Monthly Archives: September 2012

Two Columbia Professors Win Lasker Foundation Awards for Their Work in Biological Sciences

Posted on by

Two Columbia professors have won prestigious Lasker Foundation Awards for their work in biological sciences.

Tom Maniatis, the Isidore S. Edelman Professor of Biochemistry and chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at Columbia University Medical Center, will receive the 2012 Lasker-Koshland Special Achievement Award in Medical Science. Maniatis is known for both his research on the mechanisms of gene regulation and his Molecular Cloning Manual. The award, which he will share with the Carnegie Institutions Donald Brown, is given to scientists for exceptional leadership and citizenship in biomedical science.

I am deeply honored to receive the Lasker Special Achievement Award in Medical Science, said Maniatis. I became a scientist because of the excitement of making discoveries, but to see the impact of these discoveries on the treatment of human disease has been particularly gratifying.

On the Morningside campus, Michael Sheetz, the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Biological Sciences, won the Lasker Basic Medical Research Award for his part in discoveries concerning cytoskeletal motor proteins, machines that move cargos within cells, contract muscles, and enable cell movements. The basic research award is given to those scientists whose techniques or concepts to the elimination of major causes of disability and death, according to the Lasker Foundation.

He won it with two other scientists, Stanford Universitys James Spudich and Ronald Vale of the University of California, San Francisco, with whom hes been working for many years. I am deeply honored to receive the Lasker with friends and wish to thank the many people in my lab and our collaborators who contributed so much to the overall effort, said Sheetz.

The Lasker Awards, which carry an honorarium of $250,000 for each category, will be presented at a ceremony on Friday, September 21, in New York City. Since the inception of the Lasker Awards in 1945, 81 Lasker laureates have gone on to win the Nobel Prize, 29 in the last two decades.

Read the original here:
Two Columbia Professors Win Lasker Foundation Awards for Their Work in Biological Sciences

UCLA Chemist Steven G. Clarke Named to Endowed Chair in Gerontology

Posted on by

Removing molecular 'garbage' may be key to successful aging, Clarke says

(Attention editors: Photo Attached)

Newswise Steven G. Clarke, a distinguished professor in the department of chemistry and biochemistry in UCLA's College of Letters and Science, has been named to UCLA's Elizabeth and Thomas Plott Chair in Gerontology.

The endowed chair, held for a five-year term, is intended for a scholar who conducts research and education activities related to aging and longevity in the areas of molecular biology, neuroscience and immunology.

An authority in his field, Clarke focuses on the biochemistry of the aging process and conducts research aimed at understanding, on a molecular level, how human functions are maintained during aging.

His research team has proposed that a major factor in the successful aging of all organisms is how well age-generated molecular "garbage" damaged proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and small molecules can either be repaired or eliminated from the body. His lab has analyzed protein-repair systems and novel types of enzymes that may contribute to reducing this buildup of damage in aging organisms.

Specifically, Clarke's team discovered and characterized the repair system involving the enzyme L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase, or PCMT. Early research on this enzyme's ability to repair defective proteins demonstrated that mice lacking sufficient PCMT had a significant increase in the number of damaged proteins in their tissues, particularly in the brain. Deficiencies in this enzyme have been linked to epilepsy and may also play a role in several degenerative diseases.

According to Clarke, understanding such pathways may help spur the future development of interventions to enhance these repair systems in the elderly, helping address declines in muscle strength, lung capacity, mental status, eye-lens clarity, heart output and other losses of function.

Clarke added that we may now be at the tip of the iceberg in our understanding of how many repair activities exist and how these activities may be manipulated for healthy living, particularly with diet and pharmaceuticals.

"I'm excited to accept the appointment to the Plott Chair and to continue our research in this critical field," said Clarke, who also directs UCLA's Cellular and Molecular Biology Training Program.

Visit link:
UCLA Chemist Steven G. Clarke Named to Endowed Chair in Gerontology

Prana Shows Significant Promise in the Fight Against Alzheimer's Disease, According to Experts at Celebration of …

Posted on by

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA--(Marketwire - Sep 10, 2012) - Prana Biotechnology ( NASDAQ : PRAN ) ( ASX : PBT ) today provided highlights and excerpts from the panel discussion, entitled 'Alzheimer's and Other Issues of Aging,' which took place on Sunday, September 9th at the Celebration of Science Conference in Washington, D.C.Freda Lewis-Hall, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Pfizer, moderated the panel.The Celebration of Science gathered over 1,000 leaders from the scientific, government, industry, philanthropic and academic communities to honor the tremendous accomplishments of science and to discuss promising possibilities for future breakthroughs.

