Explore Topics Related to Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology

ThumbnailHooked on Heme
Chemist seeks to block enzyme reactions that lead to certain cancers.
ThumbnailMesmerized by Metals
Scientist tracks zinc in brain cells to uncover the causes of Alzheimer's, diabetes and prostate cancer.
ThumbnailDrugs from Deep Down
Researcher studies secondary metabolites found in caves to help find cures for diseases.
ThumbnailGreen Light
Chemist studies protein molecules that make animals glow in the dark.
ThumbnailSpecial Delivery
Chemical engineer studies methods to improve heart disease drugs.
ThumbnailPast to Present
Evolutionary biologist uses computers and other molecular biology tools to locate ancestral receptor genes.
ThumbnailMimicking Mother Nature
Chemist invents ways to create useful products found in nature—or in his imagination.
ThumbnailThe Humpty Dumpty Dilemma
Chemical biologist uses "top-down" mass spectrometry to weigh proteins.
ThumbnailGetting the Lead Out
Scientist studies the chemistry of lead poisoning.
ThumbnailLife Is Sweet
Biological engineer studies sugar molecules called carbohydrates.
ThumbnailChemical World
Toxicologist studies the role of genes in the body's response to chemical exposure.
ThumbnailSticky Situations
Scientist studies tailor-made molecules as possible treatments for inflammation and other illnesses.
ThumbnailThere’s an “Ome” for That
Rapid advances in technology and computational tools are allowing researchers to categorize many aspects of the biological world.
ThumbnailSpotlight on Videos: Scientists in Action
Janet Iwasa, Molecular Animator, and Laura Kiessling, Carbohydrate Scientist discuss their work in video interviews.
ThumbnailNIGMS Is on Instagram!
NIGMS is now on Instagram (@NIGMS_NIH), beaming all the gorgeous science images you can’t get enough of straight to your mobile devices.
ThumbnailFive Foul Things That Are Also Good for You
Usually, we think of mold, feces, nitric oxide, hydrogen sulfide and rat poison as rank, toxic or both. But scientists are learning more about the helpful roles these substances can play
ThumbnailAlgae Clean Up Arsenic
Scientists discover algae that chemically change arsenic to make it less toxic.
ThumbnailChemists Smell Dirt
Scientist discovers how bacteria and algae make geosmin, or the odor of dirt.
ThumbnailVitamin B12 Explained
Scientists discover how bacteria make vitamin B12.
ThumbnailStuck on Mom
Researchers learn that during the fertile period in a woman's menstrual cycle, cells in her uterus acquire a sticky sugar coating.
ThumbnailNatural De-Icer
Researchers make customized versions of natural antifreeze.
ThumbnailLiving Cleansers
Researchers unveil the secrets of how small living cleansers can "eat" toxic chemicals.
ThumbnailHow Feverfew Works
Scientists discover that feverfew, which is also known by its plant name "bachelor's button," exerts its effects by halting inflammation.


ThumbnailThe Right Fit
Clinical pharmacist researches how genes affect the body’s response to medicines.



ThumbnailDr. Data
Doctor-scientist uses computers to re-classify diseases.



ThumbnailSecrets of the Killer Snails
Biochemist studies how the venom of marine cone snails may be used to treat pain.



ThumbnailDemystifying General Anesthetics
Find out why anesthetics have been challenging to study and what scientists are learning about them.



ThumbnailRx: Genome Sequence
Scientists study the human genome to find out if an individual is at risk for certain diseases.



ThumbnailTylenol as Lifesaver
Scientists found that Tylenol may alleviate kidney damage.



ThumbnailContact Medicine
Pediatrician invents medicated contact lens.



ThumbnailThe Bad Side of a Good Drug
Anesthesiologists at the Medical College of Wisconsin are trying to figure out how anesthetics work in the body.



ThumbnailGarlic: To Your Health!
Researchers discover that a natural component of garlic relaxes blood vessels.



ThumbnailResisting AIDS Resistance
Researchers craft a drug that HIV cannot counterattack.



ThumbnailChicken Medicine
Just like the antibodies in our body, monoclonal antibodies used as drugs block unhealthy molecular interactions, such as those among cancer cells that form tumors.



ThumbnailGinseng's Many Moods
Scientists identify several active ingredients from different kinds of ginseng and figure out how they impact the growth of blood vessels.



ThumbnailNeedle-Free Injections
A new medical device now available in some hospitals and clinics can inject medicines without the jab of a needle.



ThumbnailHot Flash News Flash
New evidence hints that taking tamoxifen and antidepressants together may not be such a good idea.



ThumbnailBasic Studies Yield Myeloma Drug
Lab studies begun in the 1970s have led to a promising new cancer drug now on pharmacy shelves



ThumbnailFinding a Cancer Drug's Mistakes
Research may play a significant role in developing the next generation of drugs to treat a type of cancer.



ThumbnailCocaine Busted
Scientists discover an enzyme that breaks down cocaine into an inactive substance faster than any other such enzyme examined before.


ThumbnailThe Side Effects of a Misspelling
Because of a small genetic difference, some people have much higher levels of a cancer drug than most patients given the same dose.


ThumbnailHeart Drug Prevents Muscle Loss After Burns
Researchers come up with a promising medical treatment to thwart devastating muscle and bone loss.



ThumbnailSour Orange Juice Gives Medicines An Extra Punch
Scientists discover that Seville (sour) orange juice affects the body's handling of some medicines.