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On April 14, Harvard University saw 2.2 billion US$ in grant money frozen after it elected to maintain diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Princeton, Cornell, Northwestern universities also suffered cuts in funding for similar reasons. As the freezing of research funding expands weekly in the US, universities have created “bridge funding” to support affected graduate students and programs. Furthermore, alternative sources of cash are under consideration: after all, weal

The inexorable drive for success when most basic needs have been fulfilled propels inventors in amusing places indeed: today, the FAA released its guidance on the use of electrical air taxis - à la Jetsons... It takes a special brain to innovate. A precious ability to disregard everything you know, think outside the box, and look at an issue with new eyes. It requires throwing away the existing confines, and re-inventing with a new direction. I can’t do that: I’ve been calle

Last week at the local tailor shop, I was presented with the ecological argument to purchase a custom-made shirt: “The fit is impeccable, and instead of making 3 shirt sizes (Small, Medium, Large) to sort-of fit your body, a single shirt will be made. Less time, less energy, less waste.” I’m a common 16.5-32 slim-fit-shirt guy, so I walked out without the $150 tailored shirt, but with a useful analogy… My team specializes in custom-designed preclinical studies. “Bespoke”, “Un

I was reminded last week of the extraordinary circumstances which allow scientists to pursue a life’s passion – the generation of new knowledge, in all fields of research; Aside from talent and interest -thanks for the genes, Mom & Dad!-, the location of our birth and upbringing, the patience and devotion of our teachers, and a fair chunk of cash led us all to the labs where we labor today. In addition to parental support, the public’s financial contribution to the education

Bradycardia is generally resolved with atropine (first cardiac report circa 1867), and issues of aberrant conduction are addressed with beta blockers (Sir J. Black’s work in the 1960s earned him a Nobel prize in 1988 1). Sodium, calcium, and potassium channels are inhibited by a plethora of successful drugs like amiodarone (Labaz Labs, 1961), verapamil (Knoll AG, 1964), and dofetilide (Pfizer, 1999). But let’s ignore all of that, because this episode of the Newsletter picture

Early last week, a bewildering announcement by a CRO pertaining to use Artificial Intelligence - specifically ChatGPT- to design preclinical efficacy studies transported AI discussions from the press to the laboratory. Opinions expressed by the technology-wary grey-haired oppose those of the younger, tech-happy fellows, and ultimately, all are irrelevant as today’s iteration of ChatGPT rapidly evolves. So, is ChatGPT ready to join the scientific toolbox, like a trusted old ca

In the lab, I deposited a drop of bleomycin solution on the epiglottis of a rat. I twirled the animal a little, and it aspired the bleomycin into its lungs. Over a few weeks, the bleomycin will accumulate, break the DNA strands and kill the epithelial cells in the animal’s alveoli. Reactive oxygen species will be generated, activate macrophages, and inflammation will result, leading to pulmonary fibrosis. Mechanism of disease induction: apoptosis leading to inflammation and c

You may have been there: You walk out of the notary’s office, incorporation papers in hand. A new company’s future dependent upon data produced in vitro, published in a handful of journals. Soon, the excitement of new beginnings gives rise to “translation anxiety”: Will the effects observed in cells be visible in more complex disease models? Two blocks down the road, another pharmaceutical company files its preclinical dossier with the regulators. Next stop: Clinical trials.

Central to the necessity to “de-risk” pharmaceutical assets is the significant attrition rate which drives drug costs; over ninety percent of clinical drug development failed between 2010 and 20171. If molecules in the preclinical stage are included, the rate of attrition from Discovery to Commercialization rates as high as 99%. Causes for failure include lack of efficacy (40%), toxicity (30%), poor-drug-like properties (10%) and lack of strategic planning (10%)2. To a patent