Koch Institute

As cells pass through the CellSqueeze device at high speed, narrowing microfluidic channels apply a squeeze that opens small, temporary holes in the cells' membranes. As a result, large molecules — antigens, in the case of this study — can enter before the membrane reseals.

Freshly squeezed vaccines

Microfluidic cell-squeezing device opens new possibilities for cell-based vaccines.

May 22, 2015

Tyler Jacks receives MIT’s Killian Award

Cancer biologist and Koch Institute director recognized with MIT faculty’s top honor.

May 20, 2015

Designing better medical implants

Optimal size and shape allow implantable devices to last longer in the body.

May 18, 2015

A suspended microchannel resonator (SMR) measures particles’ masses as they flow through a narrow channel. The original mass sensor consists of a fluid-filled microchannel etched in a tiny silicon cantilever that vibrates inside a vacuum cavity. As cells or particles flow through the channel, one at a time, their mass slightly alters the cantilever’s vibration frequency. This illustration depi...

Faster, smaller, more informative

Device can measure the distribution of tiny particles as they flow through a microfluidic channel.

May 12, 2015

Sangeeta Bhatia wins $250,000 Heinz Award

Bhatia is recognized for her work in tissue engineering, disease detection, and advocacy for women in STEM.

April 23, 2015

MIT chemical engineers have designed an implantable device that can deliver many drugs at once, allowing researchers to determine which drugs are the most effective against a patient's tumor.

How to identify drugs that work best for each patient

Implantable device could allow doctors to test cancer drugs in patients before prescribing chemotherapy.

April 22, 2015

Discovery science is reinventing the world

How discovery science is reinventing the world

MIT innovators take a close look at how basic science research leads to applications, new companies, jobs, and economic growth.

April 21, 2015

An illustration of T Lymphocytes on a Cancer Cell.

Recruiting the entire immune system to attack cancer

Stimulating both major branches of the immune system halts tumor growth more effectively.

April 13, 2015

The top two panels show tumors produced by cancer cells. The outer ring of cells (blue) has enough oxygen to survive, but not as much oxygen reaches the inner cells. At top right, tumor cells lack the SHMT2 gene and are unable to survive in this central region, as indicated by the pink stain that marks a protein produced during cell death. At top left, the cells express high levels of SHMT2, allow...

Biologists identify brain tumor weakness

Discovery could offer a new target for treatment of glioblastoma.

April 8, 2015

Graduate student Steven Keating holds a 3-D-printed copy of his cancerous astrocytoma brain tumor. It was printed by Keating with data from Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Cerebral curiosity

Graduate student Steven Keating takes a problem-solving approach to his brain cancer.

April 1, 2015

Colorized transmission electron micrograph showing H1N1 influenza virus particles.

Swine flu outbreak in India raises concern

MIT study finds evidence that a new strain of H1N1 may carry dangerous mutations.

March 11, 2015

These scanning electron microscopy images, taken at different magnifications, show the structure of new hydrogels made of nanoparticles interacting with long polymer chains.

New nanogel for drug delivery

Self-healing gel can be injected into the body and act as a long-term drug depot.

February 19, 2015

Taking technology from the lab to the patient

Daniel Anderson wants to bring advances in drug delivery and biomaterials to the clinic.

February 17, 2015

Engineered insulin could offer better diabetes control

Molecule stays in the bloodstream and is turned on when blood sugar levels are too high.

February 9, 2015

Interdisciplinary medicine

Senior Yiping Xing’s view of health care draws upon research, public health, and policy.