An Overview of Available Preclinical Models for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Posted 13th May 2020 by Liv Sewell
NASH is thought to affect 25% of the global population and is a primary risk factor for Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) – the second most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Understanding the aetiology of NAFLD progression, developing non-invasive diagnostic tests and developing treatments are urgent priorities.
COVID-19 and global collaboration in science
Posted 11th May 2020 by Liv Sewell
International collaboration and travel are integral to the life of researchers and biotechnology professionals. But coronavirus has made travel impossible.
We look back over two decades of growth in international scientific collaboration to understand the extent of the effects of reduced mobility and consider what collaboration will look like in the foreseeable future.
The Biosynthesis of Cannabinoids
Posted 6th May 2020 by Joshua Sewell
We recently spoke to Jeremy Friedberg, CSO of LAVVAN, a company pioneering the biosynthesis of cannabinoids. The conversation was recorded as a podcast, which can be found here.
Digital Pathology: Lagging or Leading?
Posted 4th May 2020 by Liv Sewell
When compared to traditional methods, digital pathology may seem totally superfluous, or interesting but not all that essential. And since the costs for the elegance of digital pathology solutions are not trivial in comparison to what the peddlers traditionally have offered, it is not surprising to see the adoption curve lagging. Where then is the ‘burning platform’ that can truly drive greater adoption of digital pathology?
Understanding the gut-liver axis: implications for NAFLD prevention and treatment
Posted 29th April 2020 by Liv Sewell
You may have heard; humans are superorganisms. The human large intestine harbors tens of trillions of microbes, which equates to roughly 2 kg of cells. For reference, that’s how much your brain weighs! Within the gut microbiome, it is estimated that there are over 1,000 different species of bacteria.
Automatic AI-powered Tumor Budding
Posted 27th April 2020 by Liv Sewell
Tumor Budding has been shown in numerous studies to be an independent prognostic factor in colorectal cancer (CRC) for the risk of distant metastasis and, in stage II CRC, for overall survival. Fraunhofer IIS and the Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen are developing an AI system to automatically detect tumor budding in CRC patients.
How to beneficially modulate vaginal microbiota to optimise women’s health
Posted 22nd April 2020 by Joshua Sewell
Each woman has a unique vaginal microbiota composition, which is dynamic and affected by diet, lifestyle, hormones, genetics, and age. In the past decade, exploration of the human microbiota has focused increasingly on vaginal microbiota composition and diversity and its impact on health, reproduction, and disease.
Digital Pathology in Drug Development: Opportunities and Challenges
Posted 20th April 2020 by Liv Sewell
We recently caught up with Dr Olulanu Aina, Scientific Director and Veterinary and Toxicological Pathologist at Janssen, about digital pathology applications in drug discovery...