Advancing Medical Research

Thanks to a recent strategic research collaboration with XtalPi, a U.S.-China pharmaceutical tech company, Pfizer scientists are performing crystal structure prediction in a matter of days. Pioneered by a group of quantum physicists from MIT, the XtalPi technology leverages artificial intelligence and cloud computing to perform these complex equations.

Iron is an essential part of the biologic operating manual for organisms from single-celled bacteria up to complex human beings. But iron also has a dark side: Because of its capacity to turn molecules into free radicals that can damage cell membranes and DNA, too much iron can be as dangerous as too little. 

The old saying “you are what you eat” may not be strictly accurate, but like many a timeworn adage, it holds a kernel of truth. For example, while eating a high-fat diet may not necessarily make people fat, the amount and type of fat in their diets still influences their overall health. When people think about the relationship between eating and health, however, they rarely consider how their dietary habits could…

If you’ve ever had a liver function test as part of an annual physical, you may know that the exam screens for certain biomarkers, like liver enzymes in the blood. If these substances are found to be elevated, it may mean that you have a liver disease or have been exposed to some medications or environmental toxins. 

Liver biomarkers are also important tools in the drug development process. Before a drug…

Songwriters, poets, and novelists have long tried to capture the intricacies of the heart. But it’s the quants who might finally do it. 

The Living Heart Project, initiated by the firm Dassault Systémes, is applying the advanced technology that the automotive and aerospace industries use to realistically simulate the heart. The project has solicited input from…

You go in for an elective knee replacement surgery, hoping to be able to climb the stairs again without pain, and end up with more than you bargained for: a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus (also referred to as S. aureus, Staphylococcus, or staph infection.)

S. aureus is a common bacterium found on the skin and in the nose that is usually…