Professor Jeffrey Cummings, Director of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, and Chairman of Prana's Scientific Advisory Board, discussed the rising Alzheimer's epidemic among the aging US population and the need to find drugs that can reverse the disease.According to Dr. Cummings, "Patients with Alzheimer's Disease urgently need new therapies.While recent late stage clinical drug failures are disappointing, there is a promising pipeline of emerging therapies including PBT2, Prana's metal-protein attenuating compound."

Dr. Rudy Tanzi, Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School and Prana's Chief Scientific Advisor, reviewed why he felt that the late-stage therapeutic candidates had failed and said that there is mounting evidence that compounds like PBT2 that can simultaneously prevent amyloid beta protein from accumulating, neutralize its toxicity, and restore metal homeostasis in the neuron can stop and perhaps even reverse the neurodegenerative process of Alzheimer's Disease.According to Professor Tanzi, "Prana's PBT2 may prove to be the winning technology, based on not only a large and growing literature of scientific research but also on Phase II trial data.PBT2 has a unique therapeutic action that can benefit people suffering neurodegenerative disease because of its specialized ability to prevent the toxic relationship between disease proteins and the metals, zinc and copper, in the brain. In a 12 week trial PBT2 both significantly lowered beta-amyloid levels in spinal fluid and improved the cognition of patients with Alzheimer's Disease."

The currently ongoing IMAGINE trial, with 12 months of treatment, aims to establish PBT2 as a safe and effective treatment for Alzheimer's Disease.The double blind placebo controlled trial is enrolling 40 patients with prodromal or mild Alzheimer's Disease in five sites in Melbourne, Australia. Brain Imaging is being used to measure PBT2's effect on amyloid deposits in the brain (using PiB-PET scanning) and effects on increasing brain activity (FDG PET). Cognition effects are being measured by the Neuropsychological Test Battery (NTB).

Prana is also conducting a 6 month trial in 100 patients with early to mid-stage Huntington's Disease and the company believes that PBT2 has the potential to bring real benefit to Huntington's Disease patients who suffer from a range of motor, behavioural and cognitive symptoms. The trial objective is to demonstrate safety, motor and behavioural benefits and the same cognitive benefits for Huntington's patients that it has already demonstrated in Alzheimer's patients treated with PBT2.

The Celebration of Science gathered over 1,000 leaders from the scientific, government, industry, philanthropic and academic communities to honor the tremendous accomplishments of science so far and to imagine what's possible for the future.

About Prana Biotechnology Limited Prana Biotechnology was established to commercialize research into age-related neurodegenerative disorders. The Company was incorporated in 1997 and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in March 2000 and listed on NASDAQ in September 2002.Researchers at prominent international institutions including The University of Melbourne, The Mental Health Research Institute (Melbourne) and Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, contributed to the discovery of Prana's technology.

For further information please visit the Company's web site at http://www.pranabio.com.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.The Company has tried to identify such forward-looking statements by use of such words as "expects," "intends," "hopes," "anticipates," "believes," "could," "may," "evidences" and "estimates," and other similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.Such statements include, but are not limited to any statements relating to the Company's drug development program, including, but not limited to the initiation, progress and outcomes of clinical trials of the Company's drug development program, including, but not limited to, PBT2, and any other statements that are not historical facts.Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties relating to the difficulties or delays in financing, development, testing, regulatory approval, production and marketing of the Company's drug components, including, but not limited to, PBT2, the ability of the Company to procure additional future sources of financing, unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of the Company's drug compounds, including, but not limited to, PBT2, that could slow or prevent products coming to market, the uncertainty of patent protection for the Company's intellectual property or trade secrets, including, but not limited to, the intellectual property relating to PBT2, and otherrisks detailed from time to time in the filings the Company makes with Securities and Exchange Commission including its annual reports on Form 20-F and its reports on Form 6-K.Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various factions including those risks and uncertainties mentioned or referred to in this press release.Accordingly, you should not rely on those forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual future results.

View post:
Prana Shows Significant Promise in the Fight Against Alzheimer's Disease, According to Experts at Celebration of ...

Retrophin Names Stephen Aselage as Chief Executive Officer

Posted on by

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Retrophin, LLC, a privately held biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing treatments for rare and life-threatening diseases, today announced that it has named Stephen Aselage as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective October 16. Aselage was named to the Board on September 6. The company also announced that it is moving its headquarters from New York City to San Diego, CA, where it already has an office.

Aselage brings more than 30 years of pharmaceutical/biotechnology expertise to Retrophin. He joins the company from BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., where he was Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer. During his seven years with BioMarin, he built the commercial and medical affairs functions that launched three commercial products and developed commercial business in more than 45 countries.

We welcome Steves global pharmaceutical experience across multiple disciplines, expertise in rare diseases, and leadership acumen to Retrophin, said Martin Shkreli, President and Founder of Retrophin. Steve shares my vision and passion for finding treatments to help people with rare, life-threatening diseases, which make him an ideal candidate for CEO. His experience in enabling patients access to critical medications around the globe is particularly useful, as we want to ensure that every patient who might benefit from our treatments has the opportunity to do so.

