Knight Initiative News

Wu Tsai Neuro researchers reprogrammed fruit fly brain development and behavior using new discoveries about how attractive and repulsive molecules build neural circuits

Neuroradiologist Raag Airan and his lab have found a non-invasive, drug-free method to help clean the brain, reduce inflammation, and treat disease—and with Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience support, they plan to test it in people soon.

In a clinical trial of a wireless retinal prosthesis, Wu Tsai Neuro affiliate Daniel Palanker and colleagues found that people with advanced macular degeneration regained enough vision to read books and subway signs.

Neurons are built to last, but with age, bad things can happen to them. Wu Tsai Neuro affiliate Katrin Andreasson's work shows a lot of it is triggered by what’s happening to immune cells outside of the brain.

A new study led by Wu Tsai Neuro Faculty Scholar Laura Gwilliams maps how we simultaneously process different words.

Premature babies who heard recordings of their mothers reading to them had more mature white matter in a key language area of the brain, Wu Tsai Neuro affiliate Heidi Feldman and colleagues found.

Studying mice of different ages, Stanford scientists and colleagues found that neurons involved in spatial memory become less reliable later in life.

What could make a promising approach to psychiatry and brain research even better? A solid beat.

Developed by Stanford researchers, NeuroString is a hair-thin multichannel biosensor and stimulator with promising potential applications in drug delivery, nerve stimulation, smart fabrics, and more.

A new study finds links between two popular models of the disease—and the results could change how researchers think about treatment.

Small cell lung cancer often metastasizes to the brain. A Stanford Medicine-led study shows the cancer cells form synapses with neurons, and signaling across these synapses encourages tumor growth.

Knight Initiative researchers are uncovering the fine points of how our brains learn to move. In the long run, their findings could help devise better treatments for Parkinson's disease.

A study of killifish reveals how protein dysfunction develops in vertebrate brain cells, a key driver of aging – shedding light on cognitive decline and diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS.

Wu Tsai Neuro affiliate Guosong Hong and colleagues developed a new technique to observe neuron formation and firing in juvenile mice, potentially enhancing our understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders and enabling new interventions.

Stanford researchers reviewed over 400 therapy evaluations and discovered a crucial mismatch: Mouse studies test disease prevention, while human trials test treatment of existing disease.

In a new study in rats, scientists used ultrasound-activated nanoparticles to deliver ketamine and anesthetics to precise targets in the brain.

Knight Initiative researchers used a new lab model of aging human neurons to show that as cells age, lysosomes fall into disrepair and waste builds up—feeding a damaging cycle that could lead to Alzheimer’s.

Stanford Medicine scientists have developed a brain-computer interface that “reads” thoughts from speech-impaired patients — but only on their command — potentially restoring rapid communication.

Blood and cerebrospinal fluid markers tied to inflammation and metabolism sort some patients into subgroups, according to Knight Initiative researchers, a step toward predicting progression and tailoring care.

The technique, which used genetically healthy donor cells, prolonged life and function in mice with a disease similar to Tay-Sachs. It may help with other neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.