Monthly Archives: October 2012

NASA must reinvest in nanotechnology research, according to new paper

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ScienceDaily (Oct. 16, 2012) The United States may lose its leadership role in space to other countries unless it makes research and development funding and processes -- especially in nanotechnology -- a renewed and urgent priority, according to a new paper from Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.

The paper, "NASA's Relationship with Nanotechnology: Past, Present and Future Challenges," investigates how NASA has both guided and defunded cutting-edge nanotechnology development since 1996 at its own research facilities and in its collaborations with university scientists and laboratories. The research was conducted by a team at Rice that included Baker Institute science and technology policy fellow Kirstin Matthews, current Rice graduate student Kenneth Evans and former graduate students Padraig Moloney and Brent Carey. The paper sheds light on a broad field that holds tremendous potential for improving space flight by reducing the weight of spacecraft and developing smaller and more accurate sensors.

This area of research, however, saw a dramatic cutback from 2004 to 2007, when NASA reduced annual nanotechnology R&D expenditures from $47 million to $20 million. NASA is the only U.S. federal agency to scale back investment in this area, the authors found, and it's part of an overall funding trend at NASA. From 2003 to 2010, while the total federal science research budget remained steady between $60 billion and $65 billion (in constant 2012 dollars), NASA's research appropriations decreased more than 75 percent, from $6.62 billion to $1.55 billion.

The authors argue that the agency should restructure, refocus and strengthen its R&D programs.

"The United States currently lacks a national space policy that ensures the continuity of research and programs that build on existing capabilities to explore space, and that has defined steps for human and robotic exploration of low-Earth orbit, the moon and Mars," Matthews said. "With Congress and the president wrestling over the budget each year, it is vital that NASA present a clear plan for science and technology R&D that is linked to all aspects of the agency. This includes connecting R&D, with nanotechnology as a lead area, to applications related to the agency's missions."

The authors said that to effectively engage in new technology R&D, NASA should strengthen its research capacity and expertise by encouraging high-risk, high-reward projects to help support and shape the future of U.S. space exploration

"Failure to make these changes, especially in a political climate of flat or reduced funding, poses substantial risk that the United States will lose its leadership role in space to other countries -- most notably China, Germany, France, Japan and Israel -- that make more effective use of their R&D investments," Matthews said.

"NASA's Relationship with Nanotechnology: Past, Present and Future Challenges" paper: http://www.bakerinstitute.org/policyreport54.

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NASA must reinvest in nanotechnology research, according to new paper

NASA must reinvest in nanotechnology research, according to new Rice University paper

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Matthews, Evans, Moloney and Carey: Nanotechnology will be critical to future missions

HOUSTON - (Oct. 16, 2012) - The United States may lose its leadership role in space to other countries unless it makes research and development funding and processes -- especially in nanotechnology -- a renewed and urgent priority, according to a new paper from Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.

The paper, "NASA's Relationship with Nanotechnology: Past, Present and Future Challenges," investigates how NASA has both guided and defunded cutting-edge nanotechnology development since 1996 at its own research facilities and in its collaborations with university scientists and laboratories. The research was conducted by a team at Rice that included Baker Institute science and technology policy fellow Kirstin Matthews, current Rice graduate student Kenneth Evans and former graduate students Padraig Moloney and Brent Carey. The paper sheds light on a broad field that holds tremendous potential for improving space flight by reducing the weight of spacecraft and developing smaller and more accurate sensors.

This area of research, however, saw a dramatic cutback from 2004 to 2007, when NASA reduced annual nanotechnology R&D expenditures from $47 million to $20 million. NASA is the only U.S. federal agency to scale back investment in this