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Modeling the Dynamics of Biological Systems REU

Blog

Jul 22, 2026

Targeting Cell Surface Charge to Limit Breast Cancer Cell Migration 

By Sarah Stanley Lawrence and Noah Roger Summary: Researchers found that maduramicin (MAD) reduced the growth and spread of breast cancer cells by altering their surface charge and disrupting calcium signaling. These findings suggest that targeting the physical properties of cancer cells may offer a new approach to limiting breast cancer progression. One of the…

Jul 15, 2026

From Fuzz to Focus: Utilizing Machine Learning to Salvage Light Sheet Images of Live Zebrafish Heartbeats

By Samson Skally and Grayson Steinbach Summary: Capturing quality 4D movies of living biological structures poses a challenge to researchers as they must place constraints on light exposure time and intensity to avoid damaging their samples. However, rapid imaging with low-intensity light results in images degraded by noise and scattered light. Through a novel combination…

Jul 15, 2026

Taking out the trash: an in-depth study investigating the biogenesis of outer membrane vesicles in Acinetobacter baumannii

By Nilia Francis and Alexis Tang Summary: In gram-negative bacteria, environmental stressors (e.g., changes in pH, temperature, and salinity) can catalyze an accumulation of misfolded and unfolded proteins in the periplasmic space. DegP, a protein found in the periplasmic space of gram-negative bacteria, rectifies this issue: it facilitates the folding of abnormal proteins and chaperones…

Jul 15, 2026

The Diet of Worms contains… Nile Red? Distinguishing lipid sub-types in Live C. elegans via 2p-FLIM

By Natalie Artola and Jason Chan Summary: A novel imaging approach that combines Nile Red staining and two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (2p-FLIM) allows researchers to distinguish and quantify lipid sub-types in live C. elegans, offering a much faster and more accessible method for furthering understanding in longevity research. Understanding lipid metabolism is vital to…

Jul 15, 2026

Unlocking Alzheimer’s Disease: Decoding the Mechanism of Synaptic Proteins to Drive the Search for a Cure

By Jason Kaufmann and Magnolia Myers Summary: The FAM19A5 protein promotes synapse loss by disrupting crucial protein complexes, though the NS101 antibody prevents such disruptions and is promising for maintaining equilibrium between synapse formation and elimination. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease. There are few treatments, and they only relieve symptoms instead of…

Aug 8, 2025

The NB Probe: A Bright New Hope in the Fight Against Alzheimer’s

By Yang Sherpa and Charlotte Mankovich Summary: Researchers constructed a probe with the potential to diagnose and treat early-stage Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by confusion, memory loss, and the misfolding, or aggregation, of a protein called amyloid beta. While this disease is common, current technology limits the detection…

Aug 7, 2025

AI Model Predicts Endometrial Cancer Risk Using Novel, Minimally Invasive Approach

By: Christopher Needham & Olivia Laukat Summary: Scientists developed an AI deep-learning model that could be trained to predict endometrial cancer risk in patients using a viscosity sensitive probe and fluorescence lifetime imaging. In the year 2020, over 400,000 women globally were diagnosed with uterine cancer, which includes both endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma cases.…

Aug 7, 2025

Revealing the Full Picture of Locusta Migratoria Spermatogenesis

By Millicent Hays and Kaitlyn Khalawan Summary: Researchers aim to further uncover the developmental episodes within the testes of male locusts. Dissection and analysis of histological and ultrastructural components through various microscopy techniques are key to revealing L. migratoria’s rapid reproduction. This allows for future progress on methods to limit locust population, potentially via nanoparticles…

Jul 2, 2025

New Protocol Established for Exploring Microplastic-Jellyfish interactions

by Brendan Donovan and Sarah Berger Summary: A novel methodology for studying microplastic contents in C. andromeda jellyfish using light microscopy, electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy reveals microplastic presence in specimens is dependent on density and polarity of material. Microplastics are a growing threat to marine ecosystems, but they remain understudied in no small part…

Aug 15, 2024

First in vitro cell co-culture experiments using laser-induced high-energy electrons FLASH irradiation for the development of anti-cancer therapeutic strategies

By Nicholas Yeboah, Resa Nelson, and Adam Nahor Researchers were able to administer ultrahigh dose rates (UHDRs) to melanoma cells (skin cancer) in an in vitro cell co-culture experiment with healthy melanocytes. They were able to target the cancer cells and minimize DNA damage in healthy melanocytes while simultaneously increasing the potency of the radiation.…