Wyss InstituteWyss Institute https://wyss.harvard.edu Wyss Institute at Harvard Fri, 06 Nov 2026 17:57:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.6 FINDing new drug leads faster with DNA nanotechnology https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/finding-new-drug-leads-faster-with-dna-nanotechnology/ Thu, 05 Nov 2026 18:45:51 +0000 https://wyss.harvard.edu/?p=46551 DNA nanoswitch platform rapidly searches large libraries for molecules that change how different proteins interact, introducing unprecedented functionality and efficiency into drug screening By Benjamin Boettner (BOSTON) — Researchers at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Harvard Medical School (HMS) have developed FIND, a drug discovery platform that searches large libraries for molecules that modulate binding interactions between two proteins. FIND uses DNA nanoswitches to select drug candidates based on their effects on these protein…

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]]> https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/finding-new-drug-leads-faster-with-dna-nanotechnology/ Wyss Institute Faculty member Wesley Wong and the two co-first authors Clinton Hanson and Mark Lipstein developed FIND as a DNA nanotechnology-powered drug discovery platform that rapidly identifies drug molecules based on their ability to modulate disease-relevant protein-protein interactions. Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University https://wyss-prod.imgix.net/app/uploads/2026/11/03100421/DNA-Nanoswitch-Team-0359_Revised-scaled.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=crop&h=400&q=50&w=300&s=1efbe51578f7935fe2e2ef6bbf7e6813"/> Bay Area Lyme Foundation supports Wyss Institute researchers’ quest to restore patients’ ability to fight back against Lyme Disease https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/bay-area-lyme-foundation-supports-wyss-institute-researchers-quest-to-restore-patients-ability-to-fight-back-against-lyme-disease/ Fri, 30 Oct 2026 12:43:48 +0000 https://wyss.harvard.edu/?p=46481 The donor-driven liaison enables Wyss project to overcome central bottlenecks in accurately modeling the infectious disease and developing much needed therapeutics By Benjamin Boettner (BOSTON) — A year of generous funding by the Bay Area Lyme Foundation enabled a Wyss Institute project that aims to identify novel therapeutic strategies for acute and chronic Lyme disease (Lyme) to proceed into new and potentially therapeutic territory. Girija Goyal, Ph.D., Director of Bioinspired Therapeutics at the Wyss Institute and her team were honored at the recent…

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]]> https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/bay-area-lyme-foundation-supports-wyss-institute-researchers-quest-to-restore-patients-ability-to-fight-back-against-lyme-disease/ The donor-driven liaison with the Bay Area Lyme Foundation enables the Wyss Institute to overcome central bottlenecks in modeling Lyme disease (LD)and to develop therapeutics that protect patients from developing chronic LD or even reverse this terrible condition. Credit: Envato Elements/ gpointstudio https://wyss-prod.imgix.net/app/uploads/2026/10/22120915/SM_senior-woman-examined-by-a-healthcare-professional-2026-09-22-21-43-33-utc-copy-scaled.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=crop&h=400&q=50&w=300&s=655e91f25c8afa638603d4e477eac353"/> Silvi Lybbert on turning plastic trash into bioplastic treasure https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/humans-of-the-wyss-silvi-lybbert-on-turning-plastic-trash-into-bioplastic-treasure/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 13:00:16 +0000 https://wyss.harvard.edu/?p=46459 The Humans of the Wyss (HOW) series features members of the Wyss community discussing their work, the influences that shape them as professionals, and their collaborations at the Wyss Institute and beyond. As a former pre-professional ballet dancer, Silvi Lybbert knows the value of putting work into small details to create something elegant. At the barre, she would adjust tiny muscle movements…

