Recently, there has been an explosion in personalized data collection, which includes genetic and biometric data and its analysis for use in research and healthcare management. From genetic testing companies like 23andme to makers of wearable gadgets, pro-active wellness care has literally taken over the modern health care landscape. This launches the age of holistic,… Continue reading Data sharing for Scientific Wellness
Author: Aarthy Vallur
The perfect marriage of technology and therapeutics
GSK and Verily Life Sciences(formerly Google Life Sciences) recently announced the creation of Galvani Bioelectronics which will realize the dream of creating bioelectronic therapeutics, truly ushering in the era of AI in human health solutions. At a cumulative investment of over US $ 700 million, this is a proverbial moon shot with an exciting array… Continue reading The perfect marriage of technology and therapeutics
The future belongs to nano-diagnostics
Diagnostics is the future of biotech, now that diagnostics and therapy are linked more than ever. Consider breast cancer, gene signatures like HER2, serve two purposes- diagnosing the disease and dictating the treatment. To me, tomorrow diagnostics do not merely dictate therapy, but incorporate preventative care by monitoring. This means, we need new devices for… Continue reading The future belongs to nano-diagnostics
Tumors in a time capsule
The recent discovery that the common house dust mite “reverse- evolved” from its parasitic life style to a free- living life style of its ancestors is very interesting for two reasons. The first is its repudiation of Dollo’s law. The Belgian paleontologist categorically stated in 1893 that “an organism is unable to return, even partially,… Continue reading Tumors in a time capsule
Can the Mediterranean diet save South Asians from heart disease?
All my friends have been raving about the recent Spanish study, which concluded that the “Mediterranean diet”, rich in extra virgin olive oil, fish, vegetables and nuts can cut the risk of developing heart disease by about 30% in the study population, consisting of 7447 men and women aged 65-80, who had all the ill… Continue reading Can the Mediterranean diet save South Asians from heart disease?
To make a model or simply model
Over the last week, I heard a lot of comments on the Nature paper by Jessica Bolker that discusses the issues with model organisms in Biology (Nature 491, 31–33). The author asks “How did a handful of species become central models?” She also goes on to successfully argue that “Choosing a research model should be… Continue reading To make a model or simply model
Personalized medicine starts with the genetic code
One of the most exciting drugs of 2012 was VX-770 or Kalydeco, as it is commercially known developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals. This drug was developed with strong support from the indomitable Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In about 4-5% of cystic fibrosis patients, the G551D mutation, in the massive cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR), leads… Continue reading Personalized medicine starts with the genetic code