Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Possible new approach to slow the progression of cognitive decline in Down's syndrome

A study by neuroscientist William C. Mobley, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Neurosciences at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, and colleagues at Stanford University Medical School has demonstrated a possible new approach to slowing the inevitable progression of cognitive decline found in Down's syndrome.

19 Nov 2009

Diagnosing patients with syndrome similar to neurofibromatosis type 1 may be difficult

An analysis of patients with a syndrome similar to the genetic disorder, neurofibromatosis type 1, indicates that diagnosis may be difficult because of shared clinical findings, such as certain pigmentary characteristics, according to a study in the November 18 issue of JAMA.

19 Nov 2009

New biomarkers can predict patients' response to certain drugs

Recent advances in cancer therapeutics have led to the discovery of biomarkers that can predict patient response to certain drugs. Screening for mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGRF) prior to non-small cell lung cancer treatment, for example, has been shown to indentify patients who are likely to respond to treatment with erlontinib. This maximizes the drug's impact, and spares patients who are not likely to benefit from being subjected to potentially debilitating side effects.

19 Nov 2009

Unique life science-focused application for social media site launched

Sigma-Aldrich® today announced the launch of a unique life science-focused application for the social media site, Facebook. Developed and marketed by Sigma® Life Science, the 'What's Your Favorite Gene?' application is the first and currently only application of its kind available on Facebook, and provides a platform that can enable scientists and researchers to network with each other and facilitate discussion based on their favorite genes, identifiable via gene functionality and biological pathways.

19 Nov 2009

New radical approach to test chemo drugs for potential toxic effects

Jackson Laboratory Professor Gary Churchill wants to change that. With a new two-year, $1 million grant from the National Cancer Institute, Churchill is launching a radical new approach to testing three chemotherapeutic drugs for potential toxic effects.

19 Nov 2009

Covance and Rules-Based Medicine enter into biomarker alliance and services agreement

Covance Inc., a leading provider of drug development services, announced today that it entered into a biomarker alliance and services agreement with Rules-Based Medicine, Inc. (RBM), a leading provider of multiplexed protein biomarker testing to the pharmaceutical industry.

19 Nov 2009

Data on Synta Pharmaceuticals' STA-9090 synthetic inhibitor of Hsp90 presented

Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing small molecule drugs to treat severe medical conditions, today announced that preclinical data presented at the AACR-NCI-EORTC Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics shows that STA-9090, a novel, synthetic inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), demonstrated strong activity in multiple tumor models.

18 Nov 2009

Gene-diet interaction influencing BMI and obesity replicated in three independent studies

Tufts University researchers have identified a gene-diet interaction that appears to influence body weight and have replicated their findings in three independent studies. Men and women carrying the CC genotype demonstrated higher body mass index (BMI) scores and a higher incidence of obesity, but only if they consumed a diet high in saturated fat. These associations were seen in the apolipoprotein A-II gene (APOA2) promoter.

18 Nov 2009

Gene that tells embryonic stem cells when to stop producing neurons identified

Researchers from North Carolina State University have identified a gene that tells embryonic stem cells in the brain when to stop producing nerve cells called neurons. The research is a significant advance in understanding the development of the nervous system, which is essential to addressing conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders.

18 Nov 2009

SynCon Chikungunya virus DNA vaccine induces protective neutralizing antibody responses in animal model

Inovio Biomedical Corporation, a leader in DNA vaccine design, development and delivery, announced today that the company's SynCon™ Chikungunya virus DNA vaccine induced protective neutralizing antibody responses in a preclinical non-human primate model.

18 Nov 2009

IBM led computing team achieves major advances in large-scale cortical simulation

Today at SC 09, the supercomputing conference, IBM announced significant progress toward creating a computer system that simulates and emulates the brain's abilities for sensation, perception, action, interaction and cognition, while rivaling the brain's low power and energy consumption and compact size.

