STANFORD UNIVERSITY

Inflammatix raised $57 million to support its rapid blood test for acute infection and sepsis, aiming to improve diagnosis speed and hospital resource allocation. The TriVerity system, granted FDA's breakthrough device designation, measures gene expression levels using machine learning algorithms for results in 30 minutes. The funding will aid in commercial expansion and clinical studies pending FDA clearance.

Algae, tiny photosynthetic eukaryotes, could be key to sustainable solutions for agriculture, pollution, and conservation. Researchers explore algal abilities like nitrogen fixation, lipid production, and nutrient recovery from wastewater, aiming to engineer algae for biofuels, food, bioplastics, and more. Despite initial hype, algal biofuels proved impractical due to high nutrient demands and energy costs. However, algae's unique biological capabilities offer potential in food production, crop improvement, water treatment, and sustainable product creation, addressing humanity's environmental impact.

In August 2024, the FDA made several decisions on new therapeutic agents, including approving Indapta Therapeutics’ g-NK cell therapy IDP-023 for progressive multiple sclerosis, Amneal Pharmaceuticals’ carbidopa/levodopa ER capsules IPX203 for Parkinson disease, and Medtronic’s deep brain stimulation technology for use during general anesthesia. The agency also granted fast track designation to Abata Therapeutics’ Treg therapy ABA-101 for progressive MS and [18F]PI-2620 tau-PET diagnostic for neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, the FDA cleared Clearmind Biomedical’s Neuroblade System for minimally invasive neurosurgery and granted priority review to SpringWorks Therapeutics’ mirdametinib for neurofibromatosis type 1-associated plexiform neurofibromas.

The Global Precision Medicine Market is projected to reach USD 83.9 billion by 2024 and USD 225.7 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 11.6%. Key segments include consumables, bioinformatics, oncology, therapeutics, and clinical laboratories. North America leads with a 49.3% share in 2024. Growth drivers include increased investment and rising chronic disease prevalence. Challenges include high costs and regulatory hurdles. Emerging markets and collaborative research offer opportunities.

Article lists affiliations and authors from various institutions including Nuffield Council on Bioethics, Stanford University, McGill University, National Institutes of Health, and more, across multiple countries.

Stanford scientists developed a food-dye, tartrazine, that temporarily makes skin invisible by matching tissue refractive indices, aiding medical diagnosis and procedures.

FDA struggles to resume pre-COVID inspection levels, leaving 2,000 drug manufacturing firms uninspected, raising risks of contamination. Overdue inspections represent 42% of registered plants, including 340 in India and China. Despite efforts, 2023 inspections were down 40% from pre-pandemic levels, with staff attrition and travel restrictions complicating recovery.

Stanford researchers found tartrazine, a food dye, makes mouse skin transparent, aiding tissue and organ study without surgery. The dye, safe and inexpensive, absorbs blue and UV light, penetrating skin to reveal underlying structures. Though effective in mice, human application is unlikely due to skin thickness differences.

Researchers developed a method using tartrazine (yellow food dye) to make mice transparent, allowing visualization of internal organs without surgery. This topical technique, funded by the National Science Foundation, could revolutionize biomedical research and diagnostics, though it currently provides transparency only to a depth of about three millimeters.

Space travel impairs muscle regeneration, akin to aging, due to microgravity. Drugs tested partially prevent these impairments, potentially benefiting both space travelers and Earth-bound seniors. Space offers a unique platform to study aging markers quickly.