Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Scientists provide new insight into mechanisms controlling programmed cell death pathways

Work led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators provides fresh insight into mechanisms controlling programmed cell death pathways and offers new targets in the fight against cancer and virus-infected cells

3 Mar 2011

ASU receives W. M. Keck $1 million grant to build next-generation 3D imaging microscope

The W. M. Keck Foundation has awarded Arizona State University a $1 million grant to the team of scientists led by Deirdre Meldrum, Ph.D., at the Biodesign Institute.

2 Mar 2011

Study identifies key gene mutation responsible for type 2 diabetes in nearly 10% of patients

A multinational study has identified a key gene mutation responsible for type 2 diabetes in nearly 10 percent of patients of white European ancestry.

2 Mar 2011

FDA clears Meridian's illumigene C. difficile molecular amplification test

Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio today announced that it has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a new pediatric claim for its illumigene C. difficile molecular amplification test. C. difficile is a bacterium that is frequently associated with antibiotic therapy often causing diarrhea and, in severe cases, a life-threatening inflammation of the colon.

2 Mar 2011

Genetic variants determine severity of HCV-related graft disease and antiviral treatment response

German researchers have found a significant association of IL28B genotypes to interferon-based antiviral treatment outcome, and to graft inflammation caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). The study determined that the presence of G-allele serves as a marker for severe HCV-induced graft inflammation, as well as a predictor for unsuccessful treatment. Study findings—the largest to report on the role IL28B variants in a transplant cohort with recurrent HCV—are published in the March issue of Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

2 Mar 2011

New study reviews latest scientific developments in autism

First consultant of child psychiatry in the UK reviews state of knowledge on autism. Despite substantial gains in knowledge and understanding of autism over the last three years, we are still no closer to either prevention or cure, according to Sir Michael Rutter, Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London.

2 Mar 2011

Scientists discover how change in growth hormone activity leads to fatty liver disease

Scientists at the UCSF Cardiovascular Research Institute have discovered how a change in growth hormone activity in mice leads to fatty liver disease, a condition whose human counterpart is of rising concern worldwide.

2 Mar 2011

Genetic switch increases blood vessels in skeletal muscle of non-exercising mice

Many people suffer from a devastating condition known as critical limb ischemia (CLI) that can lead to muscle wasting and even amputation. The disease is linked to the blockage of blood flow to the skeletal muscle and current treatment options include rehabilitative exercise and surgical bypass of blood vessels. New preclinical research suggests there may be a way to restore blood supply in skeletal muscle without traditional intervention.

2 Mar 2011

New research finds link between genomic variants in neurological processes and autism

New research on the genomics of autism confirms that the genetic roots of the disorder are highly complicated, but that common biological themes underlie this complexity. In the current study, researchers have implicated several new candidate genes and genomic variants as contributors to autism, and conclude that many more remain to be discovered.

2 Mar 2011

Researchers discover three genes that contribute to abnormal growth

By working with Canadians of French ancestry who suffer a rare genetic disease, researchers have discovered how three genes contribute to abnormal growth, making a breakthrough that will improve our understanding of many disorders such as foetal and childhood growth retardation, abnormal development of body parts and cancer.

2 Mar 2011

IRX Therapeutics signs research collaboration agreement with world's leading pharma companies

IRX Therapeutics, a developer of immune therapies to make cancer treatments better, announced today it has signed a research collaboration agreement with one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical companies.

1 Mar 2011

Supporters of open letter say 'Patent Amendment Bill' misses the point

An open letter with signatories including AusBiotech, Medicines Australia, Research Australia, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and Foursight has been addressed to members of the Australian Parliament, urging them to reject the ‘Patent Amendment (Human Genes and Biological Materials) Bill 2010’ as it misses the point on patient access and research exemption.

1 Mar 2011

Heterotaxin useful for studying intestinal birth defects may also inhibit cancerous tumor growth

In an interesting bit of scientific serendipity, researchers at North Carolina State University have found that a chemical compound useful for studying the origins of intestinal birth defects may also inhibit the growth and spread of cancerous tumors.

1 Mar 2011

New personalized therapy fools cancer cells into killing themselves

A Wayne State University School of Medicine physician-researcher has developed a personalized therapy to treat a wide range of cancers. The treatment is based on a naturally occurring human enzyme that has been genetically modified to fool cancer cells into killing themselves.

1 Mar 2011

Santaris licenses miR-33 from MGH to treat cardiovascular disorders

Santaris Pharma A/S, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of mRNA and microRNA targeted therapies, today announced that the Company has obtained an exclusive license from Massachusetts General Hospital for intellectual property related to the regulation of miR-33 for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders.

1 Mar 2011

Cellectis launches new TALEN Access tool for genome customization

Cellectis bioresearch, a specialist in genome customization and subsidiary of Cellectis, has today launched TALEN Access, the first fee-for-service custom TALEN.

1 Mar 2011

Positive preliminary data from SB-728-902 Phase 1 trial against HIV/AIDS presented at 18th CROI

Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. announced today the presentation of positive preliminary clinical data from its Phase 1 trial.

1 Mar 2011

Brain's reward/motivation circuits linked to compulsive overeating

A brain imaging study at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory reveals a subtle difference between ordinary obese subjects and those who compulsively overeat, or binge: In binge eaters but not ordinary obese subjects, the mere sight or smell of favorite foods triggers a spike in dopamine - a brain chemical linked to reward and motivation.

1 Mar 2011

Cancer drug may help combat flu

Ever get a flu shot and still get the flu? If so, there's new hope for flu-free winters in the years to come thanks to a new discovery by researchers who found that a drug called DMXAA, originally developed as anti-tumor agent, enhances the ability of flu vaccines to ward off this deadly virus.

1 Mar 2011

Two genes linked to binge drinking

University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers have identified two genes associated with binge drinking that may open doors to new, more effective treatments for excessive alcohol drinking. The scientists found that manipulating two receptors in the brain, GABA receptors and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), "caused profound reduction" of binge drinking for two weeks in rodents that had been bred and trained to drink excessively. The study was published online the week of Feb. 28 in the journal the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

1 Mar 2011

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Scientists provide new insight into mechanisms controlling programmed cell death pathways

ASU receives W. M. Keck $1 million grant to build next-generation 3D imaging microscope

Study identifies key gene mutation responsible for type 2 diabetes in nearly 10% of patients

FDA clears Meridian's illumigene C. difficile molecular amplification test

Genetic variants determine severity of HCV-related graft disease and antiviral treatment response

New study reviews latest scientific developments in autism

Scientists discover how change in growth hormone activity leads to fatty liver disease

Genetic switch increases blood vessels in skeletal muscle of non-exercising mice

New research finds link between genomic variants in neurological processes and autism

Researchers discover three genes that contribute to abnormal growth

IRX Therapeutics signs research collaboration agreement with world's leading pharma companies

Supporters of open letter say 'Patent Amendment Bill' misses the point

Heterotaxin useful for studying intestinal birth defects may also inhibit cancerous tumor growth

New personalized therapy fools cancer cells into killing themselves

Santaris licenses miR-33 from MGH to treat cardiovascular disorders

Cellectis launches new TALEN Access tool for genome customization

Positive preliminary data from SB-728-902 Phase 1 trial against HIV/AIDS presented at 18th CROI

Brain's reward/motivation circuits linked to compulsive overeating

Cancer drug may help combat flu

Two genes linked to binge drinking

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