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]]> https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/humans-of-the-wyss-silvi-lybbert-on-turning-plastic-trash-into-bioplastic-treasure/ Silvi Lybbert, Research Associate. Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University https://wyss-prod.imgix.net/app/uploads/2026/10/27155344/HoW-Silvi-Lybbert-08445-scaled.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=crop&h=400&q=50&w=300&s=151361d52daabd590c896e1c9e7f8fe1"/> Toward reading patients’ brains through extracellular vesicles in blood and CSF https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/toward-reading-patients-brains-through-extracellular-vesicles-in-blood-and-csf/ Wed, 28 Oct 2026 14:15:00 +0000 https://wyss.harvard.edu/?p=46221 Isolation of neuron-specific, biomarker-loaded extracellular vesicles paves way to next-generation precision diagnostics and fundamental discoveries on neurological disorders By Benjamin Boettner (BOSTON) — Devastating neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, and many others are only diagnosed when their first neurological or behavioral symptoms appear. At that time, their underlying pathological processes in the brain and other nervous tissues are already well advanced. Therefore…

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]]> https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/toward-reading-patients-brains-through-extracellular-vesicles-in-blood-and-csf/ Wyss Institute researchers and their collaborators have overcome a vital bottleneck in isolating extracellular vesicles that originate specifically from brain cells. This will allow researchers to take a “snapshot” of neuronal cells in patients’ brains and nervous systems and look for early biomarkers of neurological diseases, or biomarkers reporting disease progression and therapeutic efficacies. Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University https://wyss-prod.imgix.net/app/uploads/2026/09/15122504/EK_FIgure-scaled.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=crop&h=400&q=50&w=300&s=b7fca0b91259acdc162d3b551b416737"/> Wyss Institute Core Faculty member Jennifer Lewis elected to the National Academy of Medicine https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/wyss-institute-core-faculty-member-jennifer-lewis-elected-to-the-national-academy-of-medicine/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 13:30:11 +0000 https://wyss.harvard.edu/?p=46486 Honored for her groundbreaking work in 3D printing and bioprinting, Lewis will work alongside other Academy members to inspire meaningful progress in medicine By Benjamin Boettner (BOSTON) — The Wyss Institute is proud to announce that Core Faculty member Jennifer Lewis, Sc.D., was elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) on October 19, 2026. NAM membership is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to…

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]]> https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/wyss-institute-core-faculty-member-jennifer-lewis-elected-to-the-national-academy-of-medicine/ Wyss Institute Core Faculty member Jennifer Lewis inducted into the National Academy of Sciences. Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University https://wyss-prod.imgix.net/app/uploads/2016/08/05095211/Jennifer_Lewis_headshot_1500x1000.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=crop&h=400&q=50&w=300&s=3fc4473bf0d804cb43d9142b55b4cf6f"/> Reversing age by reprogramming gene expression networks https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/reversing-age-by-reprogramming-gene-expression-networks/ Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:55:28 +0000 https://wyss.harvard.edu/?p=46423 Aging-specific screening platform identifies gene with multifaceted rejuvenation potential that extends health- and lifespan in mice By Benjamin Boettner (BOSTON) — Every organ and tissue progressively loses function and integrity as it ages. In fact, researchers have identified “hallmarks of aging” that not only present specific processes impacted by age, but are also thought of as levers that, if successfully targeted, could help turn back the aging clock and result in tissue rejuvenation. In 2006…

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]]> https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/reversing-age-by-reprogramming-gene-expression-networks/ The research team carried out a transcriptomic reprogramming screen that identified splicing factor SRSF1 as a regulator of aging. SRSF1 extended healthspan and livespan when overexpressed in whole animals. This illustration conceptualizes this reprogramming as a transition from an aged, muted cell to a rejuvenated blue cell, with transcript strands emerging in newly spliced configurations and circuit-like patterns symbolizing the functional rewiring of the transcriptome by a single RNA processing factor. Credit: Helen Wang/Wyss Institute at Harvard University https://wyss-prod.imgix.net/app/uploads/2026/10/13152020/NatAgingCover-copy-scaled.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=crop&h=400&q=50&w=300&s=30216d7347ae9f71e63fde2cd72670cd"/> Ernest Aguinam on understanding the immune system to help patients with radiation injury and chronic Lyme https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/humans-of-the-wyss-ernest-aguinam-on-understanding-the-immune-system-to-help-patients-with-radiation-injury-and-chronic-lyme/ Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:13:50 +0000 https://wyss.harvard.edu/?p=46295 The Humans of the Wyss (HOW) series features members of the Wyss community discussing their work, the influences that shape them as professionals, and their collaborations at the Wyss Institute and beyond. How is developing therapeutics like writing a song? Ernest Aguinam starts with a hypothesis or a new lyric, tests variables, like tempo or a new compound, and in the end, aims for a certain…

