A proposal that could allow health insurance companies to offer loans for medical expenses is fueling debate about the future of health care affordability in the United States. The discussion comes at a time when millions of Americans continue to struggle with rising deductibles, out-of-pocket costs and unexpected medical bills. Even insured patients can face

A new generation of gene-editing technology is fueling intense debate among scientists, fertility specialists and ethicists over how far humanity should go in altering the genetic makeup of future generations. Researchers have recently demonstrated increasingly precise methods for modifying individual DNA sequences in human embryos. Supporters argue that these advances could eventually prevent devastating inherited

For decades, Nancy Wexler stood at the forefront of one of medicine’s most significant genetic discoveries. Her research helped identify the gene responsible for Huntington’s disease and paved the way for predictive testing that allows people to learn whether they carry the devastating inherited mutation. Yet despite dedicating much of her life to understanding the

As an Ebola outbreak continues to spread across parts of East Africa, researchers around the world are accelerating efforts to identify treatments that can effectively combat the virus responsible for the current wave of infections. The outbreak has been linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a less-studied species for which no specifically approved treatment