NEWS and OPINIONS

High-throughput 3D engineered paediatric tumour models for precision medicine
By Molecular Systems Biology - Abstract Precision medicine for paediatric and adult cancers that incorporates drug sensitivity profiling can identify effective therapies for individual patients. However, obtaining adequate biopsy samples for high-throughput (HTP)...

This medical startup uses LLMs to run appointments and make diagnoses
By Grace Huckins - MIT Technology Review - Imagine this: You’ve been feeling unwell, so you call up your doctor’s office to make an appointment. To your surprise, they schedule you in for the next day. At the appointment, you aren’t rushed through describing your...

Distal lung organoids derived from adult stem cells as novel tools in deciphering mechanisms of lung regeneration, infection, and cancer
By Stem Cells Translational Medicine - Introduction While lung research has made great strides in understanding lung physiology, lung pathology still presents a major burden to patients and healthcare systems globally. To develop new effective therapeutics to improve...

Stem cells may offer new hope for end-stage kidney disease treatment
By Alison Satake - Mayo Clinic - More than 4 million people worldwide have end-stage kidney disease that requires hemodialysis, a treatment in which a machine filters waste from the blood. Hemodialysis is a precursor to kidney transplant. To prepare for it, patients...

ISSCR Unveils Roadmap for Advancing Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Therapies
by Bioengineer.org - The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) has unveiled an innovative and comprehensive resource entitled Best Practices for the Development of Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cellular Therapies, marking a pivotal advancement in the...

New gene therapy slows progression of Huntington’s disease by 75%
By Sky News - It is likely to be the first licensed treatment to slow Huntington's, and that "changes everything", says lead investigator Professor Ed Wild. Known as AMT-130, it is delivered via brain surgery, and a single dose is expected to last someone's whole...

Adult Stem Cells Improve Vision in Patients With Macular Degeneration
by Technology Networks - In a first-in-human Phase 1/2a clinical trial, adult stem cells improved vision in patients with macular degeneration. In the United States, age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss in people who are 60...

Lab-grown kidneys show real function in new stem cell study
By Drug Target Review - A USC Stem Cell-led research team have made a big breakthrough in their efforts to build mouse and human synthetic kidneys. In a new paper published in Cell Stem Cell, the scientists describe generating more mature and complex lab-grown...

Common Nutrient Found To Supercharge Immune Cells Against Cancer
By Chandrika Abburi, University of Chicago Medical Center - SciTechDaily - In a recent study, scientists at the University of Chicago found that zeaxanthin, a carotenoid derived from plants and traditionally recognized for supporting eye health, may also enhance...

Junk DNA” Found to Sense Its Environment, May Hold the Key to Disease Treatment
By Bernadette Gillis - Duke university School of Medicine - A new study from Duke University School of Medicine has uncovered a surprising role for what was once considered “junk DNA.” Researchers found that these overlooked parts of our genetic code help stem cells...
AI-designed viruses are here and already killing bacteria
By MIT Technology Review - Artificial intelligence can draw cat pictures and write emails. Now the same technology can compose a working genome. A research team in California says it used AI to propose new genetic codes for viruses—and managed to get several of these...

Scientists use human skin cells to create functional eggs, opening a door to new infertility treatments
By Katie Hunt - CNN - Scientists have used human skin cells to create fertilizable eggs capable of producing early embryos, an advance that could expand possibilities for fertility treatment, according to new research. The proof-of-concept study, published Tuesday in...