Medical research news covering clinical trials, drug development, treatment breakthroughs, and advances in medical science.
Professor Richard Scolyer, former Australian of the Year and pioneering melanoma pathologist, died at 59 after a three-year battle with glioblastoma. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Scolyer's wife, Katie Nicholl, has accepted an offer for a state funeral.
At ASCO 2026, researchers unveiled smart drugs that strip cancer cells' ability to hide from the immune system. The experimental pill GRWD5769 shrank tumors in 15 of 83 patients with six common cancers when combined with immunotherapy. Another drug, daraxonrasib, doubled survival in pancreatic cancer patients.
New research in Nature Neuroscience suggests deep brain stimulation (DBS) can physically remodel white matter in mood-related brain circuits, offering a potential treatment for major depressive disorder. The study in monkeys found DBS increases myelination, building on earlier clinical trials where some patients saw symptoms disappear almost immediately.
A new study in JAMA Network Open finds that diagnostic interviews for mental health disorders vary in reliability, challenging their status as a 'gold standard.' Reliability was highest for substance use disorders, while conditions like depression and anxiety showed lower consistency. The study reviewed evidence from February 2024 to September 2025.
This Guardian editorial argues that progress against cancer comes through incremental advances rather than dramatic victories, highlighting recent breakthroughs in immunotherapy and the drug daraxonrasib. It contends that these developments, while modest in survival gains, offer precious time to patients and may transform treatment of multiple cancers through targeting Ras molecules.
A PLOS ONE study led by Markus Drexl suggests the mysterious low-frequency 'Hum' reported by millions may be a form of low-frequency tinnitus originating inside people's heads. Researchers tested 28 people in Germany and found most did not have unusually sensitive hearing, ruling out environmental sources.
A study in NeuroImage found that regular night shift work is associated with small reductions in brain volume in the left amygdala and right thalamus. Analyzing data from 14,198 UK Biobank participants, researchers noted that stopping night shifts halted volume loss within about 2.4 years, with some recovery.
Five scientists were ejected from the American Diabetes Association annual meeting in New Orleans for distributing reprints of an editorial criticizing the Trump administration's attacks on scientific research. The incident occurred outside a room where NIH director Jay Bhattacharya was scheduled to speak; Bhattacharya cancelled and another NIH official spoke instead.
Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that chronic oral inflammation may impair female fertility by triggering a systemic immune response affecting the ovaries. The study, published in the Journal of Dental Research, used a mouse model to show reduced live-birth rates. Prof. Michael Klutstein suggested the discovery could help explain some cases of unexplained infertility.
This commentary argues that a new collaborative platform called FourWard, involving Israeli academic and medical institutions, will revolutionize medical innovation in Jerusalem by fostering multidisciplinary teamwork. It contends that despite challenging global funding conditions, the initiative can strengthen Jerusalem's position as a hub for research and startups.