mRNA Vaccines To Treat HIV, Malaria, Cancer, And Genetic Conditions? – This And More News In Digital Health This Week
Bertalan Meskó, MD, PhD
Director of The Medical Futurist Institute (Keynote Speaker, Researcher, Author & Futurist)
Despite the summer scarcity of medical news, last week brought a few pieces of sci-fi-worthy reports: including the idea of gene editing of the liver to produce less cholesterol and the concept of the nano-particle vaccines.
We also analysed what we can expect from the rise of the at-home lab tests, and dived into the topic of mRNA technology, reviewing the 60+ year timeline and the amazing future promises it holds for fighting cancer and infectious diseases.
The story of the multi-decade uphill battle Katalin Karikó and her fellow researchers fought to prove messenger RNA can viably be used in medicine is widely known today.
In just as little as two years, the world has learned about mRNA technology and how fast it can react when the need arises holding almost unlimited promises in future applications. As always is the case with “instant hits” in science, the ride was actually very long and bumpy.
No genius drug researcher can compete with something being 1,200 times (!) faster than not him/her, but the previous supercomputer model.
If I were the head of a pharma company, I'd spend my days finding out how to implement the best drug design A.I. systems in my company.
We are so glad about your reviews on the course! Let us share one here:
"Amazing relevant content for Digital Health, time well spent, great concepts shared with immense research, My sincere token of thanks to Dr. Bertalan Meskó, PhD for putting this content together!"
Having access to a variety of analyses determining our lab markers and blood results without having to wait at the doctor's office, the lab, or even meet anyone is convenient, to say the least.
Read more about the rise of at-home testing in our newest article!
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Published literally just after we wrote the above article on the rise of at-home lab tests.
"The test is used to determine the increased presence of a protein called albumin in the urine, which can be an early sign of chronic kidney disease."
"Amazon has an internal team developing cancer vaccines, in partnership with the Seattle-based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. The initiative is currently recruiting patients to participate in an FDA-approved clinical trial." - Insider has learned.
The trial includes later-stage melanoma patients and ’hormone receptor positive Her2 negative’ breast cancer patients resistant to former treatments.
"A team of researchers from US biotech company Verve Therapeutics have injected a gene-editing serum into a live patient's liver with the goal of lowering their cholesterol, a watershed moment in the history of gene editing, MIT Technology Review reports."
If the method works, which will take considerable time to learn for certain, it could be a gamechanger for those living with genetically determined high levels of "bad" cholesterol.
MORE NEWS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE
INCONSISTENT USE – Study: Wearables can empower patients, but barriers prevent greater adoption
NANOPARTICLE VACCINE – Caltech’s Nanoparticle Vaccine Protects Against a Wide Range of Betacoronaviruses
Community and Case Management Focused Nurse experienced in Adult/Primary/Sexual Health Care.
2yVery excited about the potential health improvements that mRNA technology will bring!
Founder member and CEO of SPS, Kenya
2yYou are a great global teacher. We learn alot from you; every day. Thank you & Keep it up sir