Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced the Invitrogen EVOS S1000 Spatial Imaging System, designed to help researchers generate more efficient, high-quality, multiplexed images of tissue samples. The system uses advanced spectral technology to capture images of up to nine targets simultaneously, reducing the need for multiple imaging rounds and preserving tissue integrity. “Understanding tissue structure and function…
Google and Institute Curie to join forces in using AI to predict women’s cancer relapse risk
Imagine AI predicting cancer’s next move, paving the way for personalized treatments that truly match each patient’s needs. To help make that goal a reality, Google is partnering with the newly formed Institute of Women’s Cancers to combat breast and gynecological cancers using AI. Announced at the France AI Action Summit, this collaboration unites Google’s…
Light-activated turmeric compound shows promise against superbugs
Texas A&M researchers have developed a photodynamic approach using curcumin — turmeric’s active compound — to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to a Scientific Reports study. The method achieved substantial reductions in bacterial viability across lab tests. The results point to a potential to revitalize existing antimicrobial treatments. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a well-documented growing public…
5 neurotech trends to watch in 2025: From paralysis recovery to prosthetics that feel and beyond
Paralyzed patients are walking again. Silent minds are finding their voice. Robotic limbs are feeling. Neurotechnology is now merging human intention with machine intelligence, transforming concepts once confined to science fiction—like the cyberspace decks from William Gibson’s Neuromancer (1984) and the neural implants from his 1981 story Johnny Mnemonic—into clinical reality. Think AI-powered brain implants that decode…
Ericsson launches Cognitive Labs to advance AI research in telecom, healthcare
Ericsson has introduced Cognitive Labs, a virtual research initiative dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), Active Learning, and Large-Scale Language Models (LLMs). The program operates with teams in Madrid, Málaga, and Cairo. Focus areas include enhancing mobile communications and exploring emerging technology applications in sectors like healthcare. The…
White House says there is ‘confirmable truth’ that COVID-19 originated from lab leak in China
[Updated with additional details on February 6, 2025] Quick Overview: New CIA Finding (January 2025): COVID-19 “most likely” began from a lab incident in Wuhan, but this conclusion carries a “low confidence” rating—meaning evidence remains limited or uncertain. House Oversight Committee report (December 2024): Reaches a similar lab-origin conclusion, citing factors like the virus’s furin…
Q&A: How BD-Biosero robotics alliance can bridge automation gaps in complex flow cytometry workflows
As therapeutic pipelines grow more complex — with multispecific antibodies, cell therapies, and genomic medicines demanding rigorous immunological characterization — flow cytometry is a core enabler of advanced immunophenotyping and functional analysis. Yet while experiments require unprecedented precision (high parameters are commonplace with sometimes 18+ color panels), manual workflows can struggle to meet throughput demands…
Proprio CEO charts the future of surgical robotics as a shortage of surgeons looms
A looming U.S. surgeon shortage—projected to reach up to 19,900 unfilled positions by 2036 per AAMC data—is set to collide with an aging population and frequently crumbling rural healthcare infrastructure. Rural communities face the sharpest edge of this predicament: 136 rural hospitals closed between 2010–2021, leaving 60% of non-metro counties lacking adequate surgical care in…
AI takes center stage at ORNL, where potential meets risk
In the early 1990s, the internet seemed poised to improve our lives by democratizing knowledge, publishing, and communication. While it did achieve many of these goals, it also introduced security risks ranging from malware to phishing. The online world of 2024 feels more like a war zone than a digital playground, “If you connect a…
New model sharpens antibody predictions, aiding faster vaccine and biologics development
Researchers have made significant strides in predicting a protein’s structure from its sequence using large language models. However, this method hasn’t been as effective for antibodies, primarily due to their hypervariability. This makes it challenging to identify treatments for SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious diseases. MIT researchers have developed a computational technique that more accurately predicts…
Can AI improve mental health therapy?
