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Articles by Sam Wightwick
Food Safety & Integrity Focus
Article How laboratory AI agents can transform R&D and quality in the food industry Food and beverage laboratories face growing pressure to innovate without compromising safety. This article explores how agentic AI can connect siloed data, strengthen predictive quality and accelerate R&D. Opinion The perfect storm for seafood fraud The seafood industry is enormous, so too its supply chains.
Celebrities and MPs demand end to male chick culling
As World Egg Day highlights the routine culling of 45 million male chicks annually in the UK, a coalition of celebrities, MPs and campaign groups is urging the Government and egg industry to commit to a 2028 ban. Celebrities and politicians have called on the UK Government and egg industry to end the routine killing of millions of male chicks each year, as campaigners mark World Egg Day on 9th October.
UK agrifood network tackles antimicrobial resistance with £54m UKRI funding
The AMAST Network, backed by a £54 million UK government and UKRI investment, will spend five years developing and testing practical strategies to reduce antibiotic dependency across livestock, aquaculture and crops, while safeguarding animal health and the long-term efficacy of antimicrobials. Source: the University of Leicester Dr John Pearl alongside fellow researchers, from left: Keiran Dewing, Dr Mrinal Das, Megan Atherton-Frisby, Luke Newman and Sadaf Sulman.
New violet blue light treatment targets Campylobacter on raw chicken
Researchers at the University of Reading have demonstrated that violet-blue photodynamic inactivation can eliminate all tested strains of Campylobacter – the world’s most common cause of bacterial food poisoning. Source: University of Reading A low-power violet-blue light treatment could help reduce food poisoning caused by raw chicken, according to researchers at the University of Reading.
California targets ultra-processed foods with sweeping new health legislation
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a sweeping package of preventive health measures in California, introducing a certification label for non-ultra-processed foods, tighter restrictions on vaping products, new children’s meal nutrition standards and an expanded Farm to School programme.
British Nutrition Foundation calls for stronger food education policy in UK schools
The British Nutrition Foundation has published a landmark white paper warning that food education remains a missing ingredient in UK policy, calling on government, educators and industry to act as curriculum reform gathers pace. The British Nutrition Foundation has called for stronger action to ensure food education is recognised as a vital part of efforts to improve children’s health, develop essential life skills and support a more sustainable future.
Tesco launches nitrite-free bacon and ham range
Tesco’s new nitrite-free range spans eight bacon and ham products made from 100 percent British pork, reflecting shifting consumer attitudes towards curing additives in processed meat. Tesco has launched a new range of bacon and ham made without added nitrites, as interest in products containing fewer curing additives continues to grow. The supermarket said online searches for products without added nitrites have increased by more than 360 percent year-on-year.
In vivo CAR T review charts path to off-the-shelf cellular therapy
A new detailed review of in vivo CAR T technology has assessed the key hurdles to overcome in order to transition cellular immunotherapy from bespoke manufacturing to a reliable off-the-shelf therapeutic platform.
Tesco anchors £20m Bramble Fund to drive UK food innovation
Tesco has become the anchor investor in Bramble Fund I, a new £20 million vehicle established by National Food Strategy author Henry Dimbleby to back practical innovations in the food industry. Tesco has become the anchor investor in a new £20 million fund to accelerate innovation across the UK food system.
Magnetic nanoparticles offer new route to PFAS-free water
A new research study has developed a versatile, scalable platform using functionalised iron oxide nanoparticles to magnetically extract PFAS forever chemicals and fluorine-containing microplastics from complex contaminated water samples. Source: OMD Group Dr Marcus Halik (right) in the lab with Johannes Voß and Linda Rockmann.
PET industry launches shared platform for food contact safety data
As recycled content targets rise and regulatory scrutiny of packaging chemicals intensifies, PETCORE EUROPE and KÖR have launched GeNi – a neutral, industry-wide platform designed to consolidate interlaboratory testing data on food contact substances. The European PET industry has launched a new initiative designed to bring together testing data from across the plastics supply chain in an effort to improve understanding of substances found in packaging and strengthen food safety.
Salmonella outbreaks linked to imported eggs remain under investigation
The UKHSA, FSA and public health partners are investigating three concurrent Salmonella Enteritidis clusters in England, with 586 confirmed cases and two deaths reported as of September 2026. Three clusters of Salmonella Enteritidis infections in England are continuing to be investigated by public health authorities, with evidence suggesting links to imported eggs.
