Researchers from the NeuroAD group (Neuropathology of Alzheimer’s Disease) within the Department of Cell Biology, Genetics and Physiology at the University of Málaga, also affiliated with IBIMA–BIONAND Platform and CIBERNED, have made a pioneering breakthrough in the fight against this disease by identifying astrocytes as a promising cellular target for the development of future therapies.

 

A recent study unveils the molecular mechanisms explaining why some ‘stealth’ drug coatings fail to evade the immune system, as reported by researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. Using single-molecule atomic force microscopy, they measured how individual antibodies bind to poly(ethylene) glycol, showing that hydration and terminal chemistry strongly influence immune recognition. Their findings pave the way for novel drug coatings that stay effective longer by avoiding unwanted immune responses.

Insulin resistance — when the body doesn't properly respond to insulin, a hormone that helps control blood glucose levels — is one of the fundamental causes of diabetes. In addition to diabetes, it is widely known that insulin resistance can lead to cardiovascular, kidney and liver diseases. While insulin resistance is tightly associated with obesity, it has been difficult to evaluate insulin resistance itself in the clinic. For the first time, researchers including those from the University of Tokyo applied a machine learning-based prediction model of insulin resistance to half a million participants from the UK Biobank and demonstrated that insulin resistance is a risk factor for 12 types of cancer. 

Salk Institute scientists find the genome’s dynamic 3D shape influences gene expression, and that the protein NIPBL is a key facilitator of genome structures that inform cell identity. Their findings may inform new therapeutics for disorders related to dysfunctional genome folding, including some cancers and developmental disorders such as autism-related disorders.

The intricate, lifelong conversation between blood vessels and immune system is fundamental to health, and its breakdown is pathogenic to many diseases. A review, published on February 10, 2026, in Immunity & Inflammation by Prof. Yihai Cao at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, provides a systematic and mechanistic framework for understanding this dynamic crosstalk, offering a unified perspective on how vascular endothelial cells orchestrate immune responses and how their dysfunction leads to pathology.

A new international research paper is challenging long‑held beliefs about what makes the world’s fastest sprinters so quick, offering fresh insights that could transform how Australia develops its next generation of speed stars.