Gene Therapy News and Research

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Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease. In the future, this technique may allow doctors to treat a disorder by inserting a gene into a patient’s cells instead of using drugs or surgery.

President of Tanzania emphasizes on health care in Global Health Grand Rounds lecture

President Jakaya Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania spoke at Weill Cornell Medical College today. In his Global Health Grand Rounds lecture, President Kikwete discussed the most significant challenges facing Tanzania, with a particular focus on health care and the advances made during his first term.

17 Apr 2010

New therapeutic approach for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Researchers from Universit- Laval's Faculty of Medicine and the CHUQ Research Center have proven that it is possible to repair the defective gene responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

16 Apr 2010

Investigational treatment with IGIV reduces brain atrophy in Alzheimer's patients

An investigational intervention using naturally ocurring antibodies in human blood has preserved the thinking abilities of a group of mild- to moderate-stage Alzheimer's patients over 18 months and significantly reduced the rate of atrophy (shrinkage) of their brains, according to a study performed at the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

15 Apr 2010

New experimental compound offers hope for patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Researchers from the Sackler Center at Weill Cornell Medical College have designed a new class of drugs that targets BCL6, a master regulatory protein responsible for causing the most common type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

15 Apr 2010

Phase II GAMMAGARD clinical study for Alzheimer's disease: 18-month results announced

Baxter International Inc. and New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center today announced results of an 18-month Phase II clinical study of GAMMAGARD LIQUID and GAMMAGARD S/D [Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human)] (marketed as KIOVIG outside of the U.S.) for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. This marked the first announcement of clinical trial results measuring function and cognition in patients who received uninterrupted GAMMAGARD for a period of 18 months.

From Baxter International Inc. 15 Apr 2010

Study: New anti-cancer agents halt cancer metastasis

ke microscopic inchworms, cancer cells slink away from tumors to travel and settle elsewhere in the body. Now, researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College report in today's online edition of the journal Nature that new anti-cancer agents break down the loping gait these cells use to migrate, stopping them in their tracks.

15 Apr 2010

Checklist to stay healthy and active during summer season

There are millions of vacation destinations to visit this summer and thousands of sights to see, but there is one surefire way to ruin your trip -- getting sick. Although you may not be thinking about viruses and bacterial infections when you plan your trip, there are a few nasty bugs you should be aware of as you pack your bags.

13 Apr 2010

Tips to avoid burns and injuries during summer season

Take extra care at your Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day celebrations this year by ensuring that accidents do not interfere with summer fun. Dr. Roger Yurt, director of the Hearst Burn Center of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, recommends the following safety tips to avoid burns from barbecues, fireworks and other routine activities that can pose a hazard this season.

13 Apr 2010

Exercise tips for summer season

The summer is a great season for getting in shape. Whether by playing a sport, an aerobic exercise routine, or just returning to that familiar running path -- this is the time for activity.

13 Apr 2010

LCA: Few possess genetic mutation necessary for positive outcome from gene therapy

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a congenital retinal dystrophy present in approximately 1 of 80,000 births. It is estimated that about 3,000 people in the United States are living with LCA and will likely become blind in their lifetimes. Recently, there has been progress in gene therapy for this condition.

7 Apr 2010

Gene therapy improve survival rates among heart attack patients

Gene therapy could be an effective way to improve survival rates among heart attack patients, new research funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) suggests. Academics at the University of Bristol found that boosting levels of a natural growth factor in the heart could help the muscle to recover after a heart attack. The death rate from a heart attack was halved in mice that received the treatment.

1 Apr 2010

Athletes and ethicists look at fairness in sport

Just in time for baseball’s opening day, a series of articles in the Hastings Center Report asks what constitutes fairness in elite sports and what it takes to stop cheating. New issues, including the prospect of gene doping and questions about which athletes are really “female,” are explored.

1 Apr 2010

Scientists use non-viral, synthetic nanoparticle carrier to restores vision

Take a look at this: Scientists from Buffalo, Cleveland, and Oklahoma City made a huge step toward making the blind see, and they did it by using a form of gene therapy that does not involve the use of modified viruses.

1 Apr 2010

New therapeutic approaches against lymphoid tumors

Helmholtz Zentrum M-nchen has launched a new cooperative project with SIRION BIOTECH GmbH in Martinsried to develop new therapeutic approaches against lymphoid tumors. With a two-year grant from the Federal Ministry for Economics and Technology, the two partners will seek to further develop lentiviral vector systems to better understand the disease mechanisms of this cancer form and to devise approaches for treatment.

30 Mar 2010

Tomato genes could be used as future treatment in gene therapy: Study

Tomato genes could be used as a future treatment in gene therapy, according to new research results from Lund University.

30 Mar 2010

Helmholtz Zentrum München, SIRION BIOTECH partner to develop new therapeutic approaches against lymphoid tumors

Helmholtz Zentrum München has launched a new cooperative project with SIRION BIOTECH GmbH in Martinsried to develop new therapeutic approaches against lymphoid tumors. With a two-year grant from the Federal Ministry for Economics and Technology, the two partners will seek to further develop lentiviral vector systems to better understand the disease mechanisms of this cancer form and to devise approaches for treatment.

29 Mar 2010

ThisCaringHome.org: Interactive web site for caregivers of Alzheimer's

It is estimated that Alzheimer's disease affects 5.3 million Americans and that number is expected to double by 2050. Caregivers shoulder a particularly heavy burden as the illness alters the dementia patient's behavior, mood and judgment, impeding his or her ability to engage in normal, everyday activities.

27 Mar 2010

Innovative biotechnology leading to better understanding of complex diseases

As recently stated in the Glenville Democrat, innovative biotechnology is leading to a greater understanding of complex diseases and better tools for diagnosing and treating conditions such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

27 Mar 2010

Celladon Corporation receives USPTO notice of allowance covering MYDICAR for advanced heart failure

Celladon Corp. announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a notice of allowance for a broad patent covering the company's lead drug candidate MYDICAR®, a genetically targeted enzyme replacement therapy for advanced heart failure. The patent will be issued to The Regents of the University of California and licensed exclusively to Celladon.

23 Mar 2010

PhRMA President honors Ron and Raychel Bartek for driving awareness of Friedreich's ataxia

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America President and CEO Billy Tauzin today honored Ron and Raychel Bartek for their dedicated work driving awareness of Friedreich's ataxia, a debilitating, life-threatening, rare disease.

19 Mar 2010