Heart function is profoundly changed by spaceflight in space-flown animal models and human astronauts. Using human heart cells derived from stem cells, researchers investigated the cellular and physiological processes influenced by microgravity in human hearts.
Perspectives in Research
The Future of Reproductive Health on College Campuses
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchReproductive health has always been an important issue. But those who advocate for reproductive health rights must focus on more than just the legal rights of individuals to obtain reproductive health care. In addition, we must tackle issues such as accessibility to insurance, services and education, which all impact reproductive health. Part of the fight […]
The Biopharma Startup: A Heart-Pounding Venture
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchHere’s how a group of passionate thinkers turned scholarly insights into therapies that could help millions of patients with heart failure.
The Powerhouse of the Cell: The Branding of Mitochondria
Posted by | Perspectives in Research“Powerhouse of the Cell.” The punchy headline of Philip Siekevitz’s 1957 Scientific American article on the role of mitochondria lives on to this day in public school classrooms and internet message boards. Ph.D. candidate William Aisenberg shares how the story of the mitochondrion teaches us not to forget to understand the context of what we’re learning.
Graduate School Is the Cat’s Meow
Posted by | A Day in the Life, Perspectives in ResearchHave you ever wondered if your cat really loves you? A recent study has shown that cats have the same ability as infants and dogs to form strong attachments to their caregivers.
Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Twitter Post
Posted by | A Day in the Life, Perspectives in ResearchNeil deGrasse Tyson’s tweet about the El Paso shooting was more than insensitive — it was bad science.
Cancer Diagnosis — It’s in Your Blood
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchThe benefits of detecting and treating cancer at early developmental stages have long been observed by clinical oncologists. Colonoscopies as well as other methods for early detection have been estimated to prevent as many as 60% of deaths attributable to colorectal cancer by identifying and removing precancerous growths1. More broadly, patients with early stage cancer […]
A Blood Test for Alzheimer’s Disease? Breakthroughs and Limitations
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchRecently, researchers at Washington University, St. Louis made a significant breakthrough in developing a blood test for early indications of Alzheimer’s disease. But what exactly is Alzheimer’s disease, how prevalent is it, and why do we seem to be so far away from a treatment or cure? In this post, I provide an overview of […]
A Primer on Platelets — Tiny but Mighty
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchWhen I tell people I study platelets, I am not often met with excitement. Most people know platelets as those tiny things that form clots, and if they have a fully functional clotting cascade, they aren’t bothered that much about them. When I mention that I study how platelets play a role in the immune […]
50 Years Since Humankind’s Giant Leap
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchOn July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 Lunar Module Eagle touched down on the surface of the moon. Approximately 650 million people around the world watched in awe as Neil Armstrong took his historic first steps on the moon on national television. Michael Collins, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin had set out on an eight-day-long […]