Research Highlights in 2022

In the fields of neuroscience and psychiatry, more studies are now including both male and female participants, but few are using optimal designs for discovery of sex differences.

A WHO expert panel concluded that a single dose of HPV vaccine has efficacy comparable to that of the two-dose regimen, which could help boost cervical cancer–elimination efforts.

A phase 3 trial confirms that addition of the checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves outcomes in patients with early-stage lung cancer.

A deep-learning model predicts the likelihood of, and time to, sudden cardiac death in patients with heart disease — providing an opportunity for clinical intervention.

A large Canadian study showed that those living close to fracking sites had an increased risk of adverse birth outcomes, but the reasons for this are still unknown.

Trastuzumab deruxtecan performed better than trastuzumab emtansine in patients with pretreated HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, but careful safety monitoring will be needed in the clinical setting.

Data reveal an increased risk of diabetes in the months after acute COVID-19 infection – which could have implications for stretched public health systems.

Long-acting antibody nirsevimab could offer protection against respiratory syncytial virus infection in all infants — fulfilling a serious unmet need.

A large-scale study reveals infection-related structural changes in the brain — further research and long-term follow-up will be needed to determine their impact.

A study involving physicians, politicians and the public tackles uncomfortable questions around who should be allocated lifesaving treatment.

A novel orexin receptor antagonist improved sleep quality in people with insomnia, without residual effects on daytime functioning.

A novel technique enables molecular profiling of cell types in the brain vasculature and expands understanding of the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease.

Sustained caloric restriction without malnutrition reduces markers of inflammation and aging in mice and humans.

Women are more likely to experience severe treatment-related adverse events, particularly if they receive immunotherapy.

The identification of a highly virulent subtype of HIV in the Netherlands underscores the importance of surveillance, testing and prompt initiation of therapy.

Patients with CYP2C19 mutations may have suboptimal responses to clopidogrel, but another anti-platelet agent — ticagrelor — may help to prevent stroke recurrence.

The most comprehensive analysis of AMR so far highlights the enormous magnitude of this public health problem, and provides a foundation for targeted interventions.

The pandemic has limited access to endoscopy screening for patients with Barrett’s esophagus, but a new biomarker-based method could help prioritize patients based on cancer risk.

A US-based study highlights widening disparities in air quality, with racial/ethnic minorities and low-income groups exposed to higher levels of pollution.

Microbiome alterations have been associated with autism, but a new study suggests that this may be a consequence of autism-related dietary preferences, rather than a causal factor.