
Key Line: "If these changes go into effect, it would lead to the uninsured rate increasing by about 30%, and it would come after years of declining uninsured rates following implementation of the ACA."
Source: KFF
PREGNANCY + POSTPARTUM
USPSTF Reaffirms Early Universal Screening for Syphilis during Pregnancy
What: The USPSTF reconfirmed its recommendation that all pregnant women get early screening for syphilis infection. Congenital syphilis can lead to serious adverse outcomes for the fetus, and screening helps reduce risks like premature birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth.
Key Line: "In 2023, there were 3882 cases of congenital syphilis in the US, including 279 congenital syphilis–related stillbirths and neonatal/infant deaths, the highest number reported in more than 30 years."
Source: JAMA
ABORTION ACCESS
Mental Distress Among Women Increases Following Texas Abortion Restrictions
What: A study of nearly 80,000 people found Texas' severe abortion restrictions were associated with a significant increase (nearly 7%) in one measure of mental distress among women compared to men in Texas, and over 5% increase between women in Texas versus women in states without severe abortion access restrictions.
Key Line: "In this repeated cross-sectional study, there was a significant association between SB8 implementation and an increase in frequent mental distress. Disproportionately higher increases among younger people could be associated with higher levels of anticipated or actual need for abortion care or less ability to overcome barriers to care, including travel."
Source: JAMA Network Open
ONCOLOGY
Researchers Identify Texture Patterns Associated with Breast Cancer Risk
What: A study in Radiology found six breast texture patterns associated with higher breast cancer risk--and their findings go beyond "dense" breast tissue. Using mammograms for over 30,000 women without a history of breast cancer, researchers used radiomics, the process of finding patterns in medical images to visible to the naked eye, to identify six phenotypes that were associated with increased risk of cancer.
Key Line: "'Our next steps include extending our investigations to larger groups of women in the U.S. population, especially examining 3D mammograms, and combining these radiomic risk factors with genetic and other lifestyle factors to improve our ability to define who is (and who is not) at increased risk of invasive breast cancer,' Dr. Vachon said."
Source: RSNA News
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