Welcome to Lab Notes Volume 4, Issue 5 |
One of my first acts as president of Gladstone in 2018 was to establish our Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology. It was apparent to me then that AI was going to change the way we did science and that new technologies would drive the acceleration of discovery. As a result, we have been assembling talent in AI and technology development for many years and are very well-positioned to capitalize on this new exciting era of science. AI is now shaping the experiments we choose to do in the lab and even coming up with new ideas and approaches.
That is why I am so excited about our new partnership with Anthropic. Together, we are exploring how AI can become a more effective tool for scientific discovery while ensuring it is grounded in the realities of biology and medicine. The discoveries below show what can happen when scientists from different disciplines work side by side. In an era of extraordinary advances in biotechnology, AI may well be the key to science overcoming disease. With gratitude, |
President, Gladstone Institutes |
1 ] A New Strategy for "Undruggable" Cancers |
Jennifer Doudna and her Gladstone team have engineered a new CRISPR-based technology to target previously “undruggable” cancer cells based on their unique genetic signatures. This approach selectively destroys the cancer cells while sparing non-cancerous cells. In a recent study published in Nature, the team used this approach to selectively eliminate cancer cells carrying mutations in p53, one of the most commonly altered cancer genes. This discovery could lead to highly precise treatments for patients whose tumors currently have few targeted therapy options.
Read more > |
2 ] Helping the Brain Protect Itself Against Disease |
Scientists in the Yang Lab have uncovered new details about one of the brain’s natural defense systems against aging and neurodegeneration. In a study published in Cell, they found that different parts of the brain use distinct “exit routes” to clear out unwanted proteins and cellular debris. They also showed that these pathways become disrupted in Alzheimer’s. By mapping how the brain removes this waste, researchers aim to improve the brain’s natural cleanup process to help prevent or slow neurodegenerative disease.
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Hear more > |
3 ] Using AI to Outsmart Drug-Resistant Bacteria |
Drug-resistant infections threaten millions of lives worldwide. To address this challenge, Gladstone has launched the Center for PhAIge Therapy, led by Seth Shipman, Katie Pollard, Sukrit Silas, and Melanie Ott. The team will use AI to identify and engineer bacteriophages—naturally occurring viruses that infect and kill bacteria—to develop powerful new treatment options for infections that no longer respond to antibiotics.
Read more > |
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