Salk Institute researchers have generated aggressive glioblastoma multiforme tumors in human cerebral organoids using CRISPR-Cas9 tool. The new model could be used to study tumor progression, investigate new drugs or personalize treatments for patients.
Scientists have developed a new method to create more sophisticated brain-like organoid models by transplanting them into rodents, enabling longer survival and increased complexity. This breakthrough could lead to better therapies for neurological disorders, as well as the potential for human cell transplantation in the brain.
Six scientists who served on the National Commission on Forensic Science are advocating for increased research and financial support of forensic science, as well as empirical testing requirements. They aim to reduce reliance on historical precedent and ensure the validity of forensic evidence to deliver justice.
Researchers identified a tumor suppressor protein called LHPP that can help diagnose and monitor liver cancer. Reintroducing LHPP into the liver of model mice prevented tumor formation, suggesting its potential as a new therapeutic approach for treating liver cancer.
Salk scientists discover that maternal behavior changes brain cells in mice by altering L1 gene copy number and methylation. This correlation suggests a unique role for the jumping gene L1 in shaping brain development.
Researchers at the Salk Institute found that nematode worms exhibit a rudimentary fear-like response when exposed to chemicals from their predator, which has parallels to human anxiety. This discovery may lead to refined prescriptions for current anti-anxiety drugs and enable new treatments for PTSD and panic disorder.
Salk Institute scientists have developed a CRISPR-based tool called CasRx that targets RNA to correct protein imbalances in cells from dementia patients. The tool showed 80% effectiveness in rebalancing tau protein levels, opening up new avenues for treating RNA and protein-related diseases.
Salk Institute scientists discover brain's memory storage is dynamic, with some synapses growing larger and others shrinking as a result of learning. This balance allows for increased overall storage capacity, enabling the brain to store more information.
Salk researchers discovered how the ERRγ molecule gives brown fat its energy-expending identity, which could lead to new therapies for obesity and related diseases. The study found that the molecule is active in brown fat cells and plays a crucial role in maintaining their ability to burn energy.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have identified ERRγ as a key player in delivering benefits associated with endurance exercise. By increasing ERRγ, they found that skeletal muscle energy production and endurance were restored, making it a potential therapeutic target for conditions such as muscular dystrophy.
A Salk Institute study has identified distinct molecular profiles in V2a neurons that control arm and leg movements, shedding light on neural regulation of motor control. The findings could lead to personalized stem-cell-based treatments for repairing spinal cord injuries.
Salk researchers have identified how the liver rapidly responds to food by storing pre-RNA molecules involved in glucose and fat metabolism. This finding could help better understand metabolism and some forms of diabetes.
A Salk Institute study has discovered that nearly 80 percent of genes exhibit daily fluctuations, with the most rhythmic genes peaking in early morning and late afternoon. This finding has significant implications for understanding circadian disruption's impact on diseases such as depression and heart disease.
The organization raised $2.4 million to fund groundbreaking science at the Salk Institute, Rady Children's Hospital, Moores Cancer Center, and Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. This funding supports collaborative, translational research with a focus on clinical trials.
Researchers at the Salk Institute discovered that genes that normally sever connections between neurons are reactivated in aging astrocytes, leading to reduced neuronal communication. This may explain age-related cognitive decline and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and diabetes.
Researchers found that activating REV-ERB proteins can starve cancer cells by blocking nutrient production, while normal cells are not affected. The discovery sheds light on a new uncharacterized way to treat cancer with limited toxicity.
Researchers found that SOBER1, a plant protein, removes acetyl groups added by bacterial proteins, preventing the plant's immune response. This discovery could lead to strategies to boost plants' natural immunity or contain infections threatening agricultural crops.
Researchers discover J147, an Alzheimer's treatment that reverses aging by targeting ATP synthase, a protein found in mitochondria. The compound has shown promising results in treating Alzheimer's and potentially other age-associated diseases.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have found a streamlined method to generate functioning heart cells from embryonic stem cells by turning off a single gene, YAP. This discovery offers scientists a simpler protocol for creating cardiomyocytes for research and regenerative therapies.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have discovered a multifunctional role for the protein nup98 in blood cell development, enabling immature stem cells to differentiate into specialized mature cell types. The findings also shed light on the mechanism of leukemia formation and its potential treatment.
Scientists at Salk Institute develop novel approach to discover critical contacts on proteins, uncovering new functions for well-studied proteins. The technique has significant implications for therapeutic drug development, which relies heavily on physical interaction with cellular targets.
Researchers at Salk Institute create a new version of CRISPR/Cas9 that can activate genes without creating DNA breaks, potentially treating diseases such as diabetes and muscular dystrophy. The technology operates epigenetically, influencing gene activity without changing the DNA sequence.
Researchers at Salk Institute reveal specific neurons called RORbeta interneurons inhibit transmission of disruptive sensory info, promoting a fluid gait during walking. This sophisticated spinal cord processing highlights the nervous system's ability to selectively shut off irrelevant information.
Researchers at Salk Institute have found that fruit fly brains use an efficient method to perform similarity searches, expanding the dimension of odor information to improve detection. This approach could inform computer algorithms and enhance their ability to find similarities quickly.
Researchers at Salk Institute identify Lkb1 protein as key regulator of Tregs, which play a crucial role in preventing autoimmunity and suppressing cancer growth. The discovery has significant implications for developing effective treatments for these diseases.
Researchers will systematically identify and catalog cell types across the mammalian brain using molecular signatures and genetic targeting. The project aims to better understand brain function and dysfunction, with potential applications for therapeutic uses in humans.
