New research shows that it’s possible to end the practice of using people as ‘human bait’ to catch and test the blackflies that spread river blindness (onchocerciasis). The study by international non-profit Sightsavers in partnership with the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE) and ministries of health in Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Malawi and Mozambique, will be presented at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) on 13 November 2025.

Cervical cancer, one of the most common cancers in women, is often treated with surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, which can affect fertility and quality of life. Researchers at Chiba University have developed a new nasal therapeutic vaccine as a non-invasive treatment option. In animal studies, the vaccine produced strong and lasting immune responses against cervical tumors. If proven effective in humans, it could provide women with a safer, fertility-preserving alternative to current cancer treatments.