Alim Ladha

PhD Candidate MIT Biological Engineering, McGovern Institute Tan-Yang Center for Autism Research Fellow 2019-2020

[Alim Ladha @LadhaAlim]

In my 1st tweet, I’m excited to share my 1st first-author paper out in NEJM, all thanks to an amazing team: @JuliaJoung, @omarabudayyeh, @jgooten, @zhangf, and amazing collaborators. A rapid, sensitive #CRISPR #COVID19 test suitable for use beyond the lab.
https://t.co/mkGTcIWjuo

[Shahram Seyedin-Noor @ShahramSN]

"fake it till you make it" has no place in the life sciences. don't fake it. run experiments and make more data.

[McGovern Institute @mcgovernmit]

We are *so* excited to share the news that @mcgovernmit fellow @jgooten has been named to @techreview 35 Innovators Under 35 List! 🎉🧬https://t.co/jvmtQQv042

[Alim Ladha @LadhaAlim]

How do CRISPR-associated transposons find their "homes"? It was fun working with @thestrecker @EdwinNNeumann to answer this question!

[Feng Zhang @zhangf]

We are pleased to share a follow-up story to our study of CRISPR-associated transposases (CAST) led by Makoto Saito, @LadhaAlim, @thestrecker, and Guilhem Faure: https://t.co/R8lCNnKUYR. 1/5

[Cell @CellCellPress]

Dual modes of #CRISPR-associated #transposon homing. Now online! https://t.co/WT8VL9uM2l

[Alim Ladha @LadhaAlim]

For covid today, Mars with @SpaceX tomorrow 😂

[george church @geochurch]

Given Fauci masking into 2022 (& beyond + next wave + next pandemic), shouldn't we have better masks? Better seals at the edges, full face visible, food & drink without mask removal. https://t.co/b7mNHKV8xn
https://t.co/oSQXup2WwI

[Cell @CellCellPress]

Online now! #Transposons divert #CRISPR- Cas systems for #RNA-guided transposition. https://t.co/dyOu2Q2kBe

[Sundar Pichai @sundarpichai]

.@DeepMind's incredible AI-powered protein folding breakthrough will help us better understand one of life’s fundamental building blocks + enable researchers to tackle new and hard problems, from fighting diseases to environmental sustainability.
https://t.co/kpr8EAx34h

[Vince Miao @vincentnmiao]

Check out what we (led by @carlygailz!) and others have been up to recently here:

[Alim Ladha @LadhaAlim]

@AssisT_styx @elonmusk While they might run for 45 cycles, the threshold used is generally below 40, but very kit and target dependent. Running the PCR for more cycles doesn’t cause FPs.

[Alim Ladha @LadhaAlim]

@AK4WA @elonmusk PCR tests do not flag positive for colds. Some antibody tests may, but good ones won’t.

[Alim Ladha @LadhaAlim]

@Bogged20 @elonmusk Vast majority use taqman probes

[Alim Ladha @LadhaAlim]

@MrManderly @elonmusk Standards depend on the RT-qPCR kit that lab is using. The kits are vetted by the FDA using an EUA, but may have some differences. Overall, RT-qPCR based tests for use in high complexity labs have very similar characteristics.

[Alim Ladha @LadhaAlim]

@apenita @elonmusk That doesn’t mean it’s a false positive. A 35-38 Ct may be unlikely to spread virus, but is just beginning or at the end of their infection. Still a true positive, just unlikely to spread.

[Alim Ladha @LadhaAlim]

@elonmusk @elonmusk I work on testing at MIT, almost zero (<0.1%) if not zero. RT-qPCR tests are incredibly specific and if they use more than 1 target and a Ct threshold below 40 (most tests), no overamplification FPs. Rapid nucleic acid tests are a different story.

[NEJM @NEJM]

A new method for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 combines simplified extraction of RNA with isothermal amplification and CRISPR–mediated detection. Testing of 402 samples indicated a sensitivity of 93.1% and a specificity of 98.5%. #COVID19 #SARSCoV2

[Feng Zhang @zhangf]

Excited to share STOPCovid.v2 for #COVID19 diagnostics. Grateful for collaborators who helped make this happen! https://t.co/8tloiLBmjm

@JuliaJoung @LadhaAlim @jgooten @omarabudayyeh KeithJerome @GreningerLab NamGyunKim @UWVirology @AnnWoolleyMD DebHung @brucedwalkermd @DrJLi

[Omar Abudayyeh @omarabudayyeh]

We're excited to share STOPCovid, published today in @NEJM! We combine LAMP and CRISPR-dx into a single-step, low-cost reaction that runs in 30-60 minutes, enabling a simple workflow for point-of-care testing and eventually at-home use. https://t.co/bi6ojJMeho

[Julia Joung @JuliaJoung]

Our work on STOPCovid.v2 for #COVID19 diagnostics is out @NEJM! We combined LAMP with CRISPR detection to run one reaction at constant temperature. By streamlining the assay, we hope to expand testing outside of clinical labs and ultimately at home. 1/X
https://t.co/wI6AiCYT93