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Accelerating the Development of Tests for Endometriosis and Cancer
NIGMS’ Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program works toward more effective methods for patient screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Translating lab discoveries into health care products requires large investments of time and resources. Through the STTR Regional Technology Transfer Accelerator Hubs for IDeA States program, NIGMS helps researchers interested in transitioning their discoveries and/or inventions into products. Here are the stories of three researchers working with the XLerator Hub, which funds projects in the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico. Ending Diagnostic Delays for Endomet...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - April 7, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist Injury and Illness Cancer Diseases Profiles Scientific Process Source Type: blogs

Cool Images: Wondrous Worms
The tiny roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans is one of the most common research organisms—creatures scientists use to study life. While C. elegans may seem drastically different from humans, it shares many genes and molecular pathways with us. Viewed with a microscope, the worm can also be surprisingly beautiful. Aside from the stunning imagery, these examples from our Image and Video Gallery show how C. elegans helps scientists advance our understanding of living systems and find new ways to improve our health. Credit: Keir Balla and Emily Troemel, University of California San Diego. This C. elegans has b...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - March 30, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Susan Johnson Tags: Cells Cool Creatures Cool Images Research Organisms Source Type: blogs

Engage Learners in Science and Health With Our Kahoots!
NIGMS, in collaboration with Scholastic, has developed a collection of free biology and health activities on the educational app Kahoot! You can play them alone, with friends, or with a class of students. Four Kahoots! are currently available: Imaging the Microscopic World investigates how researchers view cells, proteins, and other tiny structures. Superbugs delves into infectious bacteria and viruses that can’t be fought off with medicines. The Science of Sleep explores biological clocks and circadian rhythms. Regeneration highlights how animals replace or restore damaged or missing cells, tissues, organs, and ...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - March 24, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Cells Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology Injury and Illness Biological Clocks Infectious Diseases Microbes Regeneration Source Type: blogs

Take a Tour of Your Cells ’ Organelles!
A cross-section of a cell showing organelles. Credit: Judith Stoffer. Welcome to our tour of the cell! Imagine you’ve shrunk down to about 3 millionths of your normal size. You are now about 0.5 micrometers tall (a micrometer is 1/1,000th of a millimeter). At this scale, a medium-sized human cell looks as long, high, and wide as a football field. But you can’t see nearly that far. Clogging your view is a rich stew of molecules, fibers, and various cell structures called organelles. Like the internal organs in your body, organelles in the cell each have a unique biological role to play. The Nucleus and Its Closest N...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - March 17, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Cells Cellular Processes Source Type: blogs

Quiz: Prove Your Knowledge of Proteins!
Proteins play a role in virtually every activity in the body. They make up hair and nails, help muscles move, protect against infection, and more. Many NIGMS-funded researchers study the rich variety of proteins in humans and other organisms to shed light on their roles in health and disease. Take our quiz to test how much you know about proteins. Afterward, find more quizzes and other fun learning tools on our activities and multimedia webpage, which includes an interactive protein alphabet. START QUIZ (Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences)
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - March 10, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Cells Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology Molecular Structures Cellular Processes Proteins Quiz Source Type: blogs

Pathways: The Imaging Issue
Cover of Pathways student magazine. NIGMS and Scholastic bring you our latest issue of Pathways, which focuses on imaging tools that help scientists unlock the mysteries of our cells and molecules. A better understanding of this tiny world can help researchers learn about the body’s normal and abnormal processes and lead to more effective, targeted treatments for illnesses. Pathways is designed for students in grades 6 through 12. This collection of free resources teaches students about basic science and its importance to health, as well as exciting research careers. The new issue of the student magazine includes...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - March 3, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist Cells Molecular Structures Tools and Techniques Cellular Imaging Cool Tools/Techniques Source Type: blogs

Zinc: Zapping Invaders
Although zinc may appear last on nutrition labels, it’s the second-most abundant trace element in our bodies, behind only iron. (Trace elements are molecules our bodies need in small amounts to stay healthy). Zinc is crucial for a well-functioning immune system, wound healing, physical growth, the senses of taste and smell, and the construction of proteins and DNA. It can also partner with oxygen to form zinc oxide, a compound that scatters ultraviolet light and can act as a protective barrier over inflamed skin. Many sunscreens, burn ointments, diaper creams, and other skin treatments contain zinc oxide. Zinc m...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - February 24, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology Cellular Processes Source Type: blogs

Through the Looking Glass: Microscopic Structures in Many Sizes
We seldom see microscopic objects next to one another, so it can be difficult to picture how they compare. For instance, it might surprise you that a thousand cold-virus particles could line up across one human skin cell! The largest objects that scientists view through microscopes are about a millimeter (roughly the size of a poppyseed), and they’re about 10 million times larger than the smallest molecules scientists can view: atoms. This insightful Cell Size and Scale interactive from the Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah helps put the size of many biological structures in context. Suppor...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - February 17, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Matt Mills Tags: Cells Molecular Structures Bacteria Proteins Viruses Source Type: blogs

