Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in women. It is a highly variable disease, defined as a malignancy of the epithelial ducts in breast tissue. Characterizing the vast heterogeneity within BC cells and their surrounding tumor microenvironment is crucial because this diversity is the primary reason for treatment resistance, disease progression and poor patient prognosis.

 

In a new study from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, researchers assembled a comprehensive single-cell atlas of the human breast, combining data from 138 patients and more than 600,000 single cells. They then were able to identify cell populations and cell states that previously were unclear or missed and linked these cell types to tumor features (like subtype and grade) and patient outcomes.  

The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine (ACMGF) is pleased to announce that Bo Yuan, PhD, FACMG, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Dr. Michael S. Watson Genetic and Genomic Medicine Innovation Award, an honor recognizing exceptional innovation that advances the field of genetic and genomic medicine. The award is named for Michael S. Watson, MS, PhD, FACMG, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics’ first and longstanding Executive Director, whose leadership helped shape modern clinical genomics.

The secret to youthful appearance and repairing scars may lie in a microscopic skin structure humans share with pigs and grizzly bears — but, surprisingly, not monkeys. While it had been thought these ridge and valley-like skin microstructures — called rete ridges — form during fetal growth, researchers at Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine found they actually develop shortly after birth and identified a key molecular signal that drives their development.

CLEVELAND, Ohio (Feb 4, 2026)—Hormone therapy (HT) has proven effective for managing hot flashes and other common menopause symptoms, but questions remain about long-term safety, especially in women aged older than 65 years. A new study evaluated the health outcomes of HT in women aged 65 years and older, including women who initiated therapy after age 65 years. Results of the study are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society.