Scientists seek covid treatment answers in cheap, older drugs
Two recent studies look promising, but drug companies have no incentive to spend millions to test new uses for cheap, off-patent drugs. As a result, efforts to repurpose drugs have fallen to philanthropists.
Kaiser Health News, 29 March 2021
Detecting Alzheimer's gets easier with a simple blood test
New assays could reduce the need for costlier, more invasive brain scans and spinal fluid measures
Scientific American, 4 February 2021
Could the immune system be key to Alzheimer's disease?
Increasing evidence suggests that chronic inflammation takes a toll on the brain over the course of a lifetime
Knowable Magazine, 2 February 2021
The antidepressant fluvoxamine could keep mild COVID-19 from worsening
A real-world study and data from animal and cell studies confirm earlier clinical trial results
Science News, 1 February 2021
Seven technologies to watch in 2021
COVID considerations unsurprisingly dominate the tech developments that could have a big impact in the coming year
Nature, 26 January 2021
How a Medication for OCD Ended Up in a Covid-19 Trial
In a small study, the drug kept patients with mild symptoms from worsening. If it holds up in a larger test, it could help keep more people out of hospitals.
Wired, 19 November 2020
Probing fine-scale connections in the brain
Artificial intelligence and improved microscopy make it feasible to map the nervous system at ever-higher resolution.
Nature, 19 October 2020
An immune protein could prevent severe COVID-19 — if it is given at the right time
The antiviral interferon might help early but exacerbate disease in later stages.
Scientific American, 7 September 2020
Puberty can repair the brain's stress responses after hardship early in life (or PDF)
Adolescence could be a time to reset the system that helps people cope with stress.
Science News, 28 August 2020
Turning anger into action: Minority students analyze COVID data on racial disparities
Kaiser Health News, 13 August 2020
Cheap generics might treat COVID-19, but obstacles abound (or PDF version*)
Medscape, 24 July 2020
What's new in food allergy etiquette?
A record number of kids and adults are in danger of suffering serious allergic reactions to everyday foods the rest of us eat without a second thought. Here's how to be a good neighbor and make our shared spaces safe and fun for everyone.
Real Simple, June 2020
Could gut microbes be key to solving food allergies?
New therapeutics are testing whether protective bacteria can dampen harmful immune responses to food
Knowable Magazine, 21 May 2020
These data science wizards tell us what's really happening with coronavirus
Find out if the curve is flattening where you live, how other states compare, and how flat the curve really needs to get.
Popular Mechanics, 28 April 2020
'Spider-Man' immune response may promote severe COVID-19
Clinical trials have begun to test drugs that counter toxic molecular webs linked to lung distress.
Scientific American, 28 April 2020
Deep learning takes on tumours
Artificial-intelligence methods are moving into cancer research.
Nature, 21 April 2020
Could newly found 'peacekeeping' cells be a weapon against COVID-19?
In mice, these white blood cells tamp down inflammation in the lungs.
Scientific American, 27 March 2020
Leaving a legacy (or PDF*)
Two mothers, each with a son who died of brain cancer, worked together to increase awareness and acceptance of tumor tissue donation.
Cancer Today, March 2020
*large (>33 MB) file on Google Drive
Microbial chemistry gains fresh focus
The tools of chemical biology, genomics and data mining can yield insights into the metabolites of the microbiome.
Nature, 24 September 2019
Why parents are turning to a controversial treatment for food allergies?
An idea based on a century-old concept could soon receive FDA approval. But will it cause more anxiety than relief?
Undark, 5 August 2019
Nanohealers (or PDF)
Tiny particles cloaked in cell membranes sop up blood toxins and calm inflammation
Science News, 16 March 2019
A new treatment can relieve food allergies, but few doctors offer it
Some patients have started to seek out an oral treatment for food allergies that's not yet widely offered by clinicians.
NPR, 21 February 2019
Why don't more humans eat bugs?
Around the world, at least 2 billion people routinely consume insects. One anthropologist believes geography and colonization can explain why some populations are too squeamish to stomach such foods.
SAPIENS, 30 November 2018
The biology of sugars points to a sweet strategy for treating cancer
Long-ignored field attracts interest from companies trying to develop next-generation immune therapies.
Scientific American, 28 November 2018
Why can't bugs be grub?
Researchers are studying why some people think eating insects is gross—and how to change that
Science News for Students, 19 November 2018
Scientists and parents band together to research cures for rare childhood cancer
A research start-up is connecting parents with scientists in hopes of sparking new research on diseases whose survival rates and treatment options haven't budged in 30 years.
NPR, 26 October 2018
Reset your DNA to slow the clock
A new epigenetic test that tracks molecular aging claims to show you how to stay biologically young.
NEO.LIFE, 25 October 2018
Building diversity in science, one interaction at a time
Even fleeting moments of bias and stereotyping can make minorities feel unwelcome in science classrooms. Can documenting those moments help?
