Research
Alphabet’s drug discovery unit Isomorphic Labs is preparing to test its AI-designed medicines in humans for the first time, its president has confirmed. Colin Murdoch, president of Isomorphic Labs and chief business officer at Google DeepMind, said clinical trials were "very close" following years of development. Murdoch told Fortune during an interview in Paris: “There [...]
Scientists have identified two new families of drug molecules that could lead to future treatments for tuberculosis, the world’s second deadliest infectious disease after Covid-19. The compounds work by blocking an enzyme that tuberculosis bacteria use to convert cholesterol into energy, offering a potential way to starve the bacteria and combat the disease, which causes [...]
Scientists are creating synthetic human DNA from scratch in a contentious project that could lead to new treatments for major illnesses. The research focuses on using lab-built DNA sections to develop therapies for autoimmune disorders, heart failure, viral infections and age-related diseases. These synthetic DNA strands are being inserted into skin cells to observe how [...]
A new portable gene therapy device could allow hospital pharmacies to create personalised medicines on demand for rare disease patients, a new study suggests. The technology could reduce reliance on centralised drug manufacturing by enabling pharmacists to prepare treatments directly at the bedside. This approach may address the challenge of treating rare diseases, which affect [...]
A new €34.3m research centre based at University of Galway will focus on developing healthcare technologies for chronic disease management and supporting their commercialisation in Ireland’s north and west. The Accelerating Research to Commercialisation (ARC) Hub for Healthtech will develop smart implants — devices placed inside the body to monitor or treat medical conditions — [...]
A short video session with a therapy dog can significantly reduce stress levels, according to new research comparing virtual interventions with in-person interactions. The study found that five-minute pre-recorded sessions featuring therapy dogs helped ease stress among both students and members of the public, highlighting the value of virtual alternatives for people unable to access [...]
A genetic study has been launched following hundreds of reported pancreatitis cases linked to weight loss and diabetes jabs, including ten deaths. Researchers will examine whether genetic differences influence the risk of developing pancreatitis — inflammation of the pancreas — in people taking GLP-1 medicines. These drugs mimic a natural hormone that helps regulate blood [...]
An Exeter-based biotech company has partnered with L'Oréal to explore new ways of reversing the ageing process at the cellular level. SENISCA, a spinout from the University of Exeter, will collaborate with L'Oréal under a newly announced research agreement targeting senescent cells — older cells that no longer function properly but remain active in the [...]
The UK has become the first country to join a new international network of health regulators focused on the safe and effective use of AI in healthcare. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) joined the HealthAI Global Regulatory Network on 24 June as a founding ‘pioneer’ member, placing the UK at the centre [...]
Many doctors stop using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) shortly after training due to workplace barriers that prevent it from becoming routine, new research suggests. POCUS devices allow rapid bedside imaging and can identify conditions such as heart failure, fluid in the lungs, and internal bleeding — all of which may be treatable if caught early. Although [...]
