Embedded in the boundary between the inside and outside of each cell are membrane proteins. They act as first responders by sensing signals, regulating which molecules enter and leave the cell, and enabling cells to quickly adapt to changes in their environment. The membrane protein surface repels water. Its hydrophobic nature has complicated the development of therapies and vaccines that target membrane proteins. Researchers have now found a way to keep membrane proteins intact in water, without using detergents, by surrounding them with custom-designed proteins. The discovery could help overcome some obtacles in biomedical research, for example, in vaccine development against certain bacterial infections.

In a study published in Science, USC researchers paired a biological discovery with an engineering feat to create more faithful, reproducible lab-grown kidney structures grown from stem cells, known as organoids. By mapping the developing human kidney, they identified a previously unrecognized developmental axis that helps organize the kidney's filtering units, or nephrons. They then engineered “synthetic organizer” cells to recreate aspects of this developmental environment in organoids. This advance makes organoids more reliable models for studying disease and evaluating potential therapies, while supporting long-term efforts to generate transplantable kidney tissue.

The University of Pittsburgh's dual DPT-PhD in Bioengineering program has received an NIH T32 training grant to support students pursuing both degrees, funding tuition, PhD stipends, and living costs over five years. Co-directed by Rakié Cham and Patrick Sparto, the program trains clinician-scientists who bridge physical therapy and engineering research, with alumni going on to successful careers and postdoctoral fellowships.