ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic researchers tested an approach that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help people without previous ultrasound experience capture heart images and identify patients who may have a common and serious heart valve condition. In a study published in JAMA Cardiology and presented at the 2026 ESC Congress, after four hours of training, novice users were able to collect focused heart ultrasound images while using  AI models to guide their image collection and help to analyze the images for signs of moderate or greater aortic stenosis.

Aortic stenosis happens when the heart's aortic valve narrows, making it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. It affects approximately 7% of people age 75 and older and is the most common reason for heart valve intervention worldwide. People with aortic stenosis may not experience symptoms until the condition is more advanced. Finding the disease earlier can help ensure patients receive appropriate monitoring and care.

"A comprehensive echocardiogram is the standard diagnostic test for aortic stenosis. However, its use is resource-intensive, requiring specialized equipment as well as trained personnel with expertise in both image acquisition and interpretation. These requirements can limit access, particularly in resource-constrained settings, and make comprehensive echocardiography neither feasible nor cost-effective as a broad screening tool," says Gal Tsaban, M.D., Ph.D., a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic and senior author of the study.

"We wanted to see whether combining AI guidance with focused cardiac ultrasound could help people with no previous ultrasound experience capture usable heart images and identify patients who may need further evaluation," adds Jared Bird, M.D., a Mayo Clinic cardiologist who co-led the study.

First, the researchers developed and validated the deep learning algorithm using echocardiograms from patients at Mayo Clinic sites in Arizona, Florida, the Mayo Clinic Health System and Rochester. They evaluated the model's performance on hand-held ultrasound images collected by experienced sonographers.

In the prospective study, nine research staff members with no previous clinical or ultrasound experience used AI guidance to perform focused heart ultrasounds after four hours of training. The staff members were able to use the AI model to analyze nearly 97% of the exams. It helped the researchers correctly identify 93% of patients with moderate or more severe aortic stenosis and correctly rule out 96% of patients who did not have the condition.

About 10% of exams were flagged for review by a heart imaging specialist. The combined approach of AI plus human review reduced false-positive results, but it also meant that some patients with aortic stenosis were not identified.   

Dr. Tsaban and Dr. Bird note that the approach is intended to help people screen for aortic stenosis and determine who may benefit from additional testing. It is not intended to replace a comprehensive echocardiogram or a physician's evaluation. Patients identified as potentially having moderate or more severe aortic stenosis still need comprehensive echocardiography to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity of the condition.

The findings suggest that putting AI tools in the hands of people with limited ultrasound experience could help more patients access screening for aortic stenosis, particularly in communities where comprehensive echocardiography and trained imaging professionals are less readily available.

A full list of authors, appropriate disclosures and funding sources for this research can be found within the paper: "Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Acquisition and Interpretation for Screening Aortic Stenosis." Mayo Clinic has a financial interest in the technology referenced in this news release and will use any revenue it receives to support its nonprofit mission in patient care, education and research.

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Terri Malloy, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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ROCHESTER, Minn. — A liver disease affecting nearly 30% of adults worldwide is not a single illness but five biologically distinct subtypes, Mayo Clinic researchers have found. Each carries different risks for heart disease, liver failure, cancer and the need for liver transplantation.

The study, published in Nature Communications and conducted in collaboration with scientists at Virginia Tech, shows that metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease has multiple pathways — some tied to obesity and diabetes, others driven by inherited genetic factors.

Notably, genetic subtypes are associated with a higher risk of progression to advanced liver disease, including in patients without typical metabolic risk factors.

The findings could help identify high-risk patients earlier and guide more precise screening and personalized treatment.

"When clinical and genomic data are analyzed together at this scale, you begin to see patterns of disease progression that would otherwise remain hidden," says Shulan Tian, Ph.D., co-senior author and a bioinformatician at Mayo Clinic. "Once you separate these subtypes, you can start to match treatments to the biology that's actually driving the disease."

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, formerly called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, occurs when fat builds up in the liver. It often develops without symptoms but can progress to inflammation, scarring and irreversible damage. It is a leading cause of cirrhosis, liver cancer and transplantation worldwide.

Decoding liver disease at scale

To uncover these subtypes, researchers integrated genetic sequencing with detailed clinical data from more than 4,600 patients with the disease. The dataset spanned a wide range of measures — from liver enzymes, body mass index and lipid levels to coexisting conditions such as diabetes, depression and sleep apnea.

