Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Hormone health climbs the policy agenda as endocrine leaders meet for European Society of Endocrinology’s first Summit of the Presidents

The summit brought together endocrine leaders to identify opportunities to work closely together on increasing the visibility of endocrine health in policy decisions. Early findings from a workforce survey revealed challenges including long patient waiting times and retention concerns among early-career clinicians.

Megadiverse flowering plant family on isolated islands

Researchers discovered a massive number of evolutionary events in the Asteraceae family on remote islands, resulting from rapid speciation over short time periods. The findings confirm that larger, isolated islands harbor unique species and highlight the importance of protecting this diverse group of plants.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateSep 30, 2024

With biodiversity under threat, scientists suggest the need for a new biorepository—on the moon

A team of researchers suggests creating a lunar biorepository to store cryopreserved samples of at-risk animal species, leveraging the Moon's natural cold temperatures for long-term storage. The facility aims to protect biodiversity from extinction threats and challenges such as climate change and geopolitical conflicts.

SourceAmerican Institute of Biological Sciences·JournalBioScience·TypeLiterature review·DateJul 31, 2024

The world’s first collection of brain metastasis living samples will help treat each patient with the most effective therapy for them

A pioneering collection of brain metastasis living samples has been established, enabling researchers to study the response to specific drugs and identify the best therapeutic options for each patient. The RENACER network connects hospitals and patients, facilitating the rapid sharing of research findings and clinical trial data.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO)·JournalTrends in Cancer·TypeNews article·DateOct 31, 2023

Predicting lifespan-extending chemical compounds for C. elegans with machine learning

A new study uses machine learning to analyze data from DrugAge, a database of chemical compounds modulating lifespan in model organisms. The researchers create four types of datasets to predict whether or not a compound extends the lifespan of C. elegans, using features such as compound-protein interactions and Gene Ontology terms.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 26, 2023

Genetic analysis of the most common type of bladder cancer in patients with metastatic disease yields guidance on treatment options

A comprehensive genomic analysis of over 200 patients with metastatic urothelial carcinomas identified potential treatment options for nearly 70% of patients. The study found that integrating clinical and molecular features could predict response to immunotherapies, offering hope for personalized treatment approaches.

SourceUNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center·JournalNature Communications·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 16, 2022

KANPHOS: Newly developed database for kinase-associated protein phosphorylation eases neural signaling research

The newly developed KANPHOS database provides comprehensive information on kinase-associated protein phosphorylation, facilitating research into neural signaling pathways. The database contains information on phosphoproteins, phosphorylation sites, and participant kinases, allowing for searches based on various parameters.

SourceFujita Health University·JournalCells·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 16, 2022

CBT intervention with yoga and education components improved pain management for patients on long-term opioids better than usual care

A randomized controlled trial found that CBT with yoga and education components significantly reduced pain impact and disability in patients on long-term opioid therapy. Patients receiving CBT also reported greater reductions in pain compared to those receiving usual care.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 1, 2021

Study finds critical data needed for monitoring and preserving biodiversity is missing

The world's largest repository of raw genomic sequences is missing critical data necessary for monitoring and preserving biodiversity. Only 14% of archived datasets contain information about when and where organisms were sampled, highlighting the need for community standards to preserve metadata.

SourceUniversity of Central Florida·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeContent analysis·DateSep 8, 2021

Washington COVID-19 biorepository expands sample types

The Washington COVID-19 biorepository has expanded its sample types to include convalescent plasma, enabling diagnostics developers to accelerate the development and validation of quality diagnostic products. This move aims to improve the performance of antibody assays and facilitate the verification of tests for global markets.

SourcePATH·DateSep 29, 2020

Give flawed payments database time to improve

The new federal Open Payments Program database is incomplete, with issues including limited data, vetting, de-identification, and context. Despite these flaws, experts like Dr. Eli Y. Adashi urge patience, as improvements are underway and the site's potential for transparency and oversight is still significant.

SourceBrown University·JournalJAMA·DateDec 5, 2014

WikiPathways gives the people the power to curate

The new resource allows users to view, store, and edit biological pathway information, leveraging collective expertise to facilitate content collection and curation. WikiPathways provides a wealth of annotated information, maximizing the value of biological data and supporting future hypotheses and discoveries.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJul 21, 2008

Pounding Out Differences, ITIS Takes Hammer

The ITIS system provides a unified way of naming nature's living organisms, enabling easy access to credible databases and information on species origin and distribution. This standardized terminology facilitates accurate documentation, data sharing, and research among scientists, resource managers, and the general public.