Blog

Trump’s autism initiative touts a little-tested vitamin as treatment: As part of a highly anticipated announcement in which U.S. President Donald Trump outlined his administration’s approach to what he called the “crisis of autism,” federal officials said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would approve a drug called leucovorin, a form of folate, as “the first FDA-recognized treatment pathway for autism” — an unusual move for a pill only tested in a few small studies.

First patient gets CRISPR-edited insulin cells in diabetes trial: A Swedish man with type 1 diabetes became the first person to receive CRISPR-edited pancreatic cells that produce insulin while avoiding immune rejection, allowing the cells to survive for at least three (3) months without the need for immunosuppressive drugs, according to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine. Developed by Sana Biotechnology, these cells had key immune-stimulating proteins removed and were enhanced with a protective protein, CD47, using CRISPR technology.

Peacock feathers can emit laser beams, study finds: Microscopic structures in the eyespots of peacock feathers can act as natural laser cavities, emitting faint beams of yellow-green light when energized with dye and external illumination, according to a study in Scientific Reports. Although peacocks are unlikely to use these laser emissions themselves, the discovery highlights how animal biology can inform the development of new biophotonic tools for imaging, diagnostics and other medical applications.

Babies free of mitochondrial disease born via DNA from three people: Eight healthy babies have been born in Britain using a technique that incorporates DNA from three people to prevent mitochondrial diseases. The technique involves transferring genetic material from the mother’s egg into a donor egg with healthy mitochondria, and it is permitted in the UK and Australia but not the United States.

FDA advisers suggest removing boxed warning from certain estrogen products: An advisory panel has recommended that the FDA remove boxed warnings from labels of vaginal estrogen products, citing a lack of data to support the warnings and noting that they discourage use. The warnings, which highlight risks for breast cancer, blood clots, and stroke, were introduced following a 2002 study of estrogen’s effects on women in menopause.

Inflammation and aging may not be universally linked: A study in Nature Aging that included nearly 3,000 adults across Italy, Singapore, Bolivia and Malaysia found that chronic inflammation increases with age and is tied to illness only in industrialized populations. Among Indigenous groups, inflammation remained stable with age and showed no link to common age-related diseases, challenging long-held assumptions about aging.

Kennedy ousts CDC Chief, sparks resignations: The CDC was plunged into turmoil when newly confirmed director Susan Monarez was abruptly fired after refusing HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s push to approve policies she believed were unscientific. Kennedy replaced her with Jim O’Neill, a nonscientist already serving as deputy secretary, who is known for his criticism of the CDC’s pandemic response. The leadership change has led to the resignation of three top CDC officials in protest, citing ethical concerns over the agency’s direction under Kennedy.

Clinical trial publication bias remains a problem: Publication bias remains a serious issue as many trials with negative results go unreported, risking patient safety and hindering progress. As a multiple myeloma patient, biostatistician Alessandro Liberati found four relevant trials that were unpublished, and wrote in the BMJ, “Research results should be easily accessible to people who need to make decisions about their own health,” Liberati wrote. “Why was I forced to make my decision knowing that information was somewhere but not available?”

Retrotransponsons tied to ALS, Alzheimer’s: Researchers are finding that retrotransposons, which make up over 40% of our genome and are usually inactive, can become reactivated with age or due to malfunctioning proteins like TDP-43 and tau, potentially triggering inflammation and nerve cell damage linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers are now testing HIV-style antiretroviral drugs to target the viral-like behavior of retrotransposons, with early results showing promise in slowing symptom progression.

Horse cancer research reveals genetic similarities with humans: Researchers are studying horses to gain insights into cancer, noting genetic similarities between equine and human skin cancers, including shared melanoma markers and cellular mechanisms that resist mammary tumor formation. These insights position horses as a valuable comparative model to investigate cancer susceptibility and resistance, with potential to inform new human treatments.