Researcher, heal thyself: meet the scientists studying their own diseases Studying a condition after being diagnosed with it can be rewarding but also presents some ethical and psychological challenges. By Josie Glausiusz

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-02455-y?utm_source=Live+Audience&utm_campaign=3600bd2098-nature-briefing-daily-20260821&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-33f35e09ea-50432164 Molecular biologist Francesca Granata studies a rare condition called porphyria that can cause burning or itching skin — a path she chose after her own diagnosis in 2008. She and other researchers who study their own rare diseases told Nature that their personal experience with an illness enables them to empathize with other patients, driving them to find better therapies for themselves and others. There is potential bias in studying their own disease, but contributing to an increased understanding of their condition can be deeply fulfilling, they say.