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Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a biologically important type of molecule that consists of a long chain of nucleotide units. Each nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate.

Cigarette smoke alters lung stem cells to drive specific cancers

Chronic exposure to cigarette smoke may reprogram different populations of lung stem cells, which maintain and repair lung tissue, in ways that make them vulnerable to specific cancer-causing gene alterations and ultimately helps determine the type of lung cancer that develops.

6 Oct 2026

Before the first bite: A missing gut protein may set the stage for peanut allergy

For most people, a peanut butter sandwich poses no threat. But for the roughly 1.6 million children in the United States with peanut allergy, exposure can trigger a life-threatening reaction.

6 Oct 2026

Simple urine test can accurately diagnose and track bladder cancer

A simple urine test devised by researchers at Stanford Medicine and the VA Palo Alto Health Care System can diagnose people with bladder cancer more accurately than current standard methods.

5 Oct 2026

Working nights for years is linked to changes in body-clock genes

Chronic night shifts alter circadian gene activity in female healthcare workers.

5 Oct 2026

Could the gut be priming the body for a more severe stroke?

Gut bacteria may prime immune cells to worsen stroke damage

2 Oct 2026

Autophagy changes with age, sex and cell type, study finds

Taking out the trash is a chore that even our cells cannot escape. Through a process known as autophagy, they place misshapen proteins and other cellular garbage in biological containers in order to digest them into their molecular building blocks.

1 Oct 2026

Spatial mapping reveals macrophage niches linked to severe COVID-19 lung injury

Researchers at the University of Liège have used imaging-based spatial single-cell transcriptomics to map the cellular organization of lungs from people who died with severe COVID-19.

1 Oct 2026

Highlight Therapeutics presents positive Phase 2b topline results of intralesional BO‑112 in localized basal cell carcinoma as a late-breaker at EADV

Highlight Therapeutics, a clinical‑stage biotechnology company developing immune activators to transform the treatment of skin tumors, today announced positive results from the multicenter, single-arm Phase 2b SPOTLIGHT‑204 clinical trial evaluating BO‑112, a novel dsRNA-based intralesional treatment for patients with resectable primary low‑ and high‑risk basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

1 Oct 2026

Esophageal cancer leaves a distinct metabolic signature in the gut

The study uncovers gut microbial and metabolic signatures in esophageal cancer, emphasizing lipid dysregulation and its potential role in disease progression.

1 Oct 2026

High-dose taurine aggravates alcohol-induced liver injury, study shows

The researchers first tested whether taurine could compensate for reduced intestinal taurine availability and protect against alcohol-induced liver damage.

30 Sep 2026

Streamlining CRISPR workflows, from editing to analysis

INTEGRA's automated solutions optimize CRISPR workflows, enhancing gene editing efficiency and accelerating the path to innovative therapeutic developments.

From INTEGRA Biosciences 30 Sep 2026

Scientists find new way to overcome cell’s natural defenses against self-amplifying mRNA vaccines

The innovation could enable protection at lower doses, meaning vaccines could be rolled out further and faster than was previously imaginable, and opens new possibilities in gene therapy, cancer immunotherapy, and protein replacement therapies.

28 Sep 2026

MIT engineers use artificial intelligence to create heat-resistant RNA vaccines

MIT engineers have found a way to stabilize the lipid nanoparticles used to deliver RNA vaccines, which could allow the vaccines to be more widely distributed.

28 Sep 2026

Better storage buffers could pave way for safer mRNA therapies

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have teamed up with pharmaceutical leader Eli Lilly and Company to uncover new information about mRNA lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), the technology behind COVID-19 vaccines and other important treatments, and how to make it more effective.

25 Sep 2026

In vivo CAR-T therapy transforms customized treatments into universal medicines

A collaborative team led by Professor Huji Xu from Naval Medical University, China, together with Professors Xuanming Yang and Yujia Cai at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, published a comprehensive review in Volume 2, article number 33 of the journal Immunity & Inflammation on August 31, 2026.

25 Sep 2026

Researchers find secret protein that drives cancer cell division

A previously unknown protein, hidden in RNA thought not to encode proteins, helps cells divide correctly. The RNA molecule that encodes the protein also has a function of its own in cell division.

25 Sep 2026

MIT biologists discover cellular pathway that triggers colon cancer spread

Most colon cancer deaths are caused by the spread of tumor cells beyond the colon, usually to the liver. In a new study, MIT biologists identified a cellular pathway necessary for colorectal cancer metastasis.

24 Sep 2026

Advances in chemistry and delivery are taking oligonucleotide medicines beyond rare diseases

A review in Cell Reports Medicine examines how advances in oligonucleotide chemistry and delivery have established ASOs and RNA interference therapies as a class of genetic medicines, with 21 oligonucleotides approved at the time of writing. It also identifies extrahepatic delivery, safety, target validation, individualized treatment, and data quality as priorities as the field expands into common diseases and explores AI-assisted development.

24 Sep 2026

New technique improves detection of central nervous system infections

New research led by Aston University's Dr Ghaniah Hassan-Smith, has found a new technique to diagnose infections of the central nervous system, such as meningitis and encephalitis, which can be difficult to determine using conventional methods.

23 Sep 2026

Scientists map a giant parasite machine to fight tropical diseases

A study conducted between the University of Liège and Rockefeller University reveals, with near-atomic precision, the three-dimensional structure and function of a gigantic molecular machine essential to the survival of trypanosomatid parasites, which cause serious diseases in humans, animals and plants.

23 Sep 2026