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Diverse biobank study links genetics to disease risk and treatment

A new study by UCLA Health published in Cell presents a major advancement in the future of personalized medicine by pinpointing new connections between people's genes, disease risk and medicine response by using a clinically well-characterized and diverse population-represented biobank.

27 Mar 2026

Expanded Seq-Scope method boosts gene-mapping resolution within tissues

In 2021, a technology developed at University of Michigan, called Seq-Scope, revolutionized the ability to map gene activity within intact tissue at microscopic resolution, enabling researchers to measure all expressed mRNA molecules and determine precisely where they are located within the tissue, using an Illumina sequencer machine.

27 Feb 2026

SPT Labtech to collaborate with Illumina to develop automated platform supporting genomics in decentralized healthcare settings

SPT Labtech, a global leader in the design and development of laboratory automation and liquid handling solutions, today announced a strategic collaboration with Illumina to develop a novel automated sample preparation platform designed to streamline and standardize genomics workflows across decentralized healthcare environments.

25 Feb 2026

Long-term cola intake weakens immune cell counts in controlled rat study

Replacing drinking water entirely with sugar-sweetened or sugar-free cola for eight weeks altered gut microbiota composition and immune-related indices in rats, despite no changes in body weight or blood glucose. Both beverages were associated with leukocyte reductions and organ-related biochemical shifts, with sugar-sweetened cola more strongly linked to renal markers and diet cola to elevated liver enzymes.

25 Feb 2026

Tracking antibiotic resistance across environmental systems using advanced metagenomic tools

Antibiotic resistance is often framed as a hospital problem, but a growing body of evidence shows that the environment plays an equally critical role in the global spread of drug resistant bacteria.

27 Jan 2026

Age-related sperm changes at imprint regions linked to autism risk

A new research paper was published in Volume 17, Issue 12 of Aging-US on December 29, 2025, titled "Age-specific DNA methylation alterations in sperm at imprint control regions may contribute to the risk of autism spectrum disorder in offspring."

16 Jan 2026

Novel liquid biopsy technology could advance cancer diagnostics and monitoring

A novel liquid biopsy technology is set to advance cancer diagnostics and monitoring by overcoming the long-standing challenge of simultaneously achieving high sensitivity, broad coverage, and simple workflow.

14 Jan 2026

Whole-genome sequencing improves PARP inhibitor treatment prediction

A whole-genome sequencing approach shows early promise over current commercial methods for identifying more patients likely to benefit from PARP inhibitor cancer treatments, according to a study led by Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian investigators.

12 Jan 2026

New DNA tests reveal hidden biological traces on Renaissance art

DNA analysis of cultural artifacts shows diverse biological profiles, but contamination and mixed signals complicate historical lineage interpretation.

8 Jan 2026

Combination therapy offers hope for AML patients facing drug resistance

A research team at Oregon Health & Science University has discovered a promising new drug combination that may help people with acute myeloid leukemia overcome resistance to one of the most common frontline therapies.

30 Dec 2025

Gut bacteria patterns differ in autism and siblings and link to social symptoms

This sibling-controlled East Asian study found that autistic individuals, their unaffected siblings, and typically developing controls differ in gut microbiota diversity and composition, with the clearest separation between autism and typical development. Specific taxa, particularly the butyrate-producing genus Anaerostipes, were modestly associated with social communication and internalising symptoms, supporting a gut–behaviour link without implying causality.

15 Dec 2025

Skipping sentinel lymph node biopsy may be safe for some early-stage breast cancer patients

Skipping sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with clinically node-negative, hormonal receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative early-stage breast cancer did not compromise regional control or survival after a median five years of follow-up, according to results from the BOOG 2013-08 phase III clinical trial, presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), held December 9-12, 2025.

11 Dec 2025

Pig kidney transplant breakthrough uncovers immune rejection secrets

Researchers have uncovered and then overcome an obstacle that has led to the failure of pioneering efforts in xenotransplantation, in which an animal kidney is transplanted into a human.

13 Nov 2025

Takara Bio USA, Inc. announces a series of updates to its spatial biology product portfolio, extending its innovation with a new class of spatial technology

Takara Bio USA, Inc. ("Takara Bio USA"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Takara Bio Inc. ("Takara Bio"), today announced a series of updates to its spatial biology product portfolio, extending its innovation with a new class of spatial technology.

9 Oct 2025

NIH funds multi-state pilot for genome sequencing in newborn screening

Mass General Brigham and Ariadne Labs, alongside Boston Children's Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), Case Western Reserve University, Baylor College of Medicine, and sequencing partners GeneDx and Illumina, today announced the launch of BEACONS (Building Evidence and Collaboration for GenOmics in Nationwide Newborn Screening), the nation's first multi-state genomic newborn screening initiative.

2 Oct 2025

Spaceflight accelerates aging of human blood stem cells

Researchers from University of California San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Institute have discovered that spaceflight accelerates the aging of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), which are vital for blood and immune system health.

4 Sep 2025

Light-activated drug discovery identifies broad-spectrum antivirals

UC Santa Barbara researchers and collaborators from campus biotech spinoff Integrated Biosciences, as well as Harvard, MIT and genomics company Illumina Ventures are using optogenetics - the use of light to probe the functions of living tissue - to find compounds to help our bodies more effectively help themselves in times of physiological stress.

15 Jul 2025

Weight loss wipes out senescent fat cells but leaves immune scars, study finds

Researchers have mapped human fat tissue at single-cell resolution, uncovering how obesity alters cellular stress, inflammation, and tissue structure. Weight loss reverses much of this damage, especially senescence in fat and vascular cells, but leaves some immune dysfunction behind.

10 Jul 2025

Cannabis smoking changes your DNA, leaving epigenetic scars

Long-term, persistent weekly or more frequent cannabis smoking leaves a distinct and partially reversible epigenetic footprint on blood DNA. These methylation changes strongly overlap with those from tobacco and may serve as biomarkers of smoke exposure.

30 Jun 2025

Missing gut bacteria in US babies triples allergy and eczema risk

US infants lacking Bifidobacterium in their gut microbiome face significant changes in microbial composition, metabolic function, and immune-related health risks. This large, nationally representative study links early-life Bifidobacterium deficits to a three-fold increase in eczema, allergy, or asthma by age two.

25 Jun 2025