University of Alberta

Scientists developed an ultrasound technique to detect cancers by turning tissue into droplets containing RNA, DNA, and proteins, potentially replacing biopsies. The method enhances biomarker levels in blood samples by over 100 times, enabling detection of specific cancer types and mutations. The technique detected a single cancer cell in a prostate cancer patient's blood, costing a hundred times less than current tests. Researchers aim to expand findings to breast cancer and melanoma, with potential commercial availability in about five years.

A woman with type 1 diabetes no longer needed insulin injections 1 year after receiving stem-cell derived islet cells made from her own fat cells, which successfully engrafted in her abdomen. This is the first case of its kind, with two more patients enrolled in the ongoing trial in China. Other stem-cell therapy trials for type 1 and 2 diabetes are also in progress worldwide.

A woman in China with type 1 diabetes has been cured using a novel treatment that retools her own cells into personalized stem cells, which were then used to grow fresh 'islets' in her pancreas, allowing her to produce insulin naturally for over a year.

Chinese researchers reversed Type-1 diabetes in a patient using stem cell therapy, transplanting insulin-producing cells derived from the patient’s own chemically induced pluripotent stem cells (CiPSCs) beneath the abdominal wall. One year post-procedure, the patient achieved sustained insulin independence and restored glycaemic control, marking a significant breakthrough in stem cell therapies.

University of Alberta researchers developed Compound B, a small-molecule drug that activates the immune system, showing potential for treating cancer and chronic infections. Compound B is more water-soluble and cost-effective than current immunostimulants, with a shorter half-life and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. The study, funded by the Alberta Cancer Foundation, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, involved interdisciplinary collaboration and used machine learning for compound screening.

Nanostics and Protean BioDiagnostics partner to launch CDX Prostate, a blood-based AI diagnostic tool for aggressive prostate cancer risk in the US.

Clinical trials show GLP-1 mimics like liraglutide and semaglutide help children and adolescents lose weight, but long-term effects on growth and puberty are unknown. Experts debate the ethical implications and effectiveness of using BMI as a metric, emphasizing the need for more diverse studies and prolonged monitoring.

TNX-801, a synthetic horsepox vaccine, shows efficacy against mpox and improved tolerability in immunocompromised animals, with no spread to blood or tissues. Selected by NIH’s Project NextGen for clinical testing, it aims to provide single-dose protection and long-term immunity, addressing the need for simpler vaccine distribution.