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The Breakthrough Prize ?Trophy
2024 Breakthrough Prizes in Life Sciences
Danielle Gerhard, PhD | Sep 14, 2023 | 10 min read
This year’s Breakthrough Prizes honor advances in CAR T cancer therapies, cystic fibrosis, and Parkinson’s disease.
Colorful blue and pink low poly side view human brain illustration with connection dots isolated on bright blue background
Cancer Cells Need Fatty Acids to Survive in the Brain
Danielle Gerhard, PhD, Drug Discovery News | Aug 30, 2023 | 3 min read
Using a mouse model of breast cancer brain metastasis, researchers showed that tumor cells require fatty acid synthesis to grow, which offers a potential therapeutic target.
Infographic showing how scientists hack the locust brain to identify the unique odor signatures of oral cancers
Infographic: Scents and Sense-Abilities
Iris Kulbatski, PhD | Jun 1, 2023 | 1 min read
Scientists hack the locust brain to identify the unique odor signatures of oral cancers.
Vector image of swarming locusts in a field
Scents and Sense-Abilities: Using Bug Brainpower to Smell Cancer
Iris Kulbatski, PhD | Dec 12, 2022 | 4 min read
Scientists use locust brains as living biosensors to perform cancer cell breath tests.
Infographic preview
Infographic: A Brain Implant Stops Tumor Growth in Rats
Holly Barker, PhD | Dec 12, 2022 | 1 min read
The new, implantable device converts ultrasound waves into electrical energy inside the brain, interfering with tumor cell division.
Render of cancer cells
Implantable Device Zaps Cancer Cells Using Electric Fields
Holly Barker, PhD | Dec 12, 2022 | 3 min read
A wireless brain implant inhibits tumor growth in rats, overcoming many design flaws of current devices used to treat glioblastoma.
outline of a brain slice with white patch surrounded by teal
Astrocytes Feed Glioblastoma, Promoting Tumor Growth: Mouse Study
Patience Asanga | Oct 5, 2022 | 3 min read
Starving glioblastoma tumors of the cholesterol made by astrocytes could suppress brain cancer progression.
black-and-white brain scan showing tumor
Glioblastoma Cells Imitate Immature Neurons to Invade the Brain
Sophie Fessl, PhD | Aug 5, 2022 | 3 min read
Neuron-like glioblastoma cells are the pioneers of deadly tumors’ spread through the brain, contributing to their devastating invasiveness, a study in mice finds.
Tiled blue-gray MRI readouts of a human brain.
Cancer Tied to Reduced Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
Dan Robitzski | Apr 14, 2022 | 7 min read
Observational evidence for the connection is solidifying, and some clues are emerging about the mechanisms that may explain it.
An artist's rendition of an RNA molecule in light blue on a dark blue background
Same RNA Acts in Neurodegeneration and Cancer
Abby Olena, PhD | Oct 29, 2021 | 3 min read
The long noncoding RNA MINCR, implicated in ALS and Alzheimer’s disease as well as several types of cancer, appears to function differently when present at high versus low levels.
brain scan showing uptake of tratuzumab into tumor (arrow)
Sound Waves Aid Brain Tumor Treatment
Ruth Williams | Oct 13, 2021 | 3 min read
In a small clinical study, focusing ultrasound beams on tumors in patients’ brains helped open the blood-brain barrier to facilitate drug delivery.
A multicolored section of a fruit fly brain
Tumors Disrupt the Blood-Brain Barrier at a Distance
Abby Olena, PhD | Sep 9, 2021 | 4 min read
Shoring up the tissues that separate neurons and other brain cells from the circulatory system in fruit flies and mice can prolong life in the presence of a tumor.
Engineered Immune Cells Eliminate Brain Cancer in Mice
Brooke Dulka, PhD | May 25, 2021 | 2 min read
Researchers developed a new CAR T-cell therapy that targets specific growth factor receptors in glioblastoma to eliminate brain tumors.
Environmental Cues Keep CAR T Cells on Track
Aparna Nathan, PhD | May 25, 2021 | 4 min read
Pairing CARs with a synthetic receptor makes T cells more lethal tumor killers.
Contributors
Asher Jones and Kerry Grens | Apr 1, 2021 | 3 min read
Meet some of the people featured in the April 2021 issue of The Scientist.
Aggressive Cancers Feed Off the Brain’s Nerves
Emily Makowski | Sep 20, 2019 | 2 min read
Three studies show that tumor cells can behave like neurons.
oliver sacks book everything in its place
A Review of Everything in Its Place: First Loves and Last Tales
Bob Grant | Apr 1, 2019 | 3 min read
This posthumously published collection of essays by Oliver Sacks further cements the neurologist’s place in the pantheon of science writers.
The Scientist’s Most Stunning Infographics of 2018
Jef Akst | Dec 21, 2018 | 2 min read
From cellular self-digestion to the effects of exercise on the brain, our features editor picks her favorite art custom-made for the magazine.
A Neuroscientist’s Journey Through Madness
Barbara Lipska with Elaine McArdle | Apr 1, 2018 | 3 min read
After I was diagnosed with brain cancer and started to lose my mental health, the importance of my job came into clear focus.
Contributors
The Scientist | Apr 1, 2018 | 3 min read
Meet some of the people featured in the April 2018 issue of The Scientist.
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