Researchers have demonstrated a new technique for COVID surveillance that can signal the rise of new variants before they are widespread. The study, led by the American Museum of Natural History and Columbia University and published today in the journal Genome Research, presents a way to track diversity across millions of genomes sequenced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic using new surveillance software and points to its potential use in future pandemics.

A genetic signature in newborns can predict neonatal sepsis before symptoms even start to show, according to a new study. The study, led by University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University researchers in collaboration with the Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit The Gambia, has the potential to help healthcare workers diagnose babies earlier, including in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where neonatal sepsis is of particular concern.

Researchers at the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation have developed a novel nanoparticle-based therapy for obesity treatment, as reported in a recent study published in ACS Nano. The innovative approach targets inflammatory cells in adipose tissue, modulating the immune system and promoting fat tissue browning. The research addresses the growing global obesity epidemic and the limitations of current treatment options.