Genetic Information News and Research

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Coming this week: New law to prevent discrimination based on genes

"The most important new antidiscrimination law in two decades — the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act — will take effect in the nation's workplaces next weekend, prohibiting employers from requesting genetic testing or considering someone's genetic background in hiring, firing or promotions," The New York Times reports.

16 Nov 2009

Easy and affordable genetic test from Pathway Genomics

Pathway Genomics™ (www.PATHWAY.com), a privately held, venture-backed company, today announced an exclusive agreement to partner with OptumHealthSM Allies and offer the organization’s 15 million members a 20% discount on Pathway’s Health and Ancestry genetic test.

13 Nov 2009

AVMA confirms that a household cat in Iowa showed signs of H1N1 influenza

Amarillo Biosciences, Inc. reported that the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recently confirmed that a household cat in Iowa developed signs of respiratory infection caused by H1N1 influenza virus.

12 Nov 2009

Cambridge based hub to use DNA sequencing platforms for advancing its targeted medical resequencing studies

The University of Cambridge and Life Technologies Corporation, announced today the formation of a collaboration to advance translational research studies in key disease areas such as cancer, diabetes and neurological disorders. Through this collaboration, next generation sequencing technology will be made available to the European research and clinical communities through the Eastern Sequence and Informatics Hub at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

11 Nov 2009

UCSD findings may help scientists to design better drugs to kill pathogenic strains

Over the last 20 years, the sequencing of the human genome, along with related organisms, has represented one of the largest scientific endeavors in the history of mankind. The information collected from genome sequencing will provide the raw data for the field of bioinformatics, where computer science and biology meet.

10 Nov 2009

New technique to identify patients more likely to survive advanced melanoma

Although the chances of surviving advanced melanoma aren't very good with current therapies, some patients can live for years with cancer that has spread beyond the skin to other organs. Now it may be possible to identify which patients are more likely to survive by analyzing the activity of hundreds of genes involved in the immune response and gene proliferation, according to researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center.

10 Nov 2009

Experts gather to outline the latest creative applications of DNA barcoding

The scientific ability to quickly and accurately identify species through DNA "barcoding" is being embraced and applied by a growing legion of global authorities - from medical and agricultural researchers to police and customs authorities to palaeontologists and others.

7 Nov 2009

Autism Consortium holds its fourth annual symposium to update on autism

The Autism Consortium, an innovative collaboration of researchers, clinicians, funders and families dedicated to catalyzing research and enhancing clinical care for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), held its fourth annual symposium on October 28th, 2009, at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

6 Nov 2009

GINA compliant health risk assessments released by Gordian Health Solutions

Personal health coaching company Gordian Health Solutions, Inc. has released updated versions of both its online and paper-based health risk assessments (HRAs) in order to fully comply with the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008 (GINA).

6 Nov 2009

WCMC-Q's biomedical research program makes significant progress

The biomedical research program of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar has made significant progress in its dual goals of advancing basic science and building a sustainable research community in Qatar since it was launched less than a year and a half ago.

2 Nov 2009

Employment discrimination based on genetic information prohibited: GINA Title II regulations

The Poster Compliance Center Research Department advises U.S. employers that a revised “Equal Employment Opportunity Is the Law” poster including new information about GINA (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008) was issued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The new GINA Title II regulations are effective Nov. 21, 2009.

31 Oct 2009

PureWellness announces enhancements to the PureWellness platform

PureWellness, Inc., a leading provider of online wellness solutions, announced the release of fourteen product additions and enhancements to the PureWellness platform.

28 Oct 2009

IPIT uses Affymetrix’s DMET Plus biomarker panel to expand the PGENI

Affymetrix, Inc. announced today that the Institute for Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy (IPIT) at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill is using the company’s DMET™ Plus biomarker panel to expand the Pharmacogenetics for Every Nation Initiative (PGENI).

28 Oct 2009

Starting Grant from ERC to LMU junior researchers

Two junior researchers from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit-t (LMU) in Munich shall each receive a Starting Grant from the European Research Council (ERC). Professor Jens Michaelis, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Privatdozent Dr. David V-hringer, Institute of Immunology, shall receive grants amounting to 1.4 and 1.7 million Euros over five years. With its Starting Grant, the ERC supports highly creative researchers in order to encourage pioneering frontier research.

27 Oct 2009

Northwestern University to establish research center for the study of genes and their role in cancer

Northwestern University has been awarded a $13.6 million five-year grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to establish an interdisciplinary research center for the study of genes and their role in cancer. A better understanding of the mechanisms could lead to better diagnostics and therapeutics and open up new directions for research.

27 Oct 2009

Novel protein responsible for changing DNA structure and silencing the expression of genes identified

A study published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS) by a team of scientists headed by Professors Hélène Bierne and Pascale Cossart from the Pasteur Institute, in collaboration with colleagues form the CNRS and the French Agricultural Research Institute (INRA), identified a novel protein, BAHD1, which is responsible for changing DNA structure and silencing the expression of genes.

26 Oct 2009

Physicians' recognize benefits of genetic testing; say formal education required to put it into practice

Medco Health Solutions, Inc.(NYSE: MHS) and the American Medical Association (AMA) today announced the findings of a national benchmark survey on physicians' acceptance, use and education regarding pharmacogenomic testing.

23 Oct 2009

LANL and international researchers propose new genome sequence strategies

A team of geneticists at Los Alamos National Laboratory, together with a consortium of international researchers, has recently proposed a set of standards designed to elucidate the quality of publicly available genetic sequencing information.

22 Oct 2009

CHOP implements InforSense-based Translational Research Solution to study complex genetic disease

IDBS, the leading worldwide provider of research data management and analytics solutions to R&D organizations, today announced that The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), one of the leading pediatric hospitals and research facilities in the world, has implemented the InforSense-based Translational Research Solution to advance the understanding of complex genetic disease.

22 Oct 2009

Roche NimbleGen and High Throughput Genomics enter into a supply agreement

Roche NimbleGen and High Throughput Genomics, Inc. (HTG), provider of the quantitative Nuclease Protection Assay (qNPA), have entered into a supply agreement. Under the agreement, Roche NimbleGen will provide HTG with high density, multiplex DNA microarray slides for advanced gene expression analysis.

21 Oct 2009