Research in the News

$43M grant for state-of-the-art stem cell facility

Courtesy of Zimmer, Gunsul Frasca Architects

BY AMY ADAMS
Science Writer
Date: May 14, 2008

The Stanford University School of Medicine has received a $43.58 million grant toward funding a new building that will house stem cell research on campus, a facility that will consolidate stem cell researchers, speed the path toward new stem cell-based therapies and help recruit new faculty. The building will also house a novel microfluidics facility, drawing on the research of Stephen Quake, PhD, professor of bioengineering.

The grant, from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, was part of a $271 million statewide round of funding approved May 7 by the institute's oversight committee at a meeting in Los Angeles. The committee approved grants funding 12 buildings for stem cell research at institutes throughout California.

The round of funding will create nearly 800,000 square feet of new space statewide dedicated to stem cell research. The stem cell agency expects the new facilities to accelerate the pace of stem cell research in California and bring the state closer to new therapies for debilitating diseases.

The buildings, with space optimized for experiments with stem cells and corresponding shared research facilities, are expected to be a draw for researchers outside California whose work is hindered by the lack of federal funding. As with previous grants, funding for the new facilities comes from the sale of 30-year bonds for stem cell research rather than from the state budget.

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Jennifer Cochran's work on designing stable protein-based drugs and imaging agents through the use of cystine knots is highlighted in "Overcoming Protein Production Hurdles" by K. John Morrow Jr., Ph.D. June 1, 2009 in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News. Click Here to read full article.

Engineers create 'intelligent' molecules, by Cassandra Brooks
Current treatments for diseases like cancer typically destroy nasty malignant cells while also hammering the healthy ones. Using new advances in synthetic biology, researchers are designing molecules intelligent enough to recognize diseased cells and leave healthy cells alone. February 18, 2009.
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Software speeds up molecular simulations, by Joy P. Ku and Louis Bergeron
In the past, researchers needed supercomputers or large computer clusters to run such complex motion models. February 4, 2009.
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With a new technology called optogenetics, the Deisseroth Lab has found that it is possible to turn neuronal activity on and off in distinct neuronal populations, using cell-type specific, optically-sensitive, molecular, neuronal activity "switches." This research is featured in the May 2008 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. The article is entitled Controlling Neuronal Activity.

Kwabena Boahen shares his vision of creating artificial nerve cells with The Guardian's reporter Hubertus Breuer in the article entitled Eyeing robots whose brains would work just like ours, April 10, 2008.

"At the Society for Neuroscience's annual meeting today (Nov 5), Kathie Olsen laughingly introduced Kwabena Boahen's talk with, 'Good luck.' " So begins an article on The Scientist's blog about Boahen's work in simulating Brain activity on a chip. November 5, 2007.

StemCor Systems, a company started from the Biodesign Program, announced today that they had FDA approval to sell their device MarrowMiner(tm). Paul Yock is quoted in the press release. October 31, 2007.

Karl Deisseroth's research is highlighted in the Stanford Report article entitled Light shone within brains of mice reveals secrets of sleep-wake cycle, October 18, 2007.

Jennifer Cochran's work is featured in the Stanford Report: Magical and molecular motif weaves its way through Jennifer Cochran’s career. September 12, 2007.

The Beam of Light That Flips a Switch That Turns on the Brain, an article in the New York Times, focussed on the work of Karl Deisseroth. August 14, 2007.

Stephen Quake's work on creating a lab on a chip is featured on ABC7 News' Drive to Discover feature by Richard Hart. Read more about the broadcast at the ABC website. August 13, 2007.

Circuit-breakers: optical technologies for probing neural signals, an article in Nature.com (subscription), highlights the work of Feng Zhang, Alexander M. Aravanis and Karl Deisseroth. July 15, 2007

Scientists study how to make humanoid robots more graceful: PhysOrg.com reports that Osama Khatib, Professor in Computer Science, has teamed up with another Bio-X member, Professor Scott Delp, to investigate how humans move. July 10, 2007

In a study with rats, Karl Deisseroth, MD, PhD, and other Stanford researchers discovered that the differing mechanisms of depression and its treatments appear to funnel through a single brain circuit. July 10, 2007.

