Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Scientists devise powerful algorithm to improve effectiveness of research technology harnessing RNAi

Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have devised a powerful algorithm that improves the effectiveness of an important research technology harnessing RNA interference, or RNAi.

7 Dec 2014

Researchers reveal that genetic mutations may cause more cases of ALS

Genetic mutations may cause more cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) than scientists previously had realized, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The scientists also showed that the number of mutated genes influences the age when the fatal paralyzing disorder first appears.

7 Dec 2014

IMBRUVICA demonstrates anti-tumor activity against multiple myeloma in Phase II study

New IMBRUVICA (ibrutinib) Phase II data announced here today by Pharmacyclics, Inc) during the 56th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting suggests that IMBRUVICA demonstrates anti-tumor activity both as a single-agent and as combination therapy in heavily pre-treated patients with relapsed or relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM).

7 Dec 2014

Genetics may play major role in Lou Gehrig's disease, study reveals

Genetics may play a larger role in causing Lou Gehrig's disease than previously believed, potentially accounting for more than one-third of all cases, according to one of the most comprehensive genetic studies to date of patients who suffer from the condition also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

6 Dec 2014

Researchers suggest new strategy to control cellular identity and fate

A team of scientists that included researchers from UCLA has discovered a novel mechanism of RNA regulation in embryonic stem cells. The findings are strong evidence that a specific chemical modification, or "tag," on RNA plays a key role in determining the ability of embryonic stem cells to adopt different cellular identities.

6 Dec 2014

Researchers identify important neural mechanism responsible for certain chronic pain disorders

Pain typically has a clear cause-but not always. When a person touches something hot or bumps into a sharp object, it's no surprise that it hurts. But for people with certain chronic pain disorders, including fibromyalgia and phantom limb pain, a gentle caress can result in agony.

6 Dec 2014

Pharmacyclics launches informCLL registry to explore natural history of CLL patients

Pharmacyclics, Inc. today announced the launch of informCLL, a large, observational, prospective registry that will explore the natural history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), examine how IMBRUVICA (ibrutinib) and other approved targeted therapies are being used to treat patients with CLL, and provide a comparison to treatments using conventional chemoimmunotherapy (CIT).

5 Dec 2014

Most parents interested in newborn genomic testing, study reveals

A study published this week in Genetics in Medicine is the first to explore new parents' attitudes toward newborn genomic testing. The findings suggest that if newborn genomic testing becomes available, there would be robust interest among new parents, regardless of their demographic background.

5 Dec 2014

Study: PET scanning strategy could help predict effectiveness of TB drugs

Sophisticated lung imaging can show whether or not a treatment drug is able to clear tuberculosis (TB) lung infection in human and macaque studies, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and their international collaborators.

5 Dec 2014

Pharmacyclics wins 2014 Society for Medicines Research Award for Drug Discovery

Pharmacyclics, Inc. today announced that it has won the prestigious 2014 Society for Medicines Research Award for Drug Discovery for its discovery of ibrutinib (IMBRUVICA). The award was presented by The Society of Medicines Research at its biennial award lecture in Kensington, London.

4 Dec 2014

Study reports effective treatment approach to inhibit herpes virus infection

A multi-institutional study reports an effective treatment approach to inhibit and keep latent viruses like herpes simplex from reactivating and causing disease. The work, whose lead author is the late James Hill, PhD, LSU Health New Orleans Professor and Director of Pharmacology and Infectious Disease at the LSU Eye Center, is published in the December 3, 2014, issue of Science Translational Medicine.

4 Dec 2014

Resveratrol in red wine may prevent cancer

Alcohol use is a major risk factor for head and neck cancer. But an article published in the November issue of the journal Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology shows that the chemical resveratrol found in grape skins and in red wine may prevent cancer as well.

4 Dec 2014

New NHLBI grant to support development of prevention strategies for deadly heart condition

One of medicine's most prominent experts in sudden cardiac arrest has received a new $2.36 million grant to study how to better predict the deadly heart condition that kills an estimated 300,000 Americans each year.

3 Dec 2014

Blue light can knock circadian rhythms off-kilter, study finds

A study funded by the National Institutes of Health is unraveling the mystery of how blue light from residential and commercial lighting, electronic devices, outdoor lights and billboards can throw off-kilter the natural body clock of humans, plants and animals, leading to disease.

3 Dec 2014

SAFit-ligands provide foundation for novel treatment of stress-related psychiatric disorders

The FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP51) is an established risk factor for stress-related psychiatric disorders such as major depression. Drug discovery for FKBP51 has been hampered by the inability to pharmacologically differentiate against the very similar functional counterplayer FKBP52.

3 Dec 2014

Myriad Genetics to highlight clinical data from three Prolaris studies at SUO 2014

Myriad Genetics, Inc. today announced that clinical data from three studies with Prolaris in prostate cancer patients will be highlighted at the 2014 Society of Urologic Oncology Annual Meeting being held tomorrow in Rockville, Md. The new data show that the Prolaris test could save the healthcare system $6 billion over 10 years and that physicians are using the test appropriately to personalize treatment options for their patients.

3 Dec 2014

UNM Cancer Center program to help new scientists learn nuances of conducting science

create a set of systems to track people, projects and money. But scientists' formal training doesn't always include business classes. To bridge this gap, Michelle Ozbun, PhD, at the University of New Mexico Cancer Center, is improving a program that helps new scientists learn nuances of conducting science.

3 Dec 2014

Maternal age and successful egg freezing with PGS: an interview with Dr. Santiago Munné

The leading cause of of pregnancy loss or infertility is chromosomal abnormality or imbalance, where extra genetic material is present or some is missing - what’s called aneuploidy. This imbalance leads to the inability to produce viable embryos or pregnancy.

2 Dec 2014

Variations in movement patterns indicate severity of autism spectrum disorder

Imperceptible variations in movement patterns among individuals with autism spectrum disorder are important indicators of the severity of the disorder in children and adults, according to a report presented at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in November.

2 Dec 2014

UT Austin researchers identify network of genes that drives alcohol dependence

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have identified a network of genes that appear to work together in determining alcohol dependence. The findings, which could lead to future treatments and therapies for alcoholics and possibly help doctors screen for alcoholism, are being published this week in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

2 Dec 2014

Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Scientists devise powerful algorithm to improve effectiveness of research technology harnessing RNAi

Researchers reveal that genetic mutations may cause more cases of ALS

IMBRUVICA demonstrates anti-tumor activity against multiple myeloma in Phase II study

Genetics may play major role in Lou Gehrig's disease, study reveals

Researchers suggest new strategy to control cellular identity and fate

Researchers identify important neural mechanism responsible for certain chronic pain disorders

Pharmacyclics launches informCLL registry to explore natural history of CLL patients

Most parents interested in newborn genomic testing, study reveals

Study: PET scanning strategy could help predict effectiveness of TB drugs

Pharmacyclics wins 2014 Society for Medicines Research Award for Drug Discovery

Study reports effective treatment approach to inhibit herpes virus infection

Resveratrol in red wine may prevent cancer

New NHLBI grant to support development of prevention strategies for deadly heart condition

Blue light can knock circadian rhythms off-kilter, study finds

SAFit-ligands provide foundation for novel treatment of stress-related psychiatric disorders

Myriad Genetics to highlight clinical data from three Prolaris studies at SUO 2014

UNM Cancer Center program to help new scientists learn nuances of conducting science

Maternal age and successful egg freezing with PGS: an interview with Dr. Santiago Munné

Variations in movement patterns indicate severity of autism spectrum disorder

UT Austin researchers identify network of genes that drives alcohol dependence

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