April 2016 Issue of The Translational Scientist

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Ebola and Zika have helped normalize data sharing, but there are still many obstacles to overcome.

How can we get cytotoxic drugs through the blood–brain barrier – without permanent damage?

The road to recovery for victims of stroke can be arduous and involve relearning basic skills and activities.

A new type of dressing can promote healing and fight off infection in burn wounds

Identifying babies at risk of deadly gastrointestinal disease through microbiomics

Not all dopaminergic synapses are activated when stimulated – what can they teach us about neurotransmission?

Drug discovery doesn’t always begin in the lab…

Understanding how blood vessels calcify could help prevent cardiovascular disease

A partially recellularized human whole-heart cardiac scaffold

The pharmaceutical industry receives its fair share of both praise and scorn. Behind the politics, the hard work and impressive achievements of legions of industry researchers often go unnoticed.

Mimiviruses don’t really fit into any known group of living things – let’s be brave and come up with a new domain, lest we stifle progress.

We’ve come a long, long way already. Where next for NGS?

The moment a baby enters the world – even before its first breath – the tiny body receives a massive infusion of bacteria, viruses and fungi.

From being one of the first clinicians to voice doubts over Vioxx, to his latest book calling for a complete transformation of the patient–doctor relationship, Eric Topol has never been afraid to raise his head above the parapet.

Pharma companies are notoriously protective of their intellectual property, so it’s a big deal to open up and give knowledge away for free.

To select the right treatment for each cancer patient, we need fast, accurate and cost-effective ways to characterize tumors. Now, with newly developed algorithms and protocols, mate pair sequencing could well be the tool we’ve been seeking.

Anthony Quinn shares the story behind the development and approval of sebelipase alfa (Kanuma) – the first and only enzyme replacement therapy for lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (LAL-D).

Sitting Down With… Thomas Mellman, Professor and Director, Center for Clinical and Translational Research and Stress/Sleep Studies Program, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.

Advances in mass spectrometry and separation science are bringing genome-scale proteomic analyses within our reach.