Neurodegenerative Disease News and Research

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Skin cell samples may help discover factors behind Parkinson's disease

Researchers are applying new stem cell technology to use skin samples to grow the brain cells thought to be responsible for the onset of Parkinson's disease

14 Jul 2010

Scientists identify new strategy for treating movement disorders

Scientists at the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease and Stanford University have shown how key circuits in the brain control movement. The research, published in the journal Nature not only establishes the function of these circuits, but offers promise for treating movement related disorders, such as Parkinson's disease.

8 Jul 2010

Frozen blood samples shows promise to study mechanism of blood disorders

Cells from frozen human blood samples can be reprogrammed to an embryonic-stem-cell-like state, according to Whitehead Institute researchers. These cells can be multiplied and used to study the genetic and molecular mechanisms of blood disorders and other diseases.

2 Jul 2010

Kennedy Krieger Institute orders for Bruker's ultra-high field MRI CryoProbe

Bruker has received an order for the first ultra-high field MRI CryoProbe in North America to be installed at the F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD. Supported by an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) award to Dr. Peter van Zijl, Director of the Center, the 500 MHz MRI CryoProbe is part of an ultra-high field preclinical MRI BioSpec® system that includes an 11.7 T UltraShield Refrigerated (USR™) magnet and AVANCE™ III electronics.

17 Jun 2010

Researchers study how APOE4 becomes a potent risk factor for Alzheimer's disease

A molecule implicated in Alzheimer's disease interferes with brain cells by making them unable to "recycle" the surface receptors that respond to incoming signals, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.

15 Jun 2010

DZNE, MRC and CIHR sign cooperation agreement for research on neurodegenerative diseases

Representatives of the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases, the UK Medical Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research today signed a cooperation agreement that aims to establish and apply harmonised guidelines and technologies for research on neurodegenerative diseases.

11 Jun 2010

Repligen's fiscal 2010 total revenue decreases to $20,971,000

Repligen Corporation today reported results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2010, ended March 31, 2010. Total revenue for the year was $20,971,000 compared to total revenue of $29,362,000 for fiscal year 2009 ended March 31, 2009.

9 Jun 2010

CPAP Therapy increases gray-matter volume in obstructive sleep apnea patients

Obstructive sleep apnea patients had reductions of grey-matter volume at baseline but showed significant grey-matter volume increase after three months of CPAP therapy, according to a research abstract that will be presented Monday, June 7, 2010, in San Antonio, Texas, at SLEEP 2010, the 24th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC.

7 Jun 2010

Johns Hopkins professor receives $1M MSCRF grant to study glial cells for treating myelin disorders

Q Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that Piotr Walczak, M.D., of Johns Hopkins University has received notification of a $1,000,000 grant to be awarded by the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) which will enable further study of Q's human neural glial cell product Q-Cells® in preclinical models of demyelinating disease.

2 Jun 2010

New book to prevent Age-Related Macular Degeneration

A new prevention tool is now available, in both French and English, at local bookstores and pharmacies. Dr. Jean-Daniel Arbour and Dr. Pierre Labelle of the Universit- de Montr-al Department of Ophthalmology, along with two colleagues from France, have authored a new book to prevent vision loss, AMD: Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Annika Parance Publisher; 121 pages). Written to educate readers about the importance of vision health, the book provides clear explanations on the causes, consequences and treatments of AMD.

26 May 2010

Highlights from June 2010 issue of American Journal of Pathology

Dr. Kanneboyina Nagaraju and colleagues at the Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC demonstrate that affected muscle may directly contribute to inflammation in muscular dystrophy. Their report can be found in the June 2010 issue of The American Journal of Pathology.

26 May 2010

Increasing levels of GGA3 protein prevent accumulation of enzyme linked to Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine have zeroed in on a protein that may play a role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The team found that increasing levels of the protein (called GGA3) prevented the accumulation of an enzyme linked to Alzheimer's. The strategy may lead to new treatments for the neurodegenerative disease.

26 May 2010

ADDF provides $248,000 grant to ALSP to allow its lead drug candidate towards clinical trials

The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation announced today that it is providing a grant of $248,000 to American Life Science Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to allow for manufacture of its lead drug candidate to be used in preclinical toxicology testing in preparation for entering Phase I clinical trials early in 2011.

25 May 2010

Young Faces of ALS campaign to raise awareness on ALS

The ALS Therapy Development Institute announced today that it is supporting a new awareness campaign driven by several ALS patients diagnosed with the progressive neurodegenerative disease commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease before the age of 30. This campaign, called "Young Faces of ALS," is designed and led by a group of seven young men and women and will consist of a group effort to visit each of the 30 Major League Baseball parks during the 2010 baseball season.

21 May 2010

European researchers define research priorities in biogerontology

The quality of the medical care for geriatric patients is a major investment for society and must imperatively be a research priority in Europe. This is why 50 European researchers, met on May 17 - 19 in Brussels, to define the research priorities in the field of biogerontology for the next 10 to 15 years.

21 May 2010

Study examines impact of APOE ε4 on cognitive function, brain anatomy in AD patients

In the most comprehensive study to date, neurologists have clearly identified significant differences in the ways that Alzheimer's disease affects patients with and without the apolipoprotein E ε4 gene, a known genetic risk factor for the neurodegenerative disease, using a combination of cognitive and neuroanatomic measures. The study found that this gene influences the way the disease manifests, even at its mildest clinical stages.

19 May 2010

Repligen files IND for Phase 1 study of RG2833 selective HDAC-3 inhibitor for Friedreich's ataxia

Repligen Corporation announced today that it has filed an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a Phase 1 study of RG2833, a selective histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC-3) inhibitor. This is a double-blind, single ascending dose, Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers to evaluate the pharmacokinetic and safety profile of RG2833 in up to 40 subjects.

13 May 2010

Neurimmune Therapeutics honored with ZKB TECHNOPARK Pioneer Award

The ZKB TECHNOPARK® Pioneer Award, which has been sponsored by the Zürcher Kantonalbank since 2000, was presented for the 20th time at TECHNOPARK® Zurich. The award is given for technological innovations which - thanks to pioneering entrepreneurial achievements - are about to be launched on the market. This year's award winner is Neurimmune Therapeutics AG, represented by Dr. Jan Grimm, Professor Christoph Hock, Professor Roger Nitsch and Dr. Michael Salzmann.

12 May 2010

Researchers discover link between sporadic and familial forms of ALS

Researchers from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine have discovered a link between sporadic and familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

6 May 2010

Principals of StemTroniX, Power3 Medical Products file patent application

StemTroniX, Inc., a Texas corporation, and Power3 Medical Products, Inc. announced today that a joint provisional patent application entitled, "Stem Cell Protein Biomarkers and Their Use in Monitoring Stem Cells and Their Products for Stem Cell Therapy" has been filed by the principals of StemTroniX and Power3 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

5 May 2010