Two men, Nick A. (left) and Nigel (right), sit at a white table, engaging in a lively and friendly conversation. Both wear checkered shirts and lavalier microphones, suggesting a filmed discussion or interview. Nick holds tissue samples in one hand and gestures animatedly, while Nigel smiles in response. Each has a white mug labeled with their name and a purple star logo. The background is a bright white, creating a clean and professional studio setting.

Bio Break

Quick Insights into MedTech and Biotech Innovation

Welcome to Bio Break, a video series brought to you by StarFish Medical. Each episode delivers bite-sized, bio-focused insights on medical device product development and biotechnology in five minutes or less. Designed for busy innovators, Bio Break is your quick opportunity to learn something new, get inspired, and continue making an impact—all while taking a short pause in your day.

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Watch our latest Bio Break episodes

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From ELISA to At-Home COVID Tests

Nick Allan and Nigel Syrotuck reflect on highlights from ADLM in Chicago. This episode explores how diagnostics like COVID testing evolved from lab-based ELISA methods to rapid at-home lateral flow kits—and what it means for the future of diagnostic innovation.

Why ADLM Is the Most Important Lab Diagnostics Showcase

Nick and Nigel talk about the importance of ADLM 2025 in Chicago. Hear why it’s the leading laboratory diagnostics showcase

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Past Episodes

  • Two individuals sit at a wooden table in a bright laboratory setting, deeply engaged in discussion. One person gestures animatedly, emphasizing a point, while the other listens intently, with a notebook open in front of them. Both have mugs on the table labeled with their names, adding a personal touch. The text overlay reads 'Shear Stress: Risks & Solutions' in bold and engaging typography, with the backdrop of lab equipment creating a professional yet approachable atmosphere.

    Bio Break: Understanding Shear Stress

    Nick Allan and Joris van der Heijden dive into a critical concept in drug delivery and biopharmaceutical development: shear stress. Understanding shear stress, especially when dealing with delicate therapies like cell and gene treatments or mRNA vaccines, can have profound effects on drug viability and efficacy. Nick walks us through how shear stress is identified, measured, and mitigated during product design and development.

  • A compact, modern nebulizer with an open mouthpiece emitting a fine mist, set against a black background with swirling fog. Text overlay reads: 'Needle-Free Drug Delivery - Try This!' in bold purple and white lettering.

    Bio Break: Innovations in Drug Delivery

    Nick Allan and Joris van der Heijden delve into the fascinating world of drug delivery systems, focusing on the innovative use of nebulizers. While traditional methods like pills and injections dominate the landscape, nebulizers offer a unique, efficient, and non-invasive alternative for administering medications.

  • Two professionals wearing festive New Year’s accessories sit against a backdrop of fireworks. The text overlay reads "New Year Big Win: 20 Years in the Making!" emphasizing the celebration of a long-awaited achievement.

    Bio Break: Achieving a 20-Year Resolution – Biofilm Testing Standard

    In this special New Year’s episode of Bio Break, Joris van der Heijden and Nick Allan reflect on resolutions, persistence, and a 20-year journey to establish a new standard for biofilm testing in medical devices. Nick shares the story of his two-decade-long mission to develop a standardized test method for growing and monitoring biofilm on medical device surfaces.

  • Two professionals wearing festive holiday hats and plaid shirts sit in a snowy winter-themed setting. The text overlay reads "Santa's Health: A Medical Device Makeover," highlighting a playful discussion on medical innovations and healthcare improvements.

    Bio Break: Helping Santa with Medical Innovations

    In this festive episode of Bio Break, Joris and Nick bring a holiday twist to medical device innovation by discussing how modern technology could improve Santa’s health. Using a lighthearted analogy, they explore the challenges of managing conditions like diabetes and how advancements in drug delivery devices, such as Ozempic injection systems, could make a difference.

  • Two professionals in plaid shirts and microphones have a discussion in a laboratory setting. The text overlay reads "Microbes: Hidden Heroes of Medicine," emphasizing the role of microorganisms in medical advancements.

    Bio Break: Microbes – Heroes of Medicine

    In this episode of Bio Break, Joris and Nick explore the fascinating ways microbes and nature inspire medical innovations, showing how these tiny organisms play an outsized role in advancing healthcare and biotechnology. From lifesaving antibiotics like penicillin to revolutionary technologies like CRISPR-Cas9, they dive deep into the surprising and transformative contributions of microbes to medicine, shedding light on their critical role in shaping modern science and improving patient outcomes.

  • Two professionals wearing plaid shirts and microphones engage in a discussion in a laboratory setting. The text overlay reads "Designing SAFE Drug Delivery Systems," emphasizing the focus on precision and safety in medical device design.

    Bio Break: Addressing Shear in Drug Delivery Device Design

    In this episode of Bio Break, Joris van der Heijden and Nick Allan explore one of the most critical challenges in drug delivery device design: shear stress. When designing systems for biologics and gene therapies, avoiding shear stress is essential to ensure the viability and activity of biomolecules like proteins, antibodies, and viruses.

  • Two professionals in plaid shirts and microphones sit in a discussion within a laboratory setting. The text overlay reads "Innovative Olfactory Drug Delivery: Bypassing the Blood-Brain Barrier," highlighting a focus on advanced medical techniques.

    Bio Break: Surprising Innovations in Olfactory Drug Delivery

    In this episode of Bio Break, Joris van der Heijden and Nick Allan explore one of the most innovative approaches in drug delivery: olfactory drug delivery. This cutting-edge method targets the olfactory region of the nose, offering a direct pathway to deliver drugs into the brain while bypassing the blood-brain barrier. Unlike traditional intranasal delivery, this highly specialized technique uses neural pathways to achieve precise and effective results.

  • Nick Allan wearing a handmade turkey-themed hat speaks in a laboratory setting. The text overlay reads "Turkey Tradition Gone Wrong? The Hidden Lesson," highlighting a humorous and insightful discussion about traditions and their underlying purpose.

    Bio Break: Thanksgiving Traditions and Lessons for Medical Devices

    In this episode of Bio Break, StarFish Medical experts Joris van der Heijden and Nick Allan celebrate Thanksgiving by sharing a heartwarming and hilarious family tradition: preparing the perfect turkey. Through this tale of generations working together to create the iconic holiday meal, they uncover a surprising lesson that applies to medical device development and procedural design.

  • Two professionals in plaid shirts and microphones engage in a discussion in a laboratory setting. The text overlay reads "Nature's Secrets Behind Medical Breakthroughs," emphasizing the role of natural discoveries in driving advancements in healthcare and biotechnology.

    Bio Break: The Story of PCR and Taq Polymerase

    In this episode of Bio Break, Joris van der Heijden and Nick Allan continue their exploration of nature-inspired innovations, focusing on one of the most transformative breakthroughs in molecular biology: the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its key component, Taq polymerase.