Scientific publishers, universities, librarians, and open-access (OA) advocates are waiting anxiously to see whether the Trump administration will end a long-standing policy and require that every scholarly article produced with US funding be made immediately free to all. Such a mandate has long been fiercely opposed by some publishers and scientific societies that depend on subscription revenues from journals. But…
A recent study led by the UW demonstrated that artificial intelligence (AI) could be used to increase the accuracy of single-radiologist assessments of mammograms. The study showed that overdiagnosis, a major harm of screening mammography, can be reduced by AI, improving quality of care in diagnosing breast cancer by preventing up to 500,000 unnecessary workups. However, clinical testing would be necessary before…
An international trial of an injectable drug designed to prevent HIV was halted Monday after an early look at data showed significantly fewer new HIV infections among those given the shots compared to participants assigned a once-a-day pill. “This is a real win for HIV prevention,” said Dr. Deborah Donnell of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research…
Switzerland’s Roche have acquired Stratos Genomics for an undisclosed amount. Stratos is a genetic sequencing company headquartered in Seattle and Roche is interested in the company’s unique chemistry, Sequencing by Expansion (SBX). Roche hopes to advance the development of its own nanopore sequencer, which would use a new approach combining electronic and biological components to sequence DNA quickly and at low cost. “Roche…
Dr. Tal Einav, a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Jesse Bloom’s lab, is among the first class of Damon Runyon Quantitative Biology Fellows. The prestigious award supports three years of cancer-related computational research jointly mentored by a computational biologist and cancer biologist. Einav’s co-mentor on the project is Dr. Jonathan W. Yewdell of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. Einav is using computational…
AGC Biologics, a global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) for Biopharmaceuticals, has announced its partnership with Takara Bio. The companies will partner in the fight against COVID-19 by collaborating on a prophylaxis DNA vaccine, with AGC Biologics manufacturing the plasmid DNA intermediate for the vaccine. “We are working hard in this fight against COVID-19,” said Takara Bio’s CEO Koichi Nakao. “We are…
An antibody first identified in a blood sample from a patient who recovered from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2003 inhibits related coronaviruses, including the cause of COVID-19. The antibody, called S309, is now on a fast-track development and testing path at Vir Biotechnology in the next step toward possible clinical trials. Laboratory research findings on the S309 antibody are…
Cancer care and digital health experts at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center announced a collaboration with Roche today, to develop and test a digital remote-monitoring system for patients undergoing cancer treatment. The partners seek to reduce unplanned emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient (IP) stays for cancer patients through the development of a validated digital solution, focused towards earlier intervention and…
A pill taken once a day can keep HIV-positive individuals healthy and protect those who are at risk of infection. But failing to follow these regimens, known as antiretroviral therapy (ART) or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) respectively, contributes to the development of resistance to the medicine or leads to further community spread of HIV. Previously clinicians had no easy ways to…
Osteoporosis directly affects more than 200 million worldwide, including one in three women and one in five men over the age of 50. Because it is a bone disease, osteoporosis is a common cause of fractures, which in turn lead to reduced mobility, independence, and overall quality of life. The economic impact of osteoporosis on patients, families, and the healthcare…