Undark, 8 October 2018
Science and Culture: Cancer researcher looks to artists for inspiration
Scientist creates network to bring open-ended, intuitive thinking of artists into the practice of biomedical research
PNAS Front Matter, 30 Jan 2018
Experimental Huntington's therapy shows promise in a small trial
Drugs that disrupt production of toxic proteins in the brain could work for various degenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
Scientific American, 16 Jan 2018
Could a zap to the brain derail destructive impulses?
A brain implant already used to treat severe epilepsy might also help fend off impulses to abuse drugs or overeat before they happen, researchers say. But so far it's been tested mostly in mice.
NPR, 18 Dec 2017
Ultrasound for the brain
Ultrasonic energy can be harnessed to alter brain activity and treat disease—but first, scientists need to learn how it works.
Nature, 7 Nov 2017
This Chicana chemist is paying it forward to support students from underrepresented groups
Science Careers, 18 Oct 2017
Could the 'Alzheimer's gene' finally become a drug target?
Shutting down the top risk gene holds potential for halting the disease process
Scientific American, 11 Oct 2017
Tackle negative thinking head-on to boost diversity in biomedicine
One California university is trying a new strategy to help minority students perform better in STEM classes and develop the mental resilience to face future challenges.
NPR, 16 Sep 2017
Tanzania gears up to become a nation of medical drones
Drones have delivered everything from pizza to condoms to hot dogs. In Tanzania, they have a bold new mission.
NPR, 24 Aug 2017
Glycobiology: Sweet success
Biologists are diving into sugar-molecule research thanks to new tools and techniques.
Nature, 5 July 2017.
Seeding the field
As a pioneer in plant behavioral studies, Joanne Chory set the stage for a generation of scientists.
HHMI, June 2017
Wanted: More data, the dirtier the better
The computational immunologist Purvesh Khatri embraces messy data as a way to capture the messiness of disease. As a result, he’s making elusive genomic discoveries.
Quanta, 6 June 2017
The secret power of the cell's waste bin
Trash collectors in the cell moonlight at the controls of the genetic machinery.
Quanta, 25 Apr 2017
Could magnetic brain stimulation help people with Alzheimer's?
A technology that uses magnetism to regulate neural activity shows a small benefit in patients with mild forms of the disease.
Scientific American, 18 May 2017
Cancer cells cast a sweet spell on the immune system (PDF)
Researchers try to wake up immune cells by focusing on the sugars on the tumor surface.
Science News, 21 March 2017.
** Winner of 2018 AACR Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism **
NIH extends support for genomics catalog
New funds will support efforts to characterize gene regulatory elements in various cell types.
Cancer Discovery, 3 March 2017
A faster, cheaper TB test
Guts and chance led a teenage immigrant to lab success.
Stanford Magazine, March/April 2017 (PDF version)
Brain imaging identifies different types of depression
Biological markers could allow tailored therapies that target individual differences in symptoms.
Scientific American, 21 Feb 2017
Neuroscience: Big brain, big data
Neuroscientists are starting to share and integrate data — but shifting to a team approach isn't easy.
Nature, 25 Jan 2017.
See accompanying blog
Do DIY brain-booster devices work?
Zapping the cranium may juice up neuron circuits, and use is rising — but there might be a cognitive price
Scientific American, 10 Jan 2017
They never told her that girls could become scientists
Now she knows they can. Mireille Kamariza, who grew up in Burundi, is a graduate student at Stanford, working on a promising new test to detect the TB bacteria.
NPR, 7 Jan 2017
Do it yourself? When the research becomes the subject
Scientists studying themselves must weigh the benefits and the potential complications
Science Careers, 5 Dec 2016
Implant traps cancer cells on the move
Husband-wife team creates implant to catch migrating cancer cells before they form new tumors
Science News for Students, 2 Dec 2016
Crafting prostheses with form, function and flair
Applying an artist’s mindset to engineering projects can be transformative
PNAS Front Matter, 22 Nov 2016
Scientists tackle lethal childhood brain cancer
In precision medicine era, legacy gifts of patient brain tissue reveal disease mechanisms and new therapeutic approaches
Scientific American, 28 Oct 2016
Bananas under attack: Understanding their foes
New genetic studies could help researchers gain the upper hand against fungi that infect bananas.
Science News for Students, 12 Oct 2016
Will a drone be delivering your medicine?
Doctors, hospitals and entrepreneurs say drones could become a faster, cheaper way to deliver medical tests.
NPR, 13 Sep 2016
Rare diseases and rare opportunities
Drawn to both research and medicine, biochemical geneticist thrives after choosing saner schedule.
Science Careers, 12 Sep 2016
Inner Workings: Light-controlled cellular surgery
Researchers have developed a laser-powered nanoblade to quickly and reliably deliver antibodies, proteins, or even life-saving drugs into cells.
PNAS Front Matter, 30 Aug 2016
Genes that control toxin production in C. difficile ID'd
New finding could lead to better ways to disarm gut-wrenching superbug.
