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Joshua Peters

Biological Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

I’m a PhD student in Biological Engineering at MIT. Around two billion people in the world are infected with a microscopic bug called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. Despite this, only a fraction develop tuberculosis. And a fraction of those infected – almost 5,000 a day – die. I put on Stranger Things-esque protection equipment and probe these bacteria to ask, what allows them bacteria to win this tug-of-war? To understand this variation, I look at how both human and bacteria cells change on a genetic level in response to each other, as a member of the Blainey Lab, located in the Broad Institute, and Bryson Lab, located in the Ragon Institute and MIT.

Joshua has authored 15 articles

Why do the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines need to be kept so cold?

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The Pfizer and Moderna vaccine cold chains, explained

Joshua Peters

What are the advantages of an mRNA vaccine for COVID-19?

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They're easier to manufacture than traditional vaccines, but scientifically their history is checkered

Joshua Peters

Comment 1 peer comment

Did these scientists just create the first lab-grown human breast milk?

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Meet the two women recreating mother nature’s baby formula.

Joshua Peters

Researchers are abolishing an ancient epidemic — and trying to prevent the next one before it starts

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Using machine learning tools and viral sequences, researchers are trying to better understand disease transmission

Joshua Peters

Exosuits can restore mobility in stroke patients and soldiers alike

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And they're customizable for different types of bodies, gaits, and speeds

Joshua Peters

Knowing more about how sneeze droplets spray can help prevent disease

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Big and small droplets have different physics and even different pathogenic potential

Joshua Peters

A patient was cured of HIV. What should you expect in the future?

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Scientists are buoyed and see a path to future medicines

Joshua Peters

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Humanity's viral stowaway is now a defense against our greatest diseases

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Engineered viruses may be the key to HIV and tuberculosis vaccines

Joshua Peters

Haven't heard of RNA therapy yet? You will

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After a decade of painstaking progress​, the underdog is on the brink of treating a broad range of diseases

Joshua Peters

How dogs are helping us understand human allergies

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If your dog has allergies, chances are you do too. Thanks, microbes

Joshua Peters

Billionaires are rushing into biotech. Inequality is following them into science

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'Free-market philanthropy' raises yet more questions about the future of American public research

Joshua Peters

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Vaccines aren't yet using our immune system's full potential

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The most important invention in medicine could save even more lives

Joshua Peters

Earth's weirdest creatures are genetic treasure chests

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From the axolotl's regenerating limbs to naked mole rat cancer resistance, new sequencing is uncovering new possibilities

Joshua Peters

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How scientists are mapping the building blocks of life

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A microscopic moonshot hopes to revolutionize biology

Joshua Peters

Why there probably won't be a 'magic bullet' for cancer

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Researchers increasingly view the disease as a sprawling, evolving metropolis of cells

Joshua Peters

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Joshua has left Comment 9 peer comments

Futuristic organ-on-a-chip technology now seems more realistic than ever

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Researchers have pioneered what may be the most accurate simulation of kidney function to-date

Max G. Levy

Comment 1 peer comment

A new study shows that some are 'immune' to CRISPR. What does it mean for biology's breakthrough editor?

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It's complicated, and the road from lab to clinic is long

Alireza Edraki

Comment 3 peer comments

Should peer review stop being anonymous?

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Prominent researchers can take the gamble, but junior scientists risk retribution

Dan Samorodnitsky

Comment 4 peer comments

To better target cancer, scientists find clues on the surface of cells

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New research finds that we might need to take a step back from the inside of cells

Prabarna Ganguly

Comment 1 peer comment

Plants are not conscious, whether you can 'sedate' them or not

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A New York Times story is a case study in what can go wrong in translating science

Devang Mehta

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How paper towels could revolutionize DNA analysis

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A new method using paper towels like you have in your kitchen could make diagnosing diseases more affordable

Jennifer Tsang

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Evolution is a lot messier than we thought

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Cells evolved haphazardly, not in one overall arc

Melanie Silvis

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Why teamwork is better than attempting lone heroism in science

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A story of failure, collaboration, and incredibly tiny medicine

Samantha McWhirter

Comment 2 peer comments

New HIV drugs show a disease under control – for those who can afford them

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Even as new therapies raise hopes, diagnoses and costs prevent widespread treatment

Danny Jomaa

Comment 1 peer comment