blog-icon

Clinical research blog

Explore our blog for insights into the big questions in precision medicine and clinical research.

From lab to life: How genetic testing is transforming pharma and biotech

The 21st century heralds a paradigm shift in healthcare and medicine, driven predominantly by the breakthroughs in genetic testing. This blog post explores how genetic testing is redefining the fields of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, marking a new era of precision medicine. From decoding our DNA to ushering in targeted therapies, genetic testing stands as a cornerstone of modern medical innovation.

Continue reading

Precision at scale: The role of health digital twins in the future of medicine

Digital twins are virtual models designed to accurately reflect a physical object or system. The concept comes from engineering and has been applied to complex systems such as airplanes, manufacturing, and even cities. While the use of digital twins in healthcare is still very new, it is already showing promise for more personalised treatments and creating a better understanding of patient health.

Continue reading

The genetic crystal ball: How polygenic risk scores predict disease risk and guide drug discovery

While lifestyle choices and environment can impact risk, genes are often what most affect how likely a person is to develop a disease. People commonly have different versions of a gene throughout a population, and some of these versions are associated with an increase in disease risk. Polygenic risk scores consider these gene variations and can provide a measurement of a person's risk for a specific disease.

Continue reading

Boosting clinical trial patient recruitment: The role of patient recruitment vendors and platforms

Clinical trials are the cornerstone of medical advancements, allowing researchers to develop new treatments, therapies, and medications. However, a critical challenge in conducting successful clinical trials is patient recruitment. Efficient patient recruitment ensures that trials progress smoothly, providing results that benefit both the medical community and patients. To overcome this challenge, clinical trial patient recruitment companies and platforms play a vital role. In this blog, we’ll examine the world of clinical trial patient recruitment, exploring the role of various vendors and platforms.

Continue reading

CRISPR and the future of healthcare: Promise and challenges

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) systems are programmable genome editing tools that can mediate site-specific DNA modifications. Although gene-editing technologies, including CRISPR, enable highly specific treatments tailored to individuals, their clinical success depends on overcoming issues like efficiency, gene correction specificity, and precise cell targeting. Here, we'll discuss the potential gene-editing technologies like CRISPR have for personalised therapies, as well as the challenges and regulatory landscape that affect its clinical uptake.

Continue reading

Cracking the genetic code of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)

The development of MASH, the advanced stage of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, is a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Genes like PNPLA3, TM6SF2, GCKR, MBOAT7, and HSD17B13 play pivotal roles in MASH susceptibility. Lifestyle factors, particularly diet and exercise, amplify the genetic influence on MASH risk.

Continue reading

Pharmacogenomics: Tailoring therapies for maximum safety and efficacy

Pharmacogenomics, also known as pharmacogenetics, is a field of research dedicated to investigating how an individual's genetic makeup influences their response to medications.

Continue reading

Webinar recap: The evolving landscape of liver disease

This webinar, hosted by Sano CEO Dr. Patrick Short and featuring Dr. Dimitar Tonev, an expert in liver disease and hepatology, sheds light on the latest developments in liver disease – particularly metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) – including significant changes and predictions for the future.

Continue reading

Bolstering patient engagement to drive retention success

Keeping participants engaged in clinical research can be difficult. Here, we let the statistics tell the story:

Continue reading

Connecting the dots: How phenotypic data enhances genetic insights in research 

Genetic data is at the heart of precision medicine. Understanding the influence of genetics on health has helped us to recognise risk factors for disease, predict how patients might respond to treatments, and develop targeted treatments. But how does this knowledge connect to phenotypic data – the expression of the interaction between genes and the environment?

Continue reading