Academic research - Relatix Bio

April 2, 2026

Growing Conductive Polymers Directly in the Brain

Interfacing biological tissues in the brain with electronic systems seems like science fiction, but developing effective strategies can aid in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, open opportunities for neurologically controlled prosthetics, or aid in modulating cardiovascular disease management, among other applications.

Creating devices with the ability to interface with biological systems is a unique challenge. Utilizing conductive polymers can improve biocompatibility over alternatives including metals and inorganic semiconductors. Pre-formed polymers implanted into organisms are not always well tolerated, so alternative techniques for polymer assembly in situ may offer a more effective and robust alternative.

Researchers at Purdue University, led by Jianguo Mei, PhD, are exploring how to form these conducting polymers from monomers applied directly to tissues. Their goal is to develop a system that is efficient and specifically integrated into the biological system, while limiting adverse effects, like inflammation or behavioral changes.

The team focused on a system to assemble n-doped poly(benzodifurandione) (n-PBDF) in vivo from injected monomers, using an organism’s native catalysts, specifically, the hemoproteins, which are abundant in the blood, to build the polymers.

Their research is published in a paper entitled, “Blood-catalyzed n-doped polymers for reversible optical neural control,” in Science.

“The development of n-type conducting polymers that assemble directly in vivo offers transformative, substrate-free strategy for stable electrical interfaces,” wrote the authors.

Using zebrafish and mice, the researchers tested both the safety and efficacy of injecting monomers that would polymerize into functional molecules. Zebrafish embryos injected in the yolk showed formation of the polymer, which was assessed through a color change in the yolk followed by molecular confirmation by spectroscopy analysis. The researchers found no behavioral changes or other developmental ill-effects and the embryos had an 80% survival rate one week after injection.

Mice injected with the monomers directly into the brain also showed polymerization of n-PBDF, with similar lack of negative response in physiology and behavior. They further showed that the polymer was functional within the tissues.

“The material formed stable deposits without signs of inflammation, neural cell loss, or changes in animal behavior,” the authors wrote. “Imaging and blood vessel assays supported its safety, whereas electrophysiological recordings revealed its effects: n-PBDF altered the activity of sodium and potassium channels, mechanisms critical for controlling neuronal firing.”

The researchers were also able to easily reverse the effect using two-photon near-infrared light stimulation. This allows for both localized application and controlled modification of neuronal behavior on a millisecond scale.

In a related Perspective, Maria Rosa Antognazza, PhD, and Guglielmo Lanzani, PhD, concur that this method holds promise for clinical applications. “Combining the approach with other mechanisms of neurostimulation—for example, by using magnetically responsive materials—may further broaden the clinical applicability and reduce the invasiveness.” However, they caution that more work must be done to explore other polymer structures, and test the technique in larger organisms, including humans.

This work shows the functional ability to polymerize n-PBDF in living organisms reversibly with long-term functionality, offering a promising path for alternative methods for connecting biosynthetics that are functional and robust, while reducing side effects. The authors concluded that, “This versatile, ultrasoft electrode, synthesized and actuated in situ, offers a new paradigm for minimally invasive bioelectronic interfaces.”

The post Growing Conductive Polymers Directly in the Brain appeared first on GEN – Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

April 2, 2026

Combining Novel Dual HIF Inhibitors with Immunotherapy Erases Multiple Tumor Types in Mice

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy have developed a set of novel, first-in-class small molecule drugs that inhibit hypoxia-inducible factors 1 and 2 (HIF-1/2), a pair of transcription factors considered to be “master regulators” of cancer progression. Their study showed that these drugs can overcome resistance to immune checkpoint blockade therapy, and when combined with immunotherapy, can completely eliminate breast, colorectal, melanoma, and prostate tumors in mice, suggesting that they could eventually be used to treat a broad range of cancers in humans.

Research lead Gregg L. Semenza, MD, PhD, a professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, is co-senior author of the team’s published paper in Journal of Experimental Medicine, titled “Targeting conserved domains of hypoxia-inducible factors for cancer therapy.”

