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Our list of newsmakers this year includes a range of nonconformists, from a scientist advocating population-wide genetic tests to a doctor who caused a stir while waiting for takeout food.
At first glance, 2014 may seem like a year dominated by disease outbreaks, from polio's reemergence in parts of Asia to the Ebola epidemic that still continues to make headlines. But a closer look indicates 2014 was replete with regulatory rulings, big investments in genomic medicine and activism in the name of research funding.
This year's newsworthy drugs made major strides against infectious diseases, cancer and more. Some others received attention for controversies they stemmed or stomped. Here is a look at the therapies that leapt forward, some that are in limbo, and others that fell by the wayside.
Investigational drugs can save or extend lives, and seriously ill patients not able to take part in clinical trials should have access to such drugs whenever possible. In a climate of increased public pressure for this access—often termed compassionate use—five states in the US have passed so-called 'right to try' legislation. These laws are ill advised, as they are not likely to substantially increase access and have the potential to compromise the clinical trial system.
This year's most notable research included studies that opened new avenues for regenerative medicine, paved the way to editing out vulnerability to disease and unraveled the genetic complexities underlying diseases such as leukemia and schizophrenia. Here are some of the papers that captured our attention and moved their fields forward in 2014.