Science and Health News

Technique clears toxic RNA buildup that causes myotonic dystrophy type I

A team led by Weill Cornell Medicine scientists has pioneered a method for manufacturing functioning human blood vessels and demonstrated that they can carry blood in lab-grown model organs and tumors. The discovery will enable disease modeling, and may facilitate the future production of human transplantable organs and identification of new precision drugs to treat cancer.

Phase II trial provides rationale for pursuing further study of dual checkpoint blockade

Researchers have discovered an unexpected potential weapon against HIV protein.

According to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, cancer is one of the most frequent causes of death, accounting for almost 25% of all deaths cases. Chemotherapy is often used as a treatment, but also brings side effects for healthy organs. Scientists around David Ng, group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, are now trying to take a completely different approach: By means of targeted and localized disruption of the cancer cells’ structure, its self-destruction mechanism can be activated. In laboratory experiments, they have already demonstrated initial successes.

Computer-designed, synthetic miniproteins act as potent, stable antivirals that block coronavirus infection of cultured human cells.

Engineering new tissues can be used to alleviate shortages of organs in transplantation, as well as to develop physiological models for drug discovery applications. One of the emerging approaches to building tissues is through 3D Printing, where cells and materials can be combined to make inks that can generate tissue structures. One of the limitations for making new tissues is that they require oxygen to survive. This oxygen is delivered through blood vessels, which take a few days to develop in a transplanted tissue.  

Fibroblast growth factor 1 effects on specific brain cell types, and on nets that enmesh neurons, inform how it restores blood sugar levels to normal in diabetic animals.