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

  • A promotional graphic with bold text reading "Vision Surgery with a Tooth" in purple and black letters. Below the text is a large 3D image of a tooth and a purple plus sign. On the right side, a woman is undergoing an eye exam using a slit lamp microscope.

    Bio Break: Tooth-In-Eye Surgery

    In this episode of Bio Break, Nick and Joris dive into one of the most astonishing—and real—medical innovations we’ve ever come across: osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis. Or, as Nick quickly dubs it, “tooth in eye surgery.”

  • Illustration of a house with a green checkmark beside a hospital with a red X. Text above reads "Prevent the Hospital?" in bold black and purple lettering, highlighting the concept of avoiding hospitalization through preventative healthcare.

    Bio Break: Preventive Medical Devices

    In this episode of Bio Break, Nick Allan and Joris van der Heijden explore a critical but often overlooked topic in healthcare innovation: prevention. While most conversations about medical devices revolve around treatment, the duo shifts the focus to technologies that help people avoid hospitalization altogether. Preventive medical devices and diagnostic tools are quietly transforming healthcare by catching diseases earlier and reducing the need for invasive procedures.

  • A laboratory scene featuring a glass Erlenmeyer flask filled with bright green liquid placed on a table against a dark background. Bold text on the left reads, “He drank Bacteria!?” in large gray and purple letters, adding a sense of curiosity and intrigue.

    Bio Break: Groundbreaking Discoveries in Infectious Disease

    In this episode of Bio Break, Nick shares one of his favorite discoveries in the world of infectious disease research — the groundbreaking discovery of Helicobacter pylori and its role in causing peptic ulcers. This fascinating story showcases how persistence, scientific curiosity, and innovative thinking can lead to discoveries that reshape medical science.

  • A futuristic smartwatch displaying biometric data on its screen, set against a glowing blue background with abstract graphs. Bold text reads "Where's my Cortisol-Sensing Watch?" in a mix of grey, purple, and black fonts.

    Bio Break: Why Don’t We Have a Cortisol-Sensing Wearable Yet?

    Nick and Joris tackle a question many tech and health enthusiasts have wondered for years: Where is my cortisol-sensing smartwatch? Nick shares a nostalgic story of reading about futuristic wearable technology in Popular Mechanics as a child — devices that would one day monitor biomarkers like cortisol to track stress and overall health. Now, decades later, he and Joris break down why such a wearable device still hasn't become a reality.

  • A close-up of a lateral flow test with a dropper releasing a liquid sample into the test well. The background features a blurred whiteboard with scientific diagrams. Bold text on the image reads "Big Pivot: From LDT to Lateral Flow," emphasizing the transition from lab-developed tests (LDT) to rapid lateral flow diagnostics.

    Bio Break: How to Successfully Pivot in Medical Device Development

    In the world of medical device development, unexpected challenges often lead to critical product pivots. In this episode of Bio Break, Nick and Joris discuss one of the most dramatic pivots they've encountered—transforming a lab-developed test (LDT) into a lateral flow assay to expand its market reach.

  • Two men sit at a table in a discussion, with one holding a frozen soda can. The background features a whiteboard with faint writing, and snowflake graphics are scattered around the image. The text overlay reads, "The Science of Freezing Cells" in bold black and purple letters.

    Bio Break: The Science of Cryopreservation

    Cryopreservation is essential in biological research, regenerative medicine, and stem cell therapies. But freezing biological materials isn’t as simple as placing them in a freezer. Nick and Joris dive into this fascinating process in this episode of Bio Break, using a real-world example—Nick’s frozen beverage can, which burst due to water expansion.

  • Two men sit at a table discussing glucose monitors, with the text "How Glucose Monitors Really Work" overlaid on the image. One man gestures while speaking, and both have coffee mugs labeled with their names. The background features a whiteboard with blurred writing.

    Bio Break: Understanding Continuous Glucose Monitors

    Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are revolutionizing how people track blood sugar levels in real time. But how do they work, and where exactly do they measure glucose? Nick and Joris explore the science behind CGMs, explaining the difference between blood glucose monitoring and interstitial fluid measurement.

  • Two men sit at a table discussing the science behind freeze-drying. One of them holds a jar of freeze-dried coffee, illustrating the topic. The text overlay reads "The Science Behind Freeze Drying" in bold letters. A whiteboard with diagrams is visible in the background, reinforcing the technical discussion.

    Bio Break: The Science of Freeze-Drying

    Nick and Joris dive into the fascinating world of freeze-drying, exploring how this process extends shelf life and maintains the integrity of various products—including reagents used in in vitro diagnostics and even instant coffee!

  • Two men, Nick and Joris, are seated at a table, engaged in a discussion. Both are wearing checkered shirts and have coffee mugs with their names on them. The background features a whiteboard with faint blue writing. The text overlay reads "Imaging for Targeted Drug Delivery" in bold, purple and black letters. The setting resembles a laboratory or office environment.

    Bio Break: Real-Time Imaging for Targeted Drug Delivery

    In this episode of Bio Break, Nick and Joris discuss the fascinating world of real-time imaging for targeted drug delivery. When delivering drugs to precise locations in the body, how do we ensure they reach the right spot? The answer lies in medical imaging technologies such as MRI, CT, and ultrasound, which play a crucial role in guiding complex drug delivery devices.