‘Smart tooth’ | Stem cell therapy and aging | Transforming organ transplantation

Your sweet tooth might be a smart tooth

ANN ARBOR, MI—Add teeth to the list of smart technologies being developed. A team at the University of Michigan has invented a new material that mimics enamel’s fundamental properties. The research around how the material could be used is still in its infancy, but they think it could be modified to create a “smart tooth” (a tooth that would contain sensors that can sync to a smartphone). That’s one way to get your kids to brush their teeth.

New class of compounds for metabolic syndrome

ST. LOUIS, MO—Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown, in mice, that a new class of compounds they developed can improve several aspects of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors that raises your risk for heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes and stroke. Rajan Sah, MD, the senior author of the study, worked with Washington University’s Office of Technology Management to patent the class of compounds and co-found a startup company called Senseion Therapeutics Inc.

Transforming organ transplantation

PITTSBURGH, PA–Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering is teaming up with the Mayo Clinic to transform organ transplantation. The institutions will bioengineer innovative approaches to address current barriers in organ transplantation via a three-year research agreement.

Staying youthful with stem-cell therapy

MADISON, WI—Have we found the fountain of youth? Biotech company JangoBio announced a breakthrough in the development of a sustainable stem-cell-based therapy that can replenish hormones lost by both men and women during the aging process. While eternal youth is a worthy goal, the therapy treatment paves the way for treatment of a wide range of diseases of aging.