Important Innovations

  MIT's New AI System Mirai Transforming Mammograms             Source: Stock AI, Mammograms & MIT's Regina Barzilay From a Cancer Diagnosis to a Potentially Breakthrough, New AI  This is the story of an MIT artificial intelligence expert who turned her personal challenge with breast cancer into a new AI system that can predict the dreaded disease up to 5 years before it occurs.  Forecasting the disease so far in advance enables possible early intervention, treatment and prevention.  The new AI could benefit millions of people.  About 8 years ago, MIT's Regina Barzilay endured the brutal side effects of chemotherapy, radiation and 2 lumpectomies to overcome her cancer. When she returned to work at MIT, she decided to use her AI expertise to battle breast cancer and save lives. Brand New AI System Barzilay has designed and developed an AI system called Mirai that predicts breast cancer up to five years before there is any sign of it.  Using hundreds of thousands of mammo

Using Astronomers' Tools to Understand Space to Fight Cancer Source:  NASA - Cloud of Gas & Dust Detection and Analysis By Light Techniques used by astronomers to understand the formation of planets and stars can help in the early detection of skin and breast cancers in humans here on earth.  This is new research on the cross-disciplinary use of space technology to fight cancer just published by the University of Exeter, UK. Shedding Light From Space The specific technique is the detection and analysis by light.  Astronomers study the light that is scattered, pulled in and discharged by clouds of gas and dust in space.  By following the light, they're developing information on what's inside the massive clouds to determine, among other things, how stars and planets are created. Shedding Light on Cancer The process is very similar when light travels through the human body.  When light hits cancerous tissue, a change is seen.  For instance, breast cancer cre

New Micro-Sub Delivery System Source:  UNSW Artist Concept International Team of Engineers Invent New Nano Drug Delivery Vehicle The new invention is very promising technology for targeted, in body drug deliveries to attack diseases like cancer.  The new, nano-drug delivery technology is powered by bubbles and nano-motors.  It appears to be a breakthrough.  For a great news blog on it, go to Important Innovations Collection: Micro-Sub Drug Delivery Vehicles : Powered by Bubbles and Nano-Motors Source:  UNSW Artist Concept Very Promising Targeted Drug Delivery System Researchers at the Un...

Natural Compound in Broccoli Suppresses Cancer Source:  Stock Image New Research from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Scientists in Boston have documented that a natural compound found in broccoli inactivates a gene that is known to play a major role in the development of cancer.  Their findings, just published in the journal Science, could lead to a potential new approach to the prevention and treatment of cancer.  For a news blog on this important medical research finding, go to Important Innovations Collection: Broccoli Compound Suppresses Cancer : Potential New Approach to Cancer Prevention & Treatment Source:  Stock Image of Broccoli New Research from Beth Israel Deaconess ...

New Shape-Changing, Swimming Tiny Robot Source:  Dartmouth College Promises Targeted Drug Delivery in the Body to Fight Cancer Engineers at Dartmouth College and the City University of Hong Kong have invented a tiny, shape-changing, swimming microrobot that can instantly stop and go inside the human body.  Researchers believe this tiny, soft robot can deliver drugs much more accurately in the human body.  It is light- controlled, swims, changes shape and can instantly stop and go on command.  It is cutting edge medicine and robotics. Targeted Medical Therapies to Defeat Cancer The researchers combined cardiac tissue engineering, a 3D printed wing and a light-sensitive gel to produce the soft robot.  Near infra-red light causes it to change shape and stop and go in fluid like the bloodstream.  It is specifically designed to target and destroy cancer cells by accurately delivering medication. Tiny Whale-like Tail The robot is remotely controlled.   It's driven by a tail

Controlled by "Magnetic Tweezers" Source:  University of Toronto's Magnetic Tweezers Controlling New Nanobot Bot 100 Times Smaller Than Width of Human Hair This medical breakthrough is from a team of roboticists at the University of Toronto.  They've developed a tiny, magnetic nanobot - a nano-bead - that can explore inside a human cell. The  nanobot is precisely controlled by what the team calls "magnetic tweezers" while inside a living human cell.  The control is 3 dimensional and the precision is unprecedented. The nanobot is 100 times smaller than the width of a human hair. Great Potential The technology has already been used to study the properties and structure of cancer cells.  It may lead to new treatment methods and diagnoses.  The magnetic control through the tweezers enables the nanobot to make much more precise movements without damaging the cells. Twenty Year Robotic Journey Members of the U Toronto team have been building robots t

Breakthrough Research - Certain Genes Shrink Tumors Source:  Washington State University Photo of Tasmanian Devil Washington State University Innovative Cancer Research Scientists at Washington State University have discovered genes and genetic mutations that appear to shrink deadly cancer tumors in Tasmanian devils.  This finding could have important implications for treating cancer in humans and other mammals. Cancer Fighting Genes Leading to Drug Creation The WSU scientists say some of the genes that they believe trigger tumor regression in the devils are also in humans.  This could lead to the development of drugs that shrink and potentially decimate tumors in humans. A Species Plagued by Cancer The devils are the largest carnivorous marsupial and found only in Tasmania.  A deadly, facial tumor disease has pushed the devils to near extinction.  80% of the population is gone.  An international team of scientists, led by WSU, found some of the animals are developing gen

Very Rare but Yes - New Research Organ Transplant Surgery European Case It's well known that organ transplants can pass on infectious diseases from the donor to the recipient in rare cases.  New scientific research shows that passing cancer from a donor to a transplant recipient is extraordinarily rare but can happen.  In fact, a donor's undetectable cancer cells caused 4 transplant recipients, including a man, to develop breast cancer.  3 of them died.  This case emerged in Europe and was published in the scientific journal Transplant. Donor History of No Detectable Cancer The 53 yr old donor died of a stroke and had no detectable signs of cancer.  But doctors traced back the DNA in the cancer cells found in the 4 recipients.  The DNA matched that of the donor.  Scientists say the chance of something like this happening is 1 to 5 in 10,000 cases.  But, it's important research findings and something to be aware of.  The incidences are extraordinary rare but po