Scientists have created embryo models to help study the mysteries of early human development, the medical problems that happen before birth and why many pregnancies fail. A new study making models from stem cells, rather than an egg and sperm has been released.

A HIV program credited with saving millions of lives around the world is feared to be under threat as its funding comes up for renewal in September. The reason is a political fight in the United States over abortion funding.

In the lead up to World Suicide Prevention Day, mental health professionals are saying high-pressure occupations contribute to increased suicidal tendencies. But there are indications that there is inadequate provision for mental health care in Australia. A new app has been released to help combat the situation.

A Senate inquiry has been investigating concerns over concussions in professional and community sport. Its final report has called for a national strategy and for government to take a greater hand in addressing the issue.

Australia is seeing a decline in a free bowel screening test participation that is a proven life-saver. Cancer Council Victoria is urging more eligible people to take part in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

While around 75 per cent of the Australian population experiences trauma, only around five to ten per cent will develop post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. But rates of PTSD are rising, with the Royal Commission into Veteran and Defence Suicide again drawing attention to the condition.

The Pharmacy Guild has abandoned its campaign against the rollout of 60 day prescriptions. The changes to almost 100 medications come into effect from September 1st - allowing patients to access twice as many doses.

A new study published by Nature Medicine has inspected multiple biomarkers, or substances in our blood, which help diagnose people with long COVID. Those experiencing the condition are welcoming new research, as they suffer from what is often described as an invisible illness.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme has come under intense scrutiny in recent times, both for its cost and for how challenging some participants have found it to get support. Some of the debate has focused on the support needs of autistic people. But there's concern they're under particular pressure as the NDIS plans for its future.

INTERVIEW: A parasitic roundworm has been pulled from a woman's brain in Canberra in a startling medical first. Researchers at the Australian National University and the Canberra Hospital discovered the live eight-centimetre Ophidascaris robertsi roundworm after detecting an atypical lesion in the brain of a 64-year-old woman who had complained of memory lapses. The doctors believe the woman caught the worm when foraging for native grass close to her home, after it was shed by a carpet python through its faeces. SBS's Janice Petersen talks to Canberra hospital infectious diseases physician Dr Sanjaya Senanayake: