A Northwestern analysis tied premature menopause to roughly a 40% higher lifetime coronary heart disease risk. Doctors say menopause age should be part of routine risk screening.

A Northwestern study finds brain immune cells’ use of fructose helps glioblastoma grow in mice, highlighting the transporter GLUT5 as a possible drug target. The findings are preclinical.

Endeavor Health is advancing a roughly $29M modernization at Edward Hospital to add operating rooms and a 10‑bed ICU, aiming to ease pressure on cardiac care. State filings and local reporting detail the scope and funding.

Rosalind Franklin University's Helix 51 incubator is set to nearly double, adding wet‑lab space and room for more startups in North Chicago. County leaders say the buildout will deepen a growing bioscience corridor.

Fifth Star Funds aims to back six Chicago tech startups this year, pairing a $450K friends‑and‑family goal with a LongJump partnership and a recent foundation grant.

Illinois institutions took in $1.26B in NIH awards in 2025 — down 12.4% as grant counts fell and the agency shifted priorities. That pullback is squeezing Chicago's research hubs.

AbbVie's ABBV‑295 produced nearly 10% weight loss in a 76‑person Phase 1 readout, with mostly mild side effects; full data are pending conference presentation.

Perplexity asked a federal judge to narrow parts of suits by The New York Times and Chicago Tribune while leaving core copyright allegations intact.

PowerSchool and Chicago Public Schools proposed a $17.25M settlement over Naviance claims and new privacy rules for millions of current and former students.

Chicago‑based Xeris sued two ANDA filers to block generic Recorlev, citing four Orange Book patents that extend into 2040 and orphan exclusivity into 2028.

Chicago’s Letter AI landed a $40M Series B led by Battery Ventures and launched Letter Compass to bring AI coaching into live deals. The company says it will triple hiring this year.

Amazon will launch Prime Air drones from Markham and Matteson to deliver small orders within an eight‑mile radius. Community demos and a March 2 meeting are planned.

Neil Bluhm has pledged $50 million to Northwestern Medicine to expand cardiac research, recruit doctors and boost inpatient capacity as the system plans a new Streeterville tower.