Health sciences and technology

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

Understanding the anesthetized brainNeuroscientist Emery Brown hopes to shed light on a longstanding medical mystery: how general anesthesia works.

A new approach to bladder-disease treatmentImplanted device can release slow, steady dose of medicine over extended period, removing the need for repeated procedures.

Understanding shape-shifting polymersMIT analysis should enable easier design for biomedical uses of plastic materials that have a shape memory.

Heading off traumaStudy suggests adding a face shield to military helmets would help more soldiers avoid blast-induced brain injuries.

Direct deliveryCancer scientists believe nanoparticles could accurately target tumors, avoiding side effects.

Tuning in to a new hearing mechanismFindings from MIT scientists could lead to hearing aids that mimic the ear’s ability to focus on particular frequencies.

Fueling up for 26.2 milesHST student develops model that can help marathon runners pace themselves to a strong finish.

Biology rides to computers’ aidPhotonic crystals could usher in an age of low-power optical computing, but they’re hard to manufacture. Maybe adding a little DNA would help.

Lending a handMIT researchers may be closer to understanding why spacesuit gloves hurt astronauts’ hands.

Your vital signs, on cameraMIT team develops system for continuous medical monitoring using widely available video technology.

In the World: Health care in the palm of a handMIT-led student team develops mobile-device software to help improve health-care accessibility in remote regions.

A better way to grow stem cellsNew synthetic surfaces overcome challenges posed by existing methods for cultivating stem cells.

Shining a light — literally — on diabetesDevice from MIT lab could help diabetic patients monitor their blood glucose levels without finger pricks.

Super-sizing a cancer drug minimizes side effectsResearchers design a new version of cisplatin that spares the kidneys, letting doctors use higher doses.

CEHS calls for pilot project proposalsDeadline for submissions is Monday, Aug. 2.

In the World: Breath of lifeLow-cost portable ventilator could be a lifesaver for people in remote locations and for hospitals in the developing world.

HST's Edelman receives award from Spanish government

Operating in orbitAstronaut and alumnus Bobby Satcher recounts his experience as the first orthopedic surgeon in space

Exposing collagen's double lifeDiscovery that the rigid structural protein can switch to a floppy shape could lead to new treatments for heart disease.

Building organs block by blockTissue engineers create a new way to assemble artificial tissues, using ‘biological Legos’ — cells transformed into bricks.

Rapid analysis of DNA damage now possibleTechnology offers a new way to test potential cancer drugs, detect effects of hazardous agents in our environment.

Robotic therapy helps stroke patients regain functionMIT robots can deliver high-intensity interactive physical therapy.

The pull of artificial gravityMIT researchers say a centrifuge on the International Space Station — hinted at in Obama’s NASA proposal — would be a boon for physiological research

Revolutionizing medicine, one chip at a timeLow-power computer chips allow engineers to design wearable and implantable devices to monitor patients.

New technique offers a more detailed view of brain activity‘Cleverly designed' MRI sensors detect dopamine, offering a high-resolution look at what’s happening inside the brain.

Power from motion and vibrationsForget about batteries. The ability to harness electricity from tiny vibrations could power a new generation of electronic devices.

Self-powered sensorsHarvesting electricity from small temperature differences could enable a new generation of electronic devices that don’t need batteries

Medical entrepreneurship, from the bottom upMIT students aim to bring affordable health care to India’s masses.