Science News, 16 Aug 2016
Could trashing junk proteins quash Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS and Huntington's?
Scientists search for the Marie Kondo of the brain—a drug to clear cellular debris.
Scientific American, 26 July 2016
Scientific literature: Information overload
How to manage the research-paper deluge? Blogs, colleagues and social media can all help.
Nature, 21 July 2016
Reconstituting the human immune system
To study checkpoint blockers and other new immunotherapies, researchers are reconstituting the human immune system in immunodeficient mouse models.
Cancer Discovery, 12 July 2016
Enhancing PD-1 blockade in solid tumors
Combination therapy with the investigational drug utomilumab plus pembrolizumab is safe and well-tolerated in patients with solid cancers.
Cancer Discovery, 1 July 2016
Learning bioinformatics
In today's data-heavy research environment, wet-lab scientists can benefit from new computational skills.
The Scientist, 1 July 2016
Lab mice are poor models of the human immune system
But housing ultraclean lab rodents with “dirty” mice from pet stores could help.
Scientific American, 1 July 2016
Gene-editing tool used to map lineage of cells
Researchers have repurposed CRISPR, the popular gene-editing tool, for tracing cell lineages in whole organisms.
Spectrum News, 29 June 2016
Science and Culture: Putting a game face on biomedical research
Biomedical researchers and gamers are joining forces to devise novel interactive games that tackle disease.
PNAS Front Matter, 15 June 2016
Obscure disease may offer backdoor to new treatments for Alzheimer's and other killers
Progressive supranuclear palsy has become a test bed for therapies aimed at the tau protein thought to be behind many devastating neurodegenerative disorders.
Scientific American, 8 June 2016
Healthiest weight just might be 'overweight'
Long-term study in Denmark suggests that optimum body mass index is on the rise.
Science News, 11 May 2016
When pregnant women get flu shots, babies are healthier
Babies are much less likely to get the flu in their first months of life if mom got a flu shot while she was pregnant, a study finds. Yet most expectant mothers don't get immunized.
NPR, 7 May 2016
Can an online game help create a better test for TB?
In a vote of confidence for citizen science, researchers who created an online RNA-folding game launched the project's first challenge aimed at a disease — creating a better tuberculosis test.
NPR, 2 May 2016
Uncovering new players in the fight against Alzheimer's
Research on a key brain immune cell suggests it is a tantalizing but slippery target for new therapies.
Scientific American, 20 Apr 2016
A journalist's guide to Alzheimer's disease and drug development (PDF)
Written for HHMI's Tangled Bank Studios to accompany a NOVA documentary that aired 13 Apr 2016 on PBS. Aimed at lay readers and general reporters.
Gotcha! New test stalks diseases early
Chemists adapt a DNA test to measure proteins that mark HIV, cancer and more.
Science News for Students, 12 Apr 2016
Fattier yeast live long and prosper
Boosting a fat-storing molecule helped one-celled yeast live longer.
Science News for Students, 1 Apr 2016
Computing the gut
How are mathematics and systems approaches shedding light on gut formation and microbial interaction?
Biomedical Computation Review, 1 Apr 2016
Could We Clone a Mammoth? (PDF)
Extinction is forever. Or is it?
Ask, March 2016.
FDA Approves Eribulin for Advanced Liposarcoma
Chemo drug improved overall survival by about 7 months compared with a commonly used chemotherapy, dacarbazine.
Cancer Discovery, 3 Feb 2016
Red flags
A simple, five-minute test could make earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer's possible.
Quartz, 28 Jan 2016
Is dementia risk falling?
Cases are more prevalent but the risk of cognitive decline shows a surprising drop in some countries.
Scientific American, 25 Jan 2016
Do market incentives push R&D toward advanced cancer?
Economic research suggests patent system deincentivizes investment in therapies for early-stage disease; experts say it's more complicated.
Cancer Discovery, 19 Jan 2016
The human element: Bringing science to life with profiles
Experienced journalists share tips on writing in depth about a scientist’s life or using profile techniques to enhance the narrative of science features.
The Open Notebook, 15 Dec 2015
Got just a single observation? New journal will publish it
Matters wants discrete findings rather than complete stories.
ScienceInsider, 2 Dec 2015
Innate immune cells may prevent metastasis
Patrolling monocytes play a preemptive anticancer role by engulfing tumor cells and slowing their spread.
Cancer Discovery, 16 Nov 2015
Two companies seek FDA approval for brain games to treat ADHD
Interactive games show some success in small, preliminary studies, but scientists have reservations.
Scientific American, 2 Nov 2015
Early BLAST off
Bringing bioinformatics to secondary schools
Biomedical Computation Review, Fall 2015
Harnessing serendipity
Along unpredictable paths to discovery, Peter Walter has maintained a sure-footed approach – to the science as well as to the people he mentors.
HHMI Bulletin, Fall 2015
How a new father's brain changes
Dad's mental shifts are different from mom's.
