Latest news with #biomedicalresearch
Washington Post
16 hours ago
- Health
- Washington Post
‘I'm not a politician,' says NIH director. But it's not that simple.
'I'm not a politician,' the new director of the National Institutes of Health, Jay Bhattacharya insists. 'I'm not going to get involved in the political fight over things.' Easier said than done. The great challenge facing the former Stanford University doctor and economist as he guides the world's largest public funder of biomedical research is that science and American politics have become intertwined as perhaps never before. There is little ideological distance between NIH headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, and the White House in nearby D.C.
Globe and Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Boster Bio Revolutionizes IHC Services With Free Antibody Validation, Setting Industry Standards
Boster Bio pioneers free antibody validation, revolutionizing IHC services with guaranteed reagent reliability, setting new standards for reproducible research in biotech and pharmaceutical development. Boster Biological Technology (Boster Bio) is transforming the antibody industry with its reliable free antibody validation, providing precise staining and detection solutions for tissue samples. A leading provider of immunohistochemistry services (IHC services), the company has emerged as a game-changer for researchers demanding accuracy and transparency. With its commitment to antibody validation services that ensure reproducible results, Boster Bio addresses a critical pain point in biomedical research. Researchers no longer need to risk failed experiments due to untested reagents, as the company's approach ensures that every antibody meets high specificity and sensitivity standards before reaching the lab. Unlike competitors, Boster Bio provides detailed validation data upfront, allowing researchers to make informed decisions. The antibody validation process employs stringent testing, including Western blot, ELISA, and IHC cross-verification. Each antibody undergoes performance checks with openly accessible validation data, representing a notable milestone in the industry. Additionally, Boster Bio's responsive technical support team assists researchers in optimizing experiments, while flexible bulk and custom service options cater to diverse project needs. Fast shipping, a satisfaction guarantee, and openly shared validation protocols reinforce its commitment to scientific integrity. Combining cutting-edge technology with customer-centric policies, Boster Bio puts researchers first, setting a new standard for trust and efficiency in immunohistochemistry services and antibody supply. What sets it apart is its dedication to free antibody validation, a service typically offered by competitors for a fee. For more information, visit "Antibody reproducibility is a major challenge in life sciences. By offering free antibody validation, we eliminate guesswork and empower scientists with data-backed confidence in their reagents. This isn't just a service, it's our commitment to accelerating credible research," said CJ Xia, Founder of Boster Bio. With over 30 years of experience in antibody and immunoassay development, Boster Bio has established itself as a trusted leader in life science research. Serving researchers globally, the company has developed more than 20,000 high-quality antibodies and 2,000 ELISA kits. Backed by numerous peer-reviewed publications and citations in prestigious journals, Boster Bio has set industry benchmarks, earning recognition from academic and pharmaceutical institutions worldwide for its innovations in immunohistochemistry services and antibody validation. Boster Bio offers researchers advanced IHC protocols, offering both single and multiplex IHC/immunofluorescence panels tailored to research needs. Utilizing fully automated Leica Bond systems, the company ensures precision and reproducibility in staining while delivering fast turnaround times, typically just one to two weeks after sample receipt. With extensive experience supporting IHC for IND studies and regulatory submissions, Boster Bio is committed to helping researchers meet stringent compliance requirements. Additionally, the team specializes in developing custom IHC protocols optimized for specific targets and tissue types, enhancing detection sensitivity and accuracy. These capabilities make Boster Bio a trusted partner for high-quality, efficient, and regulatory-ready IHC solutions. Boster Bio excels in providing comprehensive IHC services and caters to the academic, pharmaceutical, and biotech sectors worldwide. Covering a wide range of applications, including cancer research, neuroscience, and immunology, the company offers access to over 3,000 pre-validated antibodies, ELISA kits, protein assays, and custom antibody development. By consistently delivering rigorously tested reagents with comprehensive validation data, Boster Bio continues to accelerate scientific discovery while maintaining exceptional standards of quality and reproducibility. For scientists prioritizing accuracy, Boster Bio's free antibody validation and comprehensive immunohistochemistry services offer an unmatched advantage, eliminating costly guesswork and ensuring reproducible results. About the Company: Boster Biological Technology (Boster Bio), based in Pleasanton, CA, is a leading provider of high-quality immunohistochemistry services and antibody validation solutions. Known for its free antibody validation, the company ensures researchers receive rigorously tested, reproducible antibodies, addressing a critical need in biomedical science. Offering ELISA kits, protein assays, and custom antibody development, Boster Bio serves academic, pharmaceutical, and biotech sectors worldwide. Media Contact Company Name: Boster Biological Technology Contact Person: CJ Xia Email: Send Email Phone: (888) 466-3604 Address: 3942 Valley Ave City: Pleasanton State: CA 94566 Country: United States Website:
