Damian McNamara is a journalist for Medscape Medical News and MDedge. He worked full-time for MDedge as the Miami Bureau covering a dozen medical specialties during 2001-2012, then as a freelancer for Medscape and MDedge, before being hired on staff by Medscape in 2018. Now the two companies are one. He uses what he learned in school – Damian has a BS in chemistry and an MS in science, health and environmental reporting/journalism. He works out of a home office in Miami, with a 100-pound chocolate lab known to snore under his desk during work hours.
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Lilly stops antibody trial in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, other trials continue
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
Eli Lilly announced it will halt its ACTIV-3 trial evaluating the antibody bamlanivimab in combination with...
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Trump and Biden face off over COVID-19, ACA in final debate
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
The adequacy of the COVID-19 response to date, the likely timeline for vaccine availability, and how to reopen...
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CDC expands definition of COVID-19 exposure from ‘close contact’
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
Four factors associated with higher risk for transmission are the proximity of each encounter, its duration, whether an interaction takes place...
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Rinse and repeat? Mouthwash might mitigate COVID-19 spread
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
"I would recommend the use of the rinses on top of wearing mask and social distancing. This could add a layer of protection for yourself and...
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FDA issues new NSAIDs warning for second half of pregnancy
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
The FDA action expands on earlier warnings about agents in this drug class, which the FDA previously cautioned about taking after week 30 of...
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‘Profound human toll’ in excess deaths from COVID-19 calculated in two studies
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
The number of deaths caused by the pandemic exceeds publicly reported COVID-19 death counts by 20%.
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Three major COVID vaccine developers release detailed trial protocols
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
Typically, manufacturers guard the specifics of preclinical vaccine trials. This rare move follows calls for greater transparency.
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Infectious COVID-19 can persist in gut for weeks
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
“We found active and prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection in the stool of patients with COVID-19, even after recovery, suggesting that coronavirus could...
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Unexpected results in new COVID-19 ‘cytokine storm’ data
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
Circulating cytokine concentrations are lower in patients with COVID-19, compared with other diseases.
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High mortality rates reported in large COVID-19 study
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
“What I found most illuminating was this whole concept of comorbid conditions. This provides suggestive data about who we need to worry about most...
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Two PR employees at FDA fired after plasma therapy controversy
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
The warnings by two public relations experts at the FDA against overpromoting convalescent plasma as a treatment for COVID-19 reportedly led to...
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FDA approves point-of-care COVID-19 antigen test
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
“This new COVID-19 antigen test is an important addition to available tests because the results can be read in minutes, right off the testing card...
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Cutaneous clues linked to COVID-19 coagulation risk
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
These skin signs could augment coagulation assays in this patient population.
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Low vitamin D linked to increased COVID-19 risk
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
A large study evaluates associations between low serum vitamin D levels and risks for acquiring COVID-19 and hospitalization.
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Combination therapy quells COVID-19 cytokine storm
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
“While not a randomized clinical trial, and thus susceptible to unmeasured bias, the study adds to mounting evidence that supports targeting the...