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A vet and technician take a sample from a dog for use in PetDx’s OncoK9 test, which screens cell-free DNA for genomic alterations associated with cancer.
The Pet Health Industry Takes on Canine Cancer
Advanced genomic tools have provided biotech companies new approaches to help our furry friends—but experts say several limitations remain.
The Pet Health Industry Takes on Canine Cancer
The Pet Health Industry Takes on Canine Cancer

Advanced genomic tools have provided biotech companies new approaches to help our furry friends—but experts say several limitations remain.

Advanced genomic tools have provided biotech companies new approaches to help our furry friends—but experts say several limitations remain.

diagnostics
an artistic rendering of CRISPR/Cas9
Ten Years of CRISPR
Sophie Fessl, PhD | Jun 28, 2022 | 7 min read
This month marks ten years since CRISPR-Cas9 was repurposed as a gene editing system, so we’re looking back at what has been accomplished in a decade of CRISPR editing.
Tumor microbiome composite
Could Cancer’s Microbiome Help Diagnose and Treat the Disease?
Jef Akst | Mar 14, 2022 | 10+ min read
A growing appreciation of the bacterial assemblages that live within tumors has researchers striving to understand and capitalize on their role.
Learn How Multiomics Drives Biotherapeutic Discovery and Development
Advancing Biotherapeutics with Multiomics
The Scientist’s Creative Services Team and Tecan | 1 min read
Explore how biomolecular processes drive health and disease.
Illustration showing microbial signatures of cancer in the body
Infographic: Putting Cancer’s Unique Microbiomes to Use
Jef Akst | Mar 14, 2022 | 1 min read
From diagnosis to tracking treatment responses, bacteria and other microbes in the blood, gut, and tumors of cancer patients may provide helpful hints for improving their care.
Rapid antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2
Are Rapid Tests Worse at Detecting Omicron—and Does It Matter?
Catherine Offord | Jan 14, 2022 | 10 min read
Anecdotal reports and results from small studies on the diagnostics’ accuracy have prompted questions about the devices’ usage with the new variant, but researchers say more data are needed and emphasize the continued importance of SARS-CoV-2 testing.
Why Automation Is a Necessity for Clinical Diagnostics
Bringing Fluency to Clinical Diagnostics Through Automation 
Tecan | 1 min read
Automated liquid handling workstations offer flexibility for a wide range of application and process needs.
A Theranos sign outside the company's headquarters
Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes Convicted of Fraud
Amanda Heidt | Jan 4, 2022 | 4 min read
After a week of deliberation, a jury returned a guilty verdict on four charges related to wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Top 10 Innovations 2021
2021 Top 10 Innovations
The Scientist Staff | Dec 1, 2021 | 10+ min read
The COVID-19 pandemic is still with us. Biomedical innovation has rallied to address that pressing concern while continuing to tackle broader research challenges.
Discover How to Design Sensitive Nucleic Acid Lateral Flow Assays
Go with the Flow: Adapting Lateral Flow Assays for Nucleic Acid Detection
The Scientist’s Creative Services Team and nanoComposix | 1 min read
Scientists incorporate sensitive nanoparticles to rapidly detect DNA and RNA.
orange and blue cell image
Woman’s Body Appears to Rid Itself of HIV
Chloe Tenn | Nov 18, 2021 | 3 min read
Researchers report what appears to be the second case of a person’s immune system clearing the virus on its own.
photograph of miSHERLOCk device against a white background
A Self-Contained COVID-19 Test with 3-D Printed Parts
Annie Melchor | Aug 11, 2021 | 7 min read
The makers of the CRISPR-based testing platform, called miSHERLOCK, say it could enable people at home or physicians in resource-limited environments to detect SARS-CoV-2—and eventually, other pathogens.
Improve qPCR Efficiency and Reproducibility
The Components of Effective qPCR
The Scientist’s Creative Services Team and Bio-Rad Laboratories | 1 min read
Putting the pieces together for molecular diagnostics and infectious disease research
Sodas, Lemon Juice Cause False Positives in Rapid COVID-19 Tests
Christie Wilcox, PhD | Jul 12, 2021 | 5 min read
Lateral flow tests for COVID-19 can be very accurate and specific when used as directed, but introducing acidic fluids can cause the tests’ detecting antibodies to clump, which may read as a positive result.
photograph of a woman wearing a face mask embedded with SARS-CoV-2 sensors
Researchers Create Pathogen-Sensing Face Mask
Annie Melchor | Jul 5, 2021 | 5 min read
The masks contain freeze-dried, cell-free biosensors, enabling them to detect pathogens including SARS-CoV-2.
gold nanoshells
Getting More Lateral Flow Test Sensitivity with Nanoshell Probes
The Scientist’s Creative Services Team and nanoComposix | 3 min read
Silica-gold nanoshells highlight how good probe design can boost assay performance.
The Researchers Who Pivoted to COVID-19: One Year On
Shawna Williams | Jul 1, 2021 | 7 min read
The Scientist checks in on scientists who switched gears to combat the pandemic.
a close up photo of a black dog nose with blond and white whiskers
Dogs: The New COVID-19 Rapid Test
Kerry Grens | May 24, 2021 | 2 min read
Two studies this month point to pooches’ quick detection of SARS-CoV-2 on material that touched the skin of infected participants, although the pups’ accuracy does not match that of RT-PCR.
800x800
A 3-D Tumor Microenvironment for Personalized Immunotherapy
Roni Dengler, PhD | 2 min read
A new platform enables screening a wide range of combination anticancer therapeutics in a matter of days, which may translate to personalized therapeutic regimens for patients in less time.
clear blood draw tubes with peach-colored caps and white labels with a red banner that has a DNA double helix icon and the word text. inside the tubes is a conceptual drawing of a DNA double helix in white
FDA-Led Consortium Details Improvements Needed in Liquid Biopsies
Marcus A. Banks | May 19, 2021 | 4 min read
In the largest effort to date to standardize performance metrics of the cancer diagnostic across products, researchers say the products can likely detect advanced tumors reliably, but early-stage malignancies would remain a challenge.
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