Drug discovery is an expensive process because drugs need to be tested for effectiveness and side effects on animals (usually mice) before they can proceed to a human trial. A high proportion of drugs fail during the animal testing, making it a very expensive process. A US company called NemaMetrix has come up with a way to test drugs on Nematode worms. They modify the DNA of the worms with human DNA which NemaMetrix says makes the testing process relevant to 80% of human diseases including cancer, alzheimers, depression, cardiac arrhythmia and others. They can also tailor the DNA of the worm to a particular variant of a disease that an individual has, which makes their system cost effective for drug discovery for rare diseases. Once they have modified the worm?s DNA they stick it into a proprietary measurement system which electrically monitors the worm?s vital signs while the drug is administered and that enables them to track changes and the effectiveness of the drug. Techniques suc

Edenworks operates aquaponic ecosystems that grow leafy greens and fish using 95% less water than conventional farms, no pesticides, and no GMOs. Located in Brooklyn, their fresh food is on the shelf within 24 hours of harvest. They offer a new model for farming: indoor ecosystems that grow delicious and healthy food while taking pressure off nature. www.edenworks.com

Scientists have created a blood test that can detect eight of the most common cancers long before they turn lethal, in a breakthrough that could save millions of people from premature death. The ?liquid biopsy? identifies early-stage tumours from proteins and genetic mutations circulating in the blood. Called CancerSEEK, the test delivers almost no false positives, sparing patients needless heartache and unnecessary medical procedures for non-existent diseases. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/blood-tests-deliver-cancer-breakthrough/news-story/8874f0bd0d4b4eea680892d421c2f12c

There are 2 million people in the world who require kidney dialysis every week to clean their blood. This is a time-consuming and cumbersome process, without which you die. A team at the University of California, San Francisco, has developed the first implantable artificial kidney, that can be connected to your circulatory system and bladder to clean your blood 24 hours a day. After 20 years of development, the Kidney Project is due to start clinical trials in early 2018. https://pharm.ucsf.edu/kidney

Imagine being able to walk around inside a virtual replica of your own cells. That is becoming a reality, thanks to groundbreaking technology developed at the University of New South Wales. In the future, cancer patients could see a virtual version of themselves, and track where drug treatments are ending up in their bodies. You could then show your family and friends what's happening to you and it will empower you to make your treatment decisions. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-19/virtual-reality-allows-scientists-to-walk-in-cancer-cells/9268730