biology, bioengineering and biotech archive

MIT-led team creates touch-based illusion - A team of scientists from MIT, Harvard and McGill has designed a new illusion involving the sense of touch, which is helping to glean new insights into perception and how different senses--such as touch and sight--work together. July 17, 2008

Team unveils 'parts list' of cell powerhouse - An international team of researchers, led by a member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, has created the most comprehensive "parts list" to date for mitochondria, a compendium that includes nearly 1,100 proteins. July 11, 2008

Langer wins major German science award - Institute Professor Robert Langer has been chosen as one of two winners of the 2008 Max Planck Research Award, a 1.5 million-euro science prize funded by the German government. July 10, 2008

Study points to dietary cocktail for Alzheimer's - A dietary cocktail that includes a type of omega-3 fatty acid can improve memory and learning in gerbils, according to the latest study from MIT researchers that points to a possible beverage-based treatment for Alzheimer's and other brain diseases. July 8, 2008

Technique produces genetically identical stem cells - Cells from mice created using genetically reprogrammed cells can be triggered via drug administration to enter an embryonic-stem-cell-like state without the need for further direct genetic manipulation. July 1, 2008

Using a light touch to measure protein bonds - MIT researchers have developed a novel technique to measure the strength of the bonds between two protein molecules important in cell machinery: Gently tugging them apart with light beams. June 30, 2008

Probe may help untangle cells' signaling pathways - MIT researchers have designed a new type of probe that can image thousands of interactions between proteins inside a living cell, giving them a tool to untangle the web of signaling pathways that control most of a cell's activities. June 27, 2008

Proliferating cells foil microRNA control - MIT biologists have discovered that proliferating cells shift the output of their genes to evade regulation by microRNAs, tiny molecules that normally suppress tumor growth. June 20, 2008

Unraveling bacteria communication pathways - MIT researchers have figured out how bacteria ensure that they respond correctly to hundreds of incoming signals from their environment. The researchers' work also raised the possibility of engineering bacteria that can serve as chemical biosensors. June 12, 2008

Stripes key to nanoparticle drug delivery - In work that could at the same time impact the delivery of drugs and explain a biological mystery, MIT engineers have created the first synthetic nanoparticles that can penetrate a cell without poking a hole in its protective membrane and killing it. June 9, 2008

Biology awards - Awards given in MIT Biology for the academic year 2007-2008. June 4, 2008

Report: Support early-career investigators - Programs and policies to support early-career investigators and high-risk, high-reward research are needed to preserve U.S. leadership in science and technology, according to a report produced by a panel that included an MIT Nobel laureate. June 3, 2008

Wave of the future - When this year's seniors arrived at MIT four years ago, the biological engineering major did not exist. But this Friday, twenty-three MIT students will become the Institute's first graduates from the new biological engineering program. June 2, 2008

Colleagues honor Professor Lisa Steiner of biology - Lisa Steiner, a professor of immunology and the first woman faculty member to join the Department of Biology at MIT in 1967, was honored at a special luncheon by her friends and colleagues at MIT on May 22. May 30, 2008

CEHS awards 2008 research prizes - Eight graduate students and post-docs received awards May 22 for their research in the MIT Center for Environmental Health Sciences. May 30, 2008

Five MIT faculty named HHMI investigators - Five MIT faculty have been named Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators, bringing the total number of current MIT professors holding the distinction to 19. May 27, 2008

Center funds environmental health projects for 2008 - The MIT Center for Environmental Health Sciences, through support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of NIH, has announced its support for six pilot projects, which all began April 1. May 27, 2008

Scientists fathom niches of ocean microbes - Marine bacteria in the wild organize into professions or lifestyle groups that partition many resources, rather than competing for them, according to MIT research that could change the way scientists approach the classification of microbes. May 22, 2008

Hope on the horizon: Bioengineering - Phillip Sharp on bioengineering. May 21, 2008

Happy anniversary, Prochlorococcus - An ocean-dwelling microbe of global importance discovered only 20 years ago by researchers, including one at MIT, is the focus of the May 30-31 ProchlorococcusFest, featuring the smallest and most abundant photosynthetic organism in the sea. May 21, 2008

Finding yields bacteria-resistant films - Having found that whether bacteria stick to surfaces depends partly on how stiff those surfaces are, MIT engineers have created ultrathin films made of polymers that could be applied to medical devices and other surfaces to control microbe accumulation. May 16, 2008

Embryonic pathway delivers stem cell traits - Studies at the MIT-affiliated Whitehead Institute of how cancer cells spread have led to a surprising discovery about the creation of cells with adult stem-cell characteristics, offering potential implications for regenerative medicine and cancer treatment. May 15, 2008

MIT's Rebecca Saxe probes mechanics of thought - How do we know what other people are thinking? How do we judge them, and what happens in our brains when we do? MIT neuroscientist Rebecca Saxe is tackling those tough questions and many others. May 14, 2008

Alexander Rich receives prestigious Welch Award - For his pioneering work that has helped scientists unlock the mysteries of RNA and DNA, as well as important scientific discoveries that have opened up new fields of science, Alexander Rich had been named the 38th recipient of the Welch Award in Chemistry. May 9, 2008

Study suggests caution on new anti-obesity drug - Anti-obesity drugs that work by blocking brain molecules similar to those in marijuana could also interfere with neural development in young children, according to a new study from MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory. May 7, 2008

$4 million gift supports neuroscience innovation at MIT - Restoring memories by flashing brain cells with lasers and dissecting the genetic basis for language learning are among the projects at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT to be funded with a new $4 million gift from The Picower Foundation. May 6, 2008

New approach repairs airway injuries - MIT tissue engineers have successfully healed airway injuries in rabbits using a novel cellular technique. This approach could lead to new treatments for human tracheal injuries such as smoke inhalation, as well as for other parts of the body May 5, 2008

Singing in the brain: Study yields birdsong insight - In work that offers insights into how birds--and perhaps people--learn new behaviors, MIT scientists have found that immature and adult birdsongs are driven by two separate brain pathways, rather than one pathway that slowly matures. May 1, 2008

MIT finding may help prevent stomach cancer - Prompt treatment of a microbe that causes stomach ulcers and other ailments can reverse damage to the lining of the stomach and ultimately prevent one of the most lethal forms of cancer from developing there, MIT researchers have concluded. May 1, 2008

Team develops safe, effective RNAi technique - A team of researchers from MIT and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals has developed safe and effective methods to perform RNA interference, a therapy that holds great promise for treating a variety of diseases including cancer and hepatitis. April 27, 2008

Teams unravel heparin death mystery - An international team of researchers led by MIT has explained how contaminated batches of the blood-thinner heparin were able to slip past traditional safety screens and kill dozens of patients recently in the United States and Germany. April 23, 2008

Protein role in meiosis re-evaluated by researchers - Proteins that control cell division play a far more nuanced role than researchers previously thought in the process that gives rise to reproductive cells, according to new MIT research. The work could explain why errors occcur so often during this process. April 17, 2008

Live-animal nerve regeneration study gets boost - An MIT team has improved upon its landmark technology reported last year in which the researchers used a fingernail-sized lab on a chip to image, perform surgery on and sort tiny worms to study nerve regeneration. April 10, 2008

Feld wins major spectroscopy award - Michael Feld, director of MIT's George R. Harrison Spectroscopy Laboratory, has been chosen to receive the 2008 William F. Meggers Award. April 9, 2008

Stem cell method cuts Parkinson's symptoms in rats - A team including MIT researchers has demonstrated for the first time that artificially created stem cells can be used to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease in rats. The work could eventually lead to successful treatments for human patients. April 7, 2008

Panel focuses on transforming biomedicine - Building relationships between academia, industry and government is key to translating biomedical advances into viable patient treatments, a panel of experts including CDC director Julie Gerberding told an MIT audience Wednesday. April 3, 2008

New genomic approach looks at microbial evolution - Scientists at MIT who are trying to understand existing microbes by studying their genetic history recently created a new approach to the study of microbial genomes that may hasten our collective understanding of microbial evolution. April 2, 2008

CDC chief Gerberding to speak at MIT - Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will talk about how to deliver cutting-edge biomedical innovations to patients in a lecture at MIT on Wednesday, April 2. March 28, 2008

MIT researchers devise new cell-sorting system - Capitalizing on a cell's ability to roll along a surface, MIT researchers have developed a simple, inexpensive system to sort different kinds of cells--a process that could result in low-cost tests for diseases such as cancer, even in remote locations. March 12, 2008

MIT research reveals protective role of microRNA - Snippets of genetic material that have been linked to cancer also play a critical role in normal embryonic development in mice, according to MIT cancer biologists. Their work shows that a family of microRNAs protect mouse cells during development. March 7, 2008

