News • Double Stokes polarimetric microscopy
New method to help accelerate cancer diagnosis
A new method to quickly and accurately analyze the structure of collagen in tissue shows promise to improve the diagnostics of cancer and other diseases.
Research
News • Light-activated device
World's tiniest pacemaker can be injected into body, dissolves after use
Smaller than a grain of rice: US engineers have developed a pacemaker so tiny that it can fit inside the tip of a syringe — and be non-invasively injected into the body.
News • Landmark surgery trial
Gastric bypass, sleeve or band? Study weighs up surgical options for severe obesity
Severe obesity comes with serious health risks, which can be reduced with metabolic and bariatric surgery. Now, a landmark study reveals which operation is most effective or cost-effective.
News • Systemic cell rewiring
How midkine helps tumours evade immunotherapy
Researchers discovered a key mechanism by which melanomas and other aggressive tumours prevent the immune system from detecting and attacking them – one of the greatest challenges in oncology today.
News • Alleviating inflammatory skin disorders
Microneedles to speed up diabetic wound healing
Researchers have developed ‘sponge-like’ microneedle patches that deliver bioactive ingredients and reduce inflammation in slow- and non-healing diabetic wounds.
News • Extracellular microenvironments
Advancing diabetes treatment with 3D bioprinting
Leveraging bioink from pancreatic tissue and 3D bioprinting, researchers developed a structure closely mimicking the structure of a pancreas, in which cultured cells can resume insulin production.
News • 2025 TB surveillance and monitoring report
Childhood tuberculosis up by 10%: a wake-up call for Europe
Transmission of tuberculosis (TB) in the European Region is still ongoing, and immediate public health measures are needed to control and reduce the growing burden of the disease, experts urge.
News • Review of colonoscopy CADe systems
AI for colon cancer detection: "Right now, this is version 1.0. We need version 4.0”
A rigorous review of evidence showed that AI-assisted technology helps identify colorectal polyps. However, its impact on preventing colon cancer remains unclear.
Maartje Huijbers
Combining research work and vice dean duties
As of May 1st, Maartje Huijbers holds the position of vice dean of research, a new position within the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). Huijbers is associate professor and research group leader in the Department of Human Genetics and the Department of Neurology. She will combine her work as a scientist with the position of vice dean.
News • High-channel prostheses
One step closer to visual implants
Electrodes implanted directly onto the brain’s visual cortex could eventually restore a rudimentary form of vision to people suffering from blindness worldwide, new research suggests.
News • Divergent sex-specific mechanisms
Why pain medication may be less effective for women
Chronic pain is more common among women, but why is that? New research explores sex-specific differences in pain signal communication in the nervous system to help answer this question.
News • Actionable genetic variants
Look into "Viking Genes" shows benefits of personalised health insights
A research project investigating the genetics and health of volunteers from the Hebrides, Shetland or Orkney shows how distinct genetic populations can benefit from tailored screening programmes.
News • Electrochemical biosensing
Nanotube sensors enhance accuracy in continuous health monitoring
Researchers have succeeded in producing sensors from single-wall carbon nanotubes that are suitable for detecting even minute changes in specific substances in the body, such as female hormones.
News • Potential to enter human circulation through infusion
Researchers discover microplastics in IV bags
A new analysis of commercial IV fluid bags reveals that they often contain microplastics that, upon infusion, would enter the recipient’s bloodstream and potentially cause negative health effects.
News • Neuroprosthesis research
Restoring movement to paralysis patients with robotics and spinal stimulation
A new system that seamlessly integrates an implanted spinal cord neuroprosthesis with rehabilitation robotics delivers well-timed electrical pulses to enhance mobility and foster long-term recovery.
News • Intrinsic electrical activity drives cancer progression
SCLC: Deciphering the unusual aggressiveness of small cell lung cancer
New research reveals that self-generated electrical activity of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) directly promotes tumor metastasis and progression. This may provide new avenues for future treatments.
News • Study explores effects on immune system
Night shift nurses may pay for their sleep debt with infections
A new study examining the effects of sleep patterns and shift work on the immune system has found that sleep debt and night shifts increase the risk of several common infections in nurses.
News • Research on soft wearable actuators
Artificial muscles for tremor suppression
To suppress tremors, such as those from Parkinson's disease, scientists equipped a biorobotic arm with artificial muscles, which compensate for the back-and-forth movement of the tremor.
News • Ionic liquid-carbon nanohorn complexes
Magnet-guided, laser-heated nanoparticles for precision cancer treatment
Japanese researchers have developed magnetic nanoparticles that can be directed to tumors using a magnet and then heated with a laser to destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.
News • Photoacoustic computed tomography
A 'PACT' to monitor stroke in real-time
Researchers developed a new scanning method that combines light and ultrasound to non-invasively monitor cerebrovascular changes in the early stages of an ischemic stroke in real time.
News • Environmental impact of coronary bypass grafting
Increasing sustainability of heart surgery
Life cycle assessment of bypass surgery procedures reveals opportunities to reduce the ecological footprint of healthcare, from reducing disposable materials to improving energy efficiency.
News • From the heart to the mind
'Dorian Gray' to uncover link between CVD and MCI
Around one third of people with cardiovascular disease (CVD) also have mild cognitive impairment (MCI), yet the condition is often undiagnosed. A new project aims to untangle this MCI-CVD connection.
News • AI analsis for early detection
Diabetes: eyes as a window to kidney health
A new AI-based approach can predict whether people with type 2 diabetes are likely to develop chronic kidney disease years before symptoms arise, allowing for earlier intervention and treatment.
News • Imaging consistency and reliability
Harmonizing MRIs across different institutions
MRI is an essential tool for clinicians, but the variability of image acquisition protocols is a challenge for achieving consistent and reliable interpretation. A new study intends to fix this issue.
News • Promising method for cancer imaging
Using photon counting for fast color X-ray images
Photon counting detectors along with novel algorithms allow for more precise 3D visualization of different tissues and contrast agents by capturing X-rays at multiple energy levels simultaneously.