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Under-rated organ could play a role in longevity and cancer
For decades a mysterious, two-lobed organ nestled behind the breastbone has been overlooked by most physicians, thought to be a largely useless lump for most...
Promising signs for mRNA cancer vaccines
Messenger RNA, or mRNA, which had generated excitement in the cancer research community long before it became popularly associated with the Covid vaccine, is...
Why good hospital ventilation can’t always stop infection – Australian study
Clean, controlled airflow is critical in medical facilities, where infection and bacteria are a constant threat and where contamination can be the difference between...
Too much or too little sleep tied to dementia risk – Canadian review
A lack of good quality sleep has long been linked to an increased risk of developing dementia, but recent research goes further, suggesting an optimal amount...
SA, UK scientists collaborate in global fungal research
A major funding injection of £4.5m from the Wellcome Trust will boost a collaborative effort between South African and British scientists to fast track...
UCT allergy researcher wins gold medal
A University of Cape Town expert in allergy research was recently acknowledged for his invaluable contribution to the field, reports News24.
Professor Jonny Peter, head...
First global gene therapy trial for type 1 diabetes to start this year
The first-ever clinical trial of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy for type 1 diabetes (T1D) will begin this year, aiming to promote insulin...
Two new drugs boost pancreatic cancer survival
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most challenging diseases to treat, and while survival rates have improved since the 1970s, they have plateaued in recent...
Anaemia linked to increased cancer risk – Swedish study
A recent population-based oncology study suggests that anaemia is associated with an increased risk of both cancer and higher mortality, with the scientists saying...
Surge in TB research heralds hope for centuries-old epidemic
After decades of stagnation, a renewed push in tuberculosis research is expanding the drug and vaccine pipeline to bring one of humanity’s oldest and...
Sugar negates benefits of relaxation exercise – German study
A study by researchers from the University of Konstanz, Germany, revealed interesting insights into the connection between blood glucose and the autonomic nervous system,...
How the SAMRC weathered the funding storm
Cuts in United States funding for global health research have dealt a heavy blow to South Africa’s health research ecosystem, which has historically been...
UCT study pioneers treatment for bacterial vaginosis
A collaborative study by researchers from several South African institutions and from the United States, has successfully isolated and characterised vaginal bacteria from South...
No link between vaccines and sudden cardiac death – Canadian study
The worldwide roll-out of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccines was controversial, with many claiming it took more lives than the infection itself. However, a recent...
Tackling the threat of asymptomatic TB in South Africa
Tuberculosis (TB) continues to spread in South Africa at alarming rates, possibly because some people may have the disease without TB symptoms and may...
Common drug class may increase heart disease risk – Swedish study
People who use drugs with anticholinergic effects, including certain anti-depressants, drugs for urinary incontinence and common antihistamines, could have a higher risk of developing...
Under 7.32 hours' sleep ideal for glucose disposal – Chinese study
A cross-sectional study led by researchers from Nantong University in China and published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care found that just under...
Microplastics found in 90% of prostate tumours – US study
American researchers detected microplastics in nearly all prostate cancer tumours examined in a recent study, finding that the tumour tissue contained about 2.5 times...
Young scientist to explore nanoparticle therapy for brain cancer
Michael Gomes, a PhD candidate at the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP), has been awarded the 2026 South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)...
Global breast cancer cases expected to rise to 3.5m by 2050 – Lancet
Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women globally, and the number of cases worldwide is estimated to reach more than 3.5m by 2050,...
Migraine drug trial advances after positive results
Danish pharmaceutical company Lundbeck will advance the IV formulation of its migraine prevention drug to phase 3 trials after the successful phase 2b trial,...
KZN researcher’s search and destroy cancer mission rewarded
With South Africa facing a rapidly growing cancer burden, experts warn that more needs to be done to increase access to detection and diagnosis...
Cats may hold clues for human cancer treatment – global study
Although cancer studies have been carried out extensively in dogs, cats have remained unexplored, until now – with the recent first detailed genetic map...
Stellenbosch scientist leads global fight against AMR
A Stellenbosch biochemist has been selected to lead one of only two African teams in a $60m global consortium aimed at transforming antibiotic discovery...
Scientists find cause of blood clots linked to Covid jab
Australian researchers have said they finally know what caused the blood clots linked to Covid-19 vaccines early on in the pandemic.
A “rare and severe”...
Statin pills safer than advertised, major British review finds
Cholesterol-lowering statins, used by millions, are far safer than previously thought, a major review has found, with the authors suggesting packaging leaflets should be...
FDA halts two gene therapy trials after child develops brain tumour
Two investigational gene therapies for rare paediatric diseases have been put on hold by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) after a child...
Semaglutide shows heart benefits in key group – global study
An analysis by an international team of researchers has concluded that taking oral semaglutide may reduce heart-related hospitalisations and deaths among those with a...
'Mindblowing' progress with Neuralink brain chip
One of the first people in Britain to use Elon Musk’s brain chip believes it could transform the lives of those with severe paralysis,...
Two-pronged therapeutic technology for cancer wins 2026 Pfizer Prize
A team from Geneva University Hospital (HUG) and the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has won Switzerland’s prestigious 2026 Pfizer Prize for Biomedical Research for...
UCT-Swedish study calls for collaborative HIV, mental health care
A collaborative study by researchers at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and Linköping University in Sweden has found that people with HIV face...
Alzheimer’s risk may be driven by a single gene – London study
British researchers say their recent study showed the APOE gene was the major link to most cases of Alzheimer’s disease across four cohorts, and...
Life-changing sleep apnoea pill could be available next year
There’s hope on the horizon for the hordes of people worldwide who suffer from sleep apnoea as Apnimed, the $400m company behind the first...
Google removes AI health summaries
A number of artificial intelligence-generated health summaries have been deleted by Google after an international investigation found these could potentially harm readers because of...
Urgent need for new ways to develop medicines
It’s imperative, urges an editorial in The Guardian, that the quest to discover new medicines be accelerated. Our magic bullets are increasingly rare and...
Drinking habits in SA, Botswana, to be probed in long-term study
The University of Cape Town and the SA Medical Research Council have launched a five-year multidisciplinary project to address harmful alcohol use in South...
Carotid artery stenting lowers stroke risk – global Mayo study
A major international study led by Mayo Clinic researchers and funded by the National Institutes of Health found that for people with severe carotid artery narrowing...
Mothball poisoning a significant threat for children – SA study
Childhood poisoning is a significant health concern in South Africa – especially in densely populated informal housing settlements where children are frequently exposed to...
Six standout findings from major TB conference
The recent Union World Conference on Lung Health in Copenhagen, Denmark, showcased a study on preventive therapy pills and a potential new drug, sorfequiline,...
RA begins long before symptoms appear – seven-year US study
Scientists who say dramatic immune changes occur years before rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms appear have now mapped the hidden immune battle that unfolds way...