New Atlas

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Promising new universal flu vaccine may be just a few years away from market

Rich Haridy August 22, 2018

A new study led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania has demonstrated the efficacy of a new universal flu vaccine. Having been proven impressively effective in animal tests, the team hopes to move the vaccine into human trials within the next couple of years.

Yet another candidate is in the running to be the first safe and effective universal flu ...

Medical

First ever RNA-based gene-silencing drug approved by FDA, and it's not cheap

Rich Haridy August 12, 2018

Twenty years after the breakthrough discovery illustrating how RNA interference can be used to silence certain genes, and over a decade after the research won a Nobel prize, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug utilizing this method for adult clinical treatment.

Onpattro (patisiran) is the first RNA-interfering treatment to hit the market after nearly 20 years of ...

Science

Controversial study raises new doubts over unwanted genetic damage caused by CRISPR

Rich Haridy July 16, 2018

A new research paper has again raised doubts over the safety and accuracy of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technique. The study suggests that the gene editing process can cause extensive unforeseen and unpredictable alterations to DNA sequences outside of the intended targets.

A study is raising new doubts over the accuracy of the CRISPR-Car9 gene editing technique

Medical

Researchers discover why the CRISPR gene editing system sometimes fails

Rich Haridy July 11, 2018

The CRISPR gene editing revolution is less than a decade old and scientists are still learning how best to deploy this ground-breaking technique. A team has recently discovered why the technique sometimes fails, uncovering a novel insight that will hopefully make future research more efficient.

CRISPR is known to fail about 15 percent of the time and a new study has ...

Medical

Scientists diagnose asthma via simple nose swab

Ben Coxworth June 12, 2018

Mild to moderate asthma can be difficult to diagnose, as its symptoms change over time and are often affected by other respiratory conditions. A new test, however, is able to definitively determine whether or not a patient has asthma – via just a swabbing of the nose.

The actual "nasal brushing" takes just a few seconds to perform

Medical

Molecule behind Huntington's disease found to be cancer-killing "super assassin"

Rich Haridy February 12, 2018

Scientists have noticed a reduced incidence of cancer in patients suffering from the hereditary neurodegenerative condition Huntington’s disease. Now a team has uncovered how the disease could also be killing cancer cells, and how this could be harnessed for a new cancer treatment.

The same molecule that causes Huntington's disease has been found to have remarkable cancer-killing properties

Biology

Molecular similarities found between autism, schizophrenia & bipolar disorder

Rich Haridy February 8, 2018

A study has generated molecular profiles for several psychiatric disorders by examining RNA in brain tissue samples from 700 subjects. The research revealed fascinating physical similarities, and differences, in the patterns of gene expression across disorders including autism and schizophrenia.

New research has identified overlaps in molecular signatures for various brain disorders

Health & Wellbeing

RNA-based decoy molecule suggests path to opioid-free pain control

Rich Haridy January 16, 2018

Many modern opioid-based painkillers don't target the specific site of pain but instead interfere with the brain's sensation of that pain. Researchers have now revealed a novel method for reducing our responsiveness to pain and it involves tricking our body’s pain-signaling processes.

A new strategy for pain control could be to disrupt the signals coming from the site ...

Biology

Inhibiting enzyme common to all mammals shows anti-aging potential

Rich Haridy December 3, 2017

Researchers have uncovered a new target in the quest to extend the lifespan of mammals. Inhibiting a common enzyme found in all mammals, including humans, has been shown to extend the lifespan of flies and worms, suggesting it could be a promising new mechanism for anti-aging therapies to target.

Inhibiting an enzyme, common to all mammals, has been found to extend the lifespan of flies ...

Science

New CRISPR tools enable extraordinarily precise gene editing in human cells

Rich Haridy October 25, 2017

CRISPR has revolutionized science affecting everything from medicine to agriculture. Two studies have just been published describing methods that make the process more precise and efficient paving the way for scientists to safely alter mutations that cause thousands of different human diseases.

Two new studies are being dubbed "CRISPR 2.0" for the way they have improved the precision ...