Koch Institute

Ryan Kohn, a PhD candidate in the MIT Biology Department’s Jacks Lab, holds a photo of his son, Jayden.

The need to know

Driven by curiosity, former auto mechanic Ryan Kohn now pursues a PhD in biology.

December 18, 2017

Through a Bridge Project collaboration with David Weinstock (left) of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), and MIT Professor Scott Manalis (center), cell-weighing technology is being evaluated in a clinical laboratory at DFCI. MIT visiting scientist Mark Stevens is pictured at right.

Over the river and do some good

The Bridge Project collaboration accelerates new, highly original, and powerful approaches to defeating cancer.

November 22, 2017

At least 30 MIT faculty, research staff, and alumni are listed throughout Forbes’ seventh annual 30 Under 30 edition, featuring some of the world’s best young innovators.

MIT brainpower highlighted in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 lists for 2018

Forbes calls this year's 30 Under 30 lists an "encyclopedia of creative disruption."

November 21, 2017

Cells pass through an sSMR device, which consists of multiple sensors that are fluidically connected in series and separated by delay channels (not all is shown). This design enables a stream of cells to flow through the device such that different sensors can concurrently weigh flowing cells in the stream.

Cell-weighing method could help doctors choose cancer drugs

Technique may predict which therapies a patient is most sensitive or resistant to.

November 20, 2017

In a new study, MIT researchers have developed nanoparticles that can deliver the CRISPR genome-editing system and specifically modify genes, eliminating the need to use viruses for delivery.

CRISPR-carrying nanoparticles edit the genome

New delivery system developed by MIT team deletes disease-causing genes and reduces cholesterol.

November 13, 2017

MIT senior Mary Clare Beytagh hopes to become a science writer as well as a physician-scientist, telling stories that humanize patients and focus on the social and economic determinants of health.

Mary Clare Beytagh: Finding poetry in medicine

MIT senior and aspiring physician aims to tell stories that humanize the patients behind medical statistics.

November 12, 2017

The mTOR cellular pathway connects nutrition, metabolism, and disease.

New player in cellular signaling

Researchers have identified a key nutrient sensor in the mTOR pathway that links nutrient availability to cell growth.

November 9, 2017

Researchers have developed a new method for making “blood biopsies” for cancer more effective by using whole exome sequencing to monitor tumor DNA from blood samples.

New techniques give blood biopsies greater promise

Improved methods validate the use of blood samples for studying patients’ cancer genomes.

November 6, 2017

The 2017 MassJAS biological and environmental sciences presenters practiced communication skills and vied for the opportunity to become delegates at the AJAS annual meeting.

Department of Biology hosts 2017 Massachusetts Junior Academy of Science Symposium

High school students present research projects to build communication skills while earning membership to the American Junior Academy of Science.

October 24, 2017

A scanning electron micrograph of a human T lymphocyte (also called a T-cell) from the immune system of a healthy donor. Researchers have designed a synthetic gene circuit that triggers the immune system to attack cancers when it detects signs of the disease.

Gene circuit switches on inside cancer cells, triggers immune attack

Advance may open new pathways for cancer immunotherapy.

October 19, 2017

A new flexible piezoelectric sensor is 2 by 2.5 centimeters and can be rolled up and swallowed. “For the first time, we showed that a flexible, piezoelectric device can stay in the stomach up to two days without any electrical or mechanical degradation,” assistant professor Canan Dagdeviren, left, says. Dagdeviren is next to researcher Giovanni Traverso.

Flexible sensors can detect movement in GI tract

Ingestible devices could diagnose gastrointestinal slowdown or monitor food intake.

October 10, 2017

In this image, lung cancer driven by the KRAS oncogene shows up in purple. MIT biologists have found a potential new way to treat this type of lung tumor, long thought to be “undruggable."

New target for treating “undruggable” lung cancer

Drug already in clinical trials may be effective on some aggressive adenocarcinomas.

October 2, 2017

“There are very few specific or targeted inhibitors that are used in the treatment of brain cancer. There’s really a dire need for new therapies and new ideas,” says MIT Associate Professor Michael Hemann. The background of this image shows nanoparticles (red) being taken up in the brain with glioblastoma (in green). Nuclear DNA is in blue; tumor-associated macrophages in white.

Biologists identify possible new strategy for halting brain tumors

Cutting off a process that cancerous cells rely on can force them to stop growing.

September 28, 2017

$“If we want to be able to deliver mRNA, then we need a mechanism to be more effective at it because everything that’s been used so far gives you a very small fraction of what would be the optimal efficiency,” says professor Paula Hammond.$

Bio-inspired approach to RNA delivery

New technique could make it easier to use mRNA to treat disease or deliver vaccines.

September 19, 2017

Left to right: Graham Walker, Michael Yaffe and Robert Weinberg.

Three MIT biologists receive NIH Outstanding Investigator Awards

Graham Walker, Michael Yaffe, and Robert Weinberg earn support from the National Institutes of Health to further their research endeavors.