Laboratory News and Research

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Researchers uncover flexibility in brain development and visual recognition

Riddle me this: how can it be that reading these words activates nearly identical word-sensitive patches of the brain's visual system in you and nearly every other reader of this story? And that a different set of face-sensitive visual regions-again in almost identical positions in each reader's brain-would activate to process the faces of the researchers, should you meet them?

17 Mar 2025

New scientific clue could unlock key cellular pathway leading to neurodegenerative diseases

In Nature Neuroscience, UConn School of Medicine researchers have revealed a new scientific clue that could unlock the key cellular pathway leading to devastating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, and the progressive damage to the brain's frontal and temporal lobes in frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) and the associated disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

14 Mar 2025

New approach to combat cancer by reactivating natural RNA kill switch

Alternative RNA splicing is like a movie editor cutting and rearranging scenes from the same footage to create different versions of a film.

14 Mar 2025

Baylor study sheds light on role of CDKL1 and CDKL2 in neurodevelopmental disorders

CDKL5, one of the five members of the CDKL family of genes, is important for proper neurodevelopment and associated with seizures.

14 Mar 2025

Breakthrough peptide inhibitor effective against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants

SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, infects cells by binding its spike protein to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors.

14 Mar 2025

NIH researchers define topical steroid withdrawal diagnostic criteria

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have determined that dermatitis resulting from topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) is distinct from eczema and is caused by an excess of an essential chemical compound in the body.

14 Mar 2025

New laboratory tool identifies viruses to combat Staphylococcus aureus

A newly developed laboratory tool can, within hours, help to identify specific viruses which can be used to destroy variants of the dangerous pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.

14 Mar 2025

New therapeutic approach shows promise for pediatric high-grade gliomas

Brain tumors remain the most common cause of death from childhood cancer. Paediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGG) in particular are a mostly fatal disease group with a median survival time of less than 18 months after diagnosis and limited treatment options.

14 Mar 2025

WEHI team makes major strides in the fight against Parkinson's disease

WEHI researchers have made a huge leap forward in the fight against Parkinson's disease, solving a decades-long mystery that paves the way for development of new drugs to treat the condition.

14 Mar 2025

What’s behind the rise in foodborne illness outbreaks? CDC uncovers key risks and fixes

Bacterial foodborne outbreaks in the U.S. increased while viral outbreaks declined between 2014 and 2022, with environmental contamination rising as a key cause. The study highlights how improved hygiene reduced viral transmission but shows persistent risks from improper food handling and temperatures.

13 Mar 2025

Study shows how autism-linked picky eating causes serious vitamin deficiencies

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face a high risk of multiple micronutrient deficiencies, especially vitamins A, D, B12, and calcium, due to extreme food selectivity. These deficiencies can lead to severe health issues like rickets, vision loss, and immune dysfunction, even in children with normal body weight.

13 Mar 2025

Scientists reveal how Epstein-Barr virus reactivation triggers MIS-C in children

Scientists reveal that reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), driven by TGFβ-induced immune suppression, is a key driver of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) following COVID-19. Blocking TGFβ may offer a potential new treatment for this life-threatening condition.

13 Mar 2025

Promising drug enhances motor recovery after spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI)-a condition that leads to partial or complete paralysis-has a profound impact on millions of individuals globally.

13 Mar 2025

Innovative gel prevents post-surgery adhesions in animal models

Surgical adhesions - common, sometimes life-threatening complications that arise after open or laparoscopic abdominal surgery - can be prevented in mice and pigs by a gel impregnated with a molecule that blocks a key signaling pathway in the formation of scar tissue.

12 Mar 2025

New technique effectively identifies aggressive medulloblastoma

Canadian researchers have developed an effective new technique for identifying aggressive medulloblastoma-the most common type of malignant brain tumour in children-and potentially sparing young patients from unnecessary treatments and their harmful long-term side effects.

12 Mar 2025

New system integrates neuroprosthetics with robotics to improve mobility after spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injuries are life-altering, often leaving individuals with severe mobility impairments. While rehabilitation robotics-devices that guide movement during therapy-have improved training for those with spinal cord injuries, their effectiveness remains limited.

12 Mar 2025

Glycerol in slush ice drinks can make children sick

Slush ice drinks made with glycerol have been found to make children sick. Doctors and medical scientists in Ireland and the UK investigated following reported sickness connected with the icy refreshments.

12 Mar 2025

Tecovirimat monotherapy found ineffective for treating clade II mpox in NIH-sponsored trial

NIH-sponsored trial data offer further evidence to help inform mpox treatment decisions.

12 Mar 2025

New biodegradable adhesive offers safer alternative for knee meniscus repair

Prof. Jia-Lin Wu's research team from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, has developed an advanced biodegradable tissue adhesive to repair torn knee menisci.

12 Mar 2025

New malaria control strategy targets protein system in mosquitoes

A molecular quality-control system in Anopheles mosquitoes-the species responsible for most of the world's malaria cases-is a promising target for future malaria-control strategies, according to a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

11 Mar 2025