Synaptic plasticity — the brain’s ability to modify the connections between neurons to support learning — is one of the neural functions profoundly altered in Huntington’s disease, with a direct impact on brain function. Researchers at the University of Barcelona used an innovative optogenetic tool to show that astrocytes, a type of brain cell traditionally considered to play a supporting role, also influence this plasticity and are themselves altered in Huntington’s disease. These results, obtained in animal models, open up new avenues for addressing this genetically driven neurodegenerative disease in patients.

A research paper by scientists at Beijing Institute of Technology presented a carrier-free tumor-suppressing peptide–daunorubicin–siRNA (PDR) nanoassembly.

Targeting Casitas B-lineage lymphoma-b (CBLB), Insilico Medicine announced the nomination of ISM3830, its 23rd AI-empowered preclinical candidate (PCC) since 2021, in late November 2025, which demonstrated low toxicity risks, favorable ADME/PK profiles, as well as induction of long-term tumor immunity, cracking the bottleneck in metabolism and absorption of previously reported CBLB inhibitors.

Shortly beforehand, the discovery process and evaluation of CBLB inhibitors with a different scaffold were published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. The paper highlights Compound 10, a potent, orally available lead compound with novel scaffold promising druggability, providing an AI-driven optimization roadmap for CBLB inhibition strategies.

Dementia, including Alzheimer’s (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), often causes overlapping symptoms, making diagnosis challenging. Traditional imaging is costly and slow, while EEG offers a cheaper, portable option—but interpreting signals has been difficult. FAU researchers have developed a deep learning model that analyzes EEG brain activity to accurately detect both type and severity of dementia. This AI-driven approach identifies key brainwave patterns, enabling faster, noninvasive, and precise monitoring of disease progression, transforming dementia diagnosis and care.

A research paper by scientists at Chinese Academy of Sciences presented a magnetically actuated soft electrode (MSE) with precise navigation, adaptive attachment, and high-fidelity signal acquisition.

Scientists at Northwestern University have developed the fastest test yet for diagnosing hepatitis C virus (HCV). The highly accurate diagnostic delivers results to patients in just 15 minutes — up to 75% faster than other rapid HCV tests. This speed is crucial for kickstarting patients’ treatment before they leave their appointment, potentially preventing painful, expensive complications and even death.

The research behind the new test will be published Dec. 10 in The Journal of Infectious Diseases.

HCV can lead to a chronic hepatitis C infection, which affects an estimated 50 million people globally and causes approximately 242,000 deaths annually, largely due to resulting cirrhosis and liver cancer. While the infection is curable with an 8- to 12-week course of medication, treatment rates remain low partially due to lack of affordable and easily accessible diagnostic tests.