Neuroinflammation is a common hallmark in several neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, among others, where TREM2 (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2) is a crucial member involved in this biological process and is mainly expressed in microglial cells, being thus an attractive target for diagnostic imaging.

A team of researchers at the University of British Columbia investigated the potential of radiopharmaceutical therapy based on Terbium-161 (161Tb) both in vitro and in vivo using a novel tracer, [161Tb]Tb-BL34L20S, which uses the C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4)-targeting peptide BL34L20S labeled to 161Tb.

Cellular atlases and omics studies, such as genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics, have become key tools for identifying the diversity of all the elements that make up the cardiovascular system. These approaches help scientists understand how cells, genes and molecules function and interact in both healthy and diseased conditions, revealing critical points where targeted interventions could not only relieve symptoms but potentially reverse the underlying pathology at its origin.

One of the functions of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMS) is to protect the tumor against the immune system, inhibiting T-cell engagement and reducing the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors. Polyamidoamine hydroxyl dendrimers (HDs) target TAM without the need of a targeting ligand and are retained by TAMs for up to 1 month allowing radiation to deposit in the tumor.

Carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX, CA9) is a membrane-associated isoform of the α-carbonic anhydrase enzyme family, involved in pH regulation and the acidification of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in solid tumors. It is widely recognized as a marker of tumor hypoxia and serves as a prognostic indicator in multiple human cancers.

The OX40/OX40L costimulatory pathway is crucial for effective T-cell activation and is inducibly expressed in response to immunological stimulation. Targeting OX40L has demonstrated safety and efficacy in preclinical studies using nonhuman primate models of kidney and heart transplantation.

Insparin is a protein isolated from human adenovirus Ad36 that induces cellular glucose uptake without impacting safety. A preclinical study of insparin looked at its potential antidiabetic effects compared to those of pioglitazone.

All kinds of substances circulate through the bloodstream. Some are beneficial, like oxygen or nutrients, and others less so, like waste products, toxins, pathogens and certain trafficking cells. Among these harmful substances are deleterious factors associated with aging, which can prematurely damage different tissues. The big question is what are those factors that mediate such effects, and what can be done to prevent them. The 11th Cardiac Regeneration and Vascular Biology Conference, held on the Island of San Servolo, Venice, from June 30 to July 2, 2025, included presentations, oral sessions and posters addressing the impact of aging on the cardiovascular system.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonism is a validated approach for treating obesity. ECC-4703 is a small molecule and liver-targeting compound developed by Eccogene Co. Ltd. It is an agonist of thyroid hormone receptor β (THR-β) and its metabolic impact on preclinical models of obesity in combination with semaglutide was investigated.