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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.

Researchers discover new candidate disease proteins for neurodegenerative disorders

A multi-institution group of researchers has found new candidate disease proteins for neurodegenerative disorders.

4 Mar 2013

Study finds how to shut down Bcl6 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

The powerful master regulatory transcription factor called Bcl6 is key to the survival of a majority of aggressive lymphomas, which arise from the B-cells of the immune system. The protein has long been considered too complex to target with a drug since it is also crucial to the healthy functioning of many immune cells in the body, not just B cells gone bad.

4 Mar 2013

Autistic children with severe language delay achieve phrase or fluent speech by age eight

New findings published in Pediatrics (Epub ahead of print) by the Kennedy Krieger Institute's Center for Autism and Related Disorders reveal that 70 percent of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who have a history of severe language delay, achieved phrase or fluent speech by age eight.

4 Mar 2013

Study identifies how new ALS gene mutations cause other diseases of the brain, muscle and bone

Researchers supported by The ALS Association have discovered how mutations in new amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) genes cause not only ALS but also other diseases of the brain, muscle and bone.

4 Mar 2013

Researchers discover how LRRK2 mutations in familial Parkinson's damage brain cells

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have discovered how the most common genetic mutations in familial Parkinson's disease damage brain cells.

4 Mar 2013

Study identifies two gene mutations that lead to death of nerve cells in ALS

A study led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has discovered mutations in two genes that lead to the death of nerve cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and related degenerative diseases.

4 Mar 2013

UNC1215 chemical probe can help investigate L3MBTL3 methyl-lysine reader domain

In an article published as the cover story of the March 2013 issue of Nature Chemical Biology, Lindsey James, PhD, research assistant professor in the lab of Stephen Frye, Fred Eshelman Distinguished Professor in the UNC School of Pharmacy and member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, announced the discovery of a chemical probe that can be used to investigate the L3MBTL3 methyl-lysine reader domain.

3 Mar 2013

Combination of two environmental factors contributes to schizophrenia

The interplay between an infection during pregnancy and stress in puberty plays a key role in the development of schizophrenia, as behaviourists from ETH Zurich demonstrate in a mouse model. However, there is no need to panic.

2 Mar 2013

Oxford researcher wins 2013 John Dystel Prize from AAN, National Multiple Sclerosis Society

The American Academy of Neurology and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society are awarding the 2013 John Dystel Prize for MS Research to George C. Ebers, MD, a leading researcher with the University of Oxford and Oxford University Hospitals Trust in Oxford, United Kingdom.

2 Mar 2013

Book shows how free will works in the brain

A new theory of brain function by Peter Ulric Tse, a professor of cognitive neuroscience at Dartmouth College, suggests that free will is real and has a biophysical basis in the microscopic workings of our brain cells.

2 Mar 2013

Researchers can now predict fear memory formation

Psychologists at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) have discovered that changes in patterns of brain activity during fearful experiences predict whether a long-term fear memory is formed. The research results have recently been published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Neuroscience.

2 Mar 2013

Elekta launches Versa HD system to treat cancers

During a live global event, Elekta announced the launch of Versa HD, an advanced linear accelerator system designed to improve patient care and treat a broader spectrum of cancers.

From Elekta 2 Mar 2013

AAN to award 2013 Michael S. Pessin Stroke Leadership Prize to Amytis Towfighi

The American Academy of Neurology is awarding the 2013 Michael S. Pessin Stroke Leadership Prize to Amytis Towfighi, MD, with the University of Southern California and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center for her research in post-stroke preventive care.

2 Mar 2013

Study links grape seed and skin extracts with high-fat-diet-induced renal disease

New insight into grape seed extract as a therapeutic and preventative measure to fight obesity-induced kidney damage is presented in a new study. Grape seed and skin extract (GSSE) is known to contain powerful antioxidants.

1 Mar 2013

Study shows how theranostic nanoparticles can effectively deliver cancer drugs to tumour cells

Tiny particles filled with a drug could be a new tool for treating cancer in the future. A new study published by Swedish scientists in Particle & Particle Systems Characterization shows how such nanoparticles can be combined to secure the effective delivery of cancer drugs to tumour cells - and how they can be given properties to make them visible in MR scanners and thus rendered trackable.

1 Mar 2013

Toshiba launches new Aquilion ONE/ ViSION Edition

The Toshiba family of Aquilion CT scanners has recently been expanded to include the new Aquilion ONE/ ViSION Edition, a faster version of the very successful Aquilion ONE, of which over 700 have been ordered globally.

1 Mar 2013

Researchers elucidate how Fgf8 is controlled by multiple regulatory elements in mammal embryos

During embryo development, genes are dynamically, and very precisely, switched on and off to confer different properties to different cells and build a well-proportioned and healthy animal. Fgf8 is one of the key genes in this process, controlling in particular the growth of the limbs and the formation of the different regions of the brain. Researchers at EMBL have elucidated how Fgf8 in mammal embryos is, itself, controlled by a series of multiple, interdependent regulatory elements.

1 Mar 2013

Pivotal study of olesoxime in Spinal Muscular Atrophy receives positive interim review

Trophos SA, a clinical stage pharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics from discovery to clinical validation for under-served medical needs in neurology and cardiology, announced the completion of the interim analysis of the pivotal efficacy study of olesoxime in the rare neurodegenerative condition Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).

1 Mar 2013

Structural connectome maps reveal new details about agenesis of the corpus callosum

Combining hospital MRIs with the mathematical tool known as network analysis, a group of researchers at UC San Francisco and UC Berkeley have mapped the three-dimensional global connections within the brains of seven adults who have genetic malformations that leave them without the corpus callosum, which connects the left and right sides of the brain.

1 Mar 2013

New way to identify heterogeneous brain cells by looking at epigenetic variation

Scientists from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD have developed a new way to identify heterogeneous brain cells by looking at epigenetic variation (the heritable alterations in gene expression caused by mechanisms other than changes in DNA sequence).

1 Mar 2013

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Researchers discover new candidate disease proteins for neurodegenerative disorders

Study finds how to shut down Bcl6 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Autistic children with severe language delay achieve phrase or fluent speech by age eight

Study identifies how new ALS gene mutations cause other diseases of the brain, muscle and bone

Researchers discover how LRRK2 mutations in familial Parkinson's damage brain cells

Study identifies two gene mutations that lead to death of nerve cells in ALS

UNC1215 chemical probe can help investigate L3MBTL3 methyl-lysine reader domain

Combination of two environmental factors contributes to schizophrenia

Oxford researcher wins 2013 John Dystel Prize from AAN, National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Book shows how free will works in the brain

Researchers can now predict fear memory formation

Elekta launches Versa HD system to treat cancers

AAN to award 2013 Michael S. Pessin Stroke Leadership Prize to Amytis Towfighi

Study links grape seed and skin extracts with high-fat-diet-induced renal disease

Study shows how theranostic nanoparticles can effectively deliver cancer drugs to tumour cells

Toshiba launches new Aquilion ONE/ ViSION Edition

Researchers elucidate how Fgf8 is controlled by multiple regulatory elements in mammal embryos

Pivotal study of olesoxime in Spinal Muscular Atrophy receives positive interim review

Structural connectome maps reveal new details about agenesis of the corpus callosum

New way to identify heterogeneous brain cells by looking at epigenetic variation

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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