Emory University

Towards Building an Artificial Heart

Researchers have developed the first fully autonomous biohybrid fish from human stem-cell derived cardiac muscle cells. The artificial fish swims by recreating the muscle contractions of a pumping heart, bringing researchers one step closer to developing a more complex artificial muscular pump and providing a platform to study heart disease like arrhythmia.

Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery for Treatment-Resistant Depression

Deep brain stimulation has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for many patients suffering with treatment-resistant depression, but exactly how it works is not known. Scientists worldwide are racing for objective biomarkers of treatment efficacy so that this experimental approach can be optimized, approved and disseminated to those in need.

Gene Editing Scissor Tool May Also be a Dimmer Switch

Scientists have found evidence that there is a second role for the widely used gene-cutting system CRISPR-Cas9 — as a genetic dimmer switch for CRISPR-Cas9 genes. Its role of dialing down or dimming CRISPR-Cas9 activity may help scientists develop new ways to genetically engineer cells for research purposes.

Radio Waves to Treat Arthritis Pain

A novel outpatient procedure offers lasting pain relief for patients suffering from moderate to severe arthritis in their hip and shoulder joints, according to a study. Researchers said the procedure could help reduce reliance on addictive opiates.

Stretchable wireless sensor could monitor healing of cerebral aneurysm

A wireless sensor small enough to be implanted in the blood vessels of the human brain could help clinicians evaluate the healing of aneurysms -- bulges that can cause death or serious injury if they burst. The stretchable sensor, which operates without batteries, would be wrapped around stents or diverters implanted to control blood flow in vessels affected by the aneurysms.

Scissors get stuck -- another way bacteria use CRISPR/Cas9

In biotech these days, CRISPR/Cas9 is a hot topic, because of its utility as a precise gene editing tool. Before humans repurposed it, CRISPR/Cas9 was a sort of internal immune system bacteria use to defend themselves against phages, or viruses that infect bacteria, by slicing up the phages' DNA.

AI detects signs of schizophrenia

A machine-learning method discovered a hidden clue in people's language predictive of the later emergence of psychosis -- the frequent use of words associated with sound.

Treating epilepsy with deep brain stimulation

The Emory Brain Health Center has treated the nation's first patient with deep brain stimulation for medically refractory, or drug-resistant, epilepsy since commercialization of the procedure was approved last year.

Seeing through a robot's eyes helps those with motor impairments

An interface system that uses augmented reality technology could help individuals with profound motor impairments operate a humanoid robot to feed themselves and perform routine personal care tasks such as scratching an itch and applying skin lotion. The web-based interface displays a "robot's eye view" of surroundings to help users interact with the world through the machine.

Brain-computer interface advances prosthetics, therapies

Advances in connecting neural stimulation to physical control of the body are transforming the development of prosthetics and therapeutic training for people with disabilities, according to new research.

Robot teaches itself how to dress people

More than 1 million Americans require daily physical assistance to get dressed because of injury, disease and advanced age. Robots could potentially help, but cloth and the human body are complex.

AI to help stroke victims

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted a De Novo request for the first-ever Computer-Aided Triage and Notification Platform to identify Large Vessel Occlusion strokes in CTA imaging.

Robotic cleaning technique could automate neuroscience research

For scientists listening in on the faint whispers of brain neurons, a first-ever robotic technique for cleaning the tiny devices that record the signals could facilitate a new level of automation in neuroscience research.

Wearable sensing technology for heart failure patients

Scientists are working to address heart failure issues by building wearable and weighing-scale-based ballistocardiogram technology for monitoring heart failure patients at home.

Ultra-thin hollow nanocages reduce platinum use in fuel cell electrode

A new fabrication technique that produces platinum hollow nanocages with ultra-thin walls could dramatically reduce the amount of the costly metal needed to provide catalytic activity in such applications as fuel cells.