USA Today reports on Karl Deisseroth's research as possible answer to one of the mysteries behind depression. July 8 , 2007

An article in the Economist discusses work by Kwabena Boahen, who is working to "put Africa into the next generation of computers" by getting the brain's neural circuitry to produce something more beautiful, supple and resilient—indeed, “more African”. June 21, 2007.

The first TED conference in Africa in Arusha, Tanzania was held June 4-7, 2007. The program lineup of 50 speakers — like all TEDs — included inventors, business leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, designers, artists, writers, activists, musicians and mavericks. But they have this in common: They are all doing something valuable for Africa's future. Their voices will inspire. And their ideas will spread. Dr. Boahen, of Stanford's Bioengineering department participated in the Emergent Design track where he spoke on his research. June 1, 2007.

Silicon Brains, featured in Technology Review, talks about Boahen's work in "neuromorphing:" building complicated electronic circuits meant to model the behavior of neural circuits. May/June, 2007.

Kwabena Boahen's work featured in an article entitled "Brainy Computing" by the Stanford Daily. May 1, 2007.

Stephen Quake is quoted in an article in the MIT Technology Review entitled Weighing Living Cells. May 2, 2007.

Nature magazine features a paper entitled Multimodal fast optical interrogation of neural circuitry by Karl Deisseroth, Feng Zhang et al. The paper demonstrates how light-sensitive proteins can be used to activate and silence neurons with precise timing. Watch the team explain how this research brings the fields of bioengineering and medicine together, and what the implications might be. Apr 4, 2007.

Scientific American features an image from the work of Feng Zhang and Karl Deisseroth. The image, entitled Neuron Laser Tag, shows how the researchers caused nematode muscles to contract and relax by switching between blue and yellow laser light. Apr 4, 2007.

MIT's Technology Review showcased the work of Karl Deisseroth in an article entitled "TR10: Neuron Control." Mar 12, 2007.

In The Scientist, Karl Deisseroth's research on brain stimulation is discussed. See Karl Deisseroth: Frustrated and doing something about it. February 2007.

Kwabena Boahen's research is featured on the cover of The New Scientist. The feature article, "The Mind Chip" focuses on Boahen's work of replicating brain functions in Silicon. February 3, 2007.

In the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, an article entitled Myosin VI insert responsible for reverse motion (pdf) discusses Zev Bryant's latest research. January 18, 2007.

The most recent developments in the research of Stephen Quake were highlighted in an editorial entitled ANSOM Microscope Achieves Sub 10nm Resolution, in Physorg.com. January 18, 2007.

Drugresearcher.com, an online biotech newsletter, features an article on Stephen Quake's microfluidics work. The article, entitled Microlaboratory unravels protein function, describes Quake's paper recently published in Science. January 12, 2007.

Charles Taylor and Sam Gambhir are featured in articles on the Stanford Challenge website. Taylor's work is highlighted in the article Charles Taylor Operates in Cyberspace. Gambhir is seen in Sam Gambhir, Detecting and Treating Disease, One Molecule at a Time, January, 2007.

PhysOrg.com publishes an article, Microfuidic Device Used for Multigene Analysis of Individual Environmental Bacteria, on Stephen Quake's work. December 2, 2006.

Red Herring, the innovation, technology, financing and entrepreneurial journal, publishes an article entitled Helicos Teams with ISB. From the article: "The Helicos tSMS sequencer handles 100 million bases per hour, according to Mr. Lapidus, whereas the current technology typically only processes 2 million bases per day. The patented technology is based on the research of Dr. Stephen Quake of Stanford University." November 16, 2006.

Kwabena Boahen's work is featured in San Francisco Magazine in an article entitled "Freaking Brilliant Inventions." October 27, 2006.

Paul Yock's Biodesign Program is featured in the Fall 2006 Issue of Stanford Medicine. October 1, 2006.

Kwabena Boahen's work is highlighted in an article on Optics.org entitled"A Silicon Retina that Reproduces Signals in the Optic Nerve," September 15, 2006. (note: article requires free registration to view)

AZOM.com hosts article featuring work by Jennifer Cochran on artificial corneas, September 12, 2006.

