Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Milk consumption does not cause renal cell cancer

While previous research had suggested that drinking milk was related to factors that may increase the risk of renal cell cancer, results of a recent study exploiting the genetic contribution to variation in milk consumption suggest that this may not be the case.

6 May 2010

Genomic Health reports 22% revenue growth, 58% decrease in net loss for first-quarter 2010

Genomic Health, Inc. today reported financial results and business progress for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

6 May 2010

Researchers discover link between sporadic and familial forms of ALS

Researchers from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine have discovered a link between sporadic and familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

6 May 2010

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals reports consolidated financial results for first quarter 2010

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, today reported its consolidated financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010, and company highlights.

6 May 2010

New research suggests tPA can act as neuroprotectant against stroke

New research on the properties of the clot-busting stroke drug tPA (tissue-type plasminogen activator) suggests that tPA can act as a neuroprotectant and may form the keystone of an adaptive response to a reduction in blood flow.

6 May 2010

Democrat endorses GOP plan on hospital price disclosure

The Hill: Rep. Gene Green, D-Texas, is endorsing two Republican plans to require hospitals disclose their prices while other Democrats are pushing a much broader bill in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Green "hopes to bring other Democrats with him, arguing a scaled-down approach stands a better chance of becoming law than the Democratic proposal, which would apply to all healthcare providers, including hospitals, physicians, pharmacies, drug makers and insurers."

6 May 2010

Cryo-EM images shed light on virus structure, function

UCLA researchers report in the April 30 edition of the journal Cell that they have imaged a virus structure at a resolution high enough to effectively "see" atoms, the first published instance of imaging biological complexes at such a resolution.

5 May 2010

NIH awards CSU biochemists $7.8M grant to study gene regulation within cells

A team of top biochemists at Colorado State University will investigate how chromosomes untangle to expose genes that dictate cell behavior - a unique project that could have a significant impact on understanding human health.

5 May 2010

Genetics researchers use new approach to detect causal gene variants

In findings that may speed the search for disease-causing genes, a new study challenges the prevailing view that common diseases are usually caused by common gene variants (mutations). Instead, say genetics researchers, the culprits may be numerous rare variants, located in DNA sequences farther away from the original "hot spots" than scientists have been accustomed to look.

5 May 2010

Scientists develop new web-based algorithm techniques to identify DNA sequences

Life is almost unbearably complex. Humans and mice, frogs and flies toggle genes on and off in dizzying combinations and sequences during their relentless march from embryo to death. Now scientists seeking to understand the machinations of the proteins behind the genomic wizard's screen have a powerful new tool at their disposal, courtesy of researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

5 May 2010

BioDiscovery signs OEM Agreement with Exiqon

BioDiscovery, Inc., a leader in integrated software solutions for microarray-based research, and Exiqon A/S, a leader in microRNA analysis products and services, announced today an OEM Agreement incorporating BioDiscovery's array analysis and visualization software with Exiqon's arrays.

5 May 2010

New treatments for intestinal failure, other intestinal absorption disorders

New treatments for intestinal failure and other intestinal absorption disorders are a step closer to the patients who need them after a discovery in Kelly Tappenden's University of Illinois laboratory.

5 May 2010

UK GTAC, MHRA approve Scancell's Phase I clinical trial of SCIB1 DNA ImmunoBody vaccine

Scancell Holdings Plc,, the developer of therapeutic cancer vaccines, today announced at BIO2010 in Chicago that its proposal to conduct a Phase I clinical trial on SCIB1, its DNA ImmunoBody® vaccine being developed for the treatment of melanoma, has been approved in the UK by the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee and by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Medicines Division.

5 May 2010

Physically active lifestyle during adolescence can reduce effect of mutation in FTO gene: Study

The FTO gene is obesity's main ally. Several studies are now attempting to reveal the factors that play a key role in fighting against it. A new study led by Spanish researchers shows that a physically active lifestyle during adolescence can reduce the effect of a mutation in this gene which predisposes someone to becoming overweight or obese.

5 May 2010

Medication used to treat heart arrhythmias also reduces myotonic dystrophy: Researchers

A medication most often used to treat heart arrhythmias also reduces a central symptom of myotonic dystrophy, the most common type of muscular dystrophy in adults.

5 May 2010

New study searches for trauma-induced changes in genes of people with PTSD

A study by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health suggests that traumatic experiences "biologically embed" themselves in select genes, altering their functions and leading to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder.

5 May 2010

S*BIO, Onyx Pharmaceuticals expand development, commercialization collaboration for JAK2 Inhibitors

S*BIO Pte Ltd and Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the expansion of their development collaboration and option and license commercialization agreement for S*BIO's novel JAK2 inhibitors, SB1518 and SB1578, also known as ONX 0803 and ONX 0805, respectively. The expanded agreement builds upon the development and commercialization collaboration between the two companies announced in January 2009.

5 May 2010

Animal study shows insulin prevents artery damage

Long suspected of worsening artery damage in patients with diabetes, insulin instead protects blood vessels, a new study by Joslin Diabetes Center scientists indicates.

5 May 2010

Adjuvant chemotherapy after gastric cancer procedure may reduce mortality

Patients who have gastric cancer surgery followed by chemotherapy have an associated decreased risk of death and improved disease-free survival compared to patients who have surgery alone, according to an analysis of previous studies, reported in the May 5 issue of JAMA.

5 May 2010

Idera Pharmaceuticals reports net loss of $1.9M for first-quarter 2010

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of DNA- and RNA-based drug candidates targeted to Toll-like Receptors, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

5 May 2010