Genetic News and Research

RSS

Drug compounds target multiple pathways associated with myotonic dystrophy type 1

Efforts to treat myotonic dystrophy type 1, the most common form of muscular dystrophy, are in their infancy. In a new study, researchers report they have added new capabilities to an experimental drug agent that previously defeated only one of DM1's many modes of action. Their retooled compounds interrupt the disease's pathology in three ways.

10 Nov 2015

Arsenic exposure during pregnancy may increase risk of infections, respiratory symptoms in children

Children born to women who were exposed to higher arsenic during pregnancy have a greater risk of infections and respiratory symptoms within their first year of life, a Dartmouth College-led study shows.

10 Nov 2015

Understanding how schizophrenia affects workings of the brain

Stem cells from adult schizophrenia patients form new proteins more slowly than those from healthy people, according to new research.

10 Nov 2015

UT Southwestern's Helen H. Hobbs named recipient of Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences

UT Southwestern Medical Center geneticist Dr. Helen H. Hobbs is the 2016 recipient of the prestigious Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences.

10 Nov 2015

Australian researchers define key characteristics of metabolically healthy obese

Australian researchers have defined some key characteristics of the metabolically healthy obese -- those obese individuals who remain free from type 2 diabetes and other disorders that usually associate with obesity. Their findings have implications for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and obesity.

10 Nov 2015

New funding for Centenary's life saving research

The Centenary Institute has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of funding for 9 new and innovative medical research projects via the latest round of NHMRC grant rounds funding, officially confirmed today.

9 Nov 2015

Agios announces data from dose-escalation phase 1 study of AG-120 in patients with IDH1 mutant positive advanced solid tumors

Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in the fields of cancer metabolism and rare genetic metabolic disorders, today announced the first data from the dose-escalation portion of the ongoing Phase 1 study evaluating single agent AG-120, a first-in-class, oral, selective, potent inhibitor of mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1), in advanced solid tumors. The data are being presented today at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Boston. AG-120 is being developed in collaboration with Celgene.

9 Nov 2015

First comprehensive genomic and biologic study of top skin disease-causing microbes

An international team of scientists, led by researchers from A*STAR's Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Institute of Medical Biology (IMB), and Bioinformatics Institute (BII), and P&G, have completed the first comprehensive genomic and biologic study of all species of Malassezia, one of the top skin disease-causing microbes.

9 Nov 2015

Nightstar announces $35 million Series B financing round

NightstaRx Ltd, a biopharmaceutical company specialising in developing gene therapies for inherited retinal dystrophies, announces a $35 million Series B financing round. The round was led by New Enterprise Associates, one of the world's leading venture capital firms.

9 Nov 2015

First male puberty timing study conducted

In the largest genomic analysis of puberty timing in men, new research conducted by scientists at the University of Cambridge and 23andMe* shows that the timing of puberty in males and females is influenced by many of the same-shared genetic factors. The study results are the first to quantify the strongly shared genetic basis for puberty timing between the sexes.

9 Nov 2015

Simple, low risk blood test can detect foetal blood group and genetic conditions in unborn babies

Research into a simple, accurate and low risk blood test that can detect foetal blood group, sex, and genetic conditions in unborn babies has been published in the international scientific journal, Clinical Chemistry.

9 Nov 2015

Novel genetic therapy treats ‘incurable’ leukaemia

A new treatment that involves editing DNA has been used for the first time at Great Ormond Street Hospital to successfully treat drug-resistant leukaemia.

6 Nov 2015

City of Hope awarded NIH grant to study potential link between environmental factors and breast cancer

The National Institutes of Health has awarded City of Hope a five-year, $4.8 million grant to study the possible role of chemicals in the environment in the development of breast cancer during the menopausal transition in women.

6 Nov 2015

Two genetic variants interact to alter the brain responses to high-calorie foods

For the first time, researchers have identified two genetic variants that interact to alter the brain responses to high-calorie foods, a tie that could aid in the development of targeted treatments for obesity and overweight. Researchers at Imperial College London led by Tony Goldstone, MD, PhD, of Consultant Endocrinologist, found that two gene variants - FTO and DRD2 - influenced activity in the brain reward system when looking at pictures of high-calorie foods.

6 Nov 2015

Utah chemists devise new way to detect DNA damage

University of Utah chemists devised a new way to detect chemical damage to DNA that sometimes leads to genetic mutations responsible for many diseases, including various cancers and neurological disorders.

6 Nov 2015

Researchers identify seven genetic risk loci involved in atopic march

There's a typical "career" for some allergic people, and it starts very early on the skin: babies develop atopic dermatitis, food allergies may follow, then comes asthma and later on hay fever. A group of scientists led by Ingo Marenholz and Young-Ae Lee at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, working with colleagues from several institutions, has now identified seven genetic risk loci for this course of disease.

6 Nov 2015

Scientists discover small molecule that can block growth of BRCA-deficient cancer cells

Cancer cells with mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which serve a vital role in preserving the integrity of the genetic code, are key targets for cancer therapeutics. Yet, few agents can selectively eliminate cells deficient in BRCA, and none can do so without the risk of inducing drug resistance.

6 Nov 2015

New tool could help identify patients most likely to benefit from chemoprevention

A team of scientists, led by researchers at University of California, San Diego Moores Cancer Center and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, report that a genetic biomarker called loss of heterozygosity or LOH is able to predict which patients with premalignant mouth lesions are at highest risk of developing oral cancer.

6 Nov 2015

Age-related differences in brain health vary with fitness level in older adults

A new study shows that age-related differences in brain health - specifically the strength of connections between different regions of the brain - vary with fitness level in older adults. The findings suggest that greater cardiorespiratory fitness - a measure of aerobic endurance - relates to stronger brain connections and likely improves long-term brain function in aging populations.

6 Nov 2015

Genetic reduction of AMPK enzyme can prevent or delay hearing loss

A mitochondrial defect is responsible for a type of human hereditary deafness that worsens over time and can lead to profound hearing loss.

6 Nov 2015

Genetic News and Research

Drug compounds target multiple pathways associated with myotonic dystrophy type 1

Arsenic exposure during pregnancy may increase risk of infections, respiratory symptoms in children

Understanding how schizophrenia affects workings of the brain

UT Southwestern's Helen H. Hobbs named recipient of Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences

Australian researchers define key characteristics of metabolically healthy obese

New funding for Centenary's life saving research

Agios announces data from dose-escalation phase 1 study of AG-120 in patients with IDH1 mutant positive advanced solid tumors

First comprehensive genomic and biologic study of top skin disease-causing microbes

Nightstar announces $35 million Series B financing round

First male puberty timing study conducted

Simple, low risk blood test can detect foetal blood group and genetic conditions in unborn babies

Novel genetic therapy treats ‘incurable’ leukaemia

City of Hope awarded NIH grant to study potential link between environmental factors and breast cancer

Two genetic variants interact to alter the brain responses to high-calorie foods

Utah chemists devise new way to detect DNA damage

Researchers identify seven genetic risk loci involved in atopic march

Scientists discover small molecule that can block growth of BRCA-deficient cancer cells

New tool could help identify patients most likely to benefit from chemoprevention

Age-related differences in brain health vary with fitness level in older adults

Genetic reduction of AMPK enzyme can prevent or delay hearing loss

Sequencing & Genomics: Elevating Science and Healthcare eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Latest News