Im excited to be leading the Retrophin team at a time when the company has so many opportunities for growth and promising treatments for rare diseases in the pipeline, said Aselage. I look forward to drawing from my experience in rare diseases as I work to contribute to Retrophins bright future.

Aselage also held leadership roles with Cell Therapeutics, Sangstat Medical Corporation, Advanced Tissue Sciences and Genentech. He worked briefly for Genzyme, as well, assisting in the transition following its acquisition of Sangstat. Earlier in his career, he held a variety of sales and sales management positions at companies including Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Pharmaceuticals (now Sanofi-Aventis) and Bristol Laboratories. Aselage received his B.S. in Biology from the University of Notre Dame.

About Retrophin, LLC

Retrophin, LLC is a privately held biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing treatments for rare and life-threatening diseases. Retrophin is currently developing treatments for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration (PKAN), Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and other catastrophic diseases. The companys lead compound, RE-021, formerly known as DARA, is scheduled to begin enrollment in a Phase II clinical trial for FSGS in the near future. Retrophin's Series A financing was led by MSMB Capital and several current and former senior executives at global pharmaceutical and healthcare companies.

See the original post:
Retrophin Names Stephen Aselage as Chief Executive Officer

Rockwell Nutrition Approves Improved Paleo Protein Powder

Posted on by

Wilmington, NC (PRWEB) September 10, 2012

Rockwell Nutrition, a leading health supplement website, promotes the improved formula of paleo protein powder, now with inulin and higher fiber content.

According to the website, the changes in the product will give it an edge over its competitors. Inulin, the website explains, does not affect blood sugar levels despite its sweet taste. This soluble fiber is shown to have health-promoting advantages, from helping to protect against metabolic syndrome by controlling blood lipids and blood glucose, to supporting GI health through its ability to modulate gut microbial action, says the website.

Rockwell Nutrition also explained that the new formula is ideal for weight control, detoxification, enhanced immunity, and gaining more muscle mass. Drinking a PaleoMeal shake each day will give you natural energy, help you burn body fat, and give you better endurance and a healthier body, the site continues.

Rockwell Nutrition further mentioned that the presence of soluble fiber makes the formula easier to dissolve in water.

The website also reported the use of charcone, a natural sweetener, to improve the flavor. Stevia, erythritol, and strawberry banana flavor were also listed by the website to contribute to the taste. In conclusion, the website mentioned that whether you are trying to burn fat or increase muscle and endurance, PaleoMeal is a perfect meal replacement smoothie.

###

Rockwell Nutrition is dedicated to providing access to and information about the highest-quality supplements in the industry. We review thousands of products every year and offer only the cream of the crop. Unfortunately, there are many companies out there who manufacture products that contain nutrients that are biochemically unavailable or are filled with toxins and allergens. Rockwell helps you separate bogus supplements from those that are scientifically and clinically proven to work, and provides recommendation on only the best of the best.

Excerpt from:
Rockwell Nutrition Approves Improved Paleo Protein Powder

Mandatory GM Labeling Would Require Major Change

Posted on by

CPG manufacturers may be on the cusp of monumental change as voters in California contemplate a hotly contested ballot initiative to require labeling of genetically modified foods.

Food marketers will face tough choices should the measure pass, as about 70% of processed foods sold in supermarkets contain GM ingredients like corn and soy. Some estimate that 100,000 or more foods sold in California contain some level of GE ingredients and would therefore be affected.

The mandate would be limited to the Golden State, but the implications for companies that choose not to move away from GM ingredients in advance of the July 1, 2014, deadline could be as far-reaching as consumer awareness spreads.

While the government deems genetically modified organisms safe, Californians want to judge for themselves. A Pepperdine University poll found that if the election were held last month, Californians would pass the proposition by a 3-1 margin.

To avoid the partially produced with genetic engineering label and possible consumer backlash, suppliers will likely reformulate product with more costly non-GE foods or organic ingredients, just as theyve done in countries where genetic modification disclosure is required.

Read more: Prop 37 Battle Rages in California

A recent study commissioned by the No on 37, Stop the Deceptive Food Labeling Scheme campaign, of which the Grocery Manufacturers Association is a chief sponsor, bears this out.

It projects that reformulations to non-GE and organic ingredients, which by law cannot be genetically modified, will be the most likely course taken by food producers.

Read more: California GMO Bill Is Top Priority for GMA

Retailers might also adjust their sourcing policies to gain consumer favor by incorporating more organic foods and those that have been verified under the Non-GMO Project and labeled with its seal.

Read the original post:
Mandatory GM Labeling Would Require Major Change

Planet of the Apes: What is that big hunk of 'junk' DNA up to ?