The Stanford Daily features Russ Altman in an article on Emerging Field: Bioinformatics, August 16, 2006.

Steven Quake is featured in News@Nature.com website for his work. The article is entitled "Moving diagnostics from the bench to the bedside," August 2, 2006.

Russ Altman is quoted in an NPR program entitled "Gene Test Promises to Find Right Drug, Right Dose", Morning Edition, July 20, 2006

Jennifer Cochran's research is highlighted on the School of Engineering Profile page, June, 2006

Charles Taylor's research was featured on KGO (local ABC affiliate): "Predicting the Outcome of Surgery." May 12, 2006.

"Resarch collaboration translates into potential therapy to heal skin wounds" Stanford Report article features Jennifer Cochran and Michael Longaker, May 24, 2006.

CNET News quotes Kwabena Boahen in an article entitled "This is your Brain on a Microchip," May 11, 2006.

An article in PC World features Kwabena Boahen: Bioengineering Professor Challenges Blue Gene/L, Mimics Brain on Chip, Apr 25, 2006.

Scott Delp's work in neuromuscular research is highlighted in an article in the Jerusalem Post: "Self-made men," Apr 9, 2006.

Dr. Boahen is featured in an article in the San Francisco Chronicle entitled "A studied eye on the human brain
Researcher's studies pursue more efficient chips," Apr 3, 2006.

Kwabena Boahen's work highlighted in Photonics magazine article: "Brain on a Chip May be Closer to Reality", Mar 29, 2006.

"Stanford professor Kwabena Boahen hopes to mimic the brain on a chip," Stanford Report article, Mar 22, 2006.

James Swartz awarded GCEP funding, Mar 10, 2006 .

Paul Yock's work in teaching innovation was noted in an article in Institutional Investor entitled: How Product Design can Change Human Behavior. The article discusses the role of the new "d'school" in teaching design and innovation. Mar 9, 2006.

The National Cancer Institute has awarded Stanford University a $20,000,000 U54 grant to establish a Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence (CCNE). Dr. Sam Gambhir, Director of the Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS) and Professor of Radiology and Bioengineering, is the Principal Investigator. Read the news release for further details. Mar 6, 2006.

Stephen Quake's research is noted in Physics Today in an article entitled, "Microfluidic Chip Synthesizes Radiolabel for Positron Emission Tomography," Mar 1, 2006.

Scott Delp, speaks at UC Irvine's 2006 Distinguished Lecturer Series on"Digital Humans: From Biomechanical Models to Simulated Surgery," May 4, 2006.

Stephen Quake quoted in The Scientist article "The Human Genome Project +5," Feb 7, 2006.

Stephen Quake's research discussed in the GenNews website: Helicos BioSciences Unveils 'Early Access' Availability of True Single Molecule Sequencing (tSMS(TM)) Technologies, Feb 6, 2006.

Stephen Quake's opens microfluidic chip lab in James H. Clark Center. His work is highlighted in an article on Stanford Report's website. Quake is also quoted in an article in the Wall Street Journal about the X Prize for DNA decoding. January 18, 2006.

"Meeting of the minds: Student finds ideal setting for protein research," School of Engineering Website article about James Swartz research, October, 2005

"Stanford project mixes Darwin with hydrogen," CNET News.com article, July, 2005

"Imprisoning Bacteria to Isolate Changes," Stephen Quake interview, "All Things Considered" NPR, July, 2005

Hybrid Imaging System Combines X Rays and Magnetic Resonance to Improve Surgical Procedures (pdf) Physics Today, June, 2005

Researcher brings the precision of engineering to the subtlety of psychiatry Stanford Report, May 04, 2005

Worms have 'the right stuff' for space genomics experiments Stanford Report, February 04, 2004

Delp, Yock to lead cutting-edge Bioengineering Department, Stanford Report, January 29, 2003

Matthew Scott, Bio-X chair, enjoys 'incredible feast of discoveries', Stanford Report, August 21, 2002

Why can't computers simulate a living cell?, Stanford Report, May 2, 2001

Bio-X awards $3 million in grants for interdisciplinary projects Stanford Report, October 4, 2000