Using advanced computational modeling, the team identified groups of patients who shared underlying biological signals, defining distinct subtypes of the disease.

"What's emerging here is a way to systematically identify meaningful subgroups within complex disease," says Eric Klee, Ph.D., co-senior author and the Everett J. and Jane M. Hauck Midwest Associate Director of Research and Innovation. "It helps us map complex disease with such precision that we can begin to anticipate its course and intervene before the most serious damage occurs."

The discovery was powered by Mayo Clinic's Research Data Atlas, a platform that connects genetic data with patient records to reveal patterns across large populations — a system Dr. Klee helped build. A key component of the Atlas is the Tapestry Study, which has generated Mayo Clinic's largest collection of exome data from more than 100,000 participants. The dataset captures key genetic information that shapes how diseases develop and progress.

"This is exactly the kind of insight large-scale genomic research was built to deliver," says Konstantinos Lazaridis, M.D., the Carlson and Nelson Endowed Executive Director for the Center for Individualized Medicine who led the Tapestry Study and is a co-author of the research. "When you connect genetic data with detailed clinical information across large populations, you can start to redefine diseases in ways that directly impact patient care."

Liver disease's hidden effects across the body

The study also revealed links beyond the liver. For the first time, researchers found that specific subtypes are associated with conditions such as depression, sleep apnea and migraine, underscoring the disease's broad systemic impact across multiple organ systems.

Next, the team plans to test the approach in broader patient populations and explore how these subtypes respond to different treatments, including therapies such as GLP-1 receptor agonists.

First author Tahmina Sultana Priya, now a Ph.D. student at Virginia Tech, contributed to the research while at Mayo Clinic. For a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding, review the study.

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:  

• Kelley Luckstein, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post 5 subtypes of common liver disease discovered — including rapidly progressing genetic forms appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — BioLabs Rochester, MN is building momentum toward its September opening, with leadership in place and recruitment underway for early-stage biotechnology and health technology companies seeking to grow alongside Mayo Clinic and Minnesota's expanding life science ecosystem.

Announced in 2025 and developed through a collaboration among stakeholders Mayo Clinic, BioLabs, Destination Medical Center (DMC) and Mortenson Properties, BioLabs Rochester, MN reflects a shared vision to strengthen the region's innovation ecosystem and support the growth of life science companies in Minnesota. With construction nearing completion and leadership in place, recruitment is now underway for the incubator's inaugural resident companies.

Located in Two Discovery Square at Discovery Square Innovation District, the newly constructed 17,000-square-foot shared laboratory and office facility will support emerging biotechnology and health technology companies developing new diagnostics, therapeutics, medical devices and digital health technologies while advancing the partners' shared vision to grow Rochester as a destination for life science innovation.

As BioLabs Rochester, MN prepares to welcome its first resident companies, BioLabs announces that Carmen Schicklberger, Ph.D., M.B.A., will serve as BioLabs site director, leading facility operations, startup scaling support and innovation network development. Schicklberger joins BioLabs Rochester, MN from the University of Minnesota, where she served as chief operations officer and founder of the Minnesota Bioinnovation Accelerator. She previously held business development and operations roles at startups in biotech, automation and SaaS/diagnostics. 

Geof Hannigan, Ph.D., will serve as Mayo Clinic's director of startup engagement, helping connect BioLabs Rochester, MN resident companies with Mayo Clinic physicians, scientists and business development teams to explore research, clinical and commercialization opportunities. Hannigan brings experience in pharmaceutical research and startup acceleration, including leading the Merck Digital Sciences Studio in Boston before joining Mayo Clinic.

"Rochester offers a unique combination of world-class clinical expertise, a growing innovation ecosystem and a strong commitment to advancing healthcare," says Johannes Fruehauf, CEO of BioLabs. "As we prepare to open our doors, we're excited to establish BioLabs' first Midwest location in a community where entrepreneurs can work alongside leading researchers, clinicians and industry partners. We invite innovative biotech and health tech startups to apply and become part of our inaugural cohort, helping shape a new hub for healthcare innovation in Minnesota."

Application process open

Applications are now being accepted for early-stage biotechnology and health technology companies interested in joining the inaugural BioLabs Rochester, MN community. Companies selected for the incubator will have access to flexible, turnkey laboratory and office space, entrepreneurial programming, and opportunities to collaborate with Mayo Clinic while becoming part of the growing community of innovators and companies at Discovery Square Innovation District.