Posted on by

Last week, in response to a media blitz promoting a $288 million DNA project called ENCODE, headlines announced that most of our DNA formerly known as "junk" was actually useful.

A number of scientists both inside the study and out took issue with this claim - which centered on the 98 percent of our DNA that isn't officially part of any gene.

Sorting the workers from the freeloaders in our DNA is crucial to understanding how our genetic code works, how it drives human evolution and influences our traits and health.

Some biologists dislike the term "junk DNA" because they already knew at least part of it is doing something essential - like regulating how the instructions in the genes are carried out.

The genes hold recipes for making proteins - the working parts and scaffolding of the body. Some of the rest of the DNA tells the genes how much of a given protein to make at any given time.

The goal of the ENCODE (Encylopedia of DNA Elements) project was to figure out which parts have those important regulatory jobs.

According to some scientists involved, they succeeded in pinning down where many of those regulators lurked and identified variants in that DNA that other studies have connected to a variety of diseases. Those findings could lead to new targets for drug research and new avenues for predictive genetic testing.

But long before this project was conceived, scientists had begun to explore our jungle of mystery DNA. The question of non-gene DNA came up in 1975, when researchers discovered that humans and chimpanzees were 98 percent genetically identical. That meant we and chimps were more closely related than mice were to rats, or chimps were to gorillas.

The researchers who did the comparison pointed out that some of our differences might stem not from the genes, but from our other DNA that is regulating the genes.

That regulatory role is crucial when animals are developing in the womb. Some stretch of non-gene DNA could, for example, signal the human brain to keep growing long after chimp brain development would have shut off.

Read this article:
Planet of the Apes: What is that big hunk of 'junk' DNA up to ?

Posted in DNA

CMC Biologics Announces Mark W. Sawicki as Vice President, Global Business Development

Posted on by

SEATTLE and COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Sept. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --CMC Biologics, a leading contract manufacturing organization known for its technical excellence in process development and cGMP manufacture, announced today it has hired Mark W. Sawicki, Ph.D., to serve as the Company's new Vice President of Global Business Development. Dr. Sawicki will be focused on business development, sales management, and the integration and alignment of the Company's global sales and marketing team.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110502/SF93356LOGO)

"Mark brings broad experience and documented success in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry," said Gustavo Mahler, Chief Operations Officer of CMC Biologics. "His results-oriented approach and business acumen will play a pivotal role in extending our track record of innovation, while helping us grow profitability and take full advantage of the global contract manufacturing market opportunities ahead. In his role as Vice President, Global Business Development, he will be responsible for realizing the full potential of the sales and marketing team and provide leadership to this exciting phase of CMC Biologics' growth".

"CMC Biologics is very well respected, has a growing global customer base, offers world-class analytical, process development and manufacturing services, and has recently introduced new innovative services and technologies to its offering, giving the company a very attractive growth potential." said Dr. Sawicki. "I see a bright future for CMC Biologics and am eager to be part of the experienced and dedicated team and the challenges ahead."

Dr. Sawicki brings 10 years of business development and sales management experience, consistently delivering on corporate revenue and market share goals in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry. Prior, Sawicki was Vice President, Business Development-Europe for Albany Molecular Research, Inc. responsible for business development and sales activity in the European theater, as well as global key account management strategy. He consistently increased sales revenue at rates far outpacing industry standards from the EU Theater and prior, the US, and developed market analysis models for AMRI to determine market factors to proactively envisage future geographic/business shifts and trends. He holds Ph.D. and B.S. degrees in biochemistry from State University of New York at Buffalo; is a member of the Editorial Advisory of Pharmaceutical Outsourcing; and has more than a dozen publications in drug discovery and biochemistry.

About CMC Biologics

CMC Biologics is a global contract development and manufacturing organization that provides fully integrated biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing solutions to clients around the world from its facilities in Europe and the USA. The Company has proven expertise in delivering custom solutions for the scale-up and cGMP manufacture of protein-based therapeutics for pre-clinical, clinical trials and commercial production. The Company's wide range of integrated services includes cell line development, bioprocess development, formulation and comprehensive analytical testing. Clients can also benefit from CMC Biologics' proprietary CHEF1 expression system for mammalian production. CMC Biologics has fully segregated microbial fermentation and mammalian cell culture suites and offers both fed-batch and perfusion production processes. CMC Biologics is located in Copenhagen, Denmark; Seattle, Washington; and Berkeley, California. More detailed information can be found at http://www.cmcbiologics.com.

Read the rest here:
CMC Biologics Announces Mark W. Sawicki as Vice President, Global Business Development

Ellis Neuroscience Campaign features Conversations from Head2Toe

Posted on by

Troy, NY (PRWEB) September 10, 2012

This month began Ellis Medicines sixth service line campaign of 2012 that promotes its neuroscience and neurosurgery care from the perspective of the hospital systems patients. Created by healthcare marketing agency Smith & Jones, the campaign uses patient stories to demonstrate how the care they received at the Neuroscience Center changed their lives.

