HOUSTON, MARCH 26, 2026 ― In recognition of their significant achievements to advance cancer care and research, Theresa Guise, M.D., and Stephanie S. Watowich, Ph.D., from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).  

A new study from the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), in collaboration with Uppsala University (Sweden) and AstraZeneca, shows how computational chemistry and supercomputers can help scientists better understand the fundamental mechanisms of life, specifically those of human cells. This research was conducted by the Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery Unit, led by Marco De Vivo at IIT in Genoa, and was published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The study focused on splicing, an essential process that enables cells to read genes and function properly, by simulating the functional dynamics of a very large and realistic model system (~2 million atoms). The results provide a more precise understanding of splicing and help explain previously difficult-to-interpret data on splicing. This research could support the development of molecules capable of controlling this process, paving the way for new treatments for diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders

Researchers have developed an AI tool that can help determine whether unfamiliar bacteria carry genetic features linked to disease. By enabling the detection of harmful bacteria before they infect humans, this could transform pandemic preparedness. Researchers have developed an AI tool that can help determine whether unfamiliar bacteria carry genetic features linked to disease. By enabling the detection of harmful bacteria before they infect humans, this could transform pandemic preparedness.