Intolerances and food allergies appear to be rapidly increasing. But what is causing the apparent

52 Pages·2017·16.43 MB·English

CANCER RESEARCH 3D IMAGING W0RKFORCE
CAPTURING CELLS USING HOLOGRAMS COACHING ANALYSIS
New advances could Will developments How coaching can
mean blood tests from the US change help to transform
replacing biopsies: p.16 diagnostic tests?: p.34 pathology: p.38
THE
BIOMEDICAL SCIENTIST
THEBIOMEDICALSCIENTIST.NET OCTOBER 2017
Intolerances
and food
allergies
appear to
be rapidly
increasing.
But what
is causing the
apparent surge?
The Olympus Scientific Solutions Training
Academy is a specialist training service,
offering a wide range of courses covering
scientific and industrial applications.
Microscopes are used for a wide array of applications and their incorrect use can
result in inaccuracies being presented in research results. The Olympus Essentials in
Microscopy course will offer you a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the
terminology and methods used in everyday microscopy, ensuring consistent, repeatable
and high quality images are captured every time.
The Olympus courses are ideal for new users to the applications, but offer experienced
users a great opportunity to refresh skills and learn new techniques. All courses are
delivered by experts in their field. The Essentials course will focus on practical ways to
improve your microscopy skills, ensuring you always achieve the best results when it
comes to specimen imaging.
For more information and course dates, please contact Debby Dawson
on [phone] or email [email protected]
OLYMPUS SCIENTIFIC SOLUTIONS
KeyMed House, Stock Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 5QH, United Kingdom | Tel: [phone] | www.olympus-ims.com
OCTOBER 2017 THE BIOMEDICAL 3
Contents SCIENTIST
CONTENTS
EDITORIAL
5 Sarah May on emerging plans
and IBMS support
NEWS
IBMS.ORG OCTOBER 2017
7 News in numbers
8 Research, funding,
developments and
clinical updates
13 Product advances and launches
20
ADVICE
OPINION
37 How to… provide mentoring
14 The big question: Do standard
38 Coaching: Dave Eccleston
operating procedures ensure
looks at the issues in theory
quality or stifl e innovation?
and in practice
16 One-to-one: Zhonglin Hao
explains his research and asks
if blood tests could replace
MY IBMS
biopsies in cancer treatment
18 A day in the life: Shannon 40 Institute news: The latest
Hylton – track sprinter and from the IBMS
biomedical science student 41 President’s Prizes: A look at
some of the latest winners
42 CPD update: Training courses,
SCIENCE events and activities
20 Rise of the allergies: COVER 14 28 44 Journal-based learning:
CPD exercises based on
What is causing the FEATURE
journal articles
apparent surge in food
allergies and intolerance? 45 Here to help: Why is refl ection
25 Congress: Some of the top important and how is it best
achieved? Chris Ward explains
sessions from this year
28 The big story: Gonorrhoea,
hernias and deadly splinters in
MY LAB
Nelson’s Navy
34 3D imaging: Can developments 50 Stuart Long: A Senior
from the US change the way 34 Biomedical Scientist and
in which diagnostic testing is Service Lead gives a guided tour
carried out? of his andrology laboratory
EDITOR RECRUITMENT ADVERTISING Neither the publisher nor the IBMS is able to
Rob Dabrowski Maegan Dunne take responsibility for any views or opinions
SENIOR DESIGNER expressed in this publication. Readers are
Gary Hill ISSN 1352- 7673 advised that while the contents are believed
PUBLISHED BY © 2017 Institute of to be accurate, correct and complete, no
PAIkCiTnU FRaEl oEDpIeTOR Redactive Publishing Ltd Biomedical Science reliance should be placed upon its contents
O Level 5, 78 Chamber Street, London, E1 8BL being applicable to any particular
OT PUBLISHING DIRECTOR [phone] redactive.co.uk PRINTED BY circumstances. Any advice or information
K PH Aaron Nicholls Henry Stone Ltd published is done so without the Institute,
OC PRODUCTION DISPLAY ADVERTISING Banbury, Oxon, its servants or agents and any contributors
R: IST Rachel Young Matthew Brading OX16 3ES having liability in respect of its content.
VE
O
C
210 THE ULTIMATE IN
HAEMOGLOBINOPATHY TESTING
RESOLUTION
210
RESOLUTION
Designed for Peak Performance

