Scientists have identified a novel group of immune cells in the lungs that are associated with the control of inflammation during viral infections, like influenza or possibly coronavirus. This discovery may help to advance the development of therapeutics to treat inflammation-related lung conditions such as bronchitis, influenza and potentially even COVID-19.

Newly developed molecular probes could make it easier to study the behavior of individual opioid receptors in detail.

Researchers at MIT and the University of Colorado at Denver have proposed a stopgap measure that they believe could help Covid-19 patients who are in acute respiratory distress. By repurposing a drug that is now used to treat blood clots, they believe they could help people in cases where a ventilator is not helping, or if a ventilator is not available.

The National Library of Medicine (NLM), part of the National Institutes of Health, is working on multiple fronts to aid in the COVID-19 response through new initiatives with the global publishing community and artificial intelligence researchers.

A new approach could lead to “cornea-on-a-chip” devices that more accurately test the effects of drugs on the human eye.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that the University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization – International Vaccine Centre VIDO-InterVac will receive $12 million to help address Canada’s shortage of vaccine manufacturing capacity.

Vivli, the Center for Clinical Research Data, recently issued a press release announcing the launch of the COVID-19 portal, designed to enable the sharing of completed interventional treatment trial data. Technology Networks spoke with Julie Wood, Vivli’s Director of Strategy and Operations, to learn more about the COVID-19 portal and discover how researchers can access the data within the portal.

In this article, Technology Networks explore the current global efforts underway to develop a vaccine against COVID-19.

Each individual’s genetic makeup is slightly different from everyone else’s, so why are we all receiving the same medicine? To put it simply – the lucrative blockbuster business model, which has previously been the key to pharma success, is no longer viable. In a global and fast-moving world, in order to evolve, it’s time to examine new alternatives to the classic structure.