New Atlas

Medical Audio available

Detailed lung cell map uncovers new pieces of the asthma puzzle

Michael Irving June 17, 2019

As part of the Human Cell Atlas initiative researchers have mapped the different types of cells in the lungs, and spotted some crucial new differences between healthy and asthma-affected airways that could inspire some new drug targets.

Some newly identified differences between healthy and asthma-affected airways could inspire some new drug targets

Medical Audio available

Anti-aging compound from pomegranates proves promising in human clinical trials

Michael Irving June 16, 2019

Researchers at EPFL have now reported a new step towards anti-aging medication. Human clinical trials of a fruit-derived compound showed promise in slowing mitochondrial aging in elderly patients, with no side effects found.

A compound derived from pomegranates appears to be effective at slowing some cellular aging processes in ...

Medical Audio available

Harvard breakthrough shows stem cells can be genetically edited in the body

Michael Irving June 4, 2019

In recent years scientists have been able to correct genetic diseases by removing stem cells, editing their genomes and implanting them back into patients, but that adds complications. Now new research led by Harvard scientists has successfully edited the genes of stem cells while still in the body.

Left: the "reporter" cells before the gene-editing machinery is injected. Right: after the injection, the cells ...

Biology Audio available

Boosting a radiation-protecting protein could help cancer patients and astronauts

Michael Irving June 2, 2019

Radiotherapy is effective for killing cancer, but it harms healthy cells at the same time. Now researchers have found that boosting levels of a certain protein can protect against radiation damage, which could help cancer patients, victims of nuclear disasters, and future space travellers.

The red cells are proliferating cells in the intestinal crypts, which are vulnerable to radiation damage. ...

Biology Audio available

Cell division recreated outside of a cell for the first time

Michael Irving May 31, 2019

Cell division is one of the most fundamental biological functions, but there’s still so much about it that we don’t understand. In an attempt to find out more, researchers have now managed to recreate cell division outside of a cell for the first time, surprising even themselves.

Researchers have managed to recreate cell division outside of a cell

Medical

Scientists discover why a promising cancer drug failed in clinical trials – and how to fix it

Michael Irving May 29, 2019

As promising as some treatments are in lab tests, unfortunately they don’t always meet hopes when translated to the real world. Now scientists have found out why a class of cancer drugs failed in human trials, and gone on to identify another drug that could finally make the treatment work.

Researchers have found out why a promising class of cancer drugs failed – and how to ...

Medical Audio available

Placental stem cells found to regenerate heart cells after heart attack

Michael Irving May 21, 2019

After a heart attack this vital organ remains damaged, which can eventually lead to heart failure and death. Now, researchers have managed to use placental stem cells to regenerate heart cells in mice, which could lead to groundbreaking new treatments for heart attack victims.

Placental stem cells have been found to regenerate damaged heart cells after a heart attack

Medical Audio available

Lamprey molecules squirm into the brain to deliver cancer drugs

Michael Irving May 17, 2019

The lamprey is not something you’d normally want anywhere near your brain. But now, researchers have used molecules taken from the freaky fish’s immune system to deliver drugs inside the body – and even managed to sneak them into the brain.

Researchers have used molecules from the lamprey's immune system to help fight brain cancer

Medical Audio available

One-two punch weakens bacteria's defenses against antibiotics

Michael Irving May 1, 2019

Bacteria are quickly evolving resistances to antibiotics, to the extent that our best drugs might not work in the terrifyingly-near future. Now, researchers from Thomas Jefferson University have found a new way to weaken bacterial defenses, slowing down the development of antibiotic resistance.

Researchers have found a new way to weaken bacterial defenses against antibiotics

Medical Audio available

Existing drug that offers dormancy over death may be better for combatting cancer

Michael Irving April 29, 2019

Part of cancer's cunning is its ability to spread around the body, so that doctors can rarely be sure they’ve killed it all. Now researchers have identified a drug that could help keep cancer contained in a dormant state – and best of all, that drug is already on the market for other purposes.

An existing drug has been found to be effective at keeping cancer in a dormant state, ...