Mutations in genes that encode subunits of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling complexes are found in more than 20% of cancers as well as in certain neurodevelopmental disorders. This Review discusses mechanisms by which SWI/SNF mutations lead to disease and the strategies to target SWI/SNF complexes and synthetic lethal targets for therapeutic benefit.

Reactive oxygen species are essential molecules that are generated and eliminated through complex balanced mechanisms. Increased reactive oxygen species levels have a role in tumour development, and targeting reactive oxygen species and their regulatory machineries is a promising therapeutic strategy. This Review discusses recent research developments in the field, their implications for cancer drug discovery, as well as emerging concepts and future perspectives.

Lipid nanoparticle-based systems are increasingly being utilized for the delivery of nucleic acid-based vaccines and therapeutics. In this Perspective, Cullis and Felgner trace the evolution of these systems over the past 60 years and discuss future prospects for LNP-enabled gene therapies.

In situ cancer vaccines generate tumour-specific T cell responses and hold promise for the treatment of solid tumours. This Review discusses drug delivery technologies such as lipid nanoparticles, hydrogels and scaffolds that are being developed to boost the antitumour immune effects of several types of in situ cancer vaccine.

Clinical trial participant compensation is badly overdue for thoughtful reform. The first step: generating consensus across the various stakeholders, including patients, who make up the research ecosystem.

The DISRUPT-DS roundtable, which brings together data science leaders from large pharmaceutical companies, aims to be a forum for sharing experiences and networking, for shaping industry-level topics and for amplifying the role of data science across pharmaceutical R&D.