For decades, gynecological tests have relied on a simplified view of the vaginal microbiome, categorizing bacteria as either “good” or “bad.” New research from University of Maryland School of Medicine scientists challenges that assumption, revealing that bacteria of the same species can behave in fundamentally different ways, with important implications for women’s health.

A multidisciplinary work led by IGTP researchers has analysed the relationship between climatic conditions, the presence of Legionella in water systems and cases of Legionnaires' disease in Catalonia, revealing a link between these different factors.

NLRP3 is a validated anti-inflammatory target that mediates the release of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, and ISM5059 targets systemic inflammatory conditions by targeting NLRP3 and blocking the inflammatory cascade at its source.

Unlike ISM8969, Insilico’s brain-penetrant NLRP3 pipeline already with FDA IND clearance, ISM5059 features a completely different chemical core designed for peripheral-restricted potency.

Empowered by AI, ISM5059 demonstrated robust efficacy, excellent safety profiles in preclinical studies, and low predicted human efficacious dose, with high potential in multiple indications including autoimmune and chronic cardiometabolic diseases with no obvious CNS (central nervous system) related toxicity observed in preclinical studies.

A new type of brain implant may have implications for both brain research and future treatments of neurological diseases such as epilepsy.

Keck Medicine of USC is conducting an early phase clinical trial investigating the safety and effectiveness of implanting specialized stem cells into the brain that have been programmed to replace damaged brain cells and produce dopamine.  

There is no known cure for Huntington's disease. A genetic mutation creates harmful proteins that accumulate and cause the disease's typical symptoms. A team from the Department of Human Genetics at Ruhr University Bochum has now shown how targeted ubiquitin tagging at two positions in the mutated huntingtin protein affects its breakdown and distribution within the cell. This insight could provide a starting point for future therapies. The team in Bochum, led by Professor Hoa Huu Phuc Nguyen, worked closely with Israeli researcher Professor Aaron Ciechanover, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004 for his work on the protein degradation system. The journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports the findings in its issue of January 8, 2026.