Scripps Research scientists uncover new mechanism cancer cells use to survive DNA damage
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Updates every hour. Last Updated: 22-Jun-2026 01:15 ET (22-Jun-2026 05:15 GMT/UTC)
Discovery reshapes understanding of how tumor cells repair broken DNA, pointing toward more precise cancer therapies.
The National Academy of Inventors (NAI), a nonprofit member organization that promotes academic technology and innovation, has named four Keck School of Medicine of USC faculty as new senior members: Paula Cannon, PhD; Alan Epstein, MD, PhD; Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD; and Bodour Salhia, PhD.
The new senior members will be welcomed at the 2026 NAI conference, hosted by USC at Loews Hollywood Hotel from June 1 to 4.
NAI senior members are recognized for their work producing innovative technologies that have the potential for real impact on the welfare of society, as well as success in patents, licensing and commercialization. This year’s members from the Keck School of Medicine are being recognized for their innovations in cancer and HIV.
A new artificial intelligence (AI)–based tool shows promise for improving surveillance in patients treated with endoscopic eradication therapies for Barrett’s esophagus (BE) related dysplasia and early esophageal adenocarcinoma. BE, is the only known condition that precedes esophageal adenocarcinoma - an aggressive cancer with high mortality rates.
Developed and validated by U.S. researchers, the AI model was over 90% accurate at predicting which patients would experience a recurrence of BE after endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) and detecting when it’s likely to occur.
The findings were published today in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.