The CRISPR/Cas9 wave that’s recently swept through the scientific community is now churning up a storm of controversy in its wake. Due to its relatively low cost and high efficiency, CRISPR/Cas9 has facilitated many breakthroughs in the areas of genome engineering, many of which are oriented at improving human health. Proof of this technology’s power(...)
Perspectives in Research
Cracking the Code: How to Create Intuitive Tools for Visualizing Data
Posted by Bree Yanagisawa | Perspectives in ResearchThese days, science is ripe with “big data” challenges. From next-generation sequencing to complex structural analysis, experiments that were once considered niche are becoming more commonplace in many laboratory environments. A single sequencing run alone can produce up to terabytes of data, and with this massive increase in information comes an inherent need to also(...)
Aug 25, 2015
Legislative Bill Prompts Discussion of Cross-Talk in the Scientific Community
Posted by Arielle Medford | Perspectives in ResearchEarlier this month, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill directly impacting the biomedical research community. If approved by the Senate, the 21st Century Cures Act promises to increase the budget of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and provide it with an additional $8.75 billion over the next five years. The Food and(...)
Jul 31, 2015
The Genetic Reality of a Jurassic World
Posted by Xuan Pham | A Day in the Life, Perspectives in ResearchAs some of the most impressively gargantuan creatures to ever roam the earth, dinosaurs are a constant source of intrigue and inspiration. In the latest remake of the classic Jurassic novel, Jurassic World, dinosaurs again steal the spotlight by giving moviegoers’ imaginations an exquisite bite (pun intended) of life among these magnificent beasts. But as(...)
Jul 31, 2015
Research Reveals Tiny Hairs on Bat Wings are Crucial for Normal Flight
Posted by Kevin Monk | Perspectives in ResearchSummer in Baltimore means many things: outdoor movies on Federal Hill, different fairs and festivals throughout town, and daytrips to Ocean City are just a few of the diverting events available to residents. After you’ve wiled away the sun-filled hours with these numerous summer pastimes, you may be tempted to head in for the evening.(...)
Jul 28, 2015
Clinical trial to target cancer drugs to gene mutations for individualized therapy
Posted by Paul Sirajuddin | Perspectives in ResearchImagine a scenario where a patient comes into the clinic with a suspected cancer. The clinician not only confirms that the patient does indeed have cancer, but also identifies a specific gene abnormality that is driving the tumor. Without hesitating, the doctor prescribes a cancer drug that specifically targets the gene mutation responsible for the(...)
Jul 20, 2015
Research Addresses Different Needs for Critically, Terminally Ill
Posted by Arielle Medford | Perspectives in ResearchBefore I came to medical school, I had a very simple understanding of the components of patient care. In my mind, all patients had the same basic needs, which physicians provided along the road to cure. After four years, I now realize patient populations are incredibly diverse and far more complex than I could have(...)
Jul 6, 2015
Columbia Researchers Discover Contagious Cancer in Clams
Posted by Bree Yanagisawa | Perspectives in ResearchWhat comes to mind when you hear the word “contagious”? For most of us, it’s infectious agents, such as viruses and bacteria. However, recent evidence suggests that these agents may not be the only existing contagious elements in our world. In a recent article published in Cell, researchers at Columbia University discussed an investigation of(...)
Jul 6, 2015
Progeria Effects in Cells Improved with an Antioxidant Found in Broccoli
Posted by Xuan Pham | Perspectives in ResearchThe famed Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon once traveled to the New World in search of the mythical Fountain of Youth. Hundreds of years later, we are still fascinated by youth and aging. Though not on a quest for a source of youth, scientists today are seeking to learn about the aging process in(...)
Jun 30, 2015
Church Attendance Could Lower HIV Rates in High-Risk Women
Posted by Ryan Lang | Perspectives in ResearchA potential tool to combat the HIV epidemic in Baltimore is gaining attention, and it may involve an unlikely location — the church. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the University of Memphis School of Public Health have identified church attendance as a possible way to encourage communication about sexual(...)
Jun 15, 2015