Feature | Today's Clinical Lab

As 2026 approaches, clinical labs and biopharma are entering a period of rapid innovation.

7 Emerging Trends Shaping Clinical Labs in 2026

Today's Clinical Lab

Expert perspectives on how AI, data governance, genomics, patient-centric care, and other emerging trends are shaping the future of clinical labs

Here’s a quick roundup of the stories that captured the most attention in 2025.

TLDR; Our Top Stories of 2025

Today's Clinical Lab

From regulatory shifts to breakthrough diagnostics, the stories that defined clinical labs in 2025

The Year of 'Regulatory Whiplash' and the AI Pivot: 2025 in Review

Today's Clinical Lab

If 2024 was defined by the looming threat of the FDA's "Final Rule" on laboratory-developed tests (LDTs), 2025 was defined by its sudden dismantling

Taking care of our staff’s mental health is not only good for them, but it’s also sound business strategy.

Behind the Bench: The Economic Toll of Poor Mental Health on Lab Teams—and What Leaders Can Do

Tracy Durnan, MBA

Strong mental health support for lab professionals pays off in higher performance, stronger retention, and reduced organizational costs

In 2025, the stakes are higher than in past government shutdowns.

All Government Shutdowns Disrupt Science—in 2025, the Consequences Extend Far Beyond a Lapse in Funding

Kenneth M. Evans, PhD

The government shutdown will continue until Congress can pass a bill reopening it

Our findings suggest that mRNA vaccines may provide just the spark the immune system needs to turn “cold” tumors “hot.”

COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Could Unlock the Next Revolution in Cancer Treatment—New Research

Christiano Marconi, Adam Grippin, MD, PhD

With a little help, your immune cells can be potent tumor killers

In the US, 1 in 4 children chronically infected with hepatitis B will die prematurely from cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Hepatitis B Shot for Newborns Has Nearly Eliminated Childhood Infections with This Virus in the US

David Higgins, MD, MPH, MS

About 80 percent of parents currently choose to follow CDC guidelines to vaccinate their babies for hepatitis B at birth

The ability of 3D printing to make precisely shaped objects in a wide range of materials has led to, for example, custom replacement joints and custom-dosage, multidrug pills.

How 3D Printing Is Personalizing Health Care

Anne Schmitz, PhD, Daniel Freedman, PhD

Exploring the lab-driven innovations behind custom implants, drug delivery, and diagnostic tools

Today's Clinical Lab 2025 Pathogen Detection & Infectious Disease print issue

'Reemerging Threats, Reimagined Strategies'

Miriam Bergeret, MSc

The Today's Clinical Lab 2025 Pathogen Detection & Infectious Disease print issue features smarter diagnostics, reemerging threats, and lab-driven strategies for tackling sepsis, measles, and C. difficile infections

Scientists working in a clinical laboratory

How Analyte Specific Reagents Support Quality in Research and Diagnostic Labs

Sarah Kirsh, MSc

Designed for regulated use, ASR antibodies enable reproducible results and reliable test performance

Despite the alarming statistics, many sepsis-related deaths are preventable through rapid diagnosis and treatment.

Challenges and Advances in Sepsis Detection

Zahraa Chorghay, PhD

FDA-approved tests like Intellisep and TriVerity™ demonstrate potential for early sepsis diagnosis

This “One Health” concept is driving cross-disciplinary efforts to address health challenges in humans, animals, plants, and ecosystems as a whole.

One Health in the Lab: Healthy Planet, Healthy People

Michael Schubert, PhD

One Health expert Oladele Ogunseitan explains how human, animal, and environmental health are linked, and what clinical labs can do to drive advances in all three

This year at ADLM, IVD manufacturers and software vendors expressed interest in fighting AMR with medical labs by raising more awareness with consumers about the risks involved.

Vendors and Clinicians Promote Fighting AMR Through Greater Public Awareness

Scott Wallask, BA

Once again, clinical labs are at the forefront of a public health battle, this time against antimicrobial resistance

While the focus is on insurance policy, the implications for clinical labs are real and worth watching closely, particularly for those in hospital, community, or rural health settings.

How 17M Americans Enrolled in Medicaid and ACA Plans Could Lose Their Health Insurance by 2034

Simon F. Haeder, PhD

ACA coverage losses could mean fewer tests and tighter lab budgets

Though AI has become nearly ubiquitous, from smartphones to chatbots to self-driving cars, its impact on health care so far has been relatively low.

AI in Health Care Could Save Lives and Money—but Change Won’t Happen Overnight

Turgay Ayer, PhD/MSc

Rapid diagnosis is one of the big promises of artificial intelligence for use in health care

Many rural hospitals will have to reduce their services or possibly close their doors altogether.

Rural Hospitals Will Be Hit Hard by Trump’s Signature Spending Package

Lauren S. Hughes, MD, MPH, MSc, MHCDS, FAAFP, Kevin J. Bennett, MS, PhD

Health policy experts predict that cuts to Medicaid will push more rural hospitals to close

Nearly half of Americans get their health insurance through their employers.

Employers Are Failing to Insure the Working Class—Medicaid Cuts Will Leave Them Even More Vulnerable

Sumit Agarwal, MD, MPH, PhD

The Congressional Budget Office estimates 7.8 million people will lose Medicaid coverage under Trump’s new domestic policy law, including access to essential laboratory testing