Researchers from The University of Osaka have found that a specific signaling pathway, the integrin αV–YAP–CTGF axis in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, may be associated with the development of liver fibrosis, portal hypertension, and liver cancer in patients with chronic liver congestion. These findings have important implications for the development of therapies aimed at preventing more severe forms of liver disease.

Researchers working with Professor Ralf Erdmann at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, have discovered a critical vulnerability shared by the pathogens that cause African sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis. The PEX38 protein plays a crucial role in the formation of certain organelles of the trypanosomes that are essential for their energy supply. Because humans do not require this protein, it represents a promising target for new treatments against tropical diseases that affect over one billion people worldwide every year. Current treatments are often limited by high toxicity and increasing drug resistance. The team led by Ralf Erdmann reports its findings in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) from February 26, 2026. 

In a clinical study of children and adults with aniridia, the researchers found that loss of sensitivity is not static but rather progresses with age. This rare disease causes a total or partial absence of the iris. Those affected often experience focusing problems, photophobia, and other complications. The study also reveals alterations in the tear response. Understanding these processes at a basic level is essential for designing more precise therapeutic strategies in the future to help slow deterioration and improve patients’ quality of life.

Researchers at Hokkaido University studied 56 japonica rice cultivars from across Japan and discovered that they contain unique beneficial fats.

Australian researchers have uncovered how the human immune system fights Plasmodium vivax, paving the way for the first effective vaccine against the most widespread form of malaria.

Aligned with priorities in Singapore’s Economic Strategy Review to strengthen AI literacy and workforce readiness — and reflecting the recent Budget emphasis on building AI capabilities across sectors — the programme prepares nurses to lead in an increasingly digital and AI-enabled healthcare landscape.