EurekAlert! News by Subject: Medicine & Health

Medicine & Health

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 19-May-2026 17:16 ET (19-May-2026 21:16 GMT/UTC)

30-Apr-2026

New study finds task switching raises risk in transplant surgeries

The research analyzed over 300,000 transplant surgeries from 2007-19 and provides causal evidence that task switching — transitioning between cognitively different procedures — can affect patient outcomes.

Journal: Nature Human Behaviour

30-Apr-2026

First-ever "guideline for laser and aesthetic medicine" released in China: Establishes evidence-based standards for 26 common conditions

KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A landmark clinical guideline has been released to standardize the treatment of 26 common dermatological and aesthetic conditions, including melasma, nevus of Ota, and acne scars. Developed by the Chinese Medical Association and the Chinese Association of Plastics and Aesthetics, this guideline synthesizes high-level international evidence to provide standardized protocols for energy-based devices (lasers, IPL, radiofrequency). It aims to resolve the lack of systematic standards in the rapidly growing field of aesthetic medicine.

Journal: Chinese Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

30-Apr-2026

Study identifies a key mechanism in the degeneration of motor neurons in ALS

Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The results suggest that chaperone-mediated autophagy, a cellular ‘selective cleaning’ system, could become a new therapeutic target. The study, published in Acta Neuropathologica Communications, was conducted using human tissues from clinical trials and opens new avenues for the development of treatments to slow the progression of ALS.

Journal: Acta Neuropathologica Communications

30-Apr-2026

Scientists discover a new way to make drug-resistant cancer treatable again

Institute for Basic Science
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Cancer cells survive by repairing damage to their DNA—even damage that would normally be fatal. One of their most important defense systems is homologous recombination, a high-precision repair pathway that fixes broken DNA using key proteins such as RAD51 and CHK1. While therapies such as PARP inhibitors have successfully targeted this vulnerability, many tumors eventually regain their DNA repair ability and become resistant to treatment.

A research team led by Director MYUNG Kyungjae at the Center for Genomic Integrity within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), in collaboration with LEE Joo-Yong (Chungnam University) has now uncovered a new strategy to overcome this resistance. Their findings show that cancer cells can be made vulnerable again—not by altering genetic mutations, but by destabilizing the DNA repair machinery itself.

Journal: Nature Communications
Funder: Institute for Basic Science

30-Apr-2026

KAIST identifies multiple viruses and variants simultaneously by controlling the “speed” of CRISPR gene scissors

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Peer-Reviewed Publication

As the spread of infectious diseases accelerates, technologies that can accurately distinguish multiple viruses in a single test are becoming increasingly important. KAIST and an international research team have developed a new diagnostic technology that simultaneously identifies various viruses and variants by controlling the “speed” of gene scissors. This technology is expected to transform responses to emerging infectious diseases, as it can detect multiple infections at once while reducing the complexity of testing procedures.

Journal: Nature Biomedical Engineering
Funder: U.S. National Institutes of Health, KAIST’s New Faculty Settlement Research Fund

30-Apr-2026

Qubit Pharmaceuticals announces strategic collaboration with Singapore’s Centre for Quantum Technologies to advance quantum algorithms for drug discovery

National University of Singapore
Business Announcement

Two-year collaboration with CQT to develop and implement novel quantum algorithms for molecular discovery

Partnership will use Quantinuum H2 and Helios quantum computers to test key quantum chemistry algorithms

First successful implementation results released

30-Apr-2026

Durham University researchers create DNA “nano-rings” to control viral cell proteins

Durham University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scientists at Durham University, working in partnership with Jagiellonian University in Poland, have developed a new nanoscale tool that can capture and precisely position some of the most important proteins in the human body, opening up new possibilities for medicine, imaging and bioengineering.Scientists at Durham University, working in partnership with Jagiellonian University in Poland, have developed a new nanoscale tool that can capture and precisely position some of the most important proteins in the human body, opening up new possibilities for medicine, imaging and bioengineering.

29-Apr-2026

UT MD Anderson appoints Kim Slusser as chief nurse executive

University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Business Announcement

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced the appointment of Kim Slusser, Ph.D., R.N., as the institution’s inaugural chief nurse executive (CNE), effective May 1.

29-Apr-2026

An app that improves decision-making: Duke-NUS study shows myKIDNEY helps patients make better informed choices

Duke-NUS Medical School
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Duke-NUS researchers find that pairing a web-based decision-aid with counselling helps elderly patients with end-stage kidney disease and their caregivers make better informed treatment choices – and significantly shifts decisions towards care that prioritises comfort and quality of life.

Journal: Kidney International Reports