"BioLabs Rochester represents a significant investment in the people and companies that will shape the future of health," says Patrick Seeb, DMC executive director. "We are grateful to BioLabs, Mayo Clinic and Mortenson for the partnership and confidence required to bring the first BioLabs location in the Midwest to Discovery Square Innovation District. To entrepreneurs developing the next breakthrough in health, our message is simple: This place was built for you. We invite you to apply, join the inaugural BioLabs Rochester community and build your company alongside one of the world's leading medical institutions."

Resident companies will also have access to BioLabs' national network of investors, industry partners and entrepreneurial resources, along with pathways to engage Mayo Clinic expertise through scientific, clinical and commercial collaborations and ecosystem support through Destination Medical Center.

"Innovation happens when great ideas have the opportunity to be tested, refined and translated into solutions that improve patient care," says Andrew Danielsen, chief business development officer, Mayo Clinic. "BioLabs Rochester creates a new opportunity for entrepreneurs to engage with Mayo Clinic's clinical, research and business development expertise, helping accelerate promising technologies from concept toward impact."

Learn more about BioLabs Rochester, MN and the application process here.

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About Mayo Clinic  
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

About BioLabs  
BioLabs is a global innovation infrastructure company creating the physical and community backbone that powers life science discovery worldwide. Through a growing network of premium shared laboratories and coworking spaces, BioLabs provides turnkey access to state-of-the-art research facilities, entrepreneurial programming, and deep industry and capital connections. These integrated ecosystems enable innovators from early-stage founders to established R&D teams to rapidly translate ideas into impact without the constraints of traditional lab ownership. The BioLabs network now spans major innovation hubs across the United States, Europe, and Asia, serving as a catalyst for collaboration and a launchpad for breakthroughs that advance human health and sustainability.

About Destination Medical Center  
Destination Medical Center (DMC) is the largest public-private economic initiative in Minnesota's history. The 20-year plan to transform Rochester into a global destination for health and wellness will attract developers, investors, startups and entrepreneurs to live, work and play in America's City for Health. For more information, visit dmc.mn.

Applications contacts:

• Carmen Schicklberger (primary), BioLabs Rochester MN Site Director, cschicklberger@biolabs.io
• Geof Hannigan, Mayo Clinic Director of Startup Engagement, hannigan.geoffrey@mayo.edu

Media contacts:

• BioLabs, BioLabsRochesterMN@biolabs.io
• Geno Palazzari, Destination Medical Center, Communications Manager, 307-696-9088, genopalazzari@dmceda.org
• Tom Millikin, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu 

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ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered that chemical signals produced by gut bacteria work together to control intestinal movement. One bacterial signal helps set the intestines in motion, while another primes gut cells to respond more strongly, amplifying the effect.

The research expands scientists' understanding of how the gut microbiome communicates with the body, moving beyond the traditional focus on individual bacteria or bacterial molecules.

The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, point to a potential new direction for microbiome-based treatments: restoring combinations of microbial signals rather than targeting a single microbe or molecule. The strategy could have implications for constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, a chronic condition marked by abdominal pain and constipation.

"The gut microbiome is made up of trillions of microbes producing a vast array of chemical messages that interact with cells throughout the digestive tract," says Purna Kashyap, M.B.B.S., a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist, director of the Mayo Clinic Microbiomics Program and a senior author of the study. "Deciphering how those signals work in combination gives us a much more precise picture of what is disrupted in disease and what would need to be restored to recover normal function."

How bacterial signals work in combination

Researchers focused on two bacterial molecules: hypoxanthine and butyrate. Earlier Mayo Clinic research found lower levels of both in patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. That finding led researchers to a deeper question: How do these molecules affect intestinal movement?

In the new study, the researchers found that hypoxanthine prompts specialized cells lining the intestine to release serotonin, a chemical messenger that helps move food through the digestive tract. Butyrate works differently. It primes the cells to respond more strongly to hypoxanthine, amplifying the effect.

These specialized cells, called enterochromaffin cells, serve as hubs where different microbial signals come together. They help the gut receive and respond to multiple chemical messages at once.

Researchers followed that chain of events from what happens inside a single gut cell to how contents move through the intestines. They used laboratory-grown intestinal cells, miniature gut models called organoids, intestinal tissue and genetically altered bacteria to piece together each part of the process.

Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic and a co-author of the study, is a gastroenterologist whose research has focused on the mechanisms that control gastrointestinal function.

"We have an opportunity to move beyond managing the consequences of disease and toward restoring function for patients," Dr. Farrugia says. "That starts with answering the unanswered questions we see in our patients and following the biology until we understand the mechanism. With that depth of understanding, we can uncover new possibilities for treatment and ultimately advance new cures."

What's next 

Researchers next want to determine whether identifying combinations of microbial signals that are altered in individual patients could eventually help guide treatment. Future research will explore whether restoring complementary signals can improve intestinal movement, with the longer-term goal of developing more precisely targeted microbiome-based therapies.

The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic Microbiome Program and other organizations. One or more of the investigators is an inventor of technology related to this research. For a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding, review the study.

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About Mayo Clinic  
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.  

Media contact:   

• Sharon Theimer, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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ROCHESTER, Minn. — Three new articles from The Lancet Hematology published today examine how clinicians and researchers can better identify, track and measure the effects of blood cancer treatments on patients during treatment and over the long term.

Gita Thanarajasingam, M.D., a Mayo Clinic hematologist and oncologist, leads The Lancet Haematology's Adverse Events Reporting Series. The Series focuses on how clinicians care for people after treatment, how they measure treatment side effects and whether digital tools can help detect and manage those effects in real-world practice.

"Blood cancer treatments continue to become more effective and patients are living longer," says Dr. Thanarajasingam. "Just as we continue to evolve our treatments and detection in cancer, however, we need to evolve how we measure the effects on patients and their lives."

First launched in 2018, the Commission explores how newer treatments can be evaluated and whether new questions and tools can improve assessment. Current models for measuring treatment side effects may not adequately or consistently capture the duration and impact of symptoms on patients' lives. For example, a grading system might rank six months of mild nausea lower than four days of severe nausea without fully accounting for how a persistent symptom affects a patient's daily life.

The articles also examine the need for longer-term assessment. Many treatment studies measure outcomes only through five years after treatment, potentially leaving gaps in identifying and addressing health problems that emerge later. The reports suggest that cancer care should extend beyond treatment and that new approaches could help support patients’ health and quality of life during and after treatment.

The articles also describe how technology could support changes in how treatment effects are measured. Digital tools such as symptom-reporting apps, wearable devices and artificial intelligence could shift cancer safety monitoring from periodic assessments of what has already happened toward more continuous monitoring.

"Technology can enable new standards in care simply because it could offer more and real-time data," says Dr. Thanarajasingam. The report cautions, however, that new technologies are only a valuable catalyst if they are accurate, useful, equitable and built around patients.

"Complete cancer care is driven by the patient and their needs. For every therapeutic advance we make, we must also evolve our assessment standards and take advantage of new information to keep people's full and ideally, long lives at the core of our decision-making," says Dr. Thanarajasingam. "Just as we are now able to better personalize treatments, so, too, should we begin to address the whole person and their long-term needs."

For a complete list of commission members, disclosures and funding, review the articles in The Lancet Haematology.

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Julie Ferris-Tillman, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Mayo Clinic researcher leads Lancet commission reports on life during and after blood cancer treatment appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic is a clinical collaborator on an award of up to $27.7 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to help develop affordable, scalable gene-editing therapies for children with rare inherited immune disorders.

The project, known as AEGIS, is led by the Innovative Genomics Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, and brings together a consortium of academic, clinical, nonprofit and industry partners.

The five-year initiative aims to advance gene-editing treatments for children with inborn errors of immunity — a group of more than 500 rare genetic disorders that can leave children vulnerable to severe infections, autoimmune disease and other life-threatening complications. Many of these conditions currently have limited treatment options and no cure.

Mayo Clinic will serve as one of three clinical sites participating in the program's planned clinical trials, helping identify, enroll and care for children who may benefit from these investigational therapies.

"By combining advances in gene editing with new ways to deliver treatments, we hope to create therapies that not only treat disease but address its root cause," says Avni Joshi, M.D., chair of Mayo Clinic's Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology and the lead principal investigator for Mayo on the project. "Our goal is to free patients from the burden of ongoing treatments, and ultimately improve the lives of patients and families."

