UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Zheng-Yi Chen and team developed an AAV-based gene therapy targeting microRNA 96 mutations in mice, improving hearing and hair cell survival. The therapy showed efficacy in young adult mice but not in older ones, suggesting challenges in treating severe hearing loss late in life. The same approach could potentially treat human hearing loss, with ongoing efforts to advance the therapy to clinical trials.

Lynden A. Archer reappointed as Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering at Cornell, effective July 1, 2025. Under his leadership, Cornell Engineering has advanced in research, innovation, and education, focusing on areas like material science, climate, and energy systems. Archer's strategic plan, Cornell Engineering 2030, aims to position the college as a leader in engineering education and research. Notable achievements include the establishment of the Selander Center for Engineering Leadership and significant infrastructure improvements.

Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. schedules its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders for December 19, 2024, to vote on the election of five director nominees, ratification of Weinberg & Company, P.A. as the independent registered public accounting firm, and approval of executive officer compensation. The meeting will be virtual, accessible via a live webcast.

USC and QIMR researchers uncover genetic variants influencing brain structure and volume, with implications for Parkinson’s and ADHD, in a study published in Nature Genetics as part of the ENIGMA consortium. The study analyzed 74,898 participants, revealing 254 genetic variants linked to brain volume differences, offering potential therapeutic targets.

Pham Tiep, a Rutgers University professor, achieved two mathematical breakthroughs in representation theory, solving the 1955 Height Zero Conjecture and advancing Deligne-Lusztig theory, with potential applications in chemistry, physics, computer science, and economics.

Avails Medical, Inc. appoints Mari Hoidal as Vice President of Marketing, leveraging her 20 years of healthcare and diagnostics marketing experience to accelerate growth and impact in the diagnostics landscape.

The ARANOTE trial, a phase III study, evaluated darolutamide plus ADT in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, showing significant improvement in radiographic progression-free survival and favorable safety profile. The trial's diverse patient population and efficacy in low-volume disease suggest darolutamide's potential to expand treatment options for mHSPC patients.

Rutgers professor Pham Tiep solves two long-standing mathematical problems, enhancing understanding of symmetries and random processes, with solutions published in prestigious journals.

A blood test measuring circulating tumor cells (CTCs) at metastatic prostate cancer diagnosis predicts treatment response, disease progression, and overall survival, regardless of subsequent therapies. This test could identify men with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) likely to experience worse outcomes, guiding inclusion in clinical trials for aggressive therapeutic strategies. The study, led by USC researchers, found that men with 5 or more CTCs per 7.5 mL of blood had significantly worse outcomes compared to those with fewer or no CTCs.

Procept BioRobotics received FDA approval for an IDE trial of its Aquablation therapy for prostate cancer, which uses ultrasound-guided, robot-assisted, heat-free waterjet to resection prostate tissue, aiming to improve safety and quality of life outcomes.