Hypoxia-inducible factors 1 and 2 are known as master regulators of cancer progression because they control the activity of hundreds of genes crucial for the survival, growth, and spread (metastasis) of cancer cells. HIF-1/2 levels rise in response to low oxygen levels (hypoxia), a condition commonly found in the center of rapidly growing tumors, the authors explained. “In response to hypoxia, cells in most metazoans activate a transcriptional pathway mediated by HIFs, which play a crucial role in adaptation to low O2 levels,” they wrote. “Many oncogene gain-of-function and tumor suppressor loss-of-function mutations increase HIF activity in an O2-independent manner.”

Computer-aided drug design using the SILCS technology identified three sites on HIF-2 that are highly similar in HIF-1 and HIF-2 and are suitable for targeting with small molecule inhibitors. [© 2026 Salman et al. Originally published in Journal of Experimental Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20251009] — Computer-aided drug design using the SILCS technology identified three sites on HIF-2 that are highly similar in HIF-1 and HIF-2 and are suitable for targeting with small molecule inhibitors. [© 2026 Salman et al. Originally published in Journal of Experimental Medicine]

Among other functions, HIF-1/2 promote the formation of new blood vessels to supply tumors with nutrients and enhance the ability of tumor cells to invade surrounding tissues. They also suppress the ability of immune cells to attack tumors, which limits the effectiveness of immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors. “The limited therapeutic efficacy of ICB reflects multiple mechanisms by which cancer cells evade detection and killing by immune cells, and many of these are mediated by HIF-1/2 target gene products,” the scientists noted.

The presence of hypoxia, and elevated HIF-1/2 levels, is a key predictor of treatment failure and poor patient survival in a broad range of cancers. “The expression of HIF target genes and the expression of HIF-1α or HIF-2α protein in tumor biopsies are associated with patient mortality in many cancers, reflecting the role of HIFs in directing tumor vascularization, metabolic reprogramming, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, cell motility, extracellular matrix remodeling, cancer stem cell specification, immune evasion, invasion, metastasis, and treatment failure.”

Belzutifan, a specific inhibitor of HIF-2, has been approved for therapeutic use in several cancers, including advanced renal cell carcinoma. But, since HIF-1 and HIF-2 have distinct roles in promoting cancer progression, drugs that target both transcription factors simultaneously could be more effective. “Given the distinct roles of HIF-1 and HIF-2 in cancer progression, dual HIF-1/2 inhibition presents a promising therapeutic strategy, particularly for cancer types with a known propensity for intratumoral hypoxia and/or resistance to conventional therapy,” the team further noted.

“Dual HIF-1/2 inhibition presents a promising therapeutic strategy, particularly for cancer types with a known propensity for intratumoral hypoxia and/or resistance to conventional therapy,” Semenza added. For their newly reported study Semenza and colleagues worked with the group of Alexander D. MacKerell, PhD, at the Computer-Aided Drug Design Center at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, to identify drug molecules capable of binding to both HIF-1 and HIF-2. They used the computer-aided drug design technology site identification by ligand competitive saturation (SILCS) to predict small molecules that might bind based on the known crystal structure of HIF-2.

“The SILCS approach enabled the selection of compounds with a high probability of binding to HIF-2, allowing experimental efforts to focus on testing hundreds, rather than millions, of chemical compounds, thereby accelerating the drug discovery process,” MacKerell said.

Semenza’s team, including first author Shaima Salman, PhD, tested these candidate molecules and identified several compounds that bound to both HIF-1 and HIF-2, triggering their degradation and preventing them from activating their target genes. “Here, we describe small-molecule dual HIF-1/2 inhibitors (HIFi) that bind directly to the most highly conserved domains of HIF-1/2α, block dimerization with HIF-1β, and cause HIF-1/2α degradation,” they stated. “These compounds showed broad and potent HIF inhibitor activity in a variety of cancer cell lines,” Salman said.

