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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.

NIH awards Geisinger $1.8M grant for study of nuclear ErbB3 protein

A new five-year, $1.8 million National Institutes of Health grant awarded to staff scientist Nikolaos Tapinos, M.D., Ph.D., of Geisinger's Sigfried and Janet Weis Center for Research will be used to study the role of nuclear ErbB3 protein during development of the nervous system and in response to nerve injury.

16 Jun 2010

New research may help unravel cellular brain activity involved in human decisions

Crayfish make surprisingly complex, cost-benefit calculations, finds a University of Maryland study, opening the door to a new line of research that may help unravel the cellular brain activity involved in human decisions.

16 Jun 2010

Biogen Idec initiates enrollment in Phase II BG-12 combination trial for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Biogen Idec today announced enrollment of the first patient in a multicenter Phase II clinical trial designed to evaluate its investigational oral therapy BG-12 (dimethyl fumarate) in combination with commonly used first-line treatments in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

15 Jun 2010

Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation to present 2010 Neuroscience Prize to Robert H. Wurtz

Robert H. Wurtz, PhD, a pioneer and leader in the field of neurophysiology, is the recipient of the 2010 Neuroscience Prize of The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation. His discoveries of how the brain processes visual information and controls eye movements laid the groundwork for subsequent research into the neurophysiology of visual cognition. This research has led scientists to a deeper understanding of how the brain is organized to produce behavior.

15 Jun 2010

Kendle offers BNA imaging technology for monitoring brain electro-physiological network activity

Kendle, a leading, global full-service clinical research organization, today announced it now offers Brain Network Activation imaging providing a non-invasive platform for mapping, monitoring and understanding brain electro-physiological network activity in response to cognitive or physiological stimuli. The BNA imaging technology was developed by ElMindA, a medical technology development company based in Herzliya, Israel.

15 Jun 2010

Alexion's Soliris may benefit patients with thrombotic microangiopathy from uncontrolled complement activation

Researchers reported today that Soliris® (eculizumab), a first-in-class terminal complement inhibitor developed by Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., may provide clinical benefits to patients with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) resulting from uncontrolled complement activation. TMA, the formation of blood clots in capillaries and small arteries, can lead to life-threatening damage in multiple organs including kidney failure, thrombocytopenia (abnormally low platelet count) and anemia.

15 Jun 2010

Orasi Medical signs agreement to study effect of Lundbeck CNS compounds on human brain

Orasi Medical today announced that it has entered an agreement with H. Lundbeck A/S to study the effect of Lundbeck central nervous system compounds on the human brain.

15 Jun 2010

Project ideas needed from worldwide Alzheimer Disease research community

On the 9 June 2010, 119 participants from industry, academia, and related stakeholder communities in the U.S. and Europe joined Alzforum for a Webinar, "Treating Before Symptoms—ADCS Invites Ideas for Clinical Trials in Very Early AD," presented by Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) director Paul Aisen, MD.

15 Jun 2010

Tips for correct application of sunscreen

You've gotten the message about the importance of sun protection, you're stocked up on sunscreen that's at least 15 SPF, and you're diligent about putting it on before you head outside. Once you've gotten this far, there's no reason to risk sunburns by applying it incorrectly. But, all too often, that's exactly what happens, says a Saint Louis University dermatologist.

15 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

Talaris Institute launches new online service for parents of young children

Talaris Institute, a nonprofit organization in Seattle, Washington, is proud to announce the launch of the new online service for parents of children birth to five – www.ParentingCounts.org. After nearly a decade of analyzing research and millions of dollars spent developing factual and practical content for parents, Talaris Institute introduced the Parenting Counts Center in November 2009 as a source of research-based information about child development with an exclusive birth-to-five developmental timeline.

