Congress proposes $48.7 billion NIH budget for 2026
Congress has proposed a funding bill for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that sets its budget at $48.7 billion for the 2026 fiscal year, reflecting a $415 million increase over 2025. This measure counters President Trump's proposed 37% cuts and retains protections for multiyear awards and indirect costs. The bill, which still requires approval from the full House and Senate, aims to finalize funding legislation by January 30 to avoid a partial government shutdown.
Study Confirms Finger-Prick Tests for Type 1 Diabetes Screening
The University of Birmingham has led a landmark study confirming the feasibility of using finger-prick blood tests to screen children for type 1 diabetes (T1D) before symptoms arise, paving the way for NHS pre-diabetes clinics in the UK. Over 17,283 tests were analyzed, identifying more than 200 children at risk of T1D, with the next phase of the study, Elsa 2, set to recruit more participants aged two to 17. If approved, some children may gain access to teplizumab, a treatment that can delay the need for insulin.
Rockefeller Researchers Uncover Neural Basis of Facial Expressions
Researchers at Rockefeller University, led by Winrich Freiwald, have successfully implanted micro-electrode arrays in macaques to study the neural mechanisms behind facial expressions, revealing that both lower-level and higher-level brain regions are involved in encoding various facial gestures. Published in Science, the study identifies a facial motor network that operates across distinct timescales, challenging previous assumptions that emotional and voluntary facial movements were segregated to different brain areas. The findings highlight the complexity of facial expression generation, with implications for understanding social communication in primates.
