Research Highlights in 2022

Scientists developed a whole-body reperfusion system that partially revived pig organs up to an hour after death, which could reap benefits for human transplant medicine.

Over half of all infectious diseases that affect humans worldwide can be aggravated by climate change, which highlights the urgency of tough climate action and mitigation measures.

Ultrasounds can provide a wealth of information on organ function and disease; now scientists have engineered a stick-on wearable ultrasound device for continuous monitoring.

A once-daily combination hormone treatment led to reductions in endometriosis-associated pain and opioid use for the duration of a 6-month study.

A large study in India showed that gender-based police interventions — including training, outreach and dedicated spaces staffed by female officers — led to increased reporting of violence against women.

Tympanometers to test for ear disorders are costly, so scientists developed a portable and cheap smartphone-based tympanometer for use in resource-limited settings.

A study in mice reveals the neuronal mechanisms behind music-induced analgesia, providing a basis for further research and development of alternative pain interventions in humans.

The release of breast cancer cells into the circulation occurs mostly during rest — a surprising discovery that may help researchers to better study and target cancer metastasis.

Women are credited less than men are in scientific publications and patents; a study suggests that their contributions are systematically under-recognized across all career stages and scientific fields.

In a phase 3 study, the diabetes drug tirzepatide brought about substantial and sustained weight reduction in adults with obesity.

Patients with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer are a historically overlooked group, but a phase 3 trial reveals trastuzumab deruxtecan as a new treatment option that prolongs survival.

Upadacitinib, a JAK inhibitor, may help patients with moderate to severely active ulcerative colitis obtain long-term control of the condition.

In a brief but pivotal study, pig kidneys were transplanted into two brain-dead humans for 54 hours, where they functioned well and avoided rejection.

In a first-in-human study, intranasal transplantation of mesenchymal stromal cells was safe and well-tolerated in newborns who had suffered a stroke — laying the foundation for large-scale clinical trials.

People with less-severe Ebola virus disease may go undiagnosed, but they can still suffer long-term sequelae; this highlights the public health value of testing close contacts to identify and adequately treat all infections.

Nanoparticle vaccines show promise in preclinical models; clinical evaluation is warranted to assess whether they could help reduce the burden of disease associated with EBV in humans.

To maximize the benefits of patient-reported outcomes data while protecting patient welfare, a panel of experts set out ethical guidelines for the incorporation of these into clinical research.

An online program developed in collaboration with the English National Opera could help with rehabilitation, by improving mental health and symptoms of breathlessness.

A study reveals that previously undescribed variation in the TLR7 gene can cause childhood-onset lupus, offering mechanistic insights that could pave the way for better treatment.

A rationally designed treatment for Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease — the first of its kind — appears to safely reach target levels in the brain, which provides justification for further clinical trials.