| | Turning the Peptide on Lung Cancer Detection
The Bhatia Lab’s peptide-based nanosensors offer a non-invasive strategy for early cancer detection. In a study published in Science Translational Medicine, researchers used intratracheally administered particles in combination with machine learning algorithms to accurately detect lung tumors as small as 2.8 cubic millimeters. Working with Jacks Lab collaborators, they showed in genetically engineered mouse models that their urine-based diagnostic could also distinguish between early-stage cancer and noncancerous inflammation of the lungs, which could greatly reduce the number of false positives in a clinical setting.
The research was supported in part by the Marble Center for Cancer Nanomedicine, the Koch Institute Frontier Research Program through a gift from Upstage Lung Cancer, and the Johnson & Johnson Lung Cancer Initiative. |
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24-Hour Challenge, Years of Inspiration
Pi is infinite, like our gratitude to those who gave to the Koch Institute Director’s Fund during MIT’s 24-hour Challenge last month, providing much-needed unrestricted resources. Special thanks go to challenge donor and cancer patient Steve Corman ’58 (XV), SM ’61 (XV), who years ago began challenging himself to double his KI gift annually, and now inspires us all to double down on our fight against cancer. |
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A Bridge to Better Blood Biopsies
A team including KI member Christopher Love customized blood biopsies using genetic profiles of patients’ tumors. A study published in Clinical Cancer Research and funded in part by the Bridge Project showed that the biopsies monitor up to hundreds of different mutations, potentially detecting cancer recurrence years ahead of traditional approaches. |
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KI Labs Net Success in STAT Madness
STAT Madness was aglow with excitement for the Belcher Lab’s SWIFTI fluorescent imaging system, which allows surgeons to find and remove tiny ovarian cancer tumors. Their bacteriophage-nanotube system won 70% of a record-setting 699,315 votes in the final round; however, it is the 40% improvement in survival in preclinical models that the team is most proud of. “We’re working on a problem that we feel very, very passionately about,” says Belcher. With a near-infrared eye on early detection as well, and a newly granted patent in hand, the team is courting a real slam dunk for ovarian cancer patients.
Cheers also to the Wittrup Lab, which made it to Round 3 with a “Velcro Vaccine” that binds cancer-killing cytokines to collagen inside tumors, preventing damage to healthy tissue. All in all, that’s full court impressive! |
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2020 Visions
Although the halls are quiet, the Koch Institute Public Galleries still shine a hopeful light on Main Street. Ten newly installed images, representing everything from microbes to microfabrication, celebrate the discoveries and innovations of MIT’s life sciences research. With added perspectives from STAT, Popular Science, and Cell Picture Show, the tenth annual Image Awards exhibition awaits your view! |
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Out of Many, One
Torque Therapeutics, which has been readying the Irvine Lab’s T-cell nanoparticle backpacks for market, has merged with Cogen Therapeutics, which has harnessed the expertise of the Birnbaum and Shalek Labs in developing a platform to identify all of an individual’s T-cell receptors and corresponding antigens. Newly-formed Repertoire Immune Medicines is armed with complementary analysis and targeting technologies—both of which received early support from the Koch Institute Frontier Research Program—and will deploy them for cancer immunotherapy. |
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Spring into STEM with MIT BLOSSOMS
Greg Ekchian, Kate Koch, Yunpeng Liu, and Azucena “Susy” Ramos star in a new MIT BLOSSOMS video. By sharing their own diverse journeys into cancer research, the KI trainees challenge stereotypes about scientists and engineers and invite high school students to imagine their own paths into STEM careers. |
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Enter Entrepreneurship
“Nobody ever got anywhere by listening to no,” says Chemical & Engineering News about their 2020 Trailblazers. Included on the list are Koch Institute member Paula Hammond, the David H. Koch Professor of Engineering and head of MIT’s Department of Chemical Engineering, and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder, chairperson, and managing director of Biocon and longtime friend of the Koch Institute. Read their stories to discover how they catalyzed their academic pursuits into top-notch entrepreneurship. |
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Fate to the Clinic
Fate Therapeutics, founded by Rudolf Jaenisch, began its first in-human Phase 1 clinical trial, treating its first patient with FT596, a natural killer cell-based cancer immunotherapy engineered using the company’s induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) platform. They also announced a collaboration with Janssen Biotech, Inc. to further develop additional off-the-shelf iPSC-derived cell-based immunotherapies.
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