Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

New lung cancer loci found

Genome-wide analysis has identified three new susceptibility loci for lung cancer in a large cohort of never-smoking women in Asia.

10 Dec 2012

Amgen signs definitive agreement to acquire deCODE Genetics

Amgen and deCODE Genetics today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Amgen will acquire deCODE Genetics, a global leader in human genetics, headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland.

10 Dec 2012

Researchers track emergence and global spread of healthcare-associated C. difficile

Researchers show that the global epidemic of Clostridium difficile 027/NAP1/BI in the early to mid-2000s was caused by the spread of two different but highly related strains of the bacterium rather than one as was previously thought. The spread and persistence of both epidemics were driven by the acquisition of resistance to a frontline antibiotic.

10 Dec 2012

Celldex announces final results from CDX-011 Phase 2b study on GPNMB-expressing breast cancer

Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. today announced final results from the Company's randomized Phase 2b EMERGE study of CDX-011 in patients with glycoprotein NMB (GPNMB)-expressing, advanced, heavily pretreated breast cancer.

9 Dec 2012

Scientists identify underlying genetic cause for rare motor neurone disorder

Scientists have identified an underlying genetic cause for a rare disorder of motor neurones, and believe this may help find causes of other related diseases.

7 Dec 2012

Scientists describe network map of genes involved in pain perception

Scientists in Australia and Austria have described a "network map" of genes involved in pain perception, with remarkable similarity from fruit flies to people. The work should help identify new analgesic drugs.

7 Dec 2012

Disturbances in several immune-system-related pathways contribute to development of ASDs

Researchers using novel approaches and methodologies of identifying genes that contribute to the development of autism have found evidence that disturbances in several immune-system-related pathways contribute to development of autism spectrum disorders.

7 Dec 2012

New genetic process could provide novel target for treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders

Researchers at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, have discovered a new genetic process that could one day provide a novel target for the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as intellectual disability and autism.

7 Dec 2012

Study reveals dual role for Norrin/Frizzled-4 protein pair

Working with mice, Johns Hopkins researchers have shed light on the activity of a protein pair found in cells that form the walls of blood vessels in the brain and retina, experiments that could lead to therapeutic control of the blood-brain barrier and of blood vessel growth in the eye.

7 Dec 2012

Microarray analysis more effective in pinpointing potential genetic causes of stillbirth

Stillbirth is a tragedy that occurs in one of every 160 births in the United States. Compounding the sadness for many families, the standard medical test used to examine fetal chromosomes often can't pin down what caused their baby to die in utero. In most cases, the cause of the stillbirth is not immediately known.

6 Dec 2012

Bilirubin can inhibit clogging of arteries and prevent deadly consequences

Each year, about 610,000 Americans suffer their first heart attack, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart attacks and other symptoms of cardiovascular disease can be caused when blockage occurs in the arteries. In a new study from the University of Missouri, a scientist has discovered a natural defense against arterial blockage: bilirubin.

6 Dec 2012

Alcoholics Anonymous helps men and women maintain sobriety in different ways

A new study finds differences in the ways that participation in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) helps men and women maintain sobriety. Two Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators found that, while many factors are helpful to all AA participants, some were stronger in men and some in women.

6 Dec 2012

Moderna Therapeutics closes $40M in financing

Moderna Therapeutics announced today that it has closed more than $40 million in financing to date, led by Flagship Ventures and private investors, which will be used to advance multiple programs toward clinical stage development.

6 Dec 2012

TSRI scientist to better define how brain organizes different types of memories among neurons

A scientist from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has been awarded approximately $2.5 million from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to better define how the brain organizes different types of memories among its neurons.

6 Dec 2012

TAU scientists win top prize in American Society of Human Genetics art competition

The fine arts and the exact sciences may appear an unlikely pair, but creativity is a crucial element in both. Prof. Karen Avraham and PhD candidate Shaked Shivatzki of Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine embraced this truth when creating Hearing and Deafness: Structure and Sequence, their winning submission to the recent American Society of Human Genetics art competition.

6 Dec 2012

New prenatal genetic test results in more clinically relevant information

A large, multi-center clinical trial led by researchers from Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) shows that a new genetic test resulted in significantly more clinically relevant information than the current standard method of prenatal testing.

6 Dec 2012

University of Chicago professor wins Manpei Suzuki International Prize for diabetes work

Graeme Ian Bell, PhD, the Louis Block Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics and an investigator in the Kovler Diabetes Center at the University of Chicago, has been awarded the Manpei Suzuki International Prize for 2012 for his pioneering work in understanding the role of genetics in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.

5 Dec 2012

Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

New lung cancer loci found

Amgen signs definitive agreement to acquire deCODE Genetics

Researchers track emergence and global spread of healthcare-associated C. difficile

Celldex announces final results from CDX-011 Phase 2b study on GPNMB-expressing breast cancer

Scientists identify underlying genetic cause for rare motor neurone disorder

Scientists describe network map of genes involved in pain perception

Disturbances in several immune-system-related pathways contribute to development of ASDs

New genetic process could provide novel target for treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders

Study reveals dual role for Norrin/Frizzled-4 protein pair

Microarray analysis more effective in pinpointing potential genetic causes of stillbirth

Bilirubin can inhibit clogging of arteries and prevent deadly consequences

Alcoholics Anonymous helps men and women maintain sobriety in different ways

Moderna Therapeutics closes $40M in financing

TSRI scientist to better define how brain organizes different types of memories among neurons

TAU scientists win top prize in American Society of Human Genetics art competition

New prenatal genetic test results in more clinically relevant information

University of Chicago professor wins Manpei Suzuki International Prize for diabetes work

New method can generate stable human mesenchymal stem cells for bone engineering

New method promises to boost stem cell production in laboratory

Highlights for December 2012 issue of GSA’s Genetics journal

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