In another major setback for efforts to develop a vaccine to boost immunity to the human immunodeficiency virus, known as HIV, a key clinical trial was ordered shut down this week after an independent panel of safety experts found that participants getting the vaccine appeared to be slightly more likely to contract the virus and no better at suppressing its replication than those who got a placebo.

The discovery of the DNA double helix 60 years ago proved to be a headache for the Nobel organization as the feat became nominated for prizes in different categories at the same time, Nature reported on Wednesday.

Drinking just one can of sugar-laced soda drink a day increases the risk of developing diabetes by more than a fifth, according to a large European study published on Wednesday.

With dietary habits shifting toward foods high in sugar and oil, three instances of gallbladder removal resulting from related complications have been recently recorded among young people, a hospital said yesterday.

Taiwan issued a Level-2 travel advisory for five Chinese provinces and two metropolitan areas yesterday after confirming a day earlier the first H7N9 bird flu case reported locally but contracted in China.

Six laboratories around Taiwan have been recruited by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) this week to examine specimens of suspected H7N9 avian flu cases, CDC Director-General Chang Feng-yee said yesterday.

A lab experiment that rode to space two years ago has offered new clues about why astronauts' immune systems struggle to perform in zero gravity, U.S. military researchers said on Monday.

Taipei Medical University (TMU) Chairman Lee Tsu-der (李祖德) yesterday announced the founding of Swissray Global Healthcare Holding Limited (Swissray) in Taiwan, in collaboration with the government's policy of “One Alliance for one Medical Device.”

Far EasTone Telecommunications Co. will work with Far Eastern Memorial Hospital to launch a platform specifically designed for two health information services, Far EasTone said yesterday.

President Ma Ying-jeou said yesterday the time was “not ripe” for political negotiations with China, despite fast-improving economic ties.