News

Better Transplants for Better Joints: A Closer Look at Micromechanical Mismatch Influences in Cartilage Regeneration


(LOS ANGELES) – A collaborative team, which includes scientists from the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), and Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) has elucidated some key points on how the generation of cartilage in the joints is facilitated and how alternative bone formation can be avoided. Their findings could pave the way for designing more strategically engineered transplants for a less costly, more effective means of treating cartilage damage in the joints than current methods.

Microchannel-Containing Nanofiber Aerogels with Small Protein Molecule Enable Accelerated Diabetic Wound Healing

November 21, 2022

(LOS ANGELES) – A collaborative team of scientists from the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation and the University of Nebraska Medical Center has developed a fibrous aerogel that promotes faster and more effective healing of diabetic wounds. As detailed in their publication in Advanced Functional Materials, the micro/macrochannels engineered within the aerogel facilitate the ability to heal chronic diabetic wounds, while a novel protein incorporated into the aerogel provides anti-microbial capabilities and promotes wound tissue coverage and new blood vessel formation.

Injectable Biomaterial with Enhanced Mechanical and Coagulative Capabilities for Treating Aneurysms


(LOS ANGELES) – Aneurysms, abnormal enlargement or ballooning in the wall of blood vessels can result in rupture and fatal bleeding. To treat aneurysms, it is essential to stop the blood flow to the affected area and prevent rupture of the vessel. Existing treatments for treating aneurysms include catheter-delivered stainless-steel coils or injectable biomaterials placed at the aneurysm site; however coils sometimes migrate, necessitating repeat procedures. Furthermore, there are problems with injectable biomaterials currently on the market, such as high cost, leakage, cytotoxic effects, and catheter clogs.

Terasaki Institute to Host Inaugural Innovation Summit Focused on Translation of Personalized Medicines to Patients

World leaders in academia and industry to discuss advances in precision medicine and translation into real world solutions


November 11, 2022

(LOS ANGELES)
– The Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI) will be hosting the Terasaki Innovation Summit on March 8-10, 2023, at the UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Center in Los Angeles. This inaugural event will focus on improving technological and entrepreneurial translation of personalized medicines – bringing biomedical innovations from the laboratory to the real world.

Terasaki Institute Participates in WISH Summit 2022


By Ramadan Assi

In its tenth anniversary year, the annual WISH 2022 summit focused on four core themes: Sports and Health, Disability, Wellbeing, and the COVID-19 Legacy. The 2022 summit was unique, as it took place a few weeks before one of the most internationally anticipated sport events, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar, from November 20, 2022, to December 18, 2022.  

Treating Aneurysms with Injectable Toothpaste-Like Biomaterials

Aneurysms are weaknesses in the venous walls that require immediate attention, as they can result in the ballooning and bursting of the blood vessels.



September 20, 2022

(LOS ANGELES)
- These critical medical conditions are often treated using catheter-delivered blocking agents. The blocking agents are delivered into the vessels to stop blood flow in the affected area until the vessel wall can heal. The blocking material can then be removed or allowed to degrade naturally.

The Future of Drug and Therapeutic Testing and Validation


By Megan Bettilyon

Not all science leads to innovative outcomes – in fact, it’s rare when the day-to-day work of a wet-lab comes across something new. You can, however, stack the deck in your favor by encouraging yourself, and your team, to try something new. Push the boundaries of what is known and be willing to accept failure as a step toward success. You can choose to be innovative; you can choose to surround yourself with people who think differently. This is when the magic happens. This is where Terasaki recently found a way to change the game in how we can bring novel therapeutics to market faster, cheaper, and more effectively.

Smart Contact Lenses for Cancer Diagnostics and Screening



August 11, 2022

(LOS ANGELES)
– Scientists from the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI) have developed a contact lens that can capture and detect exosomes, nanometer-sized vesicles found in bodily secretions which have the potential for being diagnostic cancer biomarkers. TThe lens was designed to have microchambers with antibodies that can capture exosomes found in tears. This antibody- conjugated signaling microchamber contact lens (ABSM-CL) can be stained for detection with nanoparticle-tagged specific antibodies for selective visualization. This offers a potential platform for cancer pre-screening and a supportive diagnostic tool that is easy, rapid, sensitive, cost-effective, and non-invasive.