www.menarinidiag.co.uk
Telephone: [phone]
EDITORIAL THE BIOMEDICAL 5
Sarah May SCIENTIST
T
EMERGING
he announcement from NHS
Improvement (NHSI) that
there are to be 29 potential
pathology networks formed PL ANS
across NHS England is now
the fi nal mandate for the
implementation of the Carter
model of pathology service
delivery. This concept is not new and
many of us have lived with it in a partial
form for the past ten years or more. Now
it is to be a reality for all.
Although it is not unexpected, what
The Institute will
concerns me the most are the eagerly
anticipated savings that are projected to support its members
be made. This is not to say that I do not
through what may
support measures to save money, far from
it – I abhor the wastage of our taxes on well be a dii cult time.
inei cient or wasteful public services.
However, it is with more than a degree of
trepidation that I await the emerging be more accurate to describe us as changes in the nature and location of
plans. With an ageing workforce now is reluctant passengers. We climbed on some services. The consequence is that
not the time to regard training as a board – the National pathology some may be required to take on new
fi nancial drain rather than an investment Optimisation Delivery Board, in fact – skills and responsibilities in order to
in the future. Likewise with our quality through our representation on the deliver these reconfi gured services. We
systems; continued ISO accreditation Pathology Alliance. However, irrespective will of er our guidance to networks
does not come without a signifi cant of personal and professional view, this needing to retrain staf to undertake new
element of fi nancial commitment in change was always going to happen. We roles or responsibilities. We are the one
respect of both staf and equipment. Both are now left with the task of making this organisation that is equipped to directly
are essential for the delivery of the shared work to the best of our abilities. I expect help to transform a workforce and we will
goal of high quality patient care. this will not be a welcome statement but not compromise on our commitment to
I cannot wholly blame NHSI as I know it is a non-negotiable fact. So where do we uphold our standards.
that all government departments are still go from here?
being required to cut deeply and swiftly The Institute is committed to
and health is no exception. I do struggle supporting its members through what
though with any inference that the may well be a dii cult time for some.
professional bodies are one hundred per Service consolidation is never totally Sarah May
cent behind the initiative. I think it may painless and it will inevitably mean Deputy Chief Executive
Institute of Biomedical Science is the PRESIDENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOLLOW THE INSTITUTE
professional body for the biomedical Ian Sturdgess CSci FIBMS [email protected]
science profession.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE EXAMINATIONS Join us on
Jill Rodney [email protected]
facebook.com/
INSTITUTE OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
12 Coldbath Square DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE MEMBERSHIP biomedicalscience
London, EC1R 5HL Sarah May CSci FIBMS [email protected]

United Kingdom EXECUTIVE HEAD OF EDUCATION CHARTERED SCIENTIST Follow us on Twitter
[phone] Alan Wainwright CSci FIBMS [email protected] @IBMScience
[phone]
EXECUTIVE HEAD OF MARKETING
Email: [email protected] AND MEMBERSHIP Find us on
Web: www.ibms.org Lynda Rigby Linkedin
NOW CE-IVD CERTIFIED
Panther® is evolving,
adding PCR capabilities to
the proven TMA technology
on our fully automated,
sample-to-result system.
To see how the Panther
FusionTM system can optimize
workflow and consolidate
your menu, please visit
www.pantherfusion.com
ADS-01824-GBR-EN, Rev 003. ©2017 Hologic, Inc. All rights reserved. Hologic, The Science of Sure, Panther Fusion, Open Access and associated logos are trademarks
and/or registered trademarks of Hologic, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. This information is intended for medical professionals in the
U.S. and other markets and is not intended as a product solicitation or promotion where such activities are prohibited. Because Hologic materials are distributed through
websites, eBroadcasts and tradeshows, it is not always possible to control where such materials appear. For specific information on what products are available for sale in a
particular country, please contact your local Hologic representative or write to [email protected].
NEWS THE BIOMEDICAL 7
News in numbers SCIENTIST
IN NUMBERS
SCIENCE NEWS
EU health
spending
New analysis shows
health spending for EU
countries expressed as a
Diabetes
share of national income.