COVID-19 Vaccine and Therapeutic Trials ACTIV-ate in West Virginia
ACTIV clinical trials will evaluate the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 treatments and vaccines. Credit: iStock. Since the virus that causes COVID-19, known as SARS-CoV-2, was first reported in late 2019, scientists have launched hundreds of studies on strategies for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. To prioritize the most promising vaccine and therapeutics candidates, streamline clinical trials, and coordinate regulatory processes, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Foundation for the NIH have established the Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) partnership. ACTIV brings t...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - February 3, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist Injury and Illness COVID-19 Infectious Diseases Medicines Scientific Process Source Type: blogs

Cool Images: Bewitching Bacteria
Some bacteria benefit us as part of our microbiome—the vast collection of microorganisms that live in and on our bodies—while others can make us sick. Whether helpful or dangerous, bacteria can appear colorful and striking under a microscope. These photos provide just a small peek into the incredible diversity of these microbes. Credit: Liyang Xiong and Lev Tsimring, BioCircuits Institute, UCSD. This floral pattern emerged when a researcher grew two strains of bacteria—Acinetobacter baylyi (red) and Escherichia coli (green)—together for 2 days in a petri dish. A. baylyi are found in soil and typically do...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - January 27, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Cells Bacteria Cool Images Infectious Diseases Microbes Source Type: blogs

Fight Against COVID-19 Aided by Sepsis Researchers
Spike proteins on the surface of a coronavirus. Credit: David Veesler, University of Washington. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers from many areas of biomedical science have worked together to learn how this new disease affects the human body, how to prevent its spread, and how to treat it. Severe cases of COVID-19 and cases of sepsis share many symptoms. Sepsis is the body’s overactive and extreme response to an infection. It’s unpredictable and can progress rapidly. Without prompt treatment, it can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. Sepsis has similarities with some cases of COVI...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - January 13, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist Injury and Illness COVID-19 Infectious Diseases Research Roundup Scientific Process Sepsis Source Type: blogs

Career Conversations: Q & A with Organic Chemist Osvaldo Gutierrez
Osvaldo Gutierrez, Ph.D., was born in Rancho Los Prietos, a small town in central Mexico where his grandmother served as a midwife. Seeing how his grandmother helped people through her work inspired Dr. Gutierrez to pursue a career where he, too, could help people. His family emigrated to the United States when he was young. Despite challenges he faced in a new country, he graduated from high school, attended community college, and was accepted to the University of California, Los Angeles. He originally planned to become a medical doctor, but an undergraduate research experience sparked an interest in chemistry, and he ult...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - January 6, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology Cool Videos Medicines Profiles Source Type: blogs

Year in Review: Our Top Three Posts of 2020
Over the year, we dove into the inner workings of cells, interviewed award-winning researchers supported by NIGMS, shared a cool collection of science-themed backgrounds for video calls, and more. Here, we highlight three of the most popular posts from 2020. Tell us which of this year’s posts you liked best in the comments section below! The Science of Infectious Disease Modeling Spike proteins on the surface of a coronavirus. Credit: David Veesler, University of Washington. What does “modeling the spread” (or “flattening the curve”) mean, and how does it apply to infectious diseases such as COVID-19? L...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - December 30, 2020 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology Tools and Techniques Cool Tools/Techniques Infectious Diseases Modeling Source Type: blogs

An Enlightening Protein
A fruit fly expressing GFP. Credit: Jay Hirsh, University of Virginia. During the holiday season, twinkling lights are a common sight. But no matter what time of the year, you can see colorful glows in many biology labs. Scientists have enabled many organisms to light up in the dark—from cells to fruit flies and Mexican salamanders. These glowing organisms help researchers better understand basic cell processes because their DNA has been edited to express molecules such as green fluorescent protein. Illuminating Cell Processes A zebrafish fin with GFP glowing (green dots) where gene sox9b is expressed. This...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - December 23, 2020 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Genes Tools and Techniques Cool Tools/Techniques DNA Proteins Source Type: blogs

Expert Advice on Starting a Lab
During our Starting Your Own Lab webinar, attendees asked so many insightful questions that we ran out of time to respond to all of them. So we asked nine NIGMS early career investigators to tackle the most popular ones in short videos, which were featured on our social media. Now, you can watch the whole series on our YouTube channel. 1. What advice do you have for postdocs searching for a faculty position? 2. What experience and lessons can you share about applying for your first grants? 3. What do you wish you knew before starting your role as a professor? 4. What are your strategies for hiring new lab m...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - December 16, 2020 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist Cool Videos Scientific Process Training Source Type: blogs