Researchers have developed a guide to help labs standardize the production of mature hepatic-like cells (HPCs) from stem cells and easily compare gene expression of HPCs to actual human liver tissue. This moderately high throughput protocol can enable a relatively quick assessment of the efficacy of stem cell differentiation and help guide the optimization of
Tiny sensors are embedded into stretchable, integrated mesh that grows with the developing tissue How does a small group of cells organize to become a heart, a brain, or a kidney? This critical period of development has long remained the black box of developmental biology, in part because no sensor was small or flexible enough
Researchers at ETH Zurich have refined the famous CRISPR-Cas method. Now, for the very first time, it is possible to modify dozens, if not hundreds, of genes in a cell simultaneously. Everyone’s talking about CRISPR-Cas. This biotechnological method offers a relatively quick and easy way to manipulate single genes in cells, meaning they can be
Safety, innovation and affordability need not be mutually exclusive goals for cutting-edge treatments. Source NYT Spinal muscular atrophy is a condition often fatal by age 2. Babies with the disorder have a rare genetic mutation that prevents the nervous system from controlling certain muscles. As they grow to be toddlers, these children struggle to move their limbs,
Source STAT Seizing on the surging popularity of at-home DNA testing kits, top academic medical institutions are opening clinics that promise to probe much deeper into your DNA — if you’re willing to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars out of pocket to learn about disease risks that may be lurking in your genes.
Source Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) Using an unbiased labeling technique, mathematical modeling, and single cell profiling to trace the footsteps of stem cells and their daughters, researchers at the University of Cambridge (UK), DGIST (S.Korea), and IMBA (Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austria) have confirmed that two populations of
Source https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/hum.2019.026#utm_source=ETOC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=hum Corneal diseases are among the most prevalent causes of blindness worldwide. The transparency and clarity of the cornea are guaranteed by a delicate physiological, anatomic, and functional balance. For this reason, all the disorders, including those of genetic origin, that compromise this state of harmony can lead to opacity and eventually vision loss.
Source The Lancet. Oncology, ISSN: 1474-5488, Vol: 20, Issue: 8, Page: e443-e451 Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is one of the most remarkable advances in cancer therapy in the last several decades. More than 300 adoptive T-cell therapy trials are ongoing, which is a testament to the early success and hope engendered by this
New research has observed that the benefits of CAR-T cell immunotherapies – for the treatment of diseases such as pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma – may be offset by their delayed delivery to patients. The social value of a therapy balances manufacturer costs and profits versus a patient’s improvement in quality-adjusted
The vision is ambitious : Enroll 1 million people in the NIH’s All of Us Research program, whose goal is to make personalized medicine a reality for everyone. That means ensuring that more than half of participants come from communities historically underrepresented in biomedical research. A year after its launch, 230,000 people have joined, 80% of
