What is Aging?

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Fredricko

A recent open access commentary by researcher Michael Rose and colleagues looks at the following question: what, exactly, is aging? Much like art, we might know it if we see it, but there's plenty of room for debate over the details.

What is Aging?

In 1991, the book Evolutionary Biology of Aging offered the following definition of aging: a persistent decline in the age-specific fitness components of an organism due to internal physiological deterioration (Rose, 1991). This definition has since been used by others a number of times. However, it was only a modest generalization of a definition proffered by Alex Comfort over three editions (1956-1979) of his key book The Biology of Senescence (Comfort, 1979): "a progressive increase throughout life, or after a given stadium, in the likelihood that a given individual will die, during the next succeeding unit of time, from randomly distributed causes."

...

Yet a mere definition does not necessarily tell a scientist what causally underlies the phenomenon that is so defined. The latter issue is much broader, implicitly raising fundamental scientific questions regarding mechanisms.

From here the piece heads off into a discussion of late life plateaus in aging, for example in flies where it is observed that the chance of death per unit time stops rising at advanced ages - in other words the flies stop aging by one definition of the term, left with a high but steady mortality rate. There are some arguments for this phenomenon to exist in humans, but the data is sparse and other results argue the opposite conclusion. Still, the researchers here argue that the demonstrated existence of this phenomenon in lower animals requires further thought to be directed towards how to define aging:

it appears that the cessation of aging occurs at the individual level, and is not just an artifact of population structure. Yet this is clearly paradoxical, if we think of the machinery of aging in terms of such physiological processes as steadily cumulative damage. If it is supposed that some process of cumulative damage or disharmony is supposed to underlie aging, why should that process abruptly stop at the very point, late in adult life, when it has greatly reduced the ability of the surviving individuals to sustain life and reproduction?

...

These results call for some fundamental re-thinking of what aging is: [that] aging is not inevitably a cumulative and unremitting process of deterioration. Instead, aging might be best conceived as a facet of [evolutionary] adaptation ... under sufficiently benign environmental conditions, individuals from species as disparate as humans and fruit flies can survive a protracted aging period and reach a subsequent late-life respite in which fitness-component deterioration stops, a phase permitted by the complete attenuation of the forces of natural selection relative to the effects of genetic drift.

The details of the way in which these researchers put forward their hypothesis to reconcile the late-life plateau in aging with existing ideas on the evolution of aging is not conceptually straightforward or easy to understand - but is interesting. As they put it:

This vision of what underlies aging may be off-putting for some, given its theoretical complexities and difficulties for experimental design. No doubt many physicists felt the same way about the destruction of the elegant late nineteenth Century version of Newtonian mechanics by the advent of relativistic and quantum mechanics, in the period from 1905 to 1945. But paradigm transitions in science are generally like that, requiring that we abandon comfortable theories in favor of those that are significantly less wrong.

It remains to be seen whether this view of aging merits comparison with the signature physics of the 20th century, but it is certainly true that a lot of new theorizing on evolution and aging is taking place these days - no doubt driven by an increasing interest in the biology of aging and the prospects of new medicine to intervene in the aging process.

Source:
http://www.longevitymeme.org/newsletter/latest_rss_feed.cfm

Engineering Viruses to Make a Better Targeted Cancer Therapy

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Fredricko

Some viruses show promise in terms of preferentially attacking cancer cells - but they can be engineered to be far more effective in the role of therapeutic agent: "Parvoviruses specifically kill cancer cells and are already in the clinical trial stage for treating malignant brain tumors. However, they can also infect normal cells - without doing any harm to them - so a large portion of viruses is lost during therapy. [Researchers] have now modified parvoviruses in such a way that they initially lose their ability to infect cells. In a second step, they equipped the viruses with a molecular key for infecting cancer cells. ... the researchers chose H1 parvoviruses, which normally infect rodents but are also infectious for human cells. H1 viruses kill tumor cells on the basis of their natural properties, i.e., their genetic material does not need to be modified for them to do so. ... The viruses exclusively destroy cancer cells. But with the same efficiency that they infect cancer cells, they also infect healthy cells. There they do not cause any damage and cannot replicate, but we lose a large portion of therapeutic viruses every time ... To solve this problem, the researchers [first] modified the genetic material of the virus in such a way that it loses its ability to infect cells. In a second step, this non-infectious virus was equipped with a molecular key for cancer cells. ... This is first evidence that it is basically possible to modify properties of H1 according to a plan. We will surely need several more attempts in order to target the viruses more specifically to cancer cells in the second step. We also already have ideas how to further enhance the infectious capacity and the potential to destroy cancer cells."