Scientific American Mind, Sep/Oct 2015
Implantable devices could monitor tumors without MRI
Biochemical sensor could tell doctors how well a treatment is working in a matter of days.
Cancer Discovery, 4 September 2015
Plant 'vampires' lie in wait
Study reveals how some weeds sense when to reach out and and begin feeding on a neighbor.
Science News for Students, 1 September 2015
Phoning in earthquakes
Networks of mobile devices could detect tremors and allow early warning of big shakes to come.
Science News for Students, 14 August 2015
Device captures CTC clusters in blood
A new device captures clusters of circulating tumor cells directly from patient blood without using antibodies or chemical labels.
Cancer Discovery, 8 July 2015
Crowdsourcing to experts: the DREAM challenges
Wooed by prize money, researchers develop computational models for a variety of translational medicine challenges.
Biomedical Computation Review, 3 June 2015
Citizen science
Getting cheap, reliable help from lay workers
Biomedical Computation Review, 3 June 2015
Why your immune system doesn't eat you alive
Contrary to conventional wisdom, T cells that cause autoimmune disease actually abound in the body but are held in check.
Scientific American, 21 May 2015
Researchers turn to volunteer readers to speed research on rare genetic disorder
Mark2Cure curation project aims to review up to 10,000 papers.
ScienceInsider, 21 May 2015
Devices test drugs in patient tumors
New research is paving the way for multidrug testing within malignant tumors. The technology may help physicians select therapies for their patients.
Cancer Discovery, 20 May 2015
Do mosquitoes love you? Blame your parents
Your genes can make you produce signature scents that attract — or repel — biting insects.
Science News for Students, 11 May 2015
CTCs could shorten drug trials
Circulating tumor cells and blood levels of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase predicted survival in patients with metastatic prostate cancer.
Cancer Discovery, 16 April 2015
Ants in space (PDF)
Learning how ants search is helping scientists design robots and may help them better understand the brain, the Internet, and other complex systems.
Muse, March 2015
Skip the soft drinks, period
Girls who drink sodas and other sweetened beverages could have their first menstrual period at a younger age.
Science News for Students, 13 February 2015
Study illuminates how cancers evade EGFR inhibitors
Inactive EGFR binds another oncoprotein, LAPTM4B, in endosomes, and together they trigger autophagy, a cytoprotective mechanism in cancer.
Cancer Discovery, 13 February 2015
Curb the aging brain's distractibility with practice
Learning to filter out unwanted information can bring older adults' focus back to young adult levels.
Scientific American Mind, 12 February 2015
Catching Alzheimer's before memory slips
Can a five-minute eye-tracking test warn of disease to come?
Scientific American, 12 February 2015
Bright pink sea slugs invading new habitats due to global warming?
The colorful invertebrates have invaded the central and northern California coast—and scientists aren't exactly tickled pink.
National Geographic, 6 February 2015
Your immune system is made, not born
New research dispels the belief that the strength of the body's defense system is genetically programmed.
Scientific American, 29 January 2015
Resilient hearts for deep-sea divers
A new instrument package gives insights into how diving mammals can work so hard while holding their breaths for a really long time.
Science News for Students, 26 January 2015
Immunity meets metabolism
Long associated with allergies and parasitic infections, a rare immune cell now appears to have a role in other bodily processes as well.
HHMI Bulletin, Winter 2015
Thunderstorms can generate powerful radiation
Lightning storms churn out high-energy radiation seen by spacecraft hundreds of miles away.
Science News for Students, 5 January 2015
Banish procrastination by thinking differently about deadlines
Trick your brain into meeting any due date.
Scientific American Mind, 18 December 2015
Can soft drinks speed aging?
Drinking 8 ounces of sweetened soda daily inflicts 1.9 extra years of aging on your cell, a new study concludes.
Science News for Students, 25 November 2014
Research re-examined
New claims get all the attention, even if they're exaggerated or false.
Stanford Medicine, Fall 2014
Repelling germs with 'sharkskin'
Bacteria have a tough time sticking to surfaces with shark-like roughness.
Science News for Students, 3 October 2014
Mathilde Krim's life of causes
AIDS scientist-activist resolves "never to tolerate injustice."
Life Sciences Foundation magazine, Fall 2014
Plants 'listen' for danger
The sound of a leaf-munching caterpillar triggers chemical defenses in plants.
Science News for Students, 3 September 2014
Superbugs: a silent health emergency
Bacteria are outsmarting antibiotics to an alarming degree.
Science News for Students, 10 July 2014
Probing Huntington's origins
Computational approaches may lead to earlier interventions.
Biomedical Computation Review, 18 June 2014
Finding may explain why women more likely develop Alzheimer's
A common gene variant that raises risk for the disease seems less menacing in men.
ScienceNOW, 14 April 2014
Why is dark chocolate good for you? Ask your gut
ScienceNOW, 18 March 2014
Mobilizing big data to understand mobility
In a win-win for patients and researchers, big biomechanics data has arrived.
