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New data show decline in MMR vaccination rate in the U.S.

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A new county-level dataset from researchers at Johns Hopkins University shows a nationwide decline in measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination rates among U.S. children since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 2,066 counties studied, 1,614 counties (78%) reported a drop in vaccinations, and the average county-level vaccination rate fell from 93.92% pre-pandemic to 91.26% post-pandemic – a decrease of 2.67% on average, moving further away from the 95% herd immunity threshold needed to predict or limit measles outbreaks. Only four of the 33 states studied—California, Connecticut, Maine, and New York—reported an increase in average county-level vaccination rates. The data is published today in JAMA. The data is published after more than a thousand measles cases were reported in the United States this year. With the exception of the year… 

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Terbium for lymphomas

A radionuclide therapy using the radioactive element terbium could prove effective against lymphomas. This is shown by promising results from experiments conducted at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI in collaboration with the Inselspital Bern. These results appear today in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine. Scientists are currently working to further develop this form of treatment for clinical trials. In Switzerland, almost 2,000 people develop lymphomas each year, and around 570 people die from the disease. At the PSI Center for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences, scientists are now proposing a new treatment that could soon increase the chances of survival for many affected individuals: a radioimmunotherapy with the nuclide terbium-161. “The principle is to couple radioactive terbium-161 to an antibody and then inject it in this form into the blood of the patients concerned,” explains Martin Béhé from the Center for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences at the PSI Life Sciences Center. Once in the body, it binds… 

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"Operation Spiderweb" and the Global Threat of Bioterror: A Wake-Up Call for the World

“Operation Spiderweb” and the global threat of bioterror: A wake-up call for the world

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Ukraine's "Operation Spiderweb," a large-scale drone attack on Russian air bases on June 1, 2025, marks a turning point in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The operation, carried out by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), targeted strategic bombers and demonstrates the increasing complexity of modern warfare. At the same time, it raises questions about the global risks associated with the further development of such technologies – particularly concerning potential bioterrorist attacks. This report analyzes the operation and explains why it should be understood as a warning signal for the international community, without stoking fear, but rather promoting sensitivity to new threats. Operation Spiderweb has been described as one of Ukraine's most ambitious actions in the ongoing conflict. According to Ukrainian security sources, 117 drones were used to attack four Russian air bases – Belaya in the Irkutsk region, Olenya in Murmansk, Dyagilevo in Ryazan… 

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New Chief Physician for Pneumology at Bielefeld Clinic: Dr. Klaus Henning Thomas Takes Over Leadership

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Bielefeld Clinic has appointed Dr. med. Klaus Henning Thomas as the new Chief Physician of the Clinic for Pneumology and Respiratory Medicine at the Mitte location. The experienced specialist in internal medicine with additional qualifications in pneumology and intensive care medicine will take over the leadership starting June 1, 2025. With over two decades of experience in leadership positions, the 60-year-old physician brings comprehensive clinical and scientific expertise to further develop the department into a modern, high-performing, and patient-centered unit. Dr. Thomas, born in Hamburg, studied medicine in Basel as well as in Missouri and Virginia, USA. He then conducted research for two years as a fellow of the German Research Foundation at Penn State University in Pennsylvania. He deepened his pneumological specialization at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, where he worked as a senior physician for six years. Most recently, he led the pneumology department at AMEOS Klinikum Aschersleben and was previously Medical Director of the Evangelical Hospital for Respiratory Diseases in… 

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The Inner Clock as a Key to Better Cancer Treatment

A groundbreaking study led by researchers from MSH Medical School Hamburg, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and a Hamburg-based startup shows how the body's internal clock can influence the effectiveness and tolerability of cancer therapies. The research, published in eBioMedicine, suggests that disruptions in circadian rhythm can exacerbate the side effects of PARP inhibitor therapy. These findings could significantly shape the future of personalized cancer treatment by adapting therapy times to patients' biological rhythms. Circadian Disruptions and Their Effects The study, part of the Phase III clinical trial MAMOC, examined ovarian cancer patients treated with PARP inhibitors such as Rucaparib. These drugs specifically block DNA repair in cancer cells and are a central component of modern cancer therapies. However, researchers found that patients with disrupted circadian rhythms – the internal clock that controls processes like sleep, metabolism, and cell division – often experienced more severe... 

