Researchers at the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB) report new insights into how cone photoreceptors, the cells responsible for central vision, can be protected from degeneration. Screening more than 2,700 compounds in 20,000 lab grown human retinal organoids, the team found both harmful and protective effects, with inhibition of casein kinase 1 emerging as a key protective mechanism. The study also provides an openly accessible dataset to support the development of new therapies for vision loss.

A cell-based immunotherapy designed to treat rare and aggressive types of blood cancer has been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA. Developed by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, this innovative CAR-T cell therapy is licensed to Wugen, a WashU Medicine startup biotechnology company based in St. Louis’ Cortex Innovation District.

Using 3D motion capture and machine-learning models, researchers were able to identify elevated depression and anxiety symptoms in subjects from the way they walked and got up from a chair. The findings, published online in the May issue of Gait & Posture, demonstrate the potential for developing wearable devices that one day could give users early warnings about their mental health.

A new study led by Krista Varady tested how one weight-loss method — intermittent fasting — affects hormones and symptoms in patients with PCOS. Published in Nature Medicine, the research shows that restricting eating to a six-hour daily window decreased testosterone without negatively affecting female hormones. The study also showed that weight loss through calorie counting decreased testosterone.