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Kaleidoscope of colors reveals complex biological processes

Science Highlights • July 20, 2017
“Seeing is believing,” has been taken to heart by researchers as they strive to develop microscopes that will reveal biological structures and processes with increased clarity and detail. Now, researchers funded by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering have developed a technique that uses the vibration of chemical bonds to produce specific colors that allow them to simultaneously observe, in cells and tissues, as many as 24 interacting molecules--each with a distinct color.

Metal-free MRI contrast agent could be safer for some patients

Grantee News • July 14, 2017

A metal-free MRI contrast agent has been developed that could be safer for certain patients. The compound contains organic molecules called nitroxides instead of metal and may be used to generate more informative MRI scans of tumors. Read more at MIT News.

NIH-funded team uses smartphone data in global study of physical activity

Press Releases • July 7, 2017
Using a larger dataset than for any previous human movement study, National Institutes of Health-funded researchers at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, have tracked physical activity by population for more than 100 countries. Their research follows on a recent estimate that more than 5 million people die each year from causes associated with inactivity.

Quick test finds signs of sepsis in a single drop of blood

Grantee News • July 5, 2017

A new portable device can quickly find markers of deadly, unpredictable sepsis infection from a single drop of blood. The device is the first to provide rapid, point-of-care measurement of the immune system's response, without any need to process the blood. This can help doctors identify sepsis at its onset, monitor infected patients and could even point to a prognosis. Read more at Illinois News Bureau.

New microscope uses adaptable mirror to create clearer images

Science Highlights • June 29, 2017
A new microscope merges different microscopy methods to increase resolution and contrast in thick biological samples. A key component of the method is two-photon microscopy, used to generate a small point of light deep inside the sample. By moving this light throughout the sample and collecting information on how it is being distorted, Shroff and his team are able to adjust the shape of the mirror to cancel out the distortions, thus creating a clear image of the whole sample.

Injectable plant-based nanoparticles delay tumor progression

Grantee News • June 29, 2017

Researchers discovered injecting potato virus particles into melanoma tumor sites activates an anti-tumor immune system response. And simultaneously injecting the nanoscale plant virus particles and a chemotherapy drug--doxorubicin--into tumor sites further helps halt tumor progression in mice. Read more at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine News.

Microfluidic chip predicts risk of preterm birth

Science Highlights • June 28, 2017
Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Among the many underlying causes of pregnancy-associated complications, it is known that infection and inflammation are highly significant risk factors. Now, NIBIB-funded researchers have developed a system to capture and identify a scarce blood peptide (a fragment of an inflammatory protein) called P1 that can predict increased risk of preterm birth. Early detection offers the opportunity to begin medical interventions to delay birth or increase fetus viability to save lives and reduce lifelong disabilities.

Researchers develop microneedle patch for flu vaccination

Press Releases • June 27, 2017
An NIH-funded study led by a team at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University has shown that an influenza vaccine can produce robust immune responses and be administered safely with an experimental patch of dissolving microneedles. The method is an alternative to needle-and-syringe immunization; with further development, it could eliminate the discomfort of an injection as well as the inconvenience and expense of visiting a flu clinic. The study was published online June 27, 2017, in The Lancet.

NIH Names Winners of “Follow that Cell” Phase 2 Competition

Press Releases • June 27, 2017
The National Institutes of Health has named two biological engineering researchers as winners in Phase 2 of its Follow that Cell Challenge. The winners will share $400,000 in prizes awarded for development of new tools and methods for predicting the behavior and function of a single cell in complex tissue over time – and how that reflects the health of the tissue. They were chosen from among several Phase 1 finalists.

The art of sealing the biomedical technology deal

Science Highlights • June 21, 2017
For 16 teams of NIH-funded scientists and engineers, transforming scientific savvy into business-oriented value propositions and investment strategies was the challenge each met in March at the end of their intensive six-month commercialization boot camp.

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