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Dogs in Space: From Soviet Street Dogs to Space Omics and Musk's Mars Plans

In the autumn of 1957, the world watched Baikonur with bated breath: with Sputnik 2, the Soviet Union sent the dog Laika into orbit around the Earth as the first living being. Today, almost seven decades later, space travel is once again on the cusp of an epochal leap – this time with the goal of Mars, driven by visionaries like Elon Musk. But the path there is paved with the traces of the first animal cosmonauts, whose sacrifices and insights continue to resonate in modern biomedicine and space medicine. The Beginnings: Street Dogs as Spaceflight Pioneers The decision to send dogs into space was no accident. In the early 1950s, the Soviet Union experimented with various animals to test the resilience of living organisms under the extreme conditions of space. Dogs, especially small, hardy mixed breeds from the streets of Moscow, proved particularly suitable: they were undemanding, robust, and could adapt to confined...

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LabNews Celebrates Milestones: Over 200,000 Impressions Per Month and 5,000 Articles

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LabNews has reason to celebrate: In May 2025, our platform surpassed the mark of over 200,000 impressions per month for the first time and now offers more than 5,000 published articles for the life sciences community. These two milestones impressively underscore the growing reach and relevance of LabNews as an independent, reliable source for current news, analyses, and background information from the fields of biotech, analytics, laboratory, medicine, science, and AI. Since our launch in February 2024, we have pursued a clear goal: to make well-founded, current, and diverse content freely accessible to professionals, researchers, and interested parties worldwide. The LabNews editorial team consists of experienced medical and science journalists who have been reporting for renowned media in Germany and Switzerland for decades, and whose non-fiction books can even be found in the US Library of Congress and the library of the German Bundestag. Our independence and our commitment to quality are always at the… 

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Hasso Plattner remains a spectator in the biotech boom

In the spring of 2025, German SAP co-founder Hasso Plattner is once again in the spotlight – not because of a spectacular biotech deal, but because of the deepened partnership between his Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) and SAP to promote AI research and digitalization in Europe. While tech billionaires like Bill Gates invest billions in the development of new vaccines and therapies, Plattner's commitment in the biotechnology sector remains strikingly selective and technology-driven – focusing on digital platforms rather than classic biotech innovations. Specifically, Plattner, through Hasso Plattner Ventures (HPV), invests in high-growth, IT-driven companies in Europe and the USA. In the healthcare sector, LipoCheck is a prominent example: the healthtech startup offers a digital platform for the diagnosis and therapy support of lipedema, a chronic fat distribution disorder. LipoCheck relies on digital services to connect patients and doctors and improve care. RetroBrain R&D, a developer of digital therapy games for dementia patients, has also been supported. However, the investments are…

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The LabNews riddle for laboratory physicians

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Question: A patient presents with elevated liver enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT), anemia, and mild hypoglycemia. Serological testing shows a positive anti-HBc antibody, but negative HBsAg and anti-HBs. A molecular test detects a low viral load. The patient reports no known liver disease but had a blood transfusion 20 years ago. What is the most likely diagnosis, and what specific molecular investigation would confirm the diagnosis? Note: The solution requires considering a rare course of a viral infection that is often overlooked in laboratory diagnostics. SPOILER Solution Diagnosis: Occult Hepatitis B Infection (OBI) Explanation: The combination of positive anti-HBc antibodies, negative HBsAg and anti-HBs, and a low viral load (detected by molecular tests such as PCR) suggests an occult hepatitis B infection. In OBI, HBV DNA remains detectable in serum or liver despite negative HBsAg. This can occur in patients with a history of HBV infection (e.g., through 

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Japan as a Biotech Giant: A Global Pioneer in Biotechnological Innovation

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Over the past few decades, Japan has established itself as one of the world's leading players in biotechnology. With a combination of cutting-edge research, a robust industry, government support, and a culture of precision, the country has carved out a significant niche in the global biotech landscape. This article highlights the factors that make Japan a biotech giant and explores how the nation is driving innovation in medicine, agriculture, and environmental technology. Historical Roots and the Rise of the Biotech Industry The Japanese biotech industry has its roots in the 1980s when the country began to strategically focus its scientific and technological capabilities on the life sciences. Japanese companies such as Takeda Pharmaceutical and Chugai Pharmaceutical were pioneers, investing early in biotechnological research. Takeda, one of Japan's oldest and largest pharmaceutical companies, has made a name for itself through its work on biologic drugs and vaccines. Simultaneously, the Japanese government promoted ...

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