Lidl launches hybrid high-protein meat range with pea protein
Lidl GB is entering the functional protein market with a hybrid meat range that combines British meat with pea protein. Lidl is launching a new range of high-protein meat products that combines British meat with pea protein, with the retailer claiming the products deliver at least 20 percent more protein than traditional meat alternatives. The High-Protein Meat range will launch in Lidl stores nationwide on Friday 18 September, with prices starting at £1.99.
UMass Amherst launches $120 million future of food initiative
UMass Amherst’s Future of Food Initiative will fund a 36,000-square-foot research facility, a new interdisciplinary centre and four endowed academic positions. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is launching a $120 million initiative aimed at tackling major challenges facing the global food system, including climate change, food safety and the need to feed a growing population.
Dutch coalition demands €65m fund to boost plant-based food
A broad coalition spanning retailers, producers, NGOs and foodservice organisations has presented Dutch parliamentarians with a detailed proposal for a national plant-based action plan. A coalition of 60 organisations from across the Dutch food and agricultural sector is calling on the Netherlands government to introduce an Action Plan for More Plant-Based Food, backed by a €65 million annual fund to accelerate production and consumption.
Experimental RNA drug reverses scleroderma signs in preclinical study
Scientists at Cedars-Sinai have demonstrated that TY1, a synthetic non-coding RNA originally developed to address heart attack-related tissue damage, can reduce inflammation, DNA damage and organ scarring in preclinical models of systemic sclerosis. Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University have used an experimental drug to reverse signs of systemic sclerosis in laboratory experiments, pointing to a potential new treatment approach for the autoimmune disease.
Nestlé agrees $1bn sale of mainstream vitamins business to Yellow Wood Partners
The $1 billion USD sale of seven established supplement brands to Yellow Wood Partners marks a pivotal shift in Nestlé’s portfolio strategy, as the company doubles down on premium VMS whilst giving its mainstream brands the dedicated ownership needed to compete in an evolving market.
New grouping approach targets hazardous chemicals in food packaging
With the vast majority of food contact chemicals lacking adequate safety data, researchers from the Food Packaging Forum Foundation are calling for a group-based assessment strategy – identifying 38 priority chemical groups and releasing two new tools to support regulatory decision-making. Scientists have proposed a new approach to help regulators and manufacturers identify potentially hazardous chemicals used in food packaging, kitchenware and other food contact materials.
M&S deploys AI welfare monitoring across entire dairy supply chain
Marks & Spencer has become the first major retailer to deploy AI-driven animal welfare monitoring across its complete dairy supply chain, with camera-based technology developed alongside veterinary experts now tracking cow health. Marks & Spencer (M&S) has announced it is rolling out AI-powered monitoring systems across its entire milk pool in a move that will set a new standard for dairy cow welfare.
UK dairy industry sets bold new sustainability targets
The Dairy Roadmap’s Processor Working Group has set ambitious new benchmarks across emissions, water use and packaging – requiring all processors to adopt Science Based Targets and eliminate unnecessary single-use plastics by 2030, as the sector pushes towards net zero by 2050. The UK dairy processing sector has unveiled a new set of targets aimed at accelerating progress on climate change, energy, water, plastics and packaging.
Electron beam technology shows promise for safer poultry processing
With foodborne illness linked to hundreds of deaths annually and ground poultry a leading driver of recalls, US researchers are building the evidence base for electron beam technology as a non-thermal intervention – and early results showing encouraging signs. Researchers are examining whether electron beam technology could help reduce foodborne pathogens, such as Campylobacter and Salmonella, in poultry without compromising the quality, flavour or appearance of the meat.
Scientists turn plastic waste into ingredients for protein-rich cookies
A team at Southern Illinois University Carbondale has developed a microbial upcycling process that transforms PET plastic and crop residues into edible proteins, vitamins and flavouring compounds. Source: SIU Carbondale Communications This cookie is made using waste plant materials and plastic and could feed humans everywhere from submarines to spaceships.
CAR-T therapy could benefit from reversing T cell exhaustion
news Posted: 26 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Researchers have discovered how mitochondrial stress drives T cell exhaustion and a potential way to restore their cancer-fighting function. Researchers at the University of Lausanne have identified a key molecular mechanism that explains why cancer-fighting T cells become exhausted in tumours and how this process could be reversed. The discovery could potentially improve adoptive cell therapies such as CAR-T.
COPD drug roflumilast may help fight breast cancer lung metastasis
Posted: 26 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Breast cancer cells that spread to the lungs can hijack the organ’s natural repair system to fuel their own growth, with an existing anti-inflammatory drug showing potential to disrupt this process.
