Emerging Intersections Between Technology and Life Sciences

There is constant innovation across industries as time passes. While other sectors are vital, life science has seen critical advancements globally. How are researchers able to achieve these fantastic breakthroughs? Consider the intersection of life sciences and technology. Here’s what you need to know about the various life sciences and their recent innovations.

Why Innovations Are Critical to Life Science Research

You expect parts of your life to get easier as technology improves. This belief applies to life sciences, as yearly innovations make research, discovery, experiments, and treatment more manageable for experts. Additionally, patients see improvements because they get more personalized care. For instance, artificial intelligence (AI) analyzes your medical history to see what treatments best suit you.

While researchers are integral to healthcare processes, you don’t have to rely solely on humans for high-quality care. Modern health experts use advanced technologies to quickly understand large swaths of data, allowing them to get results more efficiently and accurately. Improved technology also aids lab work, as you can collaborate safely with researchers worldwide.

The Intersection of Life Sciences and Technology

Each year, life science researchers embrace innovations that help patients and the whole sector. The intersection of life sciences and technology has led to incredible life-changing technologies in recent years. Here are a few scientific breakthroughs you need to know. 

Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics combines biology and computer science to interpret data. Rapidly advancing technology has made this discipline more interesting as researchers move toward automation and AI. What is next for bioinformatics? Upcoming challenges include improving single-cell omics and quantum computing because both have a role in this sector’s future.

Single-Cell Omics

Single-cell omics evaluate individual cells and their molecular composition. You may partake in this specialty if your focus is genomics, metabolomics, or another related discipline. Advancing single-cell omics means you’ll have an easier time mapping diseases for a cell and shed new light on genetic research.

Technological advances in single-cell omics have allowed experts to understand cellular heterogeneity better. A 2023 Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters article discussed single-cell omics’ ability to trace prostate cancer cells. Through this profiling, the researchers found higher resolution of individual cells and could parse through the ones with tumors. With single-cell transcriptome sequencing, the future of cancer research is bright.¹

Quantum Computing

Quantum computing is another critical intersection of life sciences and technology because it goes beyond what typical machinery can do. Modern researchers need more processing power for advanced systems, so quantum computing could be a game changer for life science professionals. Sandia National Laboratories says it can exceed supercomputers thanks to technology.²

For specific applications, consider quantum computing’s benefits for molecular biology. A 2023 ChemBioChem study said this technology could help life science researchers better understand the quantum foundations of molecular biology because of its computational superiority. This technology goes beyond classic computers by overtaking or complementing them. For instance, they can work together to understand protein folding.³

Biotechnology

Biotechnology improves your care and diagnostics by inventing drugs, vaccines and other treatments. While critical in healthcare, biotechnology also impacts the food you eat daily. In agriculture, you can use biotech innovations to prevent crop infestations or weather-related issues. The crossroads of technology and life sciences is apparent with biotechnology. 

3D Bioprinting

3D printing has taken the world by storm, letting you create objects in your home or office. How does it impact life sciences? Researchers have leveraged this idea and created 3D bioprinting. This concept prints with bioink and cells to replicate animal organs and tissues. With this information, researchers have a better basis to study regenerative medicine and organ transplants. What does it mean for the future?

This biotechnology concept could revolutionize the healthcare industry, specifically plastic surgery. Traditional operations could introduce complications and open other problems for the patient. However, 3D bioprinting could be a critical game-changer. A 2023 Biomaterials Research article found 3D and 4D bioprinting benefited patients by tailoring to patient needs and adjusting the product over time.⁴

Electrochemical Biosensors

Biosensors are significant in life sciences because they detect chemical substances in your body. You can also use them on your food to ensure the quality of your meals. The intersection of life sciences and recent technology arrives from portable biosensors. These tiny devices can save lives by detecting your pulse, body temperature, and other indicators.

As they’ve evolved, electrochemical biosensors have become more potent in improving quality of life. A 2023 Nature Reviews Bioengineering study examined this technology and its implications for healthcare. The article said electrochemical sensors are critical for point-of-care diagnostics because they let you see glucose levels and blood pressure at home.⁵ One example you could see is a wearable vest to monitor fluid in your lungs.

Genomics

Understanding your health starts with reviewing your ancestry. Healthcare providers want to know your family’s history of illnesses to understand what could happen to your body. Predicting your medical future starts with genomics, the study of genomes. Technological improvements have helped experts craft better treatment plans and improve their diagnostics.

Next Generation Sequencing

One of the most significant breakthroughs in genomics is next-generation sequencing. This relatively new technology, also called massively parallel sequencing, gives scientists a better look at DNA and RNA because it can quickly analyze strands. Breakthroughs in this field mean you better understand proteins and genetic information.

How effective is next-generation sequencing? You benefit from efficiency because a typical sequencing process requires a few months to analyze. A 2024 Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis article said next-generation sequencing reduced costs and waiting time while improving output because it overcame previous limitations. For instance, the technology makes repeat sequences and genomic rearrangements clearer.⁶

Genome Editing

Genome editing is an intensely studied process because it could significantly impact genetic research. You don’t see it in humans, as MedlinePlus says research only occurs in cells and animal models.⁷ However, researchers are closer to effective technology because of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology.