Link: http://www.kurzweilai.net/tailor-made-viruses-for-enhanced-cancer-therapy

Source:
http://www.longevitymeme.org/newsletter/latest_rss_feed.cfm

Unnatural Selection: Muscles, Genes and Genetic Cheats

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Fredricko

Take a close look at the athletes competing in this year's Summer Olympic Games in London --their musculature will tell you a lot about how they achieved their elite status. Endless hours of training and commitment to their sport played a big role in building the bodies that got them to the world's premier athletic competition. Take an even closer look--this one requires microscopy--and you'll see something else, something embedded in the genetic blueprints of these young men and women that's just as important to their success. [More]

Source:
http://rss.sciam.com/sciam/topic/gene-therapy

Europe Nears First Approval for Gene Therapy Treatment

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Fredricko

From Nature magazine

[More]

Source:
http://rss.sciam.com/sciam/topic/gene-therapy

AIDS: Genetic Clues from HIV Elite Controllers Could Lead to Better Vaccines, Cancer Treatments (preview)

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Fredricko

One day in early 1995 a man named bob massie walked into my office at the outpatient clinic of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Massie told me he had been infected with HIV--the virus that causes AIDS--for 16 years and yet had never shown any symptoms. My physical examination confirmed he was healthy, in stark contrast to all other patients I saw that day. At that time, a new combination of drugs was being tested that would eventually slow the progressive decline in immune function that HIV caused. In 1995, however, most people who had been infected with HIV for a decade or more had already progressed to AIDS--the stage marked by the inability to fight off other pathogens. The young man standing before me had never taken anti-HIV medication and strongly believed that if I learned the secret to his good fortune, the information could help others to survive what was then generally thought to be a uniformly fatal disease.

[More]

Source:
http://rss.sciam.com/sciam/topic/gene-therapy

Small Comfort: Nanomedicine Able to Penetrate Bodily Defenses

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Fredricko

Tears and a runny nose can be unpleasant on a windy day, but these mucosal secretions play a vital role in protecting the body from viruses and other malicious microbes. Unfortunately, mucus is also adept at washing away medication designed to treat infections and inflammation that occur when an infectious agent is successful in penetrating the body's defenses [More]

Source:
http://rss.sciam.com/sciam/topic/gene-therapy

Stem Cell Blowback from Proposition 71

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Fredricko

Proposition 71 last week once again
stood in the way of action by the $3 billion California stem cell
agency.

This time it was a bit of minutia
embedded in state law that prevented the agency's governing board
from going forward. The result is that the board will have to hold
another meeting in August to approve matters that need to be acted on
in a timely fashion.

The minutia involves the supermajority
quorum requirement for the board, the percentage of board members
needed to conduct business legally. Proposition 71, the 10,000-word
ballot initiative that created the agency in 2004, stipulates that 65
percent of the 29 members of the board be present for action.

Here is what happened: Late last
Thursday afternoon, CIRM directors were moving fast after a long day
of dealing with $151 million in research awards. But as they
attempted to act on proposed changes in the agency's important
intellectual property rules, one of the board members left the
meeting, presumably to catch a flight. The result was that the
meeting quickly ended after it was decided to deal with the IP
proposal and another matter during a telephonic meeting this month.

The quorum problem has plagued the CIRM
board since its inception, although the situation has eased since
J.T. Thomas, a Los Angeles bond financier, was elected chairman in
2011. A few years back, the board also changed its rules to allow a
limited number of board members to participate in meetings by
telephone, reducing the pressure on board members to physically
attend meetings.

The obvious solution would be to change
the quorum to 50 percent, a reasonable standard. However, the board
is legally barred from doing that. To make the change would require a super, supermajority vote, 70 percent of
each house of the state legislature and the signature of the
governor. That is another bit that is embedded in state law, courtesy of Proposition 71. To attempt to win a 70 percent legislative vote would involve a political process
that could be contentious and also involve some horse-trading that
the stem cell agency would not like to see.

Why does the 65-percent quorum
requirement exist? Normally, one would think such internal matters
are best left to the governing board itself. It is difficult to know
why former CIRM Chairman Bob Klein and his associates wrote that
requirement into law. But it does allow a minority to have effective
veto power over many actions by the governing board.

Of course, there is another way to look
at the problem: CIRM board members could change their flights and
stick around until all the business is done. But that would ignore
the reality that all of them are extremely busy people and have
schedules that are more than full.