Biomedical Computation Review, 1 March 2014
Two recent studies look promising, but drug companies have no incentive to spend millions to test new uses for cheap, off-patent drugs. As a result, efforts to repurpose drugs have fallen to philanthropists.
Kaiser Health News, 29 March 2021
Detecting Alzheimer's gets easier with a simple blood test
New assays could reduce the need for costlier, more invasive brain scans and spinal fluid measures
Scientific American, 4 February 2021
Could the immune system be key to Alzheimer's disease?
Increasing evidence suggests that chronic inflammation takes a toll on the brain over the course of a lifetime
Knowable Magazine, 2 February 2021
The antidepressant fluvoxamine could keep mild COVID-19 from worsening
A real-world study and data from animal and cell studies confirm earlier clinical trial results
Science News, 1 February 2021
Seven technologies to watch in 2021
COVID considerations unsurprisingly dominate the tech developments that could have a big impact in the coming year
Nature, 26 January 2021
How a Medication for OCD Ended Up in a Covid-19 Trial
In a small study, the drug kept patients with mild symptoms from worsening. If it holds up in a larger test, it could help keep more people out of hospitals.
Wired, 19 November 2020
Probing fine-scale connections in the brain
Artificial intelligence and improved microscopy make it feasible to map the nervous system at ever-higher resolution.
Nature, 19 October 2020
An immune protein could prevent severe COVID-19 — if it is given at the right time
The antiviral interferon might help early but exacerbate disease in later stages.
Scientific American, 7 September 2020
Puberty can repair the brain's stress responses after hardship early in life (or PDF)
Adolescence could be a time to reset the system that helps people cope with stress.
Science News, 28 August 2020
Turning anger into action: Minority students analyze COVID data on racial disparities
Kaiser Health News, 13 August 2020
Cheap generics might treat COVID-19, but obstacles abound (or PDF version*)
Medscape, 24 July 2020
What's new in food allergy etiquette?
A record number of kids and adults are in danger of suffering serious allergic reactions to everyday foods the rest of us eat without a second thought. Here's how to be a good neighbor and make our shared spaces safe and fun for everyone.
Real Simple, June 2020
Could gut microbes be key to solving food allergies?
New therapeutics are testing whether protective bacteria can dampen harmful immune responses to food
Knowable Magazine, 21 May 2020
These data science wizards tell us what's really happening with coronavirus
Find out if the curve is flattening where you live, how other states compare, and how flat the curve really needs to get.
Popular Mechanics, 28 April 2020
'Spider-Man' immune response may promote severe COVID-19
Clinical trials have begun to test drugs that counter toxic molecular webs linked to lung distress.
Scientific American, 28 April 2020
Deep learning takes on tumours
Artificial-intelligence methods are moving into cancer research.
Nature, 21 April 2020
Could newly found 'peacekeeping' cells be a weapon against COVID-19?
In mice, these white blood cells tamp down inflammation in the lungs.
Scientific American, 27 March 2020
Leaving a legacy (or PDF*)
Two mothers, each with a son who died of brain cancer, worked together to increase awareness and acceptance of tumor tissue donation.
Cancer Today, March 2020
*large (>33 MB) file on Google Drive
Microbial chemistry gains fresh focus
The tools of chemical biology, genomics and data mining can yield insights into the metabolites of the microbiome.
Nature, 24 September 2019
Why parents are turning to a controversial treatment for food allergies?
An idea based on a century-old concept could soon receive FDA approval. But will it cause more anxiety than relief?
Undark, 5 August 2019
Nanohealers (or PDF)
Tiny particles cloaked in cell membranes sop up blood toxins and calm inflammation
Science News, 16 March 2019
A new treatment can relieve food allergies, but few doctors offer it
Some patients have started to seek out an oral treatment for food allergies that's not yet widely offered by clinicians.
NPR, 21 February 2019
Why don't more humans eat bugs?
Around the world, at least 2 billion people routinely consume insects. One anthropologist believes geography and colonization can explain why some populations are too squeamish to stomach such foods.
SAPIENS, 30 November 2018
The biology of sugars points to a sweet strategy for treating cancer
Long-ignored field attracts interest from companies trying to develop next-generation immune therapies.
Scientific American, 28 November 2018
Why can't bugs be grub?
Researchers are studying why some people think eating insects is gross—and how to change that
Science News for Students, 19 November 2018
Scientists and parents band together to research cures for rare childhood cancer
A research start-up is connecting parents with scientists in hopes of sparking new research on diseases whose survival rates and treatment options haven't budged in 30 years.
NPR, 26 October 2018
Reset your DNA to slow the clock
A new epigenetic test that tracks molecular aging claims to show you how to stay biologically young.
NEO.LIFE, 25 October 2018
Building diversity in science, one interaction at a time
Even fleeting moments of bias and stereotyping can make minorities feel unwelcome in science classrooms. Can documenting those moments help?
