A team of NIBIB-funded researchers recently developed an AI platform that can analyze 3D pathology images to predict disease outcomes. Their method had improved performance in predicting prostate cancer outcomes when compared with traditional pathology approaches, such as analysis by expert pathologists using 2D images.

A study funded in part by NIBIB published in Science Advances describes new technology developed by the Rice University lab of bioengineer Jerzy Szablowski that could be a game changer for brain-based gene therapy. The new noninvasive tool can measure expression of gene therapy or endogenous genes in specific brain regions.

Source: Rice University News

A team of undergraduate researchers at UT Tyler have received $481,440 in funding from NIBIB. The focus of their research is developing formulations and algorithms to increase the speed and accuracy of ultrasound imaging so that it might one day be used to treat tumors. Source: KLTV

There are currently no treatments, preventive vaccines, or cures for prion diseases, which can be acquired, like mad cow disease, or inherited, like fatal familial insomnia. But an encouraging new study in mice suggests a potentially promising path for developing a treatment for people with these deadly conditions. Source: NIH Director's Blog

Working with the National Institutes of Health Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics Tech test validation center, researchers from Atlanta’s Emory University and Grady Health System have helped push hepatitis C testing to new heights, participating in the creation of the first FDA-authorized point-of-care test for the virus. It’s a scientific breakthrough that could affect millions of Americans. Source: https://www.ajc.com/pulse/grady-emory-hep-c-breakthrough-this-device-re…

Due to its high accuracy, lab-based PCR testing is the gold standard for infectious disease diagnostics. Yet PCR's availability is limited, especially in low-resource settings. New research suggests a new kind of test could be more streamlined without sacrificing performance.

Bioengineering researchers at Rice University have developed ultrasmall, stable gas-filled protein nanostructures that could revolutionize ultrasound imaging and drug delivery. Unlike current microbubbles or nanobubbles that are too large to cross biological barriers effectively, the novel diamond-shaped 50-nanometer gas vesicles (50-NM GVs) — approximately the size of viruses — are believed to be the smallest stable, free-floating structures for medical imaging ever created. Source: Rice University News

Dr. Bruce Tromberg, NIBIB Director, speaks with Research America! Alliance on the history and trajectory of NIBIB and bioengineering as a tool that is focused on collaboration to develop cutting-edge technology in service of health science breakthroughs. Source: Research America! blog.

Artificial intelligence models often play a role in medical diagnoses, especially when it comes to analyzing images such as X-rays. However, studies have found that these models don’t always perform well across all demographic groups, usually faring worse on women and people of color. Source:  Massachusetts Institute of Technology News