Scientists at the Allen Institute have developed a new blood stabilization technique that preserves the molecular integrity of blood samples so that they can exist outside the body for longer periods. This allows researchers and clinicians the ability to help remote, underserved communities that are located farther from urban research centers (where sample analysis happens) and will increase health equity by allowing for more clinical trail enrollment from diverse communities currently underserved and under-benefitted by science and scientific discovery.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s biggest infectious disease killer with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) posing a particular threat to global health. A study led by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) shows that resistance to the new MDR-TB treatment regimen recently recommended by the World Health Organization is already spreading between patients. The findings, published yesterday in the renowned New England Journal of Medicine, highlight the urgent need for better surveillance and infection control to counteract the rise in antimicrobial resistance.

Protein aggregation is typical of various neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and prion diseases such as Creutzfeld-Jakob disease. A research team headed by Professor Jörg Tatzelt from the Department of Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, has now used new in vitro and cell culture models to show that a lipid anchor on the outer membrane of nerve cells inhibits the aggregation of the prion protein. “Understanding the mechanisms that cause the originally folded proteins to transform into pathogenic forms is of crucial importance for the development of therapeutic strategies,” says Jörg Tatzelt. The team published their findings in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on December, 31, 2024.

A recent study, affiliated with South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) appeared in the online version before inclusion in an issue of Angewandte Chemie International Edition on November 21, 2024. This study highlights a groundbreaking development in foldable molecular paths within solid-state frameworks, illuminating their potential for dynamic pore control and transformative applications in molecular metamaterials.

Organoids, or living biobanks, are living tissue models widely used in biomedical research and drug screening. A recent review article published in the Chinese Medical Journal, systematically examines standardization efforts in organoid research, including operational procedures, laboratory establishment, and existing published guidelines related to organoid culture. The authors also discuss current challenges in the standardization of organoid construction, highlighting key areas for improvement.