Research

Investigators who recently developed a mathematical model that indicated why treatment responses vary widely among individuals with COVID-19 have now used the model to identify biological markers related to these different responses. The team, which was led by scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the University of Cyprus, notes... Read more

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare disease characterized by extensive bone growth outside of the normal skeleton that pre-empts the body's normal responses to even minor injuries. It results in what some term a "second skeleton," which locks up joint movement and could make it hard to breathe. However,... Read more

ETH Zurich and the other Swiss universities are committed to reducing the stress and suffering experienced by laboratory animals. However, an outright ban on animal testing—being put to the vote in a popular initiative this coming February—would put an end to progress in medical research.... Read more

Recreating native physiological processes in manmade materials imitating the biological structures involved in wound healing has proved to be a lasting challenge. The main problems are modeling the appropriate functions that prompt cell growth, and oversimplified frameworks that do not reflect the complex network of interactions. Researchers from Japan may... Read more

Harnessing the power of genomics to find risk factors for major diseases or search for relatives relies on the costly and time-consuming ability to analyze huge numbers of genomes. A team co-led by a Johns Hopkins University computer scientist has leveled the playing field by creating a cloud-based platform that... Read more

UConn bioengineers successfully regrew cartilage in a rabbit's knee, a promising hop toward healing joints in humans, they report in the 12 January issue of Science Translational Medicine.... Read more

Researchers may have uncovered a key to making existing frontline antibiotics work again, against the deadly bacteria that cause pneumonia.... Read more

When veterinarians at the Antwerp Zoo noticed two hippopotamuses with runny noses, they didn't just offer them tissues to blow their noses. They administered tests, which came back positive for COVID-19, the worldwide virus that has plagued the globe.... Read more

When Frederick Banting's phone rang one morning in October 1923, it was the call that every scientist must dream of receiving. On the other end of the line, an excited friend asked Banting if he had seen the morning newspapers. When Banting said no, his friend broke the news himself.... Read more

Poor quality of healthcare is a global public health problem. Laboratory services are key factors in the delivery of quality care, as the diagnosis of the disease is the starting point for appropriate treatment and surveillance of diseases. This is shown in a new doctoral thesis at Umeå University, where... Read more

A study published today in Cell Reports reveals important insights into the molecular mechanisms that underpin the body's natural defenses against the development of skin cancer. The findings offer new clues into the behavior of skin cancer at the cellular level, paving the way for potential new therapeutic targets to... Read more

In Norway, more than 100,000 people live with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's damages the central nervous system and alters memory, orientation and behavior. The disease becomes devastating once it has progressed and usually leads to affected individuals being unable to manage everyday tasks on their own. That is why a better... Read more

Traditional, in-person clinical research studies have long been plagued by slow and often unsuccessful recruitment. The limits of site location, which sometimes requires participants to travel long distances, and the reliance on busy clinicians to help with recruitment, are factors that create barriers to study enrollment. These challenges were exacerbated... Read more

One of the more promising biomarkers to measure biological aging is DNA methylation, an epigenetic modification that alters a specific sequence of DNA nucleotides known as CpG sites. Researchers have traditionally used epigenetic clocks, biochemical tests measuring the levels of DNA methylation, to profile the epigenetic age in bulk tissue... Read more

The omicron variant quickly took over the global coronavirus landscape after it was first reported in South Africa in late November, 2021. The U.S. became the 24th country to report a case of omicron infection when health officials announced on Dec. 1, 2021, that the new strain had been identified... Read more