Immunology News and Research

Latest Immunology News and Research

Scientists identify a new way to cure food allergies

Johns Hopkins scientists have discovered a way to turn off the immune system's allergic reaction to certain food proteins in mice, a discovery that could have implications for the millions of people who suffer severe reactions to foods, such as peanuts and milk.

4 Oct 2010

Encorium announces extension of expiration date for pending rights offering

Encorium Group, Inc. , a full service multinational clinical research organization (CRO) conducting studies in over 30 countries for many of the world's leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, today announced that it has extended the expiration date for its pending rights offering from September 30, 2010 to October 15, 2010. The subscription rights may now be exercised at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, October 15, 2010.

1 Oct 2010

Albert Einstein College of Medicine receives grant to study role of proteins in health and disease

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) has awarded Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University a five-year, $30 million grant to study the structure and function of thousands of biomedically important proteins.

1 Oct 2010

Experts provide information on H1N1 and seasonal flu at Johns Hopkins hospital

Johns Hopkins has a wide range of experts available for interviews and comments about seasonal flu, H1N1, emergency preparedness, infection control, flu transmission in children, vaccine safety, flu treatment, public health ethics, flu in cancer patients, and related public communications strategies. If you would like to interview a Johns Hopkins expert, call or e-mail the designated information officer in the list below.

1 Oct 2010

Discovery suggest a new direction for designing vaccines for rare HIV infection

New discoveries about the immune defenses of rare HIV patients who produce antibodies that prevent infection suggest a novel direction for designing new vaccines. Researchers at Rockefeller University and colleagues have now made two fundamental discoveries about the so called broadly neutralizing anti-HIV antibodies, which effectively keep the virus at bay.

30 Sep 2010

Precautionary guidelines on flu vaccine safety for allergic children

With the flu season looming and health officials calling for across-the-board immunization, some parents may wonder just how safe the egg-based flu vaccine is for children with allergies. Pretty safe, say pediatricians from Johns Hopkins Children's Center: Even though the flu vaccine contains egg protein, most children with egg and other food allergies can be immunized safely with a few basic precautions.

30 Sep 2010

Swine flu no longer a threat to Americans: Report

According to the latest research most Americans are immune to the swine flu virus. Results of the study by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, published in the journal mBio show that around 59 percent of the 310 million U.S. population has developed immunity to H1N1 either from exposure to similar viruses, vaccination, or natural H1N1 infection.

29 Sep 2010

Medivation and Astellas commence MDV3100 second Phase 3 clinical trial in advanced prostate cancer

Medivation, Inc. and Astellas Pharma Inc. today announced treatment of the first patient in a second Phase 3 clinical trial of the investigational drug MDV3100, which expands the Phase 3 development of the novel, triple-acting oral androgen receptor antagonist into an earlier-stage patient population. Known as PREVAIL, the trial will evaluate MDV3100 in men with advanced prostate cancer who have not yet received chemotherapy. Initiation of the PREVAIL trial triggers a milestone payment to Medivation under its collaboration agreement with Astellas.

29 Sep 2010

Morphotek announces first therapeutic monoclonal antibody for clinical development

Morphotek, Inc., a subsidiary of Eisai Inc., today announced that a monoclonal antibody has been selected for advancement to clinical development under the terms of its March 2009 collaboration agreement with Human Genome Sciences, Inc.

29 Sep 2010

People with pet allergies develop ragweed allergy symptoms: Research

Researchers found that people with pet allergies often develop ragweed allergy symptoms more quickly than others. But the study also suggests that once allergy season is in full swing, those symptom differences subside.

29 Sep 2010

Critical piece of puzzle in treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

University of Missouri researchers believe they have found a critical piece of the puzzle for the treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) - the leading genetic cause of infantile death in the world. Nearly one in 6,000 births has SMA, and it is estimated that nearly one in 30 to 40 people have the trait that leads to SMA.

29 Sep 2010

Scientists discover way of shrinking tumours in cancers

Australian and American scientists have found a way of shrinking tumours in certain cancers - a finding that provides hope for new treatments.