Gene editing seeks to correct the genetic mutations that cause disease. In AEGIS, researchers will use CRISPR-based technologies to repair disease-causing errors in blood-forming stem cells that give rise to the immune system. The goal is to develop one-time treatments that restore normal immune function and potentially provide lasting benefit for children with these rare disorders.

The award reflects Mayo Clinic's growing leadership in genomic medicine, pediatric immunology and next-generation therapies. As a participating clinical center, Mayo Clinic will help evaluate how emerging gene-editing technologies can be safely integrated into patient care and expanded to reach more children with rare diseases.

Mayo Clinic brings expertise in rare immune disorders, pediatric transplantation, and advanced cellular and gene therapies. As a member of the Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium and a FACT-accredited transplant center, Mayo will help guide the clinical evaluation of these emerging gene-editing approaches.

The AEGIS team will combine advances in CRISPR gene editing, innovative manufacturing approaches and new delivery technologies to make precision genetic medicines more accessible and affordable for patients with ultra-rare diseases. Researchers hope the work will establish a scalable framework that can accelerate the development of treatments for a broad range of rare immune disorders.

The consortium includes researchers and clinicians from the Innovative Genomics Institute at UC Berkeley, UCLA, Stanford University, the University of Utah, Princeton University, the University of California San Diego, Emory University, Danaher Corporation, the Immune Deficiency Foundation and other partners.

The project aligns with ARPA-H's mission to accelerate breakthroughs that improve health outcomes and with the agency's THRIVE program, which seeks to expand access to transformative genetic medicines. While the initial work will focus on several severe inherited immune disorders, researchers hope the platform could eventually support the development of treatments for hundreds of rare genetic diseases, expanding access to precision therapies for patients who currently have few options.

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Allison Duran, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Mayo Clinic collaborates on ARPA-H award to advance gene-editing therapies for rare immune diseases appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic researchers have estimated the risk that pancreatic cysts with worrisome or high-risk features will progress to pancreatic cancer or advanced precancerous changes within three years. The findings, published in Gastroenterology, could help physicians and patients better assess risk and make more informed decisions about whether to monitor a cyst or consider surgery. 

The prospective study found that risk increased with the number of worrisome features, or findings that the cyst needs closer monitoring. Patients whose cysts had one worrisome feature had about a 2% chance of developing pancreatic cancer or advanced precancerous changes within three years. The risk rose to 4% for those with two worrisome features and 18% for those with three or more. 

"This information will help us counsel patients. If we want to intercept pancreatic cancer while also sparing patients from unnecessary interventions, we must really know what is likely to become cancer and what is not," says Shounak Majumder, M.D., lead author and a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic.  

What does pancreatic cyst risk mean for patients?  

Pancreatic cysts are common and often discovered during imaging for an unrelated reason. Most do not become cancerous, but certain features seen on imaging can indicate a greater risk. Pancreatic cysts are classified as having high-risk features, worrisome features or neither. 

Pancreatic cysts without worrisome or high-risk features have a relatively low likelihood of progression to cancer. Cysts with high-risk features may prompt physicians to recommend surgery because of greater concern about cancer or advanced precancerous changes. Cysts with worrisome features often are monitored closely, although some may also require surgery.  

"Sometimes, we are unable to reliably determine whether a cyst will become pancreatic cancer or not," Dr. Majumder says. "That uncertainty creates a lot of anxiety for some patients undergoing surveillance, and some will opt for surgery." 

More precise estimates of progression risk can help patients and physicians weigh the potential benefits of surveillance and surgery.   

How did researchers determine pancreatic cancer risk?  

The study followed 230 people with pancreatic cysts that had worrisome or high-risk features. Unlike studies that look back at existing medical records or primarily include patients who underwent surgery, researchers enrolled participants and followed them over time, regardless of whether they chose surgery or surveillance. 

Of the 230 participants, 32 underwent surgery within the first three months after enrollment, and 198 entered clinical surveillance. Among those monitored, 185 had cysts with worrisome features, and 13 had cysts with high-risk features.  

The study found that patients with multiple worrisome features may represent a substantially higher-risk subgroup, while risk was not markedly elevated in patients with a single worrisome feature. 

Pancreatic cancers diagnosed among patients under careful surveillance were detected at a very early stage, suggesting that surveillance of appropriately risk-stratified patients may provide an opportunity to catch pancreatic cancer early. The finding suggests that regular surveillance may be an appropriate approach for some patients rather than immediate surgery. 

