Editorial concept of a cell interior with mitochondria, RBCs, DNA, microtubules, and the Golgi complex as a taco, rendered in the style of a tinted SEM image.

A very basic overview of how liquid biopsy may lead to better detection, monitoring, and treatment of cancer, animated for a general audience.

Cover design for a client showing the potential value of liquid biopsy as an early detector of cancer

An illustration for a client depicting an algorithm for treatment decisions in cancer patients. A patient’s individual profile is run through a computer database of similar case profiles to verify the quality of the treatment plan. This also enables predictions about the patient’s likely outcomes. These individualized predictions can guide treatment decisions and can help anticipate side effects for better management. The outcomes of the patient’s treatment are then cross-referenced and catalogued in the database, further expanding it for better accuracy in future predictions. The database can also be analyzed to form new hypotheses for clinical investigation.

A looping editorial animation about the origins of autoimmune diseases. Bad luck, genetic predisposition, or both can trigger renegade activity in the immune system.

Design options for a multi-disciplinary research institution that focuses on developing treatments for cancer

Short, looping animation that plays with the concept of how much our genes and epigenetics determine who we are versus developmental and environmental factors.

Liquid biopsy can detect cancer through the analysis of blood or other fluids. Tumors usually have disorganized and leaky vasculature, which can allow tumor cells or fragments of tumor cell DNA to escape into the blood or other fluids. The isolation and analysis of this tumor cell DNA may help detect cancer in early stages, and it may also help doctors monitor treatment responses.

An original illustration depicting a complex cross-section of a cardiac muscle cell. The cell is sectioned in ways that reveal all the major structures at accurate relative scale. The T-tubules, which are extensions of the plasma membrane, quickly transport extracellular calcium ions to all parts of the cell via special calcium channels, which facilitates contraction of the muscle fibers in precise synchrony.

Basic anatomy of a nephron – the functional unit of the kidneys. Nephrons are essentially long tubes of varying thickness and physiological makeup. They filter the liquid in the blood and excrete metabolic waste by creating urine. It’s a complex process, and the first step in understanding it is knowing the physical structures that do the work. This illustration shows a cross-section of a juxtamedullary nephron. It is highly stylized and simplified in order to maximize teaching value and clarity.

A watercolor style illustration showing molecular differences between archaeal and bacterial lipids as well as structural differences between their plasma membranes. Both of these microorganisms reside in the human gut, and both can become pathological.

ß-lactam antibiotics are the most widely used class of antibiotics. They work through the presence of a closed ß-lactam ring that disrupts cell wall formation of many kinds of bacteria. Resistance to this type of antibiotic occurs through bacterial production of enzymes called ß-lactamases, which hydrolyze the ß-lactam ring, causing it to break and rendering the antibiotic ineffective.

Disease awareness piece for C. difficile

General overview of liquid biopsy and the main clinical applications in the treatment of cancer

Illustration for a client demonstrating several techniques for analyzing cerebrospinal fluid taken from a patient with a brain tumor. Brain and spinal tumors can be especially difficult to biopsy in the traditional way with needles. Taking a CSF sample is less invasive and can be done more frequently, allowing doctors to monitor progression or responses to treatment. Analysis of CSF can detect fragments of DNA shed by tumor cells in the brain or spinal cord. These DNA fragments would not be detectable in blood samples due to the blood-brain barrier.

Simple illustration for a client showing the role of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in ARID1A wild type and mutant cells. This type of schematic illustration is very common in scientific journals and textbooks because it quickly conveys complex processes.