Collaborate Disseminate
Scientists in Australia have demonstrated that clusters of brain cells in a lab dish can be taught to play Pong in an approximation of sentience. This is the first time that these cells have shown the ability to perform goal-directed tasks, and it open… Continue reading Brain cells in a lab dish “exhibit sentience” by learning to play Pong
In a world-first clinical trial, three babies have been born after receiving stem cell treatment for spina bifida. The treatment involves administering a stem cell patch to the fetus’ spine while still developing in the womb, and early results are prom… Continue reading World-first stem cell therapy trial treats spina bifida before birth
Cancer’s ability to spread through the body is one of its most devastating tricks. Scientists at Cambridge have now identified a protein that plays a key role in metastasis, which not only hints at a new potential treatment but reveals for the first ti… Continue reading Cambridge cancer breakthrough may prompt rethink of metastasis
Scientists in Germany have reported that five patients undergoing an experimental treatment for lupus have all entered remission for up to 17 months. The promising breakthrough came from the use of CAR T cell immunotherapy, an emerging treatment for di… Continue reading Five lupus patients enter long-lasting remission after immunotherapy
A new experimental treatment could help treat end-stage liver disease – by growing tiny new livers elsewhere in the patient’s bodies. The technique, pioneered by cell therapy company LyGenesis, is due to begin human clinical trials in the next few week… Continue reading Clinical trial will have patients grow multiple mini-livers internally
Researchers at the University of North Carolina (UNC) have discovered that a common lab molecule, used to label DNA, can trigger a runaway process that eventually leads to cell death. But the team says this could have a positive use too, as a potential… Continue reading A vicious cycle of DNA damage and repair could be turned against cancer
The immune system is our first and most powerful line of defense, but during long-term battles the T cell foot-soldiers can become exhausted. Now, researchers have identified a specific molecule that helps certain T cells refresh themselves, which coul… Continue reading T-cell-refreshing molecule could be key to preventing immune exhaustion
Scientists have demonstrated a new system that can restore crucial molecular and cellular functions in pigs one hour after death. Experiments showed that some tissue damage from loss of oxygen can be reversed, which could widen the organ transplantatio… Continue reading Scientists restore vital cellular functions to pigs one hour after death
Researchers have created synthetic mouse embryos out of stem cells, removing the need for sperm, eggs and even a womb. They were then grown to almost half the entire gestation period, at which point they had all of the organ progenitors, including a be… Continue reading Synthetic embryos grown from stem cells don’t need sperm or eggs
Researchers at the University of California Riverside (UC Riverside) have identified a single protein that seems to control when hair follicles die. Armed with this new information, it might eventually be possible to reverse the process and stimulate h… Continue reading Scientists identify hair loss regulator protein, could be reversible