Obstetrics & Gynecology

News and Events

Programs and providers of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Weill Cornell Medicine are often the focus of news stories and features appearing in major national media. We invite you to review some stories that typify the breakthrough accomplishments of our remarkable team and highlight the impact our care has had on patient’s lives.

Developing a Genetic Toolkit for Manipulating Abundant Intestinal Microbes

cartoon showing speedometer, on/off switch and scissors as ways bacteria can be manipulated

Weill Cornell Medicine investigators have developed a set of molecular tools to regulate the activity of specific genes in one of the most common classes of intestinal bacteria. The ability to genetically manipulate these microbes could lead to a better understanding of the role they play in human physiology and diseases.

In healthy individuals, species of Clostridia comprise half of the bacteria found in the gut. Many produce metabolites that are likely beneficial for human health and immune regulation. However, some are associated with disease—from botulism and inflammatory intestinal conditions to metabolic disorders such as diabetes or even cancer.

headshot of a man

Dr. Chun-Jun Guo

Exactly how Clostridia contribute to disease onset or progression is not well understood. For example, do the bacteria produce a specific toxin or disease-affecting metabolite? Or could changes in their abundance alter other gut bacteria and influence health or disease?

Dr. Dan Landau Named Inaugural Chair of the Department of Systems and Computational Biomedicine at Weill Cornell Medicine

Headshot of Dr. Dan Landau overlaying a picture of a building with flags

NEW YORK (Aug. 24, 2026)—Embracing the transformational potential of new molecular profiling and artificial-intelligence-based data processing technologies on clinical and scientific innovation, Weill Cornell Medicine has created a new research department, the Department of Systems and Computational Biomedicine. Dr. Dan Landau, an internationally recognized cancer researcher and geneticist whose pioneering advances include single-cell-profiling technology innovation and an artificial intelligence-powered liquid biopsy for detecting tumor DNA in blood, will serve as the department’s inaugural chair, effective Sept. 1.

The Department of Systems and Computational Biomedicine consolidates elements of the existing Department of Physiology and Biophysics, the Institute for Computational Biomedicine, and other computation-centered and systems biology faculty and facilities. Its establishment reflects a multiyear initiative to realign and optimize the organization of basic and translational science to facilitate interdisciplinary research and promote mentorship of faculty at all levels.

Prostate Cancer Hijacks Amino Acid Metabolism to Signal Hormone Therapy Resistance

prostate cancer cell with cholesterol

Prostate tumors can rewire amino acid metabolism to override the normal brakes on cholesterol production, a process that may fuel hormone therapy resistance, according to a study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

The preclinical study, published Aug. 20 in Nature Metabolism, revealed that a compound called propionyl-CoA, produced by the breakdown of amino acids isoleucine and valine during normal energy metabolism, acts as a signal that switches on cholesterol production. This helps prostate cancer cells adapt to the hormone-deprived conditions resulting from treatment and acquire more aggressive features.

By revealing this previously unrecognized connection, the study identified a potential weakness in prostate cancer that could be targeted with new drugs or, pending clinical testing, dietary strategies that reduce levels of isoleucine and valine. These essential amino acids are abundant in protein-rich foods such as meat, fish and dairy products.

Dr. John Blenis

Dr. John Blenis

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