Industry News

As its new research ship – the RRS Sir David Attenborough – headed off to Antarctica for a new season of science, Senior Lab Manager, Elaine Fitzcharles, explains what is involved in creating and managing a state-of-the-art floating laboratory. The UK has a long history of Antarctic discovery and scientific endeavor and the British Antarctic Survey was formally establis...

Cedars-Sinai Cancer investigators have developed a new nanotechnology-based test that can detect and profile prostate cancers—even in microscopic amounts. Their work, published in the peer-reviewed journal nanotoday, suggests that this “liquid biopsy” test could spare many patients unnecessary treatment-related side effects, directing them instead to effective therapies ...

New work has outlined how microbes have enabled insects to consume a wide variety of different foods, and those dietary changes have had an effect. The findings have been reported in Nature Ecology and Evolution. "Insect diets range from human blood, in the case of mosquitoes, to the wood used to build our houses, in the case of termites. The common denominator is bacte...

With clinical laboratories taking centre stage during COVID-19 by developing tests, collaborating with a diverse group of stakeholders, ramping up test activity, throughput and efficiency, and servicing patients virtually by telehealth, a new report developed on behalf of Medlab Middle East by Frost & Sullivan titled Global clinical laboratory trends, has identified the ...

Now, the first and only immunoassays for the risk assessment and clinical management of preeclampsia have received breakthrough designation and clearance. Thermo Fisher Scientific (Waltham, MA, USA) has received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for its B·R·A·H·M·S PlGF plus KRYPTOR and B·R·A·H·M·S sFlt-1 KRYPTOR novel biomarkers. These groundbreakin...

At Area, we believe the future of life science is both forward-thinking and flexible. And with lab design evolving alongside the changing needs of modern scientists, there’s never been a more exciting time to join this industry. But when things are moving this fast, how on earth are you supposed to keep up? Don’t worry, our team’s got you covered. From smart labs to cl...

Ethylene Oxide’s Invaluable Role In Protecting Public Health Ethylene Oxide (EtO or EO) is a colorless gas used commercially in a wide variety of ways, including the production of textiles, personal care items, and the sterilization of medical devices, cosmetics, and spices. EtO is one of the most common ways to sterilize medical devices, which is crucial for preventing ...

Demand for diagnostic testing continues to rise due to converging factors. Noncommunicable diseases are widespread, where nearly 60 percent of adults in the US live with at least one chronic condition. The ageing population is also growing—according to the UK’s Office for National Statistics, in 2015, people over the age of 60 made up 12.3 percent of the global populatio...

Rare diseases are defined by their prevalence, where any given individual disease affects a small proportion of a population; but collectively, rare diseases are estimated to affect at least 3.5–5.9 percent of people worldwide.1 It is estimated that 80 percent of rare diseases have a genetic cause, and sequencing strategies are often performed to aid diagnosis.2 But even...

This technology uses bio-materials to create artificial tissue structures needed to treat patient diseases or injuries. The hydrogel-based bioinks used for this process are composed of cells. In order to make them effective, these bio-materials must be strengthened with UV light or chemical processes. However, according to the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (K...

A team of researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel has come up with tiny micro-robots that can scan individual cells to tell whether they're healthy or in trouble. These tiny cell inspectors, a mere ten microns across each, are even capable of transporting desired cells to a different location with the use of electricity or a magnet for later genetic analysis, makin...

A new study demonstrates that a certain type of activation of the brain’s own immune cells, microglia cells, triggers inflammatory protective mechanisms in the immune system. Microglia cells can either slow or drive disease progression in neurological diseases depending on how they’re activated. Researchers at Lund University and Karolinska Institute explored how these c...

Cholera, a bacterial disease that induces diarrhea, affects millions of people and results in about 150,000 deaths each year. An early detection system for a cholera outbreak would help professionals improve the allocation of resources and aid, but the monitoring of fecal samples is not an easy or non-invasive task. Now, Maia Gatlin, a research engineer at the Georgia I...

Found in nearly 30 percent of all human tumors, KRAS is one of the most common gene mutations linked to cancer. KRAS is especially prevalent in pancreatic cancer with nearly 90 percent of pancreatic cancers driven by a mutation in the gene. Unfortunately, despite being widespread the mutation remains difficult to target. Reporting in Cancer Discovery scientists at the U...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological condition affecting around one million people in the U.S., where progressive damage to the outer “myelin sheath” of the neurons causes a range of symptoms in those affected. “Identification of MS biomarkers to aid in the diagnosis and treatment at an early stage is extremely important due to the varied clinical character...

The findings could potentially pave the way for inexpensive and convenient large-scale screening. Yifan Wang, PhD, Qihao Guo, PhD, and colleagues reported on their study in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. AD is the most common form of dementia, characterized by progressive cognitive and behavioral disorders, the authors explained. The main pathological features of AD i...

A novel artificial intelligence blood testing technology developed and used by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers to successfully detect lung cancer in a 2021 study has now detected more than 80 percent of liver cancers in a new study of 724 people. The blood test, called DELFI (DNA evaluation of fragments for early interception) detects fragmentation change...

The technology is intended for use in low- and middle-income countries where access to routine medical diagnostics may be unreliable. The process involves obtaining images of areas of the body which are least pigmented, including the white of the eye, the lower eyelid, and the lip. The app then analyzes the color of the imaged tissue, and as hemoglobin absorbs light in a...

