Immunology News and Research

Latest Immunology News and Research

NYU, LaSalle University develop new effective asthma-related anxiety tool

When children or adolescents with asthma and their parents become overly anxious about the disorder, it may impair their ability to manage the asthma effectively. A new, effective tool to assess asthma-related anxiety is described in an article in Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

6 May 2011

Targeting Aurora A gene could halt rhabdoid tumor growth in children

There are no effective treatments for rhabdoid tumors - aggressive childhood cancers that usually strike children under three years old and affect the brain or kidneys. The disease is extremely rare - fewer than 10 cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S. - but is particularly difficult to treat and almost always fatal.

6 May 2011

Study examines community-based HIV testing programs in Africa, Southeast Asia

If you want to improve HIV testing rates in remote rural areas, get the community involved, says UCLA's Thomas Coates, who has directed a new study examining HIV testing programs in communities in Africa and Southeast Asia.

6 May 2011

Scripps Research receives CIRM grant for new research in stem cell biology and disease origins

Stem cells have huge potential in medicine because they have the ability to change or differentiate into many different cell types potentially providing a source of cells to replace those that have been permanently lost by a patient.

6 May 2011

Asthma ‘pill-a-day’ shows similar effectiveness as inhalers: Study

A new study has shown that a ‘once-a-day’ pill may be on par with an inhaler at combating asthma. This tablet, say researchers could revolutionize treatment for the condition, meaning patients are no longer reliant on inhalers, which many find difficult to use. Around 5.4 million Britons have asthma, including 1.1 million children.

5 May 2011

Acorda reports $0.7 million GAAP net loss for first quarter 2011

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011.

5 May 2011

UCSF scientists elected as members of National Academy of Sciences for excellence in biomedical research

Alexander D. Johnson, PhD, and Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, have been elected as members of the National Academy of Sciences for their excellence in original scientific research. It is one of the highest honors bestowed on a scientist or engineer in the United States.

5 May 2011

Affitech, Cancer Research Technology sign deal to advance therapeutic antibodies

Cancer Research Technology, the commercial arm of Cancer Research UK, has signed a license agreement to grant antibody medicines company, Affitech A/S, exclusive rights to a CRT patent application and relevant know how to develop and use therapeutic antibodies that recognise and block the function of CCR4, a protein found on certain tumours - including early and late stage cervical cancer and oesophageal cancer.

4 May 2011

Brazilian researchers develop hES cell line for therapeutic transplantation

Brazilian researchers, reporting in the current issue of Cell Transplantation, discovered difficulties in establishing a genetically diverse line of human embryonic stem cells to serve the therapeutic stem cell transplantation needs of the diverse ethnic and genetic Brazilian population.

3 May 2011

Techne acquires Tocris Holdings

Techne Corporation announced today that it has acquired 100% ownership of Tocris Holdings Limited and subsidiaries, a leading supplier of reagents for non-clinical life science research.

3 May 2011

Poor asthma training among GP’s: Report

According to figures revealed by authorities, a lack of training for GPs in how to treat asthma is putting sufferers' lives at risk. Asthma UK says a survey found that 47 per cent of GPs admit their own knowledge about the condition could be better. Emergency hospital admissions for asthma cost the NHS over £60m a year, yet the charity maintains 75 per cent of admissions are avoidable. It estimates at least £45m could be saved if GPs were better informed and care was better managed.

3 May 2011

Asthma research on its way to help sufferers

The University of Newcastle is now conducting a nationwide research program to help people with asthma better control their condition. This study will be testing the effectiveness of combining antibiotics with commonly used treatments in asthmatics. This news comes today on the World Asthma Day. Statistics show that commonly prescribed treatments and medications do not relieve the symptoms for about 10 per cent of asthma patients. It's thought about 80% of people with the condition suffer numerous symptoms, yet 80% say they believe they have it under control.

3 May 2011

Hospitals can implement preventive measures to reduce measles outbreak

The U.S. measles vaccination program has been successful in eliminating endemic measles in the United States; yet this success has provided challenges that require ongoing vigilance for the rapid identification and response to measles cases in health care settings.

2 May 2011

Talecris, Grifols enter 'Consent Agreement' with FTC Staff

Grifols, S.A. and Talecris Biotherapeutics Holdings Corporation, announced today that they have signed a "Consent Agreement" with the Staff of the Bureau of Competition of the US Federal Trade Commission by means of which the conditions for the merger transaction between both companies are agreed.

2 May 2011

Springtime blooms, thunderstorms can trigger asthma symptoms, warns ACAAI

The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the nation's allergists warn people with asthma to beware of both springtime blooms and thunderstorms which can trigger symptoms.

30 Apr 2011

Centocor Ortho Biotech Products withdraws NDA for trabectedin for treatment of women with ROC

Centocor Ortho Biotech Products, L.P., today announced that it has voluntarily withdrawn the New Drug Application for trabectedin for the treatment of women with recurrent ovarian cancer. The withdrawal is based on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recommendation that an additional Phase 3 study be conducted to obtain approval.

30 Apr 2011

International Society of Nephrology honors BIDMC Co-director for immune tolerance research

Terry Strom, MD, Co-director of the Transplant Institute at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and a leader in the field of immune tolerance research, was awarded the 2011 Alfred Newton Richards Award from the International Society of Nephrology during a program held earlier this month as part of the World Congress of Nephrology 2011 in Vancouver, Canada.

30 Apr 2011

Celgene non-GAAP total revenue increases 40% to $1.11 billion

Celgene Corporation: “The results for the quarter were outstanding and they reflect the ongoing momentum that Celgene is creating as we leverage our business model and position our Company for long-term success”.

28 Apr 2011

New discovery in cancer and autoimmune diseases

Researchers in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta have made an important discovery that provides a new understanding of how our immune system "learns" not to attack our own body, and this could affect the way doctors treat patients with autoimmune diseases and cancer.

28 Apr 2011

Seattle BioMed study to identify biomarkers for malaria vaccine design

In the first study of its type in the malaria field, Seattle BioMed has been awarded an $8.9 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to identify biomarkers that will allow malaria vaccine design based on robust predictors of protective immunity.

28 Apr 2011