Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Study finds brain changes and severe depression in political detainees experiencing head injury

Depression and other emotional symptoms in survivors of torture and other traumatic experiences may be exacerbated by the effects of head injuries, according to a study from the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma (HPRT), based in the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry.

7 Nov 2009

Asthma associated with both genetics and environmental exposures

While progress has been made in identifying genes associated with asthma, the disease is complex, and its development is likely dependent upon both genetics and environmental exposures, according to a leading expert presenting at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in Miami Beach, Fla.

6 Nov 2009

Health researchers speak about PTSD in light of Remembrance Day

They've seen horrors, experienced constant threats and survived traumatic events. Canada's military personnel often come back home with memories they'd rather forget. It's not scientifically understood why some soldiers develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while others don't. However, many veterans simply don't ask for psychological help.

6 Nov 2009

Endothelin increases T cells in the kidneys leading to renal injury

A key player in a cascade that likely begins with stress and leads to high blood pressure and kidney damage has been identified by researchers who say the finding may lead to better ways to control both.

6 Nov 2009

Autism Consortium holds its fourth annual symposium to update on autism

The Autism Consortium, an innovative collaboration of researchers, clinicians, funders and families dedicated to catalyzing research and enhancing clinical care for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), held its fourth annual symposium on October 28th, 2009, at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

6 Nov 2009

Boosting NAD+ after spinal cord injury may prevent permanent nerve death

Substances naturally produced by the human body may one day help prevent paralysis following a spinal cord injury, according to researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College. A recent $2.5 million grant from the New York State Spinal Cord Injury Research Board will fund their research investigating this possibility.

6 Nov 2009

Sirius Genomics signs its first Contribution Agreement with NRC-IRAP

Sirius Genomics, a developer of pharmacogenomic diagnostics, announced today that it has signed its first Contribution Agreement with the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP). This research funding will be used to study genomic correlations in severe sepsis patients.

6 Nov 2009

Arthur H. Rubenstein to receive the Abraham Flexner Award

Arthur H. Rubenstein, MBBCh, Executive Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania for the Health System, and Dean, School of Medicine, will receive the Abraham Flexner Award for Distinguished Service to Medical Education from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

6 Nov 2009

NewLink Genetics announces closing of its $30M Series C financing

NewLink Genetics Corporation announced today that it has closed a $30 million Series C financing to accelerate the clinical development of its therapeutic cancer products. Total cash raised in 2009 under a combination of the previously announced Series D Preferred and the remaining shares in the Series C Preferred totaled just under $20 million.

6 Nov 2009

Arrayit joins federal government to help control health care costs through early diagnosis of diseases

Arrayit Corporation is pleased to join the federal government in their efforts to help control health care costs through early diagnosis of diseases.

5 Nov 2009

Scientists identify molecular disparity between iPS cells and embryonic stem cells

The same genes that are chemically altered during normal cell differentiation, as well as when normal cells become cancer cells, are also changed in stem cells that scientists derive from adult cells, according to new research from Johns Hopkins and Harvard.

5 Nov 2009

Plant carotenoids are the most important source of vitamin A in the human diet

Carotenoids-fat-soluble plant compounds found in some vegetables-are essential to the human diet and reportedly offer important health benefits to consumers. Plant carotenoids are the most important source of vitamin A in the human diet; the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, found in corn and leafy greens vegetable such as kale, broccoli, and spinach, are widely considered to be valuable antioxidants capable of protecting humans from chronic diseases including age-related macular degeneration, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

5 Nov 2009

Scientists differentiate human embryonic stem cells into lung epithelial tissue using air-liquid interface

Scientists in Belgium have successfully differentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESC) into major cell types of lung epithelial tissue using a convenient air-liquid interface.

5 Nov 2009

Tetracycline-like compound raises hope for treatment of spinal muscular atrophy

A chemical cousin of the common antibiotic tetracycline might be useful in treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a currently incurable disease that is the leading genetic cause of death in infants. This is the finding of a research collaboration involving Adrian Krainer, Ph.D., of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and scientists from Paratek Pharmaceuticals and Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.

5 Nov 2009

Avoiding foods high in AGE toxins can reduce inflammation and restore the body's natural defenses

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine report that cutting back on the consumption of processed and fried foods, which are high in toxins called Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs), can reduce inflammation and actually help restore the body's natural defenses regardless of age or health status. These benefits are present even without changing caloric or nutrient intake.

4 Nov 2009

Cutting back on the consumption of AGEs can reduce inflammation, report researchers

4 Nov 2009

Leprosy: Man's persistent companion

For thousands of years an undesirable and persistent companion has been travelling with man wherever he goes. Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium that causes leprosy, has only one known natural host - mankind.

4 Nov 2009

Book on current aspects of dental morphology research

In this publication, an international, multidisciplinary team of researchers addresses important issues on current aspects of dental morphology research from evolutionary, anatomical, clinical and archaeological perspectives.

4 Nov 2009

Study: Estrogen replacement may help protect brain damage

Eighteen years ago this month the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that it would sponsor a landmark study to examine women and cardiovascular disease. Known as the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), the study enrolled more than 161,000 women.

4 Nov 2009

Scientists identify potential drug target for curing alcohol drinking behavior

A group of drunken fruit flies have helped researchers from North Carolina State and Boston universities identify entire networks of genes-also present in humans-that play a key role in alcohol drinking behavior.

4 Nov 2009