Undark, 8 October 2018
Science and Culture: Cancer researcher looks to artists for inspiration
Scientist creates network to bring open-ended, intuitive thinking of artists into the practice of biomedical research
PNAS Front Matter, 30 Jan 2018
Experimental Huntington's therapy shows promise in a small trial
Drugs that disrupt production of toxic proteins in the brain could work for various degenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
Scientific American, 16 Jan 2018
Could a zap to the brain derail destructive impulses?
A brain implant already used to treat severe epilepsy might also help fend off impulses to abuse drugs or overeat before they happen, researchers say. But so far it's been tested mostly in mice.
NPR, 18 Dec 2017
Ultrasound for the brain
Ultrasonic energy can be harnessed to alter brain activity and treat disease—but first, scientists need to learn how it works.
Nature, 7 Nov 2017
This Chicana chemist is paying it forward to support students from underrepresented groups
Science Careers, 18 Oct 2017
Could the 'Alzheimer's gene' finally become a drug target?
Shutting down the top risk gene holds potential for halting the disease process
Scientific American, 11 Oct 2017
Tackle negative thinking head-on to boost diversity in biomedicine
One California university is trying a new strategy to help minority students perform better in STEM classes and develop the mental resilience to face future challenges.
NPR, 16 Sep 2017
Tanzania gears up to become a nation of medical drones
Drones have delivered everything from pizza to condoms to hot dogs. In Tanzania, they have a bold new mission.
NPR, 24 Aug 2017
Glycobiology: Sweet success
Biologists are diving into sugar-molecule research thanks to new tools and techniques.
Nature, 5 July 2017.
Seeding the field
As a pioneer in plant behavioral studies, Joanne Chory set the stage for a generation of scientists.
HHMI, June 2017
Wanted: More data, the dirtier the better
The computational immunologist Purvesh Khatri embraces messy data as a way to capture the messiness of disease. As a result, he’s making elusive genomic discoveries.
Quanta, 6 June 2017
The secret power of the cell's waste bin
Trash collectors in the cell moonlight at the controls of the genetic machinery.
Quanta, 25 Apr 2017
Could magnetic brain stimulation help people with Alzheimer's?
A technology that uses magnetism to regulate neural activity shows a small benefit in patients with mild forms of the disease.
Scientific American, 18 May 2017
Cancer cells cast a sweet spell on the immune system (PDF)
Researchers try to wake up immune cells by focusing on the sugars on the tumor surface.
Science News, 21 March 2017.
** Winner of 2018 AACR Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism **
NIH extends support for genomics catalog
New funds will support efforts to characterize gene regulatory elements in various cell types.
Cancer Discovery, 3 March 2017
A faster, cheaper TB test
Guts and chance led a teenage immigrant to lab success.
Stanford Magazine, March/April 2017 (PDF version)
Brain imaging identifies different types of depression
Biological markers could allow tailored therapies that target individual differences in symptoms.
Scientific American, 21 Feb 2017
Neuroscience: Big brain, big data
Neuroscientists are starting to share and integrate data — but shifting to a team approach isn't easy.
Nature, 25 Jan 2017.
See accompanying blog
Do DIY brain-booster devices work?
Zapping the cranium may juice up neuron circuits, and use is rising — but there might be a cognitive price
Scientific American, 10 Jan 2017
They never told her that girls could become scientists
Now she knows they can. Mireille Kamariza, who grew up in Burundi, is a graduate student at Stanford, working on a promising new test to detect the TB bacteria.
NPR, 7 Jan 2017
Do it yourself? When the research becomes the subject
Scientists studying themselves must weigh the benefits and the potential complications
Science Careers, 5 Dec 2016
Implant traps cancer cells on the move
Husband-wife team creates implant to catch migrating cancer cells before they form new tumors
Science News for Students, 2 Dec 2016
Crafting prostheses with form, function and flair
Applying an artist’s mindset to engineering projects can be transformative
PNAS Front Matter, 22 Nov 2016
Scientists tackle lethal childhood brain cancer
In precision medicine era, legacy gifts of patient brain tissue reveal disease mechanisms and new therapeutic approaches
Scientific American, 28 Oct 2016
Bananas under attack: Understanding their foes
New genetic studies could help researchers gain the upper hand against fungi that infect bananas.
Science News for Students, 12 Oct 2016
Will a drone be delivering your medicine?
Doctors, hospitals and entrepreneurs say drones could become a faster, cheaper way to deliver medical tests.
NPR, 13 Sep 2016
Rare diseases and rare opportunities
Drawn to both research and medicine, biochemical geneticist thrives after choosing saner schedule.
Science Careers, 12 Sep 2016
Inner Workings: Light-controlled cellular surgery
Researchers have developed a laser-powered nanoblade to quickly and reliably deliver antibodies, proteins, or even life-saving drugs into cells.
PNAS Front Matter, 30 Aug 2016
Genes that control toxin production in C. difficile ID'd
New finding could lead to better ways to disarm gut-wrenching superbug.