Quick Lincoln Labs sensor detects pathogens - Researchers at MIT Lincoln Laboratory have developed a powerful sensor that can detect airborne pathogens such as anthrax and smallpox in less than three minutes, a "significant advance" over current sensors that take at least 20 minutes to do so. March 3, 2008

Team probes mysteries of oceanic bacteria - Microbes living in the oceans play a critical role in regulating Earth's environment, but very little is known about their activities and how they work together to help control natural cycles of water, carbon and energy. March 3, 2008

MIT student targets antibiotic resistance - MIT graduate student and synthetic biologist Timothy Lu has received the $30,000 Lemelson-MIT Student Prize for inventing processes that promise to combat bacterial infections by enhancing the effectiveness of antibiotics at killing bacteria. February 27, 2008

Researchers catch rats' twitchy whiskers in action - In a finding that could help further understanding of perception across species, MIT neuroscientists have used high-speed video to reveal rat whiskers in action and show the tiny movements that underlie the rat's perception of its tactile environment. February 27, 2008

Bacterial 'battle for survival' leads to new antibiotic - War may actually be healthy for you ... war between two microscopic bugs, that is. MIT biologists have provoked soil-dwelling bacteria into producing a new type of antibiotic by pitting them against another strain of bacteria in a battle for survival. February 26, 2008

MIT hosts next generation of science leaders - It's not every day that high school students get the chance to visit MIT research labs and see concepts that they've learned about in classes come to life. But that's exactly what happened last week as at the annual meeting of the American Junior Academy of Science. February 20, 2008

MIT creates gecko-inspired bandage - MIT researchers and colleagues have created a waterproof adhesive bandage inspired by gecko lizards that may soon join sutures and staples as a basic operating room tool for patching up surgical wounds or internal injuries. February 18, 2008

MIT explains spread of 1918 flu pandemic - MIT researchers have explained why two mutations in the H1N1 avian flu virus allowed the disease to spread during the 1918 pandemic. The work could help scientists detect and contain a future bird flu outbreak among humans. February 18, 2008

No easy answers in evolution of human language - The evolution of human speech was far more complex than is implied by some recent attempts to link it to a specific gene, says MIT Professor Robert Berwick, who will discuss his work Feb. 17 at the AAAS Annual Meeting in Boston. February 17, 2008

Brains informing computers, and vice versa - After many years, Tomaso Poggio's two parallel lines of research--one aimed at using computers to understand how the brain works, the other at improving the abilities of computers to "think"--have begun to converge. February 16, 2008

MIT professor discusses future of biofuels - MIT Professor Gregory Stephanopoulos leads a discussion at the 2008 AAAS Annual Meeting on the ways scientists and energy policymakers are seeking to make biofuels a significant part of the U.S. energy supply. February 16, 2008

Langer examines biomedical engineering future - MIT Institute Professor Robert Langer speaks about the great challenges facing biomedical engineering as part of a panel announcing the report "Grand Challenges of Engineering" at the annual meeting of the AAAS in Boston on Feb. 15. February 15, 2008

Fantastic voyage: Drug delivery by a nanoparticle - An image portrays targeted nanoparticles delivering high doses of chemotherapy to cancer cells. A team including MIT Institute Professor Robert Langer has demonstrated the precision required to engineer a nanoparticle that is effective in targeted drug delivery. February 13, 2008

Gene research may help explain autistic savants - Mice lacking a certain brain protein learn some tasks better but also forget faster, according to new MIT work that may explain the phenomenon of autistic savants. The work could also result in future treatments for autism and other disorders. February 12, 2008

Suresh to receive 2008 Eringen Medal - The Society of Engineering Science has chosen Subra Suresh, Dean of the School of Engineering and Ford Professor of Engineering, to receive the A.C. Eringen Medal for 2008, in recognition of "sustained outstanding achievements in engineering science." February 11, 2008

Researcher on front lines of genomic revolution - Manolis Kellis, a young and fast-rising MIT researcher, uses sophisticated computational tools to investigate and analyze the genomes of a variety of organisms, including humans, mice, fruit flies and yeast. February 6, 2008

MIT neuroscientists to study autism and dyslexia - Two researchers at MIT's McGovern Institute for Brain Research will head an ambitious new project to study the origins of autism and dyslexia, supported by an $8.5M grant from the Ellison Medical Foundation. February 6, 2008

Engineering applied to studying biological pathways - An MIT team has used an engineering approach to show that complex biological systems can be studied with simple models developed by measuring what goes into and out of the systems. This approach also allows them to study systems in their natural state. February 6, 2008

Weinberg named first recipient of Swedish science prize - Professor Robert A. Weinberg of MIT's Department of Biology this week became the first recipient of a new Swedish science prize, in recognition of his cancer research. January 31, 2008

New MIT tool probes brain circuits - Researchers at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT report that they have created a way to see, for the first time, the effect of blocking and unblocking a single neural circuit on learning and memory in a living animal. January 24, 2008

Neuroscientists see flaws in computer vision tests - A new MIT study cautions that apparent successes in teaching computers to recognize visual objects like humans may be misleading because the tests being used are inadvertently stacked in favor of computers. January 24, 2008

Team IDs weakness in anthrax bacteria - MIT and New York University researchers have identified a weakness in the defenses of the anthrax bacterium--its dependence on nitric oxide to resist the body's immune response--that could be exploited to produce new antibiotics. January 22, 2008

Short bacterial protein is surprisingly versatile - MIT researchers have discovered that the reason an unusually short bacterial protein has many more interactions than would normally be expected of something its size is probably due to its lack of formal structure. January 17, 2008

Genes key to high liver cancer rates in men - A fundamental difference in the way men and women respond to chronic liver disease at the genetic level helps explain why men are more prone to liver cancer, according to MIT researchers, who conducted the first genome-wide study on the subject. January 15, 2008

MIT research among Nature magazine's best of 2007 - Nature's editors have picked their favorite 18 research papers of 2007, including three studies involving MIT scientists. Topics of the MIT papers include the search for extrasolar planets, a new technique for weighing single cells and the future of irregular verbs. January 14, 2008

MIT reports new twist in microRNA biology - MIT scientists have found a new way that DNA can carry out its work that is about as surprising as discovering that a mold used to cast a metal tool can also serve as a tool itself, with two complementary shapes each showing distinct functional roles. January 9, 2008

MIT finds key to avian flu in humans - MIT researchers have uncovered a critical difference between flu viruses that infect birds and humans, a discovery that could help scientists monitor the evolution of avian flu strains and aid in the development of vaccines against a deadly flu pandemic. January 6, 2008

MIT corrects inherited retardation, autism in mice - Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory have corrected key symptoms of mental retardation and autism in mice. The work indicates that a certain class of drugs could have the same effect in humans. December 19, 2007

MIT works toward engineered blood vessels - MIT scientists have found a way to induce cells to form parallel tube-like structures that could one day serve as tiny engineered blood vessels. The researchers found that they can control the cells' development by growing them on a surface with nano-scale patterning. December 17, 2007

HST faculty member wins BMW Science Award - Ali Khademhosseini has won first prize in the doctoral thesis category of the 2007 BMW Science Award competition. The award was presented to six young scientists, three in the doctoral and three in the bachelor's/master's thesis categories. December 12, 2007

Laser beam 'fire hose' used to sort cells - Separating particular kinds of cells from a sample could become faster, cheaper and easier thanks to a new system developed by MIT researchers that involves pushing up the cells with a laser beam "fire hose." December 11, 2007

Scientists ID gene key to regenerating flatworms - When cut, a planarian flatworm can regenerate a new head, new tail or even entire new organisms from a tiny fragment of its body--a phenomenon that has puzzled researchers for more than 100 years. December 11, 2007

MIT corrects sickle-cell anemia in mice - MIT researchers have successfully treated mice with sickle-cell anemia in a process that begins by directly reprogramming the mice's own cells to an embryonic-stem-cell-like state, without the use of eggs. December 7, 2007

Missing protein may be key to autism - A missing brain protein that helps in the development of synapses may be one of the culprits behind autism and other brain disorders, according to researchers at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory. December 5, 2007

Sculpted 3-D particles could aid diagnostics - MIT engineers have used ultraviolet light to sculpt 3-D microparticles that could be used in medical diagnostics and tissue engineering. The particles might be designed to act as probes to detect certain molecules or to release drugs or nutrients. December 4, 2007

Cancer study affirms interdisciplinary approach - A UCLA cancer study reported this month validates earlier work by MIT engineers, and is emblematic of an explosion in research at the intersections of engineering, the life sciences and medicine, according to MIT Dean of Engineering Subra Suresh. December 3, 2007

