2026-09-17
Alexandra Despang
While technologies for smaller gene edits, such as base editing, have already entered clinical trials, larger gene cargoes face different challenges, including low editing efficiencies, delivery vehicle size constraints, and possible immunogenicity. Programmable genome engineering systems using recombinases; transposases, including CRISPR-associated transposases (CASTs); genome writing systems; and retrotransposons promise different avenues for therapy, but each system has unique limitations. What are the most promising strategies to further develop these technologies, and which parameters need to be further improved to make them efficient and safe for therapy? We asked three experts in the field to share their thoughts on the challenges and opportunities.
DOI: 10.1038/s41587-026-03319-62026-09-16
Charlotte Harrison
A breast cancer drug linked with a test to detect ESR1 mutations in circulating tumor DNA is one of a wave of new drugs developed to tackle resistance to estrogen-receptor-targeted therapies.
DOI: 10.1038/s41587-026-03333-82026-09-15
Jianqiang Wu
China’s Decree 818 aims to bring hospital-based cell, gene and individualized therapies into the clinic safely. Its success will depend on whether it is consistently applied and whether adverse outcomes are reported, keeping patient safety at the forefront and holding institutions accountable for the results.
DOI: 10.1038/s41587-026-03314-x2026-09-15
A versatile nanopore sensor, created by modifying a bacterial porin, enables the simultaneous identification of amino acids, nucleoside monophosphates, saccharides and peptides. Coupled with machine learning, it achieves 98.7% classification accuracy and enables the compositional analysis of native glycopeptides.
DOI: 10.1038/s41587-026-03322-x2026-09-14
Lang Yao, Zixuan Wang, Jialu Chen, Wen Sun, Kefan Wang, Yunqi Xiao, Hanhan Zhang, Wenzheng Li, Yifan Wang, Lulu Zhao, Xinyi Dai, Lu Qian, Panke Zhang, Shuo Huang
Modified nanopore simultaneously identifies diverse biomolecules and their modifications.
DOI: 10.1038/s41587-026-03308-92026-09-10
DOI: 10.1038/s41587-026-03313-y2026-09-10
Recent patents relating to systems, methods and compositions for use in synthetic biology.
DOI: 10.1038/s41587-026-03289-92026-09-10
Dario Ummarino
DOI: 10.1038/s41587-026-03312-z