Using engineering principles to understand the complexity of stem cells and cancer
Xiling Shen will join the biomedical engineering department in Duke Universitys Pratt School of Engineering in July 2015. An electrical circuit and computer systems expert by training, Shen applies his engineering background to understand the complex regulatory networks behind biological systems and diseases.
Medical research has long taken a reductionist approach to health care, Shen said. For example, researchers often focus on finding the culprit protein that gives rise to a disease, so that the protein can be targeted to produce a cure. Many challenging diseases such as cancer, however, are caused by complex interactions among a network of many proteins and RNAs as well as changes to their physical environmentwhich cant be fully understood outside of that context.
Xiling Shen
We need better computer and animal models that accurately reproduce the complexity of biological systems and human diseases, said Shen, who joins Duke from Cornell University. Better models can better recapitulate the physiological environments seen by our own cells, which produce better studies and results.
Shen earned his bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees from Stanford University, before conducting postdoctoral research at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley. He then joined Cornell Universitys faculty as an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and biomedical engineering in 2009. He also worked as an analog and wireless circuit designer at Barcelona Design and Texas Instruments between 2001 and 2004.
One example of Shens work is a recent study that revealed for the first time that small RNAs called microRNAs instruct cancer stem cells to divide in two different ways. Besides a division process that results in two cancer stem cells, his laboratory discovered that they can also divide into one cancer stem cell and one tissue cell. This allows tumors the flexibility to grow while maintaining a steady supply of stem cells. Such microRNAs can be therapeutically target to disrupt tumor growth.
Another recent study discovered that cancerous cells hijack mechanisms originating in the immune system to catch a ride to different organs during metastasis. Leveraging this discovery, Shens laboratory injected engineered human cancer cells into mouse embryos. These mice grew up recognizing human cancer cells as their own, which led to the growth of human tumors in the organs where they would naturally occur.
In the past, cancerous human cells have just been injected under the skin of mice to grow tumors for testing, said Shen, who hopes that realistic disease models will enable researchers to find better cancer drugs that have been elusive so far. But that microenvironment is completely different from those of various organs, and that can play a huge role in how well the tumor grows and how well treatments work. Genetically engineering switches into cancerous cells to direct them to the proper organ will provide a more accurate model for testing.
Shen sees the close physical proximity and institutional ties between Duke Medicine and the biomedical engineering department as a potential boon for his research. As an engineer, Shen says he isnt satisfied with simply discovering new things; he wants to take his work from bench to bedside to have a large societal impact.
View post:
Xiling Shen: An Engineering Approach to Biomedical Challenges
- Cardiovascular Glossary A-Z (All) | Texas Heart Institute - January 4th, 2023
- ADC Therapeutics Announces Abstracts to be Presented at the Tenth Annual Meeting of the Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO 2022) - Business Wire - September 25th, 2022
- GVHD in the Context of Stem Cell or Allogeneic Transplant - Cancer Network - August 22nd, 2022
- De-extinction Company Aims to Resurrect the Tasmanian Tiger - Scientific American - August 22nd, 2022
- Dean Kamen on the power of celebrating your own obsoletion - TechCrunch - July 27th, 2022
- Westin and Sehn Carve Out the Role of CAR T-Cell Therapy and Transplant in Primary Refractory DLBCL - OncLive - July 27th, 2022