All of this goes to one of the major policy issues in California -- ballot box budgeting and the use of initiatives that are inflexible and all but impossible to change, even when the state is in the midst of a financial crisis in which the poor, the elderly and school children are the victims. One California economist has called the situation "our special hell."

For more on some of the other problems
created by Proposition 71, see here(cap on size of staff, which took legislation to remove), here (board cannot nominate its ownchairman), here (dual executive arrangement).

Source:
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

$20 Million in Stem Cell Irony

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Fredricko

A bit of irony popped up this
week in the wake of approval of $151 million in awards by the
California stem cell agency.

One of the awards was $20 million to
StemCells, Inc., of Newark, Ca., which is also fighting hard for
another $20 million from the state research enterprise.

However, back in 2008, Kenneth
Stratton, general counsel for the firm, put some distance between his
company and the agency, which is handing out $3 billion in toto.

Stratton said,

"We will take CIRM money last. We
don't want to be in a position where, years from now, we are actually
forced to sell [our products] in California at a loss."

But last week, Martin McGlynn, CEO of
StemCells, said in a press release,

“We are extremely grateful to CIRM
for its support.”

Times have changed for both the company
and CIRM, which is in the process of altering the intellectual
property rules that offended Stratton in 2008. The changes were due
to be approved last Thursday, but action was put off by the CIRM
board. It was overwhelmed as it dealt with the record pace of appeals
by researchers who were scrambling to overturn negative decisions by
grant reviewers.

StemCells' application for another $20
million is one of those being appealed. The board will take it up
again in either September or late October, after it undergoes
additional scrutiny by the agency.

CIRM is touting its IP changes as being
more friendly to business. They also can be made retroactive to cover
awards to business made in the past. CIRM directors expect to meet by
telephone, probably in August, to approve the new IP rules.

Source:
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

Munchausen’s syndrome – NHS video

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Danzig

From the NHS Choices YouTube channel: A psychiatrist explains the motivation behind Munchausen's syndrome, also known as factitious illness, where someone pretends to be ill or causes symptoms in themselves. This can include inflicting wounds or tampering with blood and urine samples. He also explains the importance of getting treatment and describes another form of the condition where a person fabricates an illness in someone in their care (Munchausen's syndrome by proxy):

Comments from Twitter:

Julie Meadows-Keefe @esq140: Fascinatingly & disturbingly real.

Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/CasesBlog

How Do Pain Relievers Work? TED-Education video

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Danzig

From TED Education series, Jun 26, 2012: Some people take aspirin or ibuprofen to treat everyday aches and pains, but how exactly do the different classes of pain relievers work? Learn about the basic physiology of how humans experience pain, and the mechanics of the medicines we've invented to block or circumvent that discomfort.

Lesson by George Zaidan, animated by Augenblick Studios.

Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/CasesBlog

The science of the perfect sandcastle

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Danzig

There’s something very summery about building a sandcastle. From my first attempts with a simple bucket, and my Dad hydro-engineering sea-filled moats, I was hooked and these days no trip to the beach is complete without some sort of sand sculpture. From those early days and experiments I learnt how the sand had to be wet, but not too wet. Goldilocks sandcastle sand is wet enough to hold the grains of sand together but not so wet as to cause the walls to become unstable, crumbling to the ground and leaving you with a sand ruin. But how was I to know you could pursue a scientific career in sandcastle science?

— Not one of mine

Daniel Boon from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and colleagues, has shown that the Goldilocks recipes for sandcastle uses just 1% water (however, he investigated this with beach sand and deionized water, I do wonder if the saltiness of sea water makes a noticeable difference). This is enough water to form the capillary bridges between grains of sand, pulling them together and making wet sand such a good building material for complex structures.

As Boon notes in his paper (Scientific Reports, DOI: 10.1038/srep00549), the literature has previously claimed that sandcastles can only be built to around 20 cm, due to the capillary rise of the sand, but you can get much bigger sand structures than that so what’s going on? Well, more painstaking research building sandcastles, or rather sandcylinders, showed that sand buckles under its own weight at a critical height which is proportional to the cylinder’s radius to the power of two thirds. Using his calculations, with the best sand-water mix, a castle with a base with a radius of 20 cm should be as tall as 2.5 m. Compacting the mix (or tapping the sand with the back of the spade, as my Dad calls it) also helps, according to Boon.

Of course, these findings can be used by civil engineers and people working in soil mechanics, but will you be taking your calculator to the beach this summer? I think I’ll just stick with guesstimates, but might see if a drier sand than I expect will give better results.

