Emory University and researchers at Emory's Winship Cancer Institute have secured up to $17.6 million from ARPA-H to develop "MarginCall," an innovative AI imaging technology aimed at enhancing surgical precision, efficiency, and accessibility. This advancement seeks to provide real-time, accurate assessments of surgical margins, potentially reducing the need for follow-up surgeries and improving patient outcomes. The technology is designed to be faster and more cost-effective than existing methods, making it accessible for broader clinical use.

Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model to detect the spread of metastatic brain cancer using MRI scans, offering insights into patients’ cancer without aggressive surgery.

Babies were weaned earlier in cities in the Roman Empire than in smaller and more rural communities, according to a study of ancient teeth. Urban weaning patterns more closely hewed to guidelines from ancient Roman physicians, mirroring contemporary patterns of adherence to medical experts in urban and rural communities. 

A team of researchers from the Translational Oncology Research Centre (TORC) of Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), in collaboration with leading German universities, has developed a new biomaterial with high potential in in the treatment of bone lesions or minimal residual disease in multiple myeloma patients. The findings showcase a promising approach to bone healing and tumor control.

Scientists led by UC San Diego have developed a new strategy to enhance pharmaceutical production in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, which are commonly used to manufacture protein-based drugs for treating cancer, autoimmune diseases and much more. By knocking out a gene circuit responsible for producing lactic acid—a metabolite that makes the cells’ environment toxic—researchers eliminate a primary hurdle in developing cells that can produce higher amounts of pharmaceuticals like Herceptin and Rituximab, without compromising their growth or energy production.

Communities exposed to drinking water contaminated by PFAS experience up to a 33% higher incidence of certain cancers, according to new research from the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Data on cancer cases between 2016 and 2021 were obtained from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, while data on PFAS levels in public drinking water (2013-2024) came from the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule programs. Researchers found that between 2016 and 2021, counties across the U.S. with PFAS-contaminated drinking water had higher incidence of certain types of cancer, which differed by sex. Increases in incidence ranged from slightly elevated at 2% to substantially elevated at 33% (the increased incidence of mouth and throat cancers linked to perfluorobutanesulfonic acid, or PFBS). Males in counties with contaminated drinking water had a higher incidence of leukemia, as well as cancers of the urinary system, brain and soft tissues, compared to males living in areas with uncontaminated water. Females had a higher incidence of cancers in the thyroid, mouth and throat, and soft tissues. Overall, PFAS in drinking water are estimated to contribute to more than 6,800 cancer cases each year, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The results add to the mounting evidence that PFAS levels should be limited, and suggest that proposed changes may not go far enough.

A cross-sectional ecological study found that there are differences in travel distance to lung cancer screening (LCS) facilities by race and ethnicity, but those differences are only partially explained by rurality.