Biologically Inspired Engineering, synbio, synthetic biology, crispr
Scientists have identified more than 1,000 potential new biomarkers for cancer that they hope will aid in the early detection of many of these complex diseases, including one of the most challenging, pancreatic cancer. In the alternate universe of reward-sensitive entrepreneurs, Jo Bhakdi has rolled out a new liquid biopsy product that detects potentially cancerous … Read more
American taxpayers contribute over $150 billion each year to scientific research. Through entities like the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Energy’s National Labs, taxpayers fund innovations that contribute to national security and innovation. America built this successful research enterprise on certain values: reciprocity, integrity, merit-based competition, and transparency. … Read more
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lumakras (sotorasib) as the first treatment for adult patients with non-small cell lung cancer whose tumors have a specific type of genetic mutation called KRAS G12C and who have received at least one prior systemic therapy. This is the first approved targeted therapy for tumors with any … Read more
Synthetic biology’s potential was on display for the first time at a national level when the mRNA vaccine was developed in a matter of weeks after the COVID genome was sequenced. The emerging field of machine learning is rife with potential, as it allows scientists to design biological systems to specification, such as engineering a … Read more
Cancer’s craftiness is perhaps on its greatest display in the cases when genetic lesions in cancer stop a person’s genes from working. Losing certain genes (tumor suppressors) that are designed to prevent uncontrolled cell growth suggests cancer has more up its sleeve than random linear growth. Some scientists believe cancers act more like parasites that … Read more
Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized marketing of the GI Genius, the first device that uses artificial intelligence (AI) based on machine learning to assist clinicians in detecting lesions (such as polyps or suspected tumors) in the colon in real time during a colonoscopy. The GI Genius is composed of hardware … Read more
Zymergen, an Emeryville, California–based synthetic biotechnology firm, recently raised $500 million in an initial public offering (IPO) of stock on the NASDAQ exchange that values the 8-year-old company at over $3 billion. Four months ago, Zymergen launched its first product, Hyaline, a polymer film for electronic displays that it developed with Sumitomo Chemical. Zymergen makes … Read more
Each new presidential administration appoints thousands of new people to political positions inside the new government. The Biden administration has been busy recruiting and vetting candidates for various positions, some of which will advise the president on matters related to science. Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., will continue in his role as National Institutes of Health … Read more
Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc.’s (“Ginkgo”) founders have been working together for nearly twenty years since they first met at MIT. They launched Ginkgo in 2008 with the consistent goal of developing a platform that makes cell programming easier for their customers and partners. Ginkgo’s platform leverages advanced robotic automation, proprietary software, and data analytics to continuously … Read more
The COVID-19 pandemic may soon push scientists towards work against cancer, autoimmune diseases and other illnesses. The vaccines from drug companies Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech use a new way to train the body’s immune system to respond to infection. They are testing the same techniques to recruit the immune system to attack tumors. And when immune … Read more