Gene editing can repair a DNA error in mice that causes Dravet syndrome, a rare, incurable, and potentially deadly form of childhood epilepsy. After the edit, the mice have far fewer seizures and live much longer.

Small, flexible, wireless device gently adheres to the chest to measure multiple physiological signals at once. By tracking heart rate and rhythm, breathing rate and depth, sweat response, blood flow and temperature, device captures a whole-body ‘view’ of stress. Machine learning algorithms analyze patterns associated with stress in real time. Device could help clinicians detect stress and discomfort in babies, the elderly and critically ill or sedated patients who cannot communicate.

In a world first, a research team at the University of Zurich has successfully treated mice carrying an inherited form of epilepsy. The scientists used gene editing to fix faulty DNA directly in the brain cells of mice, which reduced fever-induced seizures and markedly improved survival rates in an animal model. This approach paves the way for future treatment of inherited epilepsy rather than just managing its symptoms.