Leaning into the immune system’s complexity
By designing new tools that can analyze huge libraries of immune cells and their targets, Michael Birnbaum hopes to generate better T cell therapies for cancer and other diseases.
A new way to spot life-threatening infections in cancer patients
Leuko, founded by a research team at MIT, is giving doctors a noninvasive way to monitor cancer patients’ health during chemotherapy — no blood tests needed.
New technique reveals how gene transcription is coordinated in cells
By capturing short-lived RNA molecules, scientists can map relationships between genes and the regulatory elements that control them.
“Rosetta Stone” of cell signaling could expedite precision cancer medicine
An atlas of human protein kinases enables scientists to map cell signaling pathways with unprecedented speed and detail.
The beauty of biology
Senior Hanjun Lee planned to pursue chemistry at MIT. A course in genetics changed that.
From steel engineering to ovarian tumor research
Ashutosh Kumar, a materials science and engineering PhD student and MathWorks Fellow, applies his eclectic skills to studying the relationship between bacteria and cancer.
A closed-loop drug-delivery system could improve chemotherapy
New CLAUDIA system could continuously monitor patients during an infusion and adjust dosage to maintain optimal drug levels.
Improving drug development with a vast map of the immune system
Immunai’s founders were researchers at MIT when they launched their company to help predict how patients will respond to new treatments.
Tackling cancer at the nanoscale
In MIT’s 2024 Killian Lecture, chemical engineer Paula Hammond described her groundbreaking work on nanoparticles designed to attack tumor cells.
Unlocking mRNA’s cancer-fighting potential
MIT spinout Strand Therapeutics has developed a new class of mRNA molecules that can sense where they are in the body, for more targeted and powerful treatments.
Five MIT faculty members take on Cancer Grand Challenges
Joining three teams backed by a total of $75 million, MIT researchers will tackle some of cancer’s toughest challenges.
Scientists develop a rapid gene-editing screen to find effects of cancer mutations
With the new technique, MIT researchers hope to identify mutations that could be targeted with new cancer therapies.
A new sensor detects harmful “forever chemicals” in drinking water
The technology could offer a cheap, fast way to test for PFAS, which have been linked to cancer and other health problems.
A noninvasive treatment for “chemo brain”
Stimulating gamma brain waves may protect cancer patients from memory impairment and other cognitive effects of chemotherapy.
How early-stage cancer cells hide from the immune system
A new study finds precancerous colon cells turn on a gene called SOX17, which helps them evade detection and develop into more advanced tumors.