Featured Stories
White House: First Lady Melania Trump's Efforts Prove Successful in Ukraine-Russia
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- The White House issued the following news:
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First Lady Melania Trump's Efforts Prove Successful in Ukraine-Russia
First Lady Melania Trump facilitated the reunification of another child with her family on Monday, August 17, 2026, after being separated during the Ukraine - Russia Federation conflict.
"There is nothing more powerful than reuniting a mother with her child after an extended period of time. My representative and I are focused on helping facilitate the next reunification of individuals who have been separated from their loved ones because of the war between
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- The White House issued the following news:
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First Lady Melania Trump's Efforts Prove Successful in Ukraine-Russia
First Lady Melania Trump facilitated the reunification of another child with her family on Monday, August 17, 2026, after being separated during the Ukraine - Russia Federation conflict.
"There is nothing more powerful than reuniting a mother with her child after an extended period of time. My representative and I are focused on helping facilitate the next reunification of individuals who have been separated from their loved ones because of the war betweenUkraine and Russia," asserted First Lady Melania Trump.
To date, First Lady Melania Trump's efforts have facilitated the reunification of 34 children and families since she penned the Peace Letter to Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
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Original text here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2026/08/first-lady-melania-trumps-efforts-prove-successful-in-ukraine-russia/
State Department Issues Public Schedule for Aug. 18, 2026
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the daily public schedule for Aug. 18, 2026:
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SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO
Secretary Rubio attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State and the White House.
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER LANDAU
Deputy Secretary Landau attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE FOR MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES MICHAEL J. RIGAS
Deputy Secretary Rigas has no public appointments.
UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS ALLISON M. HOOKER
Under Secretary Hooker attends meetings and briefings at the
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the daily public schedule for Aug. 18, 2026:
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SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO
Secretary Rubio attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State and the White House.
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER LANDAU
Deputy Secretary Landau attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE FOR MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES MICHAEL J. RIGAS
Deputy Secretary Rigas has no public appointments.
UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS ALLISON M. HOOKER
Under Secretary Hooker attends meetings and briefings at theDepartment of State.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AFFAIRS CARTWRIGHT WEILAND
Assistant Secretary Weiland is on travel to Argentina from August 17-22, 2026.
BRIEFING SCHEDULE
No Department Press Briefing.
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Original text here: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/08/public-schedule-august-18-2026/
Justice Department Investigates William & Mary's Scholarships & Student Benefits For Unlawful Race-Based Criteria
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Aug. 17, 2026:
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Justice Department Investigates William & Mary's Scholarships & Student Benefits For Unlawful Race-Based Criteria
The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division announced today that it is opening a compliance review into the College of William & Mary (W&M) to determine whether the school's scholarships and student benefits include racial criteria that violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin.
"Awarding
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Aug. 17, 2026:
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Justice Department Investigates William & Mary's Scholarships & Student Benefits For Unlawful Race-Based Criteria
The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division announced today that it is opening a compliance review into the College of William & Mary (W&M) to determine whether the school's scholarships and student benefits include racial criteria that violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin.
"Awardingscholarships or offering coveted opportunities to students based on the color of their skin is illegal and offends the guarantees of our color-blind Constitution," said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. "We will find out if scholarships or other student benefits at William & Mary favor applicants of certain races. The Department will not turn a blind eye to race-based preferences, however they are packaged or portrayed by universities."
The "W&M Scholars" program for first-year undergraduate students includes a scholarship "covering at least the full cost of in-state tuition and fees." Applicants with an "interest in diverse people and perspectives" receive "top consideration."
W&M School of Education (W&M SOE) offers the need-based Martha L. Muguira Fellowship to graduate students and gives a "preference" to Hispanic or Latino women. And the W&M SOE doctoral-level Holmes Scholars program gives "future education leaders of color" mentorship, access to job fairs and position announcements, as well as national-level professional development benefits such as policy/advocacy training and opportunities to present their research.
W&M Law School (W&M Law) offers the Lemon Legal Scholars Program (LLSP), a "multifaceted financial and mentorship opportunity" for graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) who are admitted to W&M Law's J.D. program. Through LLSP, W&M Law offers up to five full-ride scholarships -- covering tuition and fees -- which appear exclusively earmarked for HBCU graduates. Recipients also receive networking opportunities, one-on-one academic advising regarding course load and bar exam preparation, and access to special events with W&M Law faculty, senior administrators, and alumni.