A new study from the Salk Institute discovered that the p75 protein plays a crucial role in pain signaling, supporting the survival of sensory neurons that transmit pain signals. This finding has significant implications for understanding neurological disorders and developing treatments for conditions such as spinal cord injury.
Researchers at Salk Institute have discovered that modified vitamin D can reprogram the tumor environment, allowing Keytruda to invade and destroy pancreatic tumors. The clinical trial aims to combine vitamin D with immunotherapy for a potential game-changer in pancreatic cancer treatment.
Salk Institute scientists discovered that astrocytes induce communication between pairs of neurons early in development through glypican 4. The protein increases receptors on postsynaptic neurons, enabling active connections. This breakthrough offers a promising therapeutic target for neurological disorders.
Researchers found that tiny protein CYREN inhibits fast but error-prone NHEJ pathway and enables slower HR pathway, offering potential tool against cancer. CYREN's discovery clarifies longstanding mystery about DNA repair pathways.
Researchers at Salk Institute discover two microRNAs that help cancer cells survive and subvert the immune response by lowering cGAS levels. Inhibiting these microRNAs in tumor cells slowed tumor growth, but their effect was diminished in immune-deficient mice.
Scientists at the Salk Institute have identified a key protein complex involved in regulating brain cell identity, with high levels of Nup153 found to be necessary for maintaining precursor status. This finding may provide new insights into the underlying causes of neurological disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease.
Scientists at the Salk Institute have discovered an errant protein process in a rare genetic disorder that could help healthy people live longer. The study found rapid protein turnover and enlarged nucleoli in progeria cells, which may serve as biomarkers for aging.
Scientists have identified new subtypes of brain cells in mice and humans using DNA analysis, revealing a complex diversity of neurons. This breakthrough opens the door to understanding how many types of neurons exist, which could lead to improved treatments for brain-related diseases.
Terrence Sejnowski will use advanced modeling techniques to understand how the brain stores information and how diseases like schizophrenia and Parkinson's affect it. The project aims to create a layered control system model of the brain, testing its accuracy with human tasks requiring fast reflexes and long-range planning.
Researchers successfully corrected a heart condition-causing mutation in human embryos, paving the way for potential treatments and prevention of inherited diseases. The technique uses CRISPR-Cas9 to target specific genetic mutations, offering hope for improving IVF outcomes and curing certain diseases.
Researchers at Salk Institute have visualized chromatin structure in living human cells using a novel DNA dye and advanced microscopy. They found that chromatin forms a semi-flexible chain with varying packing density, suggesting that gene activity is determined by compaction rather than higher-order structures.
Researchers found that plant architectures mimic subway networks by balancing competing objectives of cost and performance. By analyzing 3D scans of growing plants, the team identified a universal design principle guiding plant growth, which could help increase crop yields or breed plants better adapted to climate change.
Salk scientists discovered that mathematical rules governing plant growth are similar to brain cell connections. The team used 3D laser scanning to analyze plant architecture and found a Gaussian branch density function, suggesting universal rules of logic governing branching growth across biological systems.
A new tilted microscopy technique reveals better protein structures, resolving missing information and improving disease research. This approach could lead to a deeper understanding of proteins' conformations and their role in various diseases.
Researchers have developed a new high-throughput technique to determine protein interactions, generating massive libraries and revealing over 8,000 interactions in Arabidopsis transcription factors. This approach enables faster study of fundamental biological interactions and potential treatments for metabolic dysfunction.
Eiman Azim receives $240,000 grant to investigate neural circuits controlling skilled movements. He aims to deepen understanding of nervous system control and develop approaches to restore function in motor circuits affected by injury or disease.
Researchers analyzed how neurons in V2 respond to natural scenes, discovering three principles: combining edges, cross-orientation suppression, and repeating patterns. This work provides insight into the brain's ability to recognize faces, cars, and other objects.
A new mathematical framework developed by Tatyana Sharpee and colleagues provides a theoretical understanding of how different cell types divide work among themselves. This framework could help explain greater efficiency and reliability in cell function, as well as the impact of disease when division of labor is not effective.
Researchers at Salk Institute developed a new protocol to derive astrocytes from human stem cells, which could provide breakthroughs for treatments of stroke, Alzheimer's and psychiatric disorders. The method allows for faster and more effective production of astrocytes, enabling researchers to model neurological disorders in a dish.
A researcher at Salk Institute has discovered a fluorescent dye that reveals root growth is more influenced by auxin than thought, shedding light on the acidification theory and its role in plant growth. The study could inform faster-growing crop production or mitigate climate change effects.
Microglia, the brain's front line of immune defense, have been characterized for the first time. Genes linked to neurological diseases are highly expressed in microglia, suggesting a link between the cells and neurodegenerative and psychiatric illnesses.
A recent study at Salk Institute found that genetic variants of a single gene, FRO2, play a crucial role in determining a plant's ability to grow and stay healthy in environments with limited iron. The research has the potential to improve crop yields and increase dietary sources of iron for animals and humans.
Researchers have developed a novel technology to correct disease-causing aberrations in the chemical tags on DNA that affect gene expression. The tool uses DNA methylation editing to model mutations associated with colon cancer and restore proper methylation patterns in stem cells derived from patients with Angelman syndrome.
Salk Institute scientists discover a chemical compound that mimics exercise benefits, increasing fat burning and stamina in sedentary mice. The compound, GW1516, activates a gene pathway linked to aerobic endurance, allowing mice to run for 70% longer than controls.