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The proper use of spike-in normalization in ChIP-seq improves sensitivity for detecting genome-wide changes between conditions, but improper use is common, calling some biological conclusions into question. A survey of public datasets generates guidelines for implementation of spike-in normalization for future ChIP-seq experiments.

Comparative studies that integrate genetically diverse mouse models and in vitro cell-based assays will accelerate drug discovery for precision medicine.

There is an ever-growing choice of single-cell and spatial ’omics platforms for industry and academia. The scTrends Consortium provides a brief historical overview of the established platforms and companies, revealing market trends and presenting possible angles for how technologies may differentiate themselves.

VitaDAO funds longevity research through a blockchain-based decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), showcasing the potential of collaborative, transparent and alternative systems while also highlighting the challenges of coordination, regulation, biases and skepticism in reshaping traditional research financing methods.

Biotechnology (biotech) clusters have evolved over time. Being a top biotech region in the early years 1978–1990 still positively correlates with the cluster’s biotech strength decades later. An entrepreneurial orientation of scientific actors as well as a variety of networks with partners outside the cluster both contribute to sustained biotech activity.

Pfizer created a ‘light-speed’ approach to meet the challenge of vaccinating the world against COVID-19. It involved developing new strategies for all aspects of vaccine development, from sourcing materials and scaling up manufacturing to transportation and dosing.

The MicroArray Quality Control consortium—a 16-year international effort led by the FDA and involving hundreds of scientists from academia, industry and government—helped make genomic medicine a reality.

The not-for profit foundation n-Lorem seeks to provide experimental antisense oligonucleotide treatments to patients with ultra-rare disease free for their entire lifetime.

Can traditional computational analysis and machine learning help compensate for inadequate peer review of drug-repurposing papers in the context of an infodemic?

The time from discovery to proof-of-concept trials could be reduced to 5–6 months from a traditional timeline of 10–12 months.

The stepwise application of biotechnology will be instrumental to addressing four key challenges of Martian settlement.

To take full advantage of deep-learning solutions in healthcare, the United States and China should collaborate, not compete.