MIT team discovers bacterial surprise - A team of MIT researchers and others has discovered that bacteria employ a type of DNA modification often used in the laboratory as a step toward gene therapies of human disease. This modification has never before been seen in nature. December 3, 2007

Brain stem cells limited for replacement therapies - MIT scientists report that adult stem cells produced in the brain are preprogrammed to make only certain kinds of connections--making it impossible for a neural stem cell originating in the brain to be transplanted to other regions. November 30, 2007

Study of malaria parasite unearths surprises - A team including scientists at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard has for the first time measured which of the malaria parasite's genes are turned on or off during actual infection in humans, unearthing some surprising behaviors. November 28, 2007

MIT radar technology fights breast cancer - Treating breast cancer with a type of heat therapy derived from MIT radar research can significantly increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy, according to results from the fourth clinical trial of the technique reported online Nov. 25. November 28, 2007

Mix of compounds improves rodents' brain function - MIT researchers have shown that a cocktail containing three compounds normally in the blood stream promotes growth of new brain connections and improves cognitive function in rodents. The treatment is now being tested in Alzheimer's patients. November 26, 2007

Prenatal arsenic exposure detected in newborns - The children of mothers whose water supplies were contaminated with arsenic during their pregnancies harbored gene expression changes that may lead to cancer and other diseases later in life, MIT researchers reported in a new study. November 22, 2007

'Micro' livers could aid drug screening - MIT researchers have devised a novel way to create tiny colonies of living human liver cells that model the full-sized organ. The work could reduce costs and allow better screening of new drugs that are potentially harmful to the liver. November 19, 2007

MIT IDs proteins key to brain function - MIT researchers have identified a family of proteins key to the formation of the communication networks critical for normal brain function. Their research could lead to new treatments for brain injury and disease. November 19, 2007

MIT to host "Frontiers in Modern Microscopy" workshop - Groundbreaking advances in microscopy are opening exciting new avenues of study in biology and medicine. On Tuesday, Nov. 20, leaders in the field will review several of these at the Lester Wolfe Workshop in Laser Biomedicine at MIT. November 16, 2007

Lindquist researches new role for yeast - Yeast has gone from being a workhorse of the brewing and baking industries to a discovery platform for neurobiology, professor of biology Susan Lindquist told an MIT audience in a lecture sponsored by the Molecular Frontiers Foundation. November 14, 2007

Team analyzes genomes of 12 fly species - In work that reveals important clues in the evolution of genes, a consortium of MIT scientists and colleagues has analyzed the genomes of twelve species of the fruit fly in one of the first large-scale comparisons of multiple animal genomes. November 9, 2007

Study charts genomic landscape of lung cancer - An international team of scientists has produced the most comprehensive view yet of the abnormal genetic landscape of lung cancer. The research reveals more than 50 genomic regions that are frequently gained or lost in human lung tumors. November 7, 2007

Speed is crucial in breaking protein's H-bonds - By slowing down the application of pressure in atomistic models, MIT researchers studying the architecture of proteins have explained why computer models of proteins' behavior under mechanical duress differ from experimental observations. November 7, 2007

MIT IDs enzymes key to brainpower - By zeroing in on the enzymes that manipulate a key scaffolding protein for synapses, MIT researchers have found that bolstering disintegrating neural connections may help boost brainpower in Alzheimer's disease patients. November 7, 2007

Hundreds attend iGem Jamboree - After a thought-provoking presentation on bioengineering a "bacterial assembly line," a team from Peking University won the grand prize "BioBrick" award in the fourth annual International Genetically Engineered Machine competition held Nov. 3-4 at MIT. November 5, 2007

Cancer cells enlist stem cells to promote metastasis - MIT and Whitehead institute scientists have managed to facilitate metastasis, finding evidence that some breast cancer cells recruit normal adult stem cells and force them to secrete a protein that fosters cancer cell movement and invasion. October 31, 2007

A light beam for manipulation of cells on chips - In a feat that seems like something out of a microscopic version of Star Trek, MIT researchers have found a way to use a "tractor beam" of light to pick up, hold and move around individual cells and other objects on the surface of a microchip. October 31, 2007

Adult stem cells lack key regulator - Whitehead Institute and MIT research has shown that, in mice, an important protein in embryonic stem cells is not required to maintain these cells in their undifferentiated state, and that adult tissues function normally in its absence. October 23, 2007

Poitras gift to support mental illness research - The McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT has received a $20 million philanthropic commitment from MIT alumnus James Poitras and his wife, Patricia, to support research into mental illness. October 22, 2007

MIT works toward novel therapeutic device - MIT and University of Rochester researchers report important advances toward a therapeutic device that could capture cells flowing through blood and treat them in various ways, such as zapping cancer cells or signaling stem cells to differentiate. October 22, 2007

MIT finds new role for well-known protein - In a finding that may lead to potential new treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, researchers at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT report an unexpected role in the brain for a well-known protein. October 18, 2007

An interview with Tyler Jacks - Tyler Jacks, who will direct the new David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, is currently the director of MIT's Center for Cancer Research. In an interview, he discusses the new center and the cancer research that will take place there. October 17, 2007

Blood may help us think - MIT scientists propose that blood may help us think, in addition to its well-known role as the conveyor of fuel and oxygen to brain cells. The theory has implications for understanding brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and schizophrenia. October 16, 2007

Institute of Medicine elects Brown - Emery N. Brown, M.D., a professor in the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, has been elected to the Institute of Medicine. October 13, 2007

MIT links gene to cholesterol - MIT researchers have discovered a link between a gene believed to promote long lifespan and a pathway that flushes cholesterol from the body. The finding could help researchers create drugs that lower the risk of cholesterol-related diseases. October 11, 2007

Protein seen as key in body's iron recycling - MIT scientists have uncovered a protein that plays a key role in the recycling of iron from blood. Their work could lead to new therapies for certain inherited blood disorders such as beta-thalassemia, a condition that causes chronic anemia. October 11, 2007

MIT finds new hearing mechanism - MIT researchers have discovered a hearing mechanism that fundamentally changes the current understanding of inner ear function. This new mechanism could help explain the ear's remarkable ability to sense and discriminate sounds. October 10, 2007

Koch gives $100 million to MIT for cancer research - With a $100 million gift from David H. Koch, MIT plans to build a new cancer research center that will bring together scientists and engineers under one roof to develop new and powerful ways to detect, diagnose, treat and manage cancer. October 9, 2007

Amon, Golub win cancer prize -  MIT Professor Angelika Amon and Todd R. Golub of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard will share the 2007 Paul Marks Prize for Cancer Research, an award of $150,000, with Gregory J. Hannon from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. October 3, 2007

Research helps convert brain signals into action - MIT researchers have developed a new algorithm that unifies seemingly disparate approaches to prototype neural prosthetic devices, the apparatuses that convert brain signals into action for paralyzed patients or amputees. October 2, 2007

Team proves role of microRNAs in spread of cancer - MIT scientists have proved that microRNAs, tiny molecules that fine-tune protein production and play a powerful role in biological processes, can prompt otherwise sedentary cancer cells to move and invade other tissues. September 27, 2007

Team demos safety of RNA therapy - Researchers from MIT, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and other institutions have demonstrated the safety of a promising type of genetic therapy that could lead to treatments for a wide range of diseases such as cancer and viral diseases. September 26, 2007

Computer model could improve drugs' effectiveness - MIT researchers have developed a computer modeling approach that could improve a class of drugs based on antibodies, molecules key to the immune system. The model can predict structural changes in an antibody that will improve its effectiveness. September 23, 2007

John M. Buchanan, retired professor and noted biochemist, 89 - John M. "Jack" Buchanan, Wilson Professor emeritus of Biology, died June 25 in Lexington, Mass. He was 89. September 19, 2007

East meets West - In the 26 years since he first arrived at MIT as a freshman, V.A. Shiva Ayyadurai has earned four MIT degrees and started two multimillion dollar companies. September 17, 2007

Brain's messengers could be regulated - Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute have found that tiny, spontaneous releases of the brain's primary chemical messengers can be regulated, potentially giving scientists unprecedented control over how the brain is wired. September 16, 2007

MIT IDs binocular vision gene - In work that could lead to new treatments for sensory disorders in which people experience the strange phenomena of seeing better with one eye covered, MIT researchers report that they have identified the gene responsible for binocular vision. September 13, 2007

Leveraging learning for artificial respiration - MIT researchers have found that the body's innate ability to adapt to recurring stimuli could be leveraged to design more effective and less costly artificial respirators, minimizing the need for induced sedation or paralysis for some patients. September 11, 2007

Genome study shines light on genetic link to height - It became clear nearly a century ago that many genes likely influence how tall a person grows. Now an international research team brings light to this age-old question by pinpointing a genetic variant associated with human height. September 10, 2007

Team probes history of genes with new tool - The wheels of evolution turn on genetic innovation -- new genes with new functions appear, allowing organisms to adapt in new ways. But deciphering the history of how and when various genes appeared, for any organism, has been a difficult task. September 10, 2007

Polymers hold promise for safer gene delivery - In work that could lead to safe and effective techniques for gene therapy, MIT scientists have found a way to fine-tune the ability of biodegradable polymers to deliver genes, which could be a safer technique than using viruses to carry genes. September 7, 2007

Engineers probe secret of bone's strength - New research at MIT has revealed for the first time the role of bone's atomistic structure in a toughening mechanism that incorporates two theories previously proposed by researchers eager to understand the secret behind the material's lightweight strength. September 6, 2007

Adult brain can change, study confirms - Neuroscientists from MIT and Johns Hopkins University have used evidence from brain imaging and behavioral studies to show that the adult visual cortex reorganizes--and that the change affects visual perception. September 5, 2007

MIT research details parasitic battles - Scientists at MIT and the Technion Israel Institute of Technology have for the first time recorded the entire genomic expression of both a host bacterium and an infecting virus over the eight-hour course of infection. September 5, 2007

'Clutter detector' could cut visual confusion - A team of MIT scientists has identified a way to measure visual clutter. Their research could lead to more user-friendly displays and maps, as well as tips for designers seeking to add an attention-grabbing element to a display. August 21, 2007

MIT's 'lab on a chip' automates genetic screens - Genetic studies on whole animals can now be done dramatically faster using a new microchip developed by MIT engineers. The new "lab on a chip" can automatically treat, sort and image small animals, accelerating research and eliminating error. August 20, 2007

Team finds way to create cancer stem cells - MIT scientists and colleagues have found a way to create in the lab large amounts of cancer stem cells, or cells that can initiate tumors. The work, reported in the August 13 issue of Cancer Cell, could be a boon to researchers who study these elusive cells. August 13, 2007

MIT creates 3D images of living cell - A new imaging technique developed at MIT's Spectroscopy Laboratory has allowed scientists to create the first 3D images of a living cell, using a method similar to the X-ray CT scans doctors use to see inside the body. August 12, 2007

MicroRNA 'sponges' could aid cancer studies - MIT researchers have developed a new way to study the function of microRNA, the tiny strands of genetic material that help regulate a cell's genes. The work could shed light on microRNA's hypothesized role in tumor development. August 12, 2007

Study finds maturity brings richer memories - MIT neuroscientists exploring how memory formation differs between children and adults have found that children rival adults in forming basic memories, but adults do better at remembering the rich, contextual details of that information. August 5, 2007

MIT adds new graduate program in microbiology - MIT has launched a new graduate program in microbiology, integrating departments and disciplines from around the Institute. More than 50 faculty members from 10 MIT departments and divisions will participate in the program. August 2, 2007

New high-resolution MRI machine comes to MIT - Last May, MIT acquired its first 3 Tesla Siemens MRI machine for noninvasive imaging of the human brain, located in the Martinos Imaging Center at the McGovern Institute. This spring, a new, more powerful scanner moved in next to it, thanks to a gift from an anonymous donor. July 31, 2007

New model could predict cells' response to drugs - MIT researchers have developed a model that could predict how cells will respond to targeted drug therapies. This approach could help doctors make better treatment choices for individual patients, who often respond differently to the same drug. July 26, 2007

Brain discovery could fight deadly tumors - MIT researchers have identified a critical link between two proteins found in brain tumors, a discovery that could eventually help treat a form of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme, that kills 99 percent of patients. July 18, 2007

MIT IDs mechanism behind fear - Researchers from MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory have uncovered a molecular mechanism that governs the formation of fears stemming from traumatic events. The work could lead to the first drug to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. July 15, 2007

MIT Team finds new mechanism of gene control - Biologists have long thought that a simple on/off switch controls most genes in human cells. Flip the switch and a cell starts or stops producing a particular protein. But new evidence suggests that our genes are more ready for action than previously thought. July 12, 2007

Eugene Bell, 'father of tissue engineering,' dies at 88 - Eugene Bell, a former MIT biology professor renowned for his pioneering work in the field of regenerative medicine, passed away on June 22. He was 88. A memorial service will be held at the MIT Chapel on Nov. 19. July 12, 2007

Killer cells may actually be picky eaters - Neutrophils patrol the body and guard against infection by identifying and destroying any bacteria or fungi that cross their path. New evidence, which may lead to better drugs to fight pathogens, indicates that neutrophils might distinguish among their targets. July 11, 2007

Link between aging, neurodegenerative disorders - Professor Li-Huei Tsai at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory and colleagues report that one particular gene is a link between aging and neurodegenerative disorders. The work may lead to new drugs against debilitating neurological diseases. July 9, 2007

Team builds viruses to combat harmful 'biofilms' - In one of the first potential applications of synthetic biology, researchers from MIT and Boston University are engineering viruses to attack and destroy the surface "biofilms" that harbor harmful bacteria in the body and on industrial and medical devices. July 6, 2007

MIT biology, physics and nuclear science professors honored - Thomas Schwartz, Assistant Professor of Biology, Daniel Kleppner, the Lester Wolfe Professor of Physics, and Michael Golay, Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering, awarded honors in their fields. July 3, 2007

Team sheds light on cells' career path - How do cells specialize, despite having exactly the same DNA? Scientists at the Broad Institute have unveiled a special code, within the "chromatin" proteins surrounding the cell's DNA, that could unlock the mysterious choices underlying cell identity. July 1, 2007

Model aids understanding of protein networks - An international team of researchers, including several from MIT, have developed a model that could help researchers understand the complex protein networks that influence human disease, including cancer. The model helps identify protein/enzyme relationships. June 25, 2007

MIT researchers reverse retardation in mice - Researchers at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT have reversed symptoms of mental retardation and autism in mice. The study suggests that inhibiting a certain enzyme could be an effective therapy for countering FXS symptoms in children. June 25, 2007

Identifying neurons advances MIT study of aging - In a recent issue of Nature, Leonard P. Guarente, Novartis Professor of Biology, and postdoctoral associate Nicholas A. Bishop show that a particular pair of neurons in the heads of underfed roundworms may play an essential role in their lengthy lives. June 18, 2007

Force, not light, provides images of cell receptors - An MIT team has observed and measured the rate at which individual molecules join and separate from receptors on the cell surface by measuring the force generated by these cell surface interactions. The interactions are not visible with traditional light microscopy. June 13, 2007

Professor Hazel Sive named associate dean of the School of Science - Professor Marc Kastner has announced the appointment of Biology Professor Hazel Sive to the position of associate dean for the School of Science, effective July 1. June 11, 2007

Biology awards - Recent achievements by members of the MIT community. June 6, 2007

Team turns mature skin cells into stem cells - Scientists have created embryonic stem cells in mice without destroying embryos in the process, potentially removing controversy over work in this field. The work was led by Rudolf Jaenisch, MIT professor of biology and a member of the Whitehead Institute. June 6, 2007

Brain has 'teacher' and 'tinkerer' - While most people need peace and quiet to cram for a test, the brain itself may need noise to learn, a recent MIT study suggests. The researchers found that neural activities in the brain gradually change, even when nothing new is being learned. June 4, 2007

MIT researchers probe bones' tiny building blocks - In work that could lead to more effective diagnoses and treatments of bone diseases using only a pinhead-sized sample of a patient's bone, MIT researchers report a first-of-its-kind analysis of bone's mechanical properties. May 24, 2007

MIT reports key pathway in synaptic plasticity - MIT neuroscientists have pieced together a direct linear pathway connecting three molecules involved in synaptic formation. The work could someday have implications for many developmental and neurodegenerative diseases. May 21, 2007

Mice and men make livers differently - Scientists often study mice as a model for human biology and disease, because their basic biological processes are thought to be essentially the same as those of humans. But now, a team of MIT researchers has found a surprising difference. May 21, 2007

MIT-led team ID's malaria-inducing protein - An international team of researchers led by an MIT professor has demonstrated how a key protein in the malaria-inducing parasite Plasmodium falciparum infects red blood cells, causing them to lose their ability to flow through tiny blood vessels. May 21, 2007

NMR advance relies on microscopic detector - Researchers from MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms report the development of a radically different approach to NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance). The new highly sensitive technique could prove invaluable in diagnosing a variety of diseases. May 15, 2007

DNA-damage test could aid drug development - Researchers from MIT and the Whitehead Institute have developed a cell culture test for assessing a compound's genetic toxicity that may prove dramatically cheaper than existing animal tests. The new test looks for DNA damage in red blood cells. May 14, 2007

BIO Convention draws worldwide participants - Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, deputy prime minister of Malaysia, was among the guests at a reception hosted by President Susan Hockfield to welcome participants to the 2007 BIO International Convention held in Boston May 6-9. May 11, 2007

Scientists ID secret to infectious protein - Scientists at MIT and the Whitehead Institute have discovered small but critical regions within prions, infectious proteins that cause mad cow disease or its human equivalent, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, through the study of nontoxic yeast prions. May 10, 2007

Opossum genome sheds light on evolution - An international research team led by scientists at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard has completed a high-quality genome sequence of the opossum, providing a fresh look at the evolutionary origins of the human genome. May 9, 2007

Wind, sun and tides power coral reef rehab - MIT students Gerardo Jose la O', Emzo de los Santos, Martin M. Lorilla, and former MIT fellow Illac Diaz coupled their science and engineering skills with a new technology to promote a low-cost, environmentally friendly way to regrow Philippine coral reefs. May 8, 2007

Systems biology seeks to define itself - Visiting sociology professor Joan Fujimura discussed her recent work, which focuses on the sociology of science, particularly in the fields of genetics, bioinformatics and systems biology, at an MIT colloquium on April 23. May 2, 2007

Team reverses Alzheimer's-like symptoms in mice - Mice whose brains had atrophied like those of Alzheimer's disease patients regained long-term memories and the ability to learn after living in an enriched environment, reports MIT Professor Li-Huei Tsai and colleagues in the journal Nature. April 30, 2007

MIT team takes high-res, 3-D images of eye - In work that could improve diagnoses of many eye diseases, MIT Professor James Fujimoto and colleagues have developed a new type of laser for taking high-resolution, 3-D images of the retina, the part of the eye that converts light to electrical signals. April 30, 2007

Genzyme co-founder will discuss energy research - Building a balanced portfolio for energy production is not simply a matter of applying known science to large-scale engineering applications, according to George Whitesides, one of the world's leading engineering and science pioneers. April 27, 2007

New MIT technique weighs single living cells - For the first time, MIT researchers have found a way to measure the mass of single cells with high accuracy. The technique could allow researchers to develop inexpensive diagnostic devices and offer a unique glimpse into cell division. April 25, 2007

Lives of a cell - Kathy Vandiver, director of community outreach and education programs for MIT's Center for Environmental Health Sciences takes students from the Adventure Science Center in Nashville, Tenn., through the new cell exhibit at the MIT Museum. April 25, 2007

Horvitz will deliver Killian Lecture on April 24 - Nobel laureate H. Robert Horvitz, the David H. Koch Professor of Cancer Biology and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, will deliver the 35th annual Killian Award lecture April 24 at 4:30 p.m. in Kirsch Auditorium (Room 32-123) of the Stata Center. April 20, 2007

Model helps researchers 'see' brain development - Understanding the significance of folds in the outer layer of the brain is one of the big open questions in neuroscience. Now a team led by MIT, MGH and Harvard Medical School has developed a tool that could help researchers "see" the growth of those folds. April 10, 2007

Device draws cells close--but not too close--together - On a microscopic level, coaxing cells to be very, very close without actually touching one another has been among the most frustrating challenges for cell biologists. MIT researchers have solved the problem with a novel device. April 4, 2007

Diseases to be focus of Singapore-MIT alliance - Infectious diseases will be the focus of the first research group through the proposed Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Center, as announced by the Singaporean National Research Foundation, which will sponsor the center. March 30, 2007

Model captures diversity of underwater forests - Scientists at MIT have created an ocean model so realistic that the virtual forests of diverse microscopic plants they "sowed" have grown in population patterns that precisely mimic their real-world counterparts. March 29, 2007

MIT Darwin Project will model ocean microbes - A new program to develop computational models of how marine microbes live and evolve in the global ocean has been launched with a $3.7 million gift from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. March 29, 2007

Scientists find different brain regions fuel attention - If you spotted an anaconda poised to strike, the signal to pay attention would originate in a different part of your brain than if you gazed at an anaconda in the zoo, neuroscientists at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory report. March 29, 2007

Child's play is serious study of cause and effect - It's not child's play to MIT cognitive scientist Laura E. Schulz to figure out what child's play is all about. She addressed her research at a recent event, "Twisting the Lion's Tail: Exploratory Play and Children's Causal Learning." March 28, 2007

Engineers' pulsing light silences overactive neurons - Scientists at the MIT Media Lab have invented a way to reversibly silence brain cells using pulses of yellow light, offering the prospect of controlling the haywire neuron activity that occurs in diseases such as epilepsy and Parkinson's disease. March 27, 2007

Natural polyester makes new sutures stronger, safer - With the help of a new type of suture based on MIT research, patients who get stitches may never need to have them removed. The novel biopolymer suture is made of materials that can be safely absorbed once the wound is healed. March 22, 2007

MIT biologists solve vitamin puzzle - Solving a mystery that has puzzled scientists for decades, MIT and Harvard researchers have discovered the final piece of the synthesis pathway of vitamin B12-the only vitamin synthesized exclusively by microorganisms. March 21, 2007

MIT IDs role of key protein in tumor growth - MIT researchers have identified how a missing protein causes tissue to become precancerous--a finding that could help doctors identify patients at high risk to develop tumors. March 15, 2007

Program to replenish eelgrass educates students - A project led by MIT Sea Grant to bring a special plant back to Boston-area harbors is also giving students in Massachusetts and Rhode Island a hands-on education in the importance of healthy marine ecosystems. March 12, 2007

MIT shows how blood cells change shape - For the first time, MIT researchers have developed a dynamic, molecular-level model that describes how red blood cells deform their normal disc shape to pass through vessels that are often much narrower than the cells themselves. March 12, 2007

$100M gift to launch center for psychiatric disease - The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard has received a $100 million gift to launch a new research center that will combine the strengths of genomics and chemical biology to advance the understanding and treatment of severe mental illnesses. March 8, 2007

Doherty professor studies marine organisms - In work that will improve our understanding of the marine microorganisms that are essential to healthy oceans, Roman Stocker is using microfluidics to study these organisms in the lab under conditions close to what they experience in the wild. March 7, 2007

Local wildlife reveals global warming's effect - In a Lowell, Mass., cemetery on Memorial Day 1868, a photograph captured mourners in heavy winter clothing gathered under leafless trees near the graves of two brothers killed in the Civil War. At the same spot on Memorial Day 2005, cemetery visitors wore light spring clothes. The trees were in full flower. February 27, 2007

Griffith advances promise of adult stem cells - MIT researchers have developed a technique to encourage the survival and growth of adult stem cells, a step that could help realize the therapeutic potential of such cells for treatment of injuries and some diseases. February 27, 2007

Model mimics neural processes in object recognition - For the first time, MIT scientists have applied a computer model of how the brain processes visual information to a complex, real world task: recognizing the objects in a busy street scene. February 23, 2007

HHMI awardee committed to biochemistry, outreach - Irene C. Blat, a research technician at the Broad Institute, has received one of five 2007 Gilliam Fellowships from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, supporting up to five years of study toward a Ph.D. in the life sciences. February 13, 2007

Defense mechanism of tumors discovered - MIT researchers have identified a critical defense mechanism that tumor cells employ to survive the toxic effects of chemotherapy--knowledge that could very soon lead to more effective cancer treatments. February 12, 2007

MIT improves protein sorting with a new microchip - A new MIT microchip system promises to speed up the separation and sorting of biomolecules such as proteins. The work could help scientists better detect certain molecules associated with diseases, potentially leading to earlier diagnoses. February 5, 2007

Team develops nanoparticles to battle cancer - On a quest to modernize cancer treatment and diagnosis, an MIT professor and her colleagues have created new nanoparticles that mimic blood platelets. Their goal? To send these to carry out different medical missions inside the body. February 1, 2007

New book documents MIT breast cancer therapy - A breast cancer treatment based on MIT research originally intended for detecting missiles is documented in a new book by Alan J. Fenn, an MIT researcher and inventor of the technique. January 26, 2007

Lauffenburger wins 2007 Galletti award - Professor Douglas Lauffenburger, head of the Biological Engineering Division, has won the 2007 Pierre Galletti Award from the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. January 26, 2007

Scientists create wrinkled polymer 'skin' - An MIT scientist and his colleagues at Harvard University and Seoul National University have demonstrated a promising new method for developing wrinkled hard skins on polymers using a focused ion beam. January 25, 2007

CEHS hosts gene-environment symposium - The MIT Center for Environmental Health Sciences (CEHS) will host a Gene-Environment Interaction Symposium featuring talks by MIT experts on Jan. 26 in the Stata Center (Room 32-141). January 24, 2007

Reactivated gene shrinks tumors, MIT study finds - Many cancers arise due to defects in genes that normally suppress tumor growth. Now, for the first time, MIT researchers have shown that re-activating one of those genes in mice can cause tumors to shrink or disappear. January 24, 2007

Discovery could lead to new autoimmune therapies - Scientists from MIT, the Whitehead Institute and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have identified a key set of genes that may help scientists develop therapies for autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. January 22, 2007

Nanocomposites yield strong and stretchy fibers - Creating artificial substances that are both stretchy and strong has long been an elusive engineering goal. Inspired by spider silk, MIT researchers have now devised a way to produce a material that begins to mimic this combination of desirable properties. January 18, 2007

Hynes named scientific governor of U.K. charity - Professor Richard O. Hynes has been named scientific governor of the United Kingdom's largest charity, the Wellcome Trust, effective Jan. 1. January 12, 2007

Scientists discover new class of RNA - With the discoveries of RNA interference and microRNAs, the RNA molecule has been catapulted to stardom as a major player in genomic activity. Now a team of scientists led by an MIT professor has discovered an entirely new class of RNA molecules. January 11, 2007

Scientists mark 50 years since key RNA discovery - Profound doubts were the frequent response when MIT biophysicist Alexander Rich announced 50 years ago that two single-strand ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules could spontaneously align themselves to form a double helix. January 9, 2007

Micro-RNA research proves Rich's 1961 'suggestion' - In 1961 Alexander Rich made a prophetic suggestion that is just now coming to fruition. January 9, 2007

MIT creates 3D scaffold for growing stem cells - An MIT engineer and colleagues report that stem cells grew, multiplied and differentiated into brain cells on their new three-dimensional scaffold of tiny protein fragments designed to be more like a living body than any other cell culture system. December 27, 2006

Memory experts show rats may have visual dreams - Memories of our life stories may be reinforced while we sleep, MIT researchers report Dec. 17 in the advance online edition of Nature Neuroscience. December 18, 2006

Museum displays 'Singular Beauty' of microscopes - The MIT Museum is currently showcasing the exquisite beauty of the simple microscope, the portable single-lens instruments invented in the 17th century and made famous by naturalists such as Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Carl Linnaeus and Charles Darwin.  December 13, 2006

Genetic map offers new tool for malaria research - An international research team has completed a map that charts the genetic variability of the human malaria parasite. The work has already unearthed novel genes that may underlie resistance to current drugs against the disease. December 11, 2006

Team reverses Parkinson's damage in yeast - Yeast cells get sick and die from the same toxic culprit that mucks up dopamine-producing neurons in Parkinson's disease. Now, a multi-institutional team led by MIT professor Susan Lindquist has found a way to reverse the damage in yeast. December 11, 2006

Austrian honor for Zhang - Shuguang Zhang, associate director of MIT's Center for Biomedical Engineering, recently received Austria's 2006 Wilhelm Exner Medal for outstanding contributions to science and technology from the president of Austria, Heinz Fischer. December 8, 2006

Engineered yeast improves ethanol production - MIT scientists have engineered yeast that can improve the speed and efficiency of ethanol production, a key component to making biofuels a significant part of the U.S. energy supply. December 7, 2006

Broad wins $200M for genomics research - The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard has announced an award of nearly $200 million from the National Human Genome Research Institute to support applications and enhancements of large-scale DNA sequencing for biomedicine. December 6, 2006

MIT receives $6 million for cancer study - Research into the "microenvironment" of tumor cells is the focus of a $6 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to MIT's Center for Cancer Research. December 1, 2006

MIT's anti-microbial 'paint' kills flu, bacteria - A new "antimicrobial paint" developed at MIT can kill influenza viruses that land on surfaces coated with it, potentially offering a new weapon in the battle against a disease that kills nearly 40,000 Americans per year. November 30, 2006

Wanted: Biologists who can speak 'math' - Biologists, computer scientists and engineers speak different languages. This communications divide is becoming more of a problem now that research so often requires collaboration across disciplines. November 22, 2006

Scientists find genetic oddity protects sex cells - Researchers have found that a class of RNA molecules previously thought to have no function may in fact protect sex cells from self-destructing. Central to this discovery is the fundamental process of gene expression. November 21, 2006

Agile new plastics change shape with heat - Researchers at MIT and the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers have invented a class of materials so remarkable for their agility in changing shape as they react to heat, they might be described as acrobatic plastics. November 20, 2006

Periwinkle can serve as tiny chemical plant - Some of nature's most complicated chemistry takes place in the shoots and leaves of the periwinkle plant. MIT researchers studying the flowering plant have now figured out how to manipulate those complicated biosynthetic pathways to produce novel compounds. November 15, 2006

Researchers gain traction in race against pandemics - Is another pandemic on the scale of the 1918 influenza pandemic inevitable, or can research and prevention head off another deadly transmission of animal viruses to human populations? November 15, 2006

Work may aid study of collagen ailments - An MIT researcher's mathematical model explains for the first time the distinctive structure of collagen, a material key to healthy human bone, muscles and other tissues. The new model shows collagen's structure from the atomic to the tissue scale. November 14, 2006

Gene machine takes the prize - A team of undergraduates from the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia--leaping onto MIT's Kresge Auditorium stage in green team T-shirts--won the grand prize Sunday at the international Genetically Engineered Machine competition. November 9, 2006

Scientific American names Belcher top researcher - Professor Angela Belcher has been named Research Leader of the Year by Scientific American. Three other MIT researchers are also among the magazine's annual list of the nation's top 50 technology leaders. November 6, 2006

Engineers probe spiders' polymer art - A team of MIT engineers has identified two key physical processes that lend spider silk its unrivaled strength and durability, bringing closer to reality the long-sought goal of spinning artificial spider silk. October 30, 2006

Lander named one of America's 'best leaders' - Professor Eric Lander, founder and director of the Eli and Edythe L. Broad Institute, is featured as one of America's 20 best leaders in the Oct. 30, 2006 issue of U.S. News and World Report. October 27, 2006

Scientists pinpoint brain site for rapid learning - MIT researchers have provided the first two-pronged evidence--based on both behavior and physiology--that a specific juncture in the memory center of the brain is crucial for rapid learning. October 20, 2006

MIT to welcome Amgen Scholars in 2007 - MIT has been selected as a site for the prestigious Amgen Scholars Program, which provides opportunities for talented undergraduate students interested in the sciences to engage in fully-funded summer research experiences. October 19, 2006

Anti-microbial 'grammar' underlies health advance - In most languages, sentences only make sense if the words are placed in the right order. Now, MIT researchers and an IBM colleague have used grammatical principles to help their search for new antimicrobial medicines. October 19, 2006

MIT technique reveals inner lives of red blood cells - For the first time, researchers at MIT can see every vibration of a cell membrane, using a technique that could one day allow scientists to create three-dimensional images of the inner workings of living cells. October 16, 2006

Institute of Medicine elects three from MIT - MIT faculty members Elazer R. Edelman, Rudolf Jaenisch and Susan L. Lindquist were among the 65 scientists elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies this week, bringing the total IOM membership to 1,651. October 11, 2006

MIT material stops bleeding in seconds - MIT and Hong Kong University researchers have shown that some simple biodegradable liquids can stop bleeding in wounded rodents within seconds, a development that could significantly impact medicine. October 10, 2006

MIT alum shares Nobel Prize in physiology - Andrew Z. Fire, who received the Ph.D. from MIT in 1983, has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2006 together with Craig C. Mello for their discovery of RNA interference -- gene silencing by double-stranded RNA. October 2, 2006

Tool charts links between drugs and human disease - A research team led by scientists at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard has developed a new kind of genetic "roadmap" that can connect human diseases with potential drugs to treat them, as well as predict how new drugs work in human cells. September 29, 2006

Nanoparticles to aid brain imaging, team reports - If you want to see precisely what the 100 billion neurons in a person's brain are doing, a good way to start is to track calcium as it flows into neurons when they fire. Using a nano-sized tracking agent, an MIT researcher has developed a way to do just that. September 27, 2006

Knotty problem puzzles protein researchers - An MIT team has discovered the most complicated knot ever seen in a protein, and they believe it may be linked to the protein's function as a rescue agent for proteins marked for destruction. September 20, 2006

Two MIT scientists win 2006 Pioneer Awards - Professors Arup K. Chakraborty and James L. Sherley are among 13 scientists nationwide to receive 2006 Pioneer Awards today from the National Institutes of Health for their "highly innovative research." September 19, 2006

MIT bioengineer wins MacArthur 'genius' award - Professor Linda Griffith, a noted biotechnologist, has won a 2006 MacArthur Fellowship, more commonly known as a "genius" grant. Fellows receive $500,000 in "no strings attached" support over five years. September 19, 2006

Seven MIT projects win environmental health grants - The MIT Center for Environmental Health Sciences has awarded grants for seven pilot projects to MIT faculty and scientists. September 13, 2006

MIT announces campus development program - MIT President Susan Hockfield has announced a major campus development program that will invest approximately three-quarters of a billion dollars in new and renovated facilities on the Institute's 154-acre Cambridge campus. September 13, 2006

MIT's molecular sieve advances protein research - New MIT technology promises to speed up the separation of proteins from complex biological fluids. This action is becoming increasingly important for understanding diseases and developing new treatments September 11, 2006

MIT provides first evidence for learning mechanism - Finally confirming a fact that remained unproven for more than 30 years, researchers at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory report that certain key connections among neurons get stronger when we learn. August 24, 2006

CBI unveils drug initiative at forum - As part of an agreement with the FDA, the MIT Center for Biomedical Innovation plans to develop a computerized system that will analyze data on prescription drug and medical device use to detect dangerous side effects more quickly. August 21, 2006

MIT, FDA team up on drug safety - The MIT Center for Biomedical Innovation has agreed to work with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to develop ways to monitor the safety of drugs that are already on the market. August 21, 2006

MIT, Broad Institute join autism gene project - The Autism Consortium, a collaboration of 11 Boston-area institutions dedicated to autism research, today announced the initiation of the first comprehensive genetic association study to examine the entire human genome related to autism. August 15, 2006

Forum to spotlight personalized medicine - Vaccine development and personalized medicine are on the agenda for representatives from industry, academia and government who will be attending an MIT forum on Aug. 17. August 10, 2006

Microbe center plumbs depths of ocean life - Scientists from MIT and six other institutions are part of a new center for exploring the microbial inhabitants of the sea. The alliance aims to bring together the disciplines of oceanography, microbiology, ecology and genomics. August 10, 2006

Professor explores Alzheimer's causes - Some people live to be 100 without falling victim to Alzheimer's disease. Li-Huei Tsai, who joined MIT this spring as Picower Professor of Neuroscience, wants to know why. August 8, 2006

Broad talk illuminates genetics - Scientists are on the brink of identifying genes that play a major role in a variety of diseases, thanks to recent rapid advances in DNA sequencing technology, according to Dr. David Altshuler of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. August 4, 2006

New center to focus on synthetic biology - Five MIT researchers are among the pioneers behind a new research center in synthetic biology, a precocious field whose primary long-term goal is to make it easier to design and build useful organisms. August 3, 2006

Researchers uncover basis for perceptual learning - Following up on an accidental finding, MIT researchers at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory and colleagues have uncovered a mechanism for perceptual learning -- the ability of some to pick up on distinctions that others can't. August 2, 2006

Three at MIT conceive cell-shaped building - An innovative cell-shaped building will house a new biomedical research institute in Chengdu, China, thanks to an unusual crossdisciplinary collaboration between a world-renowned scientist at MIT and two former MIT students. July 28, 2006

MIT researchers watch brain in action - For the first time, scientists have been able to watch neurons within the brain of a living animal change in response to experience. July 27, 2006

DNA damage study probes inflammation, disease - New research at MIT may help scientists better understand the chemical associations between chronic inflammation and diseases such as cancer and atherosclerosis. The work could lead to drugs that break the link between the two. July 25, 2006

Colleagues honor Langer for 30 years of innovation - Scientific colleagues from across the nation and the world celebrated the contributions made by Institute Professor Robert Langer with a three-day symposium held July 14-16 at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge. July 20, 2006

Draper selects new president - The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc. has selected James D. Shields, vice president for programs, to be the lab's next president and chief executive officer. July 13, 2006

Cancer symposium packs Kresge - An audience of 1,300 packed into Kresge Auditorium on June 23 to listen to Nobel laureates and other prominent scientists discuss cancer research. June 29, 2006

Parkinson's symptoms reversed in animals - MIT scientists and colleagues have not only identified a key biological pathway that, when obstructed, causes Parkinson's symptoms, they have also repaired that pathway and restored normal neurological function in certain animal models. June 22, 2006

MIT sheds light on how tumor cells form - MIT cancer researchers have discovered a process that may explain how some tumor cells form, a discovery that could one day lead to new therapies that prevent defective cells from growing and spreading. June 20, 2006

Virus yields clues into immune system - Investigating one form of the herpes virus, MIT and Whitehead researchers have discovered a key component in the machinery that cells use to dispose of misfolded proteins. The accumulation of such proteins can lead to conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. June 16, 2006

Genetic networks discussed at Picower retreat - Cori Bargmann wants to know what it's like to be a worm. To understand the nervous system of the nematode C. elegans, said the Rockefeller University professor at an MIT retreat recently, it helps to imagine what a worm's life in the soil is like. June 16, 2006

Biology awards - 2006 Awards listings. June 8, 2006

HHMI awards MIT $1.8 million - MIT has been awarded $1.8 million for undergraduate biology education from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, which awarded a total of $86.4 million to 50 universities around the country. June 8, 2006

Sensor opens up study of crucial molecule - MIT scientists have discovered a way to monitor a crucial molecule -- nitric oxide -- as it goes about its business within living cells. The researchers have developed a bright fluorescent sensor that helps capture and illuminate NO in living, functioning cells. June 1, 2006

Broad dedicates new building - Less than two years after the first shovelful of dirt was turned, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard officially opened its new building at 7 Cambridge Center on Tuesday, May 30. May 31, 2006

Public database aids drug researchers - Researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have released a major upgrade of ChemBank, a publicly available database created to help drug hunters discover new and effective medicines. May 30, 2006

MIT poet develops 'seeing machine' - An MIT poet has developed a small, relatively inexpensive "seeing machine" that can allow people who are blind, or visually challenged like her, to access the Internet, view the face of a friend, "previsit" unfamiliar buildings and more. May 23, 2006

H. Robert Horvitz wins Killian Award - Nobel laureate H. Robert Horvitz, the David H. Koch Professor of Cancer Biology, is MIT's James R. Killian Jr. Faculty Achievement Award winner for 2005-2006. May 23, 2006

Cloaked fungi slip past immune system - Whitehead Institute and MIT researchers have discovered a biological "cloaking device" that may help pathogenic fungi hide from the immune system. The work may explain why our immune system easily identifies many bacterial and viral infections yet sometimes misses other invaders like pathogenic fungi. May 19, 2006

Work offers new twist on origin of species - The evolutionary split between humans and chimpanzees is much more recent -- and more complicated -- than previously thought, according to a new study by scientists at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and colleagues. May 18, 2006

Ploegh wins Belgian health prize - Princess Mathilde of Belgium presented Hidde Ploegh, MIT biology professor and member of the Whitehead Institute, with the 2006 Interbrew-Baillet Latour Health Prize on Saturday, May 6. May 16, 2006

Work aids understanding of life's beginning - MIT researchers have a new understanding of the process cells use to ensure that sperm and eggs begin life with exactly one copy of each chromosome -- a process that must be exquisitely regulated to prevent problems such as miscarriages and mental retardation. May 8, 2006

Lemelson-MIT awards prizes for innovation - The Lemelson-MIT Program announced today that its $500,000 prize will be presented to James Fergason, whose work with liquid crystals paved the way for multiple innovations, including digital watches and computer monitors. May 3, 2006

MIT research offers hope for Alzheimer's patients - MIT brain researchers have developed a "cocktail" of dietary supplements, now in human clinical trials, that holds promise for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. April 27, 2006

Engineering solutions in Louisiana - Eight civil and environmental engineering undergraduates spent their spring break on Lake Pontchartrain in hurricane-ravaged Louisiana doing research that may eventually contribute to minimizing the health effects of Hurricane Katrina. April 26, 2006

Cancer research funding called key - Funding young researchers remains an important focus for the National Cancer Institute, even though the federal group's budget has remained flat the past few years, the acting head of the NCI told MIT students and faculty on Friday, April 21. April 25, 2006

Key to adaptability of embryonic stem cells found - New research promises to help scientists explain the magic behind embryonic stem cells, cells with the extraordinary ability to transform into almost any cell type in the body. April 24, 2006

Method allows 3-D study of cell tissue organization - MIT bioengineers have devised a new technique that makes it possible to learn more about how cells are organized in tissues and potentially even to regrow cells for repairing areas of the body damaged by disease, accidents or aging. April 24, 2006

