Science and Health News

A new Concordia-Idunn Technologies research collaboration provides insights into how certain chemicals can slow biological aging

The new «smart cell patch» developed at UNC and NC State is a proof of principle to treat millions of people with type-1 and advanced type-2 diabetes.

DURHAM, N.C. — Neuroscientists at Duke Health have developed a brain-machine interface (BMI) that allows primates to use only their thoughts to navigate a robotic wheelchair. The BMI uses signals from hundreds of neurons recorded simultaneously in two regions of the monkeys’ brains that are involved in movement and sensation. As the animals think about moving toward their goal — in this case, a bowl containing fresh grapes — computers translate their brain activity into real-time operation of the wheelchair.

An amputee was able to feel smoothness and roughness in real-time with an artificial fingertip that was surgically connected to nerves in his upper arm. Moreover, the nerves of non-amputees can also be stimulated to feel roughness, without the need of surgery, meaning that prosthetic touch for amputees can now be developed and safely tested on intact individuals.

Many people who smoke want to quit, but the urge to light up is often irresistible. An effective vaccine to help people kick the habit once and for all has been elusive. But now, scientists report in ACS’ Journal of Medicinal Chemistry a new vaccine design that could help achieve this goal.

We are saddened to share that our patient, Lindsey, recently experienced a sudden complication that led to the removal of her transplanted uterus.

A Concordia study shows that education and physical activity can significantly slow down grey-matter aging

The skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is one of the most common types of cancer. 90 per cent of the population are at risk to develop it one day, notably because of their age and exposure to the sun UV-rays. Although common, this cancer is rarely fatal and has until now been little studied. But now geneticists at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, sequenced the DNA of these skin tumors, in order to determine the genes that are responsible for the cancerogenesis. Their discovery of new cancer genes that cause BCC can pave the way for new treatment methods personalized for each tumor. The results can be read in Nature Genetics.