Research Reveals How Melanoma Stem Cells Shield Themselves From Immune Attack

Melanoma, if not detected in its early stages, transforms into a highly deadly, treatment-resistant cancer. Although the immune system initially responds to melanoma and mounts anti-tumor attacks, these assaults are generally ineffective, allowing more advanced melanomas to win the battle and spread beyond the primary site. Now, researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston and Brigham and [...]

In Early Heart Development, Genes Work In Tandem

Studying genes that regulate early heart development in animals, scientists have solved a puzzle about one gene’s role, finding that it acts in concert with a related gene. Their finding contributes to understanding how the earliest stages of heart development may go awry, resulting in congenital heart defects in humans.

Researchers Pinpoint Best Time To Begin Toilet Training For Children

Researchers at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital (BMSCH) at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) and UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (UMDNJ-RWJMS) have completed a study that pinpoints the period between 24 and 32 months of age as most effective time frame for parents to begin toilet training lessons with their children. Additionally, the study [...]

National Science Distinction Awarded To Dana-Farber Researcher

Kai W. Wucherpfennig, MD, PhD, a researcher at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, has been named a Fellow for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Wucherpfennig was honored for his distinguished contributions in the field of immunology, particularly for advancing the understanding of T-cell receptor recognition and T-cell activation in human autoimmune disease.

Common Anti-Inflammatory Drug Could Help Prevent Skin Cancers, Stanford Researcher Says

A widely-available anti-inflammatory prescription drug can reduce the risk of a common skin cancer in humans, according to a researcher at Stanford’s School of Medicine. Although oral administration of the drug, celecoxib, is associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke in some people, it’s possible that topical application could have a safer, [...]