Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Samoa Island harbors a global health mystery that could predict obesity crisis

The South Pacific archipelago of Samoa and American Samoa harbors a global health mystery that may seem both remote and extreme but could foretell trends in obesity and related conditions across much of the developing world.

18 Feb 2014

Discovery opens door for more targeted treatments for cancer patients

Cancer patients could one day experience fewer side effects from chemotherapy following a discovery that opens the door for more targeted treatments.

16 Feb 2014

Research provides new insight into the effect of misfolded proteins in neurodegenerative disorders

Research by the University of Southampton has provided new insight into the consequence of accumulated 'misfolded proteins' in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Prion and Alzheimer's disease.

16 Feb 2014

Researchers receive funding to develop treatments for Rett Syndrome

Researchers from Scotland and the US are taking a step towards reversing the effects of a debilitating genetic disease and bring hope to tens of thousands of sufferers worldwide.

14 Feb 2014

Researchers find 'missing' genetic risk in cancer

A new study could help to answer an important riddle in our understanding of genetics: why research to look for the genetic causes of common diseases has failed to explain more than a fraction of the heritable risk of developing them.

14 Feb 2014

Researchers personalize drug treatments for cholangiocarcinoma using genomic sequencing

Physicians at Mayo Clinic's Individualized Medicine Clinic and researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) have personalized drug treatments for patients with cholangiocarcinoma using genomic sequencing technologies.

14 Feb 2014

New theory for how stem cells decide whether to become liver or pancreatic cells

Harvard stem cell scientists have a new theory for how stem cells decide whether to become liver or pancreatic cells during development. A cell's fate, the researchers found, is determined by the nearby presence of prostaglandin E2, a messenger molecule best known for its role in inflammation and pain.

14 Feb 2014

FDA-approved drug pregabalin effectively treats RLS symptoms with less side effects

A report in the Feb. 13 New England Journal of Medicine confirms previous studies suggesting that long-term treatment with the type of drugs commonly prescribed to treat restless leg syndrome (RLS) can cause a serious worsening of the condition in some patients.

14 Feb 2014

Scientists identify network of genes that controls human brain activity, memory and schizophrenia

Many psychiatric disorders are accompanied by memory deficits. Basel scientists have now identified a network of genes that controls fundamental properties of neurons and is important for human brain activity, memory and the development of schizophrenia.

14 Feb 2014

Scientists take steps to identify genetic component to bipolar disorder

Scientists know there is a strong genetic component to bipolar disorder, but they have had an extremely difficult time identifying the genes that cause it. So, in an effort to better understand the illness's genetic causes, researchers at UCLA tried a new approach.

13 Feb 2014

Albert Einstein College professor receives AAAS 2013 Newcomb Cleveland Prize

A study describing the complete wiring diagram for the part of the nervous system that controls mating behavior in male roundworms was chosen as the most outstanding paper published in Science in the year June 2012 to May 2013.

13 Feb 2014

UMMS launches Voyager Therapeutics to develop life-changing treatments for fatal diseases

UMass Medical School (UMMS) recognizes the launch today of Voyager Therapeutics, a gene therapy company founded by four world leaders in the fields of AAV gene therapy, RNA biology and neuroscience, to develop life-changing treatments for fatal and debilitating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS).

13 Feb 2014

Johns Hopkins cardiologist receives first Harrington prize for innovation in medicine

Johns Hopkins pediatric cardiologist and geneticist Hal Dietz, M.D., has been awarded the first Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine for his work identifying the cause and a treatment for Marfan syndrome.

13 Feb 2014

Researchers discover pre-leukemic stem cell that triggers relapse in patients with AML

Cancer researchers led by stem cell scientist Dr. John Dick have discovered a pre-leukemic stem cell that may be the first step in initiating disease and also the culprit that evades therapy and triggers relapse in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

13 Feb 2014

Researchers examine whether spirituality has role to play in prevention of addictions

Spirituality is a central tenet of 12-step recovery programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. Its value, particularly regarding alcohol addiction, has been recognized by many health care practitioners as well.

13 Feb 2014

Far-reaching neurons connect amygdala with fear response center to control behavior

Fear is primal. In the wild, it serves as a protective mechanism, allowing animals to avoid predators or other perceived threats. For humans, fear is much more complex. A normal amount keeps us safe from danger. But in extreme cases, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), too much fear can prevent people from living healthy, productive lives.

12 Feb 2014

Horizon Discovery, Haplogen sign worldwide distribution agreement

Horizon Discovery, a leading provider of research tools to support translational genomics and the development of personalized medicines, today announced it has signed a worldwide distribution agreement with Haplogen GmbH, with immediate effect.

12 Feb 2014

Researchers examine how evolution relates to health

February 12 marks the birth of the 19th century naturalist Charles Darwin, who launched the scientific study of evolution. While Darwin's theory laid the groundwork, ongoing studies have deepened our understanding of evolution, including how it relates to health. Research funded by the National Institutes of Health has helped answer many questions about evolution, health and medicine. Here's a sampling.

12 Feb 2014

Researchers discover that bladder cancer shares genetic similarities with two forms of breast cancer

Researchers at the UNC School of Medicine conducted a comprehensive genetic analysis of invasive bladder cancer tumors to discover that the disease shares genetic similarities with two forms of breast cancer.

12 Feb 2014

Tamoxifen drug appears to kill fungus associated with deadly brain infection

The drug tamoxifen appears to kill a fungus associated with a deadly brain infection that afflicts HIV/AIDS patients, according to a University of Rochester study published online today by mBio, the journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

11 Feb 2014

Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Samoa Island harbors a global health mystery that could predict obesity crisis

Discovery opens door for more targeted treatments for cancer patients

Research provides new insight into the effect of misfolded proteins in neurodegenerative disorders

Researchers receive funding to develop treatments for Rett Syndrome

Researchers find 'missing' genetic risk in cancer

Researchers personalize drug treatments for cholangiocarcinoma using genomic sequencing

New theory for how stem cells decide whether to become liver or pancreatic cells

FDA-approved drug pregabalin effectively treats RLS symptoms with less side effects

Scientists identify network of genes that controls human brain activity, memory and schizophrenia

Scientists take steps to identify genetic component to bipolar disorder

Albert Einstein College professor receives AAAS 2013 Newcomb Cleveland Prize

UMMS launches Voyager Therapeutics to develop life-changing treatments for fatal diseases

Johns Hopkins cardiologist receives first Harrington prize for innovation in medicine

Researchers discover pre-leukemic stem cell that triggers relapse in patients with AML

Researchers examine whether spirituality has role to play in prevention of addictions

Far-reaching neurons connect amygdala with fear response center to control behavior

Horizon Discovery, Haplogen sign worldwide distribution agreement

Researchers examine how evolution relates to health

Researchers discover that bladder cancer shares genetic similarities with two forms of breast cancer

Tamoxifen drug appears to kill fungus associated with deadly brain infection

Sequencing & Genomics: Elevating Science and Healthcare 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