Science AMA: I’m Dr.Todd Rider and I invented DRACOs with the hopes of
treating a broad spectrum of viruses. AMA!
Abstract
I studied both biomedicine and engineering at MIT, including coursework
at Harvard Medical School, and spent my career inventing novel
biotechnology projects by combining molecular and cellular biology tools
with a systems engineering approach. In 1997 I joined MIT Lincoln
Laboratory and the MIT Center for Cancer Research and invented the
CANARY biosensor, which uses genetically engineered lymphocytes to
identify pathogens within seconds with very high accuracy and
sensitivity. I engineered and demonstrated the first CANARY cell lines,
as reported in my widely publicized 2003 Science paper. I invented the
DRACO antiviral approach, designed the therapeutics and experiments,
personally conducted many of the in vitro and in vivo experiments, and
recruited and supervised a team in carrying out the rest. My DRACO
research has been called “visionary” by the White House (National
Bioeconomy Blueprint, April 2012, p. 9), named one of the best
inventions of the year by Time magazine (November 28, 2011, pp. 58, 78),
and featured on the BBC Horizons TV program (2013). DRACOs work to
target the dsRNA that virtually all viruses make and initiate apoptosis
(cell suicide). For more information on the science and the results of
previous DRACO experiments, see the article published in PLOS ONE:
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0022572
I will be back at 1 pm EST (10 am PT, 6 pm UTC) to answer your
questions, ask me anything! UPDATE: This AMA is now closed. Thank you
for your questions. I will continue to check this page intermittently
and respond to any questions.