Biological engineering

A caring mindRed blood cells, dengue fever and greenhouses have been on MIT senior Paula Trepman’s mind as she tackles problems in global health care.

Study IDs key protein for cell deathFindings may offer a new way to kill cancer cells by forcing them into an alternative programmed-death pathway.

Potential flu pandemic lurksMIT study identifies influenza viruses circulating in pigs and birds that could pose a risk to humans.

A different view of cancer cellsNew study measures physical changes in tumor cells as they become metastatic.

Hop, skip or jump? Study says no to all of the aboveMIT engineers find that in the earliest stages of arthritis, high-impact exercise may worsen cartilage damage.

Research advances therapy to protect against dengue virusMIT team presents a novel approach to developing a treatment using mutated antibodies.

Fox receives AAVMC Excellence in Research Award

Study reveals how melanoma evades chemotherapyDrugs that block nitric oxide could weaken cancer cells’ resistance, researchers say.

How to minimize the side effects of cancer treatmentMeasuring enzyme levels in patients may reveal healthy cells’ ability to survive chemotherapy.

Four professors named 2013 MacVicar FellowsGriffith, Miller, Schulz and Teng awarded the Institute’s highest undergraduate teaching honor.

Boyden to share prestigious brain prizeEd Boyden honored for his work on optogenetics; will share 1 million Euro prize with five other researchers.

Research update: Imaging fish in 3-D
Automated system for high-speed analysis of vertebrate larvae could aid drug development.


Cell circuits remember their historyMIT engineers design new synthetic biology circuits that combine memory and logic.

Bringing a new perspective to infectious diseaseEnlisted in the fight against HIV, MIT engineers and scientists contribute new technology, materials and computational studies.

A safer way to vaccinatePolymer film that gradually releases DNA coding for viral proteins could offer a better alternative to traditional vaccines.

Microbiologists eavesdrop on the hidden lives of microbesScientists track ocean microbe populations in their natural habitat to create a ‘day in the life’ montage.

Possible role for Huntington’s gene discoveredMutant forms of the gene disrupt chemical modifications that control access to genes necessary for normal brain cell function.

Tiny tools help advance medical discoveriesMIT researchers are designing tools to analyze cells at the microscale.

Two MIT professors win prestigious Wolf PrizeMichael Artin and Robert Langer honored for groundbreaking work in mathematics and chemistry.

Professor Roger Kamm visualizes sneaky tumor cells with 3-D assayKamm is studying the mechanics of metastasis, the process of cancer-cell migration from one location in the body to another and the cause of more than 90 percent of cancer deaths.

Evolution: It’s all in how you splice itMIT biologists find that alternative splicing of RNA rewires signaling in different tissues and may often contribute to species differences.

Tissue engineering: Growing new organs, and moreResearch could lead to better ways to heal injuries and develop new drugs.

Precisely engineering 3-D brain tissuesNew design technique could enable personalized medicine, studies of brain wiring.

The music of the silksResearchers synthesize a new kind of silk fiber — and find that music can help fine-tune the material’s properties.

When it comes to fostering innovation, student group says 'Do it!'Lady Gaga collaborator and Interscope executive highlights do.it@MIT’s wide-ranging approach.

Fighting bacteria with mucusStudy shows that key proteins in mucus prevent bacterial adhesion to surfaces, could help prevent growth of biofilms.

MIT team builds most complex synthetic biology circuit yetNew sensor can detect four different molecules, could be used to program cells to precisely monitor their environments.