Lab work can be tedious but even simple tasks are crucial and often contribute to saving lives. Due to the shortage of qualified staff, cobots could help laboratories cope with the workload and make the lab of the future a reality. German start-up company bAhead claims this can be done easily and at relatively low costs.

A new process developed by Germany researchers has resulted in programmable 3D printed structures. As a prototype the produced a forearm brace which adapts to the wearer and can be developed for medical applications.

Specialist of 3D cell-based assay technology Insphero, officially launched a pre-competitive consortium that brings together representatives from pharmaceutical companies engaged and invested in the development of cross-species drug testing and validation strategies for rapid, reliable drug-testing of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) and translation to humans.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS has developed innovative “μPCR” laboratory modules to significantly accelerate the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for rapid Covid-19 tests. Rapid temperature changes are required for the samples, which are made possible by a combination of ceramic 3D printing and applied electronics.

The new SP Hull Lyostar 4.0 R&D and process development freeze dryer from SP has been designed and built to enhance speed to market of biopharmaceutical products.

A research team led by physicians of the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences in Krems (KL Krems) uncovers a pivotal role for a regulator protein in tumour bone marrow angiogenesis.

Sensofar has developed a new technique for characterising the evolution of a sample’s surface topography with temperature using the S neox 3D optical profiler and Linnik interferometer coupled with Linkam’s LTS420 temperature-controlled chamber. The technique has been used to successfully map the changes in roughness and waviness of silicon wafers at temperatures up to 380 °C.

Researchers at KU Leuven (Belgium) have developed a 3D printing technique that extends the possibilities of lateral flow testing. These tests are widespread in the form of the classic pregnancy test and the Covid-19 self-tests. With the new printing technique, advanced diagnostic tests can be produced that are quick, cheap, and easy to use.

Together with Tufts University, USA, and the Technical University (TU) Darmstadt, Germany, Merck plans to develop bioreactors for large-scale production of cell-based meat and fish. The project is scheduled to run for three years.

The combination of a 2Photon 3D-printer with an innovative hydrogel-based bioink allows the direct printing of 3D structures containing living cells at both the meso- and microscale.