Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Touchlight announces leadership transition, with Will Downie appointed interim CEO

Touchlight today announces that Karen Fallen is stepping down as CEO and that the Board of Directors has appointed Will Downie as Interim Chief Executive Officer.

From Touchlight 21 Oct 2026

Paternal age may influence sex-specific gene expression changes in embryos

When genes are "expressed," it is like reading an instruction manual to create things the body needs - such as proteins or RNA.

20 Oct 2026

Study identifies potential treatment target for aggressive lung tumors

A UTHealth Houston-led team has identified a promising new avenue to curb the growth and spread of tumors associated with hard-to-treat lung and other cancers.

20 Oct 2026

Experts weigh risks of using gene therapies for common diseases

Gene therapy is no longer the future of medicine - it's reality. Treatments that replace, silence or edit genes are already changing clinical care.

20 Oct 2026

Study links abnormal immature astroglia to lower fluid intelligence in older epilepsy patients

A new USC-led study links abnormal immature astroglia, star-shaped cells that support brain function, to lower fluid intelligence, or the ability to solve new problems, in older adults with epilepsy.

20 Oct 2026

New gene-editing platform gives doctors control over cell therapies

An Australian clinician-led research team has developed a gene-editing platform that could give doctors more control over cell therapies, making them more practical for patients with complex immune conditions.

20 Oct 2026

Scientists discover natural cellular defense mechanism against ALS progression

ALS is a disease where, in most cases, a protein forms aggregates in neurons, which leads to the rapid loss of motor control and death.

20 Oct 2026

New study identifies protein factor linked to chronic liver disease

The mechanisms that cause the world's most common chronic liver disease — Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) — to develop and progress are not still fully understood.

20 Oct 2026

Researchers investigate molecular mechanisms linking high-calorie diets to cognitive decline

The molecular mechanisms linking a high calorie diet to cognitive impairment remain unclear. Researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan, investigated this association in mice, finding that the diet reduced nuclear protein PQBP1 expression, disrupting the alternative splicing of genes involved in synaptic function.

20 Oct 2026

Study links DNA methylation to OCD psychotherapy treatment response

OCD is a mental health disorder characterized by unwanted, recurring thoughts and repetitive behaviors that can severely interfere with everyday life. Exposure-based psychotherapy is one of the most effective treatments, but the biological mechanisms underlying treatment response remain poorly understood.

19 Oct 2026

Study reveals mature immune functions in embryonic neutrophils

Neutrophils are white blood cells that form part of the body's first line of defence. Researchers have now demonstrated for the first time that neutrophils are found in many tissues during embryonic development, and that they can perform the same functions as adult neutrophils.

19 Oct 2026

Menopause isn't the end of the story for the ovaries

Research reveals that postmenopausal ovaries remain active, showing molecular remodeling linked to inflammation and potential implications for women's health.

19 Oct 2026

Bisphenol mixtures alter breast tissue development in lab-grown human models

Exposure to common chemicals may alter how normal human breast tissue develops, according to a new study from researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and Boston University

15 Oct 2026

Study identifies priority genes for safer prescribing in older Chinese patients

A research team has identified three genes that could help prioritize pharmacogenomic testing for older adults in China who receive multiple medications.

15 Oct 2026

A protective brain enzyme may counteract aging-associated cognitive decline

Cinzia Vicidomini, PhD, and Amar Sahay, PhD, of the Mass General Brigham Department of Psychiatry, the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, are the lead and senior authors of a paper published in Nature Neuroscience, "An aging-sensitive secreted phospholipase confers neuroprotection and cognitive resilience."

15 Oct 2026

Researchers identify molecular pathway that improves ultrasound-based bone defect healing

Researchers from Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, have identified a CaN/NFATC3/Id3/E2A/Bmp4 signaling pathway that helps explain how low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) promotes bone regeneration.

15 Oct 2026

New study reveals how Candida auris evades antifungal drugs

New research has revealed an unexpected new mechanism through which the killer fungus Candida auris is resisting antifungal drug treatment.

15 Oct 2026

Recurrent brain tumors undergo unique genetic changes after treatment

When patients are diagnosed with certain brain tumors, one of the biggest unanswered questions is what happens when the cancer returns.

14 Oct 2026

Experimental gene therapy offers non-surgical option for hydrocephalus

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine have published the first proof-of-concept study showing the potential of an experimental gene therapy for hydrocephalus.

14 Oct 2026

Novel gene rejuvenation therapy preserves cell identity while reversing age

Every organ and tissue progressively loses function and integrity as it ages. In fact, researchers have identified "hallmarks of aging" that not only present specific processes impacted by age, but are also thought of as levers that, if successfully targeted, could help turn back the aging clock and result in tissue rejuvenation.

14 Oct 2026