A pain-causing compound in the Australian stinging tree has applications for cancer treatment, but it’s difficult to harvest enough to study. Whitehead Institute scientists present a way to synthesize the compound in the leaves of harmless tobacco plants, and potentially in a culture dish.
New research from the lab of Whitehead Institute Founding Member Robert Weinberg shows that cells change in diverse ways through the actions of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which can influence whether cells are able to form new tumors after they spread.
Evolution is often furthered through conflict. New research from the lab of Whitehead Institute Member Mary Gehring zeros in on how parent plants butt heads over control of gene expression in the nutrient rich tissue called the endosperm.
Anh Nguyen is a postdoc in Whitehead Institute Member Ankur Jain’s lab studying molecules in soil-dwelling amoebae that, in humans, can contribute to neurodegenerative diseases. We sat down with Nguyen to learn more about her and her experiences in and out of the lab.
When we take in energy as food or drink, a complex suite of chemical reactions allow us to turn it into usable fuel. The sum of these reactions, within each cell and throughout the body, makes up our metabolism. In this multimedia collection, learn how Whitehead Institute researchers are delving into the mechanisms behind metabolism from a variety of angles. Click here to explore the series!
Institute researchers continue to pioneer a deeper understanding of how metabolic processes contribute to health and disease – with long-term implications that could range from new treatments for obesity and type 2 diabetes to methods for slowing the aging process. Here are a few examples of Whitehead Institute scientists’ creative and pioneering work in the field of metabolism.
A group of researchers from multiple universities, including Whitehead Institute Member Olivia Corradin, gained new insights into the genetics of opioid overdose risk by looking at changes in gene regulation in the brain.
A cartoon explainer illustrating the metabolic basis of diabetes and work being done at the Institute to work toward better therapies and improved understanding.
Introducing Sinisa Hrvatin, who joined Whitehead Institute as a Member this year. Hrvatin, who completed his postdoc at Harvard Medical School, studies how cells initiate, regulate, and survive states of stasis, including hibernation.
