Using AI to target disease before symptoms start; an international heart exchange; AACR Annual Meeting kicks off the future of cancer research – Morning Medical Update

New Flagship startup uses AI to target diseases before symptoms start

Flagship Pioneering has launched Etiome with $50 million to find and treat diseases early — before symptoms appear. Using its AI-powered Temporal Biodynamics platform, Etiome analyzes patient data to predict who is nearing disease progression in areas like Alzheimer's and liver disease. The startup aims to develop "Biostaged Medicines" tailored to specific stages of disease, and plans to move treatments forward through partnerships with larger pharmaceutical companies.

Machine perfusion opens the door to an international heart exchange

New advances in machine perfusion are helping donor hearts survive journeys of up to 10 hours, extending the reach of transplant teams across vast distances, researchers reported at ISHLT 2025. Surgeons at Australia’s St. Vincent’s Hospital say the technology could soon enable international heart exchanges, giving patients access to life-saving organs from broader genetic pools. Once limited by a six-hour transport window, teams can now retrieve hearts from across continents — reshaping the future of heart transplantation.

AACR Annual Meeting 2025 kicks off, showcasing future leaders in cancer research

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2025 is underway in Chicago, gathering top cancer researchers from around the world. Among the highlights: the 2025 NextGen Stars, a group of early-career scientists presenting cutting-edge work on tumor mapping, dark proteomes, aging and cancer risk, and new therapeutic targets. Their discoveries point to a future of more personalized and precise cancer treatment.