Helen Albert, Author at Labiotech.eu

About

Freelance science and health journalist with lots of experience writing about all aspects of life sciences and biotech. Recovering geneticist and evolutionary biologist. I am half German and half British and spend most of my time in Berlin while not hiding out in the Norfolk countryside in the UK. When not writing or editing, I like to spend my time taking photos, knitting, reading fiction, eating and making good food and travelling (when global conditions allow!).

Articles by Helen Albert

News and Trends 1 May 2019

UK Genome Diagnostics Biotech Closes €27M Series B to Support NHS

Cambridge-based Congenica has closed a €27M (£23.3M) series B fundraising round to support the use of its rare disease diagnostics platform by the newly formed NHS Genomic Medicine Service, as well as to allow the company to expand internationally. The genomics diagnostic company received a €15.5M (£13.3M) investment, led by the London-based fund management firm […]

May 1, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Helen Albert

Interview 25 Apr 2019

European Biotechnology in 2019 and Beyond: What’s Hot and What’s Not?

We spend a lot of time focusing on specific developments in biotechnology, but sometimes it’s good to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. With this in mind, I asked three experts at our recent Refresh event in Vienna to share what is hot in European biotech right now and what trends […]

April 25, 2019 - 11 minutesmins - By Helen Albert

Interview 1 Apr 2019

Chasing the Holy Grail of Cell Therapy

Biotech entrepreneur Darrin Disley, ex-CEO and co-founder of the successful Cambridge gene editing biotech Horizon Discovery, has a new quest — creating the perfect cell therapy. He spoke to me about his position as CEO of new biotech Mogrify and why he thinks now is a good time to get into cell therapy. Following the […]

April 1, 2019 - 7 minutesmins - By Helen Albert

News and Trends 21 Mar 2019

UK Government’s Bid on Healthcare Genomics Already Benefiting Biotechs

The positive stance of the UK Government towards incorporation of genomics into healthcare has created unparalleled chances for the country’s biotech companies, which are already taking advantage of the business opportunities. Following the completion of the 100,000 Genomes Project at the end of 2018, the fledgling NHS Genomic Medicine Service launched. This service aims to […]

March 21, 2019 - 5 minutesmins - By Helen Albert

News and Trends 11 Mar 2019

Danish Biotech to Develop CRISPR-Based Microbiome Treatments

SNIPR Biome has raised €43M in Series A funds to develop treatments that precisely target ‘bad’ bacteria using CRISPR gene editing, while keeping the rest of the patient’s microbiome intact. Founded with €2.6M seed investment from the Lundbeck Foundation in 2017, SNIPR Biome was the first exploratory investment for the Danish organisation’s Emerge fund, which […]

March 11, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Helen Albert

More News! 27 Feb 2019

Carbios Creates First 100% Recycled Plastic Bottles With Enzymes

French biotech Carbios has managed to create plastic bottles from 100% recycled plastic using its specialized enzyme technology. The company’s recycling process focuses on plastic made from polyethylene terephthalate or PET, one of the most commonly used plastics. Importantly, it can be also be used to create customized bottles, a requirement for many brands. Carbios […]

February 27, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Helen Albert

News and Trends 26 Feb 2019

Immuno-oncology Biotech Raises €31M to Progress T-Cell Boosting Therapy

The Swiss biotech Anaveon closed a very respectable €31M (CHF35M) Series A fundraising round to help progress its T-cell boosting, cancer-fighting treatment to the clinic. The company’s candidate therapy mimics the action of a protein called interleukin 2, which is naturally found in the body. Interleukin 2 stimulates the immune system to produce more infection-fighting […]

February 26, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Helen Albert

Andreas Schmidt Heidelberg Refresh Meetup header2

Interview 21 Feb 2019

Why an International, Diverse Outlook is Key for Modern Biotechs

In a world that is becoming ever more connected, it is important to embrace globalization and diversity in order to get ahead. This is increasingly more important in biotech companies, according to Andreas Schmidt, CEO of Proteona, who I spoke to at our recent Labiotech Refresh event in Heidelberg. Schmidt is an expert on the […]

February 21, 2019 - 6 minutesmins - By Helen Albert

Ryan Cawood Oxford Genetics interview header2

Interview 10 Jan 2019

How to Scale up in Biotech

Scaling up is a problem a lot of biotechs find difficult, both in terms of developing from a small startup to a larger company and also in terms of manufacturing techniques and products. Ryan Cawood, CEO of Oxford Genetics is someone who has tackled both these issues during the last seven years. At our last […]

January 10, 2019 - 9 minutesmins - By Helen Albert

News and Trends 4 Jan 2019

Innovative Eye Disease Therapies Move Closer to the Clinic

Oculis has increased its series B fundraising round to CHF35M (€31M) to continue development of its pipeline of topical eye treatments for diseases such as diabetic macular edema. The company specializes in creating special nanoparticle formulations of drugs for treatment of various eye diseases to allow them to be applied directly to the eye as […]

January 4, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Helen Albert

News and Trends 3 Jan 2019

Austrian Biopharma Reaches First HIV Vaccine Milestone

Hookipa Pharma has reached its first milestone in a partnership deal with US-based CAR T pioneers Gilead Sciences to develop an HIV vaccine using the Austrian company’s arenavirus-based technology. Hookipa’s lead candidate is a prophylactic vaccine for cytomegalovirus, a common infection that can be dangerous in people with weak immune systems, such as those with […]

January 3, 2019 - 2 minutesmins - By Helen Albert

Best in Biotech 24 Dec 2018

Looking Back on 2018: Our 10 Most Popular Interviews

As 2018 draws to a close and our thoughts are torn between holiday plans and what the new year may bring, we decided to look back and revisit the people and the stories that attracted our readers the most during the year. These were well received the first time around, so we thought you might […]

December 24, 2018 - 8 minutesmins - By Helen Albert

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Helen Albert

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Articles by Helen Albert

UK Genome Diagnostics Biotech Closes €27M Series B to Support NHS

European Biotechnology in 2019 and Beyond: What’s Hot and What’s Not?

Chasing the Holy Grail of Cell Therapy

UK Government’s Bid on Healthcare Genomics Already Benefiting Biotechs

Danish Biotech to Develop CRISPR-Based Microbiome Treatments

Carbios Creates First 100% Recycled Plastic Bottles With Enzymes

Immuno-oncology Biotech Raises €31M to Progress T-Cell Boosting Therapy

Why an International, Diverse Outlook is Key for Modern Biotechs

How to Scale up in Biotech

Innovative Eye Disease Therapies Move Closer to the Clinic

Austrian Biopharma Reaches First HIV Vaccine Milestone

Looking Back on 2018: Our 10 Most Popular Interviews

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest biotech news!

Catalonia: A biotech hub going from strength to strength, with Barcelona at its core

Top biotech deals of February 2025

Grab your free report on 3D organoids and explore their future potential

These 7 biotechs are shaping the next generation of endometriosis care

Connect with decision-makers and researchers worldwide for collaborative opportunities

Subscribe to our newsletter

Advertise with us

Catalonia: A biotech hub going from strength to strength, with Barcelona at its core

Top biotech deals of February 2025

Grab your free report on 3D organoids and explore their future potential

These 7 biotechs are shaping the next generation of endometriosis care

Connect with decision-makers and researchers worldwide for collaborative opportunities

Subscribe to our newsletter

Advertise with us

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Articles by Helen Albert

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