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New human tissue chips aim to replace animal testing

Animal testing has long been the standard for evaluating new drugs before they reach human patients. But when it comes to cancer immunotherapy drugs, animal models often fail to predict which immunotherapies might produce harmful side effects in humans because they do not have the same responses or the same cell receptors.

11 Aug 2026

Senescent brain immune cells secrete protein linked to cognitive decline

Brain-resident immune cells that have reached an old-age state called "senescence" secrete a protein that causes dysfunction in other brain cells, according to a study led by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine.

11 Aug 2026

Huge philanthropic grant funds pioneering stem cell-based heart attack therapy

In a landmark moment for both the treatment of heart disease and philanthropic support, The Marcus Foundation has awarded the head of USC Stem Cell Center, Chuck Murry, MD, PhD, $28.7 million to advance a clinical trial testing a stem cell-based therapy designed to regenerate damaged tissue after a heart attack.

11 Aug 2026

Aston University study reveals how mānuka honey fights antibiotic resistance

New research at Aston University has shown that a variety of compounds is responsible for the antimicrobial action of mānuka honey, not just the sugar content and methylglyoxal (MGO) alone, as previously thought.

11 Aug 2026

New study identifies key pathway for delivering antisense cancer drugs

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) have been proposed as a therapeutic approach to shut down the production of faulty proteins in a wide variety of diseases, including cancer.

11 Aug 2026

New heart assembloid model mimics complex valve disorders

A multi-disciplinary, multi-institution group of researchers focused their expertise in genetics, mechanics, chemistry and biology on a chip the size of a postage stamp in order to model a particular class of heart conditions.

11 Aug 2026

Miniature microscope tracks and activates single brain cells during movement

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz and the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a miniature microscope that allows scientists to observe and activate individual brain cells during natural movement, an advance that could accelerate research into how the brain controls behavior while deepening understanding of neurological diseases.

11 Aug 2026

Lab-grown mini tumors help scientists predict breast cancer treatment success

Researchers at UC San Francisco have developed a new method to predict how different types of breast cancer will respond to treatment, using patient data from the I-SPY2 breast cancer trial and rapid testing on lab-grown mini tumors.

11 Aug 2026

Online training program helps clinicians track psychiatric patient progress consistently

Questionnaires that track depression, anxiety, and other symptoms can help psychiatrists see whether a patient is improving.

11 Aug 2026

Folic acid relies on vitamin A pathway to prevent birth defects

For decades, we've known that folic acid can help prevent serious birth defects of the brain and spinal cord, but we haven't fully understood how it does it.

11 Aug 2026

Researchers identify molecular targets to treat painful nerve neuromas

Human peripheral nerves have a remarkable ability to regenerate after damage. However, when re-growing axons fail to meet their target organ, they can transform into painful neuromas.

11 Aug 2026

Adolescents using nicotine face higher risks of mental health problems

Adolescents who use nicotine are more likely to report symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems than their peers who do not use nicotine.

11 Aug 2026

New review urges proteostatic fitness standards for stem cell therapies

Stem cell therapies have expanded rapidly, with more than 115 clinical trials involving over 1,200 patients approved by late 2024. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Ryoncil (remestemcel‑L) for children with steroid‑refractory acute graft‑versus‑host disease, signaling a major shift toward routine clinical use.

11 Aug 2026

New multi-protein blood test accurately detects late-stage Alzheimer's disease

Researchers have identified seven proteins in the blood that could enable better blood tests for Alzheimer's disease.

11 Aug 2026

Comprehensive brain cell map opens new avenues for Alzheimer's therapies

The brain's immune cells are increasingly recognized as key players in Alzheimer's disease, but exactly how they change as the disease develops has remained unclear.

11 Aug 2026

Bright-light therapy may reduce attention lapses during night work

Light therapy may improve alertness and attention/reaction time during simulated night shifts, with the strongest benefits appearing after light exposure. Effects on executive function were smaller and largely limited to treatment, while substantial study heterogeneity and limited real-world evidence warrant caution.

11 Aug 2026

One cognitive ability stood out in a study of Western diets and Alzheimer’s risk genes

A Western dietary pattern was associated with faster attention decline among older adults carrying the APOE ε4 allele, while no significant cognitive associations emerged for a Prudent dietary pattern. However, the Western diet association lost statistical significance after excluding participants with possible baseline cognitive impairment, making the finding exploratory.

11 Aug 2026

Early-life stress rewires brain epigenetics to heighten sensitivity to future stress

. Early-life stress increased SETD7 and H3K4me1 in the ventral tegmental area of mice, creating an epigenetically primed state that heightened later transcriptional, neuronal, and behavioral responses to stress. Reducing Setd7 during development lowered H3K4me1 and weakened these stress-sensitizing effects, identifying a mechanism that may help explain how early adversity leaves lasting biological effects.

11 Aug 2026

Broken String Biosciences launches BaseMap ABE to enable genome-wide off-target characterization in base editing therapeutic development

Broken String Biosciences, a biotechnology company enabling gene editing teams to accelerate development of safer, more effective genetic medicines, today announced the launch of BaseMap™ ABE. Built on the Company\'s INDUCE-seq® technology, BaseMap ABE extends the platform\'s capabilities to support adenine base editing (ABE) applications.

From Broken String Biosciences 10 Aug 2026

Heavy rainfall and flooding raise infectious disease risks across Europe

A rapid review of 14 studies found that heavy rainfall and flooding were associated with outbreaks and increased incidence of several infectious diseases across Europe, particularly campylobacteriosis and leptospirosis. The authors highlighted major evidence gaps and called for stronger One Health surveillance, public health communication, sanitation, and flood-response planning.

10 Aug 2026