The Management of Innovation and Efficiency
Globally, many healthcare providers face a dilemma: They not only need to be innovative to provide high quality care but also must reduce the costs of that care. Is this really a contradiction?
Research
Europe's brain drain
Biotechnologist Dr Jens Meiler explains his reasons for emigration to America
Advanced Laboratory For In-Orbit Science
Columbus was onboard NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis when it lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida at 20:45 CET 7 Feb 2008. For this one-way trip to Earth orbit, Columbus is in the expert hands of a crew of seven astronauts, including two members of the European astronaut corps: Leopold Eyharts of France and Hans Schlegel of Germany.
Algorithms could cut CT costs & exposure
A German-US R&D collaboration is to commercialize a CT image reconstruction system that will yield enhanced image quality but with a lower radiation dose when compared with standard CT systems. Although initial applications are being lined up in industrial materials testing, talks are already under way with medical imaging vendors keen to exploit the technology in a clinical setting.
Computerised model of the heart to develop new therapies
During a workshop organized by the European Science Foundation (ESF), researchers discussed further steps in developing computerised “in-silico” models of the heart that simulate the real heart and enable possible drugs and therapies to be tested without risk to people.
AFHdialogTAGE
Discussing innovative solutions and new technologies, pooling strengths to tackle new challenges - the key purposes of AFHdialogTAGE, the Asklepios Future Hospital Program (AFH) Conference. The two-day specialist conference will be held in Berlin on January 28 and 29, 2008.
Czechs lost another drug case
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) concluded that Czech legislation still doesn't comprise harmonized legislation related to technical aspects of handling the blood and its derivatives.
COMPAMED expands in space, exhibitors and visitors
Displaying innovative components, complex micro and nano technology, once again COMPAMED confirmed its reputation as the leading international trade fair for upstream suppliers to the medical products manufacturing sector.
Neuroendocrine Cancer
The collaboration between two companies may pave the way for the development of new therapy options for neuroendocrine tumors: Covidien LTd, a global provider of healthcare products and BioSynthema Inc., a company specialized in the discovery and development of molecular targeted biophamaceuticals recently signed an agreement that will gain BioSynthema access to specific Covidien proprietary…
EPFL Lausanne and Merck Serono announce research partnership
Merck Serono, a business division of Merck KgaA, will donate CHF 12.5 million for the endowment of three new chairs for neurodegenerative diseases, oncology and drug delivery at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). In addition a fund for scientific research will be established at EPFL.
Mummy Research at the University of Zurich
A Swiss-German research team under the supervision of Dr. Dr. Frank Rühli of the Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Switzerland, reports a milestone in medico-diagnostic research of ancient mummies. For the first time ever worldwide, high-quality images of intact historic mummies were achieved through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) without prior destructive rehydration of the…
CLINICIP
Presented during a symposium at Langenbeck-Virchow-Haus, in Berlin, the European CLINICIP research project aims to develop a method to improve glycaemic control during intensive care and provide a low-risk monitoring and control system that can control the metabolism of the critically ill
A new scientific association promotes use in mainstream medicine
Enzymes are biocatalysts that control the different metabolic processes of living organisms. These range from digestion to the copying of genetic information.
Starving a tumour
Every developing tissue is supplied by blood vessels with oxygen and nutrients. Tumours grow far more quickly than normal tissues, so have a greater need of nutrients, which is why tumour cells begin to produce growth factors that stimulate the formation of blood vessels.
Quantitative PET imaging
Visual analysis of PET scans for non-Hodgkin lymphoma may be improved by using standardised uptake value in monitoring response to treatment, according to research published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
From the American Heart Association 2007 meeting
Poster data presented at Scientific Sessions 2007 have demonstrated that the application of clinical practice modifications, combined with advanced electronic technologies, can improve the care of patients at risk for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
The IVAM
IVAM is an international association of companies and institutes that specialise in microtechnology, nanotechnology and advanced materials.
New medical technology centre to target artificial organs
Switzerland - An Artificial Organ Centre for Biomedical Engineering Research has been set up at the University of Bern, drawing together its established areas of expertise in medical technology.
Infant receives first systemic therapy to treat RDEB
Children with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bulosa (RDEB) lack a protein that binds the skin to the body, resulting in fragile skin that sloughs off with little movement or friction.
Medical technology trends
As in past years, this year's MEDICA is one of the most important stages for the medical technology industry. International manufacturers will do a song and dance to dazzle the international clientele. As Managing Director of the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (Deutscher Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie e.V. - ZVEI), Hans-Peter Bursig, is well…
Life's choices - Balancing work and leisure
Radiologist Dr Myriam Hunink is a Professor in the Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the Radiology Departments at the Erasmus MC in the university medical centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, where she is also project leader for several research projects focused on radiology and epidemiology.
Tracking TB bacterium from space
TB bacterium have a unique chemical coating and it is hoped that a tiny gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GC-MS) - a detection device* developed for the Beagle 2, on its mission to Mars - will be able to pick this out from space, in a project run by Britain's Open University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
The European Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC)
The ERSPC is the world's biggest study of screening of prostate cancer. It involves up to 260,000 men, 220,000 of them in the age group 55-75 years old. Professor Chris Bangma, Director of the ERSPC and Chairman of the urology department at the Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam (headquarters of the ERSPC) explains the study's background and aims
Taxus produces similar outcomes in men & women
Results of a gender-specific study to assess the efficacy of the Taxus paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent in women undergoing coronary revascularisation were released at the European Society of Cardiology Congress by interventional device developer Boston Scientific.
Euro 900 million for molecular imaging R&D
The Technology initiative “Molecular Imaging” aims to strengthen the synergies of science and industry in research and development of new technologies in order to significantly improve diagnostic and treatment options, for example for cardiovascular diseases, cancer or Alzheimer's.