The campaign features Kevin Keelan, a patient from Charlton, NY who rushed to Ellis Medicine for emergency brain surgery after his wife noticed that his motor skills werent quite right. In a candid interview, Keelan talks about how lucky he was to have a hospital that serves as a national model for the care of brain, spine and nerve disorders so close to home.

I found I was very, very fortunate that Ellis had such a team that was ready to, on extremely short notice, to be able to save my life, said Keelan.

Keelan is the face of the neuroscience campaign, called Head2Toe Conversations, and can be seen throughout the multi-channel advertising campaign in print ads, online display ads, Facebook ads, television commercials, posters, and in a long-form web video on the hospitals website.

Two more patients, Bill Broland and Michael Nasser, also have long-form web videos new to this years Head2Toe campaign. Nasser is a spine and pain care patient from Ballston Spa, and Broland is a stroke survivor from Niskayuna, NY.

They must put the best people up there [in the Neurosciences unit].... theyre like family, said Broland.

To learn more about Ellis Medicines neuroscience services, including a nationally recognized Stroke Center, and to watch the patient videos, please visit http://www.ellismedicine.org.

About Ellis Medicine The Ellis Medicine hospital system provides acute care for Schenectady County and a diverse community of 150,000 people located just west of the state capital in upstate New York. Learn more at http://www.ellismedicine.org.

About Smith & Jones Smith & Jones is an advertising and brand strategy agency based in Troy, NY, that specializes in marketing for hospital systems and large physician practices. Learn more at http://www.smithandjones.com.

Originally posted here:
Ellis Neuroscience Campaign features Conversations from Head2Toe

Heptares Solves First Family B GPCR Structure

Posted on by

WELWYN GARDEN CITY, England and BOSTON, September 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Update on novel structures and product pipeline to be presented at Biochemical Society and Royal Society of Chemistry meetings

Heptares Therapeutics today announces that it has used its StaR technology to solve entirely in-house the first structure of a Family B sub-class G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). Chief Scientific Officer, Fiona Marshall and Chief Executive Officer, Malcolm Weir, will present views of a high resolution X-ray crystal structure of the Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF-1) receptor, together with information about additional novel in-house GPCR structures and Heptares pipeline programmes, at upcoming scientific conferences.*

CRF-1, a drug target for depression and anxiety, is a member of the Family B sub-class of nearly 50 GPCRs, which includes many targets such as GLP-1 (diabetes), PTH (bone) and CGRP (migraine) that have proven intractable to small molecule chemistry. Novel and unexpected insights into receptor topology, conformation and compound binding have been revealed, showing major differences compared to the many already known Family A structures, such as beta-adrenergic receptor. Owing to the close relationship among Family B GPCRs, these insights from the CRF structure will allow high-quality structural models to be generated to the entire family and provide new avenues for discovery, which are being leveraged by the Company using its proprietary structure-based drug design platform.

Heptares is also reporting the first structure for the Muscarinic M1 receptor in the agonist conformation, and the first structure for the Orexin-2 receptor in an antagonist confirmation. The M1 structure shows conformational and subtype differences in the ligand binding site compared to muscarinic antagonist-bound structures, and is central to Heptares' selective orthosteric agonist programme for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other disorders involving cognitive impairment.

The Orexin-2 structure shows substantial topological differences compared to other peptide Family A receptors, and enables selective drug design to both Orexin-2 (chronic insomnia) and Orexin-1 (anti-craving in addiction and compulsive disorders) subtypes, and modelling of receptor activation.

The Heptares platform is nucleated around its unique ability, using its StaR technology, to stabilise GPCRs in precisely defined, biologically-relevant conformations. These StaRs can then be used, based on receptor structural information from X-ray crystallography and Biophysical Mapping, to design and build (atom-by-atom) small molecules with specified drug action and properties, creating an unparalleled medicinal chemistry capability for addressing extremely difficult GPCR targets.

"No Family B GPCR trans-membrane domain structures have been solved until now, highlighting the power of our StaR technology. This is a fundamental discovery for GPCR drug design, and for our understanding of the mechanism of action and function of these biologically important receptors," said Fiona Marshall, CSO of Heptares Therapeutics.

"These exciting new structural insights are allowing Heptares to deliver potentially ground-breaking new medicines, which is our sole focus. We have a robust platform and pipeline, with our industry-first selective Muscarinic M1 agonist expected to enter clinical development next year and further programmes for additional CNS and metabolic disorders advancing well," said Malcolm Weir, CEO of Heptares Therapeutics.

Read the original post:
Heptares Solves First Family B GPCR Structure

Bradley biology student takes his research on the road

Posted on by

The work Richwoods High School grad Ryan Niemeier does would be impressive enough just on its face.

