Vasanthi Jayaraman has been elected President-elect of the Biophysical Society, while Harpreet Singh will serve as Secretary. The election results also include four members elected to Council for three-year terms.
The Biophysical Society strongly opposes the Office of Management and Budgets' proposed rule, which centralizes control over regulations under the White House. This overhaul could have a chilling effect on scientific research, as federal agencies with subject matter expertise would lose individual oversight.
The Biophysical Society condemns the mass dismissal of the National Science Board, which plays a crucial role in shaping US science policy. The board's absence jeopardizes fundamental research and development, hindering the country's global leadership in science and technology.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of the 2026 Subgroup Awards, honoring outstanding research in bioenergetics, bioengineering, biological fluorescence, and other fields. The awards recognize exceptional contributions to the field, with winners from top institutions worldwide.
Seventy-one undergraduate students presented their research at the annual poster competition, with 10 winners recognized for outstanding presentations. The winners were selected by judges from every career level and represented various fields of biophysics.
The 70th Biophysical Society Annual Meeting Awards Ceremony recognized 35 student research achievement award winners for their exceptional poster presentations. The winners were selected by judges from the Society's Subgroups, with students from over 30 countries participating in the competition.
New research suggests that messier, less-stuffed nanoparticles may actually deliver drugs more effectively than tightly packed ones. By measuring individual nanoparticles, scientists found two distinct subpopulations: organized particles with neatly structured cargo and amorphous particles with disorganized cargo.
Researchers discovered that TRPV4 acts as part of the nervous system's internal stop-scratching circuit, triggering a negative feedback signal to regulate itch behavior. Mice lacking neuronal TRPV4 scratched less frequently but with longer-lasting itchy bouts.
Researchers have found that proteins vital for sound signal transmission in the ear also manage the fatty molecules on the cell membrane. When these proteins malfunction, it can trigger permanent hair cell death and lead to hearing loss.
Researchers have developed a low-cost, open-source microscope called FlightScope to study living cells in zero-gravity conditions. The device successfully captured images of cells responding to fluorescently labeled glucose molecules, revealing slower uptake rates under microgravity compared to normal gravity conditions.
Scientists have discovered that mycobacteria release tiny packages called extracellular vesicles that fuse with immune cells' membranes, making them more rigid. This helps the bacteria avoid destruction and survive inside human cells. The study reveals an entirely new way of understanding how mycobacteria survive, opening promising ave...
Researchers have captured the first detailed images of TRPM8, a protein channel that responds to cold temperatures and triggers a nerve signal to the brain. The study reveals how menthol activates the channel through shared yet distinct allosteric networks, with implications for treating conditions like chronic pain and dry eye.
Denis V. Titov's paper, published in Biophysical Journal, presents a detailed biophysical model of glycolysis, solving a complex problem and providing insight into cell energy metabolism. The award recognizes outstanding early career work in biophysics.
Harvard researchers developed a multicolor electron microscopy technique that combines strengths of two powerful microscopy methods, allowing for vivid color and nanometer resolution. This breakthrough enables studying cell signaling, molecular clusters, and protein locations within cells.
A coalition of scientific societies expresses concerns over executive order provisions that may politicize federally funded research. The letter urges Congress to safeguard the independent peer-review system and address inefficiencies in the grantmaking process.
Wonhwa Cho will be honored for his mechanistic elucidation of lipid-protein interactions foundational to lipid-targeted drug discovery. His work has revolutionized lipid research and laid the foundation for new translational research.
Erdinc Sezgin receives 2026 Early Independent Career Award for combining chemistry, physics, biology, and computer science to study cellular organization in health and disease. The award recognizes his noteworthy contributions in biophysics research and service during independence.
Cornelis (Cees) Dekker will be honored for his groundbreaking contributions to nanobiology and single-molecule biophysics. The Kazuhiko Kinosita Award recognizes outstanding researchers advancing the field of single-molecule biophysics.
Sarah Veatch of the University of Michigan will be honored for foundational research on miscibility phase transitions in membranes and its application to cellular processes. Her work elucidates lipid membrane structure and relates key features to cellular function, making her a leader in this field.
Nuria Assa-Munt receives award for tireless efforts in setting high standards for NIH reviews and advancing biophysics research. She is recognized for her leadership in training the next generation of scientists.
Yifan Cheng will be honored at the Biophysical Society's 70th Annual Meeting for his work on TRP channels and its impact on biophysics research. The award recognizes his outstanding achievements in membrane protein studies and promotes excellence in this field.
Elizabeth Hinde and Jorge Alegre-Cebollada will be honored for their groundbreaking work in chromatin dynamics and protein mechanics. They are recognized for their creative application of physical principles to biological systems, revealing how mechanical forces govern protein function and contribute to human disease.
Jie Xiao will be recognized for her groundbreaking work on bacterial cell division and transcription, developing novel imaging and analysis techniques. The Biophysical Society's Carolyn Cohen Innovation Award honors innovators who advance biological understanding through novel theory, models, or applications.
A. Joshua Wand will be honored at the Biophysical Society's 70th Annual Meeting in San Francisco for his pioneering work on biomolecular function structure and mechanism. He is recognized for using cutting-edge NMR approaches to answer critical biological questions.
