In 2023, the FDA officially approved Casgevy for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). This marked not only a milestone treatment for SCD but also an immense step forward in the use of genome-editing technology, setting a new precedent in the field of gene therapy. Casgevy utilizes the revolutionary CRISPR-Cas9 technology. CRISPR-Cas9 was adapted from a naturally occurring system that bacteria use as an immune defense. When infected with viruses, bacteria incorporate small pieces of...

Nearsightedness and farsightedness, also known as myopia and hyperopia, are both common conditions that have affected humanity since ancient times. Unlike many chronic conditions that require surgery or precise medications to treat, these refractive errors can be corrected with lenses that magnify images properly through the eyes. Because of this, we can find evidence of corrective lens usage dating back much further than many modern medical treatments.  Polished magnifying lenses have been...

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide, taking approximately 17.9 million lives every year. The heart is a powerful muscle, pumping about 2 ounces of blood with each beat and beating over 3 billion times in the average lifetime. Cardiovascular disease is the umbrella term for all disorders affecting the heart or blood vessels, including conditions such as heart attack, stroke, atherosclerosis (clogged arteries), and heart valve defects.  Many types of CVDs...