EurekAlert! National Institutes of Health

Latest news releases from NIH-funded organizations

Funded Research News

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 30-Apr-2025 15:08 ET (30-Apr-2025 19:08 GMT/UTC)

13-Mar-2025

MIT engineers turn skin cells directly into neurons for cell therapy

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Peer-Reviewed Publication

MIT researchers devised a process to convert a skin cell directly into a neuron, eliminating the need to generate induced pluripotent stem cells. Such neurons could be used to treat spinal cord injuries or diseases such as ALS.

Journal: Cell Systems
Funder: NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

13-Mar-2025

Combination immunotherapy before surgery may increase survival in people with head and neck cancer

University of North Carolina Health Care
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas responded better to a combination of two immunotherapies than to one immunotherapy drug, according to a study in Cancer Cell. In addition, an analysis of the tumors after one month of immunotherapy identified which type of immune cells were activated to fight the cancer. These insights could help individualize treatment benefits.

Journal: Cancer Cell
Funder: NIH/National Institutes of Health, NIH/National Cancer Institute, Bristol-Myers Squibb

13-Mar-2025

Moffitt study finds new immunotherapy strategy for enhancing melanoma treatment

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers from Moffitt Cancer Center have found a new way to boost cancer immunotherapy by targeting a protein called macrophage receptor with collagenous structure, or MARCO. Their study, published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, shows that blocking MARCO in combination with a type of immunotherapy known as anti-CTLA4 therapy, significantly enhances tumor regression in melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Journal: Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
Funder: NIH/National Cancer Institute

13-Mar-2025

COVID-19 discovery opens door to new treatments for chronic lung problems

University of Virginia Health System
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A discovery about how severe COVID-19 damages lung cells suggests that an existing drug could treat lingering respiratory problems not just from COVID but influenza and other respiratory infections.

Journal: Science
Funder: NIH/National Institutes of Health

13-Mar-2025

New CRISPRs expand upon the original’s abilities

Duke University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at Duke University and North Carolina State University have discovered a handful of new CRISPR-Cas systems that could add to the capabilities of the already transformational gene editing and DNA manipulation toolbox. Of the new recruits, one system from bacteria commonly found in dairy cows shows particular promise for human health.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Funder: NIH/National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Science Foundation, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency