Researchers have made notable strides in infectious disease diagnostics and therapy. Tulane University and Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital developed ActCRISPR-TB, an improved CRISPR-based tuberculosis test using non-sputum samples, suitable for low-resource settings due to rapid, room-temperature stable, one-tube operation. NYU Langone-led studies identify oral microbiome signatures linked to elevated pancreatic cancer risk, highlighting bacteria and fungi as potential biomarkers. Additionally, an international collaboration discovered the Sager Creek orthohantavirus from prairie voles, expanding zoonotic disease knowledge.