The Guardian
16-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
NIH under fire for funding dog tests despite vow to cut animal research
The US National Institute of Health (NIH) is continuing to fund 'cruel and wasteful' animal experiments involving dogs and cats, despite their recent announcement to reduce animal research. The NIH director, Jay Bhattacharya, announced in April the launch of a new initiative to 'reduce testing in animals' and prioritise 'human-based technologies' such as organ-on-a-chip and real-world data, in a 'new era of innovation' in biomedical research. The move seeks to address longstanding translational failures of animal research to predict human outcomes in diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's, 'due to differences in anatomy, physiology, lifespan, and disease characteristics'. However, information obtained by the animal rights NGO White Coat Waste (WCW) shows that the NIH has in fact funded millions of dollars' worth of new animal experiments. Analysis of project documents and those obtained through Freedom of Information Act (Foia) requests reveal that the NIH has approved nine new grants for dog research since their April announcement, costing the taxpayer over $12m, as well as extending about nine already active, with total study costs of $42m. WCW says these are in addition to the approximately 193 ongoing NIH-funded dog and cat studies, costing about $1.3bn. New experiments uncovered by WCW include toxicology testing of an investigational drug to treat methamphetamine addiction. Toxicology tests often involve force-feeding or injecting dogs with increasingly large doses of a compound daily for up to a year. Extended research includes a cocaine experiment to study cardiovascular effects. This involves beagles being strapped into jackets that inject them with cocaine as well as being force-fed an experimental drug to see how the two drugs interact. Another vaccine experiment involves infecting beagle puppies with viruses by strapping containers full of 'mutant' ticks to their bare skin, sometimes with pain relief intentionally withheld. White Coat Waste, a watchdog to end US taxpayer-funded animal experiments, says the NIH should shut down these laboratories. 'Animal tests are bad spending and bad science, 95% of drugs tested on animals fail in human trials. The NIH's April announcement does not include any spending cuts, deadlines or benchmarks. The rhetoric doesn't match reality right now,' said WCW's senior vice-president, Justin Goodman. The NIH is the primary medical research authority in the US and the world's biggest funder of animal research, spending an estimated $20bn annually. Yet Donald Trump proposes to slash the NIH budget by 40% to $27bn next year. 'Trump hates waste and animal experimentation is the poster child for wasteful spending. The best place to start would be to cut funding for animal labs which make up 40% of the NIH budget. It's outdated, expensive, there's little return for taxpayers and the American people don't want pets tortured,' Goodman says. Despite the cuts, in a move welcomed by Goodman as 'encouraging', the acting NIH deputy director, Dr Nicole Kleinstreuer, said in an NIH podcast last week that dog and cat tests were 'unconscionable' and has pledged to phase them out. 'I don't think we should do research on dogs and cats. Absolutely not. We are constrained under the law to leave those existing grants in place, for now, but to phase them out, we are working tirelessly behind the scenes,' Kleinstreuer said. An NIH spokesperson told the Guardian that to support the organization's 'shift toward human-focused research, all future funding announcements will emphasize human-relevant data such as clinical trials and real-world data, and new approach methods (NAMs) such as advanced laboratory-based methods and AI-driven tools'. 'NIH will no longer issue Notice of Funding announcements exclusively for animal models, and some may exclude animal use entirely advancing science that directly benefits human health,' they continued. The NIH plans to reduce animal research by establishing a new office of research innovation, validation and application (Oriva) to develop and expand NAMs. The NIH have also taken other significant steps away from animal research recently, including 'terminating funding at Harvard University for studies that included sewing the eyes of young monkeys shut' and closing NIH campus beagle labs. The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, which supports animal experimentation, has written to the NIH urging 'caution against prematurely removing animal research from the scientific toolkit in lieu of approaches not yet ready to address important biomedical inquiries in full'. Notably, the recent NIH announcements have been welcomed by many as 'historic'. Jarrod Bailey, the director of medical research at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine told the Guardian that the NIH is 'now leading the way in making research more humane and human-relevant, which will save millions of animal and human lives. 'Changing the way the NIH has operated for decades will take some time. We want to see the NIH delivering more in the coming months, but the significant shift away from animal experiments are unprecedented and very encouraging,' he said. Oriva is part of a broader federal trend in the US. The FDA has also published a roadmap to end animal experiments in preclinical safety studies.
