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Could a rare gene variant help reduce smoking? New study suggests it might

An exome-wide association study of nearly 38,000 smokers from the Mexico City Prospective Study identified rare coding variants in CHRNB3 that are associated with substantially fewer cigarettes smoked per day. Cross-ancestry analyses in European and East Asian datasets support a role for the β3 nicotinic receptor subunit in modulating smoking intensity.

25 Feb 2026

Chemical signatures in blood could help detect gallbladder cancer

Researchers at Tezpur University in Assam, India, working with scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, have identified distinct chemical signatures in blood that could help detect gallbladder cancer earlier.

25 Feb 2026

Unexpected behavior observed during interactions between immune cells and dying cells

Over the years, cell biology has built a detailed picture of how cells compartmentalize their internal functions. Central to this organization is the nucleus, which houses the genetic material and is separated from the cytoplasm by a robust nuclear envelope.

25 Feb 2026

Breakthrough gene therapy for sickle cell disease remains out of reach in Africa

As Uganda rolls out mandatory nationwide screening of newborns for sickle cell disease this month, a gene therapy celebrated in the United States and Europe remains financially out of reach for most patients in Africa.

25 Feb 2026

Simple blood test measuring piRNAs may help better understand health and aging

Research in Aging Cell indicates that blood levels of particular small non-coding RNAs, which regulate gene expression, may influence how long a person lives.

25 Feb 2026

Muscles retain molecular memory of repeated inactivity

Muscle loss, or atrophy, due to inactivity is common after illness, injury, hospitalization or falls, and becomes increasingly frequent with aging.

25 Feb 2026

INTEGRA Biosciences strengthened its market position in 2025

INTEGRA Biosciences reported a successful financial year in 2025, despite exceptional economic and geopolitical challenges.

24 Feb 2026

Researchers uncover vulnerabilities in elusive HIV reservoir clones

A new study has overcome a long-standing challenge-how to isolate and study elusive HIV-infected cells called authentic reservoir clones (ARCs) that evade the immune system, making the disease difficult to cure.

24 Feb 2026

Study sheds light on behavior of yeast cells in the gut

A new study sheds light on the behavior of yeast cells in the gut, paving the way for new lines of yeast that more efficiently produce therapeutic drugs tailored to address specific diseases.

24 Feb 2026

US measles and pertussis outbreaks expose policy failures, not just vaccine hesitancy

A recent commentary argues that US measles and pertussis outbreaks are not simply the result of vaccine hesitancy but reflect weakened immunization policies, permissive exemptions, and underfunded public health systems. The authors contend that policy environments determine whether pockets of low coverage escalate into large-scale, preventable outbreaks.

24 Feb 2026

Viral RNA modifications trigger celiac inflammation

An EHU study indicates that a drug already approved for use in humans could help to reduce the inflammation associated with celiac disease.

24 Feb 2026

Innovating Texture and Culture in Plant-Based Foods

Discover how Thermo Fisher is shaping the future of plant-based foods through texture innovation and cultural relevance.

From Thermo Fisher Scientific – Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Solutions 24 Feb 2026

The gender gap in early Lyme disease detection and signs

In a new Johns Hopkins Medicine study, researchers found that male and female patients with early Lyme disease present with different signs of the disease in the symptoms they report, their physical exams, and their laboratory test results.

23 Feb 2026

Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center delivers Louisiana’s first TIL therapy for melanoma

Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center at The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center in New Orleans announces a milestone in advanced cancer treatment, as the first institution in Louisiana to provide an adult patient with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) therapy for advanced melanoma.

23 Feb 2026

Study finds microplastics in most prostate tumors

Small fragments of plastic were found in nine out of 10 patients with prostate cancer, and in higher levels inside tumors than in nearby noncancerous tissue, a new study finds.

23 Feb 2026

Study captures real-time protein clumping linked to Alzheimer’s

An Oregon State University scientist and a team of undergraduate students have uncovered real-time insights into a chemical process linked with Alzheimer's disease, paving the way toward better drug designs.

23 Feb 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

Engineers develop highly precise gene editor for safer cystic fibrosis treatments

Engineers at the University of Pennsylvania and Rice University have refined a technology for editing individual genetic "base pairs" to a new level of precision, opening the door to safer, more reliable therapies for a wide range of genetic diseases, and to potential treatments for some cystic fibrosis patients that may yield better outcomes than existing therapies.

23 Feb 2026

Ion channel TRPV4 found to regulate relief after scratching an itch

When you scratch an itch, something tells your brain when to stop. That moment of relief, when scratching feels "enough," is not accidental.

22 Feb 2026

Scientists reveal how the body senses cold and menthol

When you step outside on a winter morning or pop a mint into your mouth, a tiny molecular sensor in your body springs into action, alerting your brain to the sensation of cold.

22 Feb 2026