Biomedical Engineering Content

A Chip to Measure Immunity

Andy Fell — December 04, 2024 - 4:16pm

Every winter, influenza returns with a new variant. People who have previously been infected with or vaccinated against flu may have some protection, but this depends on how well their immune system’s “memory” of the previous virus or vaccine cross-reacts with the new variant. At present, there is no good way to measure this. A new NIH-funded project by researchers at the University of California, Davis and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health aims to solve that problem with a new device to measure this immune system “memory” in the blood.

Novel Dynamic Imaging Technology Captures the Body’s Immune Response to COVID-19

Andy Fell — October 19, 2023 - 1:18pm

A team of �°��ϲ��Ļ��Ϣ Davis scientists used dynamic total-body positron emission tomography (PET) to provide the first imaging of the human body’s immune response to COVID-19 infection in recovering patients. Their work, published in Science Advances, could lead to a better understanding of how the body’s immune system responds to viral infections and develops long-term protection against re-infection.

New Light-Activated Technique to Track Protein Interactions

Andy Fell — October 11, 2023 - 10:10am

Biomedical engineers at �°��ϲ��Ļ��Ϣ Davis have come up with a new tool for tracing interactions between proteins. The new, light-activated tool could have wide applications in cell biology.

Engineered Bone Marrow Shows Promise for Developing Cancer Treatment

Andy Fell — September 15, 2023 - 3:15pm

The development of engineered bone marrow is revolutionizing research and treatment for osteosarcoma, the most common malignant bone cancer in children.

Bringing COVID-19 Data into Focus

Andy Fell — July 14, 2023 - 1:53pm

Using an approach based on computer vision technology, researchers can work back from COVID-19 mortality data to see how infection rates changed on the day a lockdown or similar measure was introduced. The approach could be generally useful in future epidemics and pandemics. The work is published July 14 in Science Advances.

'Lava Lamp' Vesicles Show How Cells Could Self-organize

Andy Fell — July 11, 2023 - 10:50am

Experiments with cell-sized vesicles show how liquids inside can spontaneously separate and form mosaics of droplets. These changes also affect the outside of the vesicle. The experiments could help us understand how biological processes emerge from physical and chemical effects.

Cyborg Cells Could Be Tools for Health and Environment

Andy Fell — January 18, 2023 - 11:00am

Biomedical engineers at the University of California, Davis, have created semi-living “cyborg cells.” Retaining the capabilities of living cells, but unable to replicate, the cyborg cells could have a wide range of applications, from producing therapeutic drugs to cleaning up pollution. The work was published Jan. 11 in Advanced Science.

Treating Cancer by Sticking Cells in Place

Andy Fell — August 03, 2022 - 12:00pm

Future treatments for advanced cancer could work by sticking cancer cells in place and preventing their spread around the body. A new study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, and the University of Washington shows how an antibody strengthens bonds between cells. The work is published Aug. 3 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

NIH Grant Creates National Center at �°��ϲ��Ļ��Ϣ Davis

Andy Fell — July 12, 2022 - 11:00am

A new center that stands to transform surgical procedures and brain monitoring on a national scale using light-based, artificial intelligence-informed technologies will soon be part of Aggie Square at the University of California, Davis, thanks to a recent $6.3 million P41 grant from NIH’s National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.

Detector Advance Could Lead to Cheaper, Easier Medical Scans

Andy Fell — October 29, 2021 - 11:00am

Researchers in the U.S. and Japan have demonstrated the first experimental cross-sectional medical image that doesn’t require tomography, a mathematical process used to reconstruct images in CT and PET scans . The work, published Oct. 14 in Nature Photonics, could lead to cheaper, easier and more accurate medical imaging.