Pioneering technique paves way for fast and cheap fabrication of rapid medical diagnostic tools

Breakthrough promises to democratise microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip technology, benefiting resource-poor countries and settings. New technology developed by the University of Bristol has the potential to accelerate uptake and development of on-chip diagnostic techniques in parts...

Vibrating glove helps stroke patients control spasms

After a stroke, survivors often experience uncontrollable spasms that can twist their arms and hands into perpetual fists. The only treatments are expensive, frequently painful injections of botulinum toxin or oral medications so strong...

Adult Vaccination

“Vaccination can provide cost-effective protection against a host of diseases throughout life, but remains an underused public-health strategy in adults for the promotion of healthy ageing. Without specific vaccination programmes for the adult population...

Light therapy helmet could help dementia patients

A new infrared light therapy has the potential to help people with dementia. A pilot study recently investigated how transcranial photobiomodulation therapy (PBM-T) –transferred through a specially adapted helmet -- could boost memory, motor function...

Stay future-ready: Running parallel operations with a CDMO during clinical trials

Bringing a drug candidate through clinical trials is a challenging and high-risk process, since only 10% of candidates actually reach final approval. Both established pharma companies and small startups are often faced with this...

Lab-grown ‘mini-stomachs’ could shed light on children’s COVID symptoms

A ‘lab-grown model’ of the human stomach, that can be used to study how infections affect the gastrointestinal system, has been developed for the first time. A UCL-led team of international scientists have built on...

CRYONISS EARNS COVETED MHRA QUALITY MARK

Experts in biological sample, and medicinal product, storage and logistics management, CRYONISS offers a comprehensive storage service from ambient down to vapour phase liquid nitrogen. The Cheshire-based team has a wealth of experience in supporting...

Key gene blocks the ‘spillover’ of avian flu to humans

Understanding the genetic make-up of currently circulating avian flu strains may offer one of the best lines of defence against widespread human transmission. This is according to new research which has found a key human...

Global community will assess environmental impact of clinical trials

The collaborative initiative will publish a publicly available methodology for calculating and comparing the carbon footprint of centralised and decentralised clinical trials. A global, not-for-profit alliance that advocates for greater collaboration in life sciences R&D,...

Diagnostic devices reimagined

Diagnostic devices are coming on in leaps and bounds but you may be surprised to learn that one device that’s remained much the same since the late 1950s is the colonoscope. One researcher working...

How a Novel Drug Discovery Technology Could Help in the Fight Against COVID-19

By Dr Asif Tulah, Alcyomics Alcyomics has been adapting its service provision and assays to play their part in the race to find new treatments for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) and to better understand how this virus works....

There’s more to collagen than cosmetics…

Big strides are being made in collagen clinical development, particularly in treatment of age-related conditions. Dr Gen Li, president and founder of Phesi, discusses the increase in collagen research, and its clinical and biological...

New ‘Clinical Trial in a Dish’ for Alzheimer’s Disease

An extensive panel of consented patient samples and iPSC technology will advance AD drug development and patient stratification.  Pluripotent stem cell technology provider for drug discovery, Axol Bioscience Ltd (Axol), has signed an exclusive agreement...

Making clinical trials right for older people

In this issue, we speak to Miles Witham, Professor of Trials for Older People at Newcastle University and consultant geriatrician, about why he’s bringing about a sea change in how clinical trials involving older...

UK firm plans state-of-the-art precision medicine centre in California

Working with local partners, BIOS Health, of Cambridge, will create a cutting-edge research and clinical trials center for neural digital therapies. The centre will be built around BIOS’s real-time insights into the nervous system,...

An old scientific controversy is resolved… plants do make sounds!

For the first time ever, researchers at Tel Aviv University have recorded and analysed distinct sounds from plants. The click-like sounds, similar to the popping of popcorn, are emitted at a volume similar to human...