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<h2><a href="/news-events/nih-research-matters">NIH Research Matters</a></h2> </div>
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<p class="publishdate"><span property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2014-12-22T00:00:00-05:00" class="date-display-single">December 22, 2014</span></p><div class='syndicate'><h1>2014 Research Highlights — Insights from the Lab</h1><div class="callout callout-with-border"><h3>Noteworthy Advances in Basic Research </h3>
<p>With NIH support, scientists across the country and the world conduct wide-ranging research to improve the health of the nation. Groundbreaking NIH-funded research often receives top scientific honors. In 2014, these honors included support for 1 of 3 Nobel laureates in chemistry and 4 NIH-funded recipients of awards from the Lasker Foundation. Here's just a small sampling of the research accomplishments made by NIH-supported scientists in 2014.</p>
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<img height="150" width="150" alt="Bacteriophages" title="Bacteriophages" class="media-element file-thumbnail" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/news-events/research-matters/2014/bacteriophages.jpg?itok=9HcM-iTS" /> </div>
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<h4 class="teaser-title"><a href="/news-events/nih-research-matters/method-can-target-specific-microbes">Method Can Target Specific Microbes</a></h4>
<p class="teaser-description">NIH-funded scientists designed a way to target and destroy specific DNA sequences in microbes, thus removing harmful bacterial genes. The team took advantage of a system called the CRISPR-Cas immune system, which bacteria use to protect themselves against invaders. The researchers modified the system to target genetic sequences associated with bacterial virulence or antibiotic resistance. The approach could be used to develop therapies against pathogenic bacteria, including those resistant to multiple antibiotics.</p>
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<h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/2014/20140303-cartilage.jpg">20140303-cartilage.jpg</a></h2>
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<img height="150" width="150" alt="Cells overlayed on a woven background." title="Cells overlayed on a woven background" class="media-element file-thumbnail" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/news-events/research-matters/2014/20140303-cartilage.jpg?itok=C9kZ4Lct" /> </div>
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<h4 class="teaser-title"><a href="/news-events/nih-research-matters/engineering-cartilage">Engineering Cartilage</a></h4>
<p class="teaser-description">Replacing cartilage lost in conditions such as osteoarthritis is a major goal in tissue engineering. Researchers supported by NIH developed a 3-D scaffold that guides the development of stem cells into specialized cartilage-producing cells. The approach could allow for the creation of orthopedic implants to replace cartilage, bone, and other tissues. Such implants could restore function immediately and allow development of natural tissue replacement.</p>
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<h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/2014/20140519-genetic.jpg">20140519-genetic.jpg</a></h2>
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<img height="150" width="150" alt="Genetic sequence with multiple A-T and G-C pairs interrupted by one X-Y pair." title="Genetic sequence with multiple A-T and G-C pairs interrupted by one X-Y pair" class="media-element file-thumbnail" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/news-events/research-matters/2014/20140519-genetic.jpg?itok=W0cT9asS" /> </div>
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<h4 class="teaser-title"><a href="/news-events/nih-research-matters/expanding-genetic-alphabet">Expanding the Genetic Alphabet</a></h4>
<p class="teaser-description">Synthetic biology aims to redesign natural biological systems for new purposes. Scientists funded by NIH created the first living organism that can grow and reproduce using DNA base pairs that arent found in nature. The achievement is a major step toward retooling nature to create novel therapeutics and nanomaterials.</p>
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<img height="150" width="150" alt="Induced pluripotent stem cells form a structure with layers of cells." title="Induced pluripotent stem cells form a structure with layers of cells" class="media-element file-thumbnail" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/news-events/research-matters/2014/20140623-retinal.jpg?itok=3rRA9XDM" /> </div>
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<h4 class="teaser-title"><a href="/news-events/nih-research-matters/stem-cells-form-light-sensitive-3-d-retinal-tissue">Stem Cells Form Light-Sensitive 3-D Retinal Tissue</a></h4>
<p class="teaser-description">Researchers supported by NIH induced human stem cells to form cup-like 3-D structures in a sequence of events that mimicked what occurs in the retina during human development. The structures developed layers containing all the major cell types normally found in the retina. The 3-D retina structure also responded to light. The finding may aid the study of eye diseases and potential new therapies.</p>