- Unanticipated findings cast new light on the genetic regulation of different brain tumors - Baylor College of Medicine - July 27th, 2022
- Chaotic response in Uvalde, Parkland shooter faces death penalty, mall shooting leaves 3 dead and jury selection begins in Bannon trial | Hot off the... - July 19th, 2022
- Stem Cells, Abortion, Baby Parts, & the Ukraine - Physicians for Life - June 22nd, 2022
- INVECTYS, MD ANDERSON AND CTMC ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC COLLABORATION FOR CAR T CELL THERAPY DEVELOPMENT - BioSpace - June 22nd, 2022
- Quizartinib Plus Chemotherapy Significantly Improved Overall Survival Compared to Chemotherapy in Patients with Newly Diagnosed FLT3-ITD Positive... - June 13th, 2022
- Texas Family Fights to Access $2.1 Million Treatment for Baby - NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth - May 15th, 2022
- La Conner native raising funds to cure blood cancer - La Conner Weekly News - May 2nd, 2022
- CORRECTING and REPLACING -- Affimed NV - GlobeNewswire - May 2nd, 2022
- StudyFinds Blotter: Other Notable Health Research From April 28, 2022 - Study Finds - May 2nd, 2022
- Sung to lead cancer institute; Bankston wins fellowship - ASBMB Today - April 19th, 2022
- Houston teen first in Texas to become own donor to reverse sickle cell anemia - FOX 26 Houston - March 25th, 2022
- Oleic Acid, a Key to Activating the Brains Fountain of Youth - Neuroscience News - March 25th, 2022
- Stem Cell Therapy Boosts Outcomes for Some Heart Failure Patients - HealthDay - November 22nd, 2021
- Quizartinib Added to Chemotherapy Demonstrates Superior Overall Survival Compared to Chemotherapy Alone in Adult Patients with Newly Diagnosed... - November 22nd, 2021
- BioBridge Global continues history of innovation with umbilical cord collection and processing under cGMP standards for further manufacture - Yahoo... - November 22nd, 2021
- Immatics to Present Update on Lead ACTengine Program IMA203 Targeting PRAME at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancers 36th Annual Meeting - Yahoo... - November 8th, 2021
- Affimed Announces Poster Presentations at the 63rd American Society of Hematology Annual ... - Tyler Morning Telegraph - November 8th, 2021
- ADC Therapeutics Announces Abstracts to be Presented at the 63rd ASH Annual Meeting - StreetInsider.com - November 8th, 2021
- The Power of the Immune System: New Treatment for Painful Blood Cancer Side Effect - Curetoday.com - October 28th, 2021
- Durham firm offering up to $10,000 for researchers to use its intestinal technology - WRAL Tech Wire - October 16th, 2021
- Elevated cryptic transcription emerges as a common theme in aging mammalian cells - Baylor College of Medicine News - August 31st, 2021
- Insulin-producing implants are being developed to control Type 1 diabetes - Health Europa - August 5th, 2021
- Cryptic Transcription in Mammalian Stem Cells Linked to Aging - Technology Networks - August 5th, 2021
- Overview of DLBCL - Targeted Oncology - August 5th, 2021
- The True Crime Junkies and the Curious Case of a Missing Husband - VICE - August 5th, 2021
- FROM THE LABS: Hispanic Heritage Spotlight: Interview with Dr. Nino Rainusso - Baylor College of Medicine News - November 13th, 2020
- UPMC nurse practitioner hailed 'healthcare hero' on live TV - Altoona Mirror - October 31st, 2020
- BrainStrom Cell Therapeutics (NASDAQ:BCLI) Enters Agreement With Catalent (NYSE:CTLT) For Manufacture Of Its NurOwn Cell Therapy - BP Journal - October 31st, 2020
- Dr. Daisy Ayim, Cosmetic Surgeon, ObGyn, Business Owner and Entrepreneur, Is Revolutionizing The Integration Of Women's Health And Cosmetic Care -... - October 31st, 2020
- Five Indian American Researchers Named Among NIH 2020 New Innovator Awardees - India West - October 21st, 2020
- Reliable tumor detection by whole-genome methylation sequencing of cell-free DNA in cerebrospinal fluid of pediatric medulloblastoma - Science... - October 21st, 2020
- Biotechnology could change the cattle industry. Will it succeed? - Salon - September 8th, 2020
- STEM CELLS | VitaDrip IV Therapy | Texas - June 26th, 2020
