Biological Engineering

An MIT delegation met with 69 offices of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives from 23 states, including staff from the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Advocating for federal research funding on Capitol Hill

Students and postdocs from MIT's Science Policy Initiative meet with lawmakers on science-engineering-technology Congressional Visit Days 2019.

April 24, 2019

Researchers at MIT and MGH have developed an image-guided surgical system that could help surgeons better visualize and remove tiny ovarian tumors. Fluorescent carbon nanotubes are used as probes to bind to the tumors, making them easier to see.

Imaging system helps surgeons remove tiny ovarian tumors

More effective surgery could boost survival rates for ovarian cancer.

April 23, 2019

MIT engineers have designed coiled “nanoyarn,” shown as an artist’s interpretation here. The twisted fibers are lined with living cells and may be used to repair injured muscles and tendons while maintaining their flexibility.

“Nanofiber yarn” makes for stretchy, protective artificial tissue

Twisted fibers coated with living cells could assist healing of injured muscles and tendons.

April 23, 2019

Janus emulsion droplets are captured in the process of changing form in response to the presence of contamination by a food pathogen in a lab setting. The emulsions can be viewed by the naked eye and, with the aid of a handheld sensor currently in development, can quantify the presence and amount of bacterial contamination in food.

MIT spinout seeks to transform food safety testing

An affordable, easy-to-use handheld sensor, soon to enter the market, can indicate the presence of bacterial contaminants in food in seconds.

April 9, 2019

Jacquin Niles named director of the Center for Environmental Health Sciences

Niles, an associate professor of biological engineering and infectious disease expert, succeeds John M. Essigmann.

April 5, 2019

Microfilaments made using a new 3D printing method, shown in gray in this illustration, form a structure that cells, shown in color, can adhere to. The shapes formed by the filaments determine the very uniform shapes of cells.

New 3-D printing approach makes cell-scale lattice structures

System could provide fine-scale meshes for growing highly uniform cultures of cells with desired properties.

March 25, 2019

MIT researchers have discovered a way to manipulate the interactions of the proteins Myc and Max, which regulate gene transcription. At left, Myc interacts with Max, at center, Max is alone, at right, two molecules of Max.

A new approach to drugging a difficult cancer target

Study suggests an alternative way to treat tumors that are dependent on the cancer-promoting Myc protein.

March 14, 2019

MIT graduate engineering, business programs earn top rankings from U.S. News for 2020

Graduate engineering program is No. 1 in the nation; MIT Sloan is No. 3.

March 12, 2019

The combination of machine learning techniques and historical weather-pattern recognition can help the government maximize water resources and prepare for natural disasters or extreme weather conditions.

Using machine learning to improve subseasonal climate forecasting

Professor of biology Ernest Fraenkel and visiting scientist Judah Cohen win the Sub-Seasonal Climate Forecast Rodeo competition.

March 11, 2019

MIT researchers have devised a way to simultaneously image in multiple wavelengths of near-infrared light, allowing them to determine the depth of particles emitting different wavelengths.

New optical imaging system could be deployed to find tiny tumors

Near-infrared technology pinpoints fluorescent probes deep within living tissue; may be used to detect cancer earlier.

March 7, 2019

Angela Belcher, the James Mason Crafts Professor of Biological Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at MIT, has been named the new head of the Department of Biological Engineering, effective July 1, 2019.

Angela Belcher named head of the Department of Biological Engineering

Biomedical engineering and energy expert to succeed Doug Lauffenburger; with her appointment, half of MIT engineering departments will be headed by women.

February 25, 2019

MIT researchers have designed an MRI contrast agent that can detect calcium within neurons, allowing them to closely track brain activity.

New MRI sensor can image activity deep within the brain

Noninvasive measurements of calcium could reveal neurons’ roles in different types of behavior.

February 22, 2019

At left, photoreceptor cells of the retina have undergone severe damage after treatment with an alkylating agent. This damage is exacerbated by the DNA repair enzyme Aag. At right, photoreceptor cells lacking Aag appear normal following treatment with the alkylating agent.

Why too much DNA repair can injure tissue

Overactive repair system promotes cell death following DNA damage by certain toxins, study shows.

February 12, 2019

The 2018 Bose Research Fellows (standing) pose for a photo with (seated, l-r) President L. Rafael Reif, Judy Bose, and Provost Martin Schmidt.

Bose grants for 2018 fund research at the frontier of discovery

The prestigious awards are supporting five innovative projects that challenge established norms and have the potential to be world-changing.

February 11, 2019

MIT researchers have come up with a way to use acoustic waves to noninvasively measure the stiffness of living cells.

Acoustic waves can monitor stiffness of living cells

Technique sheds light on cells’ health and development; may be useful for precision medicine.