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Link found between pollutants and certain metabolic complications of obesity

A team of researchers at the IRCM in Montr-al led by R-mi Rabasa-Lhoret, in collaboration with J-r-me Ruzzin from the University of Bergen in Norway, found a link between a type of pollutants and certain metabolic complications of obesity. Their breakthrough, published online this week by the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, could eventually help improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiometabolic risk associated with obesity, such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

28 Feb 2014

Researcher identifies ''conductor'' in development of muscle tissue

A team led by Jean-Fran-ois C-t-, researcher at the IRCM, identified a ''conductor'' in the development of muscle tissue. The discovery, published online yesterday by the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), could have an important impact on the treatment of muscular diseases such as myopathies and muscular dystrophies.

26 Feb 2014

Purdue’s new innovation improves drug therapies by making real-time decisions about treatment options

Oncologists and cancer patients could improve the results of drug therapies by making real-time decisions about treatment options using an innovation developed in Purdue University's College of Pharmacy.

20 Feb 2014

Novel compound appears to protect mice against movement problems associated with PD

Scientists report that they have developed a novel compound that appears to protect mice against developing movement problems associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). The research, which could one day in the future translate into a therapy that could halt the progression of PD and thereby prevent the symptoms of the disease, appears in ACS' Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

12 Feb 2014

Experts identify key challenges in youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities

In a study published today by the medical journal Paediatrics & Child Health, IRCM researchers address shortcomings in transitional care in the Canadian healthcare system. The team led by Eric Racine and Emily Bell, Montr-al neuroethics experts, identified important challenges in the transition from paediatric to adult health care, especially among youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities (such as autism spectrum disorders, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and cerebral palsy).

4 Feb 2014

FOB Synthesis enters into license agreement with AstraZeneca to treat drug-resistant bacterial infections

FOB Synthesis, Inc. has entered into a research and development option and license agreement with AstraZeneca for the development of a novel antibiotic to treat drug-resistant bacterial infections.

28 Jan 2014

Researchers identify five new genes associated with increased waist-to-hip ratio

Excess abdominal fat can be a precursor to diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. A person's measure of belly fat is reflected in the ratio of waist circumference to hip circumference, and it is estimated that genetics account for about 30-60 percent of waist-to-hip ratio.

23 Jan 2014

ICR, Nuevolution and CRT partner to identify novel drug candidates for cancer treatment

The Institute of Cancer Research, London, Cancer Research Technology, London and Nuevolution A/S, Copenhagen have entered into a drug discovery collaboration to identify novel lead candidates for cancer treatment.

23 Jan 2014

IRCM researchers show importance of DNA architecture in controlling activity of genes

A study conducted by Marie Kmita's team at the IRCM, in collaboration with Jos-e Dostie at McGill University, shows the importance of the chromatin architecture in controlling the activity of genes, especially those required for proper embryonic development.

17 Jan 2014

PGC-1α protein found in muscle may contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes later in life

A Montr-al research team led by Jennifer Estall at the IRCM discovered that a protein found in muscle tissue may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes later in life. The study's results, published in today's printed edition of the scientific journal American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, indicate that the protein could be a promising early predictor of increased diabetes risk.

15 Jan 2014

BPA contained in many plastic products is suspected of being hazardous to health

Bisphenol A impairs the function of proteins that are vital for growth processes in cells. This finding has been reported by researchers from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum and the University of Wuppertal.

13 Jan 2014

Antipsychotic medication can actively combat cells of difficult-to-treat form of ALL

In a prime example of finding new uses for older drugs, studies in zebrafish show that a 50-year-old antipsychotic medication called perphenazine can actively combat the cells of a difficult-to-treat form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The drug works by turning on a cancer-suppressing enzyme called PP2A and causing malignant tumor cells to self-destruct.

9 Jan 2014

Fetal exposure to Bisphenol A can increase risk for prostate cancer later in life

Fetal exposure to a commonly used plasticizer found in products such as water bottles, soup can liners and paper receipts can increase the risk for prostate cancer later in life, according to a study from the University of Illinois at Chicago published Jan. 7 online in the journal Endocrinology.

8 Jan 2014

Researchers discover direct evidence of genetic overlap between cognitive ability and schizophrenia

Investigators at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have discovered for the first time, direct evidence of a genetic overlap between schizophrenia and general cognitive ability. The findings are published online in Molecular Psychiatry.

17 Dec 2013

Researchers discover how PC7 protein affects certain types of cognitive performance

A team of Montr-al researchers at the IRCM led by Dr. Nabil G. Seidah, in collaboration with Dr. William C. Wetsel's team at Duke University in the United States, discovered that the protein PC7 plays a critical role in the brain by affecting certain types of cognitive performance such as anxiety, learning and emotional memory. Their results, recently published in the scientific journals Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and Nature, could have a significant impact on regulating behaviour related to anxiety disorders and trauma.

4 Dec 2013

IRCM researcher sheds light on inconsistencies between pharmacogenomic studies

A bioinformatics expert at the IRCM, Benjamin Haibe-Kains, recently published an article stressing the importance of standardizing drug screening studies in the prestigious scientific journal Nature. The study supports the need for further development and standardization to improve the reproducibility of drug screening studies, as they are important in identifying new therapeutic agents and their potential combinations with existing drugs.

3 Dec 2013

EMD Serono's TocopheRx to focus on development of oral FSH agonists for infertility treatment

EMD Serono, Inc., a subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced today the creation of TocopheRx, a Boston-based spin-off company resulting from the Entrepreneur Partnership Program launched by Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in April 2012.

3 Dec 2013

Researchers discover new genetic risk factor for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder

Investigators at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have discovered a new genetic risk factor for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder called NDST3. The findings are published online in Nature Communications.

20 Nov 2013

Sanofi uses QUOSA's literature management tools to automate adverse event monitoring

Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, today announced that Sanofi, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical organizations, has implemented QUOSA's literature management tools to automate adverse event monitoring.

22 Oct 2013

Thomson Reuters, Orion Bionetworks partner to further understanding of multiple sclerosis

The Intellectual Property & Science business of Thomson Reuters, the world's leading provider of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, today announced a collaboration with Orion Bionetworks to further the understanding of multiple sclerosis and advance the development of new therapies by generating predictive models of patient stratification and drug targets.