W&M Law also advertises the "Reaching Back Scholarship" -- a need-based scholarship that has a "preference" for HBCU graduates or those "who contribute to the diversity" of W&M Law.
The Civil Rights Division has not reached any conclusions about the subject matter of the investigation.
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INFODOC: https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1458091/dl
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-investigates-william-marys-scholarships-student-benefits-unlawful-race
FDA Recall Notice: Oma's Pride Voluntarily Recalls One Lot of Woof Complete Canine Chicken Recipe Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration issued the following recall notice:
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UPDATED: Oma's Pride Voluntarily Recalls One Lot of Woof Complete Canine Chicken Recipe (6 Lb Bag) Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: August 17, 2026
FDA Publish Date: August 17, 2026
Product Type: Animal & Veterinary
Food & Beverages
Pet Food
Foodborne Illness
Reason for Announcement: Contaminated with Salmonella
Company Name: Miller Foods, Inc.
Brand Name: Oma's Pride
Product Description: Canine Food
Company
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration issued the following recall notice:
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UPDATED: Oma's Pride Voluntarily Recalls One Lot of Woof Complete Canine Chicken Recipe (6 Lb Bag) Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: August 17, 2026
FDA Publish Date: August 17, 2026
Product Type: Animal & Veterinary
Food & Beverages
Pet Food
Foodborne Illness
Reason for Announcement: Contaminated with Salmonella
Company Name: Miller Foods, Inc.
Brand Name: Oma's Pride
Product Description: Canine Food
CompanyAnnouncement
"The firm updated the press release on August 17, to clarify that the illnesses occurred only in dogs; NO humans illnesses have been reported to date."
Oma's Pride of Avon, Connecticut, is voluntarily recalling one lot of Woof Complete Canine Chicken Recipe, 6 lb bag (Lot BB012729) because it is contaminated with Salmonella.
The recall was initiated after FDA received a consumer complaint and subsequently collected and analyzed a sample of the product, which tested positive for Salmonella. Oma's Pride is continuing with their investigation to determine the source and root cause of the contamination. Three illnesses in dogs have been reported to date in association with the complaint.
Salmonella can affect animals eating the product, and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Salmonella can result in additional ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. People exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
The recalled lot of Woof Complete Canine Chicken Recipe was distributed in AZ, CA, IN, KY, LA, MD, NJ, NV, NY, PA, VA to retail and wholesale accounts and directly to consumers through online, direct-to-consumer orders, shipped frozen.
The recalled product is a frozen raw dog food sold in a 6 lb gusseted stand-up pouch containing 12 individually-wrapped, 8 oz vacuum-sealed portions, identified as:
* Product: Woof Complete Canine Chicken Recipe, 6 lb bag
* Bags Impacted: 639
* Item / SKU: F-WOOFC-6
* Lot number: BB012729
* Manufacturing Date: 1/27/2026
* Expiration / Best-by: 1/27/2029
* Distribution Dates: 2/12/2026-5/15/2026
* UPC: 8 7938400145 9
No other Oma's Pride products, sizes, or lots are affected. Oma's Pride is proceeding with this recall to ensure the highest level of consumer safety and transparency.
Consumer Guidance:
* Consumers who purchased the affected lot should stop feeding the product immediately, safely dispose of the product, and contact Oma's Pride for a refund.
* Do not sell or donate the recalled products.
* Wash and sanitize pet food bowls, cups, and storage containers. Always ensure you wash and sanitize your hands after handling recalled food or any utensils that have come into contact with it.
Consumers with questions may contact Oma's Pride (omaspride.comExternal Link Disclaimer) by calling 1-800-678-OMAS, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST, or by emailing hello@omaspride.com.
Oma's Pride is a fourth-generation family-owned company with more than 75 years of food manufacturing experience. Our operations are conducted in accordance with applicable FDA and USDA requirements and are supported by a comprehensive food-safety program, including HACCP-based controls, sanitation procedures, traceability and lot-control systems, and ongoing quality and food-safety monitoring. We take this finding seriously, and that commitment to food safety is why we are voluntarily recalling this lot.
Oma's Pride is conducting further investigation to better understand this finding. The health and safety of pets and the people who care for them is our highest priority. We are proud of the food we make, and we remain committed to producing high-quality, biologically appropriate pet food. We will continue to update our customers as more information becomes available.
This recall is being conducted voluntarily and in coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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Original text here: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/updated-omas-pride-voluntarily-recalls-one-lot-woof-complete-canine-chicken-recipe-6-lb-bag-because
FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Issues Public Notice: Comments Invited on Section 214 Application to Discontinue Domestic Telecommunications Services as Part of Technology Transition
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 26-202):
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Unless otherwise specified, the following procedures and dates apply to the application(s) (the Section 214 Discontinuance Application(s)) listed in the Appendix.
The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau), upon initial review, has found the Section 214 Discontinuance Application(s) listed herein to be acceptable for filing and subject to the procedures set forth in section 63.71 of the Commission's rules./1 The application requests authority,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 26-202):
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Unless otherwise specified, the following procedures and dates apply to the application(s) (the Section 214 Discontinuance Application(s)) listed in the Appendix.
The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau), upon initial review, has found the Section 214 Discontinuance Application(s) listed herein to be acceptable for filing and subject to the procedures set forth in section 63.71 of the Commission's rules./1 The application requests authority,under section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended,/2 and section 63.71 of the Commission's rules,/3 to discontinue, reduce, or impair certain domestic telecommunications service(s) (Affected Service(s)) in specified geographic areas (Service Area(s)) as applicable and as fully described in each application.
In accordance with section 63.71(f) of the Commission's rules, the Section 214 Discontinuance Application(s) listed in the Appendix will be deemed granted automatically on September 17, 2026, the 31st day after the release date of this public notice, unless the Commission notifies any applicant(s) that their grant will not be automatically effective./4 We note that the date on which an application for Commission authorization is deemed granted may be different from the date on which applicants are authorized to discontinue service ("Authorized Date"). Any applicant whose application has been deemed granted may discontinue their Affected Service(s) in their Service Area(s) on or after the authorized discontinuance date(s) specified in the Appendix, in accordance with their filed representations. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(f), and the terms outlined in each application, absent further Commission action, each applicant may discontinue the Affected Service(s) in the Service Area(s) described in their application on or after the authorized discontinuance date(s) listed in the Appendix for that application. For purposes of computation of time when filing a petition for reconsideration, application for review, or petition for judicial review of the Commission's decision(s), the date of "public notice" shall be the later of the auto grant date stated above in this Public Notice, or the release date(s) of any further public notice(s) or order(s) announcing final Commission action, as applicable. Should no petitions for reconsideration, applications for review, or petitions for judicial review be timely filed, the proceeding(s) listed in this Public Notice shall be terminated, and the docket(s) will be closed.
Comments objecting to the application listed in the Appendix must be filed with the Commission on or before September 1, 2026. Comments should refer to the specific WC Docket No. and Comp. Pol. File No. listed in the Appendix for the Section 214 Discontinuance Application. Comments should include specific information about the impact of the proposed discontinuance on the commenter, including any inability to acquire reasonable substitute service. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the Web site for submitting comments. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. In completing the transmittal screen, filers should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket number./5
Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial courier, or by the U.S. Postal Service. All filings must be addressed to the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. Hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary are accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. by the FCC's mailing contractor at 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building. Commercial courier deliveries (any deliveries not by the U.S. Postal Service) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. Filings sent by U.S. Postal Service First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express must be sent to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.
This proceeding shall be treated as a "permit-but-disclose" proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules./6 Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter's written comments, memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules.
People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530.
For further information, please see the contact(s) for the specific discontinuance proceeding you are interested in as listed in the Appendix. For further information on procedures regarding section 214 please visit https://www.fcc.gov/general/domestic-section-214-discontinuance-service.
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Footnotes:
1/ 47 CFR Sec. 63.71.
2/ 47 U.S.C. Sec. 214.
3/ 47 CFR Sec. 63.71.