15 Jun 2010

Study: Mentally active lifestyle may protect against memory and learning problems in MS

A new study shows that a mentally active lifestyle may protect against the memory and learning problems that often occur in multiple sclerosis. The study is published in the June 15, 2010, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

15 Jun 2010

ATA members raise concern about reduction in dietary iodine intake

Following publication of an article in the February 18 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (Vol. 362 No. 7 pp 590-599) by Bibbins-Domingo, et al. that projected the effect of moderate dietary salt reductions on future cardiac disease rates, several members of the American Thyroid Association, concerned about the subsequent potential reduction in availability of iodine, have responded with a letter in the current issue of the NEJM (Vol. 362 No. 23 pp 2224-2226).

15 Jun 2010

Depression and other stress-related psychiatric disorders in women may have biological basis: Research

There may be a biological reason why depression and other stress-related psychiatric disorders are more common among women compared to men. Studying stress signaling systems in animal brains, neuroscience researchers found that females are more sensitive to low levels of an important stress hormone and less able to adapt to high levels than males.

15 Jun 2010

Certain PTSD symptoms may be key to treating anger among Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans: Study

Focusing on certain PTSD symptoms may be key to treating anger among Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans, according to a study by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Veterans Affairs researchers.

15 Jun 2010

New research shows astrocytes play important role in the function of nerve cells

Astrocytes are the most common type of cell in the brain and play an important role in the function of neurons - nerve cells. New research from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, shows that they are also directly involved in the regulation of signalling between neurons.

15 Jun 2010

Parkinson’s disease linked to gene variant and pesticide: Study

Researchers from France reported in their new study that bad genes and exposure to certain banned pesticides could be blamed for development of Parkinson’s disease in men. In their study, published in the Archives of Neurology journal they show that men exposed to pesticides such as DDT and who had inherited genes for Parkinson’s disease were three and a half times more likely to develop Parkinson's than those with the normal version of the gene.

14 Jun 2010

MultiCell retains CDSS to manage MCT-125 Phase IIb clinical trial for PMSF in UK

MultiCell Technologies, Inc. has retained Clinical Development & Support Services, Ltd. (CDSS) of Cheshire, England to manage its planned Phase IIb clinical trial in the United Kingdom for MCT-125, the Company's lead drug candidate for treatment of primary multiple sclerosis-related fatigue (PMSF).

14 Jun 2010

Parents are little aware of concussion risks and support school policies to minimize them: Poll

With growing media attention to concussions among athletes young and old, and recent actions of the National Football League to reduce dangers from multiple concussions among its players, the spotlight is now on what schools are doing to protect their student-athletes. Do parents feel that their kids are safe, and do parents agree with school policies?

14 Jun 2010

Researchers show how tiny insect brain uses multiple brain pathways to judge motion

Insects may have tiny brains the size of a pinhead, but the latest research from the University of Adelaide shows just how clever they really are. For the first time, researchers from the University's Discipline of Physiology have worked out how insects judge the speed of moving objects.

14 Jun 2010

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

NIH awards Geisinger $1.8M grant for study of nuclear ErbB3 protein

New research may help unravel cellular brain activity involved in human decisions

Biogen Idec initiates enrollment in Phase II BG-12 combination trial for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation to present 2010 Neuroscience Prize to Robert H. Wurtz

Kendle offers BNA imaging technology for monitoring brain electro-physiological network activity

Alexion's Soliris may benefit patients with thrombotic microangiopathy from uncontrolled complement activation

Orasi Medical signs agreement to study effect of Lundbeck CNS compounds on human brain

Project ideas needed from worldwide Alzheimer Disease research community

Tips for correct application of sunscreen

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

Talaris Institute launches new online service for parents of young children

Study: Mentally active lifestyle may protect against memory and learning problems in MS

ATA members raise concern about reduction in dietary iodine intake

Depression and other stress-related psychiatric disorders in women may have biological basis: Research

Certain PTSD symptoms may be key to treating anger among Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans: Study

New research shows astrocytes play important role in the function of nerve cells

Parkinson’s disease linked to gene variant and pesticide: Study

MultiCell retains CDSS to manage MCT-125 Phase IIb clinical trial for PMSF in UK

Parents are little aware of concussion risks and support school policies to minimize them: Poll

Researchers show how tiny insect brain uses multiple brain pathways to judge motion

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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