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Study shows older lung recipients can achieve outcomes comparable to youth

Today at the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) 46th Annual meeting and Scientific Sessions, transplant specialists Brian Keller, MD, PhD, and Thomas Egan, MD debated an ethically fraught question: How old is too old for a lung transplant?

22 Apr 2026

Fermentation boosts anti-inflammatory power in dairy alternatives

Investigating fermented oat and soy drinks, this study highlights their potential to enhance anti-inflammatory bioactivity through lipid transformation.

20 Apr 2026

Researchers discover how stress signals weaken the aging immune system

As we age, our ability to maintain healthy blood and a strong immune system gradually declines, largely because hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), the cells responsible for producing all blood cell types, begin to lose their effectiveness. Normally, HSCs can both self-renew and generate a balanced mix of blood cells, but over time they produce fewer new cells, favor certain cells such as myeloid cells over lymphoid cells, and struggle to support a robust immune response.

16 Apr 2026

Non-clinical safety assessment crucial for CRISPR-based gene therapies

The rapid evolution of CRISPR/Cas genome editing has redefined the possibilities of cellular and gene therapy, enabling precise correction, disruption, and regulation of disease-associated genes.

10 Apr 2026

Wireless ureteral stent sleeve enables early detection of hydronephrosis

Ureteral stents are widely used to relieve obstruction and protect kidney function, but they can also become blocked, triggering hydronephrosis and prolonged elevation of intrarenal pressure that may impair renal function.

9 Apr 2026

Parasites trigger a gut-to-brain signal that cuts food intake during infection

Researchers found that intestinal tuft cells signal to crypt enterochromaffin cells by releasing acetylcholine, triggering serotonin release and activating a gut-to-brain vagal pathway during type 2 inflammation. This sustained signalling, rather than the initial acute response, was linked to reduced food intake in mouse models of parasitic infection.

29 Mar 2026

FDA approves first gene therapy for rare pediatric immune disorder

Dr. Donald Kohn has been developing gene therapies for rare pediatric immune disorders for over 30 years.

27 Mar 2026

Microfluidic chips enable realistic modeling of tumor immune environments

The challenge is that the tumor immune microenvironment is not a static backdrop but a constantly shifting ecosystem shaped by cancer cells, immune cells, stromal cells, cytokines, and physical barriers.

26 Mar 2026

Scientists turn red blood cells into long-lasting drug and imaging carriers in mice

A new preclinical study shows that red blood cells can be tagged in vivo and used as long-lasting carriers for imaging agents and therapies, opening a new route for safer drug delivery and vascular imaging.

23 Mar 2026

Using blood proteins to make living brains transparent

Making a living brain transparent and watching its neurons fire without disturbing their function-sounds like science fiction, doesn't it? Yet the solution may already exist within our own bodies.

13 Mar 2026

Understanding PIEZO2 mutations and sensory disorders

Every time we feel a gentle tap on the skin, specialized nerve cells convert that physical force into an electrical signal that the brain can interpret as touch. While scientists have long known that a protein called PIEZO2 acts as a key sensor for touch, it remained unclear why PIEZO2 is specialized for the localized mechanical forces experienced by sensory neurons, whereas its close relative PIEZO1 responds to broader mechanical stresses such as those generated when cells stretch, as occurs in blood vessels.

9 Mar 2026

Natural compound from pomegranate leaves shows promise against TTR amyloidosis

A research team in Kumamoto University has discovered that a natural compound found in pomegranate leaves and branches can directly break down harmful protein aggregates linked to transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis, a progressive and potentially life-threatening disease affecting the nerves and heart.

23 Feb 2026

Researchers show red blood cells drive better glucose tolerance at high altitude

Chronic hypoxia improves glucose tolerance in mice through insulin-independent mechanisms, with red blood cells acting as a major systemic glucose sink. Increased erythrocyte production and altered glycolytic flux help reduce circulating glucose while supporting oxygen delivery to tissues.

22 Feb 2026

Precision mRNA vaccine strategy shows early promise for improving TNBC relapse risk

An individualized neoantigen mRNA vaccine was tested in patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer and showed feasibility, safety, and strong T cell immune responses. Long-term follow-up suggested durable immune memory with encouraging relapse-free outcomes, though controlled trials are needed to confirm clinical benefit.

19 Feb 2026

Global trends shape progress in cell and gene therapies

Cell and gene therapies, or CGT, have come a long way since they were first introduced. In the last few decades, both cell therapy -- the transplantation of living cells -- and gene therapy -- the use of genetic material to modify cell functions -- have been increasingly incorporated into clinical practice.

13 Feb 2026

Researchers discover how Mycoplasma pneumoniae acquires cholesterol from human hosts

A multidisciplinary team has uncovered a key mechanism that allows the human bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae-responsible for atypical pneumonia and other respiratory infections-to obtain cholesterol and other essential lipids directly from the human body.

16 Jan 2026

Hybrid polymer nanocarriers enable efficient inhaled mRNA vaccine delivery to the lungs

Novel hybrid polymer nanocarriers enable effective vaccine delivery in the lungs and the targeted activation of immune cells.

16 Jan 2026

Natural daylight during office hours improves glucose stability in type 2 diabetes

Natural daylight exposure during office hours improves glucose control and boosts fat oxidation in individuals with type 2 diabetes, enhancing metabolic health.

8 Jan 2026

AI-powered optical imaging helps surgeons identify thyroid cancer in real time

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer, affecting more people each year as detection rates continue to rise.

6 Jan 2026

Understanding sevoflurane-induced neurogenesis inhibition and cognitive dysfunction in children

Every year, millions of infants and children undergo surgery under general anesthesia in the world. Sevoflurane is a commonly used pediatric anesthetic. Its exposure during brain development has been shown to inhibit neurogenesis and cause cognitive dysfunction in animal models.

5 Jan 2026