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Needle-free mRNA vaccines protect mice against COVID-19 and flu

A needle-free vaccination method protected mice against the viruses that cause COVID-19 and flu, offering a possible new way to deliver mRNA vaccines while limiting unwanted inflammation.

22 Oct 2026

Updated tinnitus guideline outlines research-based strategies for patient care

The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) today published the Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG): Tinnitus Update in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.

12 Oct 2026

Nasal immune adjuvant protects mice against respiratory viruses for months

The COVID-19 pandemic showed the challenges of protecting populations when a new respiratory virus emerges.

9 Oct 2026

Older donor hearts showed signs of rejuvenation in younger recipients

Findings suggest systemic environment affects biological age of transplanted hearts, with implications for improving organ allocation in transplantation.

5 Oct 2026

Cancer-related DNA changes may appear in blood years before diagnosis

Researchers found that genome-wide plasma cfDNA methylation profiles collected before diagnosis contained early molecular signatures associated with future prostate and breast cancer, with prostate silencer methylation providing the stronger risk stratification. Breast enhancer signals were weaker and varied by subtype and disease stage, indicating that cfDNA methylation may have greater value for risk assessment and surveillance than as a standalone diagnostic test.

23 Sep 2026

Two scientists win Horwitz Prize for Rett syndrome breakthrough

Columbia University will award the 2026 Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize to Adrian Bird and Huda Zoghbi for their pioneering work on epigenetic regulation in the nervous system and its role in human neurological disease, particularly Rett syndrome.

2 Sep 2026

Nicoya is a famous blue zone. DNA aging estimates tell a more complicated story

Researchers developed a SuperLearner framework that combines established epigenetic clocks with machine learning to compare DNA methylation-based aging in residents of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Blue Zone with other Costa Ricans. Initial calibration suggested a modest younger epigenetic age among Nicoyans, but accounting more closely for age distribution substantially reduced the apparent advantage, highlighting the importance of population-specific calibration in longevity research.

26 Aug 2026

Circular eccDNA shows potential to predict early-stage LUAD recurrence

LUAD is the most common histological subtype of lung cancer. Although surgery can be curative for patients diagnosed at an early stage, approximately 30%-50% develop recurrence or aggressive metastasis within five years.

10 Aug 2026

Experimental gene therapy reverses fragile X symptoms in mice

A gene therapy designed to replace the missing protein that causes fragile X syndrome restored several disease-relevant traits in a mouse model, according to a new study published in Gene Therapy.

14 Jul 2026

Maternal blood test reveals prenatal methylation clues linked to autism risk

Researchers found that maternal plasma cell-free DNA methylation patterns in late pregnancy were associated with later autism diagnosis and maternal obesity in a high-likelihood ASD cohort. The findings suggest cfDNA may offer a minimally invasive way to study prenatal epigenetic changes linked to neurodevelopmental risk, but larger validation studies are needed.

25 Jun 2026

New biological age tools could reveal health risks before symptoms appear

A JCI review traces biological age measurement from functional tests and blood biomarkers to epigenetic, proteomic, imaging, wearable, and AI-based clocks. It finds that these tools can improve risk prediction beyond chronological age, but standardization, interpretability, and prospective validation are needed before routine clinical use.

18 Jun 2026

Turning the flu virus into a powerful tool to fight cancer

A recent Views & Comments article published in Engineering highlights advances in repurposing influenza viruses as flexible therapeutic platforms for infectious diseases and cancer, driven by progress in reverse genetics and viral vector engineering.

14 May 2026

Regular arts and physical activity linked to slower aging

Research shows that leisure activities, including arts engagement and physical exercise, are linked to slower epigenetic aging and improved health outcomes.

14 May 2026

BGI Genomics joins HGP2 Rare Disease Alliance to close rare disease care gap in Asia-Pacific

The HGP2 RaDiAnce-APAC initiative enhances rare disease diagnosis and genomic medicine, fostering collaboration for improved health in the Asia-Pacific region.

From BGI Genomics 12 May 2026

New clinical guidelines significantly reduce opioid prescriptions after ear surgery

A new retrospective study published in OTO Open, the open-access journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF), demonstrates that the Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) Opioid Prescribing for Analgesia After Common Otolaryngology Operations has had a measurable and sustained impact on prescribing practices following parotidectomy, which a surgical procedure to remove the parotid gland.

28 Apr 2026

Obesity may leave immune cells stuck in inflammatory mode after weight loss

A new EMBO Reports study suggests that obesity can leave a lasting epigenetic imprint on CD4 T cells, delaying the restoration of adaptive immune balance after weight loss. Using mouse models and human cohorts, researchers linked this immune “memory” to DNA methylation changes, saturated fatty acids, autophagy, and immune senescence.

28 Apr 2026

Study links common herbicide to rising early-onset colorectal cancer risk

Researchers used DNA methylation-based “epigenetic fingerprints” as proxies for lifelong exposome-related patterns and found that early-onset colorectal cancer was associated with lower Mediterranean diet adherence, lower education, smoking-related signatures, and higher picloram-related exposure signals. They then supported the picloram association in nine independent cohorts and with 21 years of US county-level pesticide-use data, while noting that the findings show association rather than proof of causation.

22 Apr 2026

DNA methylation "fingerprints" identify primary sites in metastatic cancers

A machine learning model analyzing CpG-based DNA methylation accurately predicted the origin of many different cancer types in patients with cancers of unknown primary (CUP), according to research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026, held April 17-22.

21 Apr 2026

Study maps DNA methylation changes driving MDS stem cell dysfunction

Published on April 01, 2026, in Volume 2, article number 19 of the journal Immunity & Inflammation, a collaborative team led by Prof. Cao at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, along with Dr. Liangding Hu at the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, and Professors Qian Zhang and Yanmei Han at the National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Naval Medical University, has generated the first base-resolution DNA methylome of human MDS HSCs.

9 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