Taylor & Francis

In recent years, we have seen 3D printing put to an ever-expanding range of uses in the medical field. Products printed with manmade materials include implants, scaffolds, anatomical models and personalized devices and masks. In addition, the area of bioprinting has begun to expand, with researchers now printing live cells in order to encourage regeneration and create tissues and organs. Now, the two areas have become entwined: Michael McAlpine and his research team are developing 3D printers that are capable of printing functional materials and devices that interweave both biological and electronic materials. These new printers could impact regenerative medicine, smart prosthetics and human-machine interfaces by enabling the creation of products with customized geometries, properties and functionalities.

In this interview, Michael McAlpine, Benjamin Mayhugh Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota (MN, USA), discusses his work and the increasing range of uses for 3D printing in the medical field - scroll down for the video and a summary of the questions and their timepoints.

In the third and final part of our panel discussion, we discuss the growing skills gap in bioanalytical laboratories including:

Reality of the skills gap

In which technical areas is the skills gap most apparent?

Where does the skills gap occur – Pharma and / or CROs?

How do we bridge the gap?

In part 2 of this panel discussion, the panelists discuss the divide between investments being made by Pharma and CROs in new bioanalytical techniques and technologies.

Discussions include:

Investments made by Pharma and CROs for new constructs

Is there a real divide between CRO and Pharma?

If so, why is this occurring?

What are the gaps?

What are the solutions?

This year Bioanalysis Zone and Bioanalysis attended the 10th WRIB meeting in Florida (USA), where we organized a panel discussion* comprising experts from leading CROs and pharmaceutical companies to assess the current situation and future opportunities in bioanalysis.

To have leading CRO and Pharmaceutical directors’ talk candidly about the key business challenges in bioanalysis is a rare occasion. We want to thank our experts Amanda Wilson, Eric Woolf, John Kolman, Roger Hayes, Stephanie Cape, Surinder Kaur, Stephen Lowes, Scott Summerfield and Neil Spooner for taking part in this special event.

The panelists exchanged ideas and thoughts on various topics including; the future of outsourcing, investments made by pharma and CROs in new bioanalytical techniques and concerns about the skills gap in analytical chemistry.

In this exceptional open dialogue held earlier this year at the 10th WRIB meeting in Orlando (FL, USA), our panel of experts discuss some of the fundamental questions raised with respect to outsourcing in regulated bioanalysis.

In part 1 of this panel discussion, a panel of leading CRO and Pharma Directors assess the current situation of outsourcing in bioanalysis, and discuss the direction of outsourcing of regulated bioanalysis in the future.

Discussions include:

Outsourcing strategies

Drivers and business models in outsourcing

Scientific exchange and interactions between CROs and Pharmas

Sharing and discussing data between CROs and Pharma

Cost–effectiveness of outsourcing

In this NCTalks podcast, Alice Weatherston speaks to Lance McCracken, Professor of Behavioral Medicine at King’s College London (UK), about the use of psychological therapies in pain management. In Part 2, we speak to Lance about his work in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and his outlook for the future of behavioral therapies in pain management.

Summary

- A lot of your work has focused on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – can you describe this method of treatment?

- What benefits does ACT provide?

- How does Acceptance and Commitment Therapy compare to more traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

- What ongoing studies going will progress the understanding of ACT and outcomes for patients?

- How do you see the field of pain medicine, and particularly behavioral therapies for the treatment of pain, developing over the next 5–10 years?

In this NCTalks podcast, Alice Weatherston speaks to Lance McCracken, Professor of Behavioral Medicine at King’s College London (UK), about the use of psychological therapies in pain management. In Part 1, Lance outlines the role psychological therapies in chronic pain management and the general attitudes and approaches to such therapies across the medical community.

Summary

- What are your current research focuses?

- What role do psychological therapies play in dealing with chronic pain in patients?

- Can psychological interventions be utilized in conjunction with conventional pain medicines such as opioids, or are these mutually exclusive?

- Is there reticence towards the use of psychological treatments for pain in the medical community? If so, why is this?

- Can psychological treatments be applied to all pain conditions or are some more suited?

In this NCtalks podcast, we speak to Michael Merzenich, a leading professor in neuroplasticity at the University of California, San Francisco (USA), whose team was recently involved in a longitudinal trial into the effect of brain training on cognitive decline and dementia.

In this NCtalks podcast, we speak to Hance Clarke, Director of Pain Services and the Medical Director of the Pain Research Unit at the Toronto General Hospital (ON, Canada).

In this edition of NCtalks, we speak to Michael Merzenich, renowned professor in neuroplasticity.