gene therapy

A complete spinal cord injury results, tragically, in total paralysis of all limbs and muscles below the injury site. But now, scientists at EPFL have demonstrated in mice a new gene therapy that can regenerate nerves and restore the ability to walk.

Splitting the gene editor used in traditional CRISPR technology creates a more precise tool with significantly less chance of causing unintended mutations, a new study has found. The novel tool could correct half of the mutations that cause disease.

A high resting heart rate, considered anything above 100 beats per minute, has been linked to an elevated risk of serious cardiovascular conditions such as coronary artery disease and stroke. Knowing how genes impact this is vital for preventative care.

For the first time, researchers have pinpointed two genes – NEK2 and INHBA – that are resistant to chemotherapy for head and neck cancers, and found that by silencing them with existing drugs, treatment could become far more effective.

They weigh about an ounce, spend their lives underground and are unlikely to be shortlisted for any cute animal calendars, but the fascinating naked mole-rat continues to offer clues that it holds the key to anti-aging under its pale, wrinkly skin.

A third of the US population lives with chronic pain. While the economic burden is well known, it also has a huge impact on mental health, opioid misuse and quality of life. Scientists now say they know the genetic hack to cut off the pain entirely.

Humans have done remarkably well in evolutionary terms, but one design flaw has to be our inability to replace lost teeth throughout our lives. Now, scientists believe they have the antibody treatment to do just that, and it could be available by 2030.

A new study led by scientists at Harvard Medical School has identified chemical cocktails that can restore cells to a more youthful state, paving the way for aging reversal treatments that are more accessible than gene therapy.

Yale scientists have discovered a new potential treatment avenue to fight cancer. Using CRISPR gene-editing, the team eliminated extra chromosomes from cancer cells and found that they could no longer grow out of control.

CRISPR-Cas9 is the household name of genetic engineering tools, but there might be other, better ways. MIT scientists have now demonstrated an alternative called Fanzor, which is naturally found in animals so could be a better fit for human use.

As a way of treating hemophilia, researchers have, for the first time, delivered gene therapy directly into the livers of baboons without using a viral carrier. The study shows it is safe and effective and may lead to a new treatment for the disease.

Getting your cat spayed is a normal part of pet ownership, but it can be expensive, invasive and not very practical on strays. Now scientists have tested a new method that renders female cats permanently sterile with a single gene therapy injection.