Scientists from Trinity College Dublin and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences have created new “hybrid” immune cells with the potential to help new bone form after a break. The wow-factor here is that the hybrids simultaneously promote blood vessel and bone growth, which is entirely new. 

This discovery could one day help bones regrow more quickly as well as improving outcomes for a huge number of patients – with around 10% of all bone fractures currently failing to heal properly.

A review in Neuroprotection (2026) reconceptualizes Parkinson’s disease as a lifelong neurobiological process shaped by early-life vulnerability, cumulative environmental exposures, and resilience factors. The authors integrate developmental biology, epigenetics, neuroimmune mechanisms, and brain plasticity into a prevention-focused framework. They highlight how early risks and lifelong protective behaviors influence disease trajectory, while emphasizing the need for longitudinal studies, early biomarkers, and targeted interventions to enable prevention rather than late-stage treatment.

A new study uncovers a sophisticated immune evasion strategy used by malaria parasites. Researchers led by Professor Qijun Chen at Shenyang Agricultural University demonstrate that Plasmodium employs its own phosphoinositide 3-kinase to actively prevent the exposure of phosphatidylserine on the surface of infected red blood cells, thereby avoiding recognition and clearance by host macrophages. The findings reveal a previously unknown mechanism of host–pathogen interaction and open a potential avenue for antimalarial drug development.

Shi Yuankai’s team’s review on EGFR-TKIs for NSCLC (2000–2026) came out in the Chinese Medical Journal. Lung cancer leads in global cancer incidence/mortality, with NSCLC as the main subtype and EGFR a key driver. EGFR-TKIs are core for advanced EGFR-mutant NSCLC, with expanded clinical applications and prolonged patient survival. Yet EGFR-TKI resistance is a big challenge; the review summarizes its 2000–2025 development and future directions.

Climate extremes are adversely affecting cacao production. A recent study by Hasanuddin University highlights the potential of multistrata shade structures in addressing these challenges. Researchers show how a mix of shade trees—such as coconut, banana, and Gliricidia sepium—can help cacao plants grow better and become more resilient. These trees can improve soil fertility and help cacao plants cope with environmental variability—offering a pathway toward more resilient and sustainable smallholder agriculture.

How food is shared inside ant colonies has long been invisible in real time. Researchers in Japan have now used a highly sensitive radioactive imaging technique to watch food move from ant to ant, minute by minute. The method reveals unexpected patterns in how resources spread through a group and could help scientists detect early warning signs of stress or imbalance in insect societies, crucial to ecosystems and agriculture.

A research team has identified a promising new therapeutic strategy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), showing that blocking two proteins can halt and even reverse lung scarring in pre-clinical models. IPF is a progressive disease in which scar tissue builds up in the lungs, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. The disease affects an estimated 100,000 people in the United States, with about 30,000 to 40,000 new cases diagnosed each year, according to the National Institutes of Health.