The biology student, now in his junior year at Bradley University, has spent the last three years working with nanofiber materials, trying to create "scaffold" systems to help concentrate the delivery of stem cells to help the body repair itself. It's research that could one day help facilitate repairs to damaged organs and lead to cures for conditions like Parkinson's disease.

And now he's taking the research on the road, with a prestigious nine-month fellowship to Galway, Ireland, to expand his work and come at it from a different perspective and with the advice of different scientists.

Niemeier stands out among students at Bradley, said mentor Craig Cady, a Bradley biology professor whose research is directed in similar areas.

"It's unusual for a student ... to see him advance that much at that age," he said. "Some students are intimidated at that age - a lot of research, a lot of stress. But Ryan was very much at ease. He can make decisions on his own," Cady said.

In fact, though still a student, he's frequently been the one in the driver's seat when it comes to determining where he wants to take his studies.

"Ryan basically was involved in implementing and creating a design to literally do the research" that led him to where he is today, Cady said.

"I've been able to set up and design all my experiments from the ground up," Niemeier said shortly before leaving last month for the Emerald Isle.

And that's precisely what he said he was looking for in choosing a course of study, first at Bradley and then with the fellowship: "Am I going to be able to get into a lab and am I going to be able to do meaningful research?"

The two share a student-mentor relationship, but because of the direction of their research and the amount of time they have spent together since the summer after Niemeier's junior year of high school, Cady said, they can also work as collaborators.

Here is the original post:
Bradley biology student takes his research on the road

Releasing serial killer Russell Williams DNA testing dates unjustified invasion of privacy

Posted on by

Could serial killer Russell Williams have been caught sooner, preventing the loss of a second womans life?

That was the question the Star had in mind when it asked the ministry that oversees police in Ontario to make public the dates when Williams DNA was submitted for testing.

But the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services refused, citing an unjustified invasion of personal privacy.

Apparently, Williams own.

The ministry is also refusing to release dates when the samples were uploaded to a national DNA data bank.

All the Star is asking for is dates.

DNA samples that matched Williams profile and could not rule him out were taken from a sexual assault scene and, months later, from the first of his two murder scenes.

With timely DNA testing, could the second victim have been saved? Or was everything possible done, and was the second murder largely unpreventable?

Releasing the dates when DNA samples were submitted, tests were completed, and the resulting DNA profiles were fed into a national database would help clear up those questions.

The Star sought access to the dates in a freedom of information request last October. The ministry, which oversees the Ontario Provincial Police and the Centre of Forensic Sciences, denied access in a letter last month.

Continued here:
Releasing serial killer Russell Williams DNA testing dates unjustified invasion of privacy

Posted in DNA

Valley Center students hope to raise enough money to compete in space education program

Posted on by

The students in Jeff Tracys biology class last week were making paper helicopters and adjusting them to see how far and accurately they could fly.

In coming months, they could be developing experiments that could travel through space to the International Space Station.

This is just an amazing opportunity for our school and our students, said Tracy, a science teacher at Valley Center High School. This is real science, not just content in the classroom.

Valley Center is one of 24 communities to be accepted as a candidate for Mission 3 of the Student Spaceflight Experiment Program. The program, part of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education, is designed to give students hands-on experience designing, building, testing and conducting experiments for space flight.

The schools first hurdle is financial: It needs to secure $20,000 in donations or pledges by Wednesday to participate.

Its a lot of money, but we are optimistic, said Jamie Lewis, principal at Valley Center High School.

Weve had a good response so far. With all the aerospace companies and other businesses here locally, were hoping the community really embraces this opportunity for our students.

If the school meets the Wednesday deadline and is approved to participate, students enrolled in mid- to upper-level science classes including biology, chemistry, physics and statistics would work in teams to brainstorm experiments that could be tested in low gravity.

A review board would narrow the experiments to three finalists, and those would advance to the next round of the Student Spaceflight Experiment Program. The program then would select one Valley Center project to fly in low Earth orbit and then on to the International Space Station.

The program provides each participating community a research mini-laboratory capable of supporting one microgravity experiment and launch services to fly the mini-lab to the space station in early April 2013.

See the original post here:
Valley Center students hope to raise enough money to compete in space education program

Bradley biology student takes his research on the road

Posted on by

The work Richwoods High School grad Ryan Niemeier does would be impressive enough just on its face.

The biology student, now in his junior year at Bradley University, has spent the last three years working with nanofiber materials, trying to create "scaffold" systems to help concentrate the delivery of stem cells to help the body repair itself. It's research that could one day help facilitate repairs to damaged organs and lead to cures for conditions like Parkinson's disease.

And now he's taking the research on the road, with a prestigious nine-month fellowship to Galway, Ireland, to expand his work and come at it from a different perspective and with the advice of different scientists.

