Genome editing has advanced at a rapid pace with promising results for treating genetic conditions—but there is always room for improvement. A new paper by investigators from Mass General Brigham published in Nature showcases the power of scalable protein engineering combined with machine learning to boost progress in the field of gene and cell therapy. In their study, authors developed a machine learning algorithm—known as PAMmla—that can predict the properties of about 64 million genome editing enzymes. The work could help reduce off-target effects and improve editing safety, enhance editing efficiency, and enable researchers to predict customized enzymes for new therapeutic targets.  Their results are published in Nature.

The University of Chicago Data Science Institute and Google Partner on Cutting-Edge AI and Security Research

Researchers in the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester found that a brief episode of anxiety may have a bigger influence on a person’s ability to learn what is safe and what is not. A new study used a virtual reality game that involved picking flowers with bees in some of the blossoms that would 'sting' the participant, simulated by a mild electrical stimulation on the hand. Researchers discovered that temporary feelings of anxiety had the biggest impact on whether participants could learn to distinguish between the safe and dangerous areas, where the bees were and were not, not a person’s general tendency to feel anxious.

Today, @AmerGeriatrics @HealthinAging announces Dr. Anaïs Rameau as the 2025 recipient of the Jeffrey H. Silverstein Memorial Award for Emerging Investigators in the Surgical and Related Medical Specialties. https://ow.ly/z2I050VFvRe

About The Study: In this cohort study of young adults, the long-term association between traffic-related air pollution and insulin resistance may be partially explained by higher body mass index (BMI) and accelerated BMI growth from early adolescence into young adulthood. These findings highlight the importance of weight management in children, particularly those residing in highly polluted areas.