New prescribing data from
The UK is just above the average,
NHS England shows in 2016: with Luxembourg the worst
52m 2016 performer and Sweden,
France and Germany joint top.
items were
prescribed 6.3% Luxembourg
for diabetes 9.8% UK
£983.7m 11.1% Sweden,
France, Germany
was the total net
ingredient cost 6 6%
28.9m items were
prescribed for diabetes
2006
£572.4m was the total
Last winter’s vaccine
net ingredient cost
reduced the risk of flu
by 66% in children
, according
to Public Health England,
up 8% on the previous year.
1 3%
The UK
Scientists who
now plans
The most investigated
to offer the
deprived a global
flu vaccine
populations population of more
to all
in England and than 135,000 people
children
7.7 Wales are up found that cutting
aged two-
to 7.7 times more saturated fat intake
11 years.
likely to die from so that it accounted
an avoidable for less than 3% of
respiratory total calories increased
times more likely disease than the death rates by 13%.
to die from an least deprived, says
avoidable Office of National
Statistics figures.
respiratory
Smoking is the
disease
most likely
contributory factor.
8 THE BIOMEDICAL NEWS
SCIENTIST Science
N E WS
GOVERNMENT FUNDING
SCIENCE
£160m
life
science
investment
DIAGNOSTIC DEVELOPMENTS
The UK government is set to industry through funding for
MENINGITIS TEST
spend £160m on life sciences basic science and a tax policy
and supporting medical that supports growth, among RESULTS IN AN HOUR
research and health care. other measures.
The news comes in an The IBMS Deputy Chief
independent review by Executive Sarah May welcomed Researchers have developed a diagnostic
geneticist Sir John Bell – Life the report and said that the meningitis test that provides results within
Sciences: Industrial Strategy. Institute will “continue to an hour.
Business Secretary Greg Clark press” for investment. The LAMP (Loop-Mediated Isothermal
said that for the fi rst phase of Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt Amplifi cation) test can be used with blood,
investment, the government said: “The UK has always been spinal fl uid or nasal swab samples.
will spend £146m to support at the forefront of scientifi c It has been developed by Queen’s University in
innovation in manufacturing, excellence. From the discovery partnership with the Belfast Trust.
development of vaccines and of antibiotics to our world- Research has shown that the LAMP test is accurate,
advanced treatments, and leading 100,000 Genomes but further work is required to demonstrate the
research by small and medium- Project, we have a proud history practicality of testing being undertaken by a clinician
sized companies. of medical breakthrough and in a hospital environment.
The funding is part of Theresa innovation. I want patients Rob Dawson, Head of Support at the Meningitis
May’s proposals for a £4.7bn to continue to be at the front Research Foundation, said: “Meningitis can be dii cult
increase in research and of the queue for the best to detect, and rapid identifi cation and treatment is vital
development over four years. treatments available.” to save lives.
There are also To read Sarah May’s full “There is an urgent need for developments in this area
recommendations to support statement, turn to p.40. and we look forward to seeing how this test will work in
the UK’s £64bn life sciences bit.ly/BS_OctNews1 a hospital or healthcare setting.”
A two-year clinical research study on the new test
began at the Royal Belfast Hospital in September.
bit.ly/BS_OctNews2
CANCER RESEARCH ability of tumour cells to escape PD-L1
attack by certain immune cells.
NEW TARGETS FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY
The third study looked at a
targeted cancer drug that
Three separate studies have molecule called PD-L1 stops tumour cells
RESEARCHERS
revealed potential new avenues – which can prevent growing. This drug was
for research into immunotherapy. the immune system expected to stop LOOKED AT ONE SET
Two have highlighted from launching an tumours from getting OF “BRAKES” –
molecules that may help cancer effective attack any bigger, but lead CONTROLLED BY A
cells evade the immune system. against cancer cells. researcher Dr Shom CHECKPOINT MOLECULE
While the other suggests that They found that Goel said that some CALLED PD-L1 – WHICH
the effects of an experimental PD-L1 relies on two patients’ breast cancers CAN PREVENT THE
breast cancer drug could be molecules called CMTM4 also shrank following
IMMUNE SYSTEM FROM
boosted by immunotherapy. and CMTM6 to carry out its job treatment in early clinical trials.
LAUNCHING AN
In two studies researchers in lab-grown cancer cells. All three studies have been
EFFECTIVE ATTACK
looked at one set of “brakes” These molecules made PD-L1 published in the journal Nature.
– controlled by a checkpoint more stable, enhancing the bit.ly/BS_OctNews3 AGAINST CANCER CELLS.
NEWS THE BIOMEDICAL 9
Science SCIENTIST

