This is a fantastic video by Dr. David Agus, who makes a convincing argument to change how we view and study this disease.
Clinical and Translational Research Network
November 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Welcome to CTSciNet, the Clinical and Translational Science Network, which is a web-based social networking infrastructure developed by Science Careers, AAAS, and sponsored by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.
The objective of this network is to help scientists who are interested in becoming involved in the clinical and translational research field to communicate with others to establish collaborations, share ideas, discuss career-related issues, and more. In addition to the community, CTSciNet members have access to a fantastic collection of articles and resources for clinical and translational research.
For more information, details, and to register, please visit Welcome to CTSciNet.
If you are a basic scientist, once you join the community, please be sure to join the Translational Research for PhD Scientists group.
Science fiction is now a reality!
June 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Although a few months old, I recently stumbled upon this clip from a 60 Minutes interview of a couple of neuro-scientists, who are in the preliminary phases of successfully identifying an individual’s thoughts, intentions, and experiences.
The implications of this are far-reaching; it could change the way we testify in courts, interrogate suspects, and even in marketing!
It is quite fascinating, compelling, and downright scary! Please enjoy the video below (13 minutes 18 seconds).
Illustration of the Science News Cycle
May 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Since before I started graduate school in August 2004, I have tremendously enjoyed Jorge Cham’s comic strips, and I have been an avid follower of PhDComics.com.
In his recent comic strip (below), Jorge cleverly illustrated the misrepresentation of research findings in the mass media.
Please Enjoy:
For more comic strips by Jorge Cham, please visit his website: PhDComics.com.
The Elegance of Scientific Research
December 21, 2008 By Leave a Comment
In his editorial in the last edition of 2008 of Science magazine, Bruce Alberts highlights the most significant discoveries covered in Science throughout 2008.
Interestingly, he mentions that the two most prominent discoveries (cell programming and direct observations of planets 100 light years away) span the scale of 10^23 meters, which is a “breathtaking illustration of the tremendous reach of science” as Bruce Alberts puts it.
Despite these amazing discoveries, Dr. Alberts discusses an important aspect of scientific research: the unknowns are unending. These breakthrough discoveries are only the beginning, because while they shed led on new information, they raise a whole new set of questions. In fact, one would say, that (especially relevant for the cell programming breakthrough) a new field has been born.
As I look back at 2008, even for my own research, I agree with Bruce Alberts that scientific discovery is definitely inspiring… I cannot wait to learn about what I as well as other scientists will continue to unravel in 2009.
Realistic Public Expectations of Science
December 19, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Conceptually, stem cell research provides a very promising potential to cure many diseases. But realistically, how far are we from harvesting the power of embryonic stem cells to cure diseases?
President-Elect Obama has promised to lift the ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Needless to say, this has led to a great deal of excitement among scientists and the public.
Of course, scientists understand the length, hard work, and challenges that this opportunity presents… but does the public understand this?
Are scientists clearly communicating the potential while addressing realistic benchmarks and expectations? Or are we allowing the public to arrive to its own conclusions about what and when to expect results?
For example, in the past, the public has expected for scientists to develop a cancer “silver bullet”. Given the wildly diverse nature of cancer, a “silver bullet” is of course not realistic… but perhaps the public did not know that it wasn’t realistic. Since it has yet to be achieved, some have grown cynical toward the field of cancer research.
What should and could we do as scientists to express excitement because of the potential of a drug, technique, or observation, yet simultaneously communicate realistic expectations to the public?
The Cell: A Moving Target
December 16, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Although three years old (it came out in 2005), I am still fascinated reading this paper as much as I did when I read it for the first time a couple of years ago.
Why? This paper contradicts 2 common “facts”:
1. Insulin-like Growth Factor-I Receptor (IGF-IR) signaling is anti-apoptotic, and
2. Activation of the Akt pathway leads to cell survival.
While true in most cases, the paper provides strong and convincing evidence that in some cases, the IGF-I (the ligand for the IGF-IR) sensitizes cells to apoptosis… AND this IGF-induced pro-apoptotic effect is mediated through the activation of Akt.
The paper sheds light on the complexity of the mysterious biological system called the “cell” by providing mechanistic justification for these apparent contradictions to the traditional roles of IGF-IR and Akt:
Apparently, the ability of the IGF-IR to signal both anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic signaling is dependent on the localization of the receptor in the plasma membrane (whether it is located inside or outside of membrane lipid rafts).
Isn’t that amazing!?
In cellular research, often times, we try to define the cell based on a number of characteristics or principles… but papers like the one mentioned above serve as prominent reminders that the cell is a dynamic system that does not always fit into the graphs and the Western Blot figures that we, as scientists, generate.
In case you are intrigued and would like to read this paper, here is a link:
Membrane Rafts Segregate Pro- from Anti-Apoptotic Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Receptor Signaling in Colon Carcinoma Cells Stimulated by Members of the Tumor Necrosis Factor Superfamily by Maryse Remacle-Bonnet et al.
I have to warn you, it’s a long paper, and I am not sure I would read it all if it weren’t relevant to my research at this time. However, for its conceptual value alone, it’s definitely worth examining.
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