Month: May 2026

Mouse research shows skull veins actively protect the brain: Research with mice and human tissue found that large veins in the skull actively pulse to drain blood and cerebrospinal fluid and shift their cell borders to allow immune cells to patrol, helping protect the brain from infection, inflammation and pressure buildup. The team also showed that the molecule CGRP widens these veins, which might explain how migraine drugs that target CGRP work. (CGRP stands for calcitonin gene-related peptide, a 37-amino acid protein acting as a neurotransmitter and vasodilator involved in transmitting pain signals).

Study with mice advances universal vaccine against respiratory threats: A universal vaccine candidate developed by Stanford Medicine researchers offers protection against a wide range of bacteria, respiratory viruses and allergens in a study with mice published in the journal Science. The intranasal vaccine integrates innate and adaptive immunity, providing broad lung protection for several months. “If it ultimately proves safe and effective in humans, the potential impact could be transformative: simplifying seasonal vaccination and improving readiness for emerging respiratory threats,” Researcher Bali Pulendran said.

Although we adore our feline friends, it does not often seem like we have much in common with them — unless, of course, you also have a passion for attacking furniture legs and licking your own rear. When it comes to health, however, cats are exposed to many of the same environmental risks as their owners and they fall victim to many of the same ailments. Cancer, for example, is one of the leading causes of illness and death in cats; however, the genetics of this disease in felines remain relatively unexplored.

Multiple outlets reported that FDA Commissioner Marty Makary is being pushed out at FDA, though it is unclear how or when the departure will take place.

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is requesting feedback on a proposal to allow EU CE-marked medical devices sold in Great Britain to be recognized and sold indefinitely. This measure aims to ensure a continuous and uninterrupted supply of these devices.

Marty Makary, the Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), announced a new pilot program promising one-day inspections for low-risk facilities at the end of May 2026.

Research with pigs and grizzly bears showed that key skin structures called rete ridges, which help keep human skin strong and elastic, form after birth rather than during fetal development. The study, published in Nature, identified bone morphogenetic protein signaling as a key pathway and provides a concrete molecular target for therapies for wound healing, scar repair and age-related skin thinning.

FDA’s animal testing phaseout needs caution, experts say: Biomedical research with animals remains essential for preclinical safety testing, and rapidly replacing animal studies with unvalidated alternatives could increase the risk of unsafe or ineffective drugs reaching patients, legal expert Sara Gerke and colleagues wrote in Trends in Biotechnology. The Authors recommend maintaining animal testing alongside alternatives until enough data proves equivalence, and they propose measures like premarket reviews or independent certification to ensure the safety and efficacy of new methods.