Explore more about: Synthetic Biological Systems

A change of instructions in a computer program directs the computer to execute a different command. Similarly, synthetic biologists are learning the rules for how to direct the activities of human cells.

Researchers have successfully used a DNA-editing technique to extend the lifespan of mice with the genetic variation associated with progeria, a rare genetic disease that causes extreme premature aging in children and can significantly shorten their life expectancy.

In a groundbreaking new study, researchers have 3D printed a functioning centimeter-scale human heart pump in the lab. The discovery could have major implications for studying heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States killing more than 600,000 people a year.

The Tissue Chips in Space initiative is an ambitious collaborative endeavor that brings NIBIB, NCATS, and the ISS U.S. National Laboratory together to rapidly advance tissue chip technology for biomedical research.

Researchers have designed a more precise and versatile genome editing system, named prime editing, that harnesses the power of CRISPR-Cas9 in combination with another protein, reverse transcriptase, to directly edit DNA in human cells.

Mothers and children in low resource communities often suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. Now NIBIB-funded researchers have developed a system that can be used for tests to rapidly identify blood micronutrient levels in remote areas with limited healthcare infrastructure.