Niemeier stands out among students at Bradley, said mentor Craig Cady, a Bradley biology professor whose research is directed in similar areas.

"It's unusual for a student ... to see him advance that much at that age," he said. "Some students are intimidated at that age - a lot of research, a lot of stress. But Ryan was very much at ease. He can make decisions on his own," Cady said.

In fact, though still a student, he's frequently been the one in the driver's seat when it comes to determining where he wants to take his studies.

"Ryan basically was involved in implementing and creating a design to literally do the research" that led him to where he is today, Cady said.

"I've been able to set up and design all my experiments from the ground up," Niemeier said shortly before leaving last month for the Emerald Isle.

And that's precisely what he said he was looking for in choosing a course of study, first at Bradley and then with the fellowship: "Am I going to be able to get into a lab and am I going to be able to do meaningful research?"

The two share a student-mentor relationship, but because of the direction of their research and the amount of time they have spent together since the summer after Niemeier's junior year of high school, Cady said, they can also work as collaborators.

Original post:
Bradley biology student takes his research on the road

NASA’s giant crawler transporter gets an overhaul

Posted on by

NASA’s giant crawler transporter that carried the Apollo missions and the Space Shuttles to the launch pad is getting an upgrade. In service since the mid-1960s, the 2,495 tonne (2,750 ton) vehicle is receiving new engines and other improvements that will allow it to carry the future Space Launch System (SLS) rockets due to enter service in 2017... Continue Reading NASA’s giant crawler ...

Read the original post:

NASA’s giant crawler transporter gets an overhaul

Liberty Ross: "I Was Totally Terrified" Before Alexander Wang Runway Show

Posted on by

Liberty Ross had everybody fooled during Alexander Wang's New York Fashion Week show Saturday.

Her calm, cool and collected -- not to mention, extraordinarily fierce -- exterior belied some serious nerves as she strutted her stuff during a surprise trip down the runway.

PHOTOS: Kristen and Rupert's July 17 fling

"I was totally terrified," Ross, 33, confessed to The Cut at the show's after party. "I hadn't actually been out of my house for seven weeks so I was really anxious. But it felt amazing." (Ross' pal, and the man of the hour, Alexander Wang, said asking the model to take part in his show was a no-brainer. He told the fashion site he invited her "Because I love her and I support her.")

PHOTOS: Kristen and Rupert's road to infidelity

While the British stunner's claims she's been a recluse recently were a bit exaggerated (Ross has been photographed out and about near her Los Angeles home over the last month or so), she's still reeling after learning in late July that her husband, director Rupert Sanders, cheated on her with his Snow White and the Huntsman star, Kristen Stewart.

Together for ten years, Ross and Sanders, 41, have two children together, Skyla, 7, and Tennyson, 5. Currently, their marital status is still very much up in the air.

As a source close to the couple recently told Us Weekly, "It's too early to tell what will happen with them."

PHOTOS: Women who've been cheated on

Meanwhile, Stewart is getting back to work as well; the Twilight star made her first public, post-scandal appearance Thursday night when she attended an On the Road screening at the Toronto Film Festival.

Link:

Liberty Ross: "I Was Totally Terrified" Before Alexander Wang Runway Show

Liberty 73, Sparks 71

Posted on by

UpdatedSep 9, 2012 9:07 PM ET

Cappie Pondexter had 21 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, Plenette Pierson scored 17 points, and the New York Liberty rallied to beat the Sparks 73-71 Sunday.

Essence Carson scored 14 points, including 11 during a 21-3 run in the third quarter that gave the Liberty (12-17) the lead after they trailed by 14 points. New York also trailed by 15 points in the first half.

''We fought hard,'' said Pondexter, who also had eight assists. ''At one point we were down almost 16 points. I told the guys at halftime that if we fight back and be victorious, it's going to feel even better than (just) winning.''

Coupled with Chicago's 82-77 loss at Connecticut, New York moved a half-game ahead of Chicago for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Liberty have five games remaining - at home against Washington on Wednesday, followed by road games against the Mystics, San Antonio and Tulsa, and a home date against the Shock in the season finale on Sept. 22.

''We've got to play like we have to win every game,'' Liberty coach John Whisenant said. ''If we get into the playoffs with a three-game series and we play as hard as we did tonight, there won't be anybody more athletically gifted like we played tonight.''

Kristi Toliver scored 17 points, Candace Parker had 14 points and 15 rebounds, and rookie Nneka Ogwumike added 13 points for the Sparks (20-10). Los Angeles, which has lost four of its last five, remained two games ahead of San Antonio for second place in the West. The Silver Stars lost 81-62 to Minnesota earler Sunday.

''We have plenty of stuff to move forward with in terms of just trying to be the best playoff team we can be,'' Sparks coach Carol Ross said. ''We still have more business to take care of before we get to the fun stuff.''

