Researchers from DZNE, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), and Technical University of Munich (TUM) have found that the enzyme “gamma-secretase”—implicated in Alzheimer’s disease and cancer—selects its reaction partners according to a complex scheme of molecular features.
Their study, published in Nature Communications, introduces a methodology that decodes the enzyme’s recognition logic by bridging biochemistry with explainable artificial intelligence (AI). This novel approach could help to better understand the role of gamma-secretase in diseases and aid drug development.
Gamma-secretase is an enzyme belonging to the category of “proteases” that plays a key role in Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. It occurs in the membrane of numerous cells, including neurons, where—acting like a pair of scissors—it cleaves other membrane-bound proteins.
A robot trained on videos of surgeries performed a lengthy phase of a gallbladder removal without human help. The robot operated for the first time on a lifelike patient, and during the operation, responded to and learned from voice commands from the team—like a novice surgeon working with a mentor.
The robot performed unflappably across trials and with the expertise of a skilled human surgeon, even during unexpected scenarios typical in real life medical emergencies.
The federally-funded work, led by Johns Hopkins University researchers, is a transformative advancement in surgical robotics, where robots can perform with both mechanical precision and human-like adaptability and understanding.
“This advancement moves us from robots that can execute specific surgical tasks to robots that truly understand surgical procedures,” said medical roboticist Axel Krieger. “This is a critical distinction that brings us significantly closer to clinically viable autonomous surgical systems that can work in the messy, unpredictable reality of actual patient care.”
A breakthrough in the understanding of how mammals create red blood cells by Dr Julia Gutjahr, who began her research into the mechanisms of blood production in the lab of Professor Antal Rot in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, could lead to opportunities for articifical blood to be created at scale for the first time.
Dr Gutjahr is now a biologist at the Institute of Cellular Biology and Immunology Thurgau at the University of Konstanz in Germany. She identified the molecular signal, chemokine CXCL12, that triggers the expulsion of the nucleus by the red blood cell precursors, a key step in the development of red blood cells.
Studies undertaken by researchers at Queen Mary and University of Konstanz have identified a critical chemical signal in the development of red blood cells. The discovery will help make the manufacture of artificial blood more efficient.
In what experts are calling a “dream come true,” scientists used a recent biochemical discovery to help an 8-year-old boy with a rare genetic condition regain mobility.
Researchers from NYU Langone demonstrated, in a study published in Nature on Wednesday, how a chemical precursor to a commonly available enzyme, CoQ10, can help brain cells overcome a rare genetic condition that severely hobbles cells’ energy production process. Without treatment, the boy’s condition is known to deteriorate rapidly and could be fatal.
NYU Langone researchers have helped an 8-year-old boy regain mobility using an experimental treatment.
Around the world, technology is slowly becoming a part of our bodies. What was once shown only in science fiction movies is now becoming real. For example, in Sweden, thousands of people already have small chips inside their hands. These chips help them open doors, unlock cars, and enter offices—without using keys or cards. These tiny chips make daily life easier and smoother. Now imagine—what if a chip could not only make life easy but also help people with disabilities? This is what Neuralink, a company started by Elon Musk in 2016, is trying to do. Neuralink’s dream is to connect the human brain directly with a computer using a very small chip. Their main aim is to help people who have serious spinal injuries and cannot move. In early trials, Neuralink showed positive results. Some people with paralysis could move a computer cursor or play a chess game—just by thinking. This has given hope to many people who cannot move. But recently, Elon Musk made a new and bold statement that caught the world’s attention. In a post on social media platform X (earlier called Twitter), Musk said that Neuralink’s brain chip could help deaf people hear—even those who were born deaf. He explained that this chip would directly send signals to the part of the brain that understands sound. So, even if a person’s ears do not work, they might still be able to hear. This is different from cochlear implants, which help some deaf people by sending signals to the hearing nerve. Neuralink’s chip would go even deeper—straight to the brain’s hearing area. If successful, this chip could help those who cannot use cochlear implants and give them a new way to experience sound. Elon Musk even said that in the future, such chips might give humans “super-hearing”—allowing them to hear sounds that normal ears cannot hear. However, this is still just an idea. The chip is still being tested. Many technical, safety, and ethical questions are yet to be answered. Also, many Deaf people and experts have said that deafness is not a problem to be “fixed.” For many, deafness is an identity, a language, and a culture. They want to be respected for who they are—not forced to change. At ISH News, we agree with this view. We do not believe that deafness must be “cured.” We also do not support the idea of putting chips inside the body through surgery. But as a news platform made for the Deaf community, we believe it is important to share such news. We want to keep our viewers informed so they can think and talk about these big topics. We are here to provide both sides of the story—the big promises of this new technology, and the serious questions it raises. This way, our community can decide what they think for themselves. The world is now watching to see what Neuralink does next—and whether this brain chip can really change the way people live.
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The study, which is set to begin in the third quarter of 2025, will be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 40 stroke patients in Europe.
Dr. Nardai, a leading cerebrovascular disease specialist, is currently the Head of the Department of Neurointervention at Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary. He previously led a preclinical study published in Experimental Neurology in May 2020, which demonstrated that rats treated with sub-hallucinogenic doses of DMT showed near-complete motor function recovery and smaller infarct volumes compared to untreated control groups. This research provided the basis for Algernon’s clinical investigation into DMT as a potential neuroprotective agent for stroke recovery.
“The primary endpoint of the planned Phase 2a study will be safety,” said Dr. Nardai in the news release. “However, stroke clinicians worldwide will also be watching for positive signals regarding lesion volume, biomarkers, motor function, cognitive function, depression, and mortality.””
Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AGN: CSE; AGNPF: OTCQB; AGW0:XFRA) subsidiary Algernon NeuroScience has appointed Dr. Sandor Nardai as Principal Investigator for its upcoming Phase 2a DMT stroke study. Find out how this trial could reshape stroke recovery research.
When the Empire State Building was constructed, its 102 stories rose above midtown one piece at a time, with each individual element combining to become, for 40 years, the world’s tallest building. Uptown at Columbia, Oleg Gang and his chemical engineering lab aren’t building Art Deco architecture; their landmarks are incredibly small devices built from nanoscopic building blocks that arrange themselves.
“We can now build the complexly prescribed 3D organizations from self-assembled nanocomponents, a kind of nanoscale version of the Empire State Building,” said Gang, professor of chemical engineering and of applied physics and materials science at Columbia Engineering and leader of the Center for Functional Nanomaterials’ Soft and Bio Nanomaterials Group at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
“The capabilities to manufacture 3D nanoscale materials by design are critical for many emerging applications, ranging from light manipulation to neuromorphic computing, and from catalytic materials to biomolecular scaffolds and reactors,” said Gang.
If measured from beginning to end, the DNA in our cells is too long to fit into the cell’s nucleus, explaining why it must be constantly folded and packaged. When it is time for cell division, and the genetic information needs to be passed on to the next generation, DNA must be packed particularly tightly, or else serious consequences for a cell’s viability might ensue.