Some individuals with mental health disorders hesitate to discuss personal issues with a clinician due to concerns about judgment or stigma. This is especially true for people with addiction disorders, yet foregoing professional help can harm both mental and physical health. Now, researchers at Cedars-Sinai say artificial intelligence (AI) may play a role in addressing…
GLP-1 medications: A promising solution for not just diabetes
In the decades-long search for a “silver bullet” to tackle the U.S. obesity crisis, immense sums have been spent on diets, pills, and intensive workout programs. Now, researchers say GLP-1 — originally a treatment for type 2 diabetes — also addresses obesity, effectively solving two problems at once. But there may be additional benefits. A…
Paralyzed man flies virtual drone with thought-controlled finger movements
In a demonstration of “mind over matter,” a 69-year-old man with C4 AIS C spinal cord injury — whose remaining movement was largely restricted to low-amplitude muscle twitching — has piloted a virtual quadcopter merely by thinking about moving his paralyzed fingers. This achievement stems from an intracortical brain-computer interface (iBCI) primarily developed and tested…
Ancient viral DNA found to drive early embryo development
Researchers at Helmholtz Munich and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) have discovered that remnants of ancient viral DNA — once considered genomic fossils — play a pivotal role in early embryo development. By creating a single-embryo atlas and comparing several mammalian species, the team found that these transposable elements reactivate shortly after fertilization, potentially influencing how cells specialize…
Study reveals blueprint for child-specific cancer immunotherapies
A study led by Professor Petter Brodin, a pediatrician and immunologist at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) and Imperial College London, analyzed 191 children aged 0 to 18, all diagnosed with various solid tumors at Stockholm’s Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital between 2018 and 2024. Researchers examined tumor samples to identify genetic mutations and…
R&D 100 winner of the day: MAVERICK, first turn-key device to use Raman spectroscopy for bioprocess control
MAVERICK is a platform designed specifically for biologists, using Raman spectroscopy to streamline bioprocess development and optimization. It offers out-of-the-box capabilities for real-time monitoring of variables like glucose, lactate, and biomass, all through an intuitive touchscreen interface. This platform supports automation, remote access, and compliance with cGMP standards for pharmaceutical industry applications. While Raman spectroscopy…
New software offers realistic cell-signaling simulations
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have created and evaluated Spatial Modeling Algorithms for Reactions and Transport (SMART), a software package designed to simulate cell-signaling networks — complex molecular interactions that enable cells to respond to various environmental cues. These networks involve multiple steps and are heavily influenced by the three-dimensional structure…
How the startup ALAFIA Supercomputers is deploying on-prem AI for medical research and clinical care
Imagine a hospital spending millions on advanced imaging equipment yet relying on decades-old computers to run the software. That paradox propelled robotics and computer vision veteran Camilo Buscaron—a former systems engineer at NVIDIA and Chief Technologist for AWS Robotics—into action. In 2023, he set out to commercialize an open-source computer vision library known as Kornia,…
R&D 100 winner of the day: Automated digital slide scanner, MSP 320
The MSP 320 automated digital slide scanner is designed to improve pathology workflows by providing secure digital access to high-resolution slide images, allowing remote review and shortening turn-around times. It scans up to 320 slides per session and integrates advanced AI and machine learning to analyze pathological features, reducing human error and enhancing diagnostic accuracy.…
Study identifies 13 genes that increase osteoarthritis risk
Researchers at the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center have pinpointed 13 “high probability risk genes” that directly contribute to osteoarthritis, a condition affecting over 32 million people in the U.S. The findings, published in Cell Genomics, mark a significant step toward developing targeted therapies to prevent disease progression. The challenge of osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis occurs when…
Stimulating fat cells with GIP receptors shows promise for obesity treatment
A study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers has shown that increasing glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR) activity in fat cells leads to significant weight loss in obese mice. Published in Cell Metabolism, the research highlights GIPR’s potential as a therapeutic target for obesity and related metabolic diseases. “Our study brings GIPR in fat…
R&D 100 winner of the day: Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer
Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer transforms proteomics by enabling rapid and detailed analysis of biological samples. It can identify over 8,000 protein groups from a human cell line digest in just eight minutes, significantly enhancing experimental scale and statistical power. The instrument integrates three advanced technologies: a high-resolution quadrupole mass filter, the Thermo…
UC Irvine researchers develop bioluminescent RNA for real-time tracking
Scientists at the University of California, Irvine, have developed a method for tagging RNA with a bioluminescent molecule, which enables real-time tracking of RNA as it moves throughout the body. This research, published in Nature Communications, could provide new insights into cellular processes, viral propagation, and memory formation in the brain. RNA is critical in…
Gut bacteria update CRISPR defense only once every three years, study finds
A new study reveals that bacteria in our guts update their defenses against viruses far more slowly than expected. On average, these microbes modify their CRISPR-based immune system only once every three years. This finding challenges the assumption that gut bacteria are constantly adapting to viral threats and suggests they may rely on other, less…
Leica Biosystems and Indica Labs partner to develop digital pathology platform
Leica Biosystems, a provider of anatomic and digital pathology solutions, has announced a strategic investment in Indica Labs, a company specializing in AI-powered digital pathology software. The collaboration aims to advance AI-enabled companion diagnostics (CDx) and support breakthroughs in biomarker analysis for cancer and other conditions. As part of the agreement, Leica Biosystems and Indica…