The three-year risk estimates also provide a benchmark for evaluating blood tests and designing studies of other approaches to early pancreatic cancer detection. 

Can blood tests and biomarkers predict pancreatic cancer risk? 

In a separate study led by Dr. Majumder and colleagues published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, researchers examined CA 19-9, a blood biomarker that may be elevated in people with pancreatic cancer and is sometimes used to monitor pancreatic cysts. 

An elevated CA 19-9 result alone did not reliably predict which patients with pancreatic cysts would develop cancer. Among patients with low-risk cysts who had an elevated CA 19-9 level, none developed pancreatic cancer during the study's follow-up period. 

The findings suggest that a blood biomarker test should be considered with other information about a patient's health and cancer risk. They also underscore the need for new biomarker tests that can reliably detect the earliest stages of cancer in patients with pancreatic cysts. 

The data from these studies could help researchers design larger studies and clinical trials of new approaches to the early detection and prevention of pancreatic cancer as part of a broader effort at Mayo Clinic known as the Precure Research initiative.  

"The goal is more precise, personalized surveillance and an early detection approach that identifies patients who may benefit from earlier intervention while helping those at lower risk avoid unnecessary procedures and major surgery," says Dr. Majumder.  

For a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding, review the study.  

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About Mayo Clinic 
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news. 

Media contact:  

• Julie Ferris-Tillman, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu  

The post Mayo Clinic study estimates cancer risk in patients with pancreatic cysts, advancing early detection  appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

PHOENIX — Mayo Clinic researchers have developed and externally validated an artificial intelligence (AI) model that can identify a potentially significant heart obstruction from routine ultrasound videos without relying on specialized Doppler imaging. The technology could help clinicians flag patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) who may need additional testing, particularly in settings where specialized echocardiography expertise is limited. Study findings are published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging.  

HCM is a genetic condition that causes the heart muscle to become abnormally thick. About two-thirds of these patients develop left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction, which restricts blood leaving the heart, causing symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath with exertion or when lying flat. Knowing which patients develop LVOT obstruction is important because it influences treatment decisions and long-term management for patients with HCM. 

"Measuring LVOT obstruction typically requires Doppler echocardiography, which depends on precise ultrasound-beam alignment and operator expertise," says Imon Banerjee, Ph.D., an AI researcher at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix and senior author of the study. "We wanted to determine whether AI could recognize subtle patterns that are imperceptible to the human eye in routinely acquired B-mode ultrasound videos and identify patients with LVOT obstruction earlier, enabling timely confirmatory Doppler evaluation and referral when appropriate." 

The study included 1,833 patients in the Mayo Clinic cohort. The model was tested in 275 patients and externally validated in 46 patients from a hospital in South Korea. The AI model used only resting, non-Doppler ultrasound videos to predict whether a patient had a potentially significant obstruction to blood leaving the heart. Researchers found that combining information from three standard ultrasound views improved the model's ability to distinguish patients with elevated LVOT gradients. The model also helped identify obstruction that may only appear when the heart is under stress. 

The model maintained strong performance in the South Korean group despite substantial differences between that population and the patients used to develop the model, supporting further study of the technology across different patient populations and clinical settings.  

In a subset of cases, the AI model identified obstruction more accurately than two expert echocardiographers who reviewed the same non-Doppler images. The findings highlight how difficult it can be to recognize LVOT obstruction from routine two-dimensional images without Doppler measurements. 

"This technology is intended to complement, not replace, Doppler echocardiography," Dr. Banerjee says. "By enabling earlier identification of patients with potential LVOT obstruction, it could escalate timely detection and prompt confirmatory Doppler measurements, stress testing, or referral to an HCM specialty center. It also could support evaluation using portable ultrasound or in settings where comprehensive Doppler assessment may not be readily available, helping expand access to earlier screening and risk assessment." 

Dr. Banerjee notes that the next steps include additional prospective validation across broader clinical settings, ultrasound platforms and patient populations. 

The list of authors and disclosures may be found in the article, Beyond Doppler: Scalable AI Detection of LVOT Obstruction in HCM. This study received no external funding. 

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About Mayo Clinic 
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.  

Media contact: 

• Terri Malloy, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu 

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ROCHESTER, Minn. — An international study led by Mayo Clinic researchers has identified interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor blockers as a promising option for preventing relapses in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). MOGAD is a rare autoimmune neurological disorder that can cause vision loss, paralysis and other serious neurological complications.

