Medicine

A new safety test for foodborne pathogens is based on a novel type of liquid droplet that can bind to bacterial proteins. This interaction, which can be detected by either the naked eye or a smartphone, could offer a much faster and cheaper alternative to existing food safety tests.

New technology could offer cheaper, faster food testing

Specialized droplets interact with bacteria and can be analyzed using a smartphone.

April 5, 2017

Engineers at MIT have devised a microfluidic technique to capture and count circulating plasma cells from small samples of blood. The technique, which relies on conventional blood draws, may provide patients with a less painful test for multiple myeloma.

Method may help myeloma patients avoid painful biopsies

Microfluidic device isolates plasma cells from blood rather than bone marrow.

April 4, 2017

Researchers have developed a rubber-like fiber, shown here, that can flex and stretch while simultaneously delivering both optical impulses, for optoelectronic stimulation, and electrical connections, for stimulation and monitoring.

Stretching the boundaries of neural implants

Rubbery, multifunctional fibers could be used to study spinal cord neurons and potentially restore function.

March 31, 2017

In a study of 365,000 NIH grants — nearly every NIH grant awarded for 27 years — researchers found that 31 percent produce articles that are later cited by patents in the biomedical sector.

Study: NIH funding generates large numbers of private-sector patents

New research shows large spillover from the lab to commercial activity.

March 30, 2017

MIT researchers have devised a new vaccine candidate for the Zika virus. “It functions almost like a synthetic virus, except it’s not pathogenic and it doesn’t spread,” says postdoc Omar Khan.

Progress toward a Zika vaccine

Researchers program RNA nanoparticles that could protect against the virus.

March 29, 2017

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a narrowing of the airway that cuts off breathing, and people who are obese are at higher risk for the disorder. MIT researchers have discovered that a dietary supplement called yohimbine reverses the root cause of obstructive sleep apnea in an animal model.

A possible new approach to stopping obstructive sleep apnea

Dietary supplement derived from tree bark shows promise for treating the disorder.

February 23, 2017

MIT professors Richard Braatz, J. Christopher Love, and Kripa Varanasi (pictured l-r) will collaborate with partners from University College London, and the University of Kansas to develop a next-generation manufacturing platform to produce certain vaccines for less than 15 cents a dose.

MIT undertakes Grand Challenge for innovation in global vaccine manufacturing

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awards MIT, University College London, and University of Kansas $17.6M for development and production of low-cost vaccines.

February 22, 2017

This image shows large clonal colonies of cochlear progenitor cells formed from single cells and converted into high-purity colonies of hair cells (cyan) with intricate hair bundles (red).

Drug treatment could combat hearing loss

Researchers discover a drug combination that can regenerate hair cells in the inner ear.

February 21, 2017

“[W]hen I came here for CPW [Campus Preview Weekend], I realized that these people were really passionate about what they were doing, and that they were doing really cool things. It’s nerdy, but it’s my kind of nerdy,” senior Hermoon Worku says.

Future physician-advocate

Senior Hermoon Worku is pursuing a career dedicated to surgery, advocacy, and teaching.

February 20, 2017

A new study co-authored by MIT scholars shows regions of the U.S. where medical providers are most likely to offer tests and treatments, given populations with equivalent levels of underlying health. Areas with greater “diagnostic intensity,” as the researchers call it, are in red.

Measuring “diagnostic intensity”

New study maps U.S. regions where patients appear more ill than they are

February 15, 2017

Among the awards presented at a recent MIT linQ event was the IMES Award, given to SmartClot, a student team designing an affordable device for low-resource settings that leverages a cellphone camera to determine coagulation status, helping to avoid potentially fatal blood clots.

MIT linQ names first IDEA^2 Global awardees

Twelve finalist teams pitched diverse new health care technologies at MIT.

February 14, 2017

MIT engineers have shown that they can use short bursts of ultrasound to efficiently deliver RNA into cells.

RNA hitches a ride on ultrasound waves

Technique enables rapid delivery of RNA to treat colon inflammation.

January 20, 2017

Barbara Imperiali, Class of 1922 Professor of Biology and professor of chemistry

Probing the function of key proteins

Professor Barbara Imperiali creates better biochemical tools for basic biology and drug development.

January 12, 2017

Professor Emeritus Otto Harling was director of the MIT Nuclear Reactor Lab from1976 to 1996.

Otto Harling, professor emeritus of nuclear engineering, dies at 85

Longtime Nuclear Research Lab director made advances in nuclear and condensed-matter physics, nuclear materials, reactor technology, and nuclear medicine.

January 12, 2017

MIT postdoc Carl Schoellhammer (center) takes home gold at the Collegiate Inventor’s Competition for his SuonoCalm system.

Carl Schoellhammer wins gold medal at 2016 National Collegiate Inventors Competition

MIT postdoc honored for his work developing a technique to quickly deliver medicine to the gastrointestinal tract.

December 15, 2016

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