https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from Northwestern University Investigators led by Northwestern Medicine scientists have identified mutations in a gene coding for a key ion channel in the brain as a new cause of a debilitating form of migraine, according to a study published in Brain. Familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM), a rare and severe form of migraine, is marked by temporary paralysis or weakness on one side of the body during attacks. Although the disorder runs in families, known migraine-linked genes explain fewer than one in five genetically diagnosed cases, said Alfred L. George, Jr., MD, chair and the Alfred Newton Richards Professor of Pharmacology, who was co-corresponding author of the study. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-epilepsy-gene-implicated-severe-migraine.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:40:04 EDT news695563691 Northwestern Medicine scientists have uncovered an unexpected role for a well-known cancer-related protein, revealing a new layer of genetic regulation that could reshape how certain cancers are treated. In a new study published in Nature Communications, investigators found that EZH2—a protein long recognized for its role in modifying DNA-packaging histones—also plays a direct and previously unknown role in RNA editing in prostate cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-major-cancer-protein-hijacks-rna.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:20:05 EDT news695487721 Animal communication can look wildly different—flashing lights, chirping calls, croaking songs and elaborate dances. But new research from Northwestern University suggests many of these signals share a surprising feature: They repeat at nearly the same tempo. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-nature-universal-rhythm.html Ecology Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:20:09 EDT news695461382 Northwestern University chemists have discovered a new way to turn natural gas into liquid fuel—and it's lightning in a bottle. By harnessing tiny bursts of plasma—or mini "lightning bolts"—in glass tubes submerged in water, the team has successfully converted methane directly into methanol in a single step. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-bottled-lightning-cleaner-fuel.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:00:01 EDT news695380021 Northwestern University psychologist Andrea Russell sees older adults with early cognitive impairment riddled with anxiety. Some worry a missed word or forgotten appointment could signal Alzheimer's disease. Others fear making a mistake in public. Some are too afraid to ask their doctor. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-alzheimer-patients-blood.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:00:01 EDT news695381641 Northwestern University engineers printed artificial neurons that don't just imitate the brain—they talk to it. In a new study, the Northwestern team developed flexible, low-cost devices that generate electrical signals realistic enough to activate living brain cells. When tested on slices of tissue from mouse brains, the artificial neurons successfully triggered responses from real neurons, demonstrating a new level of biocompatibility. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-neurons-communicate-brain-cells.html Electronics & Semiconductors Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:00:04 EDT news695379604 Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers and among the hardest to treat, with most patients surviving less than a year after diagnosis. But a new drug developed at Northwestern University may soon help patients live longer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-drug-year-survival-pancreatic-cancer.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:01 EDT news695311202 Scientists have discovered that increased expression of a novel long non-coding RNA drives glioblastoma cell growth alongside a genetic amplification found in more than half of glioblastoma tumors, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in Nature Cell Biology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-newly-rna-egfr-drugs-glioblastoma.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:40:07 EDT news695314878 An experimental drug designed to silence a gene strongly linked to Parkinson's disease has shown encouraging effects in a first-in-human clinical trial, according to a study published in Nature Medicine. The drug, known as BIIB094, targets LRRK2, the most common genetic contributor to Parkinson's disease; variants in LRRK2 are known to increase the risk of developing the neurodegenerative disorder, which affects nearly 10 million people worldwide. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-experimental-drug-parkinson-linked-protein.html Sat, 11 Apr 2026 13:00:02 EDT news694868490 Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered that a specific long non-coding RNA activates oncogenic signaling pathways in prostate cancer cells and drives tumor progression, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic target, according to a recent study published in Nature Communications. Rendong Yang, Ph.D., associate professor of Urology and a member of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, was co-corresponding author of the study. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-coding-rna-therapeutic-cancer.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:00:04 EDT news694965789 AI models can generate more complete summaries of complex cancer pathology reports than physicians, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study that tested six models developed by Meta, Google, DeepSeek and Mistral AI. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ai-outperforms-doctors-complex-cancer.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:20:01 EDT news694936382 In June 2025, several mainstream media outlets reported a surge in U.S. drug overdose deaths in early 2025 that was based on data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-drug-overdose-spike-illusion.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:58:32 EDT news694929962 For gardeners who love colorful, tidy flower beds, helping pollinators doesn't have to mean going fully wild. A new study from plant biologists at Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden found that some cultivated plants—bred for their vibrant blooms, compact forms and visually appealing uniformity—can still provide meaningful support for bees, butterflies and other pollinators. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-pollinator-friendly-gardens-dont-sacrifice.html Plants & Animals Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:00:01 EDT news694872961 A routine blood test taken by millions in the U.S. each year to measure "bad" cholesterol is not the best measure to guide treatment and prevent heart attacks and strokes, suggests a new Northwestern Medicine study published in JAMA. The study found that another blood test called apolipoprotein B (apoB) outperformed LDL and non-HDL cholesterol in guiding cholesterol-lowering therapy, such as taking statins and other medications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-cholesterol-heart.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:20:04 EDT news694872181 Scientists have discovered how two transcription factors form a reciprocal regulatory circuit that controls T-cell exhaustion and migration during viral infection, which may inform future therapeutic strategies for managing infections and cancer, according to a recent Northwestern Medicine study published in Immunity. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-transcription-factors-circuit-cell-exhaustion.html Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:40:02 EDT news694696082 Just because a topical antiseptic is swabbed on the skin doesn't mean it stays on the skin. In a new study, Northwestern University scientists studied how a powerful antiseptic, called chlorhexidine, affects bacteria in hospital environments. To prevent infections, hospitals heavily rely on chlorhexidine wipes to sterilize patients' skin before procedures. