Newswise Focus Channel: NIH NIBIB Grant News

Wearable Ultrasound Tech for Muscle Monitoring Opens New Possibilities in Healthcare and Human-Machine Interfaces

University of California San Diego — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 06:00:00 EST

Researchers have developed a compact, wearable ultrasound device that monitors muscle activity. Attachable to the skin with an adhesive and powered by a small battery, the device wirelessly captures high-resolution images of muscle movements, enabling continuous, long-term monitoring. When worn on the rib cage, it effectively monitored diaphragm function for respiratory health assessments. When worn on the forearm, it accurately captured hand gestures, allowing users to control a robotic arm and even navigate virtual games. This new technology has potential applications in healthcare for conditions affecting muscle function, as well as in human-machine interfaces for more natural robotic control.

Microgrippers for Myriad Miniature Biopsies

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 09:55:19 EST

Typical diagnosis of upper urinary tract cancers requires removal of suspicious tissue with forceps, a technically challenging procedure that only samples one region of the organ. NIBIB-funded researchers are developing preclinical microgrippers that could be deployed throughout the upper urinary tract, which could potentially grab tiny pieces of tissue at hundreds of different areas and someday facilitate early detection of disease.

New Addition to Standard-of-Care Treatments for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients Has Potential to Increase Progression-Free Survival

Houston Methodist — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 19:05:15 EST

Houston Methodist researchers have developed an advanced mathematical model that predicts how novel treatment combinations could significantly extend progression-free survival for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common type of lung cancer.

Taking cues from nature, medical soft robots get smart

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 11:05:02 EST

Physical human feats require a high level of coordination between the sensory functions of our skin and motor functions of our muscles. What kind of achievements could robots perform with the same cohesion between sensing and action? In the medical space, researchers have begun to explore the possibilities.

From flat to overflowing: adding another dimension to tissue analysis

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 14:05:15 EST

A team of NIBIB-funded researchers recently developed an AI platform that can analyze 3D pathology images to predict disease outcomes. Their method had improved performance in predicting prostate cancer outcomes when compared with traditional pathology approaches, such as analysis by expert pathologists using 2D images.

Putting the power of lab-based diagnostic testing in the palm of your hand

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 12:05:10 EST

Because of its high accuracy, laboratory-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is the gold standard for infectious disease diagnostics. Yet PCR requires highly trained staff and costly equipment, hindering its availability, especially in low-resource settings. New research suggests a different kind of test could be more streamlined without sacrificing performance.

'Artificial Lymph Node' Used to Treat Cancer in Mice

Johns Hopkins Medicine — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 11:00:16 EST

Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists say they have developed an artificial lymph node with the potential to treat cancer, according to a new study in mice and human cells.

A window into placental development during pregnancy

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 15:05:43 EST

A multidisciplinary group of NIH-funded scientists have successfully captured real-time, high-resolution images of the developing mouse placenta during the course of pregnancy.

Researchers Create Light-Powered Yeast, Providing Insights Into Evolution, Biofuels, Cellular Aging

Georgia Institute of Technology — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 11:00:00 EST

Georgia Tech researchers have engineered one of the world's first yeast cells able to harness energy from light, expanding our understanding of the evolution of this trait -- and paving the way for advancements in biofuel production and cellular aging.

A shape-shifting robotic catheter could make heart surgery safer

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 10:40:54 EST

A beating heart makes for a formidable surgical arena, but a new robotic catheter could someday equip surgeons to operate in the cardiac environment with greater ease.

Ultrasensitive Blood Test Detects 'Pan-Cancer' Biomarker

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 16:05:42 EST

In a study co-led by investigators at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, researchers developed a low-cost, ultrasensitive blood test to detect minute levels of a cancer biomarker that is highly specific to multiple common cancers.

Coastal Fisheries Show Surprising Resilience to Marine Heat Waves

Rutgers University-New Brunswick — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 15:45:29 EST

Rutgers-led research found that marine heat waves - prolonged periods of unusually warm ocean temperatures - haven't had a lasting effect on the fish communities that feed most of the world. The finding is in stark contrast to the devastating effects seen on other marine ecosystems cataloged by scientists after similar periods of warming, including widespread coral bleaching and harmful algal blooms.

Artificial cells demonstrate that "life finds a way"

Indiana University — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 12:05:01 EST

A study using a synthetic 'minimal cell' organism stripped down to the 'bare essentials' for life demonstrates the tenacity of organism's power to evolve and adapt, even in the face of an unnatural genome that would seemingly provide little flexibility.

Scientists Design a Nanoparticle That May Improve mRNA Cancer Vaccines

Johns Hopkins Medicine — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 09:30:45 EST

Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists say they have developed a nanoparticle -- an extremely tiny biodegradable container -- that has the potential to improve the delivery of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-based vaccines for infectious diseases such as COVID-19, and vaccines for treating non-infectious diseases including cancer.

Insight into brain's waste clearing system may shed light on brain diseases

Washington University in St. Louis — Tue, 16 May 2023 14:35:55 EST

Impairments in the lymphatic system may contribute to brain diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases and stroke. Researchers have found a noninvasive and nonpharmaceutical method to influence glymphatic transport using focused ultrasound, opening the opportunity to use the method to further study brain diseases and brain function.

At-home videos to assess musculoskeletal health

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 12:55:42 EST

NIH-funded researchers developed an online tool that can analyze self-collected, at-home videos with a smartphone. When deployed in a nationwide study, the tool could predict physical health and osteoarthritis of the knee or hip.

Focused ultrasound technique leads to release of neurodegenerative disorders biomarkers

Washington University in St. Louis — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 10:00:00 EST

Using focused-ultrasound-mediated liquid biopsy in a mouse model released more tau proteins and another biomarker into the blood than without the intervention. This noninvasive method could facilitate diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders, according to research from Washington University in St. Louis.

Computer Model of Influenza Virus Shows Universal Vaccine Promise

University of California San Diego — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 12:35:41 EST

For the first time, researchers at UC San Diego have created an atomic-level computer model of the H1N1 virus that reveals new vulnerabilities, suggesting possible strategies for the design of future vaccines and antivirals against influenza.

Study reveals average age at conception for men versus women over past 250,000 years

Indiana University — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 14:35:45 EST

Using a new method based upon comparing DNA mutation rates between parents and offspring, evolutionary biologists at Indiana University have for the first time revealed the average age of mothers versus fathers over the past 250,000 years, including the discovery that the age gap is shrinking, with women's average age at conception increasing from 23.2 years to 26.4 years, on average, in the past 5,000 years.

Injectable, radioactive gel synergizes with chemotherapy to shrink pancreatic tumors

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 12:25:48 EST

NIBIB-funded researchers are developing a new method to treat pancreatic cancer. In their study, they combined an injectable radioactive gel with systemic chemotherapy in multiple mouse models of the disease. The treatment resulted in tumor regression in all evaluated models, an unprecedented result for this genetically diverse and aggressive type of cancer.