- New Preclinical Data Demonstrates Immune-Enhancing Effects of Triple I/O Combination Therapy with BeyondSpring's Plinabulin - BioSpace - June 23rd, 2020
- Tau: Why Alzheimer's Worsens Fast in Some, Slowly in Others - Alzforum - June 23rd, 2020
- Scholarly Perspectives on COVID-19, Part 1: This Was Only a Matter of Time - Southern Newsroom - June 23rd, 2020
- Texas Stem Cell Law Opens Door for Controversial Treatments - June 11th, 2020
- Who's to blame? These three scientists are at the heart of the Surgisphere COVID-19 scandal - Science Magazine - June 9th, 2020
- FTC ramps up enforcement with new wave of warning letters - NutraIngredients-usa.com - June 9th, 2020
- UT Student Awarded Prestigious Astronaut Scholarship - UT News | The University of Texas at Austin - June 9th, 2020
- South Sound Community Bands Together To Save Local Lives - southsoundtalk.com - May 7th, 2020
- Pfizer, NYU working on innovative coronavirus vaccine that could be ready by end of summer - NBC News - May 7th, 2020
- How industry hopes to take on COVID-19 - Bioprocess Insider - BioProcess Insider - March 8th, 2020
- Meng Hsieh, Andrew Shubin - The New York Times - March 8th, 2020
- Jimbo Fisher's Kidz1stFund, Aggie Corps of Cadets team up for Be the Match bone marrow donor registry drive - Bryan-College Station Eagle - March 2nd, 2020
- Texas A&M Researcher Named To National List Of Inspiring Black Scientists - Texas A&M University - March 2nd, 2020
- What to do in Madison: March 2-8, 2020 - The Bozho - March 2nd, 2020
- Cumberland County family turns to non-FDA approved stem cell treatment to help two-year-old son with cerebral palsy - FOX43.com - February 27th, 2020
- Recombinetics Announces Collaboration with University of Texas Southwestern to Advance Regenerative Medicine Through Therapeutic Cell, Tissue, and... - February 27th, 2020
- Stem Cell Therapy for Joints & Spine in Austin Texas - January 28th, 2020
- El Paso scientists to deliver 3D bioprinted miniature hearts to the ISS - 3D Printing Industry - January 28th, 2020
- El Paso scientists team up for heart research project at the International Space Station - KVIA El Paso - January 28th, 2020
- Drugs, Biologics, and Regenerative Medicine in 2019: A Successful Year Ends with Promise of a More Challenging 2020 - JD Supra - December 18th, 2019
- Incoming Faculty Bring New Areas of Research to Rensselaer - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - September 24th, 2019
- Nivolumab as an addition to frontline therapy of AML in younger patients - AML Global Portal - September 24th, 2019
- Interview: BIOLIFE4D is The First US Company to Bioprint a Mini-Heart (for Cardiotoxicity Testing) - 3DPrint.com - September 24th, 2019
- Stem cells regrow leg's long bones - WNDU-TV - September 22nd, 2019
- A breakthrough in the battle against citrus greening - Gainesville Sun - September 22nd, 2019
- Comparing Mymetics (OTCMKTS:MYMX) & Crispr Therapeutics (OTCMKTS:CRSP) - TechNewsObserver - September 22nd, 2019
- STEM CELL THERAPY & TREATMENTS Texas Regional Health - September 10th, 2019
- Fast Facts: Stem Cells 101 Vital Record - September 10th, 2019
- Keller, TX Stem Cells | Neuropathy & Pain Centers of Texas - May 31st, 2019
- Arlington Stem Cells | Neuropathy & Pain Centers of Texas - May 1st, 2019
- Houston, Texas Stem Cell Transplants, Richmond, Sugar Land ... - April 21st, 2019
- Fort Worth Stem Cells | Neuropathy and Pain Centers of Texas - April 15th, 2019
- Stem Cell Rejuvenation Therapy | Totalhormonegenetherapy.com - April 15th, 2019
- Our Doctors - Knee Stem Cells - March 17th, 2019
- Stem Cell Treatment Center in Dallas, Texas | Stem Cell ... - March 17th, 2019
- Neuropathy & Pain Centers of Texas - Stem Cells & Neuropathy - February 6th, 2019
- Stem Cell Doctor Dallas Dr. Darcy Brunk | Dallas, Plano ... - January 25th, 2019
- Four Types of Stem Cells - Texas Right to Life - December 15th, 2018
- Texas | The Stem Cellar - December 5th, 2018
- Dallas, Texas, Stem Cells Treatment, Legal, Ft. Worth ... - November 16th, 2018
- HB810 | Right to Try Law | Texas Stem Cell Law | StemGenex - October 13th, 2018