Scientists identify a cause and possible route to treat ALS
A team of researchers, lead by Professor William Griffiths of Swansea University Medical School and Professor Martin Turner of the University of Oxford, have published the results of a study that shows for the first time people with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) have higher levels of cholesterol in the fluid surrounding the brain than people … Continue reading Scientists identify a cause and possible route to treat ALS
Bristol University researchers looking for dogs with osteoarthritis for new study
The University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences is asking owners of dogs showing signs of osteoarthritis to take part in a first study of its kind to find out whether an omega-3 oil derived from algae can help dogs with osteoarthritis (University of Bristol, 2016). Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid found … Continue reading Bristol University researchers looking for dogs with osteoarthritis for new study
Moleculomics secures Government of Canada funding
Moleculomics In Silico Discovery Inc, part of Moleculomics group, has received funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program. The funding, together with business advisory services, will support the development of a predictive technology to develop a set of tools and processes which will discern between a drug destined for legislative … Continue reading Moleculomics secures Government of Canada funding
Organic crystal research secures EU funding
A University of Bristol-led international project investigating a new method of controlling the growth of organic crystals has been awarded €2.9m in Horizon 2020 funding (University of Bristol, 2016). The MagnaPharm project aims to direct polymorphism in pharmaceutical compounds by crystallising them in high magnetic fields. The ability to direct polymorphism would have a transformative … Continue reading Organic crystal research secures EU funding
Creo Medical floats on AIM
Creo Medical has been floated on the Alternative Investment Market, raising £20m (Insider Media, 2016). The company, which is based in Chepstow, is developing a range of surgical devices that can dissect tissue while using special microwaves to staunch the blood flow. These are designed to be used with an endoscope to reduce the need … Continue reading Creo Medical floats on AIM
BBI Solutions launches its first urinalysis enzyme
Cardiff-based BBI Solutions, a leading developer and manufacturer of raw materials and finished test platforms for the in-vitro diagnostics market, has announced the launch of Porcine Liver Esterase (PLE), a new enzyme for urinalysis (BBI Solutions, 2016). PLE is used in urinalysis controls as a partial substitute and potentially cost effective alternative for human leukocyte … Continue reading BBI Solutions launches its first urinalysis enzyme
Study finds strobe light could be used to treat Alzheimer’s
A study in mice by researchers at MIT has found exposure to flickering light stimulated brain waves appears to prompt the brain’s immune cells to absorb the sticky amyloid proteins that are the most visible hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (The Guardian, 2016). The authors of the study don’t yet know whether the findings would be … Continue reading Study finds strobe light could be used to treat Alzheimer’s
Bonus Biogroup’s lab-grown bones are successfully transplanted
Israeli biotech company Bonus Biogroup has announced that their lab-grown, semi-liquid bone graft has been successfully injected into the jaws of eleven people to repair bone loss in an early stage clinical trial (Reuters, 2016). The company’s Chief Executive Shai Meretzki said “For the first time worldwide, reconstruction of deficient or damaged bone tissue is … Continue reading Bonus Biogroup’s lab-grown bones are successfully transplanted
Paralysed people use cutlery with robotic hand exoskeleton
Researchers at the University Hospital of Tübingen have helped six quadriplegic people to regain the ability to do everyday tasks like using cutlery or signing documents. The system required no surgery and is mobile enough to use outside a laboratory (New Scientist, 2016). Surjo Soekadar, from the University Hospital of Tübingen, said “The patients were … Continue reading Paralysed people use cutlery with robotic hand exoskeleton
Drones won’t effect blood product say Johns Hopkins University study
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found that large bags of blood products can maintain temperature and cellular integrity while transported by drones (Scienmag, 2016). The findings, published in Transfusion in November, adds to the evidence that drones are a safe, effective and timely way to quickly transport blood products to remote accident or natural disaster … Continue reading Drones won’t effect blood product say Johns Hopkins University study
