Genetic News and Research

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New research highlights brain's vulnerability to obesity

New research released today is affirming a long-held maxim: you are what you eat - and, more to the point, what you eat has a profound influence on the brain. The findings offer insight into the neurobiological factors behind the obesity epidemic in the United States and other developed countries.

20 Oct 2009

TechnoVax receives NIH grant to further the development of its VLP-based, vaccine program

TechnoVax, Inc., a biotechnology developer of novel vaccines was awarded a three-year $2.9 million SBIR phase II grant from the National Institutes of Health to further the development of its VLP-based, vaccine program.

20 Oct 2009

Novavax, Avimex and GE Healthcare initiate clinical study of H1N1 VLP influenza vaccine

Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX) announced today that it has initiated a two-stage clinical study of its virus-like-particle (VLP) H1N1 influenza vaccine in Mexico in collaboration with Avimex Laboratories (Avimex) and GE Healthcare.

20 Oct 2009

Clonality analyses may lead to further understanding of hepatocarcinogenesis

Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is a lesion found in an otherwise normal liver, and is considered to be parenchyma overgrowth responsive to increased blood flow secondary to vascular malformations.

20 Oct 2009

Substantial price reduction for 24 Chromosome Aneuploidy Screening

Gene Security Network, Inc. (GSN) today announced a substantial price reduction for its 24 Chromosome Aneuploidy Screening with Parental SupportTM. Effective immediately, pricing has been restructured to a single flat fee for testing of up to 24 embryos in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle.

20 Oct 2009

New technique to treat metabolic disorders in babies while still in the womb

Researchers say a new development in cord blood transplants for inherited metabolic disorders may be curative for some babies who are treated while still in the womb.

20 Oct 2009

Sigma-Aldrich launches SAGEspeed, a program for developing human disease models in rodents

Sigma-Aldrich® (Nasdaq: SIAL) today announced the launch of SAGEspeed(TM), a program to develop human disease models in rodents using its proprietary novel CompoZr(TM) Zinc Finger Nuclease (ZFN) gene editing technology (http://www.compozrzfn.com).

19 Oct 2009

Schering-Plough to present data on boceprevir at the AASLD 2009 Annual Meeting

Schering-Plough announced that data on boceprevir, an investigational hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitor, will be reported in an oral presentation at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Annual Meeting in Boston, Oct. 30-Nov. 3.

19 Oct 2009

Metabolic master switch sets the biological clock in body tissues

Our body's activity levels fall and rise to the beat of our internal drums-the 24-hour cycles that govern fundamental physiological functions, from sleeping and feeding patterns to the energy available to our cells. Whereas the master clock in the brain is set by light, the pacemakers in peripheral organs are set by food availability. The underlying molecular mechanism was unknown.

19 Oct 2009

Viriom picks ChemDiv's Russian subsidiary for development of innovative HIV compounds

ChemDiv, Inc. of San Diego has proudly announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Chemical Diversity Research Institute (CDRI ) of Moscow, Russia, has been chosen by Viriom Ltd. ( Viriom) of Moscow, Russia as a service partner in developing innovative HIV compounds. The program includes pre-clinical and clinical studies, which are expected to begin in 2010.

19 Oct 2009

Talecris Biotherapeutics' PROLASTIN-C receives FDA approval

Talecris Biotherapeutics (Nasdaq: TLCR) today received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for PROLASTIN®-C (Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor [Human]), a more concentrated version of PROLASTIN® produced using advances in manufacturing technology.

19 Oct 2009

AstraZeneca's CRESTOR approved for treating pediatric patients with HeFH

AstraZeneca today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved CRESTOR® (rosuvastatin calcium) for use in pediatric patients ages 10-17 with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) when diet therapy fails to reduce elevated cholesterol. HeFH, a genetic disease, is characterized by high LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) and increased risk of early cardiovascular disease.

19 Oct 2009

First high-throughput analysis of Salmonella Typhi gene

For the first time, researchers are able to look at the need for every gene in a bacterial cell in a single experiment. The new method will transform the study of gene activity and the search for weaknesses in bacterial armouries.

19 Oct 2009

Stem cell treatments could repair the kidney defects associated with Alport syndrome

Several cell-based therapy approaches could provide new treatments for patients with Alport syndrome, reports an upcoming paper in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). "Our study opens up many considerations of how new therapies related to the use of stem cells can be devised for our kidney patients with chronic disease," comments Raghu Kalluri, MD, PhD (Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA).

19 Oct 2009

Researchers find the genetic mutation that is linked with changes in brain development

For decades, scientists have thought the faulty neural wiring that predisposes individuals to behavioral disorders like autism and psychiatric diseases like schizophrenia must occur during development. Even so, no one has ever shown that a risk gene for the disease actually disrupts brain development.

19 Oct 2009

Study reveals greater public support for reducing health care disparities among socio-economic groups

As Congress debates the public health care option, a recent study reveals greater public support for reducing health care disparities among socio-economic groups (i.e. by income or education) than among racial groups.

19 Oct 2009

Research study on cowpox virus

In the annals of medicine, Edward Jenner's 1796 vaccination of a young boy against smallpox, using fluid from cowpox blisters, remains a landmark case. In a new study, Kathryn Sykes, a researcher at Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute and her colleagues have taken a fresh look at cowpox.

19 Oct 2009

New chromosomal abnormality in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Researchers identified a new chromosomal abnormality in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that appears to work in concert with another mutation to give rise to cancer. This latest anomaly is particularly common in children with Down syndrome.

19 Oct 2009

DKC establishes link between genetic mutation affecting telomerase function and human disease

The human genetic disease dyskeratosis congenita (DKC) is an autosomal dominant disease that leads to abnormalities in tissues with a rapid cell turnover - the skin, nails, bone marrow, lungs and gut. Patients with DKC experience life-threatening symptoms. Bone marrow failure increases their risk of fatal infections and cancer. Many die before the age of 30 and management of the disease is limited to trying to treat its symptoms.

19 Oct 2009

Novel HIV drug to be studied in cell cultures and patients

A $6 million, five-year federal grant to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute will enable researchers to investigate a novel approach in treating HIV infection---a unique class of drugs focused on developing therapies for psychological and neurological effects in AIDS.

19 Oct 2009

Genetic News and Research

New research highlights brain's vulnerability to obesity

TechnoVax receives NIH grant to further the development of its VLP-based, vaccine program

Novavax, Avimex and GE Healthcare initiate clinical study of H1N1 VLP influenza vaccine

Clonality analyses may lead to further understanding of hepatocarcinogenesis

Substantial price reduction for 24 Chromosome Aneuploidy Screening

New technique to treat metabolic disorders in babies while still in the womb

Sigma-Aldrich launches SAGEspeed, a program for developing human disease models in rodents

Schering-Plough to present data on boceprevir at the AASLD 2009 Annual Meeting

Metabolic master switch sets the biological clock in body tissues

Viriom picks ChemDiv's Russian subsidiary for development of innovative HIV compounds

Talecris Biotherapeutics' PROLASTIN-C receives FDA approval

AstraZeneca's CRESTOR approved for treating pediatric patients with HeFH

First high-throughput analysis of Salmonella Typhi gene

Stem cell treatments could repair the kidney defects associated with Alport syndrome

Researchers find the genetic mutation that is linked with changes in brain development

Study reveals greater public support for reducing health care disparities among socio-economic groups

Research study on cowpox virus

New chromosomal abnormality in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

DKC establishes link between genetic mutation affecting telomerase function and human disease

Novel HIV drug to be studied in cell cultures and patients

Sequencing & Genomics: Elevating Science and Healthcare eBook

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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