Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are serious conditions marked by chronic inflammation in the digestive tract, causing pain, diarrhoea, and reduced quality of life. There is an urgent need for new therapies that reduce inflammation and avoid the negative effects of long-term medication use. Research led by Dr Luis A. Rubio at the Estación Experimental del Zadín in Spain explored whether extracts from legumes such as peas might offer a gentler, food-based alternative – as a treatment or preventative therapy for these conditions.

Cryopreservation is a technique allowing organs, whole organisms, tissues and cells to be preserved below 0°C for extended periods. Currently, organs are stored above 0°C, which limits their storage time to a few hours. Hence, it is difficult to successfully preserve organs for patients who need life-saving transplants. By bringing organs to temperatures below 0°C, their metabolism can be further lowered, and preservation times can be considerably lengthened. However, water contained in and around cells can form ice crystals, which damage cellular structures. This effect has severely limited the use of cryopreservation for organs and other biological samples. Scientists have recently developed innovative ways to prevent ice-crystal formation during cryopreservation.

Cancer continues to challenge scientists and doctors around the world, partly because every tumor is unique and doesn’t always respond well to one-size-fits-all treatments. But a new wave of personalized medicine, called precision oncology, is changing that. Researchers such as Prof. Diana Jaalouk and her colleagues at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon are investigating two exciting tools, CRISPR-Cas9 and PROTACs, that are giving doctors more accurate ways to treat cancer with fewer side effects.

Radiotherapy is a common and effective treatment for prostate cancer. However, the inevitable irradiation of healthy tissues surrounding the tumour often causes gastrointestinal side effects, such as diarrhoea, abdominal pain and rectal bleeding, which significantly affect patients’ quality of life.

Medical devices called endografts – consisting of a stent and a graft – can be used as internal scaffolds to stabilise the weakened artery walls. However, these devices can lead to problems, which many researchers and clinicians are striving to solve.

Vaccines have long been celebrated for their ability to prevent diseases, but some are now being developed to treat existing conditions, such as cancer and viral infections. One promising approach is the use of vaccinia viruses, which were historically used to eradicate smallpox. These vaccines prompt an immune response that can eliminate threats, including cancer cells and cells infected by viruses.

Dr. Ricardo Rosales and his colleagues at VIROLAB are at the forefront of this field, leading innovative research into two vaccinia viruses: MVA and GAB-1.

Our gut microbiome plays a crucial role in overall health. This diverse community of trillions of bacteria, viruses and fungi not only aids digestion, but also produces compounds that protect against inflammation, boost immunity, and support psychological wellbeing. Disruptions to this balance – caused by illness, diet or antibiotics – can lead to many health issues, including infections and chronic conditions. In recent years, scientists have been exploring how diet can be used to maintain and restore a healthy gut microbiome. Dr Sofia Forssten at IFF Health Sciences in Finland is at the forefront of this research. She and her colleagues focus on how dietary fibres and probiotics can shape the intricate ecosystem of the gut microbiome.