The Guardian
16-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
NIH under fire for funding dog tests despite vow to cut animal research
The US National Institute of Health (NIH) is continuing to fund 'cruel and wasteful' animal experiments involving dogs and cats, despite their recent announcement to reduce animal research. The NIH director, Jay Bhattacharya, announced in April the launch of a new initiative to 'reduce testing in animals' and prioritise 'human-based technologies' such as organ-on-a-chip and real-world data, in a 'new era of innovation' in biomedical research. The move seeks to address longstanding translational failures of animal research to predict human outcomes in diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's, 'due to differences in anatomy, physiology, lifespan, and disease characteristics'. However, information obtained by the animal rights NGO White Coat Waste (WCW) shows that the NIH has in fact funded millions of dollars' worth of new animal experiments. Analysis of project documents and those obtained through Freedom of Information Act (Foia) requests reveal that the NIH has approved nine new grants for dog research since their April announcement, costing the taxpayer over $12m, as well as extending about nine already active, with total study costs of $42m. WCW says these are in addition to the approximately 193 ongoing NIH-funded dog and cat studies, costing about $1.3bn. New experiments uncovered by WCW include toxicology testing of an investigational drug to treat methamphetamine addiction. Toxicology tests often involve force-feeding or injecting dogs with increasingly large doses of a compound daily for up to a year. Extended research includes a cocaine experiment to study cardiovascular effects. This involves beagles being strapped into jackets that inject them with cocaine as well as being force-fed an experimental drug to see how the two drugs interact. Another vaccine experiment involves infecting beagle puppies with viruses by strapping containers full of 'mutant' ticks to their bare skin, sometimes with pain relief intentionally withheld. White Coat Waste, a watchdog to end US taxpayer-funded animal experiments, says the NIH should shut down these laboratories. 'Animal tests are bad spending and bad science, 95% of drugs tested on animals fail in human trials. The NIH's April announcement does not include any spending cuts, deadlines or benchmarks. The rhetoric doesn't match reality right now,' said WCW's senior vice-president, Justin Goodman. The NIH is the primary medical research authority in the US and the world's biggest funder of animal research, spending an estimated $20bn annually. Yet Donald Trump proposes to slash the NIH budget by 40% to $27bn next year. 'Trump hates waste and animal experimentation is the poster child for wasteful spending. The best place to start would be to cut funding for animal labs which make up 40% of the NIH budget. It's outdated, expensive, there's little return for taxpayers and the American people don't want pets tortured,' Goodman says. Despite the cuts, in a move welcomed by Goodman as 'encouraging', the acting NIH deputy director, Dr Nicole Kleinstreuer, said in an NIH podcast last week that dog and cat tests were 'unconscionable' and has pledged to phase them out. 'I don't think we should do research on dogs and cats. Absolutely not. We are constrained under the law to leave those existing grants in place, for now, but to phase them out, we are working tirelessly behind the scenes,' Kleinstreuer said. An NIH spokesperson told the Guardian that to support the organization's 'shift toward human-focused research, all future funding announcements will emphasize human-relevant data such as clinical trials and real-world data, and new approach methods (NAMs) such as advanced laboratory-based methods and AI-driven tools'. 'NIH will no longer issue Notice of Funding announcements exclusively for animal models, and some may exclude animal use entirely advancing science that directly benefits human health,' they continued. The NIH plans to reduce animal research by establishing a new office of research innovation, validation and application (Oriva) to develop and expand NAMs. The NIH have also taken other significant steps away from animal research recently, including 'terminating funding at Harvard University for studies that included sewing the eyes of young monkeys shut' and closing NIH campus beagle labs. The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, which supports animal experimentation, has written to the NIH urging 'caution against prematurely removing animal research from the scientific toolkit in lieu of approaches not yet ready to address important biomedical inquiries in full'. Notably, the recent NIH announcements have been welcomed by many as 'historic'. Jarrod Bailey, the director of medical research at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine told the Guardian that the NIH is 'now leading the way in making research more humane and human-relevant, which will save millions of animal and human lives. 'Changing the way the NIH has operated for decades will take some time. We want to see the NIH delivering more in the coming months, but the significant shift away from animal experiments are unprecedented and very encouraging,' he said. Oriva is part of a broader federal trend in the US. The FDA has also published a roadmap to end animal experiments in preclinical safety studies.
