Human Health and Potential (HHP)

From expanding the genetic alphabet to uncovering antibiotics hidden in silent genes, A*STAR’s researchers are wielding the tools of synthetic biology to improve our lives in surprising ways.

When placed in the proper environment, even stem cells from unlikely sources like the bladder or prostate can form skin components like hair follicles and sebaceous glands.

A database of ion-mobility mass spectrometry information is taking the guesswork out of glycan analysis.

The discovery of a new, highly conserved druggable site on the HIV reverse transcriptase could turn the tide in the wake of growing drug resistance.

Low levels of sugar entering into pancreatic cells may be the culprit behind insulin secretion defects in early-onset diabetes.

A*STAR researchers identified immune markers that can distinguish between common febrile diseases in Saudi Arabia.

The mysterious trigger of the NLRP1 inflammasome sensor has finally been identified: a protease found in the common cold-causing human rhinovirus tells our body that it has been invaded.

Taking meal timing into account in dietary recommendations could radically alter our approach to food consumption, metabolism and health.

Understanding why COVID-19 tends to strike the old but spare the young could inform how to prioritize limited COVID-19 vaccines.

Single-cell techniques have helped to identify a key molecular switch controlling how adult cells can be turned back to a stem cell-like state.

A*STAR researchers identify a novel mechanism in which an inflammatory protein heals wounds in healthy individuals but has the opposite effect in diabetics.

Controlling the delicate balance between immune cells called granulocytes and monocytes could make the difference between a healthy immune response and life-threatening sepsis.