A research team led by CRN director Samuel Stupp has developed a new approach that directly combats the progression of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

In these devastating illnesses, proteins misfold and clump together around brain cells, which ultimately leads to cell death. The innovative new treatment effectively traps the proteins before they can aggregate into the toxic structures capable of penetrating neurons.

Northwestern University researchers including CRN members C. Shad Thaxton and Vinayak Dravid have developed first-of-their-kind eyedrops that use synthetic nanoparticles to help the eye regenerate cells that have been damaged by mustard keratopathy, or exposure to mustard gas, and other inflammatory eye diseases.

CRN faculty member Jonathan Rivnay was elected into the 2025 class of American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) Fellows, the AIMBE announced. He was cited “for making pioneering contributions in the field of conducting polymers, bioelectronics, and medical devices.”

The AIMBE College of Fellows comprises the top 2 percent of medical and biological engineers, honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering and medicine research, practice, or education.

Northwestern University scientists have uncovered new insights into how neurofilaments act like Velcro in neurodegenerative diseases, clogging up the brain and preventing normal function. The research, led by CRN faculty member Puneet Opal, was recently published in the journal JCI Insight.