Nature Medicine

Uncovering risk factors in the exposome for early-onset colorectal cancer

David J. Lee — 2026-04-30

Nature Medicine, Published online: 30 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04369-8

The alarming rise in the incidence of colorectal cancer among younger individuals is probably due to environmental factors; epigenetic signatures of exposures may help uncover drivers of this trend, but questions remain.

A data-driven risk stratification framework for clinical obesity

2026-04-30

Nature Medicine, Published online: 30 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04370-1

To inform precision management of obesity, this study developed and externally validated a parsimonious model (OBSCORE) that accurately predicts the risk of 18 obesity-related complications. This was achieved by integrating thousands of clinical, molecular and other health-related characteristics assessed in 200,000 individuals with overweight or obesity within a machine-learning framework.

Data-driven prioritization of high-risk individuals for weight loss interventions

Kamil Demircan — 2026-04-30

Nature Medicine, Published online: 30 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04353-2

OBSCORE is a machine learning-based risk prediction tool that uses a set of clinical features to stratify individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 27 kg m−2 by their 10-year risk of obesity-related complications, outperforming existing models. OBSCORE is generalizable across diverse populations, supporting risk-based prioritization of obesity interventions that goes beyond simple BMI thresholds.

Predicting referral need for febrile children in low-resource community settings in South and Southeast Asia

Arjun Chandna — 2026-04-29

Nature Medicine, Published online: 29 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04338-1

A multicountry cohort study found that prediction models combining clinical parameters with either pulse oximetry or the host biomarker sTREM1 more accurately identified febrile children needing referral than standard WHO criteria.

Low-dose oral nicotinamide mononucleotide for immune thrombocytopenia: a phase 1/2 trial

Huiyuan Li — 2026-04-29

Nature Medicine, Published online: 29 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04366-x

Preclinical and phase 1/2 trial data show that anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody treatment restores platelet counts in patients with immune thrombocytopenia by increasing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels, and low-dose oral treatment with the NAD+ precursor nicotinamide mononucleotide can similarly increase platelet counts without serious adverse effects.

An agentic framework for autonomous scientific discovery in cancer pathology

Florian Trost — 2026-04-29

Nature Medicine, Published online: 29 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04357-y

Evaluated across 18 multicancer cohorts, the agentic artificial intelligence workflow SPARK uses language as a universal interface to autonomously generate biological ideas.

A reasonably likely surrogate endpoint for metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis

Arun J. Sanyal — 2026-04-28

Nature Medicine, Published online: 28 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04267-z

A reasonably likely surrogate endpoint for metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis

Australia legislates against genetic discrimination in life insurance

Jane Tiller — 2026-04-28

Nature Medicine, Published online: 28 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04372-z

Genomic screening is increasing rapidly, but insurance protections globally are outdated. Australia’s new law offers the clearest model yet for safeguarding public trust while supporting population genomics.