Genentech

In a recent study, our scientists revealed new insights into the regulation of NINJ1, a membrane protein responsible for cell membrane rupture during cell death. By capturing NINJ1’s inactive state using cryogenic electron microscopy, they uncovered how its dimeric autoinhibited form prevents uninstigated cell death. This discovery not only advances our understanding of cell death mechanisms but also opens new doors for therapeutic approaches in inflammatory diseases. This video shows a visual representation of autoinhibited dimeric NINJ1. Learn more about their work: http://spr.ly/6045sNVpf

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we approach discovering, designing, and testing new medicines. In the season finale of Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar, we bring Season 5 full circle with a deep dive into machine learning in drug discovery with our expert, Rich Bonneau. In this episode, Rich shares insights on promising AI applications and how his team also carefully considers their data and training sets to navigate existing biases. Check out the full episode: http://spr.ly/6040sNDyy

Members of gNA, our Native American employee resource group, recently attended the 2024 American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) National Conference, which we proudly sponsored for the second year. This three-day event, themed “Rivers of Resilience,” featured sessions on Indigenous innovation, a Native artisan marketplace and talking circles to build connections and lift up #STEM professional development opportunities for Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands. Pictured on the left, Caroline Washington, our Sr. Administrative Business Partner, gRED and gNA member, reflects on her experience at the AISES conference below. “Native American and Pacific Islander peoples have long used knowledge of the land, sea and stars, with a shared mana in our long history as the original STEM experts. This experience reminded me of the importance of honoring that legacy and making sure Indigenous experiences are represented in an empowering way.” Learn more about AISES: http://spr.ly/6042sUDDn #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth

We’re excited to share a new study published today in Nature Portfolio by our scientists, which is part of a 40+ peer reviewed collection of publications from the Human Cell Atlas, a collaborative research consortium that is creating a comprehensive reference map of all human cells. In this study, our scientists describe SCimilarity, a powerful computational tool they developed to compare gene expression profiles from single cell RNA-sequencing data. Like a “reverse image search”, SCimilarity enables researchers to search for similar cell states across the entire human body with a single query, and can search 10’s of millions of cells in under a second. By using SCimilarity, researchers can find new connections between cell states across tissues and diseases. Learn more about this groundbreaking work and its implications here: http://spr.ly/6046sxVGi #HCA2024NatureCollection #HumanCellAtlas

In the Season 5 finale of our podcast, AI and machine learning expert Rich Bonneau joined us for an in-depth conversation about how computational approaches like generative AI and large language models can transform our research and discovery of new therapeutic targets. Listen to S5E09 of Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar here: http://spr.ly/6049sSwKR

Congratulations to our distinguished scientist and executive director of Discovery Oncology, Anwesha Dey, on being named a 2024 National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine (ELHM) Scholar! This prestigious recognition highlights Anwesha’s exceptional contributions to biomedical science and her commitment to advancing science, innovation, and health equity. Over the next three years, Anwesha will collaborate with ELHM scholars and leaders across fields to tackle enduring challenges in health and medicine and drive transformative solutions that improve health for all. Learn more about Anwesha and her impactful discoveries. http://spr.ly/6045sSDu3

Meet Ricardo Irizarry-Caro, a Postdoctoral Fellow in Immunology from Puerto Rico. Ricardo investigates important proteins such as TGF-beta in immune processes and wound healing to help find effective therapeutic targets. With a vision to one day lead his own programs in autoimmune and inflammatory disease research, Ricardo is committed to advancing healthcare for underserved communities. Watch his video below and learn more about our Postdoctoral programs here: http://spr.ly/6043squgt

Hypertension, a major driver of cardiovascular disease, affects nearly a third of adults globally and up to 80% have blood pressure that remains uncontrolled. Shruti Daga, our Global Development Leader of Cardiovascular Product Development at Genentech and Roche is committed to driving forward the critical research and treatment innovation needed to address this significant health challenge. Learn more about the urgent need to address hypertension, the importance of new therapeutic approaches for the condition affecting millions, and how we’re working to transform patient outcomes. http://spr.ly/6045spp57

Many personalized cancer treatments aim to block out-of-control signals that drive tumor growth. However, some pathways, like PI3K in breast cancer, have proven challenging to target given their vital role in normal cell processes. Anwesha Dey, Senior Director & Scientist in Discovery Oncology at Genentech, uses everyday objects to explain how a new scientific advancement selectively destroys the mutant PI3K protein in cancer cells. Watch her explain how this discovery offers a new, more precise way of targeting the pathway and the significant implications for the treatment of breast cancer: http://spr.ly/6041sPZd7

Macrophages play a vital role in the immune system and are implicated in various diseases, especially during chronic inflammation. In a recent Nature Genetics study, our scientists used single-cell CRISPR screening to identify key genetic regulators in macrophages that influence different inflammatory “states.” Their findings highlight potential therapeutic targets that could lead to new treatments for inflammatory diseases. In the image shown here, macrophages are shown in green in intestinal tissue. Learn more about this research at the intersection of immunology and inflammation: http://spr.ly/6047s3C4H