Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Study sheds light on pancreatic cancer development and new potential drug targets

Researchers at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego, have found one reason that pancreatic cancer tumors are so difficult to treat with drugs. They have shown how a molecular switch steps up pancreatic cancer cell survival as well as resistance to a standard chemotherapy drug, and have identified alternate routes cancer cells take to avoid the effects of the therapy.

29 Jan 2010

UT-Battelle exclusively licenses patents on inventions based on Nell-1 gene

In a major step toward commercialization of a promising therapeutic treatment, Oak Ridge National Laboratory contractor UT-Battelle announced at a signing ceremony here today that it has exclusively licensed patents on inventions based on the Nell-1 gene to NellOne Therapeutics, Inc. (NellOne), a company spun out of research performed at the Department of Energy laboratory.

29 Jan 2010

QIAGEN hosts panel discussion to educate public about the emerging promise of personalized medicine

The treatment of illness has traditionally been based on the law of averages – what works best for the largest number of patients. As a result, billions of dollars are spent every year on treatments that could be ineffective or even harmful for some patients. What if doctors could tell with a simple test which course of treatment would be best for a particular patient?

From QIAGEN Manchester Limited 29 Jan 2010

Researchers discover new target for drugs to prevent common iron deficiency

The discovery of a major player in the body's regulation of iron levels should provide a new target for drugs that prevent common iron deficiency as well as rare, potentially deadly iron overload, researchers said.

29 Jan 2010

CAMH signs licensing agreement to develop and market genetic test for degenerative muscle disorder

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has signed a licensing agreement with a Massachusetts firm to develop and market an innovative genetic test for a recently identified degenerative muscle disorder. The disorder tends to strike adults in their early 30s.

From Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 29 Jan 2010

iPierian receives UK patent for induced pluripotent stem cell technology

iPierian, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on changing the paradigm of drug discovery and development through the application of cellular reprogramming, today announced that the Intellectual Property Office in the United Kingdom has issued a Notification of Grant to iPierian for UK patent No. GB2450603, its first patent related to induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology.

29 Jan 2010

Ligand Pharmaceuticals acquires Metabasis Therapeutics

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced that it has completed the acquisition of Metabasis Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MBRX), following approval of the transaction by Metabasis stockholders yesterday. As a result, Ligand gains a fully funded partnership with Roche, additional pipeline assets and drug discovery technologies and resources. The transaction was first announced on October 27, 2009.

28 Jan 2010

Life Technologies reports fourth-quarter and fiscal year results ended December 31, 2009

Life Technologies Corporation today announced results for its fourth quarter and full year ending December 31, 2009. Non-GAAP revenue for the fourth quarter was $874 million, resulting in full year non-GAAP revenues of $3.30 billion, an increase of 5 percent over the $3.14 billion reported for 2008, as if Invitrogen and Applied Biosystems had been combined.

From Danaher 28 Jan 2010

Humans' evolutionary advantage also makes them susceptible to cancer, dementia and heart disease

The same evolutionary genetic advantages that have helped increase human lifespans also make us uniquely susceptible to diseases of aging such as cancer, heart disease and dementia, reveals a study to be published in a special PNAS collection on "Evolution in Health and Medicine" on Tuesday, Jan. 26.

28 Jan 2010

New technique could reduce animal use in gene study

A new method of priming early embryos to form embryonic stem (ES) cells has allowed ES cells to be derived from mice used in diabetes research for the first time.

28 Jan 2010

New insight into reprogramming of cells

A discovery by Babraham scientists brings new insight into how cells are reprogrammed and a greater understanding of how the environment, or factors like nutritional signals, can interact with our genes to affect health. As an embryo develops, cells acquire a particular fate, for example becoming a nerve or skin cell. The findings, reported online in the journal Nature, pinpoint a protein called AID as being important for complete cellular reprogramming in mammals.

