MIT Technology Review has released its annual list of "35 Innovators Under 35," featuring several young scientists who are driving significant progress in the biotechnology sector. Among the honorees are researchers developing new approaches to maternal health, neurology, and genetic therapy.
Paschal Kija, 28, has addressed postpartum hemorrhage—a leading cause of maternal mortality in Tanzania—by creating a low-cost device called the Mkanda Salama. The "Safe Wrap" costs $70 and has demonstrated the ability to stop bleeding in 73% of cases within 20 minutes. In the field of neurology, 34-year-old Xiao Yang is developing flexible, ultra-small brain electrodes. By utilizing kirigami, the Japanese art of paper cutting, Yang has designed honeycombed, spiral-shaped electrode sheets that minimize damage to brain tissue while monitoring cellular activity.
Genetic medicine is also seeing breakthroughs through the work of 26-year-old Sarah Grandinette. She was part of a team that developed a personalized gene-editing therapy for an infant born with a rare, fatal genetic disorder. After testing the treatment on animal models, the therapy was administered to the child, who showed positive results and was eventually discharged from the hospital.
In the realm of longevity, 34-year-old Yuancheng (Ryan) Lu is advancing cell reprogramming technology. Following his 2020 study that successfully reversed vision loss in mice, his research has transitioned to human clinical trials. Life Biosciences, the company behind the therapy, administered the first dose to a human volunteer this past June. Meanwhile, 27-year-old Samuel King is exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and virology. King utilized generative AI to create genetic blueprints for bacteriophages—viruses that target bacteria—with the goal of eventually using synthetic life forms to produce pharmaceuticals or address environmental pollution.
Source: MIT Technology Review
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