Scientists link IVNS1ABP gene to new ageing disorder
Posted: 25 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | A previously unknown genetic disorder causing premature ageing and neurological decline has been identified by scientists using advanced genome sequencing and stem cell models to find its underlying mechanisms, Scientists at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute and an international team of collaborators have identified a previously unknown genetic disease characterised by premature ageing and neurological decline.
New evidence links autoantibodies to Long COVID
news Posted: 25 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Antibodies from Long COVID patients may directly cause persistent symptoms, according to a new study, giving scientists a new area of research for developing potential targeted treatments. A new study led by researchers at UMC Utrecht and Amsterdam UMC has found that antibodies from patients with Long COVID can trigger lasting pain-like symptoms in mice.
AI discovers peptide that eases ulcerative colitis symptoms
Posted: 24 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Researchers have used machine learning to identify a new antimicrobial peptide that reduces inflammation, restores gut barrier function and reshapes the microbiome in ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis (UC) affects millions worldwide, causing recurrent intestinal inflammation, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
CD47 protein found to drive glioblastoma growth
news Posted: 24 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Australian researchers have discovered a hidden role for the protein CD47 in driving the growth and spread of glioblastoma, revealing a new molecular pathway that could lead to more effective treatments. Australian scientists have identified a mechanism that drives the growth and spread of glioblastoma.
Toxoplasma cell cycle mapped for next-generation therapies
news Posted: 23 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Scientists have developed a new fluorescent imaging method to track the growth of Toxoplasma gondii in real time, revealing its unusual cell cycle, which could help to develop new effective treatments. A common parasite that infects nearly one-third of the world’s population has avoided in-depth study due to its microscopic size.
Blocking protein pathway may slow Huntington’s disease
Posted: 23 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Scientists have discovered a previously unknown pathway that allows toxic proteins linked to Huntington’s disease to spread between brain cells. Huntington’s disease, a debilitating inherited brain disorder, may be driven by a newly discovered cellular mechanism that allows toxic proteins to spread directly between brain cells, according to new research. Huntington’s disease gradually robs people of movement, memory and personality.
Biomarker discovery may improve schizophrenia treatment
Posted: 20 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Scientists have identified a new schizophrenia biomarker and potential peptide treatment that could target cognitive symptoms caused by the condition. A newly identified biomarker could lead to the first effective treatment targeting the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia, according to new research from Northwestern University.
PRI-101 could become first disease-modifying Parkinson’s drug
news Posted: 19 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Experimental Parkinson’s drug PRI-101 has shown promising preclinical results, effectively targeting and disassembling toxic α-synuclein protein aggregates that drive neurodegeneration. Biotechnology company Priavoid GmbH has announced proof-of-concept data for its lead candidate PRI-101, an orally available peptide drug designed to target the underlying causes of neurodegeneration.
New target found to improve bladder cancer treatment
Posted: 19 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Scientists have identified a key link between blood inflammation and immune suppression in bladder cancer, helping explain why some patients do not respond to immunotherapy. Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have identified a previously unknown link between inflammation in the bloodstream and immune suppression within tumours.
New AI-designed T-cell engager LGTX-101 to be presented at AACR in San Diego
Posted: 18 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | LabGenius Therapeutics will present preclinical data for LGTX-101, its AI-designed Nectin-4 x CD3 T-cell engager, at AACR 2026 in San Diego. LabGenius Therapeutics, a drug discovery company that combines artificial intelligence (AI), high-throughput experimentation and machine learning to develop next-generation therapeutic antibodies, has announced that it will present a scientific poster at the AACR Annual Meeting 2026.
SonoPIN ultrasound method shows promise for targeted cancer therapy
Posted: 17 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | A new ultrasound-based technique developed by researchers at Duke University uses microbubbles to deliver cancer drugs directly into tumour cells, showing promise for highly targeted treatments that cause minimal damage to healthy tissue.
ELRIG announces keynote speakers for Advances in Cell-based Screening 2026 in Gothenburg
Posted: 17 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | ELRIG has announced the keynote speakers for its 2026 Advances in Cell-based Screening conference in Gothenburg, where scientists will gather to explore how human-first models, advanced cell biology and AI are changing the future of drug discovery. ELRIG, a not-for-profit and volunteer-led organisation serving the global drug discovery community, has announced the keynote speakers for Advances in Cell-based Screening 2026.
New RNA injection could help hearts heal after heart attacks
Posted: 16 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | A new RNA-based therapy developed at Columbia University could help the heart repair itself after a heart attack without invasive surgery. After a heart attack, it is possible for cardiologists to reopen blocked vessels and restart blood flow but the muscle cells that die during this process are lost permanently.
