In The News: Department of Social and Behavioral Health

Las Vegas Sun

Four months ago, Tara McKay, an associate professor at Vanderbilt University, received an award from the National Institutes of Health recognizing her contributions to the field of LGBTQ+ health research.

STAT

The funding was supposed to last for at least several more months, said Jace Flatt, an associate professor of health and behavioral sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. But on Friday, he and several other scientists studying LGBTQ+ health received a letter from the National Institutes of Health informing them that some existing, ongoing grants from the federal government were terminated, effective immediately.

Indica News

At the end of February 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 164 cases of measles in 9 jurisdictions in Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Rhode Island, and Texas. An outbreak of measles is considered when there are 3 or more related cases, and 3 outbreaks have been reported in 2025 with most cases in Texas. A large majority of these cases were unvaccinated individuals and 20% were hospitalized with one confirmed death. This is a cause of alarm for the public as measles was declared to have been eliminated in 2000 in the United States. Hence, we need to be cognizant of precautions and preventive measures.

Yahoo!

Federal grant freezes are impacting many institutions and programs including some right here in the Las Vegas valley.

KLAS-TV: 8 News Now

Federal grant freezes are impacting many institutions and programs including some right here in the Las Vegas valley.

Indica News

The newer class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists such as semaglutide (Ozempic®) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro®, Zepbound®) are gaining popularity all over the world. It is reported that already 2-3% of Americans are taking these drugs. J.P. Morgan Research projects that by 2030, approximately 30 million people, or 9% of the U.S. population may be taking GLP-1 agonists.

STAT

The Defense Department on Thursday abruptly reversed course on funding a study of LGBTQ+ veterans that had been recommended late last year, saying it “was not in line” with one of President Trump’s executive orders.

India Currents

Dr. Manoj Sharma, a Professor of Social and Behavioral Health and Internal Medicine, answers queries on schizophrenia.

Indica News

Gut bacteria are an integral part of the human body and reside in the intestines from birth until death. Recent advancements in gene sequencing, bioinformatics, and culturomics have fostered more research into microbiota. Recent research suggests that a gut bacterium, Akkermansia muciniphilia, which degrades mucin, a sugary protein secreted by the intestinal epithelium, is beneficial for metabolic health. It was first isolated in 2004 by Derrien and colleagues in The Netherlands.

Indica News

In 2025, the Maha-Kumbh began in Prayagraj on January 13, 2025, with the Pausha Purnima Snan, and concludes on February 26, 2025, with the Shahi Snan, corresponding with Maha Shivaratri. It is envisaged that it will be a large gathering of over 100 million pilgrims attending it.

India Currents

Rajinder*, a 68-year-old first-generation Indian immigrant, and Saroj*, 65, a first-generation immigrant, are a married couple living in Ohio. They are now retired. Rajinder worked with the US Postal Service and Saroj was a Retail Manager at a grocery chain. They have one adult daughter, Neerja*, who lives close by and has a family with two young children. Saroj has noticed recently that Rajinder has become forgetful to the extent that he forgets to keep track of monthly bills.

The Sunday Guardian

This Mela is considered as a penance to purify oneself and various limbs of yoga are reflected in the prescribed practices and austerities recommended as Kalpavas during this period.