The idea of making a potentially dangerous drug less prone to abuse is something that stands out in the effort to stop prescription drug misuse in the United States. Many companies have incorporated time release capsules to curb the possibility of abuse, but sometimes that just isn’t enough. According to a recent New York Times piece, Purdue ...

The introduction of two new hospital facilities in the US marks the beginning of a shift in the healthcare industry. According to a recent news release from Dark Daily, a nationwide change from inpatient- to outpatient-based treatment approaches has resulted in the construction of “bedless hospitals.” In preparation for changes due to the ...

The ethical implications of genetic sequencing are really only just beginning to be fully realized, and these questions continue to contribute to the growing debate over information provided by the human genome.  A recent story from NPR chronicled Henrietta Lacks and the surprisingly indefinite life of her cells. In the article, Rebecca ...

I remember when the Body Worlds Exhibit came to my local museum. I couldn’t believe it -- those were real people. My dad laughed when I told him about it and said, “That’s why you really have to read the fine print when you sign up to be an organ donor.” Being an organ donor, I was horrified. As genetic research continues and breakthroughs are ...

I remember studying genetics in high school biology and watching Gattaca (1997), which genuinely blew my mind. On its own, genome sequencing seemed like a concept that science ripped directly from the pages of fiction.  I could barely wrap my mind around it -- let alone the ethics of its practice. As technology continues to advance, ...

June marked the 30th anniversary since the discovery of HIV. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon challenged the world for global action to end the AIDS disease by 2020. In the USA, President Obama called on countries to do more and try to stamp out the disease. He vowed to increase funding for the fight against AIDS and other infectious diseases such ...

We received the following press release from the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science: Congress is considering including Medicare cuts as part of the debt limit legislative package. One of the potential Medicare cuts would impose a new 20 percent coinsurance on clinical laboratory services. As you know from past efforts to impose ...

If you have not made plans to attend the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) Annual Meeting this summer, you still have time to do so. The meeting is designed for you and your professional needs. The meeting offers educational topics that promote advanced learning in the science and practice of clinical laboratory science as ...

I was invited to visit Singapore as an external examiner for the Diploma in Biomedical Science program offered by the School of Chemical and Life Sciences of Singapore Polytechnic. I visited with faculty, staff, and administrators of the school. I also met with students (see photo) and graduates of the program. They were excited about their chosen ...

Today President Obama repealed an order signed by former President Bush back in 2001 restricting federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. The executive order lifts some of the limitations on the types of embryonic stem cell research receiving government funding, according to Josephine Johnston, MS, LLB, a research scholar at The ...