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-disinfectants-microbes-hospital-rooms.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:00:02 EDT news694253341 Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered new insights into how high gamma activity—an informative, widely studied brain signal—is generated, findings that can impact how past and future neurological studies using this signal are interpreted, according to a recent study published in Nature. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-uncovering-cellular-drivers-brain.html Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:40:01 EDT news694264622 Imagination is one of the most powerful things our brains can do. We can relive past events while taking a walk, rehearse future conversations through inner speech or sense the heat of a fire without touching it—allowing us to learn, plan and avoid danger without direct experience. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-higherlevel-brain-perception-play-central.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:00:03 EDT news694165425 In a new study, Northwestern University neurobiologists discovered that gut bacteria and the nose work together to shape social behavior in mice, including who fights and who backs down. Using a combination of genetic and behavioral experiments, the scientists found gut microbes produce a pungent odor that other animals can smell. When detected, these scents trigger aggression and shape social hierarchies. The discovery reveals a previously unknown way the microbiome influences social interactions. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-gut-bacteria-social-behavior.html Ecology Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:40:03 EDT news694104422 Scientists led by Sergey Troyanovsky, Ph.D., professor of Dermatology and of Cell and Developmental Biology, have uncovered new intracellular mechanisms promoting cell-cell adhesion, a process disrupted in a variety of skin and inflammatory diseases, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Cell Biology. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-cells-differently-clues-skin-inflammatory.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:30:02 EDT news694103132 Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered that light plays a key role in how animals perceive environmental threats, findings that have the potential to improve the understanding of risk avoidance behaviors and related disorders in humans, according to a study published in Nature Communications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-impacts-brain-threats.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:40:04 EDT news694094521 A new Northwestern study surveying federal judges across the U.S. on their use and outlook on artificial intelligence in and outside of the courtroom found that more than 60% of judges who responded reported using at least one AI tool in their judicial work. While judges reported broad adoption of AI tools, only 22.4% of judges reported using AI tools on a weekly or daily basis. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-ai-tools-widely-federal.html Social Sciences Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:30:01 EDT news694095597 A multi-institutional team of scientists, co-led by Northwestern University, has taken a crucial step toward implantable "living pharmacies"—tiny devices containing engineered cells that continuously produce medicines inside the body. In a new study published in Device, the team engineered cells to simultaneously produce three different biologics—an anti-HIV antibody, a GLP-1-like peptide used to treat type 2 diabetes, and leptin, a hormone that regulates appetite and metabolism. When implanted under the skin of a small animal model, the device kept drug-producing cells alive and stably delivered all three therapies at once. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-implantable-pharmacy-multiple-drugs-body.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:00:07 EDT news693739410 Northwestern Medicine investigators have uncovered a missing link behind the harmful effects of autoantibodies linked to blood clots, pregnancy complications and other inflammatory conditions, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-autoantibodies-contribute-clots-c4bp-link.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:10:06 EDT news693763982 In a new study, Northwestern University scientists explored how snow flies—small, wingless insects that crawl across snow to find mates and lay eggs—survive in freezing cold temperatures. They discovered this snow-dwelling fly uses a surprising combination of strategies: it generates its own body heat like a mammal and produces antifreeze proteins like an Arctic fish. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-flies-proteins.html Plants & Animals Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:00:03 EDT news693478621 Scientists have discovered novel molecular mechanisms that contribute to recovery from diabetic kidney disease following bariatric surgery in adolescents with type 2 diabetes and obesity, mechanisms that may serve as potential targets for non-surgical treatments for diabetic kidney disease, according to a multi-institutional study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-bariatric-surgery-adolescents-reprograms-kidney.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:10:06 EDT news693492662 Current schizophrenia medications treat symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, but do little for cognitive symptoms like disorganized thinking or executive dysfunction. As a result, many patients are unable to work, rely on family for lifelong support, become homeless or, in some cases, experience suicidal thoughts and actions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-schizophrenia-biomarker-drug-candidate-cognitive.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 11:00:01 EDT news693044351 Women who enter natural menopause before age 40 face about a 40% higher lifetime risk of developing coronary heart disease than women who experience menopause later, according to a large Northwestern Medicine study that is the first to calculate lifetime heart risk associated with premature menopause. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-premature-menopause-term-heart-large.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:00:01 EDT news692961002 For decades, astronomers have struggled to differentiate giant planets from brown dwarfs, a class of objects more massive than planets but too small to ignite nuclear fusion like true stars. Through a telescope, these cosmic lookalikes can have overlapping brightness, temperatures, and even atmospheric fingerprints. The striking similarity leaves astronomers unsure if they have observed an oversized planet or an undersized star. Now, a Northwestern University-led team has uncovered a crucial clue that separates the two: how fast they spin. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-clearest-evidence-giant-planets-faster.html Astronomy Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:00:02 EDT news692954942 Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered that an FDA-approved compound promotes neuroprotective effects in experimental models of Parkinson's disease. The compound, N-acetyl-L-leucine (NALL), simultaneously targets multiple molecular pathways in dopaminergic neurons impacted by Parkinson's disease, underscoring NALL's potential therapeutic benefit in treating the disease in humans, according to the authors of the study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-fda-compound-neuroprotective-effects-parkinson.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:40:03 EDT news693044423