News
New targeted therapy shows promise against aggressive childhood and adult cancers
Researchers at the UBC Faculty of Medicine have developed a new targeted cancer therapy that can precisely seek out and destroy tumour cells — showing strong results in preclinical studies that bring the breakthrough closer to human clinical trials.
The therapy targets a protein called IL1RAP, which is found on the surface of certain cancer cells, but is largely absent from normal tissues. By linking a cancer-killing drug to an antibody that recognizes this protein, the team created an antibody-drug conjugate that delivers treatment directly to cancer cells while sparing healthy tissues.
Watch a spider’s heart race when traffic gets too loud
A spider sits motionless at the center of its web, apparently unbothered by the world around it. Zoom in on its abdomen, though, and something unexpected comes into view: a tiny vessel pulsing steadily beneath the skin, beating like a miniature heart.
A Journey Towards My Green Lab Certification
How a wastewater treatment lab overcame regulatory hurdles and "the way we’ve always done it" mindset to achieve Platinum sustainability
Pinecone-inspired conduit enables suture-free repair of nerve injuries
Drawing inspiration from how pinecone scales close in humid environments, the research team designed a material with robust tissue adhesion, that wraps around severed nerve stumps and achieve secure fixation without a single suture.
Researchers Uncover New Pathway Allowing Red Blood Cells to Make Hemoglobin Under Stress
Researchers demonstrated for the first time that under certain conditions, immature red blood cells known as erythroblasts can import heme from surrounding cells even after discarding their own heme-producing mitochondria.
The Expanding Role of Cell-Free DNA in Transfusion Medicine
Initially identified in the 1940s, cell free DNA (cfDNA) garnered significant clinical attention in the late 1990s with the discovery of fetal cfDNA in maternal plasma, leading to the development of noninvasive prenatal screening for chromosomal disorders.2 Since then, cfDNA has revolutionized fields such as oncology, prenatal medicine, and solid organ transplantation. cfDNA is now emerging as a promising diagnostic and monitoring tool in transfusion medicine with applications that span prenatal care, transplant surveillance, microchimerism risk assessment, and potentially transfusion safety.
AI Lab Result Interpretation Gains Traction with Patients, but Raises Accuracy and Validation Concerns for Clinical Laboratories
A growing number of consumers are now turning to AI tools to interpret their lab reports, often before consulting a physician. Startups and wellness companies are capitalizing on this demand by offering subscription-based services that translate complex lab data into simplified summaries and suggested next steps.
Scientists create plastic that destroys viruses on contact
A new virus-fighting plastic film could transform everyday surfaces into invisible defenders against disease. Instead of relying on chemicals, this flexible material is covered in microscopic pillars that physically stretch viruses until they burst, rendering them harmless. In lab tests, it destroyed or disabled about 94% of virus particles within an hour, showing impressive effectiveness.
Gut microbiome signals emerge as early warning marker for Parkinson’s disease
A new study of nearly 500 individuals suggests that distinct changes in gut bacteria may help identify people at high risk of Parkinson’s disease years before symptoms appear. Researchers found a characteristic “intermediate” microbial pattern in stool samples that appeared prior to diagnosis, indicating a potential biological signature of early disease. If validated, this could lead to one of the first practical screening tools for detecting Parkinson’s in its pre-symptomatic stage, opening the door to earlier intervention before irreversible neurological damage occurs.
Precision Chemistry Innovations Drive Sustainable Laboratory Manufacturing
Discover how advancements in single-atom catalysts and supramolecular assembly are transforming industrial chemical production
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