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Study finds typical mutations in offspring of radar soldiers

The offspring of radar soldiers exposed to high doses of radiation during their service experience more genetic alterations than families without radiation exposure.

5 Oct 2018

Researchers identify sex-specific genetic risk factor for pancreatic cancer

In a new study from Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, researchers have found that mutation of a gene called ATRX may lead to increased risk of developing pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer in females.

5 Oct 2018

Expert proposes new model to generate automated updates of genetic test results

Maybe the genetic test report your doctor ordered says your DNA contains many “variants of unknown significance.” Currently, up to 70 percent of such reports are negative or inconclusive.

4 Oct 2018

Fruit fly protein shows protective effect on dopamine-producing neurons

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects dopamine-producing or dopaminergic neurons. The progressive loss of these neurons is what leads to impairment in movement coordination in those suffering from the illness.

3 Oct 2018

Genentech announces clinical data from studies investigating risdiplam in spinal muscular atrophy

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, announced today interim clinical data from the dose-finding parts of the pivotal FIREFISH and SUNFISH studies investigating risdiplam in spinal muscular atrophy.

3 Oct 2018

Alnylam submits CTA application to MHRA to initiate Phase 1/2 study of ALN-AAT02

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that it has submitted a Clinical Trial Authorization application to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to initiate a Phase 1/2 study of ALN-AAT02, an investigational RNAi therapeutic targeting alpha-1 antitrypsin for the treatment of AAT deficiency-associated liver disease.

3 Oct 2018

USDA scientist tries to naturally enhance minerals of wheat flours

Is biofortification the best thing since sliced bread? Well, biofortified wheat could certainly make it easier to help some humans get proper nutrition.

3 Oct 2018

Study finds disease-causing mutation in French-Canadians

A team of Canadian scientists, including researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital has discovered the first French-Canadian founder mutation gene linked to synucleinopathies, a group of neurodegenerative diseases that includes Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy-Bodies and multiple system atrophy

1 Oct 2018

'Kidney-gene' plays role in the central nervous system and controls movement

The WT1 gene fulfills a central role in the development of a healthy, proper functioning kidney. Mutations in WT1 lead to impairments in kidney development and cause Wilms tumors, a pediatric kidney cancer.

1 Oct 2018

International conference features cutting-edge research studies on cancer immunotherapy

The Fourth CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival, to be held in New York, Sept. 30-Oct. 3, will feature cutting-edge research studies from around the world that endeavor to answer urgent questions in the field of cancer immunotherapy to advance progress more rapidly for patients.

1 Oct 2018

Researchers create photoswitchable fluorescent proteins with optical properties

Researchers developed fluorescent proteins that can be controlled by orange and green light. These proteins will help to study processes in living cells. The work was supported by Russian Science Foundation grant, and the results were published in Nature Methods.

28 Sep 2018

Pfizer announces FDA approval of VIZIMPRO for first-line treatment of EGFR-mutated metastatic NSCLC

Pfizer Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved VIZIMPRO [vih-ZIM-pro] (dacomitinib), a kinase inhibitor for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor exon 19 deletion or exon 21 L858R substitution mutations as detected by an FDA-approved test.

28 Sep 2018

Normal skin is more resilient to cancer than previously thought

Normal skin contains a patchwork of mutated cells, yet very few go on to eventually form cancer and scientists have now uncovered the reason why. Researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and MRC Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge genetically engineered mice to show that mutant cells in skin tissue compete with each other, with only the fittest surviving.

27 Sep 2018

Not all P53 mutations cause skin cancer

Today, scientists have explained for the first time why not all UV-induced, P53 mutated skin cells develop into cancer.

27 Sep 2018

New approach to vaccine development and improved surveillance could help target deadly diseases

Scientists hope that a new approach to vaccine development, combined with improved surveillance of potential future threats of outbreak, could help to massively reduce the impact of deadly diseases such as Ebola, Marburg and Lassa fever.

26 Sep 2018

Survey: Physicians need more information to assess impact of NSCLC treatment sequencing

Results from a new global survey revealed that more than one-third (36%) of the 310 physicians surveyed do not think they have sufficient information required to make informed decisions on how to sequence treatments for patients with epidermal growth factor receptor mutation-positive (EGFR M+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

26 Sep 2018

Urine exRNA may be source of biomarkers for muscular dystrophy

Massachusetts General Hospital researchers have found that extracellular RNA in urine may be a source of biomarkers for the two most common forms of muscular dystrophy, noninvasively providing information about whether therapeutic drugs are having the desired effects on a molecular level.

26 Sep 2018

Driver gene mutations found to be common for cancer metastases

Driver genes in different metastases from the same patient are remarkably similar, providing optimism for the success of future targeted therapies, according to a published study by Science.

25 Sep 2018

Physical activity may have beneficial effects for people with rare Alzheimer's disease

For individuals carrying a genetic mutation that causes Alzheimer's disease, engaging in at least 2.5 hours of physical activity per week may have beneficial effects on markers of Alzheimer's disease brain changes and may delay cognitive decline, according to a new study available online by Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association as an article in press, corrected proof.

25 Sep 2018

Gene therapy approach could help treat mitochondrial diseases

Researchers have developed a genome-editing tool for the potential treatment of mitochondrial diseases: serious and often fatal conditions which affect 1 in 5,000 people.

24 Sep 2018