Final words about Mark Cuban (in tweets) and a Genentech exec joins 23andMe (Morning Read)

Robert Gentleman, Genentech's former senior director of bioinformatics, has taken on a position with 23andMe in the role of vice president of computational biology.

TOP STORIES

It continued to be Mark Cuban versus the Medical World on Thursday, with everyone from Eric Topol to any journalist with a Forbes account jumping into the mix. The tweets are endless – and most are tiresome. Incidental Economist summarizes where all the fuss got started (a recommendations for quarterly blood tests). But after endless amounts of tweets – one thing I like about Cuban: he has lots of time to e-mail and tweet the Average Joe – Cuban fired off three tweets to try and put it all into focus.

At this point, let’s call it a wrap. Can we all move on now and go create some evidence?

Well, OK, one more tweet.

LIFE SCIENCE

Genentech’s former senior director of bioinformatics, Robert Gentleman, has joined 23andMe as vice president of computational biology. He’ll explore how the human genetic and trait data in the 23andMe database can be used to identify new therapies for disease.

Chen Haibin, chairman of Zhejiang Dian Diagnostics, is now part of the world’s billionaire club following record gains in the share price of his Shenzhen-listed company healthcare services firm.

Gene-editing company Caribou Biosciences has raised $11 million.

But it’s not all about the genes. Characteristics passed between generations are not decided solely by DNA, according to a new study.

Scientists are reporting promising preliminary results for an experimental vaccine targeting melanoma patients’ genetic mutations.

French startup Sevenhugs, developers of new family sleep monitoring technology, has secured its seed investment round for a total of €1.5M.

PAYERS-PROVIDERS

The next superburg: drug-resistant shigellosis.

More evidence the laparoscopic power morcellator is getting shut down.

Minnesota launched its first nurse-led clinic.

Here’s a look at the three latest and major shared plans for or implemented layoffs from hospitals and health systems in the past month.

CMS has announced the prohibition of Recovery Audit Contractor inpatient hospital patient status reviews under the “two-midnight” policy until April 30.

New York-based health insurance startup Oscar is basking in the hype of its current fundraise.

Thankfully, another potential Ebola patient in Colorado has tested negative.

Emory Healthcare and WellStar Health System will merge.

For those who’ve ever been required to provide a doctor’s note when you’ve had a cold or the flu, this might inspire a slow-clap.

TECH

Today’s the last day to make comments on the National Coordinator’s Interoperability Roadmap. Read some of the current feedback.

Gaming and technology can be useful for furthering development in autistic children.

A huge chunk of healthcare sector spending on IT is wasted – what gives?

Clinical Ink, which develops  software to support clinical trials, has raised $9.8 million, according to a Form D filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fundraise follows its merger with CentrosHealth last month. Clinical Ink’s  software allows clinical trial workers to enter data using tablets and Centros provides mobile apps for patients participating in clinical trials that help them transmit patient outcomes.

POLITICS

Lawmakers in Georgia have advanced a bill requiring insurance companies to cover autistic children.

President Obama’s chief economist, Jason Furman, delivered a rebuttal to the claims from conservatives that the Affordable Care Act would be the end of the U.S. economy. He seemed peeved. “To put it mildly, these doomsday prophecies have not come to pass.”

A LITTLE EXTRA

Marijuana tech company, PotBotics, is developing a “virtual bud tender” robot to assist customers at weed dispensaries. The Pot Bot asks a series of questions and has full vocal and facial recognition, which it then uses to pick out a strain that’s perfect for that individual. Maybe inspiration for a futuristic “Weeds” meets “Cheers” show.

The Morning Read provides a 24-hour wrap up of everything else healthcare’s innovators need to know about the business of medicine (and beyond). The author of The Read published it but all full-time MedCity News journalists contribute to its content.

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