Impaired neuromusculoskeletal function due to conditions such as stroke, osteoarthritis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, limb amputation, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury and cancer is a leading cause of disability and affects roughly 1.7 billion people worldwide, including 19% of the U.S. adult population. Researchers led by Rice University’s Benjamin J. Fregly have developed a treatment design software that implements a novel personalized medicine approach for addressing this important societal problem.

Miriam Merad, MD, PhD, an internationally acclaimed immunologist and oncologist, has been awarded the title of Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur [Knight of the Legion of Honor] by the French Republic. The prestigious distinction, presented at the Consulate General of France in New York by the Ambassador of France to the United States, honors Dr. Merad’s groundbreaking contributions to macrophage biology and immunology and her leadership in transforming the landscape of translational research and precision medicine. One of France’s highest civilian honors, the Legion of Honor recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to their fields and society at large. Dr. Merad was selected for her visionary research elucidating the role of innate immune cells in cancer and chronic inflammatory disease, as well as her commitment to fostering global scientific collaboration and advancing human health.

Abbreviated breast MRI shortens exam time while retaining a high level of diagnostic accuracy of breast cancer in women with extremely dense breasts, according to an article published today.

Mass General Brigham head and neck cancer researchers are reporting in a new study in Clinical Cancer Research, on the development and testing of HPV-DeepSeek, a novel liquid biopsy assay. In their new study, HPV-DeepSeek achieved 99% sensitivty and specifity for diagnosing HPV-associated head and neck cancers, outperforming standard of care methods. HPV causes about 70% of oropharyngeal cancers in the U.S., which are increasing in incidence faster than other head and neck cancers.

A drug used to treat type 2 diabetes may also be effective in slowing the progression of prostate cancer. This is shown by an international study in which researchers at Umeå University, Sweden, have participated. The researchers have found that drugs that regulate a particular protein have a key role in reducing prostate cancer recurrence among diabetic patients.

Researchers at the University of Turku, Finland, have taken a step towards more personalized and effective cancer treatments. A new study has identified the conditions under which the antibody drug bexmarilimab can activate the body's own defense system against cancer, and how to identify patients who will benefit from the drug.

Mullighan was selected to join the Royal Society for his trailblazing contributions to genomic research, which have advanced the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of acute leukemia, notably childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

A new study published in Nature Cancer reveals that age-related metabolic decline impairs the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy. Scientists at the University of Lausanne, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne branch, demonstrate that declining NAD levels in aged T cells reduce their mitochondrial function and tumor-killing ability. Replenishing NAD reverses this dysfunction, suggesting a new strategy to enhance cell therapies for older cancer patients.