CRISPR is a groundbreaking innovation for life science researchers because it lets you edit specific genome sections. If successful, you could delete sections of DNA sequences and increase precision in genetic manipulation. A 2024 Science study discussed CRISPR and its modern applications for patients with genetic diseases. The researchers said a CRISPR genome editor could only need a few days to obtain genomics information.⁸ 

Expanding Technologies for Life Science Innovation

AI and blockchain may make you imagine finance and manufacturing. Still, there is an intersection of life sciences and this technology. Here are a few innovations you’ll see across the life sciences.

AI

AI has overtaken numerous industries, as you can wield computers to complement your work. How important has the industry become? Statista says AI’s market value in 2024 is $184 billion and will exceed $800 billion by 2030.⁹ The life sciences primarily benefit from AI through drug discovery, data collection, and improved diagnostics.

Drug Discovery

New drugs hit the market each year to address a particular health problem. In 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Anktiva for bladder cancer, Vafseo for anemia due to kidney disease, and other critical medications.¹⁰ These innovations are possible due to drug discovery — finding new medicines to treat existing issues.

How does AI help drug discovery? A 2023 European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences study leveraged computer-aided drug design (CADD) to develop medications and lower costs. The researchers found CADD with AI can reduce the 10-15 years necessary for drug development because of the enormous amount of data it processes. This technology can also identify drug candidates and make other steps more manageable.¹¹

Personalized Medicine

When you visit a healthcare provider, you anticipate tailored recommendations for your medical issue. While physicians can take intricate notes, humans can only process so much at once. Thanks to AI, healthcare professionals have more power to dive into your medical history and make better decisions for the future. One of the best assets of AI is its detection ability.

Diagnosing illnesses can be challenging for healthcare providers due to tumor variance or imaging machine errors. AI addresses the problem using large amounts of historical data to make informed decisions. A 2023 Current Oncology study examined AI’s efficacy in brain tumor imaging as it could be a critical advancement. The researchers found AI led to enhanced imaging and increased diagnostic accuracy.¹² 

“The AI-driven extraction of imaging features unavailable to the human eye is changing the approach to radiological image analysis and reporting, transforming it from a qualitative interpretation to an objective, quantifiable, and reproducible task,” the study authors said.¹²

Blockchain

Blockchain is a relatively new concept often associated with finance and business. However, you can use this technology across the life sciences to enhance transparency and security.

Cybersecurity

Healthcare facilities are vulnerable to cybertheft because they contain patient records. Your hospital knows your date of birth, Social Security number, and insurance information. Therefore, IT professionals must prepare for healthcare jobs by explaining their role in defending patient data.¹³ If not, the hospital could sacrifice your privacy and expose your information to hackers.

Blockchain benefits healthcare facilities because it is decentralized, meaning it doesn’t have a singular point of failure. Cyber thieves who break the firewall likely won’t access an entire hospital’s worth of information. A 2023 Journal of Network and Computer Applications article commended blockchain for its security and anti-tampering capabilities. However, it could be financially and logistically difficult for facilities to implement.¹⁴

Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

Transparency is another hallmark quality of blockchain. Transactions are more visible regardless of industry, helping everyone in the supply chain reduce fraud risks. How can you benefit from blockchain in healthcare? This technology has incredible potential in the pharmaceutical sector by tracking prescription drug manufacturing and shipments.

Using blockchain technology in the pharmaceutical industry means you have more control over drug production. Tracking these medicines from production until their store arrival means you can reduce fraud risks and increase security. A 2022 International Journal of Production Research reviewed blockchain technology’s pharmaceutical integration, concluding it has promise in combating falsified drugs and medicinal recalls.¹⁵ 

Machine Learning

Machine learning (ML) is a critical branch of AI that learns from data-driven algorithms. This technology has become integral to healthcare and life sciences by helping professionals do their routine work more efficiently. With ML, you could achieve even better health outcomes.

Support Vector Machine

One important emergence of ML in life science has been the support vector machine. This algorithm can quickly analyze giant datasets and identify patterns you may have missed. For example, the support vector machine might search your gene expression and detect your risk factor for a specific disease. Therefore, it could be a critical healthcare tool in the future.

A 2023 Discover Artificial Intelligence study examined AI’s role in diagnosing and predicting diseases. The researchers used various tools to determine how accurate this technology is in image-based detection. Deep learning (DL) networks were helpful in respiratory, lung, and skin disease identification. However, the support vector machine was the best at predicting heart disease.¹⁶

Robot-Assisted Surgery

ML also has a place in life sciences due to its assistance in surgery. Wielding robots gives you another steady hand because they mitigate potential human errors. Surgeons can also use robotic technology to enhance their views of where the procedure occurs on the body. This innovation works with healthcare professionals, but can it replace humans in the operating room?

A 2023 Cancers article reviewed robot-assisted surgery in rectal cancer, comparing it to open and laparoscopic operations. While replicating human knowledge and precision is complex, the robotic method was effective. The researchers found the robot-assisted tool caused less blood loss and could be a suitable substitute for open surgeries.¹⁷ 

Uncovering the Intersection of Life Sciences and Technology

Technology and life sciences have become integrated over time, with many sectors leveraging innovations to improve health outcomes. Bioinformatics, pharmaceuticals, and genomics are only some fields benefiting from the intersection of life sciences and technology.

Sources:

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2. Sandia National Laboratories. Measuring a quantum computer’s power now faster and more accurate.
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