Koch Institute

MIT engineers have developed nanoparticles that can be delivered to the lungs, where tumor-associated proteases cut peptides on the surface of the particles, releasing reporter molecules. Those reporters can be detected by a urine test.

New sensors could offer early detection of lung tumors

Study shows that a simple urine test can reveal the presence of lung cancer in mice.

April 1, 2020

MIT researchers have devised a way to encapsulate therapeutic cells, such as pancreatic islet cells, to treat diabetes, in a flexible protective device.

“Living drug factories” might treat diabetes and other diseases

Chemical engineers have developed a way to protect transplanted drug-producing cells from immune system rejection.

March 30, 2020

Ritu Raman speaks about WISDM, a platform highlighting female speakers at MIT.

3 Questions: Ritu Raman on the Women in Innovation and STEM Database at MIT

MIT postoc and WISDM founder reflects on her role models and the Institute's innovation and entrepreneurship community.

March 24, 2020

Researchers from MIT and the University of Colorado at Denver propose using a protein called tissue plasminogen activator, whose structure is shown here, to treat Covid-19 patients in acute respiratory distress.

A stopgap measure to treat respiratory distress

Repurposing a drug used for blood clots may help Covid-19 patients in danger of respiratory failure, researchers suggest.

March 24, 2020

Clinical trial participant Frank Lovell vacations at Chateau Villandry, France.

Thank you for your patients

An unusual synergy between cancer researchers, clinical centers, and industry leads to promising clinical trials for a new combination therapy for prostate cancer.

March 23, 2020

MIT neuroscientist Ed Boyden has received the 2020 Wilhelm Exner Medal.

Ed Boyden wins prestigious Wilhelm Exner Medal

Entrepreneurial science award recognizes scientists whose work opens up “new dimensions of economic progress."

March 18, 2020

An algorithm designed to predict the biological effects of 800 “inactive” pill ingredients uncovered thousands of previously undocumented effects. In this visualization of the researchers’ results, inactive ingredients are shown in blue and their protein targets, in red. The number of predicted, and yet-to-be-verified, interactions (gray edges) outnumber those documented so far (in black).

“Inactive” pill ingredients could raise the dose of your medication

With help from artificial intelligence, researchers identify hidden power of vitamin A and ordinary chewing gum glaze.

March 17, 2020

Singing for joy and service

After surgery to correct childhood hearing loss, Swarna Jeewajee discovered a desire to be a physician-scientist, and a love of a cappella music.

February 2, 2020

MIT engineers demonstrated a bariatric balloon that can be inflated in the stomach and then degraded by shining light on the seal, which is made of a novel light-sensitive polymer.

Ingestible medical devices can be broken down with light

New light-sensitive material could eliminate some of the endoscopic procedures needed to remove gastrointestinal devices.

January 17, 2020

Illustration of patch with microneedles being applied to skin

Storing medical information below the skin’s surface

Specialized invisible dye, delivered along with a vaccine, could enable “on-patient” storage of vaccination history to save lives in regions where paper or digital records aren’t available.

December 18, 2019