New research from Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) demonstrates the critical role of testing in pandemic preparedness. It estimates that public-private efforts to produce and distribute COVID-19 tests saved 1.4 million lives and prevented 7 million hospitalizations in the U.S. The findings were published in The Lancet Public Health. Key findings and tools In…
A tale of two STEM futures: Data roles surge while some traditional engineering disciplines face headwinds
As 2025 gets underway, concerns are mounting about the stability of some high-paying STEM and R&D roles in an economy many once believed would remain recession-proof for engineers, software developers, and research scientists. A few bright spots include quickly-growing positions such as data scientists (36% growth, $108,020 median pay, according to BLS in 2024), computer…
R&D 100 winner of the day: Tunable knitted stem cell scaffolds
Stem cell therapy shows promise in healing damaged tissues, yet existing scaffolds often do not replicate the natural flexibility of human tissue. This can result in cell detachment, death, and even secondary injury during recovery. Researchers at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, along with co-developers from the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering, have created a new type…
AI tools excel at medical board exams but stumble in real-world conversations, new study finds
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT, have received acclaim for their potential to reduce clinician workloads. These tools can collect patient histories, triage cases, and even offer preliminary diagnoses. Referred to as large language models, these technologies are already employed by patients who depend on them to interpret symptoms and comprehend medical test results.…
100 of the largest tech, telecom and innovation sector layoffs of 2024
For many workers, it pays to have a job in an R&D or STEM-heavy field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts 10.4% growth in STEM jobs through 2033, more than double the overall employment growth rate of 4%. However, the technology sector has experienced significant restructuring in 2024, with approximately 150,000 job cuts across more…
Beyond manual control: The next generation of surgical robots is emerging
The next frontier of surgical robotics may well be autonomous—or at least far more self-directed than current systems. Traditional platforms rely on joystick-like hand controllers, which keeps surgeons firmly in command of each movement. Yet recent experiments at Johns Hopkins and Stanford point to a significant shift: advanced imitation learning methods that enable robots to…
Luxembourg researchers develop AI-powered voice test for early detection of Type 2 diabetes
Scientists at the Luxembourg Institute of Health’s Deep Digital Phenotyping Research Unit have developed a groundbreaking voice-based artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to accurately detect Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). This innovative, noninvasive method has the potential to make diabetes screening more accessible and affordable, especially in underserved communities. Type 2 Diabetes remains a significant global health…
Inside AION Labs, the AI-focused venture studio with the backing of AstraZeneca, Pfizer, AWS and other power players
Pharma R&D has a reputation for glacial change, but AI could finally force the industry to pivot. According to Deloitte’s 2024 Global Life Sciences Sector Outlook released in late May, only about 16% of drug discovery efforts were using AI, though it projected triple-digit growth over the next few years. “It’s definitely early,” says AION…
How analytical instruments companies can overcome a challenging market
The life sciences and analytical instruments industry has been on a roller coaster for the past several years. When the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in 2020, businesses rapidly expanded to meet the moment. But four years later, the market is decidedly unusual, for lack of a better term. Many analytical instruments organizations are rife with…
Thermo Fisher Scientific receives FDA clearance for TaqPath COVID-19 Diagnostic PCR Kit
Thermo Fisher Scientific has obtained 510(k) clearance from the FDA for its Applied BioSystems TaqPath COVID-19 Diagnostic PCR Kit. Previously authorized for emergency use, this clearance allows clinical and public health laboratories to adopt an in vitro diagnostic (IVD) workflow. The kit detects RNA from SARS-CoV-2 using nasopharyngeal and anterior nasal swabs and employs a…
Color-changing, power-free sensor could boost health monitoring and improve infrastructure safety
Researchers at Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea, have developed a mechanochromic strain sensor that indicates mechanical stress through changing colors — without needing an external power source. The device, described in a study published on October 15, 2024, in the journal Chemical Engineering Journal, uses magnetic nanoparticles and elastic materials to detect stretching, bending,…
25 landmark R&D-heavy tech funding rounds of 2024
[Updated December 18, 2024 with new details on Databricks] In 2024, AI-focused startups continued to dominate the funding landscape with industry leaders like OpenAI ($6.6B), xAI ($6B), and Anthropic ($4B) leading the pack. Adding to this trend, MLflow and data lakehouse pioneer Databricks recently secured a $10 billion funding round that was primarily equity-based, at…
Space Station research returns, advancing cancer and neurodegenerative therapies
