The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) has announced that Dr Christine Bösch, Associate Professor in Nutrition at the University of Leeds, has been conferred the 2024 LIST International Award in Bioinnovation (LIAB Award) for her groundbreaking research on the positive effects of red beetroot juice on gut microbiota health. Dr Bösch's work explores the health benefits of betalains – red and yellow pigments found in beetroot and similar foods. Her research highlights betalains' potential to impact blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular health, and gut microbiota.

Natural killer (NK) cells are key innate immune lymphocytes, which play important roles against tumors. However, tumor-infiltrating NK cells are always hypofunctional/exhaustive. On the one hand, this state is contributed by context-dependent interactions between inhibitory NK cell checkpoint receptors and their ligands, which usually vary in different tumor types and stages during tumor development. On the other hand, the inhibitory functions of intracellular checkpoint molecules of NK cells are more similar across different tumor types, representing common mechanisms limiting the potential of NK cell therapy. In this review, representative NK cell intracellular checkpoint molecules in different aspects of NK cell biology were reviewed, and therapeutic potentials were discussed by targeting these molecules to promote antitumor NK cell therapy.

Researchers have analysed the effects of seven different hormone treatments for menopausal symptoms on the risk of blood clots, stroke and heart attack. The study, which involved around one million women aged between 50 and 58, is the largest and most comprehensive study of currently prescribed hormonal substances in the world. The results show that the risks differ depending on the active substance and how the medicine is taken. 

Analysis of 216 extinct species by University of Utah biologists found birds endemic to islands, ccupied ecologically specific niche, lacking flight, with large bodies and sharply angled wings were the ones likely to disappear the soonest after 1500.

Rice scientists Jun Lou and Yifan Zhu have developed a new method for producing halide perovskite nanocrystals that can kill bacteria under visible light while avoiding degradation in water, pointing to new possibilities for applications like wastewater treatment.

Insilico Medicine (“Insilico”), a clinical-stage generative artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery company, is proud to be recognized for the impact on the future of drug discovery and development, as a distinguished honoree of the Showcase AI and Biotech Innovation Award on November 13, 2024, at the Fifth Endeavor Venture Group & Mount Sinai Health System Healthcare AI and Technology Investor Summit. Michelle Chen, Ph.D., Chief Business Officer of Insilico Medicine, received the award on behalf of the company.