UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL

Top 2024 stories highlight gene therapy for deafness, deep brain stimulation for epilepsy, benralizumab for asthma/COPD, new schizophrenia drug, mRNA-4359 cancer vaccine, pig immune system insights, type-1 diabetes link to bacterial proteins, NK cell cancer therapy, Alzheimer's research, liver cholesterol regulation, lemur rhythm insights, fish resilience research, zebrafish kidney disease model, and NAMs for chemical testing.

A University of Liverpool study identifies a 'crosstalk' mechanism between HER2 and αVβ6 integrin in HER2-positive breast cancer, driving invasion and drug resistance. Disruption of this mechanism in trastuzumab-resistant cells highlights a shift in tumor adaptation, with GDI2 loss affecting the αVβ6-HER2 connection. Higher GDI2 levels correlate with better survival, and αVβ6 expression predicts relapse risk, making it a potential biomarker and therapeutic target.

A University of Liverpool study reveals HER2 and aVb6 integrin crosstalk drives HER2-positive breast cancer invasion and drug resistance, disrupted by GDI2 loss in resistant cells, suggesting aVb6 as a biomarker and therapeutic target.

A University of Liverpool study identifies a 'crosstalk' mechanism between HER2 and αVβ6 integrin in HER2-positive breast cancer, driving invasion and drug resistance. Disruption of this mechanism in trastuzumab-resistant cells highlights a shift in tumour adaptation. Higher GDI2 levels correlate with better survival, while αVβ6 expression predicts relapse, making it a potential biomarker and therapeutic target.

Lenacapavir, an antiretroviral drug, is almost 100% effective in preventing and treating HIV, requiring only two injections per year. It disrupts the virus's replication process and is more discreet than daily tablets. Approved in the US and EU for HIV treatment, it awaits approval for HIV-PrEP. Gilead, the manufacturer, charges over €37,870 per year, though experts argue it could be sold for as little as $40. Gilead is negotiating licenses with generic drug manufacturers for cheaper production in low-income countries. Despite lenacapavir's potential, global HIV infection rates remain high, with over 40 million people living with the virus, and only 15% of those needing PrEP receiving it.

Paula Williamson, PhD, presents 'Core outcome sets: what does the future hold?' on Dec 4th at 12:15 PM EST, hybrid event at Room W4030, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205 and on Zoom. Lunch provided for in-person attendees.

The Loop introduces year-round onsite drug testing at UK venues Drumsheds and The Warehouse Project, aiming to reduce drug-related harm by monitoring drug market trends and providing real-time risk management information.

Oxford Population Health’s National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit and ten children’s surgical hospitals in England and Scotland will use NHS DigiTrials to investigate improving care and outcomes for children with six complex surgical conditions at birth. The Children’s Surgery Outcome Reporting (CSOR) programme aims to identify differences in hospital care and its impact on children’s health and quality of life, providing recommendations for improvement. NHS DigiTrials, developed by Oxford University’s Big Data Institute, facilitates safe access to patient data for research. CSOR will contact parents of affected children to gather quality of life data, linking it with hospital and NHS England resources to identify care differences. The initial phase targets 550 children annually, with plans to expand if successful.

AI-driven mobile robots developed by University of Liverpool researchers perform exploratory chemistry tasks as efficiently as humans but faster, addressing synthesis, analysis, and decision-making in structural diversification, supramolecular, and photochemical synthesis.