What happens when you combine a decade of science, a powerful entrepreneurial story, and two exponential waves—AI and digital biology? You get Geneoscopy. On the latest episode of The Scope Forward Show, I caught up with Dr. Erica Barnell—Co-founder and Chief Medical and Science Officer of Geneoscopy. If you don’t know Erica yet, you should. She and her team just raised $112 million in a tough VC environment. Their lead assay, ColoSense, is now the first FDA-approved, RNA-based, non-invasive diagnostic test for colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas. But this conversation went far beyond funding and FDA milestones. We talked about: This wasn’t just…
Author: Abhay Panchal
Jonathan Smith, PhD spotlights five private companies pushing the boundaries of microbiome-based therapeutics — from tackling C. difficile to boosting cancer treatments. As sequencing costs drop and science uncovers deeper gut-health links, these startups are developing precise, standardized alternatives to fecal microbiota transplants and exploring applications in immunology, oncology, and chronic disease.
AMN Healthcare’s 2025 recruiting incentives report shows specialist starting salaries continuing to rise, fueled by an aging population and physician shortages. Otolaryngology led with a 36% jump to $487K, while orthopedic surgery remained highest overall at $576K despite a decline. Gastroenterology ranked second at $552K, followed closely by urology and radiology.President Jeff Decker noted that specialists now account for 78% of search engagements, with hematology/oncology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, cardiology, and radiology most in demand.
Strand Therapeutics, co-founded by Jake Becraft and Tasuku Kitada, has secured $153 million in funding to advance its programmable mRNA platform, which “lights up” tumors to the immune system. Early phase 1 trial results showed the company’s first drug was safe and shrank tumors in patients resistant to other treatments, using targeted delivery to avoid toxicity. Backed by investors including Kinnevik, Amgen, and Eli Lilly, Strand’s valuation now stands at $550M. The company aims to bring its first therapy to market by 2030, with additional mRNA cancer treatments in development.
Dr. Brennan Spiegel, a prominent leader in digital health and gastroenterology, has been instrumental in shaping the conversation around artificial intelligence in clinical care. His work emphasizes the growing role of AI in areas such as diagnostics, patient monitoring, and digital therapeutics. As gastroenterology embraces data-driven innovation, Spiegel’s research and insights offer a compelling look into how technology may redefine the patient and physician experience. This feature by EBMed highlights his influential contributions to the evolving landscape of AI in GI.
A new review by Pooja N. Dave and Sarah Kinsinger explores advances in brain-gut behavior therapies (BGBTs) for disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs), such as IBS and motility disorders. Traditional methods—like cognitive behavioral therapy and gut-directed hypnotherapy—are now integrating exposure techniques and mindfulness to better target GI-specific psychological processes.
Anbogen Therapeutics has received FDA clearance to launch a phase 1/2 trial of ABT-301, a selective HDAC1/2/3 inhibitor, in combination with tislelizumab and bevacizumab for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The study will focus on the 95% of mCRC cases that are pMMR/non-MSI-H “cold tumors,” which respond poorly to existing immunotherapies.
Dr. Manoj Mehta traces the dramatic rise of monitored anesthesia care (MAC) in gastroenterology—from rare use in the 1990s to now being common in up to 60% of colonoscopies. Shifts in patient profiles, including widespread use of anxiety medications, cannabis, stimulants, and alcohol, have made traditional sedation less reliable, driving MAC’s expansion.
Chicago, IL – 7 August 2025 — GI Partners of Illinois, the largest independent, physician-led gastroenterology group in the state, has announced a transformative partnership with Simbie AI, a Y Combinator-backed, leading healthcare technology company pioneering AI-powered voice agents for medical practices.
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Aug. 6, 2025 – Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced data from a recent national survey of 2,000 U.S. women between the ages of 30 and 65, which examined women’s motivations, frustrations and approaches related to weight loss. The release of the data coincides with the launch of Boston Scientific’s Endura Weight Loss Solutions, a new category name for a range of minimally invasive weight loss procedures.