Our nerve cells are surrounded by a protective layer (myelin). This protective layer allows signals to pass between cells incredibly quickly. But what happens when this layer goes missing from cells that transfer signals over longer distances? Maarten Kole’s research group studied this question in mice, looking specifically at nerve fibres travelling from the brain’s outer layer to the thalamus, a crucial switching station deep in the middle of the brain.  Processing sensory information involves continuous communication between the brain’s outer layer (cerebral cortex) and the thalamus. Such an exchange, for example, ...

Insilico Medicine has licensed TaiGen Biotechnology exclusive rights in the Greater China area to develop, commercialize, and sub-license ISM4808, an AI-driven potential best-in-class oral PHD inhibitor with IND clearance granted in 2023.  The partnership combines Insilico’s generative AI discovery platform with TaiGen’s regional clinical and commercial expertise to accelerate the development of ISM4808 for the treatment of Anemia of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).    Shanghai and Taipei, December 12, 2025 --- Insilico ...

A research team led by Professor Chulong Zhang at the College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, China, investigated dominant endophytic fungi of the order Pleosporales isolated from Poaceae plants collected in Yunnan, Zhejiang, and Inner Mongolia, China. The study, published in Mycology, combined multi-locus phylogenetic analyses with morphological observations to resolve taxonomy and species limits among key pleosporalean endophytes of grasses.   The analysis confirmed that the family Didymosphaeriaceae forms a strongly supported monophyletic group. Within this lineage, the researchers identified multiple well-supported clades corresponding ...

The interaction between genetics and tissue environment shapes how individual teeth form in different regions of the jaw. While most experimental studies have focused on mandibular (lower jaw) teeth, little was known about how human maxillary (upper jaw) and mandibular teeth diverge at the molecular level during early development.   In a new study published in Oral Science and Homeostatic Medicine, a collaborative team from Beijing Stomatological Hospital, Capital Medical University, and Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology performed a RNA-sequencing analysis of human fetal tooth germs at the cap stage (11–12 post-conception ...

Researchers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have detected the strongest evidence yet for an atmosphere on a rocky planet outside our solar system. Observations of the ultra-hot super-Earth TOI-561 b suggest the exoplanet is surrounded by a thick blanket of gases above a global magma ocean. Publishing their findings today (11 Dec) in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, researchers say that the results help to explain the planet’s unusually low density and challenge the prevailing wisdom that relatively small planets so close ...

WASHINGTON — Researchers have developed a precision magnetometer based on a special material that changes optical properties in response to a magnetic field. The device, which is integrated onto a chip, could benefit space missions, navigation and biomedical applications. High-precision magnetometers are used to measure the strength and direction of magnetic fields for various applications. However, many of today’s magnetometers must operate at extremely low temperatures — close to 0 kelvin — or require relatively large and heavy apparatus, which significantly restricts their practicality. “Our device operates at room temperature and can be fully integrated ...

CHICAGO—December 11, 2025—Philip R. Troyk, director of the Pritzker Institute of Biomedical Science and Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech), has been elected a 2025 fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). The NAI Fellowship is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors, and Troyk is one of 169 inventors from the United States selected for this distinguished honor this year. “As an Illinois Tech faculty member, I am pleased to receive this honor and hope ...

The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has elected the newest class of Fellows, naming 169 U.S. distinguished academic and institutional inventors and 16 International Fellows to the 2025 cohort. Explore the full list of 2025 Fellows here. NAI Fellowship is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors. Together, the 2025 class hold more than 5,300 U.S. patents and include recipients of the Nobel Prize, the National Medals of Science and Technology & Innovation, and members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, among others. This year’s 169 U.S. Fellows represent ...

A new study published in AI Materials presents a comprehensive multi-scale computational framework capable of predicting the mechanical responses of Fe–Cr–Al alloys while incorporating both solid-solution effects and processing-induced microstructural evolution. By coupling Molecular Dynamics (MD), Phase-Field Method (PFM), and Finite Element Method (FEM) through a temperature-dependent crystal plasticity model, the work provides a pathway for quantitatively linking composition, microstructure, and mechanical performance within the broader context of the Materials Genome Initiative. Why This Matters Fe–Cr–Al alloys are among the leading candidates for accident-tolerant ...

  SAN ANTONIO – Preoperative radiation improved T-cell infiltration (TCI) in patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer when administered in combination with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and chemotherapy and led to improved treatment responses prior to surgery, according to the results of the phase II P-RAD clinical trial presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), held December 9-12, 2025. “Many patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer—the most common type of breast cancer—experience late recurrences, and there is a critical need to improve ...

SAN ANTONIO – Patients with stage 1 or 2, hormone receptor (HR)-negative breast cancer had similar five-year rates of locoregional recurrence whether or not they underwent preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in addition to diagnostic mammography to determine the extent of their cancer, according to results from the phase III Alliance A011104/ACRIN 6694 clinical trial presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), held December 9-12, 2025. Breast MRI is commonly included as part of the diagnostic workup of breast cancer ...

SAN ANTONIO – Skipping sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with clinically node-negative, hormonal receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative early-stage breast cancer did not compromise regional control or survival after a median five years of follow-up, according to results from the BOOG 2013-08 phase III clinical trial, presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), held December 9-12, 2025. “Over the past two decades, breast cancer care has shifted toward minimizing invasiveness while preserving oncologic safety,” said Marjolein Smidt, MD, PhD, presenter of this study and professor at the Maastricht University Medical Center ...

