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 version*)
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 file (>33 MB) 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.
Allergists debate anticipated FDA approval of a peanut allergy drug
Some question the need for a costly pill that's basically made of peanut flour. But with standardized capsules, more peanut allergy sufferers could gain access to a treatment now available to few.
NPR, 23 September 2019.
Making STEM education more welcoming to underrepresented minorities
Diversity programs are shifting their focus from just providing academic support to creating a learning environment that is more inclusive of people of different backgrounds.
The Scientist, 1 June 2019.
Nature Biotechnology's academic spinouts of 2018
Our annual survey highlights startups taking on gene therapy, adoptive immune cell therapy, gene editing, and drugs targeting RNA modifications and the unfolded protein response. Ken Garber, Esther Landhuis, Melanie Senior, Cormac Sheridan and Laura DeFrancesco report.
Nature Biotechnology, June 2019.
Nanohealers (or PDF)
Tiny particles cloaked in cell membranes sop up blood toxins and calm inflammation
Science News, 16 March 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.
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.
Could brain stimulation slow cancer?
Activating the reward system boosts anti-tumor immunity in mice.
Scientific American, 13 July 2018.
Single-cell approaches to immune profiling
Protein- and sequencing-based technologies are helping researchers to profile immune cells ever more deeply.
Nature, 24 May 2018.
Out of the cold
Warmer living conditions could make lab mice better models of human disease.
Lab Animal, May 2018
Outsourcing is in
As big pharma downsizes, contract research organizations are reaping the benefits.
Nature, 11 Apr 2018.
Medical cargo could be the gateway to routine drone deliveries
Proposals for drones to carry blood, trauma supplies and lab samples are awaiting approval by the Federal Aviation Administration. If the ideas get a green light, they could usher in a new drone age.
NPR, 10 Mar 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.
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 **
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.
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.
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.
Rare diseases and rare opportunities
Drawn to both research and medicine, biochemical geneticist thrives after choosing saner schedule.
Science Careers, 12 Sep 2016
Scientific literature: Information overload
How to manage the research-paper deluge? Blogs, colleagues and social media can all help.
Nature, 21 July 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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
Science, 21 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 Reviewm, 1 March 2014.
In mice, these white blood cells tamp down inflammation in the lungs.
Scientific American, 27 March 2020.
Leaving a legacy (or PDF version*)
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 file (>33 MB) 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.
Allergists debate anticipated FDA approval of a peanut allergy drug
Some question the need for a costly pill that's basically made of peanut flour. But with standardized capsules, more peanut allergy sufferers could gain access to a treatment now available to few.
NPR, 23 September 2019.
Making STEM education more welcoming to underrepresented minorities
Diversity programs are shifting their focus from just providing academic support to creating a learning environment that is more inclusive of people of different backgrounds.
The Scientist, 1 June 2019.
Nature Biotechnology's academic spinouts of 2018
Our annual survey highlights startups taking on gene therapy, adoptive immune cell therapy, gene editing, and drugs targeting RNA modifications and the unfolded protein response. Ken Garber, Esther Landhuis, Melanie Senior, Cormac Sheridan and Laura DeFrancesco report.
Nature Biotechnology, June 2019.
Nanohealers (or PDF)
Tiny particles cloaked in cell membranes sop up blood toxins and calm inflammation
Science News, 16 March 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.
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.
Could brain stimulation slow cancer?
Activating the reward system boosts anti-tumor immunity in mice.
Scientific American, 13 July 2018.
Single-cell approaches to immune profiling
Protein- and sequencing-based technologies are helping researchers to profile immune cells ever more deeply.
Nature, 24 May 2018.
Out of the cold
Warmer living conditions could make lab mice better models of human disease.
Lab Animal, May 2018
Outsourcing is in
As big pharma downsizes, contract research organizations are reaping the benefits.
Nature, 11 Apr 2018.
Medical cargo could be the gateway to routine drone deliveries
Proposals for drones to carry blood, trauma supplies and lab samples are awaiting approval by the Federal Aviation Administration. If the ideas get a green light, they could usher in a new drone age.
NPR, 10 Mar 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.
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 **
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.
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.
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.
Rare diseases and rare opportunities
Drawn to both research and medicine, biochemical geneticist thrives after choosing saner schedule.
Science Careers, 12 Sep 2016
Scientific literature: Information overload
How to manage the research-paper deluge? Blogs, colleagues and social media can all help.
Nature, 21 July 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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
Science, 21 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 Reviewm, 1 March 2014.