Geeky Gadgets
13-07-2025
- Business
- Geeky Gadgets
xAl Grok 4 : Elon Musk's Latest AI Model Demonstrated
What if the future of artificial intelligence wasn't just about solving problems but fundamentally reshaping how we think, create, and interact? Enter Grok 4, the latest breakthrough from XAI, a system so advanced it blurs the line between human ingenuity and machine precision. From acing PhD-level problems to optimizing real-world industries, Grok 4 doesn't just set new standards—it obliterates them. In a world increasingly reliant on AI, this isn't just another upgrade; it's a paradigm shift. And who better to unveil its fantastic potential than Elon Musk, a figure synonymous with pushing technological boundaries? Brighter with Herbert explore how Grok 4's reasoning and tool integration are redefining what AI can achieve. From transforming biomedical research to crafting immersive entertainment experiences, its applications span industries and disciplines, promising to reshape both economies and everyday life. But beyond its technical brilliance lies a deeper question: how will humanity adapt to a tool this powerful? Join us as we delve into the capabilities, challenges, and future implications of Grok 4, and discover why it's not just a technological leap—it's a glimpse into a new era of possibility. Grok 4: AI Revolution Unmatched Capabilities and Real-World Achievements Grok 4 demonstrates exceptional versatility across a wide range of disciplines, achieving near-perfect scores on academic benchmarks such as the SAT, GRE, and even advanced PhD-level problems. Its reasoning abilities extend beyond theoretical challenges, excelling in fields such as mathematics, physics, engineering, and the humanities. This remarkable performance is driven by advanced reinforcement learning techniques and seamless tool integration, allowing Grok 4 to solve complex problems with extraordinary precision. Real-world applications of Grok 4 further underscore its adaptability and fantastic potential: Optimizing vending machine networks in business simulations, showcasing its ability to manage intricate operations and improve efficiency. Analyzing massive biomedical datasets to uncover insights that could accelerate medical research and innovation. These achievements highlight Grok 4's capacity to address pressing challenges across industries, making it a valuable tool for businesses, researchers, and policymakers alike. Training and Computational Advancements The development of Grok 4 involved a substantial increase in computational resources, with a tenfold boost in training compute compared to its predecessor, Grok 3. This was made possible by using a vast infrastructure of 200,000 GPUs, allowing the refinement of its algorithms on an unprecedented scale. Advanced reinforcement learning techniques played a critical role in enhancing its problem-solving capabilities, making sure consistent and reliable performance across diverse tasks. Future iterations of Grok aim to incorporate multimodal understanding, allowing the system to process and interpret images, video, and audio with greater accuracy. This evolution will enable Grok to interact more effectively with real-world environments, further expanding its applications and utility. xAl's Grok 4 Intro and Demo with Elon Musk Watch this video on YouTube. Take a look at other insightful guides from our broad collection that might capture your interest in Grok 4. Fantastic Applications Across Industries Grok 4's capabilities extend far beyond academic benchmarks, offering practical solutions for industries ranging from healthcare to entertainment. Its ability to analyze vast datasets and generate actionable insights streamlines workflows, drives innovation, and enhances decision-making processes. Key applications include: Automation: Enhancing efficiency in manufacturing and logistics by optimizing processes and reducing operational costs. Enhancing efficiency in manufacturing and logistics by optimizing processes and reducing operational costs. Creative industries: Assisting in the generation of assets for video games, movies, and other interactive content, fostering creativity and innovation. Assisting in the generation of assets for video games, movies, and other interactive content, fostering creativity and innovation. Biomedical research: Supporting medical diagnostics and hypothesis testing by processing complex datasets and identifying patterns. For example, Grok 4's ability to simulate real-world scenarios and generate video content positions it as a valuable tool for businesses, researchers, and creative professionals. Its adaptability ensures that it can meet the unique demands of various sectors, driving