As reported by The Journal Live, Scientists at the universities of Aberystwyth and Newcastle have developed a simple urine test to check whether or not patients are eating the recommended five portions of fruit and veg per day.
The prototype urine test can reveal what patients have been eating over the past week by identifying chemical fingerprints of substances that have been created by different foods. So far, chemical fingerprints have been found food fruit and veg such as raspberries, orange juice and broccoli. The team of scientists believe that soon each food group will be identifiable and that a dip stick test will be available within the next five years.
Speaking of the test, Professor John Draper who lead the team of scientists at Aberystwyth university stated, “It should mean that for the first time researchers will be able to say for certain which items of food help protect against specific diseases, and those that can seriously increase the chance of getting a particular disease.”
As reported by The Telegraph, scientists in Germany and Israel have been able to grow mouse sperm in the laboratory.
The team of scientists were lead by Professor Stefan Schlatt at Muenster University were able to grow sperm cells in a laboratory dish using germ cells – the cells in the testicles that are responsible for sperm production.
This incredible breakthrough could enable infertile men to father their own children. Speaking of the discovery, Stephen Gordon, a leading NHS male infertility consultant stated, “Infertile men naturally want to be the father of their child but at present have to accept that can’t happen. With the mouse discovery, that could now be a possibility.”
Jason Johal at CK Science is currently recruiting for an Associate Director for GMP to join a global pharmaceutical company based in London.
The role:
As Associate Director of GMP, you will be expected to provide regional strategic direction and oversight for GMP quality for all IMP developmental compounds, and commercial products for which the group is the marketing application holder.
You will also be expected to ensure alignment with global strategic objectives, and participate in the development and implementation of these from Phase 1 through to Phase 3 and 4, and commercial products.
The role also encompasses manufacture, testing, packaging and shipment to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
Day-to-day activities will include the management and overseeing of quality requirements of the IMP and MA supply chains (from API to labelled stock, release, importation and distribution) including all vendors, internal and external, ensuring appropriate management of quality compliance requirements including technical/quality agreements, audits, performance and compliance monitoring, feedback and improvements.
There will be the need to ensure that the regulatory release requirements are properly coordinated and that the QP network has available to it all relevant information for batch release and importation (API to study site or commercial distribution releases). There will also be the need to participate in Global Investigational Quality initiatives and regular activities, including meetings in order to assure that developmental GMP quality operations and compliance activities are aligned and compliant with applicable regulations.
The ideal candidate:
To be considered for this Associate Director role you will have extensive experience in commercial and drug development of pharmaceuticals in relevant functions of quality/production/other support functions along with experience in QA/QC in the pharmaceutical industry and managerial or senior level planning or project management experience in a relevant environment.
In addition, you will have specific experience in one or more of the following; IMPs, commercial product supply, clinical research is essential and experience across API, drug substance, drug product, packaging and labelling of pharmaceutical products, preferably in global and multi-disciplinary drug development/production environment is preferred. An understanding and working knowledge of Quality Management Systems with the ability to interpret requirements, anticipate issues, make informed decisions and respond rapidly to emerging quality situations is also essential. Though not essential QP status or training would be welcomed.
How to apply:
For more information or to apply for this Associate Director please contact Jason Johal at CK Science on 01438 723 500 or email jjohal@ckscience.co.uk. Please quote reference ST23186 in all correspondence.
Oval Medical Technologies are experts in the design and development of drug delivery devices on vials, prefilled syringes and autoinjectors.
The substantial investment has come from AptarGroup, who now own a 20 per cent stake in Oval. They are recognised as the market leader in the development and manufacture of innovative drug delivery services.
The investment will enable Apta Pharma, the division of the company which specialises in working with the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, to enter new categories, broaden it’s product portfolio and overall reach.
Oval is currently working with pharmaceutical companies to help customise devise for specific therapeutic areas. Currently, they are in the process of developing a novel auotinjector which is smaller and safer to use than any other device on the market.
Speaking of the news, Oval chairman, Peter Keen stated,
“Aptar Pharma’s recognised experience and global presence will enhance Oval’s credibility within the pharmaceutical market and we are delighted that they have become our preferred manufacturing partner.
