The Academic-Industrial Complexity: Failure to Launch

Standardization, Collaboration, and Education in the Implementation of Artificial Intelligence in Otolaryngology: The Key to Scalable Impact

The study delves into the crucial role of standardization, collaboration, and education in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in otolaryngology. It emphasizes the necessity of large, diverse datasets for effective AI implementation in health care, particularly in otolaryngology, due to its reliance on medical imagery and diverse instruments. The text identifies current barriers, including siloed work in academia and sparse academic-industrial partnerships, while proposing solutions like forming interdisciplinary teams and aligning incentives. Moreover, it discusses the importance of standardizing AI projects through system reporting and advocates for AI education and literacy among otolaryngology practitioners.

MedTech start-ups: A comprehensive scoping review of current research trends and future directions

Medical start-ups (MedTech) significantly contribute to the development and commercialization of innovative healthcare solutions, driving advancements in technology, enhancing treatment effectiveness, and supporting public health. This study explores the main themes and concepts related to MedTech start-ups, examines the research methods used, and identifies major gaps in the literature. A scoping literature review was performed by searching the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases for publications from 2012 to 2023, focusing on MedTech start-ups in titles, abstracts, and keywords. References were analyzed using the Bibliometrix package in R, and a coupling network analysis was conducted, visualizing results on a Coupling Map to identify key research themes and gaps. The research identified 480 unique articles on MedTech start-ups. After removing duplicates and following a PRISMA-based assessment, 79 articles were included in the review. The studies predominantly focused on organizations, including start-ups and Venture Capital funds (46%). Most articles (60%) used qualitative methods, 25% employed mixed methods, and 15% used quantitative methods. Geographically, 63% of articles focused on a single country, primarily the USA (35%), followed by Iran, Sweden, Switzerland, China, and Japan (2-4% each). Coupling analysis identified five topic clusters: crowdfunding for medical research, innovation in medical technology, new product development, digital start-ups, and the venture capital industry. This review highlights the significant role of MedTech start-ups in advancing healthcare innovations despite challenges like regulatory hurdles and high capital requirements. The literature emphasizes the importance of collaboration among universities, industry, and government for successful commercialization. The geographic concentration in the USA indicates a need for more inclusive research. Crowdfunding and venture capital emerge as crucial funding sources, suggesting strategies to mitigate risks and enhance innovation success.

Neuroprotection in neurodegenerations of the brain and eye: Lessons from the past and directions for the future

Background

Neurological and ophthalmological neurodegenerative diseases in large part share underlying biology and pathophysiology. Despite extensive preclinical research on neuroprotection that in many cases bridges and unifies both fields, only a handful of neuroprotective therapies have succeeded clinically in either.

Main body

Understanding the commonalities among brain and neuroretinal neurodegenerations can help develop innovative ways to improve translational success in neuroprotection research and emerging therapies. To do this, analysis of why translational research in neuroprotection fails necessitates addressing roadblocks at basic research and clinical trial levels. These include optimizing translational approaches with respect to biomarkers, therapeutic targets, treatments, animal models, and regulatory pathways.

Conclusion

The common features of neurological and ophthalmological neurodegenerations are useful for outlining a path forward that should increase the likelihood of translational success in neuroprotective therapies.

Neuroprotection of retinal ganglion cells by the sigma-1 receptor agonist pridopidine in models of experimental glaucoma

Optic neuropathies such as glaucoma are characterized by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration and death. The sigma-1 receptor (S1R) is an attractive target for treating optic neuropathies as it is highly expressed in RGCs, and its absence causes retinal degeneration. Activation of the S1R exerts neuroprotective effects in models of retinal degeneration. Pridopidine is a highly selective and potent S1R agonist in clinical development. We show that pridopidine exerts neuroprotection of retinal ganglion cells in two different rat models of glaucoma. Pridopidine strongly binds melanin, which is highly expressed in the retina. This feature of pridopidine has implications to its ocular distribution, bioavailability, and effective dose. Mitochondria dysfunction is a key contributor to retinal ganglion cell degeneration. Pridopidine rescues mitochondrial function via activation of the S1R, providing support for the potential mechanism driving its neuroprotective effect in retinal ganglion cells.

