RESEARCH DISCOVERIES AT STANFORD

What are the benefits of using animals in research?
Important discoveries create cures for both humans and animals.


2022: Carolyn Bertozzi, Nobel Prize in Chemistry, shared with Morten Meldal University of Copenhagen, and
K. Barry Sharpless Scripps Research

2013: Thomas Südhof, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, shared with James Rothman of Yale University and Randy Schekman of UC Berkeley

For their discoveries of machinery regulating vesicle traffic, a major transport system in our cells


2006: Andrew Fire, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, shared with Craig Mello of the University of Massachusetts Medical School

For recognizing that certain RNA molecules can be used to turn off specific genes in animal cells.


Stanford Discoveries

January 12, 2025 - Stanford Report

Stem cell biologist   Helen Blau awarded the National Medal of Science

Often called “America’s Nobel Prize,” the National Medal of Science honors the country’s leading researchers. Helen Blau, professor at the Stanford School of Medicine, was recognized for her work on cellular plasticity and aging.

 

Arati Prabhakar, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, awards Helen M. Blau the National Medal of Science during a ceremony at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C. | Ryan K. Morris and the National Science and Technology Medals Foundation


 

 January 30, 2025 - Medscape

Can Sea Lions Expand Our Knowledge of Epilepsy?

Although temporal lobe epilepsy has been investigated  using various animals, sea lions have been found to mimmick many aspects of the human disorder more closely than others.

Photo credit:  Pixabay sebastian_photos


October 22, 2024 - Stanford Report

A new technique signals cancer cells to self-destruct.

By switching on a natural process that triggers cell death, researchers hope to trick cancer cells into disposing of themselves.

Images:  Left - Gerald Crabtree
               Right - Nathanael Gray


November 6, 2024 - Stanford Report

Cracking the code of DNA circles in cancer, Stanford Medicine-led team uncovers potential therapy.

New studies are helping scientists better understand small circles called ecDNA. Dismissed as inconsequential until recently, they are major drivers of many types of human cancers.

On the left, ecDNAs that link together to enhance cancer cell growth tend to be inherited together by daughter cells after cell division. On the right, in contrast, ecDNAs that are inherited randomly give more genetic variability but may be less likely to spur tumor growth. | Emily Moskal

 


November 13, 2024 - Stanford Report

New research reveals how an antibody molecule could impact your flu severity.

Why do some people develop severe flu symptoms? A Stanford Medicine study points the finger at an unsung portion of the antibodies our immune systems generate to fend off invading pathogens.

 

Sialic acid (blue links) at the end of sugar chains attached to antibodies (red) induce the antibodies to bind to receptors (light blue) that promote an anti-inflammatory response in alveolar macrophages. When sialic acid is absent, the sugar chains attach to receptors (yellow) that promote inflammation, exacerbating the severity of the flu. | Emily Moskal

Updated November 18, 2024