Science News, 16 Aug 2016
Could trashing junk proteins quash Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS and Huntington's?
Scientists search for the Marie Kondo of the brain—a drug to clear cellular debris.
Scientific American, 26 July 2016
Scientific literature: Information overload
How to manage the research-paper deluge? Blogs, colleagues and social media can all help.
Nature, 21 July 2016
Reconstituting the human immune system
To study checkpoint blockers and other new immunotherapies, researchers are reconstituting the human immune system in immunodeficient mouse models.
Cancer Discovery, 12 July 2016
Enhancing PD-1 blockade in solid tumors
Combination therapy with the investigational drug utomilumab plus pembrolizumab is safe and well-tolerated in patients with solid cancers.
Cancer Discovery, 1 July 2016
Learning bioinformatics
In today's data-heavy research environment, wet-lab scientists can benefit from new computational skills.
The Scientist, 1 July 2016
Lab mice are poor models of the human immune system
But housing ultraclean lab rodents with “dirty” mice from pet stores could help.
Scientific American, 1 July 2016
Gene-editing tool used to map lineage of cells
Researchers have repurposed CRISPR, the popular gene-editing tool, for tracing cell lineages in whole organisms.
Spectrum News, 29 June 2016
Science and Culture: Putting a game face on biomedical research
Biomedical researchers and gamers are joining forces to devise novel interactive games that tackle disease.
PNAS Front Matter, 15 June 2016
Obscure disease may offer backdoor to new treatments for Alzheimer's and other killers
Progressive supranuclear palsy has become a test bed for therapies aimed at the tau protein thought to be behind many devastating neurodegenerative disorders.
Scientific American, 8 June 2016
Healthiest weight just might be 'overweight'
Long-term study in Denmark suggests that optimum body mass index is on the rise.
Science News, 11 May 2016
When pregnant women get flu shots, babies are healthier
Babies are much less likely to get the flu in their first months of life if mom got a flu shot while she was pregnant, a study finds. Yet most expectant mothers don't get immunized.
NPR, 7 May 2016
Can an online game help create a better test for TB?
In a vote of confidence for citizen science, researchers who created an online RNA-folding game launched the project's first challenge aimed at a disease — creating a better tuberculosis test.
NPR, 2 May 2016
Uncovering new players in the fight against Alzheimer's
Research on a key brain immune cell suggests it is a tantalizing but slippery target for new therapies.
Scientific American, 20 Apr 2016
A journalist's guide to Alzheimer's disease and drug development (PDF)
Written for HHMI's Tangled Bank Studios to accompany a NOVA documentary that aired 13 Apr 2016 on PBS. Aimed at lay readers and general reporters.
Gotcha! New test stalks diseases early
Chemists adapt a DNA test to measure proteins that mark HIV, cancer and more.
Science News for Students, 12 Apr 2016
Fattier yeast live long and prosper
Boosting a fat-storing molecule helped one-celled yeast live longer.
Science News for Students, 1 Apr 2016
Computing the gut
How are mathematics and systems approaches shedding light on gut formation and microbial interaction?
Biomedical Computation Review, 1 Apr 2016
Could We Clone a Mammoth? (PDF)
Extinction is forever. Or is it?
Ask, March 2016.
FDA Approves Eribulin for Advanced Liposarcoma
Chemo drug improved overall survival by about 7 months compared with a commonly used chemotherapy, dacarbazine.
Cancer Discovery, 3 Feb 2016
Red flags
A simple, five-minute test could make earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer's possible.
Quartz, 28 Jan 2016
Is dementia risk falling?
Cases are more prevalent but the risk of cognitive decline shows a surprising drop in some countries.
Scientific American, 25 Jan 2016
Do market incentives push R&D toward advanced cancer?
Economic research suggests patent system deincentivizes investment in therapies for early-stage disease; experts say it's more complicated.
Cancer Discovery, 19 Jan 2016
The human element: Bringing science to life with profiles
Experienced journalists share tips on writing in depth about a scientist’s life or using profile techniques to enhance the narrative of science features.
The Open Notebook, 15 Dec 2015
Got just a single observation? New journal will publish it
Matters wants discrete findings rather than complete stories.
ScienceInsider, 2 Dec 2015
Innate immune cells may prevent metastasis
Patrolling monocytes play a preemptive anticancer role by engulfing tumor cells and slowing their spread.
Cancer Discovery, 16 Nov 2015
Two companies seek FDA approval for brain games to treat ADHD
Interactive games show some success in small, preliminary studies, but scientists have reservations.
Scientific American, 2 Nov 2015
Early BLAST off
Bringing bioinformatics to secondary schools
Biomedical Computation Review, Fall 2015
Harnessing serendipity
Along unpredictable paths to discovery, Peter Walter has maintained a sure-footed approach – to the science as well as to the people he mentors.
HHMI Bulletin, Fall 2015
How a new father's brain changes
Dad's mental shifts are different from mom's.
