Human Biology

Is diabetes communicable?
CIFAR Fellows’s paper questions whether diabetes, heart attacks and strokes are actually non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Microbiota (bacteria, viruses, fungi) that spread flu, HIV/AIDS, may also carry NCDs. People with NCDs have damaged microbiota,…

Ultrasound speaker implant that can open a door to your brain
Scientists have developed a biodegradable ultrasound speaker that can be placed inside the brain. When activated, it makes the blood-brain barrier permeable, potentially allowing certain drugs such as brain cancer chemotherapy and antidepressants to…

New migraine medication passes clinical trial
A new migraine medication called ubrogepant recently passed a large scale phase 3 clinical trial. This medication may be able to help treat patients that cannot tolerate or do not respond to the most common types of migraine medication.

Brain-machine interfaces may be used to study and regulate mood
Brain-machine interfaces translate brain signals into information that can be used to control robotic limbs, and now even predict an individual’s mood state. Researchers envision using BMIs together with electrical stimulation, to regulate abnormal brain…

Magnetic field-controlled drug delivery to the brain
Researchers have developed a minimally-invasive and precise brain drug delivery system that is controlled by an external magnetic field. Read Anqi Zhang’s article to learn more about neuron modulation by drug delivery!

Using Chimeric Proteins to Fight Type II Diabetes
Type II diabetes is a rising global epidemic without any current treatments. But scientists have designed an interesting chimeric protein that aims to increase insulin sensitivity in patients and thereby provide a potential cure.