Research and development - Today Stories

BioMed X Institute opens its global crowdsourcing platform to help principal investigators in biomedical research who have lost their NIH funding to find alternative project sponsors among the global pharmaceutical industry. Heidelberg, Germany, April 7th, 2025. BioMed X, an independent biomedical research institute based in Heidelberg, Germany, has announced the launch of its XBridge Program, a fast-track initiative designed to support U.S.-based biomedical researchers impacted by the current NIH funding gaps, hiring freezes, and grant terminations. The program offers a pathway for affected principal investigators in all fields of human disease research. The aim of the program is to connect with potential new research sponsors from the pharmaceutical industry to continue their high-impa…

New collaboration aims to deepen understanding of neurodegeneration using the UK’s health data ecosystem The first-of-its-kind study11 will evaluate potential association between GSK’s shingles vaccine and reduced dementia risk, building on growing body of evidence from observational and retrospective studies1,2,3,4 Collaboration could serve as blueprint for population level health data research and reinforce UK position as a leading life science R&D destination GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) today announced a major new research collaboration with the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) and Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) to advance understanding of neurodegeneration with a first-of-its-kind dementia study11. The innovative project aims to use the UK’s health data ecosystem to explore…

Cells change shape when they are treated with drugs  New AI technology can accurately show how a cell responds to a drug based on changes to its 3D shape The tech will speed up the development of drugs for a range of diseases by around six years – as years of experiments can be cut from the current preclinical process, and drugs will be less likely to fail in clinical trials The AI tool is being further developed for patient benefit and commercial use by a new company, Sentinal 4D Scientists have developed a revolutionary AI ‘fingerprint’ technology that can accurately show how cancer cells respond to new drugs, by simply observing changes to their shape. The new technology, which has been developed by a team at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, will allow researchers to quickly…

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, largely because it’s so difficult to catch early. By the time it’s diagnosed, it’s often too late for effective treatment. But that could soon change thanks to a new discovery by Mainz Biomed and Liquid Biosciences, who have teamed up to develop a non-invasive, blood-based test that could revolutionize early detection. A Breakthrough in Early Detection The two companies have identified a set of mRNA biomarkers that could make screening for pancreatic cancer much easier and far more accurate. Using Liquid Biosciences' EMERGE platform, researchers analyzed samples from 285 subjects, including 35 pancreatic cancer patients, and found a set of biomarkers that showed an impressive 95% sensitivity and 98% specificity in detecting the dis…

Israel-Based Venture Studio Comprising AstraZeneca, Merck, Pfizer, Teva, Israel Biotech Fund, Amiti Ventures and Amazon Web Services (AWS) Seeks Global Research and Technology Talent to Form New Startup Focused on: “Generative AI for Novel Target Combinations”. REHOVOT, Israel and HEIDELBERG, Germany, March 3, 2025. AION Labs, the first-of-its-kind venture studio spearheading the adoption of AI technologies and computational science to solve therapeutic challenges, and German independent research institute BioMed X, announced today the launch of its latest global call for applications to identify scientific founders: computational biologists, biomedical scientists, and AI experts to form a new startup at AION Labs’ headquarters in Rehovot, Israel. AION Labs’ next startup will focus on de…

The Cambridge Festival is returning from March 19 to April 4 with a series of events that bring together cutting-edge health research and the latest innovations in medical science. This year's health theme comes at a pivotal moment, as global health challenges such as ageing populations, chronic disease and cancer diagnosis continue to drive scientific inquiry and public debate. Against this backdrop, the Festival provides a platform to engage the public with pioneering research from some of the brightest minds in health and medicine. The Festival offers almost 400 mostly free events across multiple themes, including environment, society, and discovery, with health research at the forefront. Visitors can attend more than 130 events focussed on this theme, many designed to demystify the sci…

BioMed X Institute, in collaboration with the Government of Barbados and the European Commission, is launching BioMed X Barbados, a new research initiative focused on better treatment of cardiometabolic diseases in individuals of African descent. Heidelberg, Germany / Bridgetown, Barbados – February 20, 2025. BioMed X Institute is proud to announce a partnership with the Government of Barbados focused on advancing the treatment of cardiometabolic diseases in individuals of African descent. This initiative, supported by the European Commission’s PharmaNext program, will begin with a two-year pilot project focusing on molecular characterization of patients in Barbados. Cardiometabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and cardiovascular conditions, continue to ris…

