Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Ambry Genetics deploys EMC Isilon scale-out NAS for gene sequencing

EMC Corporation today announced that Ambry Genetics, a leading commercial provider of clinical diagnostic and genomic services, has deployed EMC Isilon scale-out NAS to power its advanced gene sequencing operations, enabling Ambry to advance a range of scientific pursuits while easily managing 100 percent data growth annually.

30 Nov 2011

Direct link between fish consumption, brain structure and Alzheimer's risk

People who eat baked or broiled fish on a weekly basis may be improving their brain health and reducing their risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

30 Nov 2011

Scientists create genetically-altered neurons that light up as they fire

In a scientific first that potentially could shed new light on how signals travel in the brain, how learning alters neural pathways, and might lead to speedier drug development, scientists at Harvard have created genetically-altered neurons that light up as they fire.

30 Nov 2011

PTC, Roche announce licensing agreement for SMA programme

Roche, PTC Therapeutics, Inc. and the SMA Foundation, announced today a licensing agreement for PTC's Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) programme.

30 Nov 2011

Study explores critical role of 14-3-3σ in halting breast cancer progression

New research out of McGill University's Goodman Cancer Research Centre provides compelling new evidence that a gene known as 14-3-3σ plays a critical role in halting breast cancer initiation and progression.

30 Nov 2011

Cases of two AIDS patients renew hope of AIDS cure for many scientists, New York Times reports

The New York Times profiles two AIDS patients whose cases "suggest to many scientists that curing AIDS may be achievable," according to the newspaper. "One man, the so-called Berlin patient, apparently has cleared his HIV infection, albeit by arduous bone marrow transplants," and the other, "a 50-year-old man in Trenton, N.J., underwent a far less difficult gene therapy procedure. While he was not cured, his body was able to briefly control the virus after he stopped taking the usual antiviral drugs, something that is highly unusual," the newspaper writes.

29 Nov 2011

Enrollment complete in Alnylam's ALN-RSV01 Phase IIb study for RSV infection

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that it has completed patient enrollment in its Phase IIb study with ALN-RSV01, an RNAi therapeutic for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.

29 Nov 2011

New research institute at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Academic and government leaders announced today the establishment of a major new research institute at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center that will blend the best attributes of academic and industrial research to identify and validate new cancer targets, convert such scientific knowledge into new cancer drugs, and advance these novel agents into innovative clinical trials.

29 Nov 2011

Seizure drug slows spread of uveal melanoma

A drug commonly used to treat seizures appears to make eye tumors less likely to grow if they spread to other parts of the body, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

29 Nov 2011

Study reveals underlying molecular mechanism contributing to development of lymphomagenesis

Researchers from the NYU Cancer Institute, an NCI-designated cancer center at NYU Langone Medical Center, have discovered a new potential therapeutic target for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), the most aggressive and common type of lymphoma in adults.

29 Nov 2011

Critical breakthrough in development of treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Academics from Royal Holloway, University of London and a team lead by scientists at the UCL Institute of Child Health (ICH), have made an important breakthrough in the development of a treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) which in the future could help the likes of the Lloyd family who were featured on last night's X-Factor show.

29 Nov 2011

Scientists use genetic methods to successfully repair cleft lips in mice embryos

Scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College used genetic methods to successfully repair cleft lips in mice embryos specially engineered for the study of cleft lip and cleft palate. The research breakthrough may show the way to prevent or treat the conditions in humans.

29 Nov 2011

New compound circumvents drug-efflux pumps associated with Gram-positive bacteria

It's no wonder that medicine's effort to combat bacterial infections is often described as an arms race. When new drugs are developed to combat infections, the bacterial target invariably comes up with a deterrent.

29 Nov 2011

Abbott, GSK expand collaboration to develop additional companion diagnostic test

Abbott announced today that it will expand its existing agreement with GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals S.A. to include the development of an additional companion diagnostic test in support of GSK's cancer immunotherapy research program.

29 Nov 2011

Genetic, lifestyle factors and HRT increase risk of breast cancer

The risk of breast cancer is increased by genetic and lifestyle factors such as the inherited BRCA2 gene, age of having first child, or use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

28 Nov 2011

Roche NimbleGen, BGI develop Major Histocompatibility Complex region capture technology

Roche NimbleGen, Inc. and BGI, the world's largest genomic organization, announced that they have developed a Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) region capture technology based on NimbleGen SeqCap EZ Choice Library, a revolutionary process for the enrichment of the MHC region.

28 Nov 2011

Rare syndrome's workings could help explain how brain wiring goes awry

Potential clues to how autism miswires the brain are emerging from a study of a rare, purely genetic form of the disorders that affects fewer than 20 people worldwide. Using cutting-edge "disease-in a-dish" technology, researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have grown patients' skin cells into neurons to discover what goes wrong in the brain in Timothy Syndrome.

28 Nov 2011

Most people with Timothy syndrome mutation have autistic symptoms

Neuroscientists at Stanford University School of Medicine have homed in on potential differences in autistic people's brain cells by studying brainlike spheres grown in an elaborate process from skin cells.

28 Nov 2011

Even normal salt intake can cause hypertension in people suffering from sodium dysregulation

Hypertension is an endemic condition with far-reaching consequences. For instance, high blood pressure is the main cause of heart attacks and strokes. Other organs are also damaged by the chronic condition.

25 Nov 2011

Scientists decode how Machado-Joseph disease arises

Neurodegenerative diseases represent one of the greatest challenges of our aging society. However, investigation into these diseases is made particularly difficult due to the limited availability of human brain tissue. Scientists from the Life & Brain Research Center and Neurology Clinic of Bonn University have now taken a roundabout path: They reprogrammed skin cells from patients with a hereditary movement disorder into so-called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) and obtained functional nerve cells from them.

24 Nov 2011

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Ambry Genetics deploys EMC Isilon scale-out NAS for gene sequencing

Direct link between fish consumption, brain structure and Alzheimer's risk

Scientists create genetically-altered neurons that light up as they fire

PTC, Roche announce licensing agreement for SMA programme

Study explores critical role of 14-3-3σ in halting breast cancer progression

Cases of two AIDS patients renew hope of AIDS cure for many scientists, New York Times reports

Enrollment complete in Alnylam's ALN-RSV01 Phase IIb study for RSV infection

New research institute at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Seizure drug slows spread of uveal melanoma

Study reveals underlying molecular mechanism contributing to development of lymphomagenesis

Critical breakthrough in development of treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Scientists use genetic methods to successfully repair cleft lips in mice embryos

New compound circumvents drug-efflux pumps associated with Gram-positive bacteria

Abbott, GSK expand collaboration to develop additional companion diagnostic test

Genetic, lifestyle factors and HRT increase risk of breast cancer

Roche NimbleGen, BGI develop Major Histocompatibility Complex region capture technology

Rare syndrome's workings could help explain how brain wiring goes awry

Most people with Timothy syndrome mutation have autistic symptoms

Even normal salt intake can cause hypertension in people suffering from sodium dysregulation

Scientists decode how Machado-Joseph disease arises

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

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

Automating research - solutions and best practices

How can microdialysis benefit drug development