News
August 31, 2016
Researchers use a single molecule to command stem cells to build new bone
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have discovered an easy and efficient way to coax human pluripotent stem cells to regenerate bone tissue—by feeding them adenosine, a naturally occurring molecule in the body. The stem-cell-derived bone tissue helped repair cranial bone defects in mice without developing tumors or causing infection. Full Story
August 4, 2016
Nanobowls offer a way to magnetically deliver drugs in the body
Imagine a device that could transport drugs to any diseased site in the body with the help of a small magnet. Engineers at UC San Diego have taken a step toward that goal by developing nano-sized vessels, called nanobowls, that could be filled with drug molecules and controlled with magnets for guided delivery to specific tissues and organs, including cancer tissue, small organs such as the pancreas and hard to access areas like the brain. Full Story
July 25, 2016
Researchers ID Cancer Gene-Drug Combinations Ripe for Precision Medicine
In an effort to expand the number of cancer gene mutations that can be specifically targeted with personalized therapies, researchers at University of California San Diego looked for combinations of mutated genes and drugs that together kill cancer cells. Such combinations are expected to kill cancer cells, which have mutations, but not healthy cells, which do not. The study, published July 21 in Molecular Cell, uncovered 172 new combinations that could form the basis for future cancer therapies. Full Story
July 20, 2016
Synthetic Biology used to limit bacterial growth and coordinate drug release
Researchers at the University of California San Diego and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have come up with a strategy for using synthetic biology in therapeutics. The approach enables continual production and release of drugs at disease sites in mice while simultaneously limiting the size, over time, of the populations of bacteria engineered to produce the drugs. Full Story
July 19, 2016
Wellcome Trust Picks Up Support of NIH-developed LIPID MAPS Website/Database
Our understanding of the role of lipids in the development of diseases such as heart disease and dementia is about to get a boost as a UK-led consortium receives a £1.3 million grant to host the world’s largest curated lipid database and associated resources. The new grant, awarded by the Wellcome Trust, will allow Cardiff University’s Systems Immunity Research Institute, the Babraham Institute, Cambridge, and the University of California San Diego to continue the important work of identifying and analysing lipids – the molecules our bodies use to regulate normal processes such as blood clotting, fighting infection and development. Full Story
June 29, 2016
Sparking interest in engineering and science
Christian Metallo’s talk was part of a collaboration between the University of California, San Diego and the San Diego Unified School District to expose students to the research that takes place on university campuses through hands-on activities and lectures. Metallo and his team spent a week on the San Ysidro High campus during spring quarter, exposing to concepts related to his research more than 140 students in five classes. Full Story
June 23, 2016
Human brain houses diverse populations of neurons, new research shows
A team of researchers has developed the first scalable method to identify different subtypes of neurons in the human brain. The research lays the groundwork for “mapping” the gene activity in the human brain and could help provide a better understanding of brain functions and disorders, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, schizophrenia and depression. Full Story
June 13, 2016
Engineers develop a new biosensor chip for detecting DNA mutations
Bioengineers at the University of California, San Diego have developed an electrical graphene chip capable of detecting mutations in DNA. Researchers say the technology could one day be used in various medical applications such as blood-based tests for early cancer screening, monitoring disease biomarkers and real-time detection of viral and microbial sequences. Full Story
June 13, 2016
NSF-Funded Program Helps UC San Diego Startups
The National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps program (I-Corps) at UC San Diego is helping entrepreneurs determine whether their idea could turn into a viable company. Full Story
June 8, 2016
Bioengineering professor Bernhard Palsson receives 2016 International Metabolic Engineering Award
Bernhard Palsson, Galletti Professor of Bioengineering and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego, has been named the recipient of the 2016 International Metabolic Engineering Award. The award, presented every two years by the International Metabolic Engineering Society (IMES), recognizes an outstanding career contributor to the field of metabolic engineering. Palsson is being honored for developing genome-scale metabolic modeling and simulation strategies for better understanding large metabolic and gene regulatory networks and for demonstrating application methods. The Metabolic Engineering Award and an associated lecture by Palsson will be presented on June 29, 2016 at the IMES-sponsored Metabolic Engineering 11 conference, which will take place June 26–30 in Awaji Island, Japan. Full Story