4/ See 47 CFR Sec. 63.71(f)(1) (stating, in relevant part, that an application filed by "any carrier meeting the requirements of paragraph (f)(2)(ii) of this section shall be automatically granted on the 31st day... unless the Commission has notified the applicant that the grant will not be automatically effective."); see also 47 CFR Sec. 63.71(f)(2)(ii) (stating that "[a]n application to discontinue, reduce, or impair an existing retail service as part of a technology transition, as defined in Sec. 63.60(i), may be automatically granted only if: ...The applicant (A) Offers a stand-alone interconnected VoIP service, as defined in Sec. 9.3 of this chapter, throughout the affected service area, and (B) At least one other alternative stand-alone facilities-based wireline or wireless voice service is available from another unaffiliated provider throughout the affected service area."); Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment, WC Docket No. 17-84, Order, DA 25-248, para. 6 (WCB Mar. 20, 2025) (waiving the "stand-alone" requirement for a period of two years when a carrier seeks to discontinue a legacy voice service pursuant to section 214(a), thereby allowing carriers to satisfy both prongs of the Alternative Options Test with a bundled service) (Standalone Waiver Order)).
5/ Please note that Commission staff may share filed comments with the applicant(s), along with the commenter's contact information, in order to allow applicant(s) to identify affected customers in the proposed discontinuance area and fully respond.
6/ 47 CFR Sec. 1.1200 et seq.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-863A1.pdf
Energy Department is Celebrating President Trump's Great American Energy Comeback in Midland, Texas
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Energy issued the following fact sheet:
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The Energy Department is Celebrating President Trump's Great American Energy Comeback in Midland, Texas
THANKS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, AMERICA IS LEADING THE WORLD IN OIL AND NATURAL GAS
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* On Monday, August 17, 2026, Secretary Wright will visit Midland, Texas to celebrate the Great American Energy Comeback and highlight how President Trump's energy dominance agenda has made our nation more energy dominant than ever before.
* Thanks to President Trump's leadership, the U.S. leads the world in oil and
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Energy issued the following fact sheet:
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The Energy Department is Celebrating President Trump's Great American Energy Comeback in Midland, Texas
THANKS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, AMERICA IS LEADING THE WORLD IN OIL AND NATURAL GAS
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* On Monday, August 17, 2026, Secretary Wright will visit Midland, Texas to celebrate the Great American Energy Comeback and highlight how President Trump's energy dominance agenda has made our nation more energy dominant than ever before.
* Thanks to President Trump's leadership, the U.S. leads the world in oil andnatural gas production and has reached record-high levels of output.
- In 2025, the U.S. reached record-high oil production at 13.6 million barrels per day.
- The U.S. is currently producing 24 million barrels per day in oil and other liquid fuels--more than Russia and Saudi Arabia combined.
* In 2025, the U.S. achieved record-high levels of natural gas production.
- America is producing as much gas as Russia, Iran and China combined.
* In 2026, the U.S. is projected to produce 122.5 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d)--surpassing the previous record of 118.5 bcf/d set in 2025.
* On day one, President Trump directed the Energy Department to end the Biden Administration's LNG export ban, delivering prosperity at home and peace abroad.
- The U.S. is now leading the world in LNG production, with exports set to nearly double by the end of the decade.
- Since January 2025, the Energy Department has approved approximately 22.3 bcf/d in non-FTA LNG export authorizations--more than the entire U.S. export capacity the day President Trump took office.
* Under President Trump's leadership, the U.S. continues to have among the lowest energy prices in the world.
- U.S. natural gas prices are among the lowest in the world.
- Americans continue to pay lower gasoline prices than most other developed countries.
ENERGY PRODUCTION IN MIDLAND IS CRITICAL TO AMERICAN ENERGY DOMINANCE
* President Trump's energy dominance agenda is unleashing the full potential of the Permian Basin, with Midland at the heart of America's historic energy resurgence.
* Since 2016, crude oil production in the Permian region increased by roughly 250%, from about 1.9 million barrels per day in 2015 to a record 6.6 million barrels per day in 2025.
* Advances in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling unlocked vast resources in the Wolfcamp and Spraberry formations, establishing the Permian Basin as a critical driver of American energy.
* Today, Permian Basin produces nearly half of America's crude oil output and more than one-fifth of its natural gas supply.
- In December 2025, the Permian Basin produced 6.7 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil, accounting for 44% of total U.S. oil production, as well as 22.2 bcf/d of U.S. marketed gas production.
AMERICAN ENERGY IS FUELING JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY IN MIDLAND
* President Trump's agenda to unleash American energy is driving Midland's already robust energy economy and population growth across the region.
