NIBIB in the News

Scientists from UChicago, Harvard, and Yale propose a self-organizing model of connectivity that applies across a wide range of organisms and potentially other types of networks as well. Source: University of Chicago

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a brain implant that sits on the surface while providing information about neural activity deep within the brain. The technology, tested in transgenic mice, brings the researchers a step closer to building a minimally invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) that will provide high-resolution data about deep neural activity by recording from the brain surface. Source: University of California San Diego.

Sequencing all of the RNA in a cell can reveal information about that cell’s function and what it is doing at a given time. However, the sequencing process destroys the cell, making it difficult to

Just like a doctor adjusts the dose of a medication to the patient’s needs, genes that are modified in a person to treat or cure a disease (gene therapy), also needs to be maintained within a therapeutic window. However, there has been no strategy to implement a therapeutic window safely, limiting the potential applications of gene therapy in the clinic. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine report on a technology to effectively regulate gene expression, which could be a promising solution to fill this gap in gene therapy clinical applications. Source: Baylor College of Medicine

A first-of-its-kind vibrating pill that significantly reduces food consumption by mimicking the feeling of fullness was crafted by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and they believe the pill can be used as a cheaper, noninvasive option to treat obesity and other weight-related illnesses. Source: Forbes

As a less invasive alternative to open-heart surgery, cardiac surgeons are increasingly accessing the heart from within using central venous catheters.

Researchers have designed a lightweight helmet with tiny LEGO-size sensors that scan the brain while a person moves.

Engineers have developed a bio-compatible ink that solidifies into different 3D shapes and structures by absorbing ultrasound waves. 

Researchers have created a pioneering helmet equipped with miniature LEGO-sized sensors capable of scanning the brain while in motion.

With the potential to make procedures safer, less invasive, and more accessible, the robotic catheter may pave the way for a new era in cardiac care.