RECENT NEWS

CRISPR/Cas9 has revolutionised how genetic screens are conducted, as the system is easy to implement into existing workflows. In a webinar on 10 December, researcher Karsten Krey will explain the value of a guided pipetting system.

Use of multichannel pipettes can streamline assay workflow and increase reproducibility. To optimise productivity, however, you need to use them in combination with reagent reservoirs.

CytoSMART Technologies has announced its first fluorescence live-cell imager. The CytoSMART Lux3 FL is a small live-cell imaging microscope equipped with one brightfield and two fluorescent channels (green and red).

Cell Guidance Systems has launched a new product for the purification of exosomes from blood and other samples. The Exo-spin 96 exosome purification kit allows researchers to purify exosome samples in the standard 96-well plate format.

Oxford Gene Technology will host a live workshop at the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) 2020 virtual meeting, in which users will explain how OGT’s SureSeq NGS panels can increase throughput in detection of a wide variety of aberrations.

Professor Dame Anne Johnson has been elected as the next Academy of Medical Sciences President, taking over the post from Professor Sir Robert Lechler on 3 December 2020.

A scoping project was undertaken in 2015 by NHS England that looked at the need for some regulated health professions, including biomedical scientists and clinical scientists, to supply, administer and prescribe medicines to their patients.

Biotechnology education company Edvotek is dedicated to bringing high-technology science to the classroom, and is using INTEGRA Biosciences’ pipettes to produce training kits for teachers, helping them to share the latest developments with students.

HORIBA UK, Medical recently received recognition for a new partnership with Britannia Pharmaceuticals and Northumberland Tyne & Wear Mental Health Trust (NTW) for community-based near-patient testing for treatment-resistant schizophrenia patients.

Oxford Gene Technology (OGT), a Sysmex Group company, has announced the expansion of its SureSeq range of next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels to facilitate the interrogation of genes involved in breast and ovarian cancer, and myeloid disorders.

ViroStat has released several new monoclonal antibodies to the Marburg virus. Specificities include the VP40 matrix protein and the nucleoprotein (NP). These antibodies are reactive with the native virus and do not cross-react with the Ebola virus.

The IBMS has been monitoring the progress of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and particularly its impact on the biomedical science workforce and the diagnostic services it provides, and has decided to reschedule its Congress event to 14–17 March 2022.

A breakthrough in Alzheimer’s disease has arrived with the introduction of C2N Diagnostics’ PrecivityAD blood test. Researchers at C2N have found the PrecivityAD test predicts Alzheimer’s brain pathology in people with memory and thinking issues.

Infectious disease emergence is often the result of a pathogen entering a new host species, as highlighted by the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, most cross-species transmissions fail to establish in the newly-infected species.

Recently launched by Bio-Rad Laboratories, the StarBright Blue 700, StarBright Violet 440 and StarBright Violet 610 dyes specifically developed for flow cytometry offer maximal brightness for improved resolution.

Congratulations are due to Dr Guy Orchard, a consultant biomedical scientist at St Thomas' Hospital, who was awarded the prestigious IBMS-sponsored Biomedical Scientist of the Year award at this year's virtual AH awards ceremony.

Science Communication: An Introduction; this is a book that provides a broad, up-to-date and coherent introduction to science communication. Click on this news item to learn more and to register for the associated webinar (4 November, 1.00 pm GMT).

Held on 19–23 October, analytica 2020 successfully concluded five days of virtual trade fair and presentations having welcomed 21,641 participants from 152 nations.

Institute of Biomedical Science President Allan Wilson has been appointed Lead Clinician for the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme.

National Pathology Week, The Royal College of Pathologists’ annual celebration of activities and events promoting the disciplines and professions in pathology, will take place on 2–8 November.