Recent MSK Discoveries & Advances

Memorial Sloan Kettering researchers are relentlessly exploring every aspect of cancer — from basic investigations of cells and molecules to clinical trials of new treatments and population-wide studies of the disease. While our core mission is to translate this knowledge into new strategies to control cancer, many of our investigators are also making scientific progress against other diseases and conditions.

Below are some examples of discoveries and advances that recently were made in our laboratories and clinics, and featured in our news stories.

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390 News Items found
Kathryn Anderson
A Final Discovery From the Lab of Dr. Kathryn Anderson: How Signals in the Embryo Tells Cells What To Become

The final paper from the lab of the late MSK Developmental Biology Chair Kathryn Anderson reveals how a critical signaling molecule called WNT guides cells in the embryo from a state of high flexibility — known as "plasticity" — toward distinct, specialized identities. Completing it was a labor of love for her colleagues.
Andrea Schietinger
Rare Stem T Cells May Hold the Key to Fighting Chronic Diseases

A team of scientists from MSK and Weill Cornell Medicine found a small subset of T cells, called stem T cells, are responsible for making new T cells and for continuously replenishing them in chronic disease. The findings open the door to new treatment strategies for chronic conditions like cancer, autoimmune diseases, and infections.
An MSK researcher points at a medical image
MSK Research Highlights, June 19, 2026

New MSK research investigates how a natural antifungal compound produced by helpful gut bacteria might help protect vulnerable patients; finds that a protein “fingerprint” in blood could predict dangerous clots in cancer patients; uncovers Americans’ changing relationship with dietary supplements; and reveals how NK cells respond to infections so quickly.
Lorenz Studer, Danwei Huangfu, Ting Zhou, Thomas Vierbuchen
MorPhiC: Inside the Ambitious Project To Understand the Function of Every Human Gene

MSK scientists are part of an international consortium working to determine the biological functions of the roughly 20,000 protein-coding genes in the human genome.
Christine Mayr
MSK Scientists Uncover RNA’s Hidden Role as Protein Chaperone

New MSK research shows the largely overlooked "tail" region of mRNAs helps ensure key regulatory proteins get folded correctly — a fundamentally new understanding of their role.
MSK radiation oncologist Nancy Lee
In the Clinic
Low-Dose Radiation Successfully Treats HPV Throat Cancer With Fewer Side Effects

Learn how HPV-related head and neck cancer can be treated with a sharply reduced radiation dose to prevent side effects, sometimes without surgery.
An MSK researcher at work in the lab
MSK Research Highlights, May 26, 2026

New MSK research provides structural insights into how cancer cells thwart targeted RAS therapies; uncovers promising combination therapies for a rare childhood brain tumor; uses organoids to provide important clues about what drives pancreatic cancer; takes aim at appendix cancer with new laboratory models; and a develops a new precision tool for targeting cancer's energy factory.
micrograph of a T cell
Successfully Treated AML Patients May Hold the Key to New CAR T Cell Therapy

A team of researchers from MSK has developed a new type of CAR T cell therapy that shows promise against acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in preclinical models.
Caleb Lareau
Dr. Caleb Lareau Awarded 2026 Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize

MSK's Dr. Caleb Lareau was awarded a 2026 Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize, which is designed to empower early-career investigators to pursue bold, high-impact projects.
A researcher working in an MSK lab
MSK Research Highlights, April 27, 2026

New MSK research shows how pancreatic cancer cells organize themselves to fuel tumor growth; finds an antibody-drug conjugate shows efficacy in rare pediatric sarcoma; develops an AI tool could accelerate identification of disease-causing genetic variants; and builds quantum nanosensors for cancer blood tests.