Laura Howes

Source:
http://prospect.rsc.org/blogs/cw/?feed=rss2

CW competition blog – Lesley Yellowlees

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Danzig

This is a guest post from one of our judges for the Chemistry World Science Communication Competition

Robert Winston recently said ‘If you cannot communicate science it may as well have not been carried out’. I rather agree.

Communicating science is important because, to paraphrase Alan Alda, science surrounds us. Alda’s ‘flame challenge’ recently illuminated the importance of communicating science by challenging Science readers to explain what a flame is to a class of 11-year-olds. Of course, it helps if you’re a famous actor, but both Alda and Winston make the same point: science cannot be separated from society. Each supports and improves the other. The problem is that science journalism is often outside the mainstream, appearing further down newslists than it we would otherwise like it to be, Higgs and Dolly the sheep-type stories excepted.

There are consequences to this. In the most recent Public Attitudes to Science survey, just over half of those who took part said they hear and see too little information about science. The research also highlighted the challenge of public engagement with science. The majority of people surveyed said they did not feel informed about science, and scientific research and developments.

And not every scientist is an excellent communicator – that’s where you can step in.

So how do you go about telling a science story? Well, try and imagine you’ve a good tale on your hands and you’re itching to tell someone – now imagine you’re face to face with that person and you’re telling them about it: the most important part of the story will naturally come out first, then the next and so on until you’ve got it all out. Your friend will no doubt have some questions – if they don’t, then well done, you’ve explained it perfectly. When you’re writing the story, follow the same format. Go back and read it again – ask yourself whether any questions remain unanswered. If so, get answering them. You can do this for an article or script: both need to convey the facts and detail without leaving people scratching their heads.

Let your enthusiasm for the story shine through the copy and remember you’re writing for a wide audience so avoid jargon that can be confusing to non-specialists. There will be times when a particularly long sentence is necessary and you have to cram as much detail in a single line as you possibly can, at which time bear in mind that using a shorter one to follow on is often the best way to balance the paragraph. Just like this one.

I’m looking forward to seeing your efforts.

Good luck.

Lesley Yellowlees is professor of chemistry at the University of Edinburgh and president of the RSC

You can also read Adam Hart-Davis’ and Philip Ball’s competition blog posts.

And you can find out about the Chemistry World Science Communication Competition and submit your entry here.

Source:
http://prospect.rsc.org/blogs/cw/?feed=rss2

August podcast now online

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Danzig

We’ve got a bumper August podcast for you all! Phil, Laura and Phillip talk to Meera about two different new ways to make graphene, the latest developments about open access to scientific papers and the retraction of some Science and JACS papers that claimed to break the ‘oxo wall’.

Plus Andrew Harrison, director of the ILL, tells us all about the amazing work they do with neutrons, and Robert West of UCL explains why giving up smoking is so difficult – and why making drugs to help is too. Phil also provides the answer to the burning question “How are the Olympics like a ready meal?” You’ll just have to listen to find out.

Source:
http://prospect.rsc.org/blogs/cw/?feed=rss2

Chemistry in its element – putrescine

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Danzig

Once sniffed, never forgotten. That’s many people’s verdict on the smell of death, for which putrescine is partly responsible. You might have to hold your nose while listening to this week’s Chemistry in its element podcast.

Source:
http://prospect.rsc.org/blogs/cw/?feed=rss2

Pathology-based Anatomical Cake Shop: Call for Entries!

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Danzig

Our wonderful friend and cake curator extrodinaire, Miss Cakehead is putting on another extreme cake shop following the success of last years Eat Your Heart Out, the world’s first 18+ cake shop. Because cakes shouldn’t just be nice and sweet.

This year the event will be held in St Bartholomew’s Pathology Museum in West Smithfield, London, with mission to educate people about Pathology while also selling some very unique anatomically correct baked goods. A series of pathology based lectures will also take place in the space, examining relevant conditions such as icing sugar spleen, nutmeg liver and maple syrup urine disease. How cool and gross is that!?

‘Eat Your Heart Out’ is currently on the lookout for the most creative bakers, cake artists & food artists around the UK to come up with some anatomically correct treats.

