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New project seeks to understand the origin and role of ecDNA in cancer development

A team of pediatric oncologists led by PD Dr. Anton G. Henssen has set out to further improve our understanding of the mechanisms involved in cancer development and disease progression.

8 Sep 2020

Six genomics research projects receive grants to address the role of ethnicity in major cancers

Leading cancer scientists working with the New York Genome Center (NYGC) announced today that grants are being awarded to fund six projects that address the role of ethnicity in several major cancer types, taking advantage of the diversity of patients being treated at health care institutions throughout the New York City area.

8 Sep 2020

Investigational drug may reduce protein buildup and neurological decline linked to ALS, FTD

An investigational drug that targets an instigator of the TDP-43 protein, a well-known hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), may reduce the protein's buildup and neurological decline associated with these disorders, suggests a pre-clinical study from researchers at Penn Medicine and Mayo Clinic.

8 Sep 2020

Scientists discover tissue reparative role for a rare immune cell type in the gut

Scientists from King's College London have discovered an unexpected tissue reparative role for a rare immune cell type in the gut that could tip toward fibrosis or cancer if dysregulated.

8 Sep 2020

Study addresses the role of macrophage activation syndrome in COVID-19

Scientists review macrophage activation syndrome — a feature of the cytokine storm that kills patients with severe cases of COVID-19, as well as possible treatments.

8 Sep 2020

Personalized determination of genetic factors may improve treatment for polycythaemia vera

Polycythaemia vera is a chronic malignant disease of the haematopoietic system and is treated with interferon-alpha-based drugs, in most cases with long-lasting success. However, in some cases this therapy is unsuccessful for reasons that are not yet understood.

8 Sep 2020

Viruses play a key evolutionary role in mammals' ability to reproduce and survive

As the world scrambles to control the growing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, new research in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology shows viruses also play a key evolutionary role in mammals' ability to reproduce and survive.

7 Sep 2020

Prescribing treatments according to genetic differences could benefit children with asthma

Selecting treatments according to genetic differences could help children and teenagers with asthma, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress.

7 Sep 2020

Polygenic risk score can predict risk of drug-induced liver injury

Scientists who were working on a way to determine the viability of batches of tiny liver organoids have discovered a testing method that may have far broader implications.

7 Sep 2020

Study shows how genetic data can be used to prioritize drug targets for complex diseases

An innovative genetic study of blood protein levels, led by researchers in the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, has demonstrated how genetic data can be used to support drug target prioritisation by identifying the causal effects of proteins on diseases.

7 Sep 2020

Novel RNA vaccine from Arcturus Therapeutics protects mice against SARS-CoV-2

A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv in September 2020 reports a novel RNA vaccine platform that shows robust protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in mice and performs much better than a conventional mRNA vaccine. This could allow single-dose immunization, allowing progress towards global vaccination.

6 Sep 2020

Study shows SARS-CoV-2 cell receptor is a novel target of the gamma-secretase enzyme complex

Based on structural similarities with other targets of the gamma-secretase system, researchers from Columbia University Irving Medical Center in the United States show that the SARS-CoV-2 receptor for cell entry may be affected by its proteolytic activity. Their results are currently freely available in a bioRxiv preprint paper.

6 Sep 2020

Common class of drugs may be associated with increased risk of cognitive decline

A team of scientists, led by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, report that a class of drugs used for a broad array of conditions, from allergies and colds to hypertension and urinary incontinence, may be associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline, particularly in older adults at greater risk for Alzheimer's disease.

5 Sep 2020

IU researcher receives NCI grant to study side effects of cancer treatment

A researcher at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center has been awarded a five-year, $5.7 million National Cancer Institute grant to evaluate long-term health outcomes for cancer patients who receive platinum-based chemotherapies.

5 Sep 2020

Activation of fatty acid receptor causes masculinization of Japanese rice fish

A research collaboration based at Kumamoto University (Japan) has found that activation of PPARα, a fatty acid receptor that detects fatty acids in cells and regulates physiological functions, causes masculinization of Japanese rice fish (medaka).

5 Sep 2020

Early-phase Russian trials reveal safety and immunogenicity of two formulations of a two-part vaccine

Results from two early-phase Russian non-randomised vaccine trials (Sputnik V) in a total of 76 people are published today in The Lancet, finding that two formulations of a two-part vaccine have a good safety profile with no serious adverse events detected over 42 days, and induce antibody responses in all participants within 21 days.

5 Sep 2020

Historical case studies: Pandemics in past societies

Whether it's the plague, cholera or currently COVID-19: epidemics are part of human history. Long before there were vaccinations or microscopes for the investigation of pathogens, societies had to develop coping strategies.

5 Sep 2020

Two researchers from Bielefeld University receive ERC Starting Grants

The European Research Council has awarded ERC Starting Grants to two researchers from Bielefeld University.

5 Sep 2020

Oxytocinergic and vasopressinergic substances in the brain are involved in guiding social behavior

Research conducted by the University of Valencia (UV) and the Jaume I University of Castellón (UJI), among other institutions, has found alterations to the structure of the brain's nonapeptidergic systems, social behavior and the production of pheromones, traits that reveal sexual dimorphism, in male mice with a lack of the Mecp2 gene.

4 Sep 2020

D614G spike mutation increases infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 and neutralization susceptibility

As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, it is crucial to track the viral changes in order to link the clinical and epidemiological features of the disease with these mutations. A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv* in September 2020 reports on a common severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mutation, D614G, and its effects on the virus.

4 Sep 2020

Genetic News and Research

New project seeks to understand the origin and role of ecDNA in cancer development

Six genomics research projects receive grants to address the role of ethnicity in major cancers

Investigational drug may reduce protein buildup and neurological decline linked to ALS, FTD

Scientists discover tissue reparative role for a rare immune cell type in the gut

Study addresses the role of macrophage activation syndrome in COVID-19

Personalized determination of genetic factors may improve treatment for polycythaemia vera

Viruses play a key evolutionary role in mammals' ability to reproduce and survive

Prescribing treatments according to genetic differences could benefit children with asthma

Polygenic risk score can predict risk of drug-induced liver injury

Study shows how genetic data can be used to prioritize drug targets for complex diseases

Novel RNA vaccine from Arcturus Therapeutics protects mice against SARS-CoV-2

Study shows SARS-CoV-2 cell receptor is a novel target of the gamma-secretase enzyme complex

Common class of drugs may be associated with increased risk of cognitive decline

IU researcher receives NCI grant to study side effects of cancer treatment

Activation of fatty acid receptor causes masculinization of Japanese rice fish

Early-phase Russian trials reveal safety and immunogenicity of two formulations of a two-part vaccine

Historical case studies: Pandemics in past societies

Two researchers from Bielefeld University receive ERC Starting Grants

Oxytocinergic and vasopressinergic substances in the brain are involved in guiding social behavior

D614G spike mutation increases infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 and neutralization susceptibility

eBook: Using iPSCs models for human disease research and drug discovery 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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