Infectious Diseases News and Research

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Scientists, researchers and healthcare professionals to convene in Atlanta to set agenda for HAI prevention

Three thousand scientists, researchers and healthcare professionals from throughout the world specializing in epidemiology and infectious diseases will convene March 18-22 in Atlanta with the goal of setting the agenda for healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevention for the next decade.

4 Mar 2010

FDA, CDC, FSIS to host joint public workshop to take measure in reducing foodborne illnesses

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will host a joint public workshop on how best to measure progress in reducing foodborne illnesses on March 30, in Washington, D.C.

4 Mar 2010

Abbott enters into agreement with GSK to develop molecular diagnostic test for skin cancer treatment

Abbott announced today that it has entered into an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to develop a molecular diagnostic test intended for use as an aid in selecting patients who may benefit from a skin cancer treatment in development by GSK.

4 Mar 2010

Winner of 2010 Thomas Parran Award

University of Washington's Dr. H. Hunter Handsfield, a long-time trailblazer in sexually transmitted diseases (STD) research, will receive the nation's highest honor in the STD field during the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2010 National STD Prevention Conference in Atlanta, March 8-11.

3 Mar 2010

Vaccine researchers at HZI find c-di-IMP molecule, more effective than known adjuvants

The adjuvants present in vaccines have a bad reputation. For most people, they are only unnecessary compounds within a medicinal product. This is a misunderstanding since adjuvants have a critical impact on the success of a vaccination. In the best case scenario, one single vaccination shot would be now sufficient for conferring life-long protection.

3 Mar 2010

Merck announces updated late-stage pipeline following its recent merger with Schering-Plough

Merck & Co., Inc. today announced its updated, newly integrated, late-stage pipeline following its recent merger with Schering-Plough. The new pipeline features a broad and diversified portfolio of investigational medicines and vaccines, including more than 20 candidates in Phase III or under regulatory review, and more than 20 candidates in Phase II of development.

3 Mar 2010

FDA issues final guidance to help develop safe and effective cell-based viral vaccines

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued final guidance to help manufacturers who are developing safe and effective cell-based viral vaccines to address emerging and pandemic threats.

3 Mar 2010

HIV, NCDs impact achievement of MDGs, study says

Unequal progress in achieving U.N. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for tuberculosis and child mortality in low-income countries is related to the countries' burdens of HIV and non-communicable diseases (NCD), according to a study published Tuesday in the journal PLoS Medicine, Reuters reports (Kelland, 3/2).

3 Mar 2010

Stress increases resistance to influenza infection

A new study using mice suggests that a repeated stressful situation that triggers the animals' natural "fight-or-flight" response may actually enhance their ability to fight disease when re-exposed to the same pathogen.

2 Mar 2010

News outlets examine development of low-cost diagnostic tool, infectious disease surveillance

CNN examines the work of a Harvard University chemistry professor to "shrink a medical laboratory onto a piece of paper that's the size of a fingerprint and costs about a penny." According to George Whitesides, who created a prototype of the inexpensive paper "chip," the technology could be used to diagnose such diseases as HIV, malaria and tuberculosis in developing countries.

2 Mar 2010

Life Technologies announces early stage results from SMS technology

Life Technologies Corporation today announced early stage results from its single molecule sequencing (SMS) technology. The technology promises to combine virtually unlimited continuous long read lengths with unmatched accuracy to deliver targeted genomic sequence data in a matter of hours, paving the way for sequencing to become a commonplace tool in research laboratories and clinical settings worldwide.

2 Mar 2010

New report: Federal spending for public health flat for nearly five years

Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation today released a new report, Shortchanging America's Health: A State-By-State Look at How Public Health Dollars Are Spent, which finds federal spending for public health has been flat for nearly five years, while states around the country cut nearly $392 million for public health programs in the past year, which leaves communities around the country struggling to deliver basic disease prevention and emergency health preparedness services.

