DNA mutations are essential to the rapid development of an array of antibody-producing immune cells called B cells that collectively can recognize a vast number of specific targets.
March 10, 2021
As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its second year, scientists are urgently investigating ways to detect signs of the SARS-CoV-2 virus before an outbreak emerges.
Now, supported by a multi-institutional grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) Program, researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine and the University of Miami will study ways to use wastewater as an early warning and viral mapping system for new genetic variants.
The two-year, $5 million grant will enable national and international coordination of research teams to determine whether analyzing wastewater for the presence of the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 can accurately predict the next viral hot spots, as well as discover new, emerging viruses and pathogens.
Studies offer tips on lessening spaceflight-related risk
December 4, 2020
Space travel, illnesses like COVID-19 and climbing Mount Everest can trigger the body’s stress response systems in similar ways, according to new studies by Weill Cornell Medicine, space agencies and other investigators.
The discoveries, including new maps of the abundance of mutations and immune changes found in blood cells during spaceflight, may lead to new ways to protect space travelers. They may also provide insights on caring for Earth-bound patients with illnesses that trigger similar physiological responses.
Christopher Mason, an associate professor of physiology and biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine, led multiple studies by teams of investigators spanning four of the largest space agencies in the world – NASA; the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA); the European Space Agency (ESA); and Russia’s ROSCOSMOS – as well as academic institutions and industry groups.