Light-driven chemistry offers faster, greener drug design
Posted: 13 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Scientists at the University of Cambridge have developed a light-powered method to modify complex drug molecules without toxic chemicals, enabling faster, cleaner and more efficient drug development. Scientists at University of Cambridge have developed a new technique that uses light rather than toxic chemicals to alter complex drug molecules, which could make the design and manufacture of medicines faster and more efficient.
Scientists develop cream that triggers skin’s anti-cancer defence
Posted: 13 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | A topical cream that activates the skin’s immune defences has been shown to suppress tumour growth in early models of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. A topical cream that activates the skin’s own immune defences has demonstrated tumour suppression growth in two preclinical models of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), one of the most common cancers worldwide.
Simple amino acid mix dramatically improves gene therapy delivery
Posted: 12 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Scientists have discovered that adding a simple cocktail of three common amino acids to lipid nanoparticle injections can dramatically improve the delivery of mRNA and CRISPR therapies. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are best known as the delivery system used in COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, but they could soon power a much broader range of medical treatments.
Deep-sea compound yaku’amide B shows new cancer-fighting mechanism
Posted: 11 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Japanese researchers have discovered how yaku’amide B, a rare compound from deep-sea sponges, targets aggressive cancer cells. A collaborative team of Japanese scientists has discovered a previously unknown mechanism of action of yaku’amide B, a complex natural compound derived from deep-sea sponges near Yakushima Island, Japan.
Lab-made lncRNA could lead to new anti-inflammatory drugs
Posted: 11 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Scientists at the University of Toronto have created long noncoding RNA outside living cells for the first time, a breakthrough that has already produced experimental anti-inflammatory molecules. Researchers at University of Toronto Engineering have become the first to synthesise long noncoding RNA outside the cell, creating a potential new pathway for drug discovery that has already produced promising anti-inflammatory molecules.
New target found for glaucoma treatment
Posted: 10 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Scientists have discovered that specialised immune cells in the eye help keep its drainage system clear and regulate pressure, which could inform new treatments for glaucoma. New research from Duke University has discovered a previously unknown role for immune cells in regulating pressure inside the eye. The study shows that specialised immune cells act as a kind of microscopic cleaning crew in the eye’s drainage system.
New AI tool could accelerate drug discovery and cut lab costs
Posted: 10 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Scientists have developed a machine learning system that can predict how complex chemical reactions will produce the correct molecular form for medicines. The process of drug discovery revolves around fitting atoms together and adjusting the pieces until a useful molecule forms. However, the process of creating better molecules typically demands vast amounts of time and money.
Blocking FAK protein may help to overcome resistance in ovarian cancer
Posted: 9 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | A new preclinical study has demonstrated that locking the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) protein may help the immune system better detect and attack ovarian tumours. Scientists have identified a potential strategy to strengthen the immune system’s ability to fight one of the most aggressive forms of ovarian cancer.
Gut drug boosts liver health in mice after small bowel surgery
Posted: 6 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Researchers at Washington University have developed a gut-specific drug that protects the liver and improves nutrient absorption in mice after small bowel surgery. Surgical removal of diseased or damaged sections of the small intestine, known as radical small bowel resection, can save lives but carries a serious risk of long-term liver damage and even liver failure, sometimes requiring a transplant.
Posted: 6 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Researchers at Washington University have developed a gut-specific drug that protects the liver and improves nutrient absorption in mice after small bowel surgery. Surgical removal of diseased or damaged sections of the small intestine, known as radical small bowel resection, can save lives but carries a serious risk of long-term liver damage and even liver failure, sometimes requiring a transplant.
Psychedelics may repair brain myelin to aid PTSD recovery
Posted: 6 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin and MDMA may help repair the brain’s insulating myelin layer, according to new research. New research by Elsevier suggests that psychedelic drugs could help repair damage to the brain’s insulation system, potentially supporting longer-term recovery in people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
New AI foundation model aims to speed up drug discovery
Posted: 5 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Insilico Medicine and Liquid AI have partnered to develop a lightweight artificial intelligence foundation model designed to support multiple stages of drug discovery. A new partnership between artificial intelligence developers Insilico Medicine and Liquid AI has produced a lightweight scientific foundation model. The model is designed to support multiple stages of pharmaceutical research while operating entirely on private infrastructure.
Flare Therapeutics streamlines drug discovery with Simplicis Ledger
news Posted: 5 March 2026 | Drug Target Review | Flare Therapeutics has selected Simplicis Ledger™ as its primary compound and inventory management platform, marking a strategic move toward a more resilient and automated approach to drug discovery. Life sciences software provider Simplicis has announced that Flare Therapeutics will implement its Ledger™ system to manage compounds and inventory across the organisation.
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