Spider's silk could be used to repair human nerve damage in 'exciting' new treatment.  Silk from spiders is made into tiny tubes that bridge gaps between damaged nerves.  The treatment was created by Oxford-based Newrotex, founded by trauma surgeon Dr Alex Woods.  He says the time for nerve repair surgery can be dramatically reduced.  While research trials are in early stages, it is hoped the treatment will be offered for NHS patients in 2025.  This could mean, men having prostate cancer surgery need no longer worry about erectile dysfunction and incontinence.  Breast sensitivity could be restored after a mastectomy. https://www.inkl.com/a/EZqVrauXBl

Guardian Science Correspondent Linda Geddes reports that pharmaceutical company Moderna is confident that confident that jabs for cancer, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases, and other conditions will be ready by 2030.   It appears that 15 years of research has been reduced dramatically to 1-2 years due to what was learned making Covid vaccines.  Dr Paul Burton, Moderna's Chief Medical Officer believes the firm will be able to offer such treatments for “all sorts of disease areas” in as little as five years.See Geddes' Guardian article at:  https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/apr/07/cancer-and-heart-disease-vaccines-ready-by-end-of-the-decade

The Paediatric Liaison and Navigation Service (PLaNS) is a new patient navigation service for Canberra families with children under 18-years old.PLaNS is aims to improve the healthcare of children with complex health needs who need to travel outside the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) for specialist medical care, and/or to see multiple health professionals or services for their care.Families can access the service directly with a referral from a GP. The introduction of PLaNS comes after the deaths of two children in the Emergency Department of Canberra Hospital. For more information:  https://www.canberrahealthservices.ac

London surgeons have pioneered a “game-changing” infrared imaging technique that could aid the treatment of cancer in children.The technique, called “molecular imaging”, involves the injection of chemicals into the bloodstream which act as imaging probes. These are attracted to cancerous cells in the body and, once attached, light up through a process called “fluorescence”. This in turn lights up the tumour.Dr Stefano Giuliani, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital, said, 'This technique effectively lights up the tumour, allowing surgeons to remove it with unprecedented precision'.  The technique will benefit children with cancerous tumours.More information:  https://au.news.yahoo.com/london-scientists-pioneer-game-changing-1250

A new class of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies has been shown to neutralise multiple variants of the virus, providing hope for a better antiviral medication to prevent according to a new study from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.  “Almost all commercially available antibodies for COVID-19 don’t work well anymore, says Dr Jake Henry, Research Officer at the Garvan Institute.  The research shows that the class 6 antibodies effectively neutralise SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Delta and Omicron strains.  Prof. Daniel Christ says, 'This is a new mechanism of action we’re seeing with these class 6 antibodies.'See article at: https://www.garvan.org.au/news-events/news/a-new-tool-in-the-arsenal-agains

Ultrasound treatments could be the key to restoring memory function for people with Alzheimer's disease. A decade of research at the University of Queensland, through the Queensland Brain Institute, has led to a 12-month trial to determine whether ultrasound treatments are safe for patients with the disease. Brain institute researchers, led by Jurgen Gotz, have developed a fit-for-purpose ultrasound device to be used in the trial.The trial is underway at the university and Mater Hospital Brisbane, where a maximum of 12 people will receive four fortnightly treatments before a brain MRI scan and a cognitive test.More information:  https://www.inkl.com/news/how-ultrasound-could-treat-alzheimer-s/lvmdLXupGJ