Rob Stein
Stories
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Recipient of pig kidney transplant reaches a milestone
An Alabama grandmother who was the first patient to receive a new kind of genetically modified pig kidney more than two months ago is now the longest surviving recipient of a pig organ.
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Federal health agencies told to halt all external communications
In a memo obtained by NPR, acting Health Secretary Dorothy Fink forbade staff from public communications on most matters until Feb. 1, unless they get express approval from "a presidential appointee."
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Winter illnesses return with a vengeance
The annual winter respiratory virus season is in full force. The number of people catching the flu is skyrocketing, while COVID-19, RSV and other respiratory viral illnesses are also rising.
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Talking with the first person to receive a new kind of pig kidney transplant
NPR visits first person to get a new kind of genetically modified pig kidney two weeks after undergoing the historic procedure.
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A transplanted pig kidney offers a grandmother hope for life without dialysis
The patient was in kidney failure and her immune system would reject a human organ. Scientists hope genetically modified pig organs prove safe and will alleviate the organ shortage and save lives.
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For kids with rare genetic disorders, customized CRISPR treatments offer hope
The gene-editing technique is effective for treating some illnesses but it's been too expensive to consider it for rare conditions. A new approach in the works could make it more widely available.
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Customized CRISPR treatments could help people with rare genetic disorders
The gene-editing technique known as CRISPR is promising to revolutionize medicine. Some researchers are trying to help make it available for people with very rare genetic disorders.
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As the respiratory virus season approaches, where does the vaccination rate stand?
So far very few Americans have been rolling up their sleeves to get vaccinated against COVID, flu or RSV.
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Trump turns to critic of COVID mandates to run NIH
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford health researcher, is in line to lead the National Institutes of Health. Early in the pandemic he argued against lockdowns and focusing on people at highest risk.
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Is it the flu or is it COVID? One at-home test can tell you
If you've got a fever, cough, aches and pains, and you're wondering, 'what virus got me this time?" Now you can find out, without taking a trip to the doctor.
