JMIR Publications released three News and Perspectives stories on how digital technologies are reshaping clinical care, diagnostics, and patient self-management.
Automating Cardiac MRI Interpretation with AI
Interpreting cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) scans is time-intensive and requires specialized knowledge, creating a diagnostic bottleneck. In " AI Model Improves Interpretation of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scans ", Shalini Kathuria Narang reports on research out of Carnegie Mellon University and the Cleveland Clinic training and testing CMR-CLIP, a vision-language AI model. Unlike traditional machine learning systems for MRI interpretation that learn from manually labeled datasets, CMR-CLIP was trained on over 11,000 deidentified patient examinations, learning directly from clinical text summaries to identify conditions by matching images to descriptive prompts. According to Deborah Kwon, MD, clinical lead of the study, this tool could potentially help automate the reporting pipeline, helping to "democratize expert cardiac scans' interpretation to community-based hospitals" that lack direct access to specialized specialists.
Please cite as:
Narang SK. AI Model Improves Interpretation of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scans.
J Med Internet Res 2026;28:e106121
URL: https://www.jmir.org/2026/1/e106121
doi: 10.2196/106121
Rebuilding Independence Through Virtual Reality
In " On the Road Again: Virtual Reality for Poststroke Rehabilitation ", JMIR Correspondent Jenna Congdon reports on how immersive VR driving simulators are emerging as tools to help patients safely rebuild neurological skills. Occupational therapist Christina Duncan, OTR/L, CDRS, uses these simulators to let patients practice safely with adaptive equipment, such as left-foot pedals and one-handed steering attachments; these repeated, realistic simulations prompt the brain to form new neural pathways for motor control, decision making, and more. "While currently focused on driving," writes Congdon, "these immersive tools are expanding to support patients in relearning other activities of daily living, balance, and gait control."
Please cite as:
Congdon J. On the Road Again: Virtual Reality for Poststroke Rehabilitation.
J Med Internet Res 2026;28:e106124
URL: https://www.jmir.org/2026/1/e106124/
doi: 10.2196/106124
Navigating Menopause Apps
A commercial boom in women's health has fueled a rise in mobile menopause applications, reports JMIR Correspondent Wendy Glauser in " Menopause Apps Offer Empowerment, but Pose Risks ". These tools can deeply empower patients; as researcher Elizabeth Sillence, PhD, notes, tracking symptoms helps users understand their experiences and communicate with their physicians. However, many of these apps may not provide medically accurate information; a 2019 review revealed that only 27% of menopause apps had medical professional involvement, and just 23% used evidence-based information. Some apps encourage unreliable at-home urine hormone testing—which medical organizations advise against—and use tracking data for targeted marketing of expensive, unregulated "bio-identical" hormones.
Please cite as:
Glauser W. Menopause Apps Offer Empowerment, but Pose Risks.
J Med Internet Res 2026;28:e106205
URL: https://www.jmir.org/2026/1/e106205
doi: 10.2196/106205
About JMIR Publications News and Perspectives
JMIR Publications is a leading open access publisher of digital health research. The News and Perspectives section is the newest addition to its portfolio, established to bring the rigor and integrity of academic publishing to scientific journalism. The section features well-researched, expert-driven content from the Scientific News Editor, Kayleigh-Ann Clegg, PhD, and a network of specialist JMIR Publications Correspondents to keep the digital health community informed, inspired, and ahead of the curve.
About JMIR Publications
JMIR Publications is a leading open access publisher of digital health research and a champion of open science. With a focus on author advocacy and research amplification, JMIR Publications partners with researchers to advance their careers and maximize the impact of their work. As a technology organization with publishing at its core, we provide innovative tools and resources that go beyond traditional publishing, supporting researchers at every step of the dissemination process. Our portfolio features a range of peer-reviewed journals, including the renowned Journal of Medical Internet Research.
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