Category: Research Briefs

New Insights into the Mechanism of ALS

The damaging effects of toxic proteins created in one inherited form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are mediated by a protein called SPOP.
Lewy Body Dementia Exacerbated by Immune Response

T-cells respond to buildup of alpha-synuclein with a harmful auto-immune response, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in Science.
Genome Editing Made Possible on Cells Lining Blood Vessel Walls

The laboratory of YouYang Zhao, PhD, developed a unique nanoparticle to deliver genome editing technology, including CRISPR/Cas9, to vascular endothelial cells.
Drug May Benefit Patients with Heart Failure

Dapagliflozin, commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, improved heart failure-related symptoms and physical limitations in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
Combination Treatment May Prolong HIV Viral Suppression

A novel combination treatment may increase the ability of monoclonal antibodies to control viral infection in patients diagnosed with HIV.
Investigating Long-Lived Mitochondrial Proteins

A subset of proteins in mitochondria of brain and heart cells are long-lived, supporting the long-term stability of mitochondrial complex architecture.
Gene Implicated in Poor Skin Cancer Therapy Outcomes

Losing a check on T-cell activation in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma cells is associated with poor outcomes, according to a recent study.
New Hope for Antibody to Treat Muscular Dystrophy

Scientists have developed an antibody that they believe can be used to treat muscular dystrophy, reducing muscle scarring in an animal model of the disease.
New Spherical Nucleic Acid ‘Drug’ Kills Tumor Cells in Humans with Glioblastoma

An experimental spherical nucleic acid drug developed by Northwestern scientists was able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and trigger the death of glioblastoma cells.
Evaluating Esophageal Hypervigilance and Symptom Anxiety

Measuring levels of hypervigilance and anxiety may improve healthcare providers’ understanding of severe esophageal diseases and treatment strategies, according to a Northwestern Medicine study.