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Biosciences and Biotechnology
Linking brain inflammation to long-COVID and other neurological conditions
Inflammation has long been linked to neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s) and psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression). More recently, long-COVID—a condition where symptoms persist long after the initial COVID-19 infection—has been associated with elevated levels of inflammation in the brain. People with long-COVID often report brain fog, memory problems, and…
Mapping immune cell response to Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus
Researchers in Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL) Bioscience and Biotechnology Division have made significant progress in understanding how our immune systems respond to the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), a highly infectious pathogen and weaponizable biothreat that causes neurological disease in humans. The research, published in Frontiers in…
Big Ideas Lab unlocks the secrets of drug discovery through supercomputing and AI
In the world of medicine, the journey from ancient practices to modern pharmaceuticals is both fascinating and complex. The latest episode of the Big Ideas Lab podcast delves into the evolution of drug discovery, and how cutting-edge computing technologies and industry partnerships are transforming the way we develop life-saving medications. Historically, the quest for…
Assessing adverse neurological effects of wildfire smoke inhalation
Following the devastating fires that swept through Los Angeles in January, concerns are on the rise about the long-term health impacts of smoke inhalation. In a study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the Environmental Protection Agency seek to close the knowledge gap on how…
Improving vaccine stability and immunological response
Many vaccines that have been or are in the process of being developed, continue to face certain challenges when deployed worldwide. The practical impacts of vaccines are often compromised by common challenges, particularly, all currently licensed vaccines require sustained refrigeration, known as the “cold chain.” Under a strategic partnership, LLNL, the University of New…
Toxin-antitoxin systems could target invasive and resistant bacteria
In a counterintuitive move, bacteria are known to produce self-destructive toxins. However, they also make antitoxins, and researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have identified these toxin-antitoxin systems as a possible passkey to hack into bacteria communities. The study, recently published in Molecular Biology and Evolution, examines bacteria at a…
LLNL and BioVind achieve diagnostics milestone
Technology designed to aid on-the-field diagnostics for military applications is gaining a wider reach as Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and BioVind, LLC achieved a milestone in their partnership: the exclusive licensing of LLNL pathogen diagnostics technology focused on oil and gas applications. The technology, called BioID, is a rapid and portable…
LLNL researchers discover promising treatment to counteract the effects of fentanyl for overdose cases
A team of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers has discovered a promising new treatment to counteract the effects of fentanyl and related opioids. The new treatment could, over time, be a boon to doctors and medical professionals dealing with the crisis of fentanyl, a drug whose lethal effects has killed more than 210,000 Americans during the past…
LLNL wins big at 2024 Bay Area Research SLAM
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL) 2024 postdoctoral team of Nicholas Cross, Caspar Donnison and Jillian McCool competed against their Bay Area colleagues at the fourth annual Bay Area Research SLAM (BARS) on Oct. 3. LLNL was the biggest winner of the evening: Donnison’s third-place finish for “Agriculture and Solar Power: An Unlikely Alliance” and Cross’s…
Postdocs shine at 2024 LLNL Research SLAM!
Gathered in a Laboratory auditorium on Wednesday, Sept. 25, a dozen Livermore postdocs used three minutes and a single slide to answer the question “Why is my research important?” Lab trivia, guest appearances from previous Research SLAM! winners and thematic walk-up music for each of the finalists added to the festive atmosphere of the live event. Talks were judged using…
From the battlefield to biocontainment: meet Sean Leonard
Science at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is what synthetic biologist and postdoctoral researcher Sean Leonard calls a “team sport.” This is one of the aspects he enjoys the most about working in a national laboratory environment. “I’d say my military experience fundamentally shaped how I approach science,” said Leonard. “In the Army, I learned that I like…
LLNL, DOD, NNSA dedicate Rapid Response Laboratory and supercomputing system to accelerate biodefense
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) recently welcomed officials from the Department of Defense (DOD) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to dedicate a new supercomputing system and Rapid Response Laboratory (RRL). DOD is working with NNSA to significantly increase the computing capability available to the national biodefense programs. The…
LLNL honors 23 as Distinguished Members of Technical Staff
Twenty-three LLNL researchers have been named Distinguished Members of Technical Staff (DMTS) for their extraordinary scientific and technical contributions, as acknowledged by their professional peers and the broader scientific community. As distinguished citizens of the Laboratory and their scientific areas of specialization, DMTS honorees have a sustained history of…
Three selected as Graduate Student Research program recipients
Three graduate students have earned Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program awards to perform their doctoral dissertation research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The prestigious award helps cover living expenses and travel for 60 students from universities across the nation. Their proposed research projects…
LLNL and BridgeBio announce trials for supercomputing-discovered cancer drug
In a substantial milestone for supercomputing-aided drug design, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and BridgeBio Oncology Therapeutics (BridgeBio) today announced clinical trials have begun for a first-in-class medication that targets specific genetic mutations implicated in many types of cancer. The development of the new drug — BBO-8520 — is the result of…
Finding Livermore: Employees share their LLNL origin stories
With more than 70 years of history and nearly 9,000 current employees, it is not uncommon for several generations of family members to have worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). For those employees with parents or grandparents preceding them, a career at the Laboratory was not in their original plans. In fact, before coming to LLNL, many do not realize…
GUIDE team develops approach to redesign antibodies against viral pandemics
In a groundbreaking development for addressing future viral pandemics, a multi-institutional team involving Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers has successfully combined an artificial intelligence (AI)-backed platform with supercomputing to redesign and restore the effectiveness of antibodies whose ability to fight viruses has been compromised by…
Brain-on-a-chip: Improving 3D neural network analysis
Brain-on-a-chip (BOC) systems are engineered cell-culture models that allow non-invasive, real-time monitoring of electrochemical processes. While newer 3D BOC systems have improved the neuronal viability, neural network activity, drug responses, and resemblance to disease pathology compared to their 2D counterparts, the ability to monitor the functional dynamics of the…
Anti-tumor immune responses in pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest types of cancer with a limited survival rate of about 10% over five years. In general, by the time a patient presents symptoms, the disease has advanced to a surgically unresectable stage and likely metastasized to other vital organs leading to rapid mortality. Since conventional chemotherapy prolongs patients…
Celebrating LLNL researchers on World Intellectual Property Day
World Intellectual Property (IP) Day is Friday, April 26. World IP Day shines a light on the important role innovation plays in achieving the United Nations’ (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to create a better future for everyone by protecting the planet. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL)’s Innovation and Partnerships Office (IPO) is…