CAMBRIDGE, UK: Scientists in Cambridge have developed a new ‘super test’ for prostate cancer in an effort to revolutionise screening and diagnosis of the disease and accelerate personalised treatment for patients. The test identifies the presence or absence of cancerous cells, signs of early and late-stage cancer, whether it is slow or aggressive as well as genetic and hereditary risks in the patient. The new test involves studying the most comprehensive combination of clinically-validated prostate-related biomarkers currently known, in both blood and urine samples. The interpretation of these biomarkers using a proprietary AI-driven algorithm highlights early signs of cancer and characteristic features that can guide treatment selection. There are 55,000 new cases of prostate cancer in th…

Cancer cells have to escape from the scaffolding that surrounds tumours – a structure called the extracellular matrix – in order to spread Researchers discovered that the layout of the matrix drives cancer cells to change their shape, increasing their ability to spread Patients with melanoma tumours with these features had shorter survival times The findings could help doctors spot which tumours are likely to be aggressive and cause metastatic cancer This opens new avenues for treating cancer before it spreads – by targeting the surroundings of the tumour, instead of the cancer cell itself Scientists have discovered a new way to predict which tumours will become aggressive before they metastasise and spread around the body. New research, published in Nature Communications, reveals how ca…

Sandwich, Kent, UK / 13 February 2025 /  Eleven early-stage companies working in oncology have started ‘Discovery Spark’, a free seven week development programme  hosted by leading science and innovation campus Discovery Park, in Sandwich, Kent. Designed to offer start-ups the skills and tools to lay healthy foundations in their business, refine their commercial strategy and achieve investor readiness, all 11 businesses will be put through their paces to enable future success and growth. Supported by Capital Enterprise Network, Cancer Tech Accelerator, NHS Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance and the University of Kent, Discovery Park’s latest Discovery Spark programme has an oncology theme. The 11 entrepreneurial businesses securing a coveted spot on this cohort and looking to advance their or…

The research of BioMed X team EDC – Extrachromosomal DNA in Cancer – has uncovered critical insights into the mechanisms driving extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) formation and maintenance, offering potential avenues for novel cancer therapies. Heidelberg, Germany, February 6, 2025. BioMed X, a German independent research institute, announces the successful completion of its oncology research project in partnership with Merck. The data generated by this project has been acquired by Merck for further development, potentially leading to new therapeutic approaches in precision oncology. Launched in August 2022, the collaboration aimed to unravel the mechanisms behind the formation, propagation, and impact of ecDNA in cancer cells using state-of-the-art single-cell screening and spatial technolog…

New next generation sequencing-based proteomics kits designed to integrate with multiple NGS platforms, eliminating the need for new instrumentation or specialized expertise UPPSALA, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, today announced the introduction of Olink® Reveal, setting a new standard for affordable, high-plex proteomics that enables researchers to identify circulating biomarkers for a range of applications with reduced cost and set up requirements. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250126428090/en/ New Olink Reveal next generation sequencing-based proteomics kits are designed to integrate with multiple NGS platforms, eliminating the need for new instrumen…

Collaboration unites GSK and Oxford’s complementary expertise in the science of the immune system, vaccines and cancer biology GSK to invest up to £50 million in collaboration to generate key insights on how cancer develops that could inform future development of cancer vaccines Programme adds to existing relationship, including the ongoing GSK-Oxford Institute of Molecular and Computational Medicine GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) and the University of Oxford (Oxford) today announced that they have entered a new research collaboration focused on the potential of cancer prevention through vaccination. The GSK-Oxford Cancer Immuno-Prevention Programme will conduct translational research, exploring precancer biology to generate key insights on how cancer develops in humans that could inform new…