“Oval will benefit from their experience and particularly as it moves forward and prepares for the scale up of its technology. The investment will provide Oval with financial resources to develop and commercialise its autoinjector technology more rapidly thereby ensuring that it remains a leader in the field.”
Sirius Mineralshas recently completed its first successful exploratory borehole at the York Potash project, and has received a grant from the UK government, reports proactiveinvestors.co.uk.
The £2.8 million grant is in response to the very strong possibility of the polyhalite grade that is being drilled for has been found in the main beds is of particularly high grade in the range presented in the York exploratory targets. The grant, which was given the day after the discoveries is intended to help the regional development of the area.
The Yorkshire based project is expected to create 1,000 direct jobs and over 4,000 indirect jobs, as well as supplying the UK with a long-term source of potash, which is used in the agricultural industry. The discovery and government aid has also seen Sirius Mineral’s share prices double in a month.
As reported in This is Money.co.uk, the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is planning on building it’s first new UK factory in 30 years. This will create 1,000 jobs.
As Andrew Witty, CEO of GSK explains, the plan comes are a result of tax breaks on innovation introduced by Chancellor George Osbourne, ‘Because of changes in the UK tax regime, it will be our intention to bring more activity to Britain and take advantage of the situation here and increase our contribution to Britain. If it [corporation tax] is going to come down over the next few years, it will attract us to pay more tax here.’
The global pharma are considering Cumbria, County Durham and two locations in Scotland for their new factory. A decision is expected to be made in May.
As reported by the Royal Society of Chemistry, the UK Contract Research Organisation (CRO),Almac, has announced that it is planning to create 500 science jobs in the next year.
Almac is a rapidly expanding company and has seen steady growth regardless of the poor economic environment. Five years ago, the CRO employed around 500 people. Now, in 2011 they have 3000 employees.
The new science jobs will be split between Almac’s headquarters in Craigavon, Northern Ireland, and it’s new US site in Souderton, Pennsylvania.
As reported by Azom.com, Exova’s specialist Aerospace laboratories will benefit from a £300,000 investment.
The labs, based in Czech Republic and Newcastle, will receive a £300,000.00 investment which will go towards upgrading the companies creep strain facilities with a new automated control system.
Creep strain testing is a key test within the aerospace industry as it provides information about how different types of materials deform in different temperatures and loads.
Exova’s new system is capable of controlling temperature, strain measurement and load control and will be operational by the end of this year.
Oil and gas company BP are struggling to find skilled engineers to expand their North Sea operations, reports the BBC.
The growth of the North Sea oil and gas fields, expected to create hundreds of jobs, seems to have stagnated as Trevor Garlick, head of BP’s North Sea operations, said the company cannot find the correct people to fill the roles. He adds that “getting hold of the right people is a real issue for us.”
BP views the North Sea as a ‘training ground’ where the most capable employees are developed before being moved overseas. Mr Garlick says that whilst “we are hiring a lot of people, but we are also an exporter of a couple of hundred people to other regions.” It is believed that the oil and gas industry is expected to create over 15,000 jobs in the next five years, though companies complain of the same problem as BP – being able to find qualified staff to fill positions.
Reena Dhana at CK Science is currently searching for In Vitro Electrophysiologist to join a global Pharmaceutical Company based in Hertfordshire. This is a 12 month contract.
Responsibilities:
For this In Vitro Electrophysiologist role you will be involved in native tissue preparation. Knowledge and experience of carrying out extracellular electrophysiological recordings would also be advantageous.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for this In Vitro Electrophysiologist role will have a BSc in Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Pharmacology or a related subject (or equivalent) with previous laboratory experience. Also previous experience of drug discovery process within the pharmaceutical sector would be advantageous.
How to apply:
For more information or to apply for this In Vitro Electrophysiologist role please contact Reena Dhana on 01438 743 047 or email rdhana@ckscience.co.uk. Please quote reference ST22567 in all correspondence.
As reported by The Journal Live, Scientists at the universities of Aberystwyth and Newcastle have developed a simple urine test to check whether or not patients are eating the recommended five portions of fruit and veg per day.