Treatment with a dual HIF-1/2 inhibitor (bottom) greatly reduces the size of blood vessels in a tumor compared to tumor tissue from a vehicle-treated mouse (top). [© 2026 Salman et al. Originally published in Journal of Experimental Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20251009] — Treatment with a dual HIF-1/2 inhibitor (bottom) greatly reduces the size of blood vessels in a tumor compared to tumor tissue from a vehicle-treated mouse (top). [© 2026 Salman et al. Originally published in Journal of Experimental Medicine]

Individually, the drugs were able to inhibit the growth of breast, colorectal, head and neck, melanoma, and prostate tumors in mice, reducing tumor vascularization and limiting tumor invasiveness. The drugs were even more effective in combination with the immune checkpoint inhibitors anti-CTLA-4 or anti-PD1. Combination therapy caused complete remission in over 50% of mice with either breast, colorectal, melanoma, or prostate tumors, many of which were resistant to treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors alone. These animals remained tumor free, even when rechallenged with an injection of fresh tumor cells. “… dual HIF-1/2 inhibition has major effects on multiple critical aspects of cancer progression,” the team wrote in their discussion. “The powerful effects of HIFi on angiogenesis, immune evasion, and tissue invasion reflect the inhibition of hundreds of HIF-1/2 target genes in both cancer and stromal cells within the tumor.”

Semenza and colleagues found that dual HIF-1/2 inhibitors alter the type of immune cells found within tumors, decreasing immunosuppressive cell types while increasing the frequency of T cells and NK cells that are capable of killing tumor cells (especially when treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors).

“We saw an increased response to immune checkpoint inhibitors with HIF inhibitor treatment across a broad sampling of cancer types, suggesting that this combination will have widespread clinical utility,” Semenza commented.

Adding to the drugs’ therapeutic potential, the researchers note that their dual HIF-1/2 inhibitors can be administered orally and showed no safety concerns in mice, even when given for extended periods in amounts well above the effective dose. “The drugs are orally bioavailable, and no safety concerns were identified even after extended or supratherapeutic dosing,” they noted.

The post Combining Novel Dual HIF Inhibitors with Immunotherapy Erases Multiple Tumor Types in Mice appeared first on GEN – Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

April 2, 2026

Integration Over Elimination

Mike Garrett
CEO, Taconic Biosciences

FDA guidance encouraging reduced reliance on animal models in preclinical research reflects a well-intentioned push toward more ethical, human-relevant science. Central to this evolution is the growing adoption of new approach methodologies (NAMs), including organoids, microphysiological systems, and computational models. These technologies are already transforming early discovery, yet they are not designed to function in isolation.

Many critical questions, particularly those involving systemic exposure, immune interactions, and long-term safety, still require fully integrated biological systems that capture the complexities of drug efficacy or safety in patients.

Across the life sciences, researchers are deeply committed to responsible and compassionate research through the 3Rs of animal research: replacement, reduction, and refinement. One way to adhere to these principles is to optimize how animal models are selected and applied. This has also led to introspection on the concept of NAMs, which is continually being refined. While often associated with non-animal systems, NAMs are increasingly defined by function rather than format, emphasizing approaches that improve human relevance with refined models, reduce overall animal use, or replace less predictive legacy methods.

In this context, FDA guidance on NAMs emphasizes approaches that replace, reduce, or refine animal use, creating space for highly refined and fit-for-purpose in vivo models to align with NAM objectives when they demonstrably reduce animal numbers or replace more resource-intensive or less informative in vivo studies.

Rather than framing progress as a binary choice between animal and non-animal technologies, the field is moving toward a more integrated paradigm. Advanced genetically engineered models (GEMs) and humanized systems can be deployed alongside in vitro and in silico NAMs, each addressing distinct translational gaps. When used strategically, these complementary tools can reduce total animal use, improve reproducibility, and generate more predictive datasets that support confident regulatory decision-making.

