By Julian Namerow, Class of 2026 Melanomas are deadly skin cancers, with certain subtypes carrying an 80% mortality rate because they respond poorly to immune-, radio-, and chemotherapy treatments. Sun-exposed melanomas are a highly prevalent melanoma variant that cause DNA damage and mutation. However, acral melanomas are genetically diverse and occur in areas with low sun exposure and high mechanical loads due to physical pressure. … Continue reading Mechanical Stress on Acral Melanomas Induces DNA Damage

By Julian Namerow, Class of 2026 The human body is composed of organ systems that span far, intricately, and seamlessly to perform essential biological functions, such as the neurons that span to the tips of one’s toes and trace all the way back through the spinal cord to the brain. Current methods for understanding large-scale tissue architecture at microstructural resolutions are challenging. They involve tissue … Continue reading Turning Human Tissue Clear

By Julian Namerow, Class of 2026 Collagen I is a vital protein found in the extracellular matrix—the structural scaffold between cells—where it provides physical support to tissues. Collagen provides structure at micro and macro scales, and plays a key role in governing biophysical cues that regulate cell behavior. Recently, self-assembled collagen hydrogels have been widely used as tissue models; they have very limited versatility in … Continue reading Creation of Instant Collagen