* Midland's thriving energy industry is supporting jobs and economic opportunity across West Texas.
- Midland's population has increased 11% since 2020--the fastest growth among West Texas cities.
- Midland has more than 72 times the national employment share in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industry.
- According to employment data through May 2026, upstream oil and gas employment in Texas increased by 4,100 jobs--an increase for the third month in a row.
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Original text here: https://www.energy.gov/articles/fact-sheet-energy-department-celebrating-president-trumps-great-american-energy-comeback
DOE Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: Huntington's Disease Discovery Opens Door to a New Class of Treatments
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (TNSjou) -- The U.S. Department of Energy Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory issued the following news:
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Huntington's Disease Discovery Opens Door to a New Class of Treatments
After 30 years of focus on fixing the genetic mutation behind Huntington's, and no successful treatments, work from Berkeley Lab illuminates a new aspect of the fatal disease that could be targeted with simple, already-available compounds.
New treatments for Huntington's disease could be on the horizon soon, following research led by scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (TNSjou) -- The U.S. Department of Energy Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory issued the following news:
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Huntington's Disease Discovery Opens Door to a New Class of Treatments
After 30 years of focus on fixing the genetic mutation behind Huntington's, and no successful treatments, work from Berkeley Lab illuminates a new aspect of the fatal disease that could be targeted with simple, already-available compounds.
New treatments for Huntington's disease could be on the horizon soon, following research led by scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (BerkeleyLab).
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal, inherited neurodegenerative condition. People with Huntington's have a mutated copy of a protein-coding gene that contains many extra nucleotides in a repeating sequence. The exact functions of this protein, called huntingtin, are unknown; but in individuals with the HD mutation, neurons in certain regions of the brain begin to die in adulthood, leading to cognitive and physical decline and eventual death. Previous research has revealed that over the course of a patient's life, the mutated gene gains even more of these repeats due to errors that occur during cell division. The more repeats someone has, the earlier the disease onset and more severe the symptoms. Until now, it was unclear how the mutation, the subsequent mutant protein, and ongoing mutational repeat expansion over a patient's lifetime led to neurodegeneration.
The team's study, published in Nature Communications (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-72382-z), revealed an additional, previously overlooked characteristic of HD appears to be driving the neurodegeneration -- a marked increase in breaks in DNA strands across the genome. They then demonstrated that treatment with an antioxidant suppresses these breaks and rescues mice from neuron damage and symptoms of the disease.
"Despite years of work worldwide, there's no cure for Huntington's, and only limited, experimental treatments. We're excited to add another piece to the puzzle for this disease, which has proven to be frustratingly complex for a condition caused by a single gene mutation," said Aris Polyzos, a biochemist research scientist in Berkeley Lab's Biosciences Area. "We show that symptoms are preceded by DNA damage, and that this can be reversed using an investigational antioxidant compound, which also protects against neurodegeneration. This alleviation occurs even without altering or blocking the gene, or stopping the expansion of the mutation, which are the approaches that past and ongoing investigational treatments have taken."
Polyzos co-led the work alongside senior lead Cynthia McMurray, a retiree affiliate in the Biosciences Area. McMurray has spent decades studying the genetic and cellular changes underlying HD, first at the Mayo Clinic, then here at Berkeley Lab.
"I believe we're opening the door to a new way to treat Huntington's patients," said McMurray. "Clinical agents already exist for humans that are known to change these breaks. We love that these could be easily tested and lead to a therapeutic strategy more quickly. And the simplicity of the approach is beautiful. Past approaches have tried to edit the gene, shorten the repeats, or block the gene's expression; those are complicated interventions and none of them have translated into efficacy for real patients. The question is, will ours work in humans? The next step is to show that our findings apply to human cells and that we can protect neurons, which would be a precursor leading to clinical trials."