The path forward lies in integration, not elimination. By combining next-generation non-animal technologies with advanced, fit-for-purpose in vivo models, scientists can accelerate development timelines and improve translatability while honoring the spirit and practical application of the 3Rs. This balanced approach currently offers the most credible route to safer, more successful therapies for patients.

For regulators, this integrated model selection paradigm supports a central objective of modern guidance: enabling flexible, science-based evidence packages that are proportionate to risk, fit for purpose, and grounded in biological relevance rather than adherence to any single methodological category.

The engine behind the breakthrough

The FDA approved a milestone HIV prevention therapy: Lenacapavir, a twice-a-year injectable that represents one of the most significant advances in HIV care in more than a decade. For those of us in drug development, it was a landmark clinical success as well as a reminder that thoughtful model selection can simultaneously advance innovation and reduce animal use.

Behind the headlines, the approval was enabled by developments in advanced in vivo modeling. A highly specialized genetically engineered rasH2 mouse model, designed specifically to accelerate carcinogenicity assessment, allowed researchers to shorten preclinical development timelines by approximately 1.5 years. By replacing lengthy, more resource-intensive two-year carcinogenicity studies with a targeted approach, the six-month rasH2 model reduced total animal use while delivering faster, decision-ready safety data.

Wins like this will become more common as the life sciences industry embraces integration over elimination. The most effective preclinical strategies increasingly pair non-animal NAMs, such as in silico models and organoids, with specialized translational animal models that address questions those systems cannot yet resolve independently. Together, they enable preclinical studies that are more reproducible, more efficient, and more predictive of human outcomes.

The most meaningful reductions in animal use come not from abandoning models wholesale, but from replacing legacy approaches with smarter, more precise models—whether in vitro, in silico or in vivo—that generate the data regulators need with fewer animals and greater confidence.

This approach aligns closely with the 3Rs framework by prioritizing replacement where possible, reduction through efficiency, and refinement through improved model design. Better models reduce attrition, conserve resources, and help deliver medicines to patients more efficiently.

Expanding translational reach

The rise of humanized immune system (HIS) mice offers another example of how refined animal models can complement NAM-driven pipelines. By engrafting human immune cells into immunodeficient mouse strains, these models enable the study of human immune responses, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic interventions within an integrated biological context that cannot yet be fully replicated ex vivo.

Advanced HIS mice have become indispensable in areas such as immuno-oncology, autoimmunity, and infectious disease. When paired with patient-derived xenografts, this combination allows researchers to interrogate human tumor-immune interactions directly and evaluate emerging modalities, including checkpoint inhibitors and cell-based therapies, with greater translational relevance.

By generating richer, more human-relevant data per study, these models can reduce the number of animals required while helping to mitigate the high attrition rates that continue to challenge clinical development.

This evolution reflects a broader truth: the future of drug discovery will not be defined by choosing between animal and non-animal technologies, but by integrating both into a smarter, evidence-driven preclinical ecosystem. Human-relevant animal models, such as refined GEMs and humanized systems, will continue to play a critical role alongside organoids, microphysiological systems, and AI-enabled modeling. Each contributes distinct strengths, and together they provide a more complete and trustworthy picture of human biology and disease, which gives researchers and regulators the confidence to move forward into clinical development.

The question is no longer whether animal models still have a place in modern drug development, but how they can be used more judiciously and responsibly. When integration guides decision-making, the result is a more efficient therapeutic pipeline, greater regulatory confidence, and meaningful progress toward the goals of the 3Rs. A win for science; a win for patients; and, ultimately, a win for animals.

Mike Garrett is the CEO of Taconic Biosciences.