Dozens of ambitious scientific investigations — including projects aiming to improve cancer detection, advance treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, and enhance respiratory therapy — have safely returned to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS). The nearly 50 experiments, sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory, were transported back on SpaceX’s 31st Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission…
A new study shows how fluid flow and chemicals team up to halt harmful bacteria
A new study reveals that two stressors may be better than one in preventing certain harmful bacteria from thriving in the human body. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign report that physical fluid flow and the chemical presence of hydrogen peroxide can work together to halt the spread and growth of dangerous pathogens. The…
Gene variant linked to high-altitude adaptation shows promise in predicting blood cancer outcomes
In an advancement that may change how doctors predict and treat certain blood cancers, researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah have identified a gene variant commonly found in high-altitude Andean populations that appears to influence disease severity and treatment response. The findings, presented during the late-breaking abstract sessions at the 66th…
Google Cloud exec sees 2025 as a tipping point for GenAI ROI in life sciences
The irony isn’t lost on Google’s leadership: even the architects of artificial intelligence find themselves navigating its transformative effects. “You know, things are never quiet,” remarked Shweta Maniar, global director of healthcare and life sciences at Google Cloud in a recent interview, recalling how Silicon Valley giants vowed to disrupt healthcare among other industries. “I…
Endiatx aims to boldly go beyond traditional endoscopy and, eventually, redefine surgical scale
Picture a nuclear-powered surgical robot targeting glioblastoma. Or imagine hijacking a botfly larva to perform delicate internal interventions. These scenarios may sound far out, but Endiatx CEO Torrey Smith talks about them as if describing an ambitious home improvement project — challenging but entirely feasible with the right approach and tools. Though these scenarios sound…
Deloitte: Life sciences leaders signal renewed confidence for 2025
Life sciences executives are entering 2025 with data-driven optimism, according to Deloitte’s newly released “2025 Life Sciences Outlook.” Survey findings from 150 global C-suite executives show that 75% remain upbeat about the year ahead, with 68% anticipating revenue increases and 57% expecting margin expansions. Two key factors emerge from executive interviews: enhanced clarity following the…
Why David Sacks’ appointment could grease the wheels of medical AI innovation
For Avandra CEO and founder Ryan Tarzy, the potential of AI in healthcare is personal. He lost his father to pancreatic cancer, a disease often caught too late in the United States. At the recent Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) conference, he encountered a telling example of what emerging medical tech can achieve. “At…
Researchers explore synthetic production of snail mucus protein for biomedical applications
Two Johns Hopkins University researchers have initiated preliminary work on synthesizing epiphragmin, a key protein found in snail mucus, with potential biomedical applications. The project aims to develop laboratory-based protein synthesis protocols as an alternative to traditional snail mucus extraction methods, as a press release noted. Marie Wei, studying molecular and cellular biology and classics,…
In 2024, the US and Europe led in pharma value creation while GLP-1s disrupted the landscape
GLP-1 juggernauts Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, whose combined $1.18 trillion market cap now exceeds Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie, and Merck combined, have staked their claim as stock market darlings. This momentum is particularly evident in Novo Nordisk’s remarkable trajectory, reaching a $604 billion market capitalization by March 2024 and securing its position as the…
4 DNA and genomics advances recognized in R&D 100 Awards in 2024
DNA analysis has undergone a quiet revolution in recent years thanks to next-generation sequencing (NGS) advances. In addition to its potential in medicine, NGS is taking off in forensic science. This technology allows for more detailed and accurate genetic analysis, improving the resolution of criminal cases and helping solve cold cases that have remained unsolved…
How the Living Heart Project could transform FDA’s approach to cardiac device testing
Imagine a future where needing a new heart means you become your own donor. “It’s going to be your cells, your design—an exact replica of your heart, only made healthy,” said Steven Levine, Ph.D., senior director of virtual human modeling at Dassault Systèmes, in a recent interview. For Levine, the goal of transforming cardiac care…
Who were 2024’s top patent and R&D leaders in computing, pharma, medtech and beyond?
Industrial and commercial sectors often measure innovation by market capitalization and R&D spending, but these metrics fail to capture the full picture. Tech companies dominate market headlines with AI product launches and chip releases — and our own ranking of most innovative firms of 2024. In addition, tech firms currently hold the top market cap…
24 R&D trends that redefined 2024
In many respects, 2024 was a year of building upon the foundations laid by previous technological and scientific advances. While AI continued to evolve at a rapid clip, progress was in many ways more incremental than last year when GPT-4 redefined expectations for genAI. But AI continues to make definable improvements across a range of…