progress and efficiency. Future Innovations and Multimodal Capabilities The roadmap for Grok 4 includes significant advancements in multimodal capabilities, allowing it to process and understand images, video, and audio with greater sophistication. These developments will unlock new possibilities in areas such as: Interactive content creation: Facilitating the development of AI-generated video games, immersive entertainment experiences, and dynamic storytelling. Facilitating the development of AI-generated video games, immersive entertainment experiences, and dynamic storytelling. Social media platforms: Enhancing user engagement through AI-generated video and audio content tailored to individual preferences. Enhancing user engagement through AI-generated video and audio content tailored to individual preferences. Humanoid robotics: Allowing real-world interactions and collaborative problem-solving with humans, paving the way for advanced robotics applications. Additionally, specialized coding models are being developed to streamline software development processes, making them faster, more efficient, and accessible to a broader range of users. Addressing AI Safety and Ethical Challenges As AI systems like Grok 4 grow more powerful, making sure their alignment with human values and ethical principles becomes increasingly critical. XAI has prioritized the integration of transparency, accountability, and truth-seeking behaviors into its models to ensure societal benefit. Key safety measures include: Rigorous testing: Identifying and mitigating potential risks to ensure the system operates reliably and safely. Identifying and mitigating potential risks to ensure the system operates reliably and safely. Safeguards: Implementing measures to prevent misuse and unintended consequences, protecting users and society at large. By addressing these challenges, XAI aims to build trust in AI systems and their applications, making sure they remain beneficial and aligned with societal interests. Economic and Societal Impacts The economic implications of Grok 4 are profound. By automating complex tasks and driving innovation, it has the potential to significantly boost productivity and expand the global economy. Industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and entertainment stand to benefit from increased efficiency, reduced costs, and enhanced capabilities. On a societal level, Grok 4's advancements could improve quality of life through innovations in education, healthcare, and cultural expression. Its ability to generate creative content, such as video games and movies, opens new opportunities for engagement, storytelling, and artistic exploration. Advancements in Voice and Interaction Grok 4 introduces new improvements in voice synthesis, delivering natural-sounding AI voices with enhanced emotional expression and reduced latency. These advancements make interactions with AI systems more intuitive, engaging, and human-like. Applications include: Customer service: Improving user experience through natural voice interactions and personalized support. Improving user experience through natural voice interactions and personalized support. Education: Allowing personalized learning experiences through conversational AI, tailored to individual needs and preferences. Allowing personalized learning experiences through conversational AI, tailored to individual needs and preferences. Entertainment: Offering immersive and lifelike interactions in virtual environments, enhancing user engagement and enjoyment. Benchmark Performance and Leadership On key benchmarks, Grok 4 consistently outperforms its competitors, demonstrating exceptional reliability, adaptability, and robustness. Its ability to tackle long-term simulations and solve complex problems positions it as a leader in the field of artificial intelligence, setting new standards for performance and innovation. Shaping the Future of AI Grok 4 represents a fantastic step in the evolution of artificial intelligence. Within the next year, AI-generated video games, movies, and interactive content are expected to become mainstream, driven by Grok's advanced capabilities. The continued acceleration of AI development promises to unlock new possibilities, fostering progress in both practical and creative domains. With its advanced reasoning, tool integration, and real-world applications, Grok 4 is poised to redefine the boundaries of AI. Its potential to transform industries and society underscores the profound impact of this technological milestone, shaping the future of innovation and human progress. Media Credit: Brighter with Herbert Filed Under: AI, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
