Bitter taste receptors are specialised proteins that enable us to detect substances with a bitter taste. They are found mainly in the taste buds of the tongue, but also in the intestine, lungs and even the brain. These receptors are part of a family called TAS2R and they play a vital role in human health because they function as a warning system in case of ingestion of toxic or potentially harmful substances. However, in recent years it has been discovered that these receptors do more than just warn us if something tastes bad. They also influence how the body manages energy, releases digestive hormones and responds to dietary compounds. Now, a research team led by the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) and involving the IDIBAPs, the Hospital Clinic and the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences of the UB has discovered that two of these receptors could play a key role in processes associated with aging. 

Ovarian cancer remains the leading cause of death among cancers affecting the female reproductive system, largely because current treatments are not effective once the cancer has spread (metastasised) beyond the ovaries. A recent study led by Professor Alice WONG, Interim Director of the School of Biological Sciences at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), has identified a critical factor driving this metastasis, offering promising new directions for targeted treatment strategies. The team’s findings have just been published in Protein and Cell and featured as the journal’s cover article, highlighting the significance of their work.

In a significant advancement for stroke care, researchers from HKU Stroke and the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine at the LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) have developed the TRICH score. This innovative clinical tool is designed to help physicians effectively identify intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients who would benefit from early prescription of triple anti-hypertensive medication. The TRICH score addresses a critical need in hypertension care after ICH by facilitating timely and effective blood pressure control. It also has the potential to significantly reduce the risk of ICH recurrence and subsequent strokes. The findings were published in the international journal Neurology.

A comprehensive review published in Genomic Psychiatry examines how corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), an ancient stress neuropeptide, modulates dopamine pathways in nonhuman primates. The research illuminates crucial anatomical differences between rodent and primate brains, potentially explaining why translating rodent-based stress treatments to humans has proven challenging.