T
O HOT
N BAKING

S Among the contestant
’ on this year’s Great British
T
A Bake Off is Chuen-Yan
H ‘Yan’ – an IBMS member
and Laboratory Research
W
Scientist, based at the
Francis Crick Institute
D
in London.
N
VACCINE RESEARCH A
HOT

TACKLING POLIO T
O YAWNING
WITH PLANTS H Researchers have found
the primary motor cortex
S
is behind contagious
’
T yawning. It also plays a
A
part in Tourette’s syndrome
H and their work could lead
Plants have been used to produce a new vaccine against
W to a better understanding
poliovirus, which is hoped to be a major step towards global of the condition.
eradication of the disease.
HOT
A team of scientists produced the novel vaccine with a
ZEBRAFISH
method that uses virus-like particles – non-pathogenic
A network of genes and
mimics of poliovirus – which are grown in plants.
genetic regulatory
These have all the features needed to elements in the lining of
train the immune system, but none of the the gut has been
conserved in the
weapons to cause an infection.
evolution from fi shes to
The team, based at the John Innes Centre, in humans. This supports
Norfolk, says the process is cheap, easy and quick. the use of zebrafi sh for
genetic research.
Professor George Lomonossof , from centre, said:
“This is an incredible collaboration involving plant NOT
science, animal virology and structural biology. The SLOW WALKERS
question for us now is how to scale it up – we don’t want A European Heart Journal
study suggests that
to stop at a lab technique.”
middle-aged people who
Current polio vaccines require the production report that they are
of huge quantities of the virus. slow walkers could be at
higher risk of heart
This poses a risk of the virus escaping,
disease, compared to the
and use of the live attenuated virus general population.
ef ectively maintains polio.
bit.ly/BS_OctNews4 NNOT
LLAUGHING GAS
TThe Home Offi ce says
iitt will continue to
R
OU 3D PRINTING pprosecute those who sell
NNEL F NEW METHOD FOR LAB-GROWN CELLS ntnthhiter ocuosll aopxsidee o, fd tehsep fii tres t
A
CH ccoontested cases under
RARY/ Scientists from the or damaged parts printed cells that tthhe new Psychoactive
B SSubstances Act.
O LI University of Oxford of the body. were encased within
PHOT have created a new Previous 3D protective nanolitre NOT
CE method to 3D print printing living tissue droplets wrapped
CIEN laboratory-grown techniques have in a lipid coating. DOPING TESTS
S
K/ cells to form struggled with They can be A study has found one in
C
STO living structures. controlling cellular assembled one three professional
HUTTER haTs hthise d peovteelnotpiaml eton t psuopsiptioornti,n mg eaning llaivyienrg a stt rau tcimtuere isn,t o athletes iand tmheit t2e0d1 1d Wopoirnldg
OCK/S produce complex scaffolding collapse. which increases the Ch0a.5m%p ioofn bsihoilposg, ibcault toensltys
GES: IST ttihsastu ceosu aldn ds ucparptoilartg e OxHfoorwde tveearm, t,h lee d Dr ch gaon.cneast uorfe s.urvival. showdeodp pinogs iatigveen ftosr.
MA or repair diseased Alexander Graham, com/2xZ9hyu
I
Ramboldi®
The Home of RBI® Plastic Laboratory Consumables
Contact us below quoting ref. RBIOCT17 to receive quotes and samples
Ramboldi®, a SciLabware brand
Visit www.scilabware.com for more information
Unit 4, Riverside 2, Campbell Road, Stoke on Trent, ST4 4RJ, UK.
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected]
www.scilabware.com