Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Researchers find a novel way to tease out key factor involved in heart muscle maturation

Scientists around the world have been trying to replace damaged heart tissue using lab-made heart-muscle cells (cardiomyocytes), either injecting them into the heart or applying patches laced with the cells. But results to date have been underwhelming.

28 Sep 2018

Pfizer announces FDA approval of VIZIMPRO for first-line treatment of EGFR-mutated metastatic NSCLC

Pfizer Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved VIZIMPRO [vih-ZIM-pro] (dacomitinib), a kinase inhibitor for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor exon 19 deletion or exon 21 L858R substitution mutations as detected by an FDA-approved test.

28 Sep 2018

Daily exercise facilitates elimination of toxic proteins from muscles

A study published in Scientific Reports by researchers at the University of São Paulo in Brazil, in partnership with colleagues in the United States and Norway, shows that the lack of muscle stimulus results in a buildup of inadequately processed proteins in muscle cells and consequently leads to muscle weakness or wasting.

27 Sep 2018

Normal skin is more resilient to cancer than previously thought

Normal skin contains a patchwork of mutated cells, yet very few go on to eventually form cancer and scientists have now uncovered the reason why. Researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and MRC Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge genetically engineered mice to show that mutant cells in skin tissue compete with each other, with only the fittest surviving.

27 Sep 2018

Alnylam announces positive results from Phase 3 Study of givosiran for treating acute hepatic porphyria

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today positive topline results from the interim analysis of the ENVISION Phase 3 Study of givosiran, an investigational RNAi therapeutic targeting aminolevulinic acid synthase 1 for the treatment of acute hepatic porphyria.

27 Sep 2018

Axol's Human iPSC-derived Microglia for neuroimmunology research

Our Human iPSC-derived Microglia are suitable for a variety of applications including in vitro disease models, phenotypic screening and immunology studies.

From Axol Bioscience Ltd 27 Sep 2018

Not all P53 mutations cause skin cancer

Today, scientists have explained for the first time why not all UV-induced, P53 mutated skin cells develop into cancer.

27 Sep 2018

New approach promises to forecast cultivar resistance at much earlier stage

Bacterial wilt devastates food crops all over the world. It destroys major crop plants such as tomatoes, potatoes, bananas, ginger and pepper. It occurs in many countries and attacks over 200 plant species.

27 Sep 2018

Researchers identify single gene that regulates highly diverse ladybird color patterns

Many ladybirds have attractive color patterns consisting of black and red. This prominent color pattern is thought to function as a warning that indicates to predators that they are very bitter and unpalatable.

27 Sep 2018

CIRM approves $1.6M grant to help bring human islet-like organoids to diabetic patients

Approximately 1.25 million Americans are living with type 1 diabetes, with an additional 40,000 people newly diagnosed every year.

27 Sep 2018

VCU researchers to study how a gene could influence cognitive decline during chemotherapy

With the help of a $2.1 million grant, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing researchers will study how a gene that regulates estrogen and neurotransmitter levels could be tied to cognitive decline in patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast and endometrial cancers.

27 Sep 2018

Antibiotic resistance in cystic fibrosis linked to decreased microbial diversity and pulmonary function

A defective gene causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis. There, it traps bacteria, causing patients to develop frequent lung infections that progressively damage these vital organs and impair patients' ability to breathe.

27 Sep 2018

Breastfeeding changes gene activity that regulates infant's response to stress

It has long been known that there are many physical and mental health benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies. But can these benefits be due to genetic changes induced by breastfeeding? New research suggests that connection.

27 Sep 2018

Researchers uncover molecular underpinnings of liver regeneration

In Greek mythology, Zeus punishes the trickster Prometheus by chaining him to a rock and sending an eagle to eat a portion of his liver every day, in perpetuity. It was the right organ to target - the liver has the ability to regenerate itself, though not overnight nor for eternity.

27 Sep 2018

Yellow fever virus can be transmitted via tiger mosquitoes, shows research

Since December 2016, Brazil has been grappling with its worst yellow fever outbreak for several decades. To date, there have been 2,043 human cases including 676 fatalities, mainly occurring in ten Brazilian states including Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

26 Sep 2018

Biological 'switch' influences whether immature blood cells differentiate into red or white blood cells

Japanese scientists have revealed a biological "switch" that influences whether an immature blood cell would develop into a red blood cell or a subtype of white blood cell called myeloid cells in response to infection or inflammation within the body.

26 Sep 2018

New approach for bone marrow transplant could make it safer and more effective for patients

Two recent studies in the journal Leukemia present a new approach for bone marrow donation and transplant that preclinical laboratory tests suggest could make the life-saving procedure safer and more effective for patients.

26 Sep 2018

NIH-funded genome centers to speed up breakthroughs in precision medicine

The All of Us Research Program awarded funds totaling $28.6 million to establish three genome centers around the country. These centers will begin to generate genomic data from biosamples contributed by the program's participants.

26 Sep 2018

TGen-UNM consortium awarded NIH grant to discover new treatments for diabetic blindness

Diabetes is an increasing global epidemic that is expected to grow by more than 50 percent in the next two decades, leaving more than half a billion patients worldwide exposed to potentially life-altering medical complications, including pain and numbness in the feet, lost limbs, life-threatening disorders of the heart, liver and kidneys -- and even blindness.

26 Sep 2018

Urine exRNA may be source of biomarkers for muscular dystrophy

Massachusetts General Hospital researchers have found that extracellular RNA in urine may be a source of biomarkers for the two most common forms of muscular dystrophy, noninvasively providing information about whether therapeutic drugs are having the desired effects on a molecular level.

26 Sep 2018

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Researchers find a novel way to tease out key factor involved in heart muscle maturation

Pfizer announces FDA approval of VIZIMPRO for first-line treatment of EGFR-mutated metastatic NSCLC

Daily exercise facilitates elimination of toxic proteins from muscles

Normal skin is more resilient to cancer than previously thought

Alnylam announces positive results from Phase 3 Study of givosiran for treating acute hepatic porphyria

Axol's Human iPSC-derived Microglia for neuroimmunology research

Not all P53 mutations cause skin cancer

New approach promises to forecast cultivar resistance at much earlier stage

Researchers identify single gene that regulates highly diverse ladybird color patterns

CIRM approves $1.6M grant to help bring human islet-like organoids to diabetic patients

VCU researchers to study how a gene could influence cognitive decline during chemotherapy

Antibiotic resistance in cystic fibrosis linked to decreased microbial diversity and pulmonary function

Breastfeeding changes gene activity that regulates infant's response to stress

Researchers uncover molecular underpinnings of liver regeneration

Yellow fever virus can be transmitted via tiger mosquitoes, shows research

Biological 'switch' influences whether immature blood cells differentiate into red or white blood cells

New approach for bone marrow transplant could make it safer and more effective for patients

NIH-funded genome centers to speed up breakthroughs in precision medicine

TGen-UNM consortium awarded NIH grant to discover new treatments for diabetic blindness

Urine exRNA may be source of biomarkers for muscular dystrophy

eBook: Using iPSCs models for human disease research and drug discovery eBook

Real-time Raman monitoring for pharmaceutical hot melt extrusion

Synthetic Psychedelics: A Growing Public Health Concern

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging