Health sciences and technology

Measuring blood flow to monitor sickle cell diseaseNew technology may help doctors predict when patients are at risk for serious complications.

A faster way to catch cellsNew microfluidic device could be used to diagnose and monitor cancer and other diseases.

Five MIT engineers named to National Academy of EngineeringSeveral Institute alumni also among 66 new members announced today.

Neuroscientists link brain-wave pattern to energy consumptionNew model of neuro-electric activity could help scientists better understand quiescent brain states such as coma.

MIT to launch Institute for Medical Engineering and ScienceBased in School of Engineering but spanning all of MIT, IMES will be led by Arup K. Chakraborty.

Stopping influenza evolution before it startsModel of flu proteins suggests new way to design vaccines that slow mutations.

Data mining without prejudiceA new technique for finding relationships between variables in large datasets makes no prior assumptions about what those relationships might be.

How to stop the fluEngineering-systems researchers identify proven strategies to prevent influenza from spreading through a household.

Double dutyA computational biologist and physician, Collin Stultz takes a unique approach to studying diseases that could lead to new treatments.

Seeing cancer in three dimensionsScientists find that the 3-D structure of a cancer cell’s chromosomes plays a big role in which genes get deleted or copied.

Mimicking the brain, in siliconNew computer chip models how neurons communicate with each other at synapses.

Edelman receives Katz Prize in Cardiovascular ResearchPrize honors physician scientists and recognizes outstanding lifetime achievement

New algorithm could substantially speed up MRI scansFaster scans could reduce the time patients spend in the machine from 45 to 15 minutes.

Computer science gives a boost to heart healthNew technique searches for subtle indicators of risk hidden in a patient’s EKG.

Langer honored for achievements in biomedical engineering

A heart of goldNew cardiac patch uses gold nanowires to enhance electrical signaling between cells, a promising step toward better treatment for heart-attack patients.

Dyslexia independent of IQBrain-imaging study suggests that reading difficulties are the same regardless of overall intelligence — and that more children could benefit from support in school.

How to reverse general anesthesiaNeuroscientists find that Ritalin could help bring surgical patients out of surgery much more quickly, with less grogginess.

Science school for judgesMIT and the Broad Institute open their doors to the judicial community for a workshop at the intersection of science and the law.

Langer wins Warren Alpert Foundation PrizeBiomedical engineer shares $250,000 award

Mimicking biological complexity, in a tiny particleNew MIT technology could lead to better drug delivery and artificial tissues that imitate natural tissue.

Emery N. Brown receives the 2011 Jerome Sacks Award for Cross-Disciplinary Research

Recreating human livers, in mice‘Humanized’ mice could help scientists study the side effects of new drugs before they reach clinical trials.

Working in harmonyMIT-designed nanoparticles communicate with each other inside the body to target tumors more efficiently.'

Student inventor Alice Chen receives Lemelson-MIT Student Prize$30,000 prizes awarded to inventive students nationwide; four leading universities celebrate 2011 winners

Keeping an eye on H1N1MIT scientists identify a mutation that could allow the flu virus to spread much more easily.

CEHS poster session highlights graduate, postdoctoral workMore than 60 posters featured at annual Center for Environmental Health Sciences event.

Research update: Continuous medical monitoringTiny 'microworms' could be implanted under the skin to give readout of blood sugar levels or other biomedical information.

Detecting whether a heart attack has occurredNew implantable sensor finds telltale signs; technology could also be adapted to monitor cancer and other diseases.

Putting up a struggle against cancerBlood-vessel cells can combat aggressive tumors, helping to prevent them from spreading through the body, new study finds.