Fibroblasts play a central role in maintaining healthy tissue structures, as well as in the development and progression of diseases. For a long time, these specialised connective tissue cells were thought to represent a single, uniform cell type. A recent publication by researchers at the University of Leipzig Medical Center shows that fibroblasts in human tissue actually consist of distinct populations with specialised functions. This heterogeneity is key to developing targeted therapies in regenerative medicine and in the treatment of diseases. The findings have been published in the renowned journal Nature Cell Biology.

In a Perspective article published in MedComm – Future Medicine, a joint team from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) explores how the emerging large language model DeepSeek-R1 may accelerate the transformation of healthcare. Highlighting its open-source, low-cost and interpretable capabilities, the study discusses how DeepSeek-R1 can enhance diagnostic efficiency, support clinical decision-making, and improve patient engagement across diverse medical settings.