Blog

A new research paper was published in Volume 17, Issue 8 of Aging-US on August 8, 2025, titled “AI-driven toolset for IPF and aging research associates lung fibrosis with accelerated aging.”

In this study, researchers Fedor Galkin, Shan Chen, Alex Aliper, Alex Zhavoronkov, and Feng Ren from Insilico Medicine used artificial intelligence (AI) to investigate the similarities between idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a severe lung disease, and the aging process. Their findings show that IPF is not simply accelerated aging, but a distinct biological condition shaped by age-related dysfunction. This insight may lead to a new approach in how scientists and clinicians treat this complex disease.

IPF mainly affects individuals over the age of 60. It causes scarring of lung tissue, making it harder to breathe and often leading to respiratory failure. Current treatments can slow the disease but rarely stop or reverse its progression. The researchers used AI to identify shared biological features between aging and fibrosis, finding new potential targets for therapy.

The team developed a “proteomic aging clock” based on protein data from more than 55,000 participants in the UK Biobank. This AI-driven tool accurately measured biological age and found that patients with severe COVID-19, who are at increased risk for lung fibrosis, also showed signs of accelerated aging. This suggests that fibrosis leaves a detectable biological trace, supporting the use of aging clocks in studying age-related diseases.

“For aging clock training, we used the UK Biobank collection of 55319 proteomic Olink NPX profiles annotated with age and gender.”

They also developed a custom AI model, ipf-P3GPT, to compare gene activity in aging lungs versus those with IPF. Although some genes were active in both, many showed opposite behavior. In fact, more than half of the shared genes had inverse effects. This means IPF does not just speed up aging but also disrupts the body’s normal aging pathways.

The study identified unique molecular signatures that distinguish IPF from normal aging. While both involve inflammation and tissue remodeling, IPF drives more damaging changes to lung structure and repair systems. This difference could guide the development of drugs that specifically target fibrosis without affecting normal aging.

By combining AI with large-scale biological data, the study also introduces a powerful toolset for examining other age-related conditions such as liver and kidney fibrosis. These models may support personalized treatments and expand understanding of the relationships between aging and disease, opening new directions for therapy development.

Improved pay for NHS staff is important to prevent high numbers leaving the service, according to new data from UCL and University of Leicester researchers.

A national survey, published today in Lancet Regional Health Europe, has revealed that almost half of the 10,542 NHS workers surveyed between late 2024 and early 2025 were dissatisfied with their pay and over a quarter were considering leaving their job.

The research study, I-CARE, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) as part of the UK-REACH study, comes amid an ongoing row over resident doctors’ pay.

When asked as part of the survey what the most effective way to encourage staff to stay would be, almost two thirds of respondents said ‘improving pay’.

The survey also showed that those most dissatisfied with pay were newly qualified resident doctors and dentists, with over half (52%) stating an intention to leave the NHS, compared to under half (45%) of senior doctors and a third of healthcare workers in other roles (such as nurses and porters).

With talks between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Government continuing following resident doctor strikes over pay in July 2025, the survey suggests many NHS staff feel undervalued.

It’s clear from these results that NHS staff and in particular resident doctors feel deeply undervalued. If large amounts of doctors, relatively new to the NHS, are already considering leaving, the NHS is staring down a crisis of retention. Early attrition on this scale jeopardizes not only the stability of the workforce, but also the quality and safety of patient care across the entire system.

It comes at a time when waiting lists are already extremely high and people are having to wait longer for the care they require. It’s clear from these survey results that addressing the fundamental issue of pay is vitally important.”

Professor Manish Pareek, co-lead author of the study from the University of Leicester’s Division of Public Health and Epidemiology and Development Centre for Population Health

Professor Katherine Woolf, co-lead author of the study from UCL Medical School, said: “High levels of intentions to leave among staff are an important indicator of significant workforce problems, which may include issues such as rota gaps and staff feeling overstretched, demotivated and demoralised, all of which can impact patients.

“The government’s 10-year NHS plan is focused on improving experience and career progression for staff, which is a welcome step in the right direction towards retaining staff. But the results of our research suggest that while pay is not the only solution, it needs to be part of the solution for staff retention.

“We hope this evidence can contribute to constructive and informed dialogue between government, unions, NHS leaders, and professional bodies, to benefit staff and patients alike.”

Children with a rare, debilitating muscle disease could benefit from the findings of new research by experts at UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

For the study, published in Annals Rheumatic Diseases, the scientists closely analysed muscle samples from three children with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) and discovered the mitochondria, small energy-producing structures inside cells, were not functioning correctly. 

It’s hoped this research will enable future treatments to be identified, especially for children who do not respond well to current treatment.

William Magee, father of one of the children who took part in the study, welcomed the breakthrough, saying that it “opens the doors to a whole new type of treatment”.

Juvenile dermatomyositis

JDM is a rare condition that causes muscle weakness and skin rashes. It inflames the capillaries – the body’s tiny blood vessels – causing a rash on parts of the body like fingers and elbows. In some cases, the disease causes calcium deposits under the skin or deeper in tissues, which can restrict the movement of the joints.