The study, published in JAMA Neurology, provides one of the largest real-world evaluations to date of IL-6 receptor blockade in patients with MOGAD and offers new evidence to help guide treatment decisions while randomized clinical trials are underway.

MOGAD occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks myelin, the protective coating surrounding nerve fibers in the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. In some patients, the disease causes repeated inflammatory attacks, or relapses, that can lead to accumulating neurological disability. Although several therapies are used off-label, there are currently no treatments approved specifically for preventing relapses in MOGAD.

The study focused on two medications, tocilizumab and satralizumab, that belong to a class of drugs known as IL-6 receptor blockers. Researchers believe the immune signaling protein IL-6 plays an important role in the inflammation that damages myelin in people diagnosed with MOGAD. By blocking that immune signaling pathway, these medications are designed to reduce inflammation and help prevent future relapses.

"Interleukin-6 receptor blockers appear to be a promising treatment option for people living with MOGAD," says Eoin Flanagan, M.B., B.Ch., a neurologist at Mayo Clinic and senior author of the study. "While we await results from randomized clinical trials, these findings provide additional evidence that these medications may help limit the neurological disability that can accumulate with repeated attacks.”

Researchers evaluated 116 patients treated with IL-6 receptor blockers across multiple centers in North and South America, making it the largest observational study of its kind. Most participants received tocilizumab, which is widely available around the world, while a smaller number received satralizumab. The study found that patients had substantially fewer relapses after starting treatment and that the medications had a generally favorable safety profile, though infections remain an important consideration for clinicians.

Because MOGAD is uncommon, individual medical centers often care for relatively small numbers of patients, making it difficult to study new treatments. This multinational collaboration allowed researchers to evaluate outcomes across various patient populations while expanding the evidence for IL-6 receptor blockade in MOGAD.

"Rare diseases require collaboration," says Andreu Vilaseca Jolonch, M.D., first author of the study and a neurology fellow at Mayo Clinic. "By bringing together patients and researchers across multiple countries, we were able to generate stronger evidence than any single center could produce alone. That collaboration not only strengthened this study but also created a foundation for future research."

Multiple clinical trials evaluating treatments for MOGAD are underway, and observational studies such as this one help provide important evidence while physicians await those results.

"There is growing optimism for patients with MOGAD," Dr. Flanagan says. "New treatments are emerging, and we're trying to bring the best treatment options to patients while continuing to learn which therapies work best."

This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01NS113828). One patient included in the study was supported by National Institutes of Health grant R01AI170863-01A1.

 For a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding, review the JAMA Neurology article.

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Tia Ford, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post International study identifies promising therapy to prevent relapses in rare neurological disease appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mayo Clinic researchers have developed an experimental drug with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) to target the "undruggable" PDZ-domain of GIPC1 protein that helps different types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer, to grow and resist treatment. In laboratory studies, the drug slowed tumor growth, improved survival and enhanced the effects of the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine.

The findings, published in Cell Reports, also demonstrate how AI could help develop a small molecule inhibitor of a target protein that can be less toxic and speed the discovery of new cancer treatments.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to treat because it is often diagnosed after it has spread and is resistant to many current therapies. While survival rates remain low, advances in research are creating new opportunities to develop more effective treatments. This study represents one of those promising advances, offering a potential new strategy for targeting pancreatic cancer.

Using AI, in collaboration with Sravathi AI Technology for IP Sharing, a company based in Bangalore, India, the research team screened nearly 40,000 potential compounds before identifying one that blocks GIPC1. The experimental drug also showed early signs of changing the environment around tumors in ways that could improve future combination therapies. Additional studies are needed before it can be tested in people.

"Pancreatic cancer has remained exceptionally difficult to treat because tumors rapidly adapt and become resistant to many available therapies," says Debabrata (Dev) Mukhopadhyay, Ph.D., senior author of the study and a cancer researcher at Mayo Clinic in Florida. "Our study demonstrates that AI can help us identify entirely new therapeutic opportunities against targets that have historically been considered undruggable. While these findings are preclinical, they provide a strong foundation for the next phase of research."

The therapy remains experimental, and additional studies are needed to evaluate its safety and determine whether it can advance to clinical trials.

This research was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health, the Florida State Fund for the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program and the U.S. Department of Defense. For a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding, review the study.

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Media contact:

• Julie Ferris-Tillman, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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