18 Nov 2009

Cancer-fighting protein successfully placed directly into solid tumors and turned on

Experiments at the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute (PVLSI) at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., reported in a recent British Journal of Cancer, confirm that University of Massachusetts Amherst chemical engineer Neil Forbes' delivery and trigger system has for the first time successfully placed TRAIL, a cancer-fighting protein, directly into solid tumors and on cue, turned it on. The treatment improved the 30-day survival time of mice with mammary tumors from 0 to 100 percent.

18 Nov 2009

Gene therapy may hold promise for cryptorchid individuals risking infertility

EGR4 is a master gene responsible for fertility in cryptorchidism. Is gene therapy going to replace surgery?

18 Nov 2009

Developmental biologists to participate in $100 million federal 'Bench to Bassinet' network

Developmental biologists at the University of Pittsburgh have been chosen to participate in a $100 million federal "Bench to Bassinet" network that is dedicated to learning about the formation of the cardiovascular system and applying that knowledge to create new diagnostic and intervention strategies for congenital heart disease.

18 Nov 2009

Asuragen enters into an exclusive agreement with Life Technologies

Asuragen, Inc. announced today that it has entered into an exclusive agreement with Life Technologies Corporation to develop and distribute worldwide an in-vitro diagnostic test intended to aid clinicians in the monitoring and treatment of individuals afflicted with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

18 Nov 2009

New neuroimaging techniques yield new insights on Alzheimer's disease

Brain imaging can offer a window into risk for diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). A study conducted at the University of Kansas School of Medicine demonstrated that genetic risk is expressed in the brains of even those who are healthy, but carry some risk for AD. The results of this study are published in the November 2009 issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

18 Nov 2009

Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics provides third-quarter 2009 business updates

Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics, a leader in the field of human gene therapy, today provides its non-audited business update in compliance with the EU transparency directive. This report summarizes material events and AMT's financial position for the third quarter of 2009.

18 Nov 2009

Quest Diagnostics' Simplexa Influenza A H1N1 (2009) test receives CE mark

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, today announced that the Simplexa Influenza A H1N1 (2009) test developed by its Focus Diagnostics business has been CE marked and is now available as a test kit for distribution to approximately 35 countries in Europe.

From Quest Diagnostics 18 Nov 2009

GRK2 inhibition protects against chronic heart failure

Inhibition of a protein known to contribute to heart failure also appears to be protective of the heart in more acute cardiac stress injury, namely ischemia reperfusion, according to two studies conducted at the Center for Translational Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University. The studies will be presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2009 in Orlando, Fla.

18 Nov 2009

Press conference highlights emerging treatments in pancreatic cancer

As part of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, Thompson will moderate a press conference on emerging treatments in pancreatic cancer on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, in Room 202 of the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Mass., from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET.

18 Nov 2009

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Possible new approach to slow the progression of cognitive decline in Down's syndrome

Diagnosing patients with syndrome similar to neurofibromatosis type 1 may be difficult

New biomarkers can predict patients' response to certain drugs

Unique life science-focused application for social media site launched

New radical approach to test chemo drugs for potential toxic effects

Covance and Rules-Based Medicine enter into biomarker alliance and services agreement

Data on Synta Pharmaceuticals' STA-9090 synthetic inhibitor of Hsp90 presented

Gene-diet interaction influencing BMI and obesity replicated in three independent studies

Gene that tells embryonic stem cells when to stop producing neurons identified

SynCon Chikungunya virus DNA vaccine induces protective neutralizing antibody responses in animal model

IBM led computing team achieves major advances in large-scale cortical simulation

Cancer-fighting protein successfully placed directly into solid tumors and turned on

Gene therapy may hold promise for cryptorchid individuals risking infertility

Developmental biologists to participate in $100 million federal 'Bench to Bassinet' network

Asuragen enters into an exclusive agreement with Life Technologies

New neuroimaging techniques yield new insights on Alzheimer's disease

Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics provides third-quarter 2009 business updates

Quest Diagnostics' Simplexa Influenza A H1N1 (2009) test receives CE mark

GRK2 inhibition protects against chronic heart failure

Press conference highlights emerging treatments in pancreatic cancer

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