Yang Tan Collective News Home | Yang Tan Collective News Recent News Researchers uncover new CRISPR-like system in animals that can edit the human genome The first RNA-guided DNA-cutting enzyme found in eukaryotes, Fanzor could one day be harnessed to edit DNA more precisely than CRISPR/Cas systems. Unraveling connections between the brain and gut MIT engineers’ new technology can probe the neural circuits that influence hunger, mood, and a variety of diseases. Refining mental health diagnoses Maedbh King is building computer models to help clinicians improve diagnosis and treatment for young people with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Francesca Riccio-Ackerman Works to Improve Access to Prosthetics PhD student is designing and building a sustainable care and delivery model in Sierra Leone. Bionics Researchers Develop Technologies to Ease Pain and Transcend Human Limitations Professor of media arts and sciences Hugh Herr SM ’93 and graduate student Christopher Shallal are working on next-generation biomimetic limbs. Bacterial injection system delivers proteins in mice and human cells With further development, the programmable system could be used in a range of applications including gene therapy and cancer therapy. MIT, Sierra Leone collaborate to strengthen orthotic and prosthetic care in African nation The Yang Center for Bionics and Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation aim to develop an integrative approach to strengthening specialized care in Sierra Leone. Self-assembling proteins can store cellular “memories” Using these engineered proteins, researchers can record histories that reveal when certain genes are activated or how cells respond to a drug. The ways we move McGovern researchers are studying how our bodies and minds work together to control movement. New CRISPR-based tool inserts large DNA sequences at desired sites in cells Known as PASTE, the technique holds potential for treating a variety of diseases caused by faulty genes. Ila Fiete wins Swartz Prize for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience Society for Neuroscience honors BCS professor for breakthrough research modeling a component of the brain’s navigational system. RNA-sensing system controls protein expression in cells based on specific cell states A new technology called RADARS allows scientists to detect and target specific cell types and states, opening up potential applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. Magnetic sensors track muscle length Using a new technology, researchers hope to create better control systems for prosthetic limbs. Studies of autism tend to exclude women, researchers find A commonly used screening test creates a gender gap that may hinder diagnosis and treatment for women and girls. Microscopy technique reveals hidden nanostructures in cells and tissues Separating densely packed molecules before imaging allows them to become visible for the first time. MIT scientists discover new antiviral defense system in bacteria Prokaryotes can detect hallmark viral proteins and trigger cell death through a process seen across all domains of life. Three distinct brain circuits in the thalamus contribute to Parkinson’s symptoms Targeting these circuits could offer a new way to reverse motor dysfunction and depression in Parkinson’s patients. Convenience-sized RNA editing MIT scientists expand CRISPR toolkit with new, compact Cas7-11 enzyme. New research center focused on brain-body relationship established at MIT K. Lisa Yang Brain-Body Center to investigate the brain’s complex relationship with other body systems. Thalamic brain circuit helps hold information in mind This circuit, which weakens with age, could offer a target to help prevent age-related decline in spatial memory. Using deep neural networks to understand pitch perception Computational modeling shows that both our ears and our environment influence how we hear. Integrative computational neuroscience center established at MIT The K. Lisa Yang ICoN center will use mathematical tools to transform data into a deep understanding of the brain. Bionics center established at MIT Interdisciplinary research center funded by philanthropist Lisa Yang aims to mitigate disability through technologies that marry human physiology with electromechanics. New programmable gene editing proteins found outside of CRISPR systems RNA-guided enzymes are more diverse and widespread than previously believed. Human protein delivers molecular therapy to cells The programmable system is a step toward safer, targeted delivery of gene editing and other molecular therapeutics. Some brain disorders exhibit similar circuit malfunctions Study suggests a common mechanism underlies some behavioral traits seen in autism and schizophrenia. A large-scale tool to investigate the function of ASD genes Scientists apply the “Perturb-Seq” method to a living organism for the first time.
