Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Weill Cornell Medical College commences construction of 18-story, $650 million Medical Research Building

Weill Cornell Medical College today celebrated the start of construction on its new Medical Research Building, a state-of-the-art facility that will more than double the institution's existing research space. The 18-story, $650 million building is the centerpiece of Weill Cornell's $1.3 billion Discoveries that Make a Difference Campaign, the country's largest for a medical college. A total of $1 billion has been raised toward this goal in a record time of less than four years.

27 May 2010

Small segment of a protein can control normal expression of genes: Research

In a major cancer-research breakthrough, researchers at the McGill University, Department of Biochemistry have discovered that a small segment of a protein that interacts with RNA can control the normal expression of genes - including those that are active in cancer.

27 May 2010

Researchers discover genetic variant that raises risk of CHD

Although congenital heart disease represents the most common major birth defect, scientists have not previously identified the common variation in the genes that give rise to it. Now genetics and cardiology researchers, two of them brothers, have discovered a genetic variant on chromosome 5 that strongly raises the risk of congenital heart disease.

27 May 2010

New study holds promise for patients with LCA

A new study led by Dr. Robert Koenekoop at the Montreal Children's Hospital at the McGill University Health Centre holds promise for certain patients with Leber congenital amaurosis, an inherited retinal degenerative disease that causes significant vision loss from birth. The study, sponsored by Canadian company QLT Inc., is designed to treat patients with LCA due to genetic mutations in either retinal pigment epithelium protein 65 or lecithin:retinol acyltransferase.

27 May 2010

Nottingham scientists given green light to test new vaccine for malignant melanoma

Nottingham scientists have been given the green light to test a vaccine which they hope could reverse, and even cure malignant melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer.

27 May 2010

Bacteria may play wider role in people predisposed to obesity: Researchers

Bacteria may play more of a role in people predisposed to obesity than previously thought, according to studies presented today by University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers at the 110th general meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in San Diego.

27 May 2010

New book summarizes current state of research on NF-κB

NF-κB is a critical signaling molecule in the immune system that regulates cell survival and cell death, lymphocyte responses, and inflammation. Acting as a transcription factor that can receive several inputs, it coordinates distinct gene expression programs in response to a wide variety of stimuli.

26 May 2010

Good number of natural bypass vessels an 'insurance policy' against blockage

When the arteries delivering oxygen to our vital organs are obstructed by atherosclerosis or clots, the result is almost always a stroke, heart attack or damage to a peripheral tissue such as the legs (peripheral artery disease). But the severity of tissue injury or destruction from a choked-off blood supply varies from person to person, and may depend in large part on whose circulatory system has the best back-up plan to provide alternate routes of circulation.

26 May 2010

Researchers discover gene mutations in autistic, mentally impaired patients

Researchers working with Professor Gudrun Rappold, Director of the Department of Molecular Human Genetics at Heidelberg University Hospital, have discovered previously unknown mutations in autistic and mentally impaired patients in what is known as the SHANK2 gene, a gene that is partially responsible for linking nerve cells.

26 May 2010

Report: 235 new medicines in development to treat diabetes

A record 235 new medicines to treat diabetes, one of the fastest-growing diseases in America, are being developed by America's pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, according to a national report unveiled today in Charleston.

26 May 2010

NIDDK awards Albert Einstein College of Medicine $9.5M for continuation of Diabetes Research and Training Center

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University a five-year, $9.5 million grant for the continuation of its Diabetes Research and Training Center (DRTC). The DRTC was also awarded a $632,000 supplemental grant for equipment and additional pilot and feasibility studies through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), bringing total NIH support to $10,177,000.

26 May 2010

QIAGEN acquires rights to 70 molecular food safety tests developed by Institute for Product Quality

QIAGEN today announced that it has entered into an agreement with the Institute for Product Quality (ifp), pursuant to which QIAGEN has acquired all rights to 70 molecular food safety tests developed by the Berlin-based specialized laboratory center for food analysis.

From QIAGEN Manchester Limited 26 May 2010

Lumizyme receives FDA approval for patients with late-onset Pompe disease

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lumizyme (alglucosidase alfa) for patients ages 8 years and older with late-onset (non-infantile) Pompe disease, a rare genetic disorder.

26 May 2010

Epeius Biotechnologies announces Phase I/II study results of Rexin-G and Reximmune-C for cancer immunotherapy

Epeius Biotechnologies Corporation today announces the clinical results of the study entitled "A Phase I/II Study of Intravenous Rexin-G and Reximmune-C for Cancer Immunotherapy: The GeneVieve Protocol" at the ASCO Annual Meeting on June 6, 2010. The presentation will be made by Dr. Jorge G. Ignacio, Chairman of the Cancer Institute and Bioethics Committee-Philippine General Hospital, and Principal Investigator of the study.

25 May 2010

t2c001 product obtains certificate under EMA regulations for ATMPs

t2cure GmbH, a biopharmaceutical company developing and marketing stem cell-based regenerative therapies, announced today that the quality of its lead product t2c001 has been certified by the European Medicines Agency.

25 May 2010

Preclinical results of AMEP for metastatic melanoma presented at ASGCT Annual Meeting

BioAlliance Pharma SA, a company dedicated to the treatment and supportive care of cancer and AIDS patients, has presented efficacy, safety and biodistribution results on its new biotherapy AMEP™ for advanced and metastatic melanoma at the 13th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy in Washington, DC (May 17 - 22, 2010).

25 May 2010