Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

PsiOxus receives UK government grant to initiate ColoAd1 Phase I/II trial for ovarian cancer

PsiOxus Therapeutics, Ltd., a development stage biotechnology company, today announced the award of a £1.7 million ($2.7 million) grant from the UK government-backed Biomedical Catalyst to initiate a Phase I/II clinical trial to assess the use of ColoAd1 in the treatment of platinum-resistant, recurrent ovarian cancer.

5 Nov 2012

Weill Cornell researchers awarded Grand Challenges Explorations grants

Weill Cornell Medical College announced today that it is a Grand Challenges Explorations winner, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

3 Nov 2012

New tool can particularly sort tumor-causing cancer cells

A new tool developed by scientists at The Methodist Hospital separates tumor-causing cancer cells from more benign cells by subjecting the cells to a microscopic game of Plinko -- except only the squishiest cells make it through.

3 Nov 2012

Lomitapide shows promise in treating homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

An international effort led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has resulted in positive phase 3 clinical trial results for a new medicine to treat patients suffering from a rare and deadly cholesterol disorder.

3 Nov 2012

MED1 plays a central role in mediating tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer

A University of Cincinnati (UC) cancer biology team reports breakthrough findings about specific cellular mechanisms that may help overcome endocrine (hormone) therapy-resistance in patients with estrogen-positive breast cancers, combating a widespread problem in effective medical management of the disease.

3 Nov 2012

Mass spectrometry can help visualize how drugs work inside living cells to kill infectious microbes

Weill Cornell Medical College researchers report that mass spectrometry, a tool currently used to detect and measure proteins and lipids, can also now allow biologists to "see" for the first time exactly how drugs work inside living cells to kill infectious microbes.

3 Nov 2012

Studies show standardizing computer programs help improve genetic testing for Lynch Syndrome

Many patients who have genetic testing for Lynch syndrome, a hereditary predisposition to colon cancer, receive the inconclusive result "variants of uncertain clinical significance."

3 Nov 2012

Virginia G. Piper, TESARO announce initiation of TSR-011 clinical trial for advanced cancer

TESARO, Inc. announced today that the first clinical trial of its proprietary Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) inhibitor, TSR-011, has commenced with the dosing of the first patient at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials at Scottsdale Healthcare, a partnership between Scottsdale Healthcare and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).

2 Nov 2012

Imatinib mesylate effectively treats children with neurofibromatosis type 1 tumors

Physician-researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have reported the first effective therapy for a class of previously untreatable and potentially life-threatening tumors often found in children.

2 Nov 2012

Fluidigm unveils four innovative devices to meet challenges associated with production genomics

Fluidigm Corporation today introduced four new integrated fluidic circuits (IFCs) designed to meet the challenges associated with production genomics.

2 Nov 2012

Study describes role of TFIIB protein in helping cells repair DNA damage

In a new study, University at Buffalo scientists describe the role that a protein called TFIIB plays in helping cells repair DNA damage, a critical function for preventing the growth of tumors.

2 Nov 2012

Longer looks: Searching for a dementia gene; The trouble with medical device patents; Blue dog Matheson's re-election quest

When it comes to preparing for a natural disaster like superstorm Sandy, hospitals drill for such evacuations and activate emergency command centers to manage any increase in patients. Still, events like superstorm Sandy are hard to prepare for. "It's been an unprecedented situation that has required an unprecedented response from the whole tri-state health care system," says Jim Mandler, assistant vice president for public affairs for Continnum Health Partners hospitals.

2 Nov 2012

Study identifies monoacylglycerol lipase as new therapeutic target to treat Alzheimer's

Research led by Chu Chen, PhD, Associate Professor of Neuroscience at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, has identified an enzyme called Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) as a new therapeutic target to treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease.

2 Nov 2012

Oskar gene emerged far earlier in insect evolution than previously believed

Harvard scientists have solved the long-standing mystery of how some insects form the germ cells - the cellular precursors to the eggs and sperm necessary for sexual reproduction - and the answer is shedding new light on the evolutionary origins of a gene that had long been thought to be critical to the process.

2 Nov 2012

Apolipoprotein E plays a major role in maintaining arterial softness

Arterial stiffening has long been considered a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Keeping arteries soft and supple might reduce disease risk, but the mechanisms of how arteries stave off hardening has remained elusive.

2 Nov 2012

Study explores impact of IL1β on brain function alterations associated with schizophrenia

There are a growing number of clues that immune and inflammatory mechanisms are important for the biology of schizophrenia. In a new study in Biological Psychiatry, Dr. Mar Fatjó-Vilas and colleagues explored the impact of the interleukin-1β gene (IL1β) on brain function alterations associated with schizophrenia.

2 Nov 2012

Genetic underpinning of placebo effect identified

US researchers have identified a gene that appears to be responsible for the placebo effect.

1 Nov 2012

CSHL scientists discover new way to specifically target and kill cancer cells

Cancer cells grow fast. That's an essential characteristic of what makes them cancer cells. They've crashed through all the cell-cycle checkpoints and are continuously growing and dividing, far outstripping our normal cells. To do this they need to speed up their metabolism.

1 Nov 2012

Ischemic stroke: an interview with Dr Gregory Ford

A stroke is a sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain which deprives the brain of oxygen and nutrients. Approximately two millions brain cells die each minute during a stroke. This can lead to brain damage, physical and mental disability and death.

1 Nov 2012

Exosomes alone could protect infants' lungs from dangerous inflammation

Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have found that microscopic particles containing proteins and nucleic acids called exosomes could potentially protect the fragile lungs of premature babies from serious lung diseases and chronic lung injury caused by inflammation.

1 Nov 2012

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

PsiOxus receives UK government grant to initiate ColoAd1 Phase I/II trial for ovarian cancer

Weill Cornell researchers awarded Grand Challenges Explorations grants

New tool can particularly sort tumor-causing cancer cells

Lomitapide shows promise in treating homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

MED1 plays a central role in mediating tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer

Mass spectrometry can help visualize how drugs work inside living cells to kill infectious microbes

Studies show standardizing computer programs help improve genetic testing for Lynch Syndrome

Virginia G. Piper, TESARO announce initiation of TSR-011 clinical trial for advanced cancer

Imatinib mesylate effectively treats children with neurofibromatosis type 1 tumors

Fluidigm unveils four innovative devices to meet challenges associated with production genomics

Study describes role of TFIIB protein in helping cells repair DNA damage

Longer looks: Searching for a dementia gene; The trouble with medical device patents; Blue dog Matheson's re-election quest

Study identifies monoacylglycerol lipase as new therapeutic target to treat Alzheimer's

Oskar gene emerged far earlier in insect evolution than previously believed

Apolipoprotein E plays a major role in maintaining arterial softness

Study explores impact of IL1β on brain function alterations associated with schizophrenia

Genetic underpinning of placebo effect identified

CSHL scientists discover new way to specifically target and kill cancer cells

Ischemic stroke: an interview with Dr Gregory Ford

Exosomes alone could protect infants' lungs from dangerous inflammation

eBook: Using iPSCs models for human disease research and drug discovery eBook

Deciphering the Microbiome with The Microsetta Initiative

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

Automating research - solutions and best practices