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Alzheimer’s risk gene CASS4 found to regulate microglial immune response
Researchers at the University of Virginia Health have uncovered a previously unknown role for the Alzheimer’s risk gene CASS4 in controlling microglial activity, suggesting that restoring its function could offer a novel strategy for slowing disease progression.
Psychedelics and cancer: exploring neurological pathways in tumour biology
A new peer-reviewed review explores whether psychedelic compounds could influence cancer biology through neurological and immune mechanisms, whilst identifying psychological wellbeing as the most credible near-term clinical opportunity.
DNA enhancer switch drives androgen receptor breast cancer suppression
A small regulatory DNA element called HRRINT3 has been found to play a critical role in enabling the androgen receptor to suppress cell growth in oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, pointing towards new therapeutic strategies for patients with advanced disease.
Cell reprogramming induces immune structures across seven cancer types
Asgard Therapeutics has shown that its in vivo cell reprogramming platform can reliably induce mature immunogenic tertiary lymphoid structures across seven tumour types.
Framework proposed to advance plant-derived anti-inflammatory drug discovery
A review led by researchers at the Naval Medical University proposes a structured framework for evaluating plant-derived anti-inflammatory compounds, warning that pathway inhibition alone is insufficient evidence of direct molecular target engagement.
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Framework proposed to advance plant-derived anti-inflammatory drug discovery
A review led by researchers at the Naval Medical University proposes a structured framework for evaluating plant-derived anti-inflammatory compounds, warning that pathway inhibition alone is insufficient evidence of direct molecular target engagement.
PSD-95 inhibition identified as therapeutic target for MEF2C haploinsufficiency
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have identified PSD-95, a synaptic scaffolding protein, as a potential therapeutic target for neurological disorders associated with loss of the autism-linked gene MEF2C.
Zinc finger protein found to suppress amyloid-beta aggregation in Alzheimer’s
A protein best known for regulating genes has been shown to suppress amyloid-beta aggregation and reduce aggregate toxicity in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.
Organoid coculture systems offer more representative cancer research models
A new review explores how three-dimensional organoid coculture technologies could overcome the limitations of conventional cancer models, offering more physiologically relevant platforms for immunotherapy research, drug screening and personalised medicine.
New culture system yields billions of rare dendritic cells for preclinical research
A new 23-day bone marrow culture protocol produces over 1.5 billion conventional type 1 dendritic cells from a single mouse, offering researchers a consistent, high-purity supply of a cell type critical to tumour immunology and vaccine development.
DUSP4 protein identified as key to preventing CAR T cell exhaustion
A protein called DUSP4 has been found to help CD8+ T cells resist exhaustion in the tumour microenvironment, with researchers demonstrating that boosting its activity enhances the performance of engineered CAR T cells against colorectal cancer.
Triptolide plant compound could improve response to epigenetic cancer drugs
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have identified a natural plant compound capable of blocking an enzyme that degrades DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, offering a potential strategy to overcome resistance to epigenetic cancer therapies.
ANO6 protein identified as dual therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center have identified anoctamin 6 (ANO6) as a potential therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer, finding that blocking the protein disrupts both nutrient transfer to tumour cells and immune evasion in preclinical models.
Multi-lab study challenges reproducibility of psilocybin behavioural findings
A landmark multi-institution collaboration has found no reproducible lasting behavioural changes in mice 24 hours after a single psilocybin dose, raising important questions about research reproducibility in psychedelic drug discovery.
Novel RNA-protein interactions reveal conserved SARS-CoV-2 antiviral targets
A new study has mapped previously unknown RNA-protein interactions across the SARS-CoV-2 genome, identifying conserved sites involving RdRp and the nucleocapsid protein as potential antiviral drug targets less susceptible to mutational escape.
YAP/TAZ protein hyperactivity linked to immune evasion via PD-L2 upregulation
Researchers have identified a mechanism by which overactive YAP and TAZ proteins may simultaneously increase cancer cell visibility to the immune system and shield tumours from T-cell attack.
p53 activation boosts T-cell potency against solid tumours
UCLA researchers have shown that transiently activating the tumour suppressor protein p53 using an investigational MDM2 inhibitor can reduce exhaustion in engineered T cells and significantly improve their ability to kill melanoma cells in vitro.
SMVT brain transporter protein opens new drug delivery route
Researchers have identified a transporter protein that could enable creatine derivatives and other therapeutic compounds to cross the blood-brain barrier, with potential implications for treating Creatine Transporter Deficiency Syndrome and other neurological disorders.
Bispecific antibody targets regulatory T cells to enhance tumour immunity
A bispecific antibody targeting CCR8 and CD3 has demonstrated the ability to deplete immunosuppressive regulatory T cells and slow tumour growth across multiple cancer models.
Dual-therapy approach targets TNBC energy supply in preclinical study
A combination of a CD276-targeting antibody-drug conjugate and mitochondria-disrupting gene therapy has demonstrated anti-tumour activity in preclinical models of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.
Immune profiling could help tailor treatment for primary biliary cholangitis
A new review of primary biliary cholangitis reveals how interactions between bile duct epithelial cells and immune populations sustain chronic inflammation, and explores whether mapping individual disease mechanisms could guide more targeted therapies.
Hidden bacterial compounds reveal potential cancer drug leads
Researchers have discovered a new family of bacterial natural products that bind the cancer-associated enzyme AKR1C3, revealing potential starting points for drug discovery.
Why aptamer cancer therapies are struggling to reach the clinic
Aptamers can recognise cancer-associated targets and deliver drugs directly to tumour cells. So why have so few reached the clinic? A new review examines the barriers to their development.
New insulin assay speeds up GLP-1 drug candidate testing
A newly developed insulin assay reduced testing time from four hours to around one hour in an evaluation of GLP-1 receptor agonist candidates, delivering comparable results to an established method.
New antifungal compound targets resistant fungi without kidney toxicity
Researchers have designed an antifungal compound that targets a molecular feature unique to fungi, showing activity against drug-resistant pathogens while avoiding kidney injury in preclinical studies.