Annie Coulson

United Kingdom

Digital Editor at Neuro Central

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Articles

From the floor at SLAS Europe 2025

1 week ago | biotechniques.com | Annie Coulson

Did you miss this year’s Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) European conference and exhibition (20–22 May; Hamburg, Germany)? Don’t worry, we ventured through the exhibitor floor for you! We spoke to the biotech community about what they were presenting and how their products could impact their users. Advanced Instruments Advanced Instruments (MA, USA) is a global developer and manufacturer of analytical instruments and services.
Deleting Genes Behind Gluten Protein in Wheat

3 weeks ago | biotechniques.com | Annie Coulson

Deleting a gene cluster in wheat leads to a new seed variety that could be less harmful to individuals with celiac disease. Researchers from the University of California, Davis (CA, USA), have targeted genes in wheat that underlie gluten protein production without affecting breadmaking quality. This work represents a promising step forward in celiac disease research; however, it does not mean that they have developed a celiac-safe form of wheat.
How can shift work impact muscle health and aging?

3 weeks ago | biotechniques.com | Annie Coulson

The impact of circadian disruption on muscle health and aging has been uncovered. A research team at King’s College London (UK) has uncovered the intrinsic and extrinsic effects that circadian disruption can have on muscle health and aging. This disruption, seen with shift work, can affect protein turnover and contribute to muscle wasting. A better understanding of these impacts enables strategies for improving health in shift workers to be developed.
Largest Investigation into Genomics of Osteoarthritis

1 month ago | biotechniques.com | Annie Coulson

A global team has analyzed data from nearly 2 million individuals, uncovering new genes and genetic pathways underpinning osteoarthritis. A global collaboration of researchers led by Helmholtz Munich (Germany), including Rush University Medical Center (IL, USA) and 125 academic institutes, conducted the largest genetic investigation into osteoarthritis by analyzing data from nearly 2 million individuals.
The Role of Methylation in Memory Consolidation

1 month ago | biotechniques.com | Annie Coulson

Xinyue Chen is in her sixth year as a PhD student in Shawn Liu’s lab and Yueqing Peng’s lab at Columbia University (NY, USA). Xinyue presented her thesis project on the role of methylation in memory consolidation during sleep at the meeting of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN), Neuroscience 2024 (5–9 October; Chicago, IL, USA).
Integrating Organ-On-A-Chip Systems With Robotics And AI

1 month ago | biotechniques.com | Annie Coulson

The Center for Predictive in vitro Models (CPM) at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL; UK) brings together over 100 academic staff and post docs who specialize in developing and using organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technology and other types of predictive in vitro models. The center develops models for a broad range of tissues, organs and pathologies, while also conducting research into the underpinning bioengineering that is essential for the development of these models.
The latest innovations in organ-on-a-chip systems

1 month ago | biotechniques.com | Annie Coulson

The US FDA recently announced plans to phase out animal testing in the development of monoclonal antibodies and other drugs, replacing it with more effective, human-relevant methods, such as organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technology. OoCs are small – about the size of a USB memory stick – microfluidic devices lined with living human cells. Their ability to reproduce the physiological environment of human organs makes them ideal models for studying disease and developing drugs.
Novel drug-delivering aptamers target cancer stem cells with double punch

1 month ago | biotechniques.com | Annie Coulson

Drug-delivering aptamers that can precisely target leukemia stem cells with enhanced potency have been developed. Delivering anticancer drugs with specificity and potency to cancer stem cells is an increasing focus of leukemia therapeutic research and development, yet minimizing off-target toxicities remains a challenge.
Pressure-Sensing Protein Involved in Gut Motility Identified

2 months ago | biotechniques.com | Annie Coulson

A key pressure-sensing protein involved in intestinal movement and inflammation regulation has been identified. Researchers from Harvard Medical School (MA, USA) and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (NY, USA) have uncovered a key pressure-sensing protein involved in gut motility and immune balance, which could help develop precision-targeted treatments for intestinal disorders.
New method for resolving highly similar paralogous genes

2 months ago | biotechniques.com | Annie Coulson

Previously inaccessible regions of the human genome can now be analyzed using HiFi sequencing. A collaborative team led by PacBio (CA, USA), GeneDx (MD, USA) and a consortium of genomics experts have developed a new method for analyzing notoriously complex regions of the human genome. The method applies the informatics tool Paraphrase in combination with HiFi long-read sequencing to provide a single framework for resolving highly similar paralogous genes.