Scientific American Mind, Sep/Oct 2015
Implantable devices could monitor tumors without MRI
Biochemical sensor could tell doctors how well a treatment is working in a matter of days.
Cancer Discovery, 4 September 2015
Plant 'vampires' lie in wait
Study reveals how some weeds sense when to reach out and and begin feeding on a neighbor.
Science News for Students, 1 September 2015
Phoning in earthquakes
Networks of mobile devices could detect tremors and allow early warning of big shakes to come.
Science News for Students, 14 August 2015
Device captures CTC clusters in blood
A new device captures clusters of circulating tumor cells directly from patient blood without using antibodies or chemical labels.
Cancer Discovery, 8 July 2015
Crowdsourcing to experts: the DREAM challenges
Wooed by prize money, researchers develop computational models for a variety of translational medicine challenges.
Biomedical Computation Review, 3 June 2015
Citizen science
Getting cheap, reliable help from lay workers
Biomedical Computation Review, 3 June 2015
Why your immune system doesn't eat you alive
Contrary to conventional wisdom, T cells that cause autoimmune disease actually abound in the body but are held in check.
Scientific American, 21 May 2015
Researchers turn to volunteer readers to speed research on rare genetic disorder
Mark2Cure curation project aims to review up to 10,000 papers.
ScienceInsider, 21 May 2015
Devices test drugs in patient tumors
New research is paving the way for multidrug testing within malignant tumors. The technology may help physicians select therapies for their patients.
Cancer Discovery, 20 May 2015
Do mosquitoes love you? Blame your parents
Your genes can make you produce signature scents that attract — or repel — biting insects.
Science News for Students, 11 May 2015
CTCs could shorten drug trials
Circulating tumor cells and blood levels of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase predicted survival in patients with metastatic prostate cancer.
Cancer Discovery, 16 April 2015
Ants in space (PDF)
Learning how ants search is helping scientists design robots and may help them better understand the brain, the Internet, and other complex systems.
Muse, March 2015
Skip the soft drinks, period
Girls who drink sodas and other sweetened beverages could have their first menstrual period at a younger age.
Science News for Students, 13 February 2015
Study illuminates how cancers evade EGFR inhibitors
Inactive EGFR binds another oncoprotein, LAPTM4B, in endosomes, and together they trigger autophagy, a cytoprotective mechanism in cancer.
Cancer Discovery, 13 February 2015
Curb the aging brain's distractibility with practice
Learning to filter out unwanted information can bring older adults' focus back to young adult levels.
Scientific American Mind, 12 February 2015
Catching Alzheimer's before memory slips
Can a five-minute eye-tracking test warn of disease to come?
Scientific American, 12 February 2015
Bright pink sea slugs invading new habitats due to global warming?
The colorful invertebrates have invaded the central and northern California coast—and scientists aren't exactly tickled pink.
National Geographic, 6 February 2015
Your immune system is made, not born
New research dispels the belief that the strength of the body's defense system is genetically programmed.
Scientific American, 29 January 2015
Resilient hearts for deep-sea divers
A new instrument package gives insights into how diving mammals can work so hard while holding their breaths for a really long time.
Science News for Students, 26 January 2015
Immunity meets metabolism
Long associated with allergies and parasitic infections, a rare immune cell now appears to have a role in other bodily processes as well.
HHMI Bulletin, Winter 2015
Thunderstorms can generate powerful radiation
Lightning storms churn out high-energy radiation seen by spacecraft hundreds of miles away.
Science News for Students, 5 January 2015
Banish procrastination by thinking differently about deadlines
Trick your brain into meeting any due date.
Scientific American Mind, 18 December 2015
Can soft drinks speed aging?
Drinking 8 ounces of sweetened soda daily inflicts 1.9 extra years of aging on your cell, a new study concludes.
Science News for Students, 25 November 2014
Research re-examined
New claims get all the attention, even if they're exaggerated or false.
Stanford Medicine, Fall 2014
Repelling germs with 'sharkskin'
Bacteria have a tough time sticking to surfaces with shark-like roughness.
Science News for Students, 3 October 2014
Mathilde Krim's life of causes
AIDS scientist-activist resolves "never to tolerate injustice."
Life Sciences Foundation magazine, Fall 2014
Plants 'listen' for danger
The sound of a leaf-munching caterpillar triggers chemical defenses in plants.
Science News for Students, 3 September 2014
Superbugs: a silent health emergency
Bacteria are outsmarting antibiotics to an alarming degree.
Science News for Students, 10 July 2014
Probing Huntington's origins
Computational approaches may lead to earlier interventions.
Biomedical Computation Review, 18 June 2014
Finding may explain why women more likely develop Alzheimer's
A common gene variant that raises risk for the disease seems less menacing in men.
ScienceNOW, 14 April 2014
Why is dark chocolate good for you? Ask your gut
ScienceNOW, 18 March 2014
Mobilizing big data to understand mobility
In a win-win for patients and researchers, big biomechanics data has arrived.
Biomedical Computation Review, 1 March 2014
