NIH Scientists Collaborate to Find Cures for Rare and Neglected Diseases Drug-development researchers call it the "Valley of Death," the critical stage after a promising molecule is found. That's when increasingly complex tests begin, with the aim being Food and Drug Administration permission for human testing. This preclinical work can take two to four years, cost $10 million on average and fail 80 to 90 percent of the time. Click Here for More ... SHARON H. FITZGERALD

Does The HIT Stimulus Money Mean Smooth Sailing – Or Rough Seas? The cheerleading is fast and furious. The federal government and various medical organizations continue to hail the nearly $19 billion health information technology portion of President Obama's economic stimulus as the catalyst needed to break down barriers to widespread use of electronic health records. Yet there's an undercurrent of caution among providers, HIT entrepreneurs and the popular media. Click Here for More ... SHARON H. FITZGERALD

Urgent and Emergent Nation's Trauma & Emergency System Nears Breaking Point Congress is currently considering two pieces of legislation that many leaders in trauma care and emergency medicine consider a lifeline for their respective specialties. Without intervention, these professionals fear a time will come when a call for emergency care cannot be answered. Click Here for More ... CINDY SANDERS

Will ERs in the Deep South Be Ready for Second Wave of Swine Flu? Best Practices Approach Diffuses Volume-Driven Problems, Emergency Physician Shortages The World Health Organization has warned that swine flu may return "with a vengeance" in the months ahead. Already facing shortages of emergency physicians, will the Deep South's ERs be ready to treat a large influx of sick patients? Click Here for More ... LYNNE JETER