In most cases, cleaning laboratory glassware calls for a specialised approach. This not only protects laboratory personnel but helps to improve the accuracy of results, avoid cross-contamination and extend the longevity of glassware. Different glassware types generally demand different cleaning methods. However, the tips below can be applied to most glassware in the l...

Medical research increasingly focuses on leveraging global clinical trials to their full potential. This means that researchers can explore widespread health conditions and find and test innovative new therapies and solutions that may benefit many patients worldwide. Wider and bigger clinical trials are more inclusive. Biobanks that collect and store biological samples ...

The generic drug industry lobby group Medicines for Europe, which represents companies including Teva, Novartis's Sandoz unit and Fresenius SE's Kabi business, sent an open letter to European Union member states' energy and health ministers this week. The EU's 27 energy ministers are meeting on Friday to seek agreement on measures to tackle Europe's energy crisis, with ...

Groups of cells called pancreatic islets, which produce hormones, fail to produce sufficient insulin to control blood sugar in diabetics. This is why understanding the basic biology of pancreatic islets is important for human health. Over the past two decades, researchers have conducted studies with animal or cell-based models which have suggested that specific small RN...

The ground-breaking virus detection and identification methodology has been described in a paper published in ACS Nano by researchers at University of Oxford (Oxford, UK). The paper demonstrates how machine learning can significantly improve the efficiency, accuracy and time required to identify different types of viruses, as well as differentiate between the strains. Th...

As laboratories strive for higher quality, companies are increasingly adopting electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs) to record and access lab data. Compared to paper notebooks, these systems can more efficiently meet the volume, complexity, accessibility, and security requirements necessary for the success of laboratory operations. This article explores the benefits of...

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have created a biomaterial that can be injected intravenously to reduce inflammation in tissue and promote cell and tissue repair. The material has potential applications in treating heart attacks, traumatic brain injury, pulmonary arterial hypertension and more. The new biomaterial is based on previous work by Karen...

In a scientific first, a robot at Tel Aviv University has inherited another one of the five human senses—smell. The robot can smell through a biological sensor. The sensor sends electrical signals as a response to the presence of a nearby odor, which the robot can detect and interpret. In the study, researchers successfully connected the biological sensor to an electron...

In a study led by Washington State University (Pullman, WA, USA), researchers demonstrated that it is possible to make electrodes using just screen printing by creating a stretchable, durable circuit pattern which can be transferred to fabric and worn directly on the human skin. These wearable electronics can be used for monitoring the health of patients admitted in hosp...

Blu Biotech Inc. (Albuquerque, NM, USA) has entered into a patent license agreement with University of Michigan (U-M, Ann Arbor, MI, USA) to develop and commercialize a Micro Gas Chromatography Photoionization Detector (Micro-GC-PID) for use in diagnostic testing. The commercial device will combine high-performance breath analysis with point-of-care utilization for the d...

What are IVDs ? In-vitro diagnostics (IVDs) refer to clinical tests done on samples that are retrieved from a patient, which are then processed and analyzed in a lab. With recent advancements in technology propelling the constant innovation of treatment strategies in the medical field, it is no longer uncommon clinical practice to see clinicians ordering IVD lab tests i...

The empirical prescription of antibiotics is eventually adding up to the larger problem of Anti Microbial Resistance (AMR). Now, a point-of-care solution leverages the power of nanotechnology and biotechnology for ultra rapid diagnosis of UTI. Module Innovations’ (Maharashtra, India) proprietary SDSAN technology enables it to deliver UTI positive/negative results in jus...

The wearable medical device market is growing at a little more than 27% annually and is forecast to reach a value of $174 billion by 2030, according to business intelligence firm Market Research Future. Given the potential of this technology to provide 24/7 health monitoring and diagnostics on an individual basis, its future growth may stretch well beyond even those numb...

Understanding the molecular differences that make the human brain distinct can help researchers study disruptions in its development. A new study, published recently in the journal Science by a team including University of Wisconsin-Madison neuroscience professor Andre Sousa, investigates the differences and similarities of cells in the prefrontal cortex -- the frontmost...

Biden’s words and actions are not surprising given the turning of the tide for marijuana in the last handful of years. For example, the recreational use of cannabis is now legal in 19 states and the District of Columbia. While this legalization and decriminalization has residual affects across many areas of life, for chemists, it’s a scientific challenge. “When I grew u...

The technology provides a rapid and accurate way to test for the presence of the virus, and the researchers report that it has similar sensitivity as the current gold-standard test, PCR. However, the technology is not just envisaged as diagnostic. The nets can bind and disable the virus, suggesting that they may also have therapeutic applications. While the pandemic may...

While the manufacturing of biological tissue meets major societal demands, it also faces significant challenges related to process standardization and scaling up. With these challenges in mind, the French start-up Poietis has developed the Next Generation Bioprinting (NGB) platform to achieve 4D bioprinting of biological tissue in a faster, more affordable and more funct...

Now they have around 90% of the market share in Japan. We spoke with Takashi Soematsu, Business Development Manager at TechnoMedica, who believes that the Covid-19 pandemic is a chance and an opportunity to change our mindsets. MedicalExpo e-Magazine: Could you introduce us to your company’s top products? Takashi Soematsu: TechnoMedica is a Japanese pre-analytical s...