Researchers identify cellular drivers of gut scarring in Crohn’s disease

As inflamed regions of the gut form scar tissue, the space within the gut lumen becomes smaller and more restricted, leading to symptoms of gut obstruction. There is currently no drug treatment available for this complication – eventually as fibrosis worsens, surgery becomes the only option. The researchers discovered that the biggest build up of … Read more

Disrupted lymphatic vessels may drive chronic organ transplant rejection

Despite advances in the field of organ transplantation, long-term organ rejection that can become apparent a decade or more after a heart or lung transplant remains a common problem for patients. This chronic organ failure has long been attributed exclusively to the recipient’s immune system attacking the foreign organ over time. Now, a study led … Read more

Study identifies Apex1 as a redox-regulated driver of fracture repair

Bone fractures usually heal efficiently, but in some patients this process fails, causing nonunion. A recent study identifies Apex1 as a redox-regulated driver of fracture repair. Using genetic mouse models, researchers show Apex1 controls early Bmp2 activation and later chondrocyte maturation, coordinating callus formation, vascularization, and cartilage-to-bone transition. These findings highlight oxidative stress regulation as … Read more

Gene therapy targeting connexin 43 shows promise across inherited heart diseases

Jan 26 2026 University of California San Diego-led team has discovered that restoring a key cardiac protein called connexin‑43 in a mouse model can dramatically improve heart function and extend survival in several inherited forms of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM). The research suggests that a single gene therapy might someday help a wide range of ACM … Read more

Gum disease bacterium linked to increased risk of atrial fibrillation

Tempted to skip the floss? Your heart might thank you if you don’t. A new study from Hiroshima University (HU) finds that the gum disease bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) can slip into the bloodstream and infiltrate the heart. There, it quietly drives scar tissue buildup-known as fibrosis-distorting the heart’s architecture, interfering with electrical signals, and raising … Read more

AI tool simulates heart scarring to personalize atrial fibrillation treatment

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have developed an AI tool that creates synthetic yet medically accurate models of fibrotic heart tissue (heart scarring), aiding treatment planning for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. The study, published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, could lead to more personalized care for patients affected by this common heart rhythm … Read more

UCLA study identifies key protein driving kidney scarring

New UCLA research conducted using mouse models and human genetic data has uncovered a critical factor that determines how much scarring occurs following kidney injury, leading scientists to identify a potential precision medicine approach to prevent chronic kidney disease progression. The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, highlights the role of type 5 collagen – … Read more

Machine learning model outperforms traditional methods in myelofibrosis risk stratification

A machine learning model generated by a team from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) outperformed standard statistical models in identifying and stratifying transplant risk for patients with myelofibrosis, according to new research published today in Blood, the American Society of Hematology’s flagship journal. “Although there are many models available to identify … Read more

Machine learning model outperforms traditional methods in myelofibrosis risk stratification

A machine learning model generated by a team from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) outperformed standard statistical models in identifying and stratifying transplant risk for patients with myelofibrosis, according to new research published today in Blood, the American Society of Hematology’s flagship journal. “Although there are many models available to identify … Read more

Innovative gel prevents post-surgery adhesions in animal models

Surgical adhesions – common, sometimes life-threatening complications that arise after open or laparoscopic abdominal surgery – can be prevented in mice and pigs by a gel impregnated with a molecule that blocks a key signaling pathway in the formation of scar tissue. The gel can be applied as a spray or a wash to the … Read more