Charles L. Brooks III is being honored for his groundbreaking research on protein folding, free energy methods, and its applications in biophysics. The award recognizes his contributions to advancing the field of computational biophysics.
The Biophysical Society has named 2026 Society Fellows, including Kenneth J. Breslauer, Susan K. Buchanan, Deborah Leckband, Alexander D. MacKerell, Jr., and Huan-Xiang Zhou, for their groundbreaking research in biophysics.
Yiechang Lin and Kai Sheng will be recognized for their pioneering work in lipid-protein interactions and bacterial ribosome assembly, advancing our understanding of biophysics. They have excelled in their respective studies, publishing prolifically at an early stage of their careers.
Hawa Racine Thiam will be recognized for her groundbreaking work on biophysical immunology and subcellular biophysics. She is being honored with the 2026 Margaret Oakley Dayhoff Award for her trailblazing research, which has the potential to usher biophysical immunology into the future.
Ken A. Dill will receive the Biophysical Society's 2026 Founders Award for his work on protein folding and statistical mechanical theories. The award recognizes his contributions to the field of biophysics, including his development of energy landscapes that remain a staple in presentations of protein dynamics.
The Biophysical Society honors Ashley R. Carter with the 2026 PUI Faculty Award for her outstanding contributions to biophysics research and mentorship of undergraduate students. Carter will be recognized at the Society's 70th Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California.
Melanie Cocco has been appointed as the new Editor-in-Chief of Biophysical Reports, succeeding Jorg Enderlein. She aims to maintain high-impact research and foster scientific integrity while highlighting diversity in biological systems.
The Biophysical Society has elected Enrique M. De La Cruz as its new President-elect, set to assume the role at the 2026 Annual Meeting in San Francisco. The society's Council also elected four new members, each serving a three-year term, to support the next generation of biophysicists and strengthen the organization.
The US global scientific enterprise is facing a crisis as RIFs threaten to disrupt research development and advancements. The Biophysical Society warns that funding cuts will have far-reaching consequences, jeopardizing the nation's position as a world leader in science.
The Biophysical Society has selected 36 student researchers for the annual Student Research Achievement Awards. The award winners were recognized for their outstanding presentations during the poster competition at the 69th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its annual Undergraduate Poster Award Competition (UPAC), recognizing 10 students for their outstanding presentations. The competition, which received 74 participants, aimed to promote growth in biophysics through its annual meeting and outreach activities.
Researchers have developed a new pipeline using artificial intelligence to predict which proteins natural toxins will affect, with implications for ecological research and drug development. The method uses AI models to analyze water molecule movement around potassium channels, identifying specific targets of the cone snail toxin.
Researchers have developed a new computational modeling approach to capture the complex shapes that viral proteins can adopt. By applying this approach to a key protein involved in COVID-19 replication, scientists have created a detailed picture of its dynamic behavior.
Marcel P. Goldschen-Ohm wins the 2024 Paper of the Year-Early Career Investigator Award for his study on GABA receptor subunit linkers and their role in pore gating and diazepam modulation, challenging conventional views on receptor function.
A new tool measures how individual phytoplankton cells are using energy, revealing unique ways each species adjusts to light changes. This helps predict and observe ocean responses to climate change and assess phytoplankton health.
Scientists discovered sweet taste receptors on the surface of heart muscle cells, which increase the force of contraction when stimulated with artificial sweeteners. This breakthrough may lead to novel treatments for heart failure and provide insight into arrhythmogenesis.
A new study reveals a specific genetic mutation in the Apennine brown bear population that impairs cellular energy production and increases harmful byproducts. This mutation is linked to reduced overall health and survival in these critically endangered bears.
A new approach enables researchers to generate antibodies against transitory protein targets, providing insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Research reveals key differences in immune system response to Alzheimer's and bacterial infections, with larger Aeta clumps triggering more chronic inflammation.
The Biophysical Society has selected 36 winners of its annual Student Research Achievement Awards for their outstanding presentations during the poster competition. The winners are recognized for their research in various fields, including bioenergetics, biophysics, and biomedical engineering.
The Biophysical Society recognized 10 students for their exceptional poster presentations during the annual Undergraduate Poster Award Competition. The winners are from top universities across the US and explored various biophysics topics.
Researchers developed a faster test for mpox using CRISPR and nanopore sensing technology, which can detect the virus in 32-55 minutes, compared to hours of current lab testing. The test is specific to mpox and was confirmed not to detect other viruses.
Researchers created a soft robot mimicking 500-million-year-old pleurocystitids, suggesting a sweeping motion helped them glide through the ocean floor. The design also indicates longer stems enabled faster movement without increased energy expenditure.
Researchers have developed a new urine-based test for early detection of ovarian cancer using nanopore sensing technology. The method can simultaneously identify multiple peptides, including those derived from LRG-1, and shows promise for improving 5-year survival rates by up to 75%.
Carlas S. Smith receives Biophysical Journal's Paper of the Year-Early Career Investigator Award for groundbreaking work on single-molecule localization microscopy precision. His research provides new opportunities to optimize methods for achieving optimal precision in localization microscopy.
Studies have shown that COVID-19 infection increases the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes. The virus causes changes in calcium channels, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the heart, leading to arrhythmias and myocarditis.