Katholieke Universiteit te Leuven

Researchers identified aspartate as crucial for lung metastasis, linking its high levels in lungs to cancer aggressiveness. Aspartate activates NMDA receptors, triggering eIF5A hypusination, which enhances cancer's ability to thrive in lung environments, offering new treatment avenues.

Neonatal care faces significant health inequities, with a scarcity of tailored therapeutic interventions. Recent efforts focus on improving monitoring, diagnostics, and therapeutics, including AI applications, to address conditions like sepsis and NEC. Advocacy and research are crucial for advancing neonatal care and outcomes globally.

Research reveals aspartate's role in lung metastasis, showing its high levels in lungs trigger a cancer cell translation program via eIF5A hypusination, suggesting potential therapeutic targets.

Scientists identified specific mutations in primary cilia as a new lead in ALS biology, potentially opening a therapeutic avenue. Mutations in C21orf2 impair cilia formation and structure, disrupting the Shh pathway and neuromuscular junction formation. Restoring C21orf2 levels repaired these defects, highlighting primary cilia as a therapeutic target in ALS.

PDC*lung01 + pembrolizumab shows 55% ORR, 8.9 months mPFS in stage IV NSCLC with PD-L1 ≥ 50%, with mild safety profile. Immune response correlates with better PFS.

PDC*lung01 combined with pembrolizumab shows promising clinical benefits for stage IV NSCLC patients with PD-L1 ≥50%, achieving a 55% objective response rate and 8.9 months median progression-free survival. The treatment exhibits a mild safety profile, with significant immune response linked to better outcomes.

A study by Vesna Vlaisavljevic et al. examines global biotech cluster growth from 1978-2015, highlighting successful clusters' characteristics: high scientific research, entrepreneurial activity, and robust social networks. The study reveals strong geographical concentration, with Southern Kanto, Northern California, and Massachusetts leading in biotech patent activity. Early biotech investments' enduring impact is noted, emphasizing the importance of diverse market actors and cross-boundary collaborations for regional innovation.

Prof. Peter Lievens, Vice Rector of KU Leuven, visited NCKU to strengthen biosciences collaboration and explore partnerships in social sciences, digital humanities, AI, semiconductors, and microelectronics. Discussions included expanding dual Ph.D. programs, exchange student agreements, and potential future collaborations in various fields.