Miss Cakehead says, “If you have a steady hand and a strong stomach for making delicious yet gory cakes or horrifically anatomical sugary sculptures and treats then please get in touch!”

facebook.com/miss_cakehead

@miss_cakehead

http://www.evilcakes.wordpress.com/join-us

Stuntkid Objectify This teaser 09-07-2012

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/streetanatomy/OQuC

Jordan Eagles New Blood Work – Fall 2012

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Danzig

I met with the stunning Jordan Eagles back in July after he visited the International Museum of Surgical Science, one of the three venues for his upcoming series of shows, called Hemofields and Blood Work. It was one of the hottest days in Chicago, but Jordan was seemingly unfazed. He keeps his studio between 92°F–100°F, the optimal temperature to work with his art medium—blood.

For someone who works with blood, Jordan is extremely upbeat, passionate, and almost spiritual in his approach to his work. He speaks of his pieces in a range of terms, from the boldness of energy to the subtleness of a whisper. Of course, I don’t think his work needs many words, it’s more of an experience, one that you must have if you happen to be in or near any of the cities below! The Street Anatomy crew will definitely be in attendance at the show in Chicago.

JORDAN EAGLES: HEMOFIELDS
September 5, 2012 — October 16, 2012
Krause Gallery
149 Orchard Street
New York, NY

JORDAN EAGLES: BLOOD WORK
September 14, 2012 — November 30, 2012
International Museum of Surgical Science
1524 N. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL

JORDAN EAGLES: BLOOD WORK
September 22, 2012 — October 27, 2012
The Butcher’s Daughter
22747 Woodward Avenue, Suite 201
Ferndale, MI

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/streetanatomy/OQuC

Pauline Darley – She has waited too long

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Danzig

Gorgeous compositions and subject shot by French photographer Pauline Darley for Ever Magazine. The model is Clémentine Levy and her awesome skeletal make up was done by MademoiselleMu, hair and styling by Sophie Haise and Valériane Dousse & Clémentine Levy.

View the entire beautiful series at Ever magazine!

Images used with permission form Pauline Darley. Please contact her before reposting.

Street Anatomy Objectify This 09-07-2012 Teaser

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/streetanatomy/OQuC

Jason Freeny Launches CAPSL

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Danzig

Original doodle for CAPSL

It’s been 2 years in the making, but our favorite pop anatomist, Jason Freeny has finally launched an awesome product called CAPSL. What is a CAPSL you ask? Apart from having one of those trendy vowelless names, CAPSL’s are collectable designer pill fobs with “pocket-sized personalities.” Hollow on the inside, they let you store whatever you can fit in them, whether it be paper clips, ground coffee, catnip, gum, or prescriptionnnn drugs.

Jason describes his CAPSL idea,

A little over two years ago I was tinkering around with ideas for illustrations. I had worked as a toy designer for a short stint and always enjoyed putting together the promotional schematics I would use to pitch the ideas to toy companies. I really wanted to create an illustration of a toy schematic but not to pitch, it was only for the purpose of “Art”. I came up with a cute toy idea as my subject and quickly started constructing the assets for the final piece…
Strange thing was, it was a pretty cool toy idea. So before I posted the illustration I pitched it to a toy company and they thought it was pretty cool too, and off to production it went!

CAPSL’s come in 12 designs with another 9 mystery designs out there. Try your luck at CAPSLs.com! Can’t wait to get some myself!

Also, if you haven’t already, check out our Street Anatomy interview with Jason Freeny to get more insight into the man behind the toys. Follow Jason on Facebook to get updates on the process of all his amazing projects.

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/streetanatomy/OQuC

JOB OPENING: Administrative Assistant, Library, New York Academy of Medicine, New York City

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Danzig

The Malloch Rare Book Room at the New York Academy of Medicine.

Another job alert just in from the wonderful New York Academy of Medicine! Full details follow:

Title: Administrative Assistant
Division: Library
The Center for the History of Medicine and Public Health at the New York Academy of Medicine is looking for an energetic, motivated and highly organized Administrative Assistant. The Assistant will report to the Center Director, be responsible for the day to day administration of the Center and provide support to the Director and other staff members in the delivery of programs and activities.
The Center for the History of Medicine and Public Health is NYAM’s newest Center, and this position offers an outstanding opportunity for an administrator looking to develop the range and depth of his or her skills and expertise. The role will suit an individual who is keen to take on new challenges. The Administrative Assistant will be offered the opportunity to develop specialized skills as needed by the Center. Candidates with an interest in developing public programming and using social media to build audiences are particularly welcome.
Duties and Responsibilities
Manage the day to day administration of the Center
Provide administrative support for the Director, and other department members when appropriate, including coordinating schedules and managing calendars
Assist in research, preparation and follow-up of funding proposals
Organize meetings for internal and external participants
Maintain office budgets and invoicing requests
Help plan events and programming
Coordinate arrangements for speakers and workshop and seminar participants
Organize and maintain filing systems and other records
Help manage the online presence of the Center
Qualifications

