{"id":65598,"date":"2014-12-22T05:06:32","date_gmt":"2014-12-22T10:06:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/countingpips.com\/?p=65598"},"modified":"2014-12-22T06:43:17","modified_gmt":"2014-12-22T11:43:17","slug":"a-new-google-search-the-hunt-for-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.investmacro.com\/forex\/2014\/12\/a-new-google-search-the-hunt-for-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"A New Google Search: The Hunt for Cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"
December 22, 2014<\/div>
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By WallStreetDaily.com<\/span><\/a> \"Google:<\/p>\n

By Martin Denholm<\/a>, Editor-in-Chief<\/em><\/p>\n

First, Google<\/strong> (GOOGL<\/a>) gave us the ability to search for anything on the internet.<\/p>\n

Now the company is taking things to the next level, by giving us the ability to search for cancer in the body.<\/p>\n

Yep\u2026 you read that right.<\/p>\n

The company\u2019s latest medical project aims to improve what\u2019s arguably the most critical component of stopping cancer in its tracks.<\/p>

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And it\u2019s using two brilliant, fast-growing technologies to do so\u2026<\/p>\n

The Key to Eliminating Cancer<\/h2>\n

Last month, I told you about how a Brazilian bioengineer has devised a unique microfluidics- and smartphone-based system to diagnose cancer<\/a> long before symptoms appear. And before<\/em> the disease has had a chance to ravage the body and get beyond the point of effective treatment.<\/p>\n

Google\u2019s cancer-detection project shares the belief that the earlier the disease is found, the better the chance of survival.<\/p>\n

Indeed, the molecular biologist leading Google\u2019s new research, Dr. Andrew Conrad, tells the BBC, \u201cWhat we\u2019re trying to do is change medicine from reactive and transactional to proactive and preventative.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s this kind of shift in thinking that makes the project a perfect fit for the Google X division, which is specifically designed to research new and innovative products and technologies.<\/p>\n

And Google is using two of the fastest-growing, most fascinating innovations\u2026<\/p>\n

Innovation #1: Nanotech.<\/strong> The first part involves special nanoparticles, which \u201cgive you the ability to explore the body at a molecular and cellular level,\u201d according to Dr. Conrad.<\/p>\n

Among their brilliant features, nanoparticles can be constructed in a number of ways, and to look for a variety of different conditions. For example, using magnetism, Google researchers are looking at how to concentrate nanoparticles in a certain area, so they can attach to cells and certain parts of the body. Conversely, a different magnetic makeup would allow them to \u201cfloat\u201d around the body unattached, like roaming troubleshooters.<\/p>\n

So they could look for (and attach to) cancerous cells, cancerous DNA, or monitor chemicals in the bloodstream, or a buildup of plaque that can cause cancer and heart attacks.<\/p>\n

As the name suggests, nanoparticles are miniscule, too. In fact, 2,000 of them can squeeze into just one red blood cell.<\/p>\n

The patient simply swallows a pill that\u2019s loaded with whatever customized nanoparticles the scientists and doctors deem necessary for the individual \u2013 and they go to work.<\/p>\n

Innovation #2: Wearable Tech.<\/strong> Once the nanoparticles are in the body, you obviously need to see what they find. That\u2019s where the second part of the project comes in \u2013 a wearable wristband that uses light and radio waves to take readings from the nanoparticles at regular intervals. Google also wants the wristband to take non-invasive blood tests.<\/p>\n

No matter how the nanoparticles are constructed, or where and how they move, the goal is the same: to identify potential problems at the earliest possible stage. This would allow doctors to treat the issue \u2013 and ideally eliminate it \u2013 before it worsens or spreads.<\/p>\n

So what are Google\u2019s chances of success here?<\/p>\n

Google X: Converting Youthful Exuberance Into Revolutionary Tech<\/h2>\n

Well, it\u2019s important to remember that Google X is still a young offshoot of the parent company. By nature, the research is novel, experimental, innovative, and often bold.<\/p>\n

The cancer diagnosis research is still at a very early stage, so it\u2019s too soon for any verdicts at the moment.<\/p>\n

But Dr. Conrad does have success in the diagnostics area, having previously designed a cheap kit that tests for HIV.<\/p>\n

The project has support, too.<\/p>\n

Professor Paul Workman, Chief Executive of Britain\u2019s Institute of Cancer Research, tells the BBC, \u201cIn principle, this is great. Any new ideas are welcome in the field. There is an urgent need for this. If we can detect cancer or other diseases earlier, we can intervene with either lifestyle changes or treatment. How much of this proposal is dream versus reality is impossible to tell because it\u2019s a fascinating concept that now needs to be converted to practice.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what Google X plans to do. And with $60 billion in cash on the books, the parent company is certainly able to fund such ambitious research. But Conrad says the company will actively look for licensing partners in the biotech field, too.<\/p>\n

Workman does warn, however, that Google must ensure absolute, undeniable accuracy from the system.<\/p>\n

I mean, imagine getting a reading that shows you have cancer\u2026 only to find out that you actually don\u2019t. Or receiving treatment for a problem that doesn\u2019t need it.<\/p>\n

The bottom line is that this project could be a resounding, lucrative hit \u2013 just like Google\u2019s diabetes smart lens technology, which Novartis<\/strong> (NVS<\/a>) licensed back in July.<\/p>\n

Or it could be a resounding flop \u2013 like Google Flu Trends, which tried to pinpoint the location of flu outbreaks based on Google searches. Or Google\u2019s collaboration with 23AndMe on a genetic testing kit, which regulators shut down.<\/p>\n

But the fact that Google is innovating in such a critical field is to be applauded. Time will tell as to whether it works.<\/p>\n

Cheers,<\/p>\n

Martin Denholm<\/p>\n

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The post A New Google Search: The Hunt for Cancer<\/a> appeared first on Wall Street Daily<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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By WallStreetDaily.com By Martin Denholm, Editor-in-Chief First, Google (GOOGL) gave us the ability to search for anything on the internet. Now the company is taking things to the next level, by giving us the ability to search for cancer in the body. Yep\u2026 you read that right. The company\u2019s latest medical project aims to improve […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-65598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","no-post-thumbnail"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.investmacro.com\/forex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65598","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.investmacro.com\/forex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.investmacro.com\/forex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.investmacro.com\/forex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.investmacro.com\/forex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65598"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.investmacro.com\/forex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65598\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.investmacro.com\/forex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.investmacro.com\/forex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.investmacro.com\/forex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}