UK newspaper The Times recently reported renewed efforts to introduce a genetically modified purple tomato into British supermarkets, following prior testing in mice.  The purple tomato was developed by researchers at the John Innes Centre by introducing two genes, through gene editing. They introduced genes from the snapdragon (Antirrhinum) into tomatoes, enabling the accumulation of antioxidants called anthocyanins. These compounds are also found in blueberries and blackbe

Researchers in Spain have eliminated pancreatic cancer in mice using a combination of three drugs that target genes involved in tumour growth.  Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, with around 87% of patients expected to die within five years of diagnosis. This disease often develops silently deep within the abdomen, and by the time it is detected, it has usually spread to other organs, making surgery difficult or impossible. While chemotherapy can kill cancer c

A study in Canada showed that exercise and stimulating environments protect the brain’s defensive barrier in mice exposed to chronic stress, preventing depression-like symptoms.  Depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders, affecting more than 300 million people worldwide, and chronic stress is a significant risk factor.   Scientists at EARA member  Université Laval  demonstrated that when mice were exposed to chronic social stress, induced by encounters with a d

A UK study has identified two genes that regulate the response of cancer to immunotherapy and could be used as biomarkers to predict patients’ response to therapy. 

A study in Germany using mice has revealed that a protein linked to cancer also affects the heart.

Research from the US suggests primate gut microbes influence brain-related gene activity in mice, indicating a potential role in the evolution of large brains. 

Researchers in the US created a detailed atlas showing how astrocytes, star-shaped support cells in the brain, differ across brain regions, animal species and life stages. The atlas will help to understand how these cells influence brain development, function and disease.

A study in the Netherlands has discovered that corticosteroids, widely used anti-inflammatory drugs, may prolong the effect of hormone therapy for breast cancer in mice.

Researchers in France have developed a vaccine that protects mice against anaphylaxis, a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction. This work could inform the development of new treatments for people with severe allergies.

A UK study has shown that bird flu viruses continue to multiply in mice at high temperatures that would normally stop infection, explaining why some flu viruses are more dangerous to humans. 

Researchers in Sweden have mapped the brain circuits responsible for repetitive and compulsive behaviours in mice, which can inform on disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and addiction. 

Scientists in Israel have found that sounds experienced by mice early in life shape male and female auditory preferences, suggesting that the same experiences affect brain development differently according to sex. 

Researchers in Belgium have discovered, in a mouse study, that a gene mutation long linked to psoriasis also affects gut function. Psoriasis is a chronic, non-contagious skin condition caused by an overactive immune system. It leads to red, scaly patches and skin inflammation and may affect other organs, including the gut.  

Researchers in the US have identified a previously unknown brain circuit that controls how mice respond to sudden threats and recover from fear. 

Researchers in the US have developed lab-grown kidneys (organoids) that, for the first time, could produce urine when transplanted into mice.  

Researchers in Germany and Austria have discovered that the acidic environment inside tumours plays a key role in promoting cancer survival and growth.  

Researchers in Sweden have discovered what changes in the brain of mice that unlock the so-called maternal aggression. 

Researchers in the US have found that amyloid beta, a hallmark in Alzheimer’s, can strengthen immune responses and reduce tumour growth in mice. 

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to three researchers — Shimon Sakaguchi, Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell — for discovering how the immune system is kept in check, based on studies in mice.

A team based in the UK and Italy has developed a method to monitor a key brain alteration found in Alzheimer’s disease in the brain of living, freely moving mice using optic fibres.