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The human brain is the center of the human nervous system and is a highly complex organ. Enclosed in the cranium, it has the same general structure as the brains of other mammals, but is over three times as large as the brain of a typical mammal with an equivalent body size.

Research findings highlight potential for noninvasive MSC delivery to treat Parkinson disease

Successful intranasal delivery of stem cells to the brains of rats with Parkinson disease yielded significant improvement in motor function and reversed the dopamine deficiency characteristic of the disease.

9 Feb 2011

AcademyHealth recognizes military health research study with 2011 HSR Impact Award

AcademyHealth today recognized research that improves access to behavioral health care for returning U.S. service members with the 2011 Health Services Research Impact Award.

9 Feb 2011

Study: Parkinson’s disease undermines language processing ability in Dutch native speaker patients

It is becoming more generally known that Parkinson's disease not only influences a patient's motor functions. Patients often also suffer from depression, fear and incontinence, for example. However, the disease also undermines the language processing ability. University of Groningen researcher Katrien Colman has found clear indications of this in Dutch native speaker patients.

9 Feb 2011

Topical cream used to treat skin diseases activates two distinct neuronal signaling pathways

Scratching deep beneath the surface, a team of researchers from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and three South Korean institutions have identified two distinct neuronal signaling pathways activated by a topical cream used to treat a variety of skin diseases. One pathway produces the therapeutic benefit; the other induces severe itching as a side effect.

9 Feb 2011

Men with high levels of CCP genes more likely to have fatal form of prostate cancer

A genetic pattern could predict how aggressive prostate cancer is before treatment, and whether the disease will come back in men who have already been treated, according to research published1 in the Lancet Oncology.

9 Feb 2011

Two new studies report GOT may improve health outcomes of stroke patients

Much of the devastation of stroke and head trauma is due to damage caused the overproduction of a substance in the brain called glutamate. Preventing this damage has been impossible, until now, as many drugs don't cross the so-called blood-brain barrier, and those that do often don't work as intended. But a method originally devised at the Weizmann Institute of Science may, in the future, offer a way to avert such glutamate-induced harm.

9 Feb 2011

New research provides evidence that cerebellum can also store memories for mental skills

Movements become skilled and automatic with practise, so tasks like riding a bicycle can be performed without much attention or mental effort. New research by scientists at Royal Holloway, University of London provides evidence that the cerebellum, a part of the brain used to store memories for skilled movements, could also store memories important for mental skills - such as the rules used to interpret traffic light signals.

9 Feb 2011

Life Sciences Discovery Fund announces nearly $600,000 in awards

The Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) today announced nearly $600,000 in awards to support commercial development of technologies to improve the diagnosis and management of major health conditions.

9 Feb 2011

Gates Foundation awards USF $5.45M for malaria research

The University of South Florida received $5.45 million in grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The first grant is to create advanced devices that mimic the human liver to better study the life cycle of the malaria parasite - particularly the elusive liver stage where the disease may be most vulnerable to attack.

9 Feb 2011

BeneChill, Physio-Control to launch RhinoChill IntraNasal Cooling System in Europe

Physio-Control, a global leader in emergency medical solutions and wholly-owned subsidiary of Medtronic, and BeneChill, a pioneer in portable therapeutic cooling systems, today announced a strategic partnership to launch the RhinoChill IntraNasal Cooling System in Europe.

9 Feb 2011

Specific gene variation linked to late-onset Alzheimer's

A new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has found evidence suggesting that a variation of a specific gene may play a role in late-onset Alzheimer's, the disease which accounts for over 90% of Alzheimer's cases. This innovative study has combined genetics and brain imaging to determine who may be at risk for developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease long before symptoms appear.

9 Feb 2011

UW research receives Keck Foundation grant to restore lost brain function using neurochips

Tiny, implantable computers that would restore brain function lost to disease or injury is the goal of University of Washington research recently funded by a $1 million, three-year grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation.

9 Feb 2011

Researchers link brain's neural networks to specific cognitive functions

The human brain operates as a highly interconnected small-world network, not as a collection of discrete regions as previously believed, with important implications for why many of us experience cognitive declines in old age, a new study shows.

9 Feb 2011

FDA proposes new Innovation Pathway program for pioneering medical devices

Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed the Innovation Pathway, a priority review program for new, breakthrough medical devices and announced the first submission: a brain-controlled, upper-extremity prosthetic that will serve as a pilot for the program. The FDA also announced plans to seek further public comment before the Pathway can be used more broadly.

9 Feb 2011

Specific gene variation may play a role in late-onset Alzheimer's disease: New study

A new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has found evidence suggesting that a variation of a specific gene may play a role in late-onset Alzheimer's, the disease which accounts for over 90% of Alzheimer's cases. This innovative study has combined genetics and brain imaging to determine who may be at risk for developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease long before symptoms appear.

9 Feb 2011

Scientists monitor frequencies of brain activity to unleash new insights into how it works

Like listeners adjusting a high-tech radio, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have tuned in to precise frequencies of brain activity to unleash new insights into how the brain works.

9 Feb 2011

Urocortin system plays central role in regulating stress responses

Post-traumatic stress disorder can affect soldiers after combat or ordinary people who have undergone harrowing experiences. Of course, feelings of anxiety are normal and even desirable - they are part of what helps us survive in a world of real threats. But no less crucial is the return to normal - the slowing of the heartbeat and relaxation of tension - after the threat has passed.

9 Feb 2011

Scientists develop novel technique to detect disordered protein folding

A team of scientists from The Scripps Research Institute and the University of California, San Diego have developed a novel technique to observe previously unknown details of how folded structures are formed from an intrinsically disordered protein.

9 Feb 2011

New study: Cannabis use significantly hastens onset of psychotic illness

A new study has provided the first conclusive evidence that cannabis use significantly hastens the onset of psychotic illnesses during the critical years of brain development - with possible life-long consequences.

9 Feb 2011

CytRx's bafetinib helps reduce skeletal complications in cancer patients

CytRx Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in oncology, today announced that results from a series of preclinical studies show that bafetinib may be useful in preventing bone loss in cancer patients who are at high risk for this event.

8 Feb 2011

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Research findings highlight potential for noninvasive MSC delivery to treat Parkinson disease

AcademyHealth recognizes military health research study with 2011 HSR Impact Award

Study: Parkinson’s disease undermines language processing ability in Dutch native speaker patients

Topical cream used to treat skin diseases activates two distinct neuronal signaling pathways

Men with high levels of CCP genes more likely to have fatal form of prostate cancer

Two new studies report GOT may improve health outcomes of stroke patients

New research provides evidence that cerebellum can also store memories for mental skills

Life Sciences Discovery Fund announces nearly $600,000 in awards

Gates Foundation awards USF $5.45M for malaria research

BeneChill, Physio-Control to launch RhinoChill IntraNasal Cooling System in Europe

Specific gene variation linked to late-onset Alzheimer's

UW research receives Keck Foundation grant to restore lost brain function using neurochips

Researchers link brain's neural networks to specific cognitive functions

FDA proposes new Innovation Pathway program for pioneering medical devices

Specific gene variation may play a role in late-onset Alzheimer's disease: New study

Scientists monitor frequencies of brain activity to unleash new insights into how it works

Urocortin system plays central role in regulating stress responses

Scientists develop novel technique to detect disordered protein folding

New study: Cannabis use significantly hastens onset of psychotic illness

CytRx's bafetinib helps reduce skeletal complications in cancer patients

Discover how SciY empowers scientists

Why use light scattering to analyze proteins and viral vectors?

Changing the landscape of R&D to build clinical success from the ground up

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