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and the Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital in Sweden have determined how children’s immune systems react to different kinds of cancer depending on their age. The study, which is published in the journal Cell, reveals significant differences between the immune response of children and adults, and has the potential to lead to new tailored treatments for children with cancer. “The activation of the immune system is crucial to our ability to fight cancer, but differs between children and adults,” says Petter Brodin, professor of paediatric immunology at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, and paediatrician at the Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital. “If we’re to properly treat childhood ca…

German research institute BioMed X started a new partnership with Daiichi Sankyo, a Japanese pharmaceutical company, to advance the development of bi- and multi-specific biologics for treating solid tumors. Heidelberg, Germany, January 14, 2025. BioMed X, an independent biomedical research institute based in Heidelberg, Germany, announced today the launch of a new collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan. This collaboration marks the start of a cutting-edge initiative to explore innovative approaches in cancer treatment using multi-specific biologics. The new project, entitled “New Strategies for Targeting of Solid Tumors with Multi-Specific Biologics (MTT; Multi-Specific Targeting of Tumors)”, will be hosted at the BioMed X Inst…

Waves of human migration across Europe during the first millennium AD have been revealed using a more precise method of analysing ancestry with ancient DNA, in research led by the Francis Crick Institute. Researchers can bring together a picture of how people moved across the world by looking at changes in their DNA, but this becomes a lot harder when historical groups of people are genetically very similar.  In research published today in Nature, researchers report a new data analysis method called Twigstats1, which allows the differences between genetically similar groups to be measured more precisely, revealing previously unknown details of migrations in Europe. They applied the new method to over 1500 European genomes (a person’s complete set of DNA) from people who lived primarily dur…

LEIDEN, Netherlands & CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ProQR Therapeutics NV. (Nasdaq: PRQR) (ProQR), a company dedicated to changing lives through transformative RNA therapies based on its proprietary Axiomer™ RNA editing technology platform, today announced an expansion of its collaboration with the Rett Syndrome Research Trust (RSRT). Building on the initial $1 million research grant announced in January 2024, the expanded partnership includes an additional $8.1 million in funding from the RSRT, for a total of $9.1 million. The funding will support the advancement of AX-2402 into clinical trials. Rett Syndrome, a rare and devastating neurodevelopmental disorder, affects approximately 350,000 people worldwide, predominantly girls. With no current cures and limited…

Fresenius, via its operating company Fresenius Kabi, and Ori Biotech, a leader in cell and gene therapy (CGT) manufacturing technology, have entered an agreement to provide the integration of the IRO® platform with Fresenius Kabi’s upstream and downstream processing technologies. The successful integration of these leading technology platforms provides a streamlined, closed workflow for cell therapy manufacturing that can reduce process steps, tube- and bag-based transfers, and operator touch time. This collaboration underscores Ori Biotech and Fresenius Kabi’s shared commitment to driving innovation and developing widespread patient access to life-saving cell and gene therapies. All to help bring cell and gene therapies to market faster and more efficiently, in line with #FutureFresenius.…

Scientists from The University of Manchester have developed a pioneering process using engineered bacteria to transform complex mixed waste into sustainable biopolymers including human therapeutics such as insulin, and bioplastics. A new study from the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology describes a novel biological method to convert mixed municipal waste-like fractions – including food scraps, plastics, and textiles – into valuable bio-products. This new approach could significantly reduce waste sent to landfills and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Led by Dr Neil Dixon, the team utilised the bacterium Pseudomonas putida, renowned for its resilience and adaptability, to process complex waste streams into bioplastics and even therapeutic proteins. This research offers a promising pathway to…

A new total-body PET scanner that is quicker for the patient and produces higher quality images for faster and earlier diagnosis and  treatment of illnesses like cancer and heart conditions, was unveiled by Ministers in London yesterday (Wednesday 27 November). The new scanner, one of three becoming operational in the UK, is up to 40 times more sensitive and up to 10 times faster than existing machines, meaning quicker diagnoses and a more detailed reading of the patient's whole body. It will also give researchers unparalleled insights into human biology that ultimately leads to better healthcare. The first of several patients to use the new total body PET scanner at St Thomas’ Hospital in the past month was Sarah Corfield, who has stage 4 melanoma and has been receiving regular PET scans…