Required
3-5 years of related administrative experience
Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
Attention to detail, accuracy and consistency in executing tasks
Problem solving skills and ability to work independently
Ability to manage many projects in fast-paced environment and meet deadlines
Ability to quickly learn and apply new skills
Excellent computer and web skills including Microsoft Office Suite
Good grammatical, writing, proofreading, and editing ability
Ability to interact with internal and external individuals at all levels in a professional manner
Desirable
Familiarity with database software
Experience using social media
An interest in history, medicine, health, or policy issues.
Experience
Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent.
To Apply
Please email a resume and cover letter to hr@nyam.org.
Please include "Administrative Assistant” in subject line.
For more information, visit our website: http://www.nyam.org.
The New York Academy of Medicine is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.The New York Academy of Medicine advances the health of people in cities. An independent organization since 1847, NYAM addresses the health challenges facing the world's urban populations through interdisciplinary approaches to policy leadership, education, community engagement and innovative research.
Drawing on the expertise of diverse partners worldwide and more than 2,000 elected Fellows from across the professions, our current priorities are
To create environments in cities that support healthy aging
To strengthen systems that prevent disease and promote the public's health
To implement interventions that eliminate health disparities
Summary and Description
Mission of the Institution
The New York Academy of Medicine advances the health of people in cities. An independent organization since 1847, NYAM addresses the health challenges facing the world's urban populations through interdisciplinary approaches to policy leadership, evaluation, education, community engagement and innovative research.
Drawing on the expertise of diverse partners worldwide and more than 2,000 elected Fellows from across the professions, our current priorities are
• To create environments in cities that support healthy aging
• To strengthen systems that prevent disease and promote the public's health
• To implement interventions that eliminate health disparities
The Center for the History of Medicine and Public Health
The New York Academy of Medicine Center for the History of Medicine and Public Health promotes the scholarly and public understanding of the history of medicine and public health and the history of the book. The Center is made up of the Library, Rare Book and Historical Collection and Gladys Brooks Conservation Laboratory. The Center aims to develop connections between an interdisciplinary community of scholars, educators, clinicians, curatorial and conservation professionals, and public audiences.
The NYAM Library opened its collections to the general public in 1878, and remains the only independent research library in NYC offering access to medical and health information for members of the public. The Research Library has a collection that includes over 500,000 volumes, 275,000 portraits and illustrations and around 400,000 pamphlets. The collection comprises primary and secondary materials in the history of medicine, public health, science and other health-related disciplines. The collection is supported by an extensive reference collection of medical bibliography, biography, biographical dictionaries, dictionaries and library catalogues, as well as books on the history of books and printing.
The Center’s Rare Book and Historical Collections include a rare book collection of approximately 35,000 volumes. Books from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries are a particular strength, as are materials related to the history of medicine in the City of New York.
The Gladys Brooks Book and Paper Conservation Laboratory was established in 1982 for the express purpose of caring for the NYAM collections. In addition to its preservation mandate, the Lab also plays an important role in the training of future generations of conservators through its internship and volunteer programs and offers professional educational opportunities through a robust calendar of workshops and lectures.

You can find out more here.

Source:
http://morbidanatomy.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

Futurist Transhuman News Blog

Monthly Archives: August 2012

What is Aging?

Engineering Viruses to Make a Better Targeted Cancer Therapy

Unnatural Selection: Muscles, Genes and Genetic Cheats

Europe Nears First Approval for Gene Therapy Treatment

AIDS: Genetic Clues from HIV Elite Controllers Could Lead to Better Vaccines, Cancer Treatments (preview)

Small Comfort: Nanomedicine Able to Penetrate Bodily Defenses

Stem Cell Blowback from Proposition 71

$20 Million in Stem Cell Irony

Top medicine articles for July-August 2012

Munchausen’s syndrome – NHS video

How Do Pain Relievers Work? TED-Education video

The science of the perfect sandcastle

CW competition blog – Lesley Yellowlees

August podcast now online

Chemistry in its element – putrescine

Pathology-based Anatomical Cake Shop: Call for Entries!

Jordan Eagles New Blood Work – Fall 2012

Pauline Darley – She has waited too long

Jason Freeny Launches CAPSL

JOB OPENING: Administrative Assistant, Library, New York Academy of Medicine, New York City