Grace O’Connor — Health & Science Editor

Researchers have developed a therapeutic cancer vaccine platform named PROTEXI that pairs tumor antigens with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein fragments, redirecting pre-existing COVID-19 immune memory to enhance T-cell responses against tumors. Preclinical results published in Nature Communications on July 27 showed slowed tumor growth in mice, with a first-in-human sarcoma trial planned. The global immune footprint … Read more

Rising global temperatures are redistributing the risk of childhood malaria across sub-Saharan Africa, creating areas of new risk in the eastern and southern parts of the continent while providing relief hotspots in western regions, according to a study published in Nature. The research investigates the historical and future impacts of climate change on childhood malaria … Read more

Research published in Nature details a phase 1/2, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation, observer-blinded study evaluating GBS6. The trial was conducted in three stages to assess maternal protection for newborns (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03765073; EudraCT: 2020-005074-96). Because GBS6 is being studied for maternal vaccination, the study included exclusively participants of female sex, and no disaggregated sex data and analyses … Read more

Researchers at UCLA Health found that a single dose of the immunosuppressive drug rapamycin temporarily reversed autism-like brain dysfunction and behaviors in adult mice within two hours. Published in Nature Communications, the study challenges the long-held assumption that physical brain changes tied to early development are permanent. Maternal Inflammation and the Mouse Model To study … Read more

Researchers analyzing genetic data from over 2.5 million adults have identified 26 genomic regions linked to fibromyalgia syndrome. Published in Nature Medicine, the landmark study confirms the chronic pain condition is rooted in nervous system processing rather than psychological factors or autoimmune disease, offering new biological targets for future treatments. For decades, patients suffering from … Read more

One in every five adult Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar is living with Hepatitis C, according to operational data and research findings. A study published in Muslim Network TV by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) revealed that total viral hepatitis prevalence among the refugee population stands at 18.97 percent. High Hepatitis … Read more

Marking World Hepatitis Day on July 28, health authorities warn of public health challenges driven by slipping vaccination rates, low diagnostic uptake, and systematic implementation gaps. Experts emphasize that viral hepatitis remains a cause of liver disease and mortality, yet is preventable and curable through existing medical tools. As health systems mark World Hepatitis Day, … Read more

Scientists at Imperial College London have developed a bioinspired material that captures the body’s own healing proteins, releasing them only when repair cells pull on them. Published in Nature Materials, the dressings successfully accelerated wound healing in mouse skin models and improved human skin tissue repair in laboratory tests. Cellular Traction Forces as a Therapeutic … Read more

The World Health Organization reported on Tuesday that Europe’s regional hepatitis elimination efforts face significant hurdles, falling off track for 2030 targets despite major gains in childhood vaccination and a 33% drop in hepatitis C mortality over the past decade across the continent. Viral hepatitis remains a persistent public health challenge across Europe, where millions … Read more