The Science Advisory Board

Discovery of widespread DNA damage in stem cell lines spurs call for pre-use sequencing

More than 70% of stem cell lines derived from human skin cells have damage to their DNA that could compromis...

Repurposed drug shows promise in animal studies as potential therapy for ALS

A drug used to treat enlarged prostates and high bloo...

Nanoparticles protect mice from blood vessel rupture, offers potential therapy for abdominal aortic aneurysms in humans

Administration of small interfering RNA nanoparticle...

New molecular editing strategy empowers chemists to create novel drug candidates

A new unified late-stage “molecular editing” strateg...

CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing can give rise to cell toxicity, genomic instability: study

Gene editing using CRISPR-Cas9 can lead to cell toxicit...

Bioprocessing

NIH awards grants to launch experimental science rigor initiative
August 4, 2022 -- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded five new grants to launch an initiative designed to support education in the principles of rigorous scientific research. Read More

Thermo Fisher, Structura Biotechnology unveil particle analysis software
August 3, 2022 -- Thermo Fisher Scientific and Structura Biotechnology are partnering together on a new, single particle analysis software. The software will be a version of Structura's CryoSparc Live and will integrate with Thermo Fisher's Smart EPU software and cryo-transmission electron microscope technology. Read More

Cancer & Disease Research

High type of collagen equals higher metastasis
August 11, 2022 -- High levels of collagen type XII can make tumors more aggressive and trigger metastasis, according to research from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Australia. Read More

Protein key to diagnosing, treating some cancers
August 11, 2022 -- The pathway of a certain protein could lead to early diagnosis and targeted treatment of several cancers and brain disorders, according to Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland researchers. Read More

Cell & Gene Therapy

Timothy Hunt to take helm of ARM as new CEO
August 11, 2022 -- The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) has announced that Timothy Hunt will succeed Janet Lambert as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Washington, DC-based advocacy organization, which represents the cell and gene therapy industry. Read More

New technique could enable production of generic CAR T cells at scale
August 4, 2022 -- A Boston Children’s Hospital lab has developed a new method that could make chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy more widely available using induced pluripotent stem cells to develop mature immune cells. Read More

Cell Biology

Researchers further understanding of microglia, immune cells that reside in the brain
August 9, 2022 -- Harvard University and Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists have furthered the understanding of microglia, showing how these immune cells are prompted to change their state to adapt to different areas of the brain. Read More

AI, computer models of brain cells open door to experiments not possible in lab
August 9, 2022 -- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center researchers used artificial intelligence (AI) to create what they contend are the most realistic and complex computer models of individual brain cells to date, enabling biological experiments not currently possible in the laboratory. Read More

Drug Discovery & Development

Video from AACC: AACC president on Theranos, VALID Act
August 1, 2022 -- Dr. Stephen Master, president of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, provided his thoughts about the main highlights of the 2022 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo held this week in Chicago. Read More

New drug heals nervous system damage from stroke
August 1, 2022 -- A new drug can repair nervous system damage caused by a stroke, at least in animal studies. In a preclinical study, researchers from the University of Cincinnati and Case Western Reserve University have found that one drug resulted in significant improvement in motor function, sensory function, spatial learning, and memory. Read More

Genomics

‘Jumping gene’ affects immune system response, helps mice survive virus infections
August 11, 2022 -- Australian researchers have learned a particular transposable element, a “jumping gene,” has a profound effect on the immune response to virus infection, at least in mice. Read More

Spatial transcriptomics enables genetic mapping of tumors, revealing how cancers grow
August 10, 2022 -- Using spatial transcriptomics, researchers have created a cross-sectional map of a whole prostate, including areas of healthy and cancerous cells, providing genetic mapping of tumors that reveals how cancers grow. Read More

Immunology

Antibodies create broad SARS immune response: study
August 11, 2022 -- Scientists from Scripps Research have discovered certain antibodies are capable of immunity against many different SARS-CoV-2 variants, as well as other SARS viruses like SARS-CoV-1. Read More

Molecule inhibits drug-resistant bacteria in mice with pneumonia, UTIs
August 10, 2022 -- A new molecule that inhibits drug-resistant bacteria in laboratory experiments, as well as in mice with pneumonia and urinary tract infections (UTIs), has potential for treating stubborn infections in humans, according to researchers. Read More

Proteomics

Seer debuts new proteomic-mapping software
August 3, 2022 -- Seer has launched a new Proteogenomics Workflow that integrates deep proteomics with genomics and is powered by the Proteograph Analysis Suite 2.0. Read More

Video from AACC: Enzo BioChem CEO on COVID-19 test landscape
August 1, 2022 -- Enzo BioChem develops diagnostic tests and provides testing in centers throughout New York and its surrounding areas. CEO Hamid Erfanian spoke to us at AACC 2022 about the changes he sees in the in vitro diagnostics landscape as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves. Read More