Bridging the academia-to-industry gap: organ-on-a-chip platforms for safety and toxicology assessment

Some organ-on-a-chip (OoC) systems for drug evaluation show better predictive capabilities than planar, static cell cultures and animal models. One of the ongoing initiatives led by OoC developers is to bridge the academia-to-industry gap in the hope of gaining wider adoption by end-users - academic biological researchers and industry. We discuss several recommendations that can help to drive the adoption of OoC systems by the market. We first review some key challenges faced by OoC developers before highlighting current advances in OoC platforms. We then offer recommendations for OoC developers to promote the uptake of OoC systems by the industry.

On the road to smart biomaterials for bone research: definitions, concepts, advances, and outlook

The demand for biomaterials that promote the repair, replacement, or restoration of hard and soft tissues continues to grow as the population ages. Traditionally, smart biomaterials have been thought as those that respond to stimuli. However, the continuous evolution of the field warrants a fresh look at the concept of smartness of biomaterials. This review presents a redefinition of the term "Smart Biomaterial" and discusses recent advances in and applications of smart biomaterials for hard tissue restoration and regeneration. To clarify the use of the term "smart biomaterials", we propose four degrees of smartness according to the level of interaction of the biomaterials with the bio-environment and the biological/cellular responses they elicit, defining these materials as inert, active, responsive, and autonomous. Then, we present an up-to-date survey of applications of smart biomaterials for hard tissues, based on the materials' responses (external and internal stimuli) and their use as immune-modulatory biomaterials. Finally, we discuss the limitations and obstacles to the translation from basic research (bench) to clinical utilization that is required for the development of clinically relevant applications of these technologies.

Investigator brochures for phase I/II trials lack information on the robustness of preclinical safety studies

AIM

Meaningful and ethical phase I/II trials can only be conducted with supportive prospective risk-benefit assessment. This relies largely on preclinical animal studies addressing the safety and efficacy of treatments. These studies are reported in an Investigator's Brochure (IB) to inform ethics review boards and regulatory authorities. Our study investigated the extent, reporting quality and accessibility of preclinical safety studies (PCSSs) compiled in IBs.

METHODS

We analysed a sample of 46 IBs for phase I/II trials approved at a leading German university medical centre from 2010 to 2016. We extracted all PCSSs presented in the 46 IBs and assessed them for reporting on methodological measures to reduce validity threats.

RESULTS

The 46 IBs included 777 PCSSs. Blinded outcome assessment, randomization and sample size calculation were reported for fewer than 1% of studies. Only 5% of the PCSSs provided a reference to published data. Compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) guidance was reported for 52% of PCSSs, but the GLP document itself does not include any relevant methodological requirements for the reduction of validity threats.

CONCLUSION

Scarce reporting in IBs and the very limited publicly available data on PCSSs make it almost impossible for investigators to critically evaluate the robustness of preclinical evidence of drug safety. Combined with recent findings on the presentation of preclinical efficacy studies in IBs, we conclude that the current reporting patterns in IBs strongly limit the independent review of evidential support for early human trials. Regulatory authorities and IRBs should require better reporting in IBs.

Darkness in the Human Gene and Protein Function Space: Widely Modest or Absent Illumination by the Life Science Literature and the Trend for Fewer Protein Function Discoveries Since 2000

The mentioning of gene names in the body of the scientific literature 1901-2017 and their fractional counting is used as a proxy to assess the level of biological function discovery. A literature score of one has been defined as full publication equivalent (FPE), the amount of literature necessary to achieve one publication solely dedicated to a gene. It has been found that less than 5000 human genes have each at least 100 FPEs in the available literature corpus. This group of elite genes (4817 protein-coding genes, 119 non-coding RNAs) attracts the overwhelming majority of the scientific literature about genes. Yet, thousands of proteins have never been mentioned at all, ≈2000 further proteins have not even one FPE of literature and, for ≈4600 additional proteins, the FPE count is below 10. The protein function discovery rate measured as numbers of proteins first mentioned or crossing a threshold of accumulated FPEs in a given year has grown until 2000 but is in decline thereafter. This drop is partially offset by function discoveries for non-coding RNAs. The full human genome sequencing does not boost the function discovery rate. Since 2000, the fastest growing group in the literature is that with at least 500 FPEs per gene.