Biotech

2 Physician Leaders Discuss Their Work in Advancing Medical Research: An HCE Original Report

H!X Logo

Amidst the torrent of politically oriented healthcare news and process-focused initiatives, it’s easy to overlook the numerous medical breakthroughs that are being made every day. Recently, HCE spoke with two physician leaders about their efforts in advancing medical research, one in the area of pediatric brain tumors and one in robotic surgery. If your focus […]

VN:F [1.9.7_1111]
Rating: +1 (from 19 votes)
0 comments Read the full article →

LifeLabs: Doug Tkachuk, MD, Chief Medical and Quality Officer

Doug-Tkachuk-thumb

LifeLabs Medical Laboratory Services (LifeLabs) is Canada’s largest community-based medical diagnostics lab. Its presence is most predominately felt in the country’s two largest provinces, Ontario and British Columbia. LifeLabs processes over 50 million laboratory tests for more than 10 million patients and 20,000 physicians across the provinces of Canada annually. LifeLabs (formerly known as MDS) […]

VN:F [1.9.7_1111]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
0 comments Read the full article →

The University of Kansas Cancer Center: Dr. Roy Jensen, Director

It’s an exciting time to be involved in cancer care and research, and the University of Kansas Cancer Center is positioning itself to be a leader in research and treatment. After a nearly decade-long effort, the Cancer Center became a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated center in July 2012. The designation signifies a commitment to excellence […]

VN:F [1.9.7_1111]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
0 comments Read the full article →

PRA: Kent Thoelke, Executive Vice President of Scientific and Medical Affairs

Clinical trial accrual in the United States runs around 3 percent and often takes a “keep your fingers crossed” approach. Up to the point of beginning clinical trials, drug development follows detailed research and design processes steeped in scientific methodology. One contract research organization (CRO) is working to change the landscape of clinical-trial design and […]

VN:F [1.9.7_1111]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
0 comments Read the full article →

How to get biotech from the bench to the bedside

The notion of “translational medicine” — moving clinical discoveries from the lab bench to the patient’s beside more quickly — has been much discussed in recent years. And it makes a great deal of sense.  After all, if a discovery can be fast-tracked to use (safely) in patient care, and stands a chance of helping, […]

VN:R_U [1.9.7_1111]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
0 comments Read the full article →

Advocates say FDA guidelines far too lax

For those who don’t know how the agency works, the following may come as a surprise, but it’s indeed the way the FDA does business.  While most state and federal agencies rely on regulations, and in most cases get really nasty when those regs aren’t followed, the FDA issues “guidance.” We’re talking voluntary guidance, not […]

VN:R_U [1.9.7_1111]
Rating: +4 (from 4 votes)
0 comments Read the full article →

FDA rejects another obesity drug, raising questions about market niche

In theory, pharmaceutical companies have billions of reasons to develop and market an obesity drug, given the epidemic weight problem in the U.S. The reality, however, is that sales of existing drugs have been modest, in part because the drugs don’t produce dramatic results on their own.  Weight losses of 1 percent to 3 percent of body weight over […]

VN:F [1.9.7_1111]
Rating: +5 (from 5 votes)
2 comments Read the full article →

Fight over generic biotech drugs sidesteps giant issue

Pills

So, over the last several months members of Congress have been fighting over patent protection for biotechnology drugs. The issue at hand is whether pharmas should get 12 years of protection from generic competition. Right now they have that right, which was given to them in the health reform law. But some members of Congress, […]

VN:F [1.9.7_1111]
Rating: +2 (from 2 votes)
0 comments Read the full article →

New artificial skin touches and “feels” objects, researchers say

The e-skin is formed into a glove shape

Here’s some research which,  if it comes to fruition, could change medicine, biotech and perhaps manufacturing too. If nothing else, it should give us another chance to redefine what having “senses” really means. A group of California researchers say they’re getting close to creating an artificial form of skin which, though it  has no living parts, can touch and feel with  enough […]

VN:F [1.9.7_1111]
Rating: +2 (from 2 votes)
0 comments Read the full article →

Can pharmas learn to love open innovation?

Pharmaceuticals

Right now, pharmaceutical companies are loath to share information with anyone, much less collaborate closely on new inventions. But what if pharmas eased up and began to share ideas freely with research partners? (Not subsidiaries. Not grantees. *Partners* with skin in the game.) While it might be painful, opening up the R&D process could solve […]

VN:F [1.9.7_1111]
Rating: +3 (from 5 votes)
0 comments Read the full article →