By Nancy Fliesler More than 70 different genes are known to cause deafness when mutated. Jeffrey Holt, PhD, envisions a day when patients with hearing loss have their genome sequenced and their hearing restored by gene therapy. A proof-of-principle study published today by the journal Science Translational Medicine takes a clear step in that direction, restoring hearing in […]
Vector Blog
Fruit flies’ sexual behavior as a model of motivation in the brain
By Nancy Fliesler If you have children present, you might want to click out of this post. But if you want to understand motivation, you’ll want to know about the sexual behavior of fruit flies. In the brain, motivational states are nature’s way of matching our behaviors to our needs and priorities. But motivation can […]
Fighting crime in the health enterprise: Five tips for building academic-industry partnerships
By Lisa Fratt
Bruce Zetter, PhD, wears quite a few hats: Pioneer. Partner. Teacher. Mentor. Charles Nowiszewski Professor of Cancer Biology in Boston Children’s Hospital’s Department of Surgery.
Targeting leukemia with a clinical trial of CAR T-cell therapy
By Tom Ulrich
One of the immune system’s basic jobs is to tell “self” from “non-self.” Our cells carry markers that the immune system uses to recognize them as being part of us. Cells that don’t carry those markers – like bacteria and other pathogens – therefore don’t belong.
Of bugs, genes, development and intestinal biology
FDA science forum to focus on emerging technologies
Sounding out intracranial pressure with a hearing test
Brain tumors, traumatic head injury and a number of brain and nervous system conditions can cause pressure to build up inside the skull. As intracranial pressure (ICP) rises it can compress the brain and result in swelling of the optic nerves, damaging brain tissue and causing irreversible vision loss.
Embracing the future of pediatric quality measurement
Proteomics provides new leads into nerve regeneration
Looking beyond allergies: Does IgE keep a wary eye out for cancer?
By Tom Ulrich
Allergies of all kinds – to food, pollen, pets, etc. – can be blamed on a kind of antibody called IgE. Cousins of the more common IgG, IgE antibodies work with immune cells called mast cells to trigger the symptoms we associate with an allergic reaction (itchy skin, runny nose, closing throat, etc.).