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Towards understanding tumors in 3D

Researchers mapped a lung tumor's cellular neighborhoods in 3D using single-cell spatial technologies, identifying 18 cell types and potential targets for personalized cancer therapy. The study reveals new insights into how tumor cells interact with their surroundings and how to reverse immune suppression mechanisms.

SourceMax Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association·JournalCell Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 24, 2025

Positron emission tomography in psychiatry: Dr. Romina Mizrahi maps the molecular future

Dr. Romina Mizrahi's PET-based neuroimaging sheds light on brain workings, integrating genetics, environment and imaging to understand psychiatric illness as a complex biological puzzle. She advocates for precision psychiatry paradigm with customized treatments based on molecular profiles, and calls for diversity in academic leadership.

SourceGenomic Press·JournalBrain Medicine·TypeNews article·DateApr 8, 2025

Groundbreaking AI tool generates 3D map of the brain

Researchers created a powerful new computational and artificial intelligence tool that can generate high-resolution 3D maps of the brain in mice, allowing users to zoom in and out and peer into the full set of molecules producing energy for brain functions. This breakthrough brings scientists closer to understanding the role of metabol...

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalNature Metabolism·TypeImaging analysis·DateMar 19, 2025

3D maps of diseased tissues at subcellular precision

A platform called Open-ST enables scientists to reconstruct gene expression in cells within a tissue in three dimensions, capturing molecular and (sub)cellular structures. The platform was used to study cell types at subcellular resolution in tissues from mice brains, tumor tissue, and healthy lymph nodes, providing insights into cance...

SourceMax Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association·JournalCell·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 24, 2024

A fragment of human brain, mapped

A team of Harvard researchers, led by Jeff Lichtman, has created the largest synaptic-resolution, 3D reconstruction of a piece of human brain to date. The dataset contains 1,400 terabytes of data on neural connections in a tiny piece of human temporal cortex.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 9, 2024

Scientists map the antigenic landscape

Researchers have successfully mapped the entire HLA class II landscape, predicting how pathogens are displayed on cell surfaces. The mapping reveals that multiple HLA variants play essential roles in autoimmune disorders and organ rejection, highlighting their potential for developing immunotherapy treatments.

SourceTechnical University of Denmark·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 24, 2023

Virtual exploration of chemical reactions

Researchers from Hokkaido University developed a centralized, interactive platform to explore and analyze chemical reaction pathways. The Searching Chemical Action and Network (SCAN) platform utilizes AFIR calculations to provide an interactive reaction pathway map that can be searched and viewed.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalDigital Discovery·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 3, 2023

Mapping molecular funnels with X-rays: precise timings of non-adiabatic excited state dynamics

Scientists at Stockholm University propose a nonlinear spectroscopic technique to investigate coupled nuclear electronic dynamics in photo-excited molecules. This approach allows for the observation of conical intersections, which are 'funnels' connecting different electronic states, and provides insight into non-adiabatic dynamics.

SourceUltrafast Science·JournalUltrafast Science·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 10, 2023

An unprecedented look at colorectal cancer

A team at Harvard Medical School has created large-scale 2D and 3D spatial maps of colorectal cancer, layering molecular information on top of histological features. The maps reveal the interconnectedness of traditional isolated structures in colorectal cancer, allowing researchers to explore differences within individual tumors.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalCell·DateJan 19, 2023

Scientists map water in molecular crystals, aiding drug development

Researchers developed a computational protocol called MACH that can quickly determine whether a given compound will form a crystal hydrate. The tool uses rules to systematically determine where water would likely be inserted into a crystal, providing essential knowledge for drug development and formulation.

SourceNew York University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 24, 2022

Landscape of molecular contacts: How the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 communicates with human cells

A team of scientists has identified over 200 direct protein-protein contacts between the SARS-CoV-2 virus and human cells, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying severe COVID-19. The study reveals chains of connections between viral proteins and infection-relevant human genes, with implications for disease severity and treatment.