Category: Uncategorized

DRUG RESISTANCE in cancer is due to rapid mutations and tumor heterogeneity allowing resistant mutations to grow up a new cell ID. Biopsies to track these genetic changes are impractical. Researchers are making headway to use blood borne tumor DNA to monitor and track the mutations marking drug resistance. This is an important area if oncology research. http://lnkd.in/jvD-EU View in LinkedIn

MEDICAL EDUCATION is at the pointy end of change in medical practice. The new tools available to medical students grow daily. A sea change is inevitable as we switch from reactive to preventative medicine, and to personalized medicine, thanks entirely to the predictive power of new genetic tests. When I taught Biochemistry and Physiology to med students, Case Studies were considered innovative. Well today, there are quantum leaps forward in opportunities to educate our future docs. http://lnkd.in/PWPWAQ View in LinkedIn

TALENT SCOUT rules in this article are useful but two more also apply. Firstly, the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. This is rarely wrong. Second, one way to get a good grip on personality (remember borderlines, severe narcissists, sociopaths?) is to (very) informally engage a psychologist on your interview team. Antisocial personality traits and other personality flaws kill young companies more frequently than anything else. " "" " http://lnkd.in/w-HY3p View in LinkedIn

A BIOTECH BOOM on the horizon is being predicted by some, in no small part to the giant bet placed on the Human Genome Project which so far has yielded a blistering 60X return to society. There is no doubt that this project has opened doors and is changing medicine. And all over the world there are clever innovators in this space coming up with superb ideas. These entrepreneurs are especially prevalent in Barcelona, where it is ripe for a biotech explosion. One spark. That is all that it will take. http://lnkd.in/zuXz43 View in LinkedIn

COUNTERFEIT MEDS are common when bought from online pharmacies, who use fake locations and affiliations. Over 4,000 were nabbed by the FDA and law enforcement recently. This is the most cynical of businesses, targeting the sick. http://lnkd.in/piRR3X View in LinkedIn

NEW R&D MODEL needed for antibiotic innovation is proposed: public-private partnerships. We all know that we have over-used antibiotics. And that resistant strains (Superbugs) are emerging. And that the pipeline is sparse because Big Pharma has left the sector. This call for a new initiative is in line with other similar open innovation public-private initiatives worldwide and let's hope it is adopted. http://lnkd.in/cRt2Hb View in LinkedIn

POC DIAGNOSTICS that can act in minutes not days (after pathogen cultures) for serious enteric pathogens offer a significant advantage where speed and accuracy of diagnosis is key. The culture days are facing extinction. Similarly, growing vaccines in chicken's eggs, which takes a long time, is also facing extinction by new recombinant methods, combined with in Silico antigen selection. http://lnkd.in/enkNY8 View in LinkedIn

GOOGLE BREAKS HIRING RULES by being contrarian, but the results are there. Take-home: (1) college had not prepared applicants for working on complex data-driven projects, and (2) most interviews failed to identify great employees. Great read! http://lnkd.in/zNTvVd View in LinkedIn

INTELLIGENT DRUGS, such as photo switchable drugs to limit side effects are emerging at the forefront of "making good drugs better" and increasing patient compliance and outcomes. http://lnkd.in/sR_3PP View in LinkedIn

MICROCHIP FOR ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT pathogens. This innovative technology takes the guesswork out of antibiotic prescribing, because it determines which antibiotics a pathogen in a biological sample (such as blood or tissue) is resistant to. Like the technology that tests drug sensitivity of tumor cells in vitro (Vivia Biotech), it makes the drug target, not the patient, the test tube. A lovely advance that should be widely used. http://lnkd.in/ebAzE9 View in LinkedIn