29 Sep 2010

Children with food allergies experience bullying: Study

In the first ever study to assess the social impact of food allergies in children, Mount Sinai researchers have found that approximately 35 percent of children with food allergies, who are over the age of five, were reported to have experienced bullying, teasing, or harassment as a result of their allergies.

28 Sep 2010

Study: Genetic ancestry has no influence on how African-Americans with asthma respond to medication

Genetic ancestry has no discernible influence on how African American patients with asthma respond to medication, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study.

28 Sep 2010

IAVI investigators awarded grant to examine antibodies that neutralize HIV virus

A team of investigators headed by International AIDS Vaccine Initiative Investigator Pascal Poignard has been awarded a major grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the US National Institutes of Health to investigate the biological mechanisms underlying the generation of broadly neutralizing antibodies by HIV positive individuals.

28 Sep 2010

Sanofi Pasteur signs agreement to acquire VaxDesign

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of the sanofi-aventis Group announced today that it has signed a binding agreement for the acquisition of VaxDesign, a privately held U.S. biotechnology company, based in Orlando, Florida, that develops, manufactures and markets in vitro models of the human immune system.

28 Sep 2010

UGA researcher receives NIH award for high-risk, high-reward carbohydrate research

The National Institutes of Health has awarded a prestigious EUREKA award to Robert Woods, a professor at the University of Georgia Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, to develop a new method for understanding how antibodies interact with large molecules known as glycans that are a major component of all cell surfaces.

27 Sep 2010

Signaling pathway inhibition enhances autologous bone marrow transplant: Research

Identification of a molecular communications pathway that influences the mobilization of hematopoietic (blood) stem cells could lead to targeted therapies for improving bone marrow transplant success rates.

27 Sep 2010

Mayo Clinic initiates enrollment in first U.S. clinical Hand Transplant Program

Mayo Clinic has initiated the first clinical Hand Transplant Program in the United States and is now enrolling patients. This program offers hand transplantation as a clinically available option for patients with bilateral hand injuries or amputations. This allows patients to embark on this option of reconstructive surgery without being required to enroll in experimental trials.

24 Sep 2010

Concerted effort yields significant progress in reducing depression, HIV/AIDS, and osteoporosis in women

A concerted effort to boost research on women's health over the last two decades has lessened the burden of disease and reduced deaths among women due to cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and cervical cancer, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. The effort has yielded less but still significant progress in reducing the effects of depression, HIV/AIDS, and osteoporosis on women, added the committee that wrote the report.

24 Sep 2010

Immunology News and Research

Latest Immunology News and Research

Scientists identify a new way to cure food allergies

Encorium announces extension of expiration date for pending rights offering

Albert Einstein College of Medicine receives grant to study role of proteins in health and disease

Experts provide information on H1N1 and seasonal flu at Johns Hopkins hospital

Discovery suggest a new direction for designing vaccines for rare HIV infection

Precautionary guidelines on flu vaccine safety for allergic children

Swine flu no longer a threat to Americans: Report

Medivation and Astellas commence MDV3100 second Phase 3 clinical trial in advanced prostate cancer

Morphotek announces first therapeutic monoclonal antibody for clinical development

People with pet allergies develop ragweed allergy symptoms: Research

Critical piece of puzzle in treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Scientists discover way of shrinking tumours in cancers

Children with food allergies experience bullying: Study

Study: Genetic ancestry has no influence on how African-Americans with asthma respond to medication

IAVI investigators awarded grant to examine antibodies that neutralize HIV virus

Sanofi Pasteur signs agreement to acquire VaxDesign

UGA researcher receives NIH award for high-risk, high-reward carbohydrate research

Signaling pathway inhibition enhances autologous bone marrow transplant: Research

Mayo Clinic initiates enrollment in first U.S. clinical Hand Transplant Program

Concerted effort yields significant progress in reducing depression, HIV/AIDS, and osteoporosis in women

Immunology eBook

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech