Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Researchers uncover how metastatic colorectal cancer evades immune attack

Researchers at Hokkaido University, in collaboration with an international team of scientists led by the University of South Florida Health and Tampa General Hospital, have uncovered an important mechanism behind immune evasion in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

13 Oct 2026

Researchers improve CRISPR technology for detecting HIV and other RNA viruses

Scientists have long used a powerful gene-editing tool called CRISPR to make precise changes to DNA. But a different version of the technology, known as Cas13a, targets RNA, the genetic material found in viruses such as HIV.

13 Oct 2026

$5.8 million study explores gut-brain inflammation in people with HIV

Oregon Health & Science University researchers have secured a $5.8 million, five-year federal award to investigate whether damage to the gastrointestinal tract contributes to neuroinflammation in people living with HIV - raising the potential for new treatments to preserve brain function in people with HIV and older adults.

13 Oct 2026

CHOP researchers link MAP2K4 variants to a neurodevelopmental disorder

Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have discovered the mechanisms of previously unknown changes in a gene that result in symptoms associated with a neurodevelopmental disorder.

13 Oct 2026

Pancreatic cancer cells continuously reshape DNA to evade treatment

A new analysis of nearly half a million cells from dozens of pancreatic tumors, led by researchers at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center and New York University (NYU), reveals how pancreatic cancer cells continuously reshape their genetic makeup over time, enabling them to evade treatment.

13 Oct 2026

Scientists find strange bacterial immune system that works backward

Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have uncovered an extraordinarily unusual bacterial immune system that operates in reverse of known defenses.

13 Oct 2026

Single-cell analysis reveals how pancreatic cancer evades treatment

An analysis of nearly half a million cells from dozens of patients' tumors reveals how cancer cells continuously reshape their genetic makeup over time, enabling them to evade treatment for one of the deadliest forms of cancer.

13 Oct 2026

New research shows reduced toxicant exposure reduces biological activity

Two newly published studies from Imperial Brands scientists have provided further evidence that products associated with lower levels of combustion-related toxicants also produce substantially lower levels of combustion-related toxicants also produce substantially lower biological activity than cigarette smoke under laboratory conditions.

13 Oct 2026

Gene therapy and special goggles help some blind adults detect objects again

In a phase 1 study of 10 adults with advanced retinitis pigmentosa, researchers found that optogenetic gene therapy combined with light-stimulating goggles was generally well tolerated, although one participant experienced a severe but transient ocular adverse event. Seven participants showed improved light sensitivity, while four of eight who completed behavioral testing demonstrated modest gains in visual function, providing preliminary evidence of partial vision restoration that requires confirmation in larger controlled trials.

12 Oct 2026

Three months of yoga before surgery revealed a surprising difference in stress hormones

In a non-randomized study of 40 adults with severe obesity awaiting bariatric surgery, researchers found significantly lower plasma noradrenaline levels in yoga participants than in controls after adjusting for baseline measurements. The researchers detected no significant DNA methylation changes in three inflammatory genes and found no clear psychological or metabolic benefits.

12 Oct 2026

Study identifies Piezo channels as targets for orthodontic care

A new review in Genes & Diseases highlights Piezo channels as important biological links between mechanical forces and the cellular processes that shape the face, move teeth and influence oral health.

12 Oct 2026

Long non-coding RNAs offer new pathways to overcome cancer treatment resistance

Scientists are highlighting long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as promising targets in the effort to overcome one of cancer treatment's most persistent challenges: therapeutic resistance.

12 Oct 2026

RNA modification enzyme FTO shows therapeutic promise in gastrointestinal cancers

A new review in Genes & Diseases highlights FTO, an enzyme involved in RNA modification, as a potentially important biomarker and therapeutic target across gastrointestinal cancers.

12 Oct 2026

Review highlights EP4 receptor as target for inflammatory diseases

A review published in Genes & Diseases highlights the prostaglandin E2 receptor subtype 4 (EP4) as an important regulator of inflammation and a promising therapeutic target for a wide range of inflammatory and inflammation-related diseases.

12 Oct 2026

Targeting mitochondrial vulnerabilities could help treat triple-negative breast cancer

A deeper understanding of mitochondrial function could create new opportunities for treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of breast cancer.

12 Oct 2026

Targeting lipophagy could help treat metabolic and oxidative stress-related diseases

A review published in Genes & Diseases highlights lipophagy, the cellular process that selectively breaks down lipid droplets, as a potentially important therapeutic target for conditions driven by disrupted lipid metabolism and oxidative stress.

12 Oct 2026

New review highlights expanding potential of therapeutic DNA vaccines

A new review published in Genes & Diseases highlights the expanding potential of DNA-based vaccines as a flexible platform for preventing infectious diseases, treating cancer and strengthening preparedness for future disease outbreaks.

12 Oct 2026

Vascular anatomy influences experimental stroke treatment effectiveness

A preclinical study from Duke University researchers suggests that the effectiveness of an experimental approach to limiting stroke-related brain injury may depend not only on the drug itself, but also on the brain's collateral circulation: the network of small "backup" blood vessels that can help sustain tissue when a major artery is blocked.

12 Oct 2026

Three-dimensional genome structure shapes complex traits in cephalopods

Octopuses, squid and cuttlefish, collectively known as coleoid cephalopods, have evolved exceptionally large and elaborately structured nervous systems capable of complex behaviours such as problem-solving and rapid camouflage.

12 Oct 2026