Despite domination of the cancer research world, mouse models fail to accurately mimic some human diseases, such as estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, which accounts for 70% of breast cancer cases. To address this problem, researchers used a genome editing method to generate rat models covering the most common ER+ breast cancer gene mutations. They found that the rat models closely mimic human disease biology, response to therapy and immune microenvironment.

The Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus) is a globally critically endangered shark that is one of the most popular sharks to display in aquariums. The Northwest Atlantic population is considered one of the least threatened populations of Sand Tiger Sharks, largely due to effective fisheries management in the U.S. However, there has never been a formal stock assessment for this population, nor has there been any recent assessment of its population trends, so its population status remains unknown. Despite these issues, there remains a strong financial incentive to collect wild sharks for display in aquariums around the world. The impact that these collecting activities have on the Northwest Atlantic population is unknown and therefore raises questions as to why private organizations are permitted to harvest a protected species for profit without understanding the impact this activity has on wild populations or without directly contributing to their conservation. In this paper, researchers describe this situation and highlight some of the biological, ethical, and financial concerns associated with harvesting a protected species for profit, thereby hindering the conservation and recovery of Sand Tiger Shark populations.

Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine’s longest NIH-funded research training program, “Biology of the Lung: A Multi-Disciplinary Program,” has received an additional five-year, T32 award to continue providing multidisciplinary training and exposure to collaborative lung biology in three scientific areas that are special strengths at Boston University: development and regenerative medicine; immunology and infection; and biomedical data sciences.

DZNE researchers have uncovered a mechanism that determines why a neuron usually forms a single, long extension called “axon” – a phenomenon that is fundamental to how our brain functions. Contrary to the common view that external cues drive axon formation, the team of scientists comes to the conclusion that its growth originates primarily inside the cell.