Dr. Michel Sadelain and his team along with researchers at UC-San Diego and USC have shown that using mechanogenetics – how physical forces and changes in the mechanical properties of cells and tissues can influence how genes are expressed – to manipulate CAR-T cells to only attack cancer tissues. The researchers found by using ultrasound waves, they could direct certain cells to turn on CAR-T cell gene expression. This research could revolutionize the availability and safety of CAR-T cell treatment by increasing the effectiveness and minimizing the subsequent toxicities of these treatments.