28 Jan 2010

Down Syndrome, menopause, dementia and death

Women experiencing an early onset of menopause could develop dementia at a younger age. Research by Tonnie Coppus of Erasmus MC has indicated this. She studied women with Down Syndrome, who are known to have an early onset of menopause. The results of her research can be translated to apply to the general population. Her results will be published in the Journal of Alzheimer Disease today.

28 Jan 2010

Researchers challenge prevailing assumptions in interpreting genome-wide studies

In the decade since the Human Genome Project produced the first map of DNA sequences in the human genome, scientists throughout the world have combed through genome data to identify genes and gene variants that cause human disease.

28 Jan 2010

ALS TDI and Oxford BioMedica extend collaboration to develop gene therapies for Lou Gehrig's disease

The ALS Therapy Development Institute and Oxford BioMedica announced today the extension of their collaboration following successful completion of the first phase. The extended collaboration, which is funded by the Muscular Dystrophy Association, aims to advance the development of Oxford BioMedica's preclinical gene therapy candidate, MoNuDin®, and to evaluate other gene-based strategies for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease).

28 Jan 2010

Researchers develop PEG-POD tool for gene therapy

Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at Tufts have developed a new tool for gene therapy that significantly increases gene delivery to cells in the retina compared to other carriers and DNA alone, according to a study published in the January issue of The Journal of Gene Medicine.

28 Jan 2010

Women experiencing early menopause could develop dementia at a younger age

28 Jan 2010

House Democrats meet, weigh reform's reconciliation option

The Wall Street Journal / Dow Jones reports on a meeting of House Democrats on the health overhaul Tuesday night. Some Democrats have suggested that the House adopt the bill passed by the Senate in December and then have the House and Senate modify that bill through a cumbersome budget process called reconciliation. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., said earlier in the day that he was confident Democrats could pass a health overhaul that way. But other members are reluctant.

27 Jan 2010

Vitamin D supplements can counter the effects of Crohn's disease

A new study has found that Vitamin D, readily available in supplements or cod liver oil, can counter the effects of Crohn's disease. John White, an endocrinologist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, led a team of scientists from McGill University and the Universit- de Montr-al who present their findings about the inflammatory bowel disease in the latest Journal of Biological Chemistry.

27 Jan 2010

Discovery could help improve diagnosis and treatment for anxiety disorders

Draw a map of the brain when fear and anxiety are involved, and the amygdala-the brain's almond-shaped center for panic and fight-or-flight responses-looms large.

27 Jan 2010

Study could lead to better understanding of how certain birth defects occur in humans

Scientists have identified a gene family that plays a key role in one of the earliest stages of development in which an embryo distinguishes its left side from the right and determines how organs should be positioned within the body. The finding in mice likely will lead to a better understanding of how certain birth defects occur in humans.

27 Jan 2010

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Study sheds light on pancreatic cancer development and new potential drug targets

UT-Battelle exclusively licenses patents on inventions based on Nell-1 gene

QIAGEN hosts panel discussion to educate public about the emerging promise of personalized medicine

Researchers discover new target for drugs to prevent common iron deficiency

CAMH signs licensing agreement to develop and market genetic test for degenerative muscle disorder

iPierian receives UK patent for induced pluripotent stem cell technology

Ligand Pharmaceuticals acquires Metabasis Therapeutics

Life Technologies reports fourth-quarter and fiscal year results ended December 31, 2009

Humans' evolutionary advantage also makes them susceptible to cancer, dementia and heart disease

New technique could reduce animal use in gene study

New insight into reprogramming of cells

Down Syndrome, menopause, dementia and death

Researchers challenge prevailing assumptions in interpreting genome-wide studies

ALS TDI and Oxford BioMedica extend collaboration to develop gene therapies for Lou Gehrig's disease

Researchers develop PEG-POD tool for gene therapy

Women experiencing early menopause could develop dementia at a younger age

House Democrats meet, weigh reform's reconciliation option

Vitamin D supplements can counter the effects of Crohn's disease

Discovery could help improve diagnosis and treatment for anxiety disorders

Study could lead to better understanding of how certain birth defects occur in humans

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