Many laboratories purchased pipetting solutions from INTEGRA Biosciences during the COVID-19 pandemic, to help them cope with the high numbers of samples they were receiving every day for PCR testing. Now the pandemic has been brought somewhat under control, labs are once again able to concentrate their efforts on other vital work, but what has become of those pipetting platforms and devices? A recent survey conducted by INTEGRA provides insights into how these systems are finding new uses...

Breakthrough in diagnostics testing enables ‘facial recognition for germs’. Nicolas Shiaelis and Dr Nicole Robb, Oxford University scientists and co-founders of health tech company Pictura Bio, have developed a world-first diagnostic, test powered by artificial intelligence, that can identify known respiratory viruses such as influenza and COVID-19 within five minutes from just one nasal or throat swab...

Automata, a leading automation company powering life sciences labs, has announced it is partnering with the Advanced Sequencing Facility (ASF) at The Francis Crick Institute, a world-leading laboratory at the forefront of genomics, to unlock the power of open, integrated automation for genomics sample preparation. Integrated automation will support the Crick’s cutting-edge advanced genomics laboratory with greater walkaway time, R&D flexibility and data quality than ever before...

BioGrad is to open the UK's second largest biobank facility in Liverpool, as part of a £7.6m investment into a new headquarters at Wavertree Technology Park. In collaboration with the University of Leicester, BioGrad biobank has already welcomed up to 261,000 samples from the largest long-Covid study in the UK. Further partnerships with Liverpool Women’s Hospital and three private research companies will see BioGrad bank over one million human cell samples banked in its first year...

The Native Antigen Company (part of LGC Clinical Diagnostics), one of the world’s leading suppliers of reagents that enables research into vaccines and diagnostics for emerging and endemic infectious diseases, thas announced the commercial launch of its latest SARS-CoV-2 antigens for the newly designated Omicron BA.5 variant. The Company’s new range of RBD (receptor binding domain) antigens will support scientists in the research and development of in vitro diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines for the current variant of concern.

Researchers at the Australian National Phenome Centre (ANPC) at Murdoch University have successfully detected and quantified newly discovered biomarkers of SARS-CoV-2 acute infections and of ‘Long COVID’. They used a benchtop Fourier Transform-nuclear magnetic resonance (FT-NMR) spectrometer with a permanent magnet, thereby lowering the barrier to clinical translation of this epidemiological and diagnostic research technology...

The COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on the dangers of misinformation in the science industry. This phenomenon has been amplified with the popularity of forums and platforms that act as news distribution networks without a filter or editorial oversight. Here Aleiya Lonsdale, Head of Event at the largest laboratory event in the UK, Lab Innovations 2022,  discusses how the lab community has tried to hold back against the tide of scientific misinformation.

Merck, a leading science and technology company, strengthens its manufacturing capabilities for single-use assemblies, a key technology for the production of Covid-19 vaccines and other lifesaving therapies, by investing more than € 130 million in Molsheim, France. The investment is the largest ever in the 50-year history of the site and will create more than 800 jobs by the end of 2028...

Molnupiravir (Lagevrio®) is an antiviral medication to treat mild to medium COVID-19 infection. Molnupiravir is actually a prodrug of the active substrate N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC), a synthetic ribonucleoside analogue. The treatment leads to the introduction of copying errors during viral RNA replication and by this inhibits the viral reproduction. This new Application Note demonstrates how molnupiravir and its active agent β-d-N4-hydroxycytidine can be separated by using a YMC-Triart C18 UHPLC column...

Benchling, the R&D Cloud powering the biotechnology industry, today launched the industry’s first full set of capabilities for designing, modelling, and studying both natural and chemically modified RNA in a single solution. As the biopharmaceutical industry increases its focus on developing RNA therapeutics, Benchling’s new RNA solution is the first purpose-built offering on the market to help R&D organizations accelerate the delivery of drug candidates...

Scientists at the UK’s National Measurement Laboratory (NML) at LGC have published a paper, “Monkeypox: another test for PCR”, focusing on how to ensure the PCR diagnosis tests being deployed for monkeypox will be most accurate and that lessons learned on PCR testing from the COVID-19 pandemic are applied to the current epidemic. Dr Jim Huggett, Science Fellow at the NML, said, “Like the early stages of COVID-19, PCR is the only test that can be rapidly deployed to confirm Monkeypox cases....

Lentiviral vectors are a valuable tool for delivering target genes into most types of dividing and non-dividing mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo. Typically, production of custom lentiviral vectors is a laborious and challenging process, especially when high-titer lentiviral vectors are required. The custom lentiviral vector production service from AMSBO offers researchers a proven partner to avoid this bottleneck and speed up your research...

QIAGEN has announced the expansion of its next-generation sequencing (NGS) portfolio with the launch of QIAseq Targeted DNA Pro Panels and the QIAseq UPXome RNA Library Kit, both of which set new standards in preparing samples for determining their nucleic acid sequences. QIAseq Targeted DNA Pro Panels are based on an improved chemistry that halves to six hours the time researchers need for library preparation of DNA samples...

Carterra, Inc., the world leader in innovative technologies enabling high-throughput biology, and La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI), a globally recognized non-profit research organization dedicated to understanding the power of the immune system to promote human health, announce that LJI has acquired a Carterra LSA instrument to enhance its antibody screening and characterization work...

ExcellGene SA, privately held and founded 2001, offers services in research, development and manufacturing for the biopharmaceutical industry. The Company announces its role in the recently approved consortium funding through the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a global partnership of public, private, philanthropic and civil society organisations founded to develop vaccines against future epidemics...

The only UK-based manufacturer of World Health Organisation accredited vaccine fridges, Dulas Limited, has secured a funding package from HSBC UK to ramp up the development of its solar powered vaccine refrigeration units. The funding will allow the Welsh firm to meet extra demand from UN agencies and NGOs supporting low-income countries that remain in the early stages of Covid-19 vaccination programmes.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, showcase their innovative diagnostic technologies, assays and a complement of solutions for researchers developing new diagnostics during the 74th American Association for Clinical Chemistry Annual Scientific Meeting and Clinical Laboratory Exposition (AACC 2022), held at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago...

Vaccizone, a vaccine development company focusing on innovative antigen delivery technology, selected Exothera S.A. to fast-track process development of its SARS‑CoV‑2 vaccine for European clinical trials. Vaccizone has developed and patented a novel method for delivering antigens and bioactive compounds which can increase the stability and shelf life of complex biotherapeutics, like vaccines...

Bruker Corporation has launched PhenoRisk PACS™ RuO*, a research-use-only NMR test for molecular phenomics research on ‘Long COVID’ patients’ blood samples, using a multiplexed combination of biomarkers discovered at the Australian National Phenome Center (ANPC) at Murdoch University, under Director Jeremy Nicholson. The PhenoRisk PACS™ RuO test is promising for research on early-stage risk factors...