The post Integration Over Elimination appeared first on GEN – Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

April 2, 2026

AI Chatbots for Mental Health Self-Management: Lived Experience–Centered Qualitative Study

Background: Large language models (LLMs) now enable chatbots to engage in sensitive mental health conversations, including depression self-management. Yet their rapid deployment often overlooks how well these tools align with the priorities of people with lived experiences, which can introduce harms such as inaccurate information, lack of empathy, or inadequate crisis support. Objective: This study explores how people with lived experience of depression experience an LLM-based mental health chatbot in self-management contexts, and what perceived benefits, limitations, and concerns inform harm-mitigating design implications. Methods: We developed a technology probe (a GPT-4o–based chatbot named Zenny) designed to simulate depression self-management scenarios grounded in prior research. We conducted interviews with 17 individuals with lived experiences of depression, who interacted with Zenny during the session. We applied qualitative content analysis to interview transcripts, notes, and chat logs using sensitizing concepts related to values and harms. Results: We identified 3 themes shaping participants’ evaluations: (1) informational accuracy and applicability, including concerns about incorrect or misleading information, vagueness, and fit with personal constraints; (2) emotional support vs need for human connection, including validation and a judgment-free space alongside perceived limits of machine empathy; and (3) a personalization-privacy dilemma, where participants wanted more tailored guidance while withholding sensitive information and using privacy-preserving tactics. Conclusions: People with lived experience of depression evaluated LLM-based mental health chatbots through intertwined priorities of actionable information, emotional validation with clear limits, and personalization that does not require unsafe data disclosure. These findings suggest concrete design strategies to mitigate harms and support LLM-based tools as complements to, rather than replacements for, human support and recovery.
<img src="https://jmir-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thumbs/78ae955c189d2dea8e926c80ddf7b242" />

April 2, 2026

The Download: plastic’s problem with fuel prices, and SpaceX’s blockbuster IPO

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.

Fuel prices are soaring. Plastic could be next.

As the war in Iran continues, one of the most visible global economic ripple effects has been fossil-fuel prices. But looking ahead, further consequences could be looming for plastics.

Plastics are made from petrochemicals, and the supply chain impacts from the conflict are starting to build up. Americans will likely feel the ripples.

Read the full story to grasp the unpredictable impacts.

—Casey Crownhart

This story is from The Spark, our weekly climate newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox every Wednesday.

The must-reads

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 SpaceX has filed for an IPO
It’s set to be the largest ever, targeting a $1.75 trillion valuation. (NYT $)
+ Which would make Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire. (Al Jazeera)
+ But the IPO could hinge on the success of Moon missions. (LA Times $)
+ And the conflicts of interest are staggering. (The Next Web)
+ Meanwhile, rivals are rising to challenge SpaceX. (MIT Technology Review)

2 Artemis II is on its way to the Moon
NASA successfully launched the four astronauts on its rocket yesterday. (Axios)
+ The lunar plans could violate international law. (The Verge)
+ But the potential scientific advances are tremendous. (Nature)
+ Check out our roundtable on the next era of space exploration. (MIT Technology Review)

3 Iran has struck Amazon’s cloud business in Bahrain again
It promised to hit US companies only yesterday. (FT $)
+ Other targets include Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Nvidia. (CNBC)
+ AWS data centers in Bahrain were also hit last month. (Reuters $)

4 OpenAI was secretly behind a child safety campaign group
It pushed for age verification requirements for AI. (The San Francisco Standard $)
+ OpenAI had backed the legislation as a compromise measure. (WSJ $)
+ Coincidentally, Sam Altman heads a company providing age verification. (Engadget)

5 Anthropic is scrambling to limit the Claude Code leak
It’s trying to remove 8,000 copies of the exposed code from GitHub. (Gizmodo)
+ An executive blamed the leak on “process errors.” (Bloomberg $)
+ Here’s what it reveals about Anthropic’s plans. (Ars Technica)
+ AI is making online crimes easier—and it could get much worse. (MIT Technology Review)

6 A new Russian “super-app” aims to emulate China’s WeChat
And give the Kremlin new surveillance powers. (WSJ $)

7 America’s AI boom is leaving the rest of the world behind
And it’s concentrating power and wealth in a handful of companies. (Rest of World)

8 Chinese chipmakers have claimed nearly half the country’s market
Nvidia’s lead is shrinking rapidly. (Reuters $)

9 The first quantum computer to break encryption is imminent
New research reveals how it could happen. (New Scientist)

10 The world’s oldest tortoise has been embroiled in a crypto scam
Reports that Jonathan died at just 194 years old are thankfully false. (Guardian)

Quote of the day

“Starlink is the only reason this valuation is defensible.”

