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Sanford Burnham Prebys


Where do heart cells come from?

Id genes have been linked to heart development for the first time, revealing a new tool to create large numbers of cardiac cells to regenerate damaged heart tissue. The study uses CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and high-throughput microRNA screening to identify the role Id genes play in heart development.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalGenes & Development·DateAug 22, 2017

Scientists take a deeper dive into cellular trash

A study by Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute researchers found that autophagy declines with age, leading to incomplete recycling of cellular waste. The team discovered this decline occurs after autophagosomes are formed, potentially blocking the conversion process and contributing to age-related diseases.

New Zika virus inhibitor identified

A new compound has been discovered that can inhibit the spread of the Zika virus, a significant step towards developing a treatment for its neurological complications. The compound blocks viral propagation in human cells and mice, offering promise as a starting point for an even more potent drug.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalAntiviral Research·DateMay 16, 2017

Underlying molecular mechanism of bipolar disorder revealed

A recent study has identified the molecular mechanism behind lithium's effectiveness in treating bipolar disorder, providing a clear path to developing new diagnostic tests and therapies. The research, led by Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, utilized human induced pluripotent stem cells to map lithium's response path...

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 8, 2017

New insights on triggering muscle formation

Researchers have identified a previously unrecognized step in muscle regeneration, highlighting the molecular mechanisms that impair muscle stem cells with age. The study also provides insight into the connection between accelerated muscle stem cell aging and muscular dystrophies.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalGenes & Development·DateApr 25, 2017

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute identified autophagy as a key process linking mild stress to improved survival and reduced protein aggregation. The study provides new avenues for treatments of neurological disorders such as Huntington's disease.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 15, 2017

New technology could deliver drugs to brain injuries

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have discovered a peptide sequence that can carry molecules and nanoparticles to acutely damaged areas of the brain, providing a new means of delivering therapeutics for traumatic brain injuries. This technology has the potential to minimize the effects of secondary injur...

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 28, 2016

Fine-tuning cellular energy increases longevity

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have identified ARGK-1 as a protein that can extend the natural lifespan of C. elegans by increasing energy regulation within cells. This finding may lead to new avenues for delaying human age-related diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalCell Reports·DateFeb 25, 2016

Teaching stem cells to build muscle

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys have found that fetal muscle stem cells can remodel their microenvironment to encourage adult muscle regeneration. This discovery provides rationale for developing drugs to trigger this transition, offering new hope for treating muscular dystrophies and muscle-wasting disorders.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalCell Reports·DateFeb 18, 2016

Using 'big data' to combat influenza

A team of researchers combined large genomic and proteomic datasets to identify new factors that can be targeted to prevent viruses from spreading. They found 20 previously unrecognized host proteins required for IAV replication, including the pivotal protein UBR4.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalCell·DateDec 9, 2015

Scientists identify promising new melanoma drug

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have identified a promising new melanoma drug, SBI-756. The compound targets the translation initiation complex and has been shown to inhibit melanoma cell growth. SBI-756 may offer a significant advantage in overcoming tumor resistance.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalCancer Research·DateNov 24, 2015

'Big Data' used to identify new cancer driver genes

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute used publicly available cancer databases to identify novel cancer driver genes associated with cancer progression. The study found 71 previously unrecognized interfaces in proteins that may serve as new predictive markers or drug targets.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateOct 20, 2015

How proteins age

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have identified a mechanism by which secreted proteins age and turnover, shedding light on health and disease. The discovery highlights the importance of N-glycan remodeling and lectin recognition in regulating protein abundance.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 19, 2015

Research offers a new approach to improving HIV vaccines

Researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute have discovered a protein called polyglutamine-binding protein 1 (PQBP1) that recognizes HIV and initiates an immune response. The study suggests that designing a drug mimicking the PQBP1-HIV interface could create an effective vaccine environment, potentially preventing infection.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalCell·DateJun 4, 2015

Using stem cells to grow new hair

Scientists developed a method to induce human hair growth using pluripotent stem cells, providing an unlimited source of cells for transplantation and improving upon existing methods. The research team successfully coaxed human pluripotent stem cells to become dermal papilla cells, which regulate hair-follicle formation and growth cycle.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 27, 2015