Researchers at the University of Toronto have identified a protein from the quagga mussel that can stick to surfaces underwater, even though it lacks a chemical feature long thought to be essential for this kind of adhesion. The protein, called Dbfp7, is the first freshwater mussel adhesive protein to be functionally characterized. The finding, published in a recent issue of PNAS, helps explain how some organisms attach themselves in wet environments and could inform the design of future medical glues — such as medical sealants and surgical adhesives — or other materials that need to work reliably in water.

Researchers at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering have developed a new method to mature lab-grown heart cells, so they more closely resemble adult human heart tissue. By optimizing the chemical cocktail in which these cells are grown, the team improved their structure, electrical activity and ability to contract. This advance could help create more reliable models for studying heart disease and testing new drugs, where current lab-grown cells often fall short due to their immature state.

A non-toxic coating developed by researchers at University of Toronto Engineering prevents proteins from sticking to surfaces — potentially offering a new tool in the fight against hospital-acquired infections. Professor Kevin Golovin and his team are experts in designing surface coatings that selectively repel certain substances. Their work has a range of applications, from keeping airplane wings ice-free to designing new types of non-stick cookware. Their latest work, published in Chemical Engineering Journal, focuses on preventing infectious bacteria from gaining a foothold.

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute today announced that Andrew Viterbi, a visionary communications pioneer and co-founder of Qualcomm Inc., has made a $5 million gift to endow the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Distinguished Chair in the Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

The agreement enables collaborative research on the country’s most urgent national security and energy priorities, from water security, critical minerals and advanced manufacturing to AI-driven science and high-performance computing. University of Utah President Taylor Randall and NLR Director Jud Virden signed the MOU on  May 4 at the NLR facility in Golden, Colorado. The following day, DOE’s Assistant Secretary for Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation Audrey Robertson celebrated the agreement during the laboratory’s annual partner forum, a flagship gathering of energy leaders focused on critical minerals.