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<h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/2014/20140414-touch-lowres.jpg">20140414-touch-lowres.jpg</a></h2>
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<img height="150" width="150" alt="Crescent-shaped clusters of pink Merkel cells at the ends of blue nerve fibers." title="Crescent-shaped clusters of pink Merkel cells at the ends of blue nerve fibers" class="media-element file-thumbnail" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/news-events/research-matters/2014/20140414-touch-lowres.jpg?itok=yXwNhkCc" /> </div>
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<h4 class="teaser-title"><a href="/news-events/nih-research-matters/discriminating-touch">Discriminating Touch</a></h4>
<p class="teaser-description">The molecular mechanisms of how cells sense mechanical forces and send nerve signals to the brain are poorly understood. Two NIH-funded research teams revealed how cells in skin detect fine detail and texture. The findings may help scientists understand how aging and certain diseases can reduce our ability to sense touch. They could also lead to new approaches to restore the sense of touch.</p>
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<div class="teaser-thumbnail"><div class="media media-element-container media-thumbnail"><div id="file-6341" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">
<h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/2014/20140825-receptor-lowres.jpg">20140825-receptor-lowres.jpg</a></h2>
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<img height="150" width="150" alt="Glutamate receptor" title="Glutamate receptor" class="media-element file-thumbnail" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/news-events/research-matters/2014/20140825-receptor-lowres.jpg?itok=UJwVyelg" /> </div>
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<h4 class="teaser-title"><a href="/news-events/nih-research-matters/structural-states-brain-receptor-revealed">Structural States of a Brain Receptor Revealed</a></h4>
<p class="teaser-description">NIH scientists determined the structure and movement of the glutamate receptor, a protein in nerve cells involved in learning and memory. Problems with glutamate receptor function are thought to play a role in many disorders, including autism, schizophrenia, depression, Parkinsons disease, and some types of cancer. The finding provides a better understanding of how the receptor works and may aid in the development of therapies that target the receptor.</p>
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<div class="teaser-thumbnail"><div class="media media-element-container media-thumbnail"><div id="file-6456" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">
<h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/2014/20141006-autoinflammatory.jpg">20141006-autoinflammatory.jpg</a></h2>
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<img height="150" width="150" alt="Prevotella" title="Prevotella" class="media-element file-thumbnail" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/news-events/research-matters/2014/20141006-autoinflammatory.jpg?itok=ZtRGIf_b" /> </div>
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<h4 class="teaser-title"><a href="/news-events/nih-research-matters/diet-affects-autoinflammatory-disease-gut-microbes">Diet Affects Autoinflammatory Disease Via Gut Microbes</a></h4>
<p class="teaser-description">In autoinflammatory diseases, the innate immune system—the bodys rapid first line of defense against infection—becomes activated and triggers inflammation. An NIH-funded study in mice revealed that diet-induced changes to intestinal bacteria can influence susceptibility to autoinflammatory disease. The results could help guide new approaches to treat autoinflammatory diseases in susceptible people.</p>
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<h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/2014/20141110-heart-cropped.jpg">20141110-heart-cropped.jpg</a></h2>
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<img height="150" width="150" alt="Heart tissue." title="Heart tissue" class="media-element file-thumbnail" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/news-events/research-matters/2014/20141110-heart-cropped.jpg?itok=bP6VxJZW" /> </div>
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<h4 class="teaser-title"><a href="/news-events/nih-research-matters/immune-cells-heart-help-it-mend">Immune Cells in Heart Help it Mend</a></h4>
<p class="teaser-description">The heart of a newborn has a much greater capacity for repair than that of an adult. A team of NIH-funded scientists thought this might be due to different populations of macrophages, a type of immune cell found in tissues such as the heart. The researchers discovered that the hearts of mice have distinct macrophages that play a key role in recovery from damage. The findings suggest that potential treatment strategies for heart failure might target macrophages.</p>
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