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]]> https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/humans-of-the-wyss-ernest-aguinam-on-understanding-the-immune-system-to-help-patients-with-radiation-injury-and-chronic-lyme/ Ernest Aguinam, Postdoctoral Fellow. Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University https://wyss-prod.imgix.net/app/uploads/2026/09/29091242/HoW-Ernest-Aguinam-5018--scaled.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=crop&h=400&q=50&w=300&s=0f8ad2bc21f6865f585c544accbd35ab"/> Reimagining the treatment of mental health: Maria Carolina Bittencourt Gonçalves https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/reimagining-the-treatment-of-mental-health-maria-carolina-bittencourt-goncalves/ Mon, 28 Sep 2026 17:17:45 +0000 https://wyss.harvard.edu/?p=46261 Seeing the challenges a loved one faced in dealing with bipolar disorder inspired Postdoctoral Fellow Maria Carolina Bittencourt Gonçalves to work towards understanding and finding better treatments for psychiatric disorders By Jessica Leff Listen to Maria tell her story | Wyss Institute · Maria C. B. Gonçalves – Reimagine the World Maria Carolina Bittencourt Gonçalves, Ph.D., grew up in São Paulo, Brazil, the largest city by population in South America. It’s comparable to New York, but with a tropical climate. “I knew I wanted to be a scientist from the first time I looked into a microscope when I was 11…

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]]> https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/reimagining-the-treatment-of-mental-health-maria-carolina-bittencourt-goncalves/ Maria Carolina Bitten Gonçalves was always fascinated by the brain, but then a long-term relationship with a partner with bipolar disorder solidified her desire to better understand and treat the disease, and advocate for mental health. Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University https://wyss-prod.imgix.net/app/uploads/2026/09/25124931/Maria-Goncalves-Sitting-Posed-05387--scaled.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=crop&h=400&q=50&w=300&s=5d196a2e59a4f1370ee0b3474bdf3382"/> Reducing plastic, increasing impact https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/reducing-plastic-increasing-impact/ Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:45:44 +0000 https://wyss.harvard.edu/?p=46175 A conversation with Hannah Morrissey about how the Wyss’ lab recycling program is leading to a more sustainable future By Jessica Leff Laboratories generate up to 5.5 billion kilograms, which is more than 12 billion pounds, of plastic waste each year. That’s nearly 12 times more waste per square foot than is produced in office spaces. The reasons make sense: single-use plastic is sterile, safe, and efficient. Often, labs don’t have the infrastructure needed to separate contaminated plastic and uncontaminated…

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]]> https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/reducing-plastic-increasing-impact/ Lab Safety Officer Hannah Morrissey explains helps facilitate the Wyss lab recycling program, which is preventing pollution by cutting down on lab waste. Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University https://wyss-prod.imgix.net/app/uploads/2026/09/17161357/Hannah-Morrissey-Lab-Recycling-05283-1-scaled.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=crop&h=400&q=50&w=300&s=803233072473ac976296df2f9b1ca8ff"/> Building big with DNA gets a software upgrade https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/building-big-with-dna-gets-a-software-upgrade/ Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:55:09 +0000 https://wyss.harvard.edu/?p=46184 New computational framework for crisscross fabrication of micrometer-scale DNA megastructures with nanoscale precision broadens accessibility to this powerful nanotechnology By Benjamin Boettner (BOSTON) — 44 years ago, Nadrian Seeman published his groundbreaking ideas on using DNA as a structural material, expanding DNA’s significance way beyond that as a carrier of genetic information. Since then, the steadily growing field of DNA nanotechnology has seen numerous innovations. One of them was the DNA origami technique, which enables researchers to fold a single…

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]]> https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/building-big-with-dna-gets-a-software-upgrade/ The team used their easily accessible computational framework, #-CAD, to design and fabricate a series of complex Crisscross DNA megastructures from start to finish. Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University https://wyss-prod.imgix.net/app/uploads/2026/09/14094955/Crisscross_listing-image.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=crop&h=400&q=50&w=300&s=84351ede948e19b68f2dc6ce79cd8d84"/>