A Massachusetts jury is deliberating the case in the retrial of Emanuel Lopes, the man accused of killing a police sergeant and a bystander in Weymouth in 2018.
A judge declared a mistrial in the case against Emmanuel Lopes after a jury was unable …
Massachusetts
This clinical trial co-led by Boston researchers restored hearing in 5 deaf children
A collaborative clinical trial engineered by researchers in Boston and in Shanghai, China, was able to deliver significant hearing restoration to five deaf children by using gene therapy — and investigators believe this is only the beginning.
The clinical trial was held in China, and was co-led by researchers at Mass Eye and Ear and Fudan University in Shanghai. Children with a specific type of hereditary deafness — DFNB9 — were treated with a surgical injection to deliver a gene carried by a virus.
Five of the six children had significant improvement to their hearing — an encouraging result for patients, their families and doctors, especially since there are currently no FDA-approved drugs for hereditary deafness.
Dr. Zheng-Yi Chen of Mass Eye and Ear spoke to NBC10 Boston about the study’s results, and the reaction from the patients’ parents.
“Suddenly, the daughter started turning her head to respond,,” Dr. Chen said. “That’s an amazing moment.”
Around the world, there are 1.5 billion people impacted by hearing loss, according to Chen. He said that most of those people have noise-related and age-related hearing loss.
Dr. Chen said this trial opens to door to endless possibilities in the future, for both gene therapy and treatment of hearing loss.
“We can see the future, there will be new treatment,” Dr. Chen said. “We’re actually working on some of the gene therapy approach for noise-induced hearing loss and age-related hearing loss. And we have some really good signs in some cases that it’s possible.”
You can watch our Q&A with Dr. Chen at the top of this story.
How could the plan to shift the Mass. Pike transform Boston’s Allston neighborhood?
A nearly two-billion-dollar project could transform Boston’s Allston neighborhood by shifting the Massachusetts Turnpike, adding a transit station and connecting the area to the Charles River, and officials are hopeful that a federal grant is awarded to help propel more momentum.
It’s called the Allston Multimodal Project — a massive undertaking that’s being billed as a once in a generation opportunity to “dramatically improve livability and connectivity for residents.”
The goal of the project revolves around replacing the aging Allston Viaduct, which carries I-90 over the neighborhood and around the Beacon Park train yard. Instead of the large, elevated interchange, the Pike would pass straight along train yard — allowing for new space for developments, better connectivity in the neighborhood, a safer highway and more access to the Charles River. Plus, transit access would improve with a new West Station.
With such a high price tag, though, state officials are seeking federal help. A decision is expected within the next few weeks on a Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods grant through the Biden Administration. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation asked for $500 million in their grant application.
Although concerns have been raised over travel delays during construction — which could take up to 10 years to finish once funding is secured and the project is fully approved — the project has a lot of support, including from Gov. Maura Healey and Mayor Michelle Wu.
President and CEO of A Better City Kate Dineen sat down with NBC10 Boston to go over the project and the impact it could have on Allston, Boston and beyond. You can watch the interview at the top of this story.
Smoke seen coming from building in Jamaica Plain
Smoke was seen coming from a building in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood Thursday morning.
Video of the scene showed firefighters on top of the building’s roof on Washington Street. Several windows were also seen damaged.
It was…
Migrant overflow shelter in Roxbury is already reaching capacity
It was just last week when a new temporary shelter for migrants opened in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood — with the hope it would address the ever-going capacity crisis for migrant shelters. However, that shelter is now nearing capacity.
Initi…
2 JetBlue planes touch at Logan airport, flight canceled, Massport says
Two JetBlue planes touched while in a de-icing area at Boston Logan International Airport Thursday morning, according to authorities.
The planes made contact when one wingtip touched another plane’s tail, the Massachusetts Port Authority said.
No injuries were reported and both flights were canceled, Massport said.
NBC10 Boston reached out to JetBlue but have yet to hear back.