Carson's 3-pointer tied the score at 70-all with 48 seconds remaining, and Pondexter made two free throws about 26 seconds later to put the Liberty ahead.

Visit link:

Liberty 73, Sparks 71

Sparks waste 14-point second-half lead, lose to New York Liberty

Posted on by

NEWARK, N.J. -- Cappie Pondexter had 21 points and 12 rebounds, Plenette Pierson scored 17 points, and the New York Liberty rallied to beat the Sparks, 73-71, on Sunday.

Essence Carson scored 14 points, including 11 during a 21-3 run in the third quarter that gave the Liberty (12-17) the lead after it trailed by 14 points in the second half.

Kristi Toliver scored 17 points, Candace Parker had 14 points and 15 rebounds, and rookie Nneka Ogwumike had 13 points for the Sparks (20-10), who remained two games ahead of San Antonio for second place in the West. The Silver Stars lost, 81-62, to Minnesota earlier Sunday.

New York's win, coupled with Chicago's 82-77 loss at Connecticut, moved the Liberty half a game ahead of the Sky for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Carson's three-pointer tied the score at 70-70 with 48 seconds left, and Pondexter made two free throws 26 seconds later to put the Liberty ahead, 72-70.

Ebony Hoffman made one of two free throws for the Sparks to make it 72-71 with 15 seconds left. On the ensuing inbounds play, the Sparks double-teamed Pondexter and tied her up when she received the pass near half court, forcing a jump ball between her and the Sparks' DeLisha Milton-Jones.

The Sparks grabbed the tipped ball and called time out. Toliver then missed a three-point shot with about five seconds left; Pondexter corralled the loose ball, was fouled and made one of two from the line. Parker got the ball and when she dribbled, it was knocked away by Pondexter as time expired. After a lengthy video review, the officials ruled there was no time remaining when the ball went out of bounds.

After trailing by 15 in the second quarter, New York cut the deficit to 48-36 at halftime.

Then Ogwumike made one of two free throws and scored a three-point play to give the Sparks their biggest lead of the second half at 52-38 with about 8 1/2 minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The Liberty then went on its big run to take a four-point lead into the fourth, with Carson's jumper with 1:38 left in the period tying the score at 55-55 and her go-ahead basket 53 seconds later giving New York its first lead of the game.

Read more:

Sparks waste 14-point second-half lead, lose to New York Liberty

Pondexter, Pierson rally Liberty past Sparks

Posted on by

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Cappie Pondexter had 21 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, Plenette Pierson scored 17 points, and the New York Liberty rallied to beat the Sparks 73-71 Sunday.

Essence Carson scored 14 points, including 11 during a 21-3 run in the third quarter that gave the Liberty (12-17) the lead after they trailed by 14 points. New York also trailed by 15 points in the first half.

''We fought hard,'' said Pondexter, who also had eight assists. ''At one point we were down almost 16 points. I told the guys at halftime that if we fight back and be victorious, it's going to feel even better than (just) winning.''

Coupled with Chicago's 82-77 loss at Connecticut, New York moved a half-game ahead of Chicago for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Liberty have five games remaining - at home against Washington on Wednesday, followed by road games against the Mystics, San Antonio and Tulsa, and a home date against the Shock in the season finale on Sept. 22.

''We've got to play like we have to win every game,'' Liberty coach John Whisenant said. ''If we get into the playoffs with a three-game series and we play as hard as we did tonight, there won't be anybody more athletically gifted like we played tonight.''

Kristi Toliver scored 17 points, Candace Parker had 14 points and 15 rebounds, and rookie Nneka Ogwumike added 13 points for the Sparks (20-10). Los Angeles, which has lost four of its last five, remained two games ahead of San Antonio for second place in the West. The Silver Stars lost 81-62 to Minnesota earler Sunday.

''We have plenty of stuff to move forward with in terms of just trying to be the best playoff team we can be,'' Sparks coach Carol Ross said. ''We still have more business to take care of before we get to the fun stuff.''

Carson's 3-pointer tied the score at 70-all with 48 seconds remaining, and Pondexter made two free throws about 26 seconds later to put the Liberty ahead.

Ebony Hoffman made 1 of 2 free throws for Los Angeles with 15 seconds remaining. On the ensuing inbounds play, the Sparks double-teamed Pondexter and tied her up when she received the pass near half-court, forcing a jump ball between her and the Sparks' DeLisha Milton-Jones.

The Sparks grabbed the tipped ball and called timeout. Toliver then missed a 3 with about 5 seconds remaining, Pondexter corralled the loose ball, was fouled and made 1 of 2 from the line. She missed the second free throw, Parker got the ball and when she dribbled it was knocked away by Pondexter as time expired. After a lengthy video review, the officials ruled there was no time remaining when the ball went out of bounds.

Continue reading here:

Pondexter, Pierson rally Liberty past Sparks