News Type: Research
Sharper images with MRI
More detailed and precise MRI requires lengthier scans — taxing the patient’s ability to remain still. Daniel Herzka and his colleagues are creating solutions that compensate for motion, and deliver clearer medical images more efficiently.
Zero gravity genomics
Feinberg is part of a team of NASA experts selected to study how a year in space effects astronaut Scott Kelly's biology, when compared to his twin earth-bound brother, Mark, as the control.
Cancer research: Your cells’ sugar diet
Kevin Yarema's research group uses metabolic glycoengineering in their pancreatic and brain cancer studies, manipulating how cells process and display sugars, and looking for molecular targets to block so they can't drive cancer development.
Scot Kuo: BME’s gadget man
At the nexus of research and technology, Dr Kuo secures hi-tech hardware for scientists, aids researchers determine what equipment can help them achieve research needs, and advises BME students with equipment design strategies.
Marmosets, like humans, have ability to discern pitch
A recently published study led by BME professor Xiaoqin Wang, reveals that, much like humans, marmoset monkeys distinguish between high and low notes.
Virtual testing of new cancer drug therapies to speed clinical trials
The emerging field of computational medicine gives researchers a versatile and robust platform for testing the effectiveness of new cancer drug therapies, and the ability to efficiently investigate a wide range of drug interactions.
BME research lab receives funding and support to vastly improve CT scans
A $2.6 million NIH grant will fund the development of radically-improved CT imaging hardware and software that will deliver patient- and area-specific, low-dose CT scans.
Johns Hopkins awarded Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute for brain study
Rick Huganir and Michael Miller will co-direct the Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute at Johns Hopkins, drawing together faculty experts in neuroscience, engineering, data science to study the brain.
Study finds Parkinson’s symptom improvement with non-invasive brain stimulation
Parkinson's disease patients are less willing to assign force to their affected arm. Now, researchers led by Reza Shadmehr, report that noninvasive cortical stimulation reduced effort costs in the affected arm, and improved motor symptoms.
Enhanced OCT tissue-mapping technology for safer brain cancer removal
BME researchers have developed a technique of processing optical coherence tomography imaging to help surgeons quickly and safely distinguish healthy from cancerous tissue.
Michael Beer improves methodology for predicting disease-enabling genetic mutations
Up to one-fifth of human DNA act as dimmer switches for nearby genes, but scientists have long been unable to identify precisely which mutations in these genetic control regions really matter in causing common diseases.
Aleksander Popel: halting cancer’s spread
When confronted with the bio mechanics of cancer’s ability to spread, the engineering prowess of Dr. Aleksander S. Popel kicks in. He is making inroads into novel drug-based approaches that halt angiogenesis and disrupt metastasis.
A two-step defibrillator lessens pain
By using a two-step electrical pulse, researchers Les Tung and Ron Berger found that the first “kinder, gentler” surge, preconditions the skeletal muscles for the second larger pulse.
Lifesaving technology: computational heart modeling
Using cardiac MRI scans, researchers create patient-specific computational heart models. Heart rhythm dysfunction is then simulated, allowing technicians to efficiently predict ideal lifesaving therapy.
Promising new imaging solution for traumatic brain injury and intracranial hemorrhage
Dr. Jeff Siewerdsen and other researchers have developed a correction method for cone-beam CT that yields improved image quality sufficient for reliable diagnosis of subtle intracranial hemorrhage.
Innovative nanoparticle gene therapy system eliminates cancerous brain cells
For the first time, Johns Hopkins researchers, including Dr. Jordan Green, used a compound-filled biodegradable nanoparticle gene therapy along with an intercranial delivery system to kill brain cancer cells in animals and lengthen their survival. This new strategy shows great promise in treating brain cancers, such as glioma.
Putting microscopes inside the body
With a single scanning optical fiber, biomedical engineering Professor Xingde Li and his team are creating label-free and processing-free microscopes that go where no others can.
Designing a complete yeast chromosome
Using custom software designed in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, a team of Johns Hopkins researchers has synthesized an entire yeast chromosome.
Using software to pinpoint seizure activity
Sridevi Sarma works with School of Medicine colleagues to refine software called EZTrack that analyzes the brain’s electrical impulses to help pinpoint the location of epileptic seizures.
Rapid progress in virtual heart modeling shows great promise for improved outcomes
Natalia A. Trayanova, Johns Hopkins Department of Biomedical Engineering Murray B. Sachs Professor and faculty in the Institute for Computational...
The Yin and Yang of calmodulin revealed by a biological signal generator
Researchers in the Calcium Signals Laboratory have discovered a mechanism that governs a cellular dialog between the two forms of calmodulin. This enables new strategies for treating diseases relating to maladaptive bioelectrical and Ca
Johns Hopkins researchers discover that an FDA-approved HIV drug may be useful in treating breast cancer metastasis
Use of drugs previously approved for other diseases, such as HIV and rheumatoid arthritis, opens attractive possibilities for treating cancer patients; as repurposed or repositioned drugs promises significant savings in development time and resources.
Error memories enable improved performance and faster learning
A study reveals that the brain controls how much it is willing to learn from the current error based on a previously unknown form of memory: a memory of errors.
Zooming in and out of the mouse brain
Researcher of the mouse auditory cortex could ultimately lead to better ways of treating people with hearing loss.
Database of Pediatric MR Images Aids Diagnosis, Treatment
By building a “cloud database” of MR images collected from children with normal and abnormal brains, researchers aim to give physicians access to a Google-like search system that will improve the way pediatric brain disorders are diagnosed and treated.
All in the family — sodium and calcium ion channels share common roots
Novel treatment strategies for arrhythmias, myotonias, and neurodegeneration provided by an ancient feedback module commonly shared between voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels.
Improving cardiac ablation treatment with virtual heart mapping
Dr. Trayanova and team are exploring whether the patient’s virtual heart could be used to noninvasively determine the optimal ablation targets with a lot more accurately.
I-STAR Lab refines ultra-low dose CT scans
Armed with pragmatism and advanced computer modeling techniques, BME researchers have made strides in improving CT image quality while reducing X-ray exposure and other negative consequences of the scanning technique.
Solving the paradox: How one bad apple spoils the pie of cardiac rhythms
BME and neuroscience researchers exploit live-cell biochemistry, electrophysiology, and mathematical simulations to solve how calmodulinopathies can lead to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmogenic events.
Engineering safer surgery: The LevelCheck algorithm translated to first clinical studies
Advanced 3D-2D image registration leverages high-speed computing to provide surgeons with an on-demand, labeled visual depiction of the spine and surgical target in the operating room.