Schizophrenia News and Research

Latest Schizophrenia News and Research

Texas doctors bristle at Medicaid cuts as Congress to consider extending funds; State pinpoints high prescribing docs

Despite states' warnings that they will face massive budget cuts without help from Washington, Congress has not yet moved to provide $24.2 billion in additional Medicaid funding that many statehouses had anticipated would be included in a failed June bill, American Medical News reports. "Lawmakers return to Washington from their Independence Day break on July 12, but Democratic leaders have not offered a clear path forward on the issue" (Trapp, 7/12).

13 Jul 2010

Scientist leads global discussion, research on insula

A scientist at Barrow Neurological Institute is leading the global discussion and research on a hidden lobe of the brain called the insula. A.D. "Bud" Craig, PhD, who began studying the often-ignored lobe more than two decades ago, has organized and edited a special edition of the journal Brain Structure and Function dedicated to the emerging medical and scientific interest in the insula.

8 Jul 2010

New insights into dendritic spine deficits in schizophrenia

Dendritic spines act as hubs for communication between nerve cells. Reductions in spines may contribute to a lack of coordination in activity between brain regions. This structural abnormality is particularly relevant in schizophrenia, where pyramidal neurons located in layer 3, the principal cell type receiving communication from other brain regions, have fewer dendritic spines.

7 Jul 2010

Study finds decline in homicide, suicide rates among mentally ill people

People with mental health problems are committing fewer homicides while the number of suicides by mental health patients has also fallen, latest figures reveal; a previous rise in homicides by mentally ill people may have been the result of drug misuse, says the report.

7 Jul 2010

CPRIT grants RBM $3 million Company Commercialization Award to expand OncologyMAP program

Rules-Based Medicine, Inc. (RBM) today announced the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) has granted it a Company Commercialization Award to expand and enhance the OncologyMAP™ program for discovery and development of novel diagnostic and prognostic cancer tests. The award of approximately $3 million will fund research and development to more than double the number of cancer-associated biomarker assays in RBM's new OncologyMAP™ product.

6 Jul 2010

Mild prenatal stressors increase risk of developing neuropsychiatric illness during adulthood

Learning and memory impairments are important contributors to the disability associated with schizophrenia. These functional impairments emerge long before the onset of other symptoms associated with schizophrenia, suggesting that they are a consequence of a disturbance in brain development.

6 Jul 2010

Karolinska Institutet researchers contribute at ESOF 2010

Researchers and staff from Karolinska Institutet are contributing to Europe's largest cross-disciplinary gathering place with news of everything from neuroscience to bioentrepreneurship. Carl Johan Sundberg, university lecturer and associate professor at Karolinska Institutet, is the founder and initiator of ESOF.

3 Jul 2010

IRSF reports record turn-out at 11th Annual Rett syndrome Symposium

IRSF's 11th Annual Rett syndrome Symposium held June 27, 28, and 29 in Leesburg, Virginia brought together leading scientists and researchers in the fields of neurobiology from around the globe who are attempting to demystify Rett syndrome. About 25 presenters led a day and a half of in-depth sessions attended by nearly 150 investigators and scientists, volunteers, families affected by the disease and IRSF staff.

3 Jul 2010

Does too much texting puts teenagers at risk?

A seemingly harmless method of communication - text messaging on mobile phones could damage teenagers physically and psychologically a new study has revealed.

1 Jul 2010

Research findings open new ways to enhance memory function and treat catastrophic brain diseases

For the first time, scientists have linked a brain compound called kynurenic acid to cognition, possibly opening doors for new ways to enhance memory function and treat catastrophic brain diseases, according to a new study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. When researchers decreased the levels of kynurenic acid in the brains of mice, their cognition was shown to improve markedly, according to the study, which was published in the July issue of the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.

1 Jul 2010

Neuralstem announces completion of $10 million registered direct offering

Neuralstem, Inc. (NYSE Amex: CUR) announced that it has completed its previously announced registered direct offering of $10 million of units to institutional investors. The units were priced at $2.80 and consisted of: (i) one share of common stock, and (ii) 3/4 common stock purchase warrant. The warrants have an exercise price of $3.25 and a term of three years. Net proceeds from this offering, after deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses, total approximately $9.2 million. All of the securities were offered pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement.

1 Jul 2010

Researchers study mechanism of human brain

Because of its intricate organization, figuring out the wiring diagram that explains how the billions of neurons in the brain are connected, and determining how they work together, remains a formidable task.

29 Jun 2010

Forest Laboratories, Gedeon Richter report positive results from radiprodil Phase II study for DPNP pain

Forest Laboratories, Inc. and Gedeon Richter Plc. today announced top-line results from a Phase II placebo and positive comparator-controlled, parallel-arm, double-blind, dose-response clinical trial of the novel, investigational NR2B-selective NMDA (N-methyl D-aspartate) receptor antagonist, radiprodil (RGH-896), for the treatment of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPNP).

29 Jun 2010

'Beeglue' may help deliver new treatments for fatal infections

Bees could have a key role to play in urgently-needed new treatments to fight the virulent MRSA bug, according to research led at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland.

29 Jun 2010

Aestus Therapeutics announces license agreement with Astellas Pharma

Aestus Therapeutics, Inc. announced today a license agreement with Astellas Pharma Inc. (Astellas; Tokyo, Japan) to provide Aestus with exclusive, world-wide rights to the Astellas product FK614. Aestus will develop the product as ATx08-001, a novel, first-in-class therapeutic for the treatment of neuropathic pain. The first clinical trial will start later this year.

28 Jun 2010

Wellcome Trust launches project in UK to decode genomes of 10,000 people

On the tenth anniversary of the completion of the first draft of the human genome - a draft which had taken ten years to complete - the Wellcome Trust today launches a project to decode the genomes of 10,000 people over the next three years. This will be one of the largest genome sequencing programmes ever undertaken and will analyse the genomes of the equivalent of one in 6,000 people in the UK.

28 Jun 2010

CHMP adopts positive opinion on pending MAA for SYCREST sublingual tablets

Merck announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use adopted a positive opinion on the pending Marketing Authorization Application for SYCREST (asenapine) sublingual tablets. The CHMP has recommended that the European Commission grant a marketing authorization for SYCREST for the treatment of moderate to severe manic episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adults. The CHMP did not support an indication for the treatment of schizophrenia.

25 Jun 2010

UH researchers analyze 'wireless connections' in brain to prevent neurological diseases

Many diseases of brain function, such as epilepsy and schizophrenia, are caused by problems in how neurons communicate with each other. A University of Houston researcher and his team are analyzing these commands and connections in an attempt to prevent those diseases.

25 Jun 2010

Mutation in ion channel that changes its dynamics is implicated in epilepsy: Scientists

In 2004, Washington University in St. Lous researcher Jianmin Cui was handed a puzzling clue to the structure of an ion channel his lab had been studying for five years.

24 Jun 2010

SSO launches Peace of Minds campaign to raise awareness about schizophrenia

More than half a million people in Ontario are either living with schizophrenia or are directly impacted by someone close to them who is suffering from the disease. Today, The Schizophrenia Society of Ontario is launching Peace of Minds, its most forceful campaign ever to raise awareness about schizophrenia and to generate support for vital programs to help those impacted by this crushing mental disease.

23 Jun 2010