Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Pitt study uncovers a novel trigger of deadly form of ovarian cancer

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have identified a novel trigger of a deadly form of ovarian cancer: a subset of progenitor cells that reside in fallopian tube supportive tissue, or stroma.

14 Mar 2025

New research aims to unravel genetic mysteries of polycystic kidney disease

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a family of genetic disorders that causes clusters of cysts to form on the kidney, is among the most common genetic disorders, affecting some 500,000 people in the United States.

14 Mar 2025

WEHI team makes major strides in the fight against Parkinson's disease

WEHI researchers have made a huge leap forward in the fight against Parkinson's disease, solving a decades-long mystery that paves the way for development of new drugs to treat the condition.

14 Mar 2025

New lab-grown pig retinal organoids could aid stem cell-based vision therapy

Inside the human eye, the retina is made up of several types of cells, including the light-sensing photoreceptors that initiate the cascade of events that lead to vision.

13 Mar 2025

Parkinson’s disease will affect 25 million people by 2050, study warns

Global Parkinson’s disease cases are projected to more than double to 25.2 million by 2050, driven largely by aging populations and socio-demographic factors. The sharpest increases are expected in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, with men disproportionately affected.

13 Mar 2025

Firefighting chemicals leave brain cancer-linked mutations, study shows

Firefighters show higher rates of glioma-linked SBS42 mutational signatures associated with haloalkane exposure, suggesting occupational risk. The study highlights a clear link between firefighting, chemical exposure, and brain cancer mutations.

13 Mar 2025

Already approved drug avapritinib shows promise in treating high-grade gliomas

High-grade glioma, an aggressive form of pediatric and adult brain cancer, is challenging to treat given the tumor location, incidence of recurrence and difficulty for drugs to cross the blood-brain barrier.

13 Mar 2025

Combination immunotherapy improves treatment response for head and neck cancer

Researchers conducting a clinical trial of immunotherapy drugs for people with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) found that patients responded better to a combination of two immunotherapies than patients who received just one immunotherapy drug.

13 Mar 2025

MIT engineers develop efficient method to convert skin cells into neurons

Converting one type of cell to another - for example, a skin cell to a neuron - can be done through a process that requires the skin cell to be induced into a "pluripotent" stem cell, then differentiated into a neuron.

13 Mar 2025

Study uncovers new insights into pain pathways linked with temporomandibular joint disorders

A groundbreaking study has uncovered new insights into the pain pathways associated with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

13 Mar 2025

Finnish study reveals complex link between physical activity and longevity

Physical activity is seen as a way to extend the human lifespan, but Finnish twin studies found the benefits of physical activity for longevity may not be as straightforward as has been previously thought.

13 Mar 2025

CRISPR technologies paving the way for advances in regenerative medicine

A recent review published in the journal Engineering delves into the significant advancements and potential of CRISPR technologies in the field of regenerative medicine.

13 Mar 2025

Clinical trial tests herpes virus-based therapy for neurogenic bladder in people with spinal cord injury

A modified herpes virus that targets spinal cord nerve cells to treat neurogenic bladder in people with spinal cord injury is underway in a first-in-human clinical trial by UTHealth Houston at TIRR Memorial Hermann.

12 Mar 2025

Study reveals key insights for preventing cytomegalovirus spread to fetuses

A new Weill Cornell Medicine and Oregon Health & Science University co-authored study provides critical insight for the development of a vaccine that can more effectively block the spread of cytomegalovirus, or CMV, across the placenta to babies before they are born.

12 Mar 2025

Researchers discover race-associated molecular differences in pancreatic tumors

Researchers have discovered race-associated molecular differences in tumors that may impact the way patients with pancreatic cancer respond to immunotherapies.

12 Mar 2025

Researchers uncover 195 genetic risk factors driving women’s reproductive diseases

Scientists identified 195 genetic risk loci across 42 female reproductive health conditions, revealing shared genetic pathways and developing a polygenic risk score for intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). These findings pave the way for personalized reproductive healthcare and targeted treatments based on genetic risk.

12 Mar 2025

New malaria control strategy targets protein system in mosquitoes

A molecular quality-control system in Anopheles mosquitoes-the species responsible for most of the world's malaria cases-is a promising target for future malaria-control strategies, according to a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

11 Mar 2025

Study identifies genetic changes in blood stem cells of frequent blood donors

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have identified genetic changes in blood stem cells from frequent blood donors that support the production of new, non-cancerous cells.

11 Mar 2025

Is fluoride safe for your gut? New study investigates

Systematic review finds that while low-dose fluoride has little effect on gut microbiota, high doses disrupt microbial diversity and balance, especially in animal studies. The effects vary by species, fluoride form, and exposure level, raising concerns about high-dose fluoride impacts on gut health.

11 Mar 2025

Environmental factors and genes play key role in cancer development

A new editorial was published in Oncotarget, Volume 16, on March 10, 2025, titled "EXPOSOMES and GENES: The duo influencing CANCER initiation and progression."

11 Mar 2025