Salk Institute

A new study has shed light on how gut bacteria, diet, and the immune system interact and how some people remain asymptomatic while infectious. It may have opened the door to a vaccine that prevents diarrheal diseases caused by E. coli.

An experimental anti-obesity drug developed several years ago has been found to prevent intestinal inflammation in mice. The drug has yet to be tested in humans but the findings point to a novel way to prevent flare-ups in patients suffering from IBD.

Researchers have discovered a unique fat molecule in the brain may have anti-inflammatory effects. Animal studies found levels of the molecule decline with age and their absence could contribute to inflammation associated with neurodegeneration.

Researchers at the Salk Institute have made a breakthrough that could lead to new treatments for genetic hearing loss. Gene therapy that delivers a particular protein can ensure faulty hair cells grow correctly, allowing for improved hearing.

Associating positive or negative emotions to specific memories is core to survival. Researchers have identified a specific molecule that seems to drive the assignment of emotions to memories, which could lead to new treatments for anxiety and depression.

New research at the Salk Institute has demonstrated how a set of anti-aging molecules known as Yamanaka factors can safely reverse signs of aging in middle-aged and elderly mice, which showed no evidence of health problems following extended treatment.

Insulin regulates blood glucose levels, and issues often lead to diabetes. But now, scientists at the Salk Institute have identified another molecular pathway that regulates blood glucose, which could open up a brand new avenue for treating diabetes.

Researchers at Salk Institute have uncovered a mechanism by which stem cells can help regenerate muscles. The discovery could provide a new drug target for repairing muscles after injury or rebuilding muscle mass lost during the normal aging process.

In a breakthrough new study, scientists have created human-monkey chimera embryos for the first time. They make for more accurate models of human biology and disease - but of course they also raise some complicated ethical concerns.

Scientists at the Salk Institute hope to tackle climate change and food security by unraveling the genomic architecture behind various plant species, and have gleaned some valuable new lessons from the fastest-growing example we know of.

Scientists investigating Alzheimer’s treatments at the Salk Institute have uncovered some key mechanisms that enable an experimental drug to reverse memory loss in mouse models of the disease, offering new targets for researchers in the field.

A research team working to unravel the secrets of the gut microbiome has happened upon a specific signature of bacterial species that can be used to detect liver fibrosis and cirrhosis with an accuracy of greater than 90 percent.