EurekAlert! News by Subject: Medicine & Health

Medicine & Health

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 27-May-2026 15:15 ET (27-May-2026 19:15 GMT/UTC)

30-Mar-2026

OHSU study uncovers internal cell ‘trade winds’ that drive movement and repair

Oregon Health & Science University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scientists at Oregon Health & Science University have uncovered a previously unknown system of internal “trade winds” that help cells rapidly move essential proteins to the front of the cell, reshaping how researchers understand cell migration, cancer spread and wound healing.

The discovery, published today in Nature Communications, reshapes what researchers thought they knew about how cells direct proteins to the right place at the right time.

Journal: Nature Communications
Funder: W. M. Keck Foundation, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

30-Mar-2026

HKUMed discovers expanded use of fatty liver drug for preventing and suppressing liver cancer

The University of Hong Kong
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A research team from the Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), in collaboration with the HKU State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, has found that Resmetirom, a drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), demonstrates benefits beyond reducing liver fat and fibrosis. The study shows that the drug also has potential to prevent and suppress liver cancer caused by fatty liver disease. The findings were published in the international journal Hepatology.

Journal: Hepatology

30-Mar-2026

Normative messaging bridges the partisan gap in pandemic risk-taking, study shows

University of Plymouth
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New research led by the University of Plymouth (UK) demonstrates that clear messages can align public behaviour during a health crisis, effectively bridging gaps previously associated with political voting records. The research was carried out around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic and recruited more than 800 United States citizens who had voted for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Presidential Election.

Journal: Journal of Behavioral Decision Making

30-Mar-2026

A study links armed conflict in Colombia with higher tuberculosis cases and mortality

Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The prolonged armed conflict in Colombia has had a significant impact on tuberculosis (TB) incidence and mortality. This is revealed by a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), which aimed to develop a municipal-level armed conflict intensity index and analyse how it relates to inequalities in the tuberculosis burden.

Journal: BMJ Global Health

30-Mar-2026

Cells under stress: chemotherapy drug damages RNA

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Peer-Reviewed Publication

LMU researchers show that the chemotherapeutic drug azacitidine damages RNA and reveal a possible approach to improve therapies.

Journal: Molecular Cell

30-Mar-2026

Irregular bedtime linked to higher risk of cardiac events

University of Oulu, Finland
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study from the University of Oulu suggests that large swings in when people go to bed could double the risk of serious cardiac events—particularly among those who get less than eight hours of sleep.

Journal: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders

30-Mar-2026

Food: New approach combines safety and sustainability

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A recent lead article challenges fundamental assumptions in food safety and advocates for a risk-based approach – to enhance the sustainability and resilience of food systems.

Journal: Frontiers

30-Mar-2026

University of Tartu researchers discovered a new gene causing fetal developmental anomalies

Estonian Research Council
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The Human Genetics Research Group of the University of Tartu Faculty of Medicine has identified a gene whose defect may cause congenital heart malformations in the fetus. The MGRN1 gene has not previously been associated with early human development or with any disease. The discovery will help doctors better recognise similar cases in the future and improve the counselling and treatment offered to affected families.

Journal: Journal of Medical Genetics
Funder: Estonian Research Council

30-Mar-2026

Choosing embryos based on genetic predictions raises new ethical and legal concerns

Hokkaido University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The article examines the emerging use of genomic testing to predict complex traits in embryos, such as intelligence or the risk of developing conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or Alzheimer’s disease later in life. As embryo testing moves beyond disease prevention toward the prediction of complex human social characteristics, the author argues that stronger oversight and clearer regulations are needed.

Journal: Frontiers in Reproductive Health