—Shay Boloor, chief market strategist at Futurum Equities, tells Reuters why SpaceX has such high hopes for its IPO.

One More Thing

These companies are creating food out of thin air

Dried cells—it’s what’s for dinner. At least that’s what a new crop of biotech startups, armed with carbon-guzzling bacteria and plenty of capital, are hoping to convince us.

Their claims sound too good to be true: they say they can make food out of thin air. But that’s exactly how certain soil-dwelling bacteria work.

Startups are replicating the process to turn abundant carbon dioxide into nutritious “air protein.” They believe it could dramatically lower farming emissions—and even disrupt agriculture altogether. Read the full story.

—Claire L. Evans

We can still have nice things

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line.)

+ Need more Artemis II in your life? This site takes you inside the flight.
+ Here’s a fascinating look at the recording errors that improved songs.
+ Good news: the elusive Nightjar bird is making a comeback.
+ Finally, a master chef has baked clam chowder donuts.

April 2, 2026

Impact of abnormal metabolic-immunoinflammatory pathway on splenomegaly in patients with chronic schizophrenia and exploration of risk factors: case-control study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify risk factors for splenomegaly in chronic schizophrenia patients and clarify associations among metabolic−immunoinflammatory pathways, psychiatric symptoms and splenomegaly. The findings will help optimize somatic monitoring and intervention strategies.MethodsA case−control design was used. A total of 426 patients were assigned to splenomegaly (n= 165) and non−splenomegaly (n= 261) groups according to abdominal ultrasound. Demographic data, clinical information, and antipsychotic use were collected. Mental symptoms were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Hematological indicators were detected, and abdominal ultrasound was performed to evaluate spleen morphology and fatty liver occurrence. SPSS 24.0 was used for statistical analysis, including univariate analysis and binary logistic regression to screen influencing factors of splenomegaly.ResultsThe splenomegaly group had significantly higher levels of lipoprotein(a), cholesterol, triglycerides, HbA1c, CRP, IL-6 and β2-microglobulin than the non-splenomegaly group (all p < 0.05). The incidence of fatty liver and PANSS negative symptom score were significantly higher in the splenomegaly group, while the usage rate of aripiprazole was lower (p< 0.05). Binary logistic regression showed that HbA1c (OR = 1.797, p = 0.046) and PANSS negative symptom score (OR = 2.258, p = 0.003) were independently associated with splenomegaly. Aripiprazole use was associated with lower odds of splenomegaly (OR = 0.656, p = 0.041).ConclusionSplenomegaly in chronic schizophrenia patients is closely linked to metabolic abnormalities and immunoinflammatory activation. Prominent negative symptoms are independently associated with splenomegaly and may serve as an early warning signal. Aripiprazole use is independently associated with reduced odds of splenomegaly.

April 2, 2026

Facing the Monster: My Journey Living with OCD and Finding Hope

by David Kedeme

I remember the day my white high top Puma sneakers my parents gifted me for Christmas became the exact opposite of the color they came boxed in. It was a post rainy day in middle school, on a mulch covered, semi grassy area we considered our soccer field with two benches representing goals. After enjoying an intense match, what I did not enjoy but assumingly brushed off was the fact of how dirty my shoes were. Fast forward to later that day, I spent hours cleaning the shoes, trying to restore them to their original look.

Something felt different than other times I cleaned.

