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Four OICR-funded studies explore transformative approaches in cancer care

Four new research studies funded by the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) will deliver cutting-edge innovations by maximizing the impact of existing research and making the most out of patient contributions.

13 May 2026

Base editing approach repairs deadly Dravet syndrome mutation in mice

Gene editing can repair a DNA error in mice that causes Dravet syndrome, a rare, incurable, and potentially deadly form of childhood epilepsy. After the edit, the mice have far fewer seizures and live much longer.

13 May 2026

Gene panel predicts chemotherapy response in triple-negative breast cancer

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have characterized cancer cell-specific features in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) tissues, identifying specific macrophage subtypes associated with chemotherapy response.

13 May 2026

Scientists identify genetic mechanisms connected to core autism behaviors

A long‑overlooked stretch of the human genome appears to play a distinct role in shaping the social and stereotypic repetitive behaviors that define Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), without affecting learning or other cognitive abilities, according to a major new study published in Nature.

13 May 2026

New gene editing approach improves survival in epileptic mice

In a world first, a research team at the University of Zurich has successfully treated mice carrying an inherited form of epilepsy.

13 May 2026

Genetic schizophrenia risk linked to neurodevelopmental changes during early adolescence

Research has found that children with higher genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia show decreases in frontal cortical surface area during early adolescence, in contrast to the regional expansion observed in children with low genetic susceptibility.

13 May 2026

Blood-cell X chromosome loss may predict lower natural fertility

A study reveals that mosaic loss of the X chromosome in blood cells may indicate reduced natural conception likelihood in women, linking fertility and aging.

13 May 2026

Tracking the aging process across tens of millions of individual cells

While much is mysterious about the aging process, change over time remains its cornerstone. The biological shifts that accompany aging seemingly occur in many cells in the body.

13 May 2026

BGI Genomics joins HGP2 Rare Disease Alliance to close rare disease care gap in Asia-Pacific

The HGP2 RaDiAnce-APAC initiative enhances rare disease diagnosis and genomic medicine, fostering collaboration for improved health in the Asia-Pacific region.

From BGI Genomics 12 May 2026

Scientists call for explainable AI in protein language models

Protein language models are artificial intelligence tools which help engineer proteins with useful properties, including completely new structures never seen before in nature.

11 May 2026

Infectious H5N1 virus detected in dairy farm air

Findings from California dairy farms show H5N1 in air and wastewater, indicating overlooked transmission routes and implications for outbreak management.

8 May 2026

JAYseq test delivers rapid genomic profiling for multiple myeloma patients

The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope, today announced the launch of JAYseqTM, a clinical whole-genome sequencing (WGS) test specifically for multiple myeloma.

7 May 2026

Reverse ecology approach reveals hidden complexity in gut microbiome

The human gut harbors a complex ecosystem of trillions of microorganisms (the microbiome), which influences digestion, the immune system and metabolism.

7 May 2026

Blood-based biomarkers identified for early inflammatory breast cancer diagnosis

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and The University of Texas at Austin have identified specific blood-based genomic biomarkers that distinguish inflammatory breast cancer from other subtypes, providing a new and less invasive method for early diagnosis, disease progression monitoring and treatment development for patients with this aggressive disease.

6 May 2026

4basebio announces lease of an innovation hub and manufacturing facility in Cambridge, UK

4basebio PLC, a specialist in synthetic DNA manufacturing and nucleic acids for next-generation therapeutics, announces a significant expansion into a new innovation hub and manufacturing facility in Cambridge, UK, supporting growing demand for research and high-quality grade manufacturing of synthetic DNA for gene and cell therapies, mRNA vaccines, genome editing, or DNA vaccines.

From 4basebio PLC 6 May 2026

Mapping brain circuits helps identify the causes of psychiatric symptoms

If a small stroke in one corner of the brain can tip a previously healthy person into mania or set off obsessions and compulsions where none existed before, then the circuit connected to that lesion is telling us something rare in psychiatry.

5 May 2026

Study links microplastics in arterial plaque to fourfold increase in stroke risk

In a Perspective published today in the inaugural issue of Brain Health (https://doi.org/10.61373/bh026p.0006), an international team of investigators argues that the human microplastic burden has crossed the threshold from environmental concern to brain health emergency. The article appears alongside the launch of Brain Health, a new peer-reviewed journal from Genomic Press dedicated to the science of lifelong brain resilience.

5 May 2026

ASPIRE trial explores survival benefits of adding chemotherapy to standard prostate cancer treatment

The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology is now enrolling patients in the ASPIRE trial (A032302)-a large-scale, phase III clinical study investigating whether adding chemotherapy to current standard treatments extends survival for men with advanced prostate cancer.

4 May 2026

AI model reads genetic code to trace evolutionary history

Researchers at the University of Oregon have developed an artificial intelligence tool that can read genetic code the way large language models like ChatGPT read text. Scanning the genome for biological mutation patterns, the computer model traces pairs of genes back in time to their last common ancestor.

4 May 2026

New genomic study tracks rare blood disease in children

Aplastic anemia is a rare, life-threatening blood disorder where patients are unable to make enough blood cells due to the immune system's attack on blood stem cells. The condition can progress to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and leukemia. A study led by scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, with multiple collaborating institutions, used state-of-the-art genomic techniques to profile 619 children and adults with aplastic anemia.

4 May 2026