Bioengineering News and Research

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Researchers take major step forward in the development of microbial fuel cells

A UCLA-led team of engineers and chemists has taken a major step forward in the development of microbial fuel cells - a technology that utilizes natural bacteria to extract electrons from organic matter in wastewater to generate electrical currents.

17 Sep 2021

Research provides fundamental insight into motor planning under uncertainty

In baseball, a pitch can take as little as 400 milliseconds to reach the plate. With a typical reaction time of 200 milliseconds and a swing of about 150 milliseconds, a batter must decide whether to swing and how to swing based only on the first 10 to 20 percent of the ball's flight.

15 Sep 2021

New method for profiling tissue-specific secretory proteins in live mice

Researchers have presented a method for profiling tissue-specific secretory proteins in live mice. This method is expected to be applicable to various tissues or disease models for investigating biomarkers or therapeutic targets involved in disease progression.

14 Sep 2021

Emotional support and resilience can help mitigate the psychological effects of the pandemic

Health care workers with high resilience or strong emotional support were protected against the effects of stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic compared to those who had low emotional support or resilience, according to a study published September 13 in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

13 Sep 2021

Microscopy paired with AI leads to a fast, accurate, and cost-effective COVID-19 test

Beckman researchers paired microscopy with artificial intelligence to develop a COVID-19 test that's fast, accurate, and cost-effective. All we need to do is say "ahh."

12 Sep 2021

UC San Diego receives $12.25 million NIH grant to improve epilepsy treatment

The National Institutes of Health has awarded a $12.25 million grant to the University of California San Diego to develop and enhance brain-sensing and brain-stimulating platform technologies to enable treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy.

10 Sep 2021

Virus-like nanoparticle vaccine effective against SARS-CoV-2 in animal model

A COVID-19 vaccine, created from a virus-like nanoparticle that displays SARS-CoV-2 spike protein RBDs, effectively protects animal model from infection.

10 Sep 2021

Restoring beneficial gut microbes to enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy

The gut microbiome - the collection of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms that reside in our gastrointestinal tracts - can impact us in a variety of different ways, from our metabolism to our mood.

9 Sep 2021

New convection-enhanced MEDs could offer faster, more effective treatment for T1D patients

More than 40 million people worldwide are affected with type 1 diabetes (T1D) mellitus, an autoimmune disease in which insulin producing β-cells in the pancreas are destroyed by the immune system.

6 Sep 2021

Researchers develop the smallest CRISPR to date for genome editing

A compact and efficient CRISPR-Cas system, named CasMINI, could be broadly useful for cell-engineering and gene-therapy applications because it is easier to deliver into cells. The findings appear in a study publishing September 3 in the journal Molecular Cell.

4 Sep 2021

Stanford researchers engineer an efficient, multi-purpose, mini CRISPR system

The common analogy for CRISPR gene editing is that it works like molecular scissors, cutting out select sections of DNA. Stanley Qi, assistant professor of bioengineering at Stanford University, likes that analogy, but he thinks it's time to reimagine CRISPR as a Swiss Army knife.

4 Sep 2021

Rapid blood test detects life-threatening placental disorder

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the placenta remains attached to the uterus after childbirth.

27 Aug 2021

Researchers convert human stem cells into beta cells using small molecules

The human body can be genetically inclined to attack its own cells, destroying the beta cells in the pancreas that make insulin, which helps convert sugar into energy.

27 Aug 2021

New discovery may lead to more effective treatments for osteoarthritis, other cartilage diseases

New information from a study reported on in STEM CELLS might result in more effective treatments for osteoarthritis and other cartilage diseases, as well as hereditary disorders affecting cartilage development.

25 Aug 2021

Rice bioengineer receives Trailblazer Award to develop technology for reprogramming immune cells

Viruses come in many forms, and Rice University bioengineer Isaac Hilton has long been fascinated by the kind that take control of cells without rewriting their genetic code.

23 Aug 2021

Rice University awarded $4 million CPRIT grant to establish Genetic Design and Engineering Center

Rice University faculty members led by bioengineer Gang Bao have been awarded a $4 million grant by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to establish the Genetic Design and Engineering Center.

20 Aug 2021

Vaccine nationalism may increase COVID-19 case numbers and the emergence of novel variants

The allocation of COVID-19 vaccine between countries has thus far tended toward vaccine nationalism, wherein countries stockpile vaccines to prioritize access for their citizenry over equitable vaccine sharing.

18 Aug 2021

Research shines light on histamine as a potential key player in depression

Bodily inflammation dampens levels of a ‘feel-good molecule’ and antidepressants’ ability to boost them, according to new research in mice.

17 Aug 2021

Bioengineers develop implantable piezoelectric therapeutic devices

Bioengineers have developed biocompatible generators that create electrical pulses when compressed by body motions.

16 Aug 2021

Transcranial focused ultrasound shows promise to treat forms of chronic pain

Neuromodulation comprises a range of therapeutic approaches to relieving symptoms, such as pain or tremors, or to restore movement or function.