Every speck had to be clean. The more time I spent, the more visible other “not as clean” areas of the shoes became, requiring their own dedicated time of cleaning. Slowly, this cascaded into many other aspects of life such as my bedroom and closet needing to be organized a certain way, a tornado of relentless doubts concerning my relationships, with this dark monster in my head controlling what I can do, think, and feel. It felt like an eternity but at the same time as if no time passed from when I first touched to clean those shoes to when I could not sleep in my own bedroom and instead slept downstairs due to not wanting to mess the space up and not being able to enter and exit my closet as easily, so needing to rewear clothes days on end. I thought that doing what the monster or voice or whatever it was wanted would lead me to peace, as the relief from the sky high anxiety and gloom that came from performing what I know now as compulsions came only to have what I learned were obsessions come back, if not stronger, reinforcing this vicious cycle. My parents noticed my change in behavior, from avoiding my room at most costs to being late to dinner by up to an hour or two at times. I had only vaguely heard of obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD, and brought the idea up to my parents. The landscape we were dealing with was completely new and I felt even more alone due to this in addition to the isolation the condition induces you to be in. But we began to look for therapists, where I started talk therapy, with the therapist trying their best but the therapy modality was not the right one for me. Next up was a hypnotherapist, which also did not work for me. I needed some action to be okay with the high emotion filled state I was in when the bouts came on, in other words, exposure and response prevention therapy. After doing some research, I landed upon NOCD, an OCD teletherapy and advocacy organization.

I could not believe what I was hearing through the basement, not my room, laptop screen about actually going into my room, and that was not even the worst part. I just had to open my closet, take clothes out, move items in my room, and not do anything. “Maybe it is, maybe it is not” was a phrase that my therapist told me throughout therapy. With the significant support of my family, therapist, and friends, I was able to be okay with not being okay. Exposure and response prevention therapy makes you face the monster, making you enter the state in which you experience high anxiety. The therapy makes you look the monster in the face and realize it was not that big, not talking or engaging with you, making you sit in the discomfort and not do anything you so desperately want to do. With this methodology and rigor, I was able to coexist with the beast, and slowly it shrank, still existing though. But that is okay. That happens.

OCD belongs to a category of disorders called Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, a manual that influences not only how patients receive care but also research funding and medical training. Although not officially recognized in the manual, there are many discussed subtypes of OCD depending on the obsessions and or compulsions one experiences. Some people, like me, had symptoms that ebbed and flowed in terms of severity and percolated from subtype to subtype. My symptoms throughout my experience with the condition range from having to keep most of the items in my room a certain way, doubting whether I want to be with my partner, questioning my morals, wondering whether something happened in the past pertaining to people in my life even though it did not, and more. Throughout typing this, thoughts flood my head, similar to ones I experienced, say, six years ago.

I hope to be able to perform research in the condition as well as treat people who were and are in my shoes. With up to 242 million people worldwide meeting clinical diagnostic criteria for OCD, about 40 to 60 percent experiencing treatment resistant OCD, more than two thirds of the general public not being able to accurately identify OCD, and mental health still being stigmatized today, there is more needed to be done from all fronts. When one type of online treatment is sought, about two thirds of patients achieve a clinically significant outcome, but on average, it takes greater than seven years for someone to receive a diagnosis of OCD and it can take up to seventeen years for an individual diagnosed with OCD to receive treatment. This is a multifaceted problem that requires a multifaceted approach which requires a banding of people worldwide to come together to promote awareness of the condition and a safe space for people throughout who have OCD.

Today, as I am typing this, I still am experiencing many of the symptoms I have before. The condition does not just go away, but it does become more manageable. If you are struggling, there is hope, there is a way, no matter how impossible it feels. I felt as if there was none, no light at the end of the tunnel, spending many hours crying out asking why to a source I was not even aware of, answered only by my own repetitive thoughts. But as someone who has been there, you will be okay. Even if multiple therapeutic modalities do not work, you feel like you want to give up because a current exposure seems impossible to do, you feel more anxiety at times, you feel like you are letting people down if you do not improve, you feel like the monster you were once fighting off keeps going, keep going. Seek help in many ways, rely on your community, and for those who have a hard time finding one, we are here for you, the International OCD Foundation community, and I most certainly am as well. Thank you for reading this and I am sending you hope and luck wherever you are. You are never alone.

