Collaborate Disseminate
By fitting microparticle ‘backpacks’ to important inflammatory cells called macrophages, researchers significantly reduced lesion size and inflammation caused by traumatic brain injury. Working with biology rather than against it, this novel approach h… Continue reading Cells wearing ‘backpacks’ shrink traumatic brain injury lesions by 56%
Researchers have used human tracheal cells to create tiny biological robots that can move on their own and work together to encourage healing in damaged neurons without requiring genetic modifications. The tiny bots have the potential to transform rege… Continue reading Tiny biobots made from human cells promote neuron growth without DNA mods
The immune system is incredibly complex, but a new breakthrough could help scientists unravel more of its secrets. Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute have created a more accurate model of the human immune system in a microfluidic chip, providing a… Continue reading Immune-system-on-a-chip could speed up future vaccine development
After losing a limb, animals like axolotls have the amazing ability to regrow a fully functional replacement, while most other creatures can only look on in envy. But in a breakthrough new study, scientists have demonstrated how a single dose of a drug… Continue reading Drug cocktail regrows frog legs in regenerative medicine breakthrough
Injured tendons are notoriously tricky to repair. Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute have now developed a two-faced biomaterial that can improve healing, with one side that firmly sticks to tendons, while a low-friction outer surface keeps it glid… Continue reading Slug-slime-inspired biomaterial speeds repair of injured tendons
If the idea of living robots made out of frog cells isn’t quite weird enough for you, how about living robots made out of frog cells with the ability to reproduce? These first-of-a-kind “Xenobots” are not just a marvel of modern bioengineering that cou… Continue reading Self-replicating Xenobots represent new form of biological reproduction
Perforations in the eardrum lead to pain and impaired hearing, and can be tricky to repair. The PhonoGraft, developed by Harvard scientists, is a 3D-printed implant that can patch up the damage by encouraging natural cells to regrow, and now it’s enter… Continue reading Harvard’s 3D-printed eardrum repair patch is ready for market
CRISPR-Cas9 is a revolutionary gene-editing tool, but it’s not without its downsides. Now, scientists at Harvard have demonstrated an alternative genetic engineering system called Retron Library Recombineering (RLR), which works without cutting DNA and… Continue reading Harvard gene-editing tool “sneaks” DNA into cells without making cuts
Artificial intelligence is starting to combine with smartphone technology in ways that could have profound impacts on the way we monitor health, from tracking blood volume changes in diabetics to detecting concussions by filming the eyes. Using the tec… Continue reading AI uses “ugly duckling” technique to spot melanoma with high accuracy
Cancer has an unfortunate and often deadly tendency to spread through the body, and the most common location for secondary tumors to appear is the lungs. Now, scientists at Harvard’s Wyss Institute have developed a way to treat metastatic tumors in the… Continue reading “ImmunoBait” particles surf blood cells to fight metastatic lung tumors