It often also causes problems with muscles which can make everyday activities like walking or playing very difficult. JDM can also cause problems with other organs, like lungs or intestines, and in turn lead to organ damage.

It starts in two to four new cases per million children a year. However, this is incidence (new cases) – the actual prevalence of the disease is hard to estimate.

Under the microscope

Researchers were able to closely analyse muscle samples from children with JDM and compare them to healthy muscles. They used a special new technology called spatial transcriptomics, which is like a super-powered microscope that can ‘see’ which genes are active in tiny parts of the muscle. This helped them understand what’s happening inside the muscles of children with JDM.

They identified two differences in the muscles of children with the condition. The first – mitochondrial dysfunction. Researchers found that the mitochondria in the cells of children with JDM were not functioning correctly – even in muscles that didn’t seem weak.

The second difference they found in children with JDM was that the body’s immune system goes into overdrive, through a process known as interferon activation. Essentially the immune system tries to fight off an infection that isn’t there, which can make children feel weak. While this process is already well known in JDM, this study was the first time it’s been mapped in such detail directly within the muscle.

Interestingly, the scientists found that these two problems don’t always happen together.

While more research into JDM is needed, this is a big step forward.

It shows that looking at tiny details in muscle tissue can reveal important clues – and might help us find better ways to treat JDM in the future, for example by focusing on fixing the mitochondria, not just calming the immune system. This is an important finding as current treatments mostly focus on reducing inflammation.”

Professor Lucy Wedderburn, senior author and consultant pediatrician, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health

Lucia’s story

Five-year-old twin Lucia, from Twickenham in south-west London, was diagnosed with JDM in August 2024. However, her identical twin sister Isabella does not have the condition.

Lucia’s parents William and Caitriona noticed something wasn’t quite right when she had a red rash on the joints on her fingers and toes during a trip to New Zealand in Christmas 2023.

They thought it might be related to cold weather but when it got worse despite the warm weather, they began to grow concerned.

On returning to the UK, they went to see their GP and began a process of seeing several specialists until they were seen by now retired GOSH doctor Clarissa Pilkington who had set up a specialist unit for conditions like JDM at the hospital.

Lucia was diagnosed with JDM and started on two treatments in August 2024, a steroid and an immune-suppressing treatment called methotrexate.

Dad William Magee, a management consultant, said: “We were pleased to have an early diagnosis which was crucial to Lucia starting treatment quickly.

“However, the steroids weren’t as effective as hoped so Lucia was moved onto intravenous immunoglobulin which involves being admitted to hospital for two days each month for a transfusion of antibodies to boost her immune system.

“This research suggesting the link to mitochondria is so important because it opens the doors to a whole new type of treatment.

“It’s very reassuring to know that it could lead treatments which address the underlying causes, not just the symptoms of the disease – it is common for children with JDM to going into remission then have flare-ups in the future.

“We’d like Lucia and children with this condition to spend as little time as possible in hospital, so any research which leads to potentially more effective treatments can only be a good thing.”

He praised the skill of the GOSH clinicians, adding the treatment Lucia had received had been excellent. He said: “We were lucky – the doctors caught Lucia’s condition early. Not everyone with this condition is so fortunate.”

Study co-lead Dr Merry Wilkinson (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health), said: “This new and exciting research has shown us that there are mitochondrial problems in the muscle of JDM patients.

“We now need to investigate in the lab the use of existing drugs or developing new ones to improve mitochondrial health in JDM. There is a dire need for better treatments with less side effects and hopefully this research will start to address this problem.

“We are extremely privileged to work on the Juvenile Dermatomyositis Cohort and Biobank study, one of the largest databases of both clinical and biological JDM samples in the world, and very grateful to all the patients and families who donate samples to research like ours.”

Patients and families were involved at every stage of this research, including study conception, delivery and analysis through patient and public involvement and engagement group.

The study was funded by Versus Arthritis, Myositis UK, Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, The Lorna and Yuti Chernajovsky Biomedical Research Foundation, George Bessell Trust and the National Institute for Health and Care Research GOSH Biomedical Research Centre.

A quicker, cheaper MRI scan was just as accurate at diagnosing prostate cancer as the current 30-40 minute scan and should be rolled out to make MRI scans more accessible to men who need one, according to clinical trial results led by UCL, UCLH and the University of Birmingham.

The PRIME trial, funded by the John Black Charitable Foundation and Prostate Cancer UK, and published in JAMA, confirms that a two-part MRI scan is just as effective at diagnosing prostate cancer, whilst cutting scan time to just 15-20 minutes and reducing the need for a doctor to be present.

The investigators say the results are likely to lead to changes in clinical practice, making MRI accessible to more men in the UK and beyond.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with around 56,000 diagnoses and 12,000 deaths each year in the UK. The introduction of MRI scans over the last decade, following work by UCL researchers, has been the biggest change in how prostate cancer is diagnosed for the past 30 years.

Abnormalities seen on the MRI scan allow targeted tissue biopsies to be taken that can improve cancer detection. A normal MRI result, which occurs in around a third of patients, is reassuring and allows men to avoid an unnecessary biopsy.

