“Junk DNA” Found to Sense Its Environment, May Hold the Key to Disease Treatment
A study in Nature Cell Biology has uncovered a surprising role for what was once considered “junk DNA,” showing that it helps stem cells sense their surroundings and decide what kind of cells to become during early development.
Suzanne Barbour Honored for Sustained Leadership by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Suzanne Barbour, PhD, professor of cell biology has received the Sustained Leadership Award from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
New Understanding of A Deadly Cancer
In a study published in Nature, Duke researchers led by Trudy Oliver, PhD, reshape understanding of how small cell lung cancer begins, opening the door to developing therapies that could prevent this aggressive disease.
Inside TB's Hidden Cities
Advanced genetic sequencing reveals the cells behind many persistent tuberculosis infections and provides a map of exactly where these cells live, pointing the way toward new treatments.
The Protein That’s Crucial for a Healthy Pregnancy
Researchers have discovered for the first time that a particular protein plays a crucial role in the development of a normal placenta in the early stages of pregnancy. Learning more more about the protein, PIEZ01, and its role in pregnancy could pave the way for preventing unexplained miscarriages, preeclampsia, or fetal growth restriction.
The AI That’s Finally Making Sense of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Artificial intelligence has helped map the hidden biology behind the pain, dizziness, and exhaustion of chronic fatigue syndrome, and identified new biomarkers to improve diagnosis.
Newly Discovered ‘Sixth Sense’ Links Gut Microbes to the Brain in Real Time
A newly discovered “neurobiotic sense” reveals how gut cells listen to microbial chatter and signal the brain to influence hunger, cravings, and behavior.
New AI Model Makes Drug Discovery Faster, Smarter, and More Transparent
A new algorithm could help researchers better predict how molecules bind to proteins —an essential step in designing more effective drugs to treat a wide range of diseases.
Ankles Might Point the Way to Cartilage Repair in Osteoarthritis
Research led by Virginia Byers Kraus, MD, PhD, indicates that key proteins in the ankles are similar to those used by salamanders to regenerate severed limbs and might hold the key to a new therapeutic approach for joint disease.
A New Hub for Fighting Infectious Diseases with Smarter Models
Duke University School of Medicine researchers will launch a new national Center of Excellence for Multiscale Immune Systems Modeling (MISM), funded by a U54 grant from the National Institutes of Health.