Research Archives - Baylor College of Medicine Blog Network

Dr. Mary Estes named to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

May 14, 2026 American Academy for Arts & Sciences, gastrointestinal viruses, Norovirus, organoids, Research, rotavirus

Estes is a leader in virology whose work has shaped the understanding of viruses that cause gastrointestinal disease.

A body’s response that protects from atherosclerosis

May 12, 2026 atherosclerosis, cholesterol-lowering drugs, disturbed blood flow, DNA damage, DNA repair, endothelial injury, purine synthesis, Research

Damaged endothelial cells in blood vessels are not passive bystanders, their response can potentially slow down atherosclerosis progression.

From The Labs

A safe house for tumors: method reveals cellular makeup of tissues that favor metastatic cancer growth

May 7, 2026 bone metastasis, estrogen receptor alpha, fatty acids, macrophage, metastatic cancer, Research, T cell

The findings suggest that disrupting the cellular makeup of pro-metastatic niches could help treat metastases across multiple cancer types, in both women and men.

From The Labs

Beyond DNA sequence and into 3D shapes: how bacteria manage DNA

May 5, 2026 cryoEM, DNA 3D shapes, DNA gyrase, Research, supercoiled DNA

The findings offer a more complete understanding of how DNA gyrase and perhaps other enzymes interact with DNA.

From The Labs

Method reveals 3D structures of RNA-protein complexes in living cells

April 30, 2026 3D structures, lab methods, msDMS-MaP, Research, RNA, RNA folding

This method helps researchers better understand how RNAs work in normal cellular processes and how things go wrong in disease.

From The Labs

Multipronged approach distinguishes gene function changes that promote Parkinson’s disease from those that confer protection

April 23, 2026 alpha-synuclein, dopamine neurons, ESCRT, fruit fly model, large-scale data, Parkinson's Disease, phosphatidylinositol cycle, Research

The researchers show in an animal model that it is possible to change the course of the disease by reprogramming the recycling and waste-disposal system of neurons.

From The Labs

How does ZR make cancer happen? Locking brain development in immature state can drive tumor growth

April 9, 2026 brain development, ependymoma, founder clone, pediatric brain cancer, Research, ZFTA-RELA (ZR) fusion-positive ependymoma, ZR tumor

The findings suggest potential new approaches to treat these aggressive and chemo-resistant tumors.

From The Labs

Uncovering the driving force behind lethal infant brain tumor

April 7, 2026 androgens, ependymoma, infant brain tumor, male hormones, PFA ependymoma, Research, tumor growth

The findings have potential clinical implications as they suggest future targeted treatment strategies.

From The Labs

Researchers provide answers to progressive heart problems in muscular dystrophy and potential reversibility

April 3, 2026 CTG repeats, DM1, heart problems, MBNL proteins, muscular dystrophy type 1, Research, RNA, RNA splicing

This better understanding of heart problems in muscular dystrophy underscores the importance of early monitoring, early treatment and sex differences of cardiac symptoms.