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Results from genomic testing of a cancer patient’s biopsy tissue can help guide treatment decisions, depending on the types of gene mutations found. But as it spreads or stops responding to treatment, the cancer changes and develops new mutations. Insights gained from the biopsy of the primary tumor may no longer be relevant in determining next steps. 

A “Swiss army knife” protein that is active against several viruses may also offer some protection against Nipah virus, a lethal pathogen with no cure or vaccine. 

The “tool” is griffithsin, a compound extracted from the red algae Griffithsia. A modified version of the protein substantially increased survival rates when administered as a preventative in a live laboratory model of Nipah virus infection. 

A unique library of small-molecule fragments designed and developed by the National Cancer Institute’s RAS Initiative at the Frederick National Laboratory is now furthering the search for a COVID-19 treatment. 

For patients with blood cancer such as leukemia, a bone marrow transplant can extend life or even potentially cure the disease. The ideal bone marrow donor is a close relative, such as a brother or sister. If none is available, doctors look for an unrelated donor whose stem cells best match those of the recipient.  

The Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research has initiated a new technical service offering, to support tuberculosis vaccine research efforts in nonhuman primate (NHP) model studies.  

Scientists at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNL) successfully increased the yield production of a challenging protein used in antibody tests for SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19, publishing their findings earlier this month in Protein Expression and Purification. 

Scientists at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research and investigators across the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have developed a highly specific serology test to determine whether a person has antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, a vital tool to understanding the spread of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. 

A type of the human papillomavirus (HPV) that is relatively uncommon among all women is more prevalent among women of African ancestry in the United States according to a National Cancer Institute study published in the International Journal of Cancer and co-authored by scientists at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research.  

Patients who have a better-than-average response to cancer treatment can help further research that might benefit all cancer patients. Analysis of their tumor tissues can provide clues about the genetic keys that make their tumor more responsive to treatment.  

As word of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak spread around the world, countries began looking inward to prepare. In Mali, Prime Minister Dr. Boubou Cisse visited University Clinical Research Center (UCRC) laboratories at the University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB) in March to see how its facilities could help.