Despite the clear benefits of the MRI scan, in many healthcare settings around the world, men who need a scan still do not get one. For example, previous research has estimated that 35% of US prostate cancer patients received an MRI in 2022. In England and Wales, only 62% of men who needed a prostate MRI received one in 2019 (the most recent year for when data is available).

Associate Professor Veeru Kasivisvanathan, lead researcher and Chief Investigator on the trial from UCL Surgery & Interventional Science and UCLH, said: “Currently around four million MRI scans are needed each year globally to diagnose prostate cancer. This demand is set to rise rapidly with a predicted surge in prostate cancer cases over the next 20 years.   

“Time, cost and staff availability are all limiting factors in how many scans can be offered, which makes the results of the PRIME trial particularly important. If we can do the scan in up to half the time, with fewer staff and at lower cost, that will make a huge difference in allowing every man who needs a scan to be able to get one in a timely fashion.”

In the study, cancer specialists from 22 hospitals in 12 countries across the world recruited 555 patients aged 59-70 to see whether a streamlined two-part ‘biparametric’ MRI could detect cancer at the same rate as a full three-part ‘multiparametric’ MRI, which is currently standard of care in the UK and includes a third stage where a dye is injected into the patient.

All patients underwent the full three-part scan. Radiologists then assessed the two-part scan without the dye, and separately assessed the three-part scan with the dye, for every patient. A prostate biopsy was done when required to confirm whether or not the diagnosis was correct.

Researchers from UCL and UCLH confirmed that the two-part scan was just as effective at diagnosing prostate cancer. In total, 29% of the patients had important prostate cancer diagnosed by the shorter two-part scan, the same percentage as the longer three-part scan.

Associate Professor Francesco Giganti, a lead radiologist on the trial from UCL Surgery & Interventional Science and UCLH, said: “The three-part multiparametric MRI scan has been a game-changer for the diagnosis of prostate cancer, sparing thousands of patients unnecessary biopsies and improving cancer detection.

“Currently we inject a dye into the patient that highlights the presence of cancer on the MRI scan, but this step requires time and the presence of a clinician, and can on rare occasion cause mild side effects.

“Being able to make accurate diagnoses without the contrast stage will reduce scan time meaning we can offer scans to more men using the same number of scanners and operators. However, it is vital that the scans are of optimal diagnostic quality and that they are interpreted by a radiologist with dedicated expertise in prostate MRI.”

As well as making the procedure more efficient in terms of time and personnel, a two-stage MRI would generate significant cost savings per scan. In the NHS currently, a three-phase MRI scan costs £273on average. At £145, a two-phase scan is 47% cheaper. In countries like the US where healthcare costs tend to be much higher, the savings are likely to be even greater.

Prostate Cancer UK’s TRANSFORM trial, the biggest prostate cancer screening trial for 20 years that will include MRI, is due to begin later this year. It will be jointly led by UCL researchers alongside collaborators from Imperial College London, The Institute of Cancer Research and Queen Mary University of London. The trial will find the best way to screen men for prostate cancer, achieving the evidence needed for the introduction of a national screening programme. The results of the PRIME trial are an important step towards realising this ambition.

The results from the PRIME trial, showing that a faster, cheaper, type of prostate MRI is just as good as the current standard MRI at detecting prostate cancer, are a hugely important step in the right direction for making MRIs more efficient.

Another trial is already happening in the UK and the results of the two trials together should provide the complete evidence package we need to change practice across the country. We encourage NICE to prepare to review their guidelines as soon as that evidence base is complete, so that we can make MRI quicker, cheaper and less onerous for men.

Our funding for PRIME, alongside the John Black Charitable Foundation, also provided recommendations of a few simple ways for hospitals to improve scan quality. So, while we await a review by NICE, hospitals should use guidelines from UCL’s GLIMPSE trial, so that they are ready for the implementation of biparametric MRI if it’s recommended, and so that the men having MRI scans right now get the most accurate scan possible.”

Dr. Matthew Hobbs, Director of Research at Prostate Cancer UK

The PRIME study also received funding from the European Association of Urology Research Foundation and the Wolfgang Dieckmann Foundation.

Dr. Aqua Asif, co-first author of the study from UCL Surgery & Interventional Science, said: “These findings show that we can deliver faster, more accessible prostate MRI scans without compromising accuracy. That has the potential to transform care, allowing more men to get the scans they need, when they need them, and ultimately improving outcomes worldwide. It has been a privilege to contribute to PRIME at this stage of my career, and I am incredibly proud of what has been achieved through the dedication of our collaborators across so many centres. This trial would not have been possible without the support of our funders, our patients, and the commitment of the entire team.”

Dr. Alexander Ng, co-first author of the study from UCL Surgery & Interventional Science, said: “Since we introduced MRI into the prostate cancer pathway, it has been our missions to ensure that every man who requires an MRI can get one. PRIME is a major leap in this direction, allowing men to receive a shorter, cheaper and less invasive scan that is just as good as a longer, more expensive scan that requires an intravenous cannula with an injection. We continue to strive to improve the global equity in access to an accurate and timely prostate cancer diagnosis, to improve the prostate cancer paradigm for patients all around the world.”