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World must overcome psychological, organizational, political barriers to heed early famine warnings

Psychological, organizational and budgetary factors contributed to why governments did not respond sooner to early famine warnings in the Horn of Africa, Hugo Slim, a visiting fellow at the Institute of Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict at the University of Oxford, says in this Guardian opinion piece.

19 Jan 2012

DBS safe and effective for treatment-resistant depression in patients with unipolar MDD or BP

A new study shows that deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a safe and effective intervention for treatment-resistant depression in patients with either unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar ll disorder.

3 Jan 2012

Einstein, Montefiore experts available to discuss effects of radiation dose and exposure

Experts from Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University are available for interviews on topics ranging from effects of radiation dose and exposure to MRI imaging to detect brain damage in soccer players due to "heading" and cancer post-treatment imaging during the annual Radiological Society of North America Scientific Assembly.

24 Nov 2011

Genzyme's alemtuzumab Phase lll trial on MS meets co-primary endpoints

Genzyme, a Sanofi company, reports today that the Phase lll CARE-MS ll trial met both of its co-primary endpoints. Relapse rate and sustained accumulation (worsening) of disability (SAD) were significantly reduced in multiple sclerosis patients receiving alemtuzumab as compared with Rebif.

14 Nov 2011

New process allows for more rapid and cheaper separation of enantiomers

Enantiomers are pairs of molecules built in a mirror-inverted manner. They differ from each other like a left and a right glove. This property of the molecules that is referred to as chirality is of particular relevance to biosciences and pharmaceutics. "While many, especially smaller, molecules like carbon dioxide or methane are not chiral, many biologically relevant molecules, such as tartaric acid have this property," explains Professor Christof W-ll, Head of the KIT Institute of Functional Interfaces.

11 Nov 2011

Drug effectively combats obesity in “couch potato” monkeys” Study

According a new study an experimental anti-cancer drug could help fight obesity. The drug chokes off the blood supply to fat cells and helped obese monkeys slim down in the experiments.

10 Nov 2011

Much work remains to be done in fight against malaria

Positive results announced this week from a large clinical trial testing the efficacy of the RTS,S malaria vaccine are "encouraging," but they are also "a reminder of how much work remains to be done," an Economist editorial reports.

22 Oct 2011

Time to increase efforts against HIV/AIDS, TB

In a Huffington Post opinion piece, Kolleen Bouchane, director of ACTION, asks whether President Barack Obama will "heed Archbishop [Desmond] Tutu's call to action" in a recent Washington Post opinion piece "and do his part to end AIDS."

1 Oct 2011

McDonald’s loses heart health ‘tick’ of approval

McDonald's will lose the right to display the National Heart Foundation of Australia's Tick on foods marketed as healthy options. The fast food giant pays about $300,000 a year so it can put the trademarked Tick next to fish burgers, salads and chicken wraps. But the Heart Foundation has told McDonald's it is removing the company's right to use the Tick, which has been used to promote its foods over the past five years.

21 Sep 2011

Tobacco giants sue FDA over ‘shock tactic’ cigarette pack images

The FDA ruled that by Oct. 22, 2012, every pack of cigarettes sold in the United States will carry one of nine graphic, full color, graphic warnings reminding people of just how horrible smoking is for their health. The image might be a pair of healthy lungs next to a pair of blackened and diseased lungs or a man smoking out of a hole in his throat or a mouth with sores on the lips and teeth all yellowed and decayed.

18 Aug 2011

Relationships trend towards “stayovers”: Study

A new study has shown that more and more couples in long-term relationships are choosing to stay over a few nights per week at each other’s home instead of cohabitating. Study Leader University of Missouri PhD student Tyler Jamison found the growing trend among college-educated men and women in their 20s.

31 Jul 2011

Alzheimer’s risk reduced by healthy living: study

According to a new study leading a healthy lifestyle can help prevent Alzheimer's disease. Researchers said at Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Paris on Tuesday that the number of Alzheimer's cases could be cut in half if people exercise, eat well and stop smoking. Other risks include depression, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. Education is also a factor, because illiteracy keeps brains from developing properly. The new findings have been published in the journal Lancet Neurology.

20 Jul 2011

New ‘world-first’ Malaria vaccine in the pipeline

Australian researchers have potentially created a ‘world-first’ malaria vaccine that could save millions of lives. According to Professor Michael Good, of Griffith University in Queensland, his team have found a way to completely protect mice against multiple strains of malaria. The team hopes to begin human trials over the next year to see if it produces a similar response.

12 Jul 2011

COIN hosts ‘Risk vs. Reward: Financing Early-Stage, Emerging Technologies’ roundtable event

The Center of Innovation for Nanobiotechnology (COIN) has announced the upcoming NanoBio Executive Roundtable event to be hosted at The Hawthorne Inn in Winston-Salem, NC on July 14, 2011. This Roundtable will address a significant hurdle to nanobiotechnology development and commercialization—early-stage funding.

29 Jun 2011

Redefinition of cardiac hypertrophy term needed

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Working Group on Myocardial Function is calling for a redefinition of the term cardiac hypertrophy which is currently used to describe changes to the morphology (structure) of the heart. Instead the position paper, published online today in the European Journal of Heart Failure, suggests that use of the general term myocardial remodelling should be preferred.

27 Jun 2011

New insight into itch and pain

A new study of itch adds to growing evidence that the chemical signals that make us want to scratch are the same signals that make us wince in pain.

3 May 2011

Olivia’s cancer center’s future hangs in balance due to funds crunch

After the new Victorian government said that there is a “black hole” in funding the project, the proposed Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre in Melbourne may face difficulties in coming into being. About 2000 Victorians are expected to receive treatment at the centre, which was due to open in early 2013.

7 Mar 2011

CeNeRx announces FDA approval of CXB909 IND for neuroprotection and neurodegenerative disorders

CeNeRx BioPharma, Inc., a clinical-stage company developing and commercializing innovative treatments for diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), today announced FDA approval of its IND and reported the first clinical results in humans for CXB909, a novel agent that has demonstrated utility in preclinical models of neuroprotection and neurodegenerative disorders.

9 Feb 2011

Major breakthrough: Genome-based medicine for treatment of alcoholism

For the first time in alcohol addiction research, UVA investigators have successfully treated alcohol-dependent individuals with medication that is tailored specifically to match their genetic profile.

21 Jan 2011

DFG announces establishment of eleven new Collaborative Research Centres

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) will establish eleven new Collaborative Research Centres (CRC) as of 1 January 2011. This decision was made recently by the responsible Grants Committee at its autumn meeting in Bonn. The new CRCs will receive a total of - 94.4 million (including a 20 percent programme allowance for indirect project costs) for an initial funding period of four years.

24 Nov 2010