January 14, 2026

Fruit fly pigmentation guides discovery of genes that control brain dopamine and sleep

January 14, 2026 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / dopamine

by Molly Chiu, Baylor College of Medicine edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Manipulation of pigmentation enzymes has unexpected effects on dopamine. Credit: iScience (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.114388 Dopamine in the brain influences movement, learning, motivation and sleep. In humans, problems with dopamine are linked to conditions like Parkinson’s disease, depression […]

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Taking a fresh look at definition of autism

January 14, 2026 / Clinical Practice / InnovateMed Author / autism

by Sy Boles, Harvard University edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A wider public conversation has arisen over whether it’s time for a shift in how we think about categories of autism, amid rising interest in the disorder across the country. For instance, some

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New drug candidate reverses metabolic liver disease and fibrosis, pre-clinical data show

January 14, 2026 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / fibrosis

by McMaster University edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Graphical abstract. Credit: Cell Metabolism (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2025.11.015 Researchers at McMaster University are leading preclinical studies into a novel drug candidate developed by Espervita Therapeutics that has the potential to prevent and reverse liver fibrosis—a dangerous, disease-induced build-up of scar tissue

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Therapies that target specific type of cell death may be an effective avenue for cancer treatment

January 14, 2026 / Clinical Practice / InnovateMed Author / cancer treatment

by Catherine Marfin, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Credit: CC0 Public Domain Therapies that target the utilization of fat by tumors and activate a type of cell death dependent on fat molecules may be a promising avenue to treat

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Novel immunotherapy demonstrates early potential to overcome resistance to immune checkpoint therapy

January 14, 2026 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / immunotherapy

by Aubrey Bloom, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Robert Egan Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain According to a Phase I study led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, published in Nature Medicine, the novel monoclonal antibody linavonkibart has demonstrated the potential

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Brainstem region may drive high blood pressure via nerve connections

January 14, 2026 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / brain stem, High blood pressure

by University of Auckland edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Robert Egan Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Scientists have discovered that a part of the brain may be behind high blood pressure. The lateral parafacial region sits in the brainstem—the oldest part of the brain—which controls automatic functions such as digestion,

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Report reveals 5-year relative survival rates for all cancers up to 70% in the US

January 14, 2026 / Clinical Practice / InnovateMed Author / cancers

by Elana Gotkine edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Five-year relative survival rates for all cancers combined have increased to 70% for people diagnosed during 2015 to 2021 in the United States, according to the “Cancer Statistics, 2026,” report, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. Rebecca L. Siegel,

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FDA raises cheese recall to highest risk after Listeria found

January 14, 2026 / Patient education / InnovateMed Author / listeria

by I. Edwards edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Federal regulators have escalated a nationwide cheese recall to their most serious warning level after lab tests confirmed the presence of Listeria, a potentially deadly bacteria. The action was announced in a Jan. 6 enforcement report from the

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Q&A: Can a routine shingles shot lower risk of dementia?

January 14, 2026 / Patient education / InnovateMed Author / dementia, routine shingles shot

by Jane Kelly, University of Virginia edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Research has found the shingles vaccine not only prevents the painful, blistering rash in older people, but also protects the brain. Scientists led by Stanford University found, over seven years, the vaccine cut the risk

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From immune evasion to activation: A new cancer vaccine strategy

January 14, 2026 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / cancer vaccine

by Akaash Babar, Peking University edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Robert Egan Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Design and development of iVAC, which restores immunogenicity through checkpoint degradation-coupled antigen presentation. Credit: Nature (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09903-1 A research team led by Professor Chen Peng from the College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering at Peking University has developed

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