PULLMAN, Wash. -- It isn’t just people – when given the chance rats may also use cannabis to cope with stress, according to a study by researchers at Washington State University. Published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, the study was designed to examine cannabis-seeking behavior and found that rats with higher natural stress levels are far more likely to self-administer the popular recreational drug. "We ran rats through this extensive battery of behavioral and biological tests, and what we found was that when we look at all of these different factors and all the variables that we measured, stress ...

As Americans gear up for the holiday season, new research offers a timely reminder to reflect on the long-term health effects of raising a celebratory glass – or two. Alcohol is known to increase the risk of several cancers even at moderate levels. Yet drinking remains widespread, and important questions persist about how both the frequency and amount of alcohol people consume shape their cancer risk. Moreover, risks differ across groups, and existing alcohol policies rarely emphasize their link to cancer. To help close these critical gaps, researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, conducted a comprehensive systematic ...

Ever notice that as you get older, some foods no longer sit with you the same? This could be due to a breakdown of the intestinal epithelium, a single layer of cells that forms the organ’s lining. The intestine plays a crucial role in many health functions, including digestion. Under normal conditions, the entire intestinal epithelium typically regenerates every three to five days. However, with damage from old age or cancer radiation, regeneration can stop or slow. That can lead to inflammation and diseases like leaky gut syndrome. Now, Cold Spring ...

Trailblazing geneticist Pengfei Liu, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, is the recipient of the 2026 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Medicine from TAMEST. He was chosen for his transformative use of genome and RNA sequencing to improve the diagnosis and treatment of rare genetic diseases.   A global leader in his field, Dr. Liu has consistently expanded the boundaries in the diagnosis and treatment of rare genetic disorders. His contributions span nearly every major advancement in modern clinical genetics – from early discoveries of genome rearrangement mechanisms ...

Renowned molecular biologist Yunsun Nam, Ph.D., Professor in the Departments of Biochemistry and Biophysics and the Doris and Bryan Wildenthal Distinguished Chair in Medical Science at UT Southwestern Medical Center, is the recipient of the 2026 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Biological Sciences from TAMEST. She was chosen for her groundbreaking research into how RNAs and proteins interact at the molecular level – providing key insights for gene regulation, cancer biology and RNA-based therapeutics.   Crucial ...

Groundbreaking electrical engineer Bilal Akin, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Texas at Dallas, is the recipient of the 2026 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Engineering from TAMEST. He was chosen for his cutting-edge advancement of sustainable and high-efficiency energy conversion systems for electric vehicles (EVs) and industrial automation.   Dr. Akin’s research focuses on making power electronics systems more efficient, reliable and sustainable, with major ...

Pioneering theoretical physicist Fan Zhang, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Physics at The University of Texas at Dallas, is the recipient of the 2026 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Physical Sciences from TAMEST. He was chosen for his transformational research exploring new topological quantum matter, which has changed how we think about physics.   Dr. Zhang studies how millions of electrons in atomically thin materials interact to produce collective quantum effects such as magnetic, superconducting and topological phases. His ...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovator Yue Hu, Ph.D., AI Specialist – Production Technology at bp, is the recipient of the 2026 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Technology Innovation from TAMEST. She was chosen for her cutting-edge work applying AI to optimize real-time industrial processes in the energy sector.   Dr. Hu specializes in reinforcement learning (RL), an AI approach that learns by trial and error. While RL has proven powerful in fields like robotics and gaming, it had rarely been applied successfully to high-stakes oilfield operations. By combining AI with bp’s powerful computing systems, Dr. Hu has successfully applied RL ...

People who lean politically to the right are more likely to fall for conspiracy theories than those on the left – but not for other types of false or misleading information. And regardless of ideology, we tend to accept political claims that align with our own beliefs. This is shown in a doctoral thesis from Linköping University, Sweden. “Conspiracy theories can have a very strong mobilising force, as seen during the storming of the Capitol. Several of those who took part believe in conspiracy ...

Insilico Medicine has developed a new class of small molecule inhibitors targeting diacylglycerol kinase alpha (DGKα) designed to restore T cell function and overcome resistance to immune checkpoint blockades in solid cancers. The latest results from this program have just been published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, describing the discovery and comprehensive preclinical evaluation of Compound 10, a novel, potent, selective and orally administered DGKα inhibitor.  The compound exhibits a differentiated pharmacokinetic and safety profile and ...

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest malignancies, with survival rates remaining dismally low despite major advances in oncology. One of the key reasons lies in the disease’s unique fibrotic microenvironment—a dense, collagen-rich tissue that acts as a physical and biochemical barrier, preventing drugs from reaching tumor cells effectively.   Now, a research team from Okayama University and Tohoku University has uncovered a promising new way to breach this barrier. Led by Assistant Professor Hiroyoshi Y. Tanaka from the Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, the group demonstrated that blocking ...

Vienna, Austria – 11 December 2025: Valvular heart disease, identified through cardiovascular imaging, is common in cancer patients. Interventions to treat valvular heart disease significantly improved survival.1 These findings were presented today at EACVI 2025, the flagship congress of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI), a branch of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Treatment advances have led to improved survival for patients with cancer. As patients live longer, they are at an increased risk of developing valvular heart disease after successful cancer therapy. Furthermore, it is now well recognised that certain cancer treatments can cause ...

Socially responsible investors (SRIs) often see themselves as agents of social or environmental progress. They buy into polluting or “dirty” companies believing that their capital can nudge a business toward a cleaner path. Their intention is straightforward: to invest in the bad to make it good. But a new study by finance professors at the University of Rochester, Johns Hopkins University, and the Stockholm School of Economics argues that this logic can backfire. Instead of accelerating environmental reforms, SRIs may unintentionally create incentives for firms to ...