More from @polybioRF
Oct 11
Breaking: PolyBio-supported researchers at MGH/Harvard have developed a microfluidic device that quantitatively measures fibrinaloid clots (microclots): tiny, abnormal clumps in the blood that may play a key role in the biology of Long COVID: polybio.org/new-microfluid…
2/ The new device technology enables rapid standardized quantification (counting) of microclot burden from small blood samples.
3/ In a cohort of 45 pediatric #LongCovid patients and 14 healthy children, researchers found significantly higher microclot levels in LongCovid samples. The device demonstrated a 94% diagnostic accuracy, compared to just 66% for standard slide-based…
More from @polybioRF
Oct 11
Breaking: PolyBio-supported researchers at MGH/Harvard have developed a microfluidic device that quantitatively measures fibrinaloid clots (microclots): tiny, abnormal clumps in the blood that may play a key role in the biology of Long COVID: polybio.org/new-microfluid…
2/ The new device technology enables rapid standardized quantification (counting) of microclot burden from small blood samples.
3/ In a cohort of 45 pediatric #LongCovid patients and 14 healthy children, researchers found significantly higher microclot levels in LongCovid samples. The device demonstrated a 94% diagnostic accuracy, compared to just 66% for standard slide-based microclot counting.
Read 6 tweets
Oct 7
Dr. Morgane Bomsel is studying SARS-CoV-2 persistence in Long Covid patients’ platelets and megakaryocytes. Thus far, their early data shows that spike protein and viral RNA “can be found in at least 2/3 of the Long Covid patients’ [megakaryocytes]… this research suggests MKs may form SARS-CoV-2 reservoirs in Long Covid patients, which may produce platelets sheltering infectious SCV2.”
2/ PolyBio is supporting the continuation of Dr. Bomsel’s work to analyze platelet, megakaryocyte, and blood samples from Long COVID patients. The team is determining if persistent SCV2 infection of such cells is associated with deregulation (e.g., microclotting), changes in serotonin storage, or altered metabolism. Biological data will be correlated with patient clinical data in a multimodal analysis to define molecular targets associated with Long COVID.
3/ Dr. Bomsel’s presentation was a part of the Fall 2024 PolyBio symposium, available here:
Read 4 tweets
Aug 13
1/ BREAKING: Infections can be major drivers of Aging Processes, new PolyBio review paper delineates
A new scientific review written by PolyBio’s core team challenges the long-held assumption that human aging unfolds in a sterile environment. The authors argue that lifelong exposure to viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites—many of which persist in tissues and nerves—can directly accelerate aging processes.
sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
2/ “Pathogens, especially herpesviruses and certain microbes, produce proteins and metabolites that disrupt immune signaling, damage mitochondria, alter gene expression, and reshape the epigenetic landscape,” says paper first author and PolyBio President Dr. Amy Proal.
3/ “Our paper describes how infectious agents can hijack host cell machinery, manipulate longevity-regulating pathways, and contribute to age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, where amyloid plaques may form as part of an antimicrobial response.”
Read 12 tweets
Jul 25
1/ Breaking: PolyBio announces the appointment of Sarah Kalloch as its new Chief Operating and Innovation Officer
Sarah is a mission-driven leader with 20+ years of driving innovation at the intersection of strategy and systems change. She has started to work directly with PolyBio CEO Dr. Amy Proal & the Board of Directors to drive the Foundation’s strategic growth and operational excellence.
2/ Sarah brings over two decades of leadership experience across mission-driven organizations to PolyBio. Most recently she served as Founding Executive Director of the Good Jobs Institute, where she championed scalable job-quality and operations strategies. During her tenure, the Institute partnered with more than 30 companies and investors, helping improve millions of frontline jobs.
3/ Sarah has additionally worked on turning bold ideas into impact at Physicians for Human Rights and Oxfam America. She holds a BA in Social Studies from Harvard University and an MBA with a focus on sustainable operations from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Read 6 tweets
Jul 2
BREAKING: Invivyd and lead researchers Dr. Amy Proal, Dr. David Putrino & Dr. Michael Peluso form SPEAR (Spike Protein Elimination and Recovery) study group to assess the effects of Monoclonal Antibody Therapy for Long COVID & COVID-19 Post-Vaccination Syndrome
investors.adagiotx.com/news-releases/…
2/ Invivyd announced today that it has formed a best-in-class clinical and translational study group, the SPEAR Study Group, with leading investigators focused on the biology and clinical disease or injury associated with chronic exposure to SARS-CoV-2 virus or mRNA vaccine-mediated spike protein.
3/The SPEAR Study Group will structure and guide anticipated clinical trials evaluating the effects of broadly neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein mAb therapy in people suffering from Long COVID or Post-Vaccination Syndrome (PVS), conditions believed to be mediated by persistent viral reservoirs or circulating spike protein.
Read 9 tweets
Jun 21
Breaking: PolyBio’s Dr. Amy Proal clarifies infectious drivers of aging at Boston Summit
PolyBio President and Research Director Dr. Amy Proal joined the Boston Aging Code Summit this past week. The Summit brought together leading academics, entrepreneurs, and investors to share the latest breakthroughs and big ideas shaping the future of aging and longevity science.
Dr. Proal participated in the “Master Switches of Aging” panel at the Summit. The other panelists included NeuroAge CEO Christin Glorioso, and quadraScope Venture’s Scientific Director José Navarro Betancourt.
In her panel comments, Dr. Proal raised the point that most models of aging currently assume that processes such as cellular senescence or epigenetic alteration occur under sterile conditions.
Read 11 tweets