New insights from cell studies
McMurray and Polyzos, with colleagues from Berkeley Lab and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, began studying energy uptake in HD neurons ten years ago, after research by others showed that metabolic changes occur in the brains of HD patients before symptoms begin. Using a mouse model of the disease, the team saw that the support cells for neurons in the striatum, the brain region most severely affected by HD, reduced their uptake of glucose -- the standard fuel for the brain -- and switched instead to using fatty acids to generate ATP for themselves and their dependent neurons. Mice have the same Huntingtin gene as humans, which when edited to have the hallmark mutation of HD, also leads to a late onset neurodegenerative condition in the animals. When mitochondria inside cells break down fatty molecules for fuel, byproducts called reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated. ROS are hazardous to cells and tissues because they are highly reactive and attach to most biomolecules. ROS are known to be particularly destructive to DNA, since oxidized DNA interferes with the role of genes and can lead to breakage of the DNA strands. So the team started looking at the integrity of the genomes in these cells.
They discovered a surprising accumulation of double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs). These are the most severe type of breakage, wherein the double-helix of the DNA is broken. The DSBs appear in cells throughout the body with age, but in HD they accumulate significantly in neurons of the striatum. The continual damage causes cell dysfunction and death, giving rise to disease symptoms and death of the individual before other areas are deeply affected.
Organisms across the tree of life have evolved cellular processes to mediate damage to DNA caused by ROS, UV exposure, and toxins. The discovery of excessive DSBs meant something interferes with these safeguards in people with HD. The team later found that the normal huntingtin protein binds to DNA repair enzymes that fix these breaks. The protein's role in healthy DNA repair remains unknown, but when the mutant huntingtin interacts with these enzymes, their activity is suppressed. The team believes this aspect of the disease was not discovered by earlier investigations because suppression is much harder to detect in genome studies than complete inhibition.
They also discovered that the suppression in DSB repair is separate from the central CAG expansion in somatic cells (all the cells in the body except reproductive cells like eggs and sperm) that occur with age. This discovery was key, as it illustrated the disease unfolds on two parallel paths -- and scientists working on drug R&D had only been targeting the mutation pathway.
"We clearly saw the repeats could expand unchecked during life, but it did not necessarily give rise to neuronal death," said McMurray. In the Nature Communications paper, she and her colleagues engineered two lineages of mice with the HD gene; in one, the expansion proceeded as normal during the mouse's lifespan, in the other, the expansion was artificially blocked. Both groups of mice developed DSBs in their striatum, experienced symptoms, and died of the disease. "We connected the dots to show this is a two-stage process. The mutation is the driver of the disease because it generates a faulty protein, which is suppressing the ability to repair DSBs. But the huntingtin protein itself doesn't kill cells."
Armed with this key breakthrough, the team began tests with a synthetic antioxidant compound designed to mitigate ROS from mitochondria.
The purpose of antioxidants is to safely neutralize ROS to prevent cellular damage, but very few natural or synthetic antioxidants can cross the blood-brain barrier to reach neuron support cells. Peter Wipf, a distinguished professor of chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, and bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh, recently developed a compound, called XJB-5-131, that is able to enter the brain and concentrate at mitochondria. "We realized that this compound might be what we're looking for, a tool to delineate the role of DSBs in Huntington's disease progression," said McMurray.
She and Polyzos gave XJB-5-131, administered as a daily infusion, to mice with HD, and were shocked by the efficacy.
The mice showed a reduction of double-stranded breaks, a lack of motor function deficits, and reduced inflammation in the brain.
"It basically attenuated the disease," said McMurray.
Next steps
The promising results of this study have already garnered enthusiasm from other HD researchers. Scientists around the world are now curious to see what happens when antioxidants are administered to real patients. The first step is to establish that the same disease mechanism that was curable in the mouse also occurs in humans. Polyzos is leading a study using induced pluripotent stem cells taken from HD patients, which will be coaxed to differentiate into neurons. The team can use these to confirm the disease-induced DNA breakage results in neuronal death in a human context, and further investigate how the disease suppresses DNA repair.
Polyzos and McMurray are optimistic that the results will translate, as the cellular processes involved are known to be identical across the species.
Despite the breakthrough proof-of-concept, it's unclear whether antioxidant therapy alone will be sufficient for a long-term treatment of the disease in humans, as it doesn't deal with the mutated protein itself. Polyzos speculates that in the future, a cure that allows genetic carriers to have a normal life expectancy without symptoms might involve a compound like XJB-5-131, to prevent double-stranded breaks, alongside a gene-modifying therapy to fix the mutation at the root of the disease.
This research project is supported by the National Institutes of Health.
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Original text here: https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2026/08/17/huntingtons-disease-discovery-opens-door-to-a-new-class-of-treatments/