2 Mar 2010

Government has yet to confirm funding for ADI

With the sunset date for the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (ADI) rapidly approaching, the government has yet to confirm whether or not funding will continue after March 31st.

1 Mar 2010

Breastfeeding and better hygiene may protect against peptic ulcer bacterium infection

Young children in developing countries are infected at an early age with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which can cause peptic ulcers and stomach cancer. New findings show that childrens´ immune responses help in fighting the bacteria. In addition, breastfeeding and better hygiene appear to protect against infection. The results provide hope for a vaccine, according to research from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

1 Mar 2010

NPS Pharmaceuticals supports second annual U.S. Rare Disease Day observance

NPS Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics for rare gastrointestinal and endocrine disorders, announced today its support for the second annual U.S. Rare Disease Day observance on February 28.

1 Mar 2010

iBioLaunch platform technology to be licensed for plant-expressed influenza vaccines project

iBio, Inc. announced today that it has agreed in principle to license its technology, the iBioLaunch™ platform, and provide technology transfer services to G-Con, LLC, a private Texas company, and its affiliates, for the development and manufacture of plant-expressed influenza vaccines at a new facility being constructed in Bryan, Texas. The “GreenVax Project” will show proof of concept for a large-scale vaccine production facility using Nicotiana plants grown hydroponically in a contained environment.

27 Feb 2010

New strategy against Botulinum toxin

A study involving the world's deadliest substance has yielded a new strategy to clear toxins from the body-which may lead to more efficient strategies against toxins that may be used in a bioterrorist event, as well as snake bites, scorpion stings, and even some important chronic diseases.

26 Feb 2010

Surge in volunteers without overall coordination can make devastating situation worse instead of better

A surge in volunteers following a major disaster can overwhelm a response system, and without overall coordination, can actually make a situation worse instead of better. The outpouring of medical volunteers who responded to the devastating earthquake that rocked Haiti in January provides a roadmap for health care providers during future disasters, say the authors of a New England Journal of Medicine "Perspectives" piece that will be published online February 24.

26 Feb 2010

Over 600 programs for Aboriginal Canadians with diabetes at risk of being shut, renewed federal funding needed

The federal government must renew funding for the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (ADI) in next week's budget or more than 600 programs for Aboriginal Canadians living with diabetes are at risk of being shut down, according to the Canadian Diabetes Association and the National Aboriginal Diabetes Association (NADA).

26 Feb 2010

Researchers keep wary eye on emerging tick-borne diseases in Missouri

Stories of environmental damage and their consequences always seem to take place far away and in another country, usually a tropical one with lush rainforests and poison dart frogs.

26 Feb 2010

Infectious Diseases News and Research

Scientists, researchers and healthcare professionals to convene in Atlanta to set agenda for HAI prevention

FDA, CDC, FSIS to host joint public workshop to take measure in reducing foodborne illnesses

Abbott enters into agreement with GSK to develop molecular diagnostic test for skin cancer treatment

Winner of 2010 Thomas Parran Award

Vaccine researchers at HZI find c-di-IMP molecule, more effective than known adjuvants

Merck announces updated late-stage pipeline following its recent merger with Schering-Plough

FDA issues final guidance to help develop safe and effective cell-based viral vaccines

HIV, NCDs impact achievement of MDGs, study says

Stress increases resistance to influenza infection

News outlets examine development of low-cost diagnostic tool, infectious disease surveillance

Life Technologies announces early stage results from SMS technology

New report: Federal spending for public health flat for nearly five years

Government has yet to confirm funding for ADI

Breastfeeding and better hygiene may protect against peptic ulcer bacterium infection

NPS Pharmaceuticals supports second annual U.S. Rare Disease Day observance

iBioLaunch platform technology to be licensed for plant-expressed influenza vaccines project

New strategy against Botulinum toxin

Surge in volunteers without overall coordination can make devastating situation worse instead of better

Over 600 programs for Aboriginal Canadians with diabetes at risk of being shut, renewed federal funding needed

Researchers keep wary eye on emerging tick-borne diseases in Missouri

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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