The post Facing the Monster: My Journey Living with OCD and Finding Hope appeared first on International OCD Foundation.

April 2, 2026

Commercial or industrial use of mental health data for research: primer and best-practice guidelines from the DATAMIND patient/public Lived Experience Advisory Group

BackgroundRoutinely collected health data, such as that held by United Kingdom (UK) national health services (NHS), has important research uses. However, its use requires public trust and transparency. Access by commercial/industrial organisations is especially sensitive for the public, as is mental health (MH) data. Although existing MH data science guidelines emphasise patient/public involvement (PPI), they do not cover commercial uses specifically.ObjectivesTo develop patient- and public-led guidelines for the commercial and industrial use of MH data for research. Though UK-focused, their principles may apply internationally.MethodsA PPI Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG) was created within DATAMIND, a UK data hub for MH informatics. Initial discussion yielded a requirement for definitions and explanations of concepts relating to MH data research, developed iteratively. Subsequently, the LEAG developed guidelines via a qualitative quasi-Delphi approach. The agreed scope excluded data provided for research with informed consent, data processing arrangements (e.g. companies hosting electronic systems on the instruction of health services), and compliance with legal minimum requirements. The scope included the use of routinely collected MH data for research by commercial/industrial organisations without explicit consent, and aspects of industry-led MH data collection conducted with consent.ResultsAlongside the primer in MH data research concepts, the LEAG provide best-practice guidelines relating to commercial/industrial research use of MH data, for organisations controlling MH data (such as NHS bodies) and for commercial applicants seeking access. Core principles include transparency, patient rights, meaningful PPI, stringent governance, and statistical disclosure control. The guidelines recommend a risk–benefit approach to assessing data access applications, within limits that include avoiding the export of unconsented patient-level data outside NHS-controlled secure data environments, and not providing commercial applicants with access to unconsented free-text MH data. Further recommendations for NHS executive and regulatory bodies relate to public choice and transparency, clarity of guidance to research-active NHS organisations, and support for de-identification.ConclusionsMH data research requires patient/public involvement and understanding. These guidelines reflect the views of people with personal or family experience of mental ill health. We hope they are useful to the MH research community and increase public transparency and trust.

April 2, 2026

Synergies in psychedelic-assisted therapy: a qualitative interview study of psychotherapeutic processes

Research on the therapeutic effects of psychedelics in psychiatry, commonly referred to as Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT), has expanded substantially in recent years. The context-dependent nature of psychedelics has sparked discussion about the importance of the psychotherapeutic environment in achieving beneficial outcomes. This study explores the contribution of psychotherapeutic factors on PAT in Switzerland, where psychedelic treatments can be implemented within long-term clinical frameworks. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with Swiss therapists to explore how they frame psychedelic treatments and the role of the psychotherapeutic setting in facilitating therapeutic outcomes. Thereby, individual experiences of the patients as reported by the therapists, were particularly considered. Thematic analysis identified two main themes, each with several sub-themes. The first theme revealed that while psychotherapeutic techniques are adapted to PAT, they retain similarities to non-psychedelic psychotherapy practices, supporting patients in having meaningful therapeutic experiences. The second theme describes a synergistic relationship between psychedelics and psychotherapy, amplifying underlying general psychotherapeutic factors such as trust, a sense of profundity, and the emergence of therapeutic experiences. The interviewed therapists agreed that psychedelics work as unspecific catalysts for psychotherapeutic processes, while still acknowledging the potential for psychopharmacological effects or the interaction between psychedelics and psychotherapy to create unique psychotherapeutic processes. Findings from our sample suggest that, for specific indications, incorporating psychedelics into long-term psychotherapeutic treatment may strengthen therapeutic processes. Future research could investigate the efficacy of PAT within the framework of specific psychotherapeutic modalities or in different settings, including prospective quantitative assessments of outcomes. Ultimately, clarifying mechanisms of action of PAT may help to enhance its efficacy and potentially to integrate psychedelic treatments into mainstream mental health care.