Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

CUMC researchers develop new approach to tailor cancer therapy for individual patient

Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers are developing a new approach to cancer clinical trials, in which therapies are designed and tested one patient at a time.

16 Jul 2013

Study shows link between FTO, ghrelin and impaired brain food-cue responsivity

Individuals carrying the "obesity-risk" allele of the fat mass and obesity associated gene, FTO, are prone to obesity and obesity related eating behaviors such as increased food consumption, preference for high fat foods and lack of satiation after eating.

16 Jul 2013

Specific types of intestinal bacteria are major contributors to lymphoma

Researchers from UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC) have discovered that specific types of bacteria that live in the gut are major contributors to lymphoma, a cancer of the white blood cells that are part of the human immune system.

16 Jul 2013

FDA approves Gilotrif for patients with late stage non-small cell lung cancer

Companion test also approved to identify appropriate patients The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Gilotrif (afatinib) for patients with late stage (metastatic) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors express specific types of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations, as detected by an FDA-approved test. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women.

16 Jul 2013

Researchers uncover role of IKACh in pacemaker activity and heart rate regulation

Researchers have uncovered a previously unknown role for the acetylcholine-activated inward-rectifying potassium current (IKACh) in cardiac pacemaker activity and heart rate regulation, according to a study in The Journal of General Physiology.

16 Jul 2013

Cranberry consumption may prevent chronic infections

Consuming cranberry products has been anecdotally associated with prevention of urinary tract infections (UTIs) for over 100 years. But is this popular belief a myth, or scientific fact?

16 Jul 2013

Researchers distinguish viral and bacterial infections in children with fever

In children with fever but no other symptoms of illness, it is difficult to know whether a child has a viral infection that will resolve on its own or a potentially serious bacterial infection that requires antibiotics.

16 Jul 2013

Scientists discover how BRCA1 gene mutations predispose women to breast and ovarian cancers

Scientists led by Drs. Mona Gauthier and Tak Mak at The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre have solved a key piece in the puzzle of how BRCA1 gene mutations specifically predispose women to breast and ovarian cancers.

16 Jul 2013

Assurex Health announces release of new psychiatric pharmacogenomic test panel

Assurex Health today announced the release of GeneSight Psychotropic 2.0, its lead psychiatric pharmacogenomic test panel. This latest GeneSight Psychotropic version has been updated to include four additional medications that now cover a total of 36 of the most commonly prescribed psychotropic medications in the US.

15 Jul 2013

FDA approves QIAGEN’s therascreen EGFR test as companion diagnostic for NSCLC patients

QIAGEN N.V. (NASDAQ: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) today announced it has received approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the therascreen EGFR test as a companion diagnostic to guide the use of Boehringer Ingelheim's new targeted therapy, GILOTRIF™ (afatinib), for treatment of metastatic NSCLC in patients whose tumors have certain EGFR gene mutations.

From QIAGEN Manchester Limited 15 Jul 2013

TSRI scientists design drug candidate that increases exercise endurance in animal models

An international group of scientists has shown that a drug candidate designed by scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) significantly increases exercise endurance in animal models.

15 Jul 2013

New discovery reveals how RNA moves genetic information from DNA to create proteins

The discovery cracks the "RNA control code," which dictates how RNA - a family of molecules that mediates DNA expression - moves genetic information from DNA to create proteins.

15 Jul 2013

New theory challenges orthodox view that cancer develops in each host by mutational accidents

A new way to look at cancer -- by tracing its deep evolutionary roots to the dawn of multicellularity more than a billion years ago -- has been proposed by Paul Davies of Arizona State University's Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science in collaboration with Charles Lineweaver of the Australian National University.

15 Jul 2013

'Defanged' HIV used to deliver gene therapy

Researchers are having success using a "defanged" version of HIV to deliver gene therapy to children suffering from genetic diseases, a development that could improve other such care.

15 Jul 2013

Researchers identify important component for regulating stem cell niches

Proper tissue function and regeneration is supported by stem cells, which reside in so-called niches. New work from Carnegie's Yixian Zheng and Haiyang Chen identifies an important component for regulating stem cell niches, with impacts on tissue building and function. The results could have implications for disease research. It is published by Cell Stem Cell.

15 Jul 2013

First Edition: July 12, 2013

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including articles on data tracking of doctors and comparing the rollout of the Medicare Part D drug plans to implementation of the federal health law.

12 Jul 2013

RXi Pharmaceuticals reports positive results from second Phase 1 study with RXI‑109

RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing innovative therapies addressing major unmet medical needs using RNA-targeted technologies, today announced positive results from their second placebo-controlled Phase 1 study with RXI‑109, an sd-rxRNA compound that targets Connective Tissue Growth Factor, and is being developed for the treatment of abnormal dermal scars such as hypertrophic scars and keloids in conjunction with scar revision surgery.

12 Jul 2013

International team explores genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax in the Americas

Human migrations - from the prehistoric epoch to the present day - have extended cultures across the globe. With these travelers have come unwanted stowaways: mosquito-borne parasites belonging to the Plasmodium species - a group responsible for malaria, worldwide.

12 Jul 2013

Scientists discover chain of molecular mechanisms set in motion by glucocorticoids

These scientists under the leadership of Martin Bilban from the Clinical Institute of Laboratory Medicine at the MedUni Vienna discovered a chain of molecular mechanisms, which is kick-started by the formation of glucocorticoids.

12 Jul 2013

Genome sequencing promises to identify rare mutations that give rise to autism

An international consortium, consisting of Autism Speaks, Duke University School of Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children of Toronto, BGI and other institutes, has investigated the genetic variants in 32 families with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

12 Jul 2013

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

CUMC researchers develop new approach to tailor cancer therapy for individual patient

Study shows link between FTO, ghrelin and impaired brain food-cue responsivity

Specific types of intestinal bacteria are major contributors to lymphoma

FDA approves Gilotrif for patients with late stage non-small cell lung cancer

Researchers uncover role of IKACh in pacemaker activity and heart rate regulation

Cranberry consumption may prevent chronic infections

Researchers distinguish viral and bacterial infections in children with fever

Scientists discover how BRCA1 gene mutations predispose women to breast and ovarian cancers

Assurex Health announces release of new psychiatric pharmacogenomic test panel

FDA approves QIAGEN’s therascreen EGFR test as companion diagnostic for NSCLC patients

TSRI scientists design drug candidate that increases exercise endurance in animal models

New discovery reveals how RNA moves genetic information from DNA to create proteins

New theory challenges orthodox view that cancer develops in each host by mutational accidents

'Defanged' HIV used to deliver gene therapy

Researchers identify important component for regulating stem cell niches

First Edition: July 12, 2013

RXi Pharmaceuticals reports positive results from second Phase 1 study with RXI‑109

International team explores genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax in the Americas

Scientists discover chain of molecular mechanisms set in motion by glucocorticoids

Genome sequencing promises to identify rare mutations that give rise to autism

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

How Pulp Fixin Is Turning Paper into High-Performance Sustainable Labware

A new method to measure intracellular water in biological systems

Obesity, GLP-1s, and metabolic care