New map reveals secret of stem cell development - The process by which humans manage to develop from a single fertilized egg into the trillions of cells that make up a mature adult may become clearer, thanks to stem cell research by scientists from MIT, the Whitehead Institute and Harvard. April 21, 2006

Research gives lazy eye theory a workout - In a study that challenges conventional thinking about the condition known as lazy eye, researchers at MIT show that it's the quality, not the quantity, of images and light striking the retina that causes one eye to lose function. April 14, 2006

Protein viewer unveiled - Two hundred high school biology students on a recent field trip to campus became the first to use a new 3-D protein database viewer that was created at MIT and will soon be available to schools nationwide. April 12, 2006

Researchers build tiny batteries with viruses - MIT scientists have harnessed the construction talents of tiny viruses to build ultra-small "nanowire" structures for use in very thin lithium-ion batteries. April 7, 2006

New tools enable large-scale gene studies - A molecular library created by a research team led by scientists at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard promises to accelerate scientists' understanding of the genetics behind cancer and many biological processes. April 7, 2006

Jacks earns top cancer award - Tyler Jacks, director of MIT's Center for Cancer Research, has been named the 2005 Simon M. Shubitz Lecturer and Award recipient. April 4, 2006

Studies link cancer, inflammatory disease - The biological processes underlying diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and cancer are fundamentally linked, and should be linked in how they are treated with drugs, a series of MIT studies indicates. March 29, 2006

Nobelist unravels smell at Picower symposium - Vanilla, camphor, lavender and skunk: How do mammals differentiate such odors with precision and translate the information into behavior? Nobel laureate Linda B. Buck gave a March 26 keynote address on the subject of "Unravelling Smell" at the MIT symposium "New Frontiers in Brain Science -- from Molecules to Mind." March 29, 2006

Scientists show that children think like scientists - Even preschoolers approach the world much like scientists: They are convinced that perplexing and unpredictable events can be explained, according to an MIT brain researcher's study in the April issue of Child Development. March 24, 2006

Researchers: Plankton swap genes in ocean - New evidence from open sea experiments shows there's a constant shuffling of genetic endowments going on among tiny plankton, and the "coinage" they use seems to be a flood of viruses, MIT scientists report. March 23, 2006

Rat whiskers lead to brain map - Neuroscientists at MIT have discovered an exquisite micro-map of the brain. It's the size of the period at the end of this sentence, and it's in a most unexpected place -- connected to the whiskers on a rat's face. March 22, 2006

Warbling whales speak a language all their own - Researchers led by an MIT graduate student have now mathematically confirmed that whales have their own syntax that uses sound units to build phrases that can be combined to form songs that last for hours. March 22, 2006

Endy gives talk on DNA programming - In an effort to understand the enormous complexities of genes and proteins in a living organism, Drew Endy, assistant professor of biological engineering, is taking apart the pieces and putting them back together. March 17, 2006

Research finds unexpected activity in visual cortex - For years, neural activity in the brain's visual cortex was thought to have only one job: to create visual perceptions. A new study by MIT researchers shows that visual cortical activity can serve another purpose -- connecting visual experience with non-visual events. March 16, 2006

Brain researchers restore sight in rodents - Rodents blinded by a severed tract in their brains' visual system had their sight partially restored within weeks, thanks to a tiny biodegradable scaffold invented by MIT bioengineers and neuroscientists. March 13, 2006

Robert Weinberg wins major cancer prize - Professor Robert A. Weinberg has won one of the largest prizes awarded to cancer researchers by a professional society of peers, according to the American Association for Cancer Research. March 8, 2006

Research holds promise for Huntington's treatment - Researchers at MIT and Harvard Medical School have identified a compound that interferes with the pathogenic effects of Huntington's disease, a discovery that could lead to development of a new treatment for the disease. March 6, 2006

MIT method reveals how radiation damages the body - Researchers at MIT have devised a new method for examining how radiation damages normal tissue in the body. The knowledge may make it possible to reduce side effects for cancer patients or to develop treatments for radiation exposure. February 28, 2006

Neurons in sync focus attention, researchers find - When neurons fire in synchrony, the resultant signal calls attention to certain tasks and helps speed response time, according to a recent study by Robert Desimone, director of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, and colleagues in the Netherlands. February 24, 2006

Microbe DNA helps scientists understand ocean - Using DNA analysis, MIT researchers and colleagues have gained new insight into how marine microbes thrive and survive at different depths of the ocean. February 22, 2006

Minority recruiting efforts outlined at faculty meeting - The faculty officially approved Biological Engineering as Course 20 at its meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 15. After the vote, the faculty heard Provost L. Rafael Reif discuss two new faculty committees that will focus on recruiting and retaining minority faculty members. February 21, 2006

Bacterium found with strange magnetic personality - Like living compasses, magnetotactic bacteria point to the poles -- north in the Northern Hemisphere, and south in the Southern Hemisphere. But in one little area of New England, researchers led by an MIT graduate student have found a magnetic misfit of sorts. February 17, 2006

'Mad cow protein' found to aid creation of brain cells - Few conditions are more detrimental to human brains than the one popularly referred to as mad cow disease. But now there's reason to suspect that the malformed protein that causes the disease might also be necessary for healthy brain function. February 16, 2006

MIT medals in science - President Bush has awarded two MIT faculty members the National Medal of Science, this nation's highest science honor. Phillip A. Sharp and Stephen J. Lippard were among eight honorees who received the medals at a White House ceremony Feb. 13. February 14, 2006

Picower researcher explains how rats think - After running a maze, rats mentally replay their actions -- but backward, like a film played in reverse, a researcher at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT reports in the online edition of Nature. February 12, 2006

Inventors Hall of Fame to induct 2 professors - Two MIT professors--Robert Langer and Ali Javan--have been named to the National Inventors Hall of Fame, the hall announced on Wednesday, Feb. 8. February 9, 2006

New images capture virus in extraordinary detail - Fifty years after MIT researchers pioneered the use of electron microscopy to study viruses, MIT scientists have helped produce the most detailed images yet of the tiny infectious agents poised to inject their genetic material into a host cell. February 8, 2006

Energy talk explores biomass potential - We'll be filling our tanks with ethanol made from prairie grass while producing no greenhouse gases and improving agricultural soil in the bargain, if Lee R. Lynd has his way. February 6, 2006

Belcher awarded new Germeshausen Professorship - Angela M. Belcher, professor of materials science and engineering and biological engineering, has been awarded the Germeshausen Professorship for a five-year period effective Dec. 1, 2005. February 1, 2006

Researchers link mad-cow culprit to stem cell health - MIT and Whitehead Institute scientists have found that the same protein that causes neurodegenerative conditions such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) is also important for helping certain adult stem cells maintain themselves. January 30, 2006

Blood researchers multiply adult stem cells - MIT and Whitehead Institute researchers have discovered a way to multiply an adult stem cell 30 times, an expansion that offers tremendous promise for treatments such as bone marrow transplants and perhaps even gene therapy. January 23, 2006

Cloned stem cells identical to fertilized stem cells - Scientists at MIT and the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research have concluded that stem cells derived from a cloned embryo are indistinguishable from those derived from a fertilized embryo. January 16, 2006

CSBi symposium focuses on stem cell - An understanding of the regulatory network underlying the development of human embryonic stem cells could allow scientists to manipulate these cells for therapeutic purposes, said MIT Professor David Gifford at a Jan. 12 symposium at MIT. January 12, 2006

Biological engineering may become Course 20 - Biological engineering faculty put forward an ambitious proposal for a new Course 20 at the faculty meeting held Dec. 21. January 3, 2006

Scientists help complete fungal genomic sequences - An international team of scientists, including researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, have determined and compared the genome sequences of three aspergilli. Their findings were published in three papers in the Dec. 22 issue of Nature. December 28, 2005

Researcher finds neuron growth in adult brain - Despite the prevailing belief that adult brain cells don't grow, a researcher at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory reports in the Dec. 27 issue of Public Library of Science (PLoS) Biology that structural remodeling of neurons does in fact occur in mature brains. December 27, 2005

Middle-schoolers ask tough science questions - Seventh- and eighth-grade students from Stoughton, Mass., recently engaged a panel of eminent research scientists from MIT and Harvard in a discussion of stem cell research, technology and ethics. December 21, 2005

Faces have a special place in the brain - Research at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT indicates that the brain is comprised of highly specialized parts, each optimized to conduct a single, very specific function. December 21, 2005

Blood researchers find mechanism behind disease - Researchers at MIT and their colleagues have discovered an unusual mechanism underlying myeloproliferative disease, a condition characterized by overproduction of different types of blood cells. December 19, 2005

Pilot projects get funding - The MIT Center for Environmental Health Sciences, through support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, has announced its