From reducing our carbon footprint to producing life-altering medicines, biotechnology encompasses all manipulations of biological processes to achieve a desired result. Altering these biological processes using pharmaceuticals is key to disease treatment and management.
The ability to precisely and consistently edit the genome has revolutionised the field of biotechnology. Technology, such as the CRISPR/Cas9 system, that permits accurate and consistent removal, addition or alterations of the DNA or RNA sequence has resulted in enormous excitement for the potential to treat a range of genetic conditions. Not only is there potential for clinical use, but there is enormous potential for lab-based experiments utilising this technology and further intriguing applications in a wider medical context.
Advances in immunological treatments have seen a patient’s own immune cells being isolated, subsequently modified outside the body and administered back to the patient such that they are redirected towards a specific target (e.g. cancer cells).
Some of the most important developments in health technology over the past few years, such as vaccine technology, have had a lasting impact on the future of healthcare. This is especially notable in our post-pandemic society, as the pharmaceutical industry prepares to meet future challenges. To address local epidemics or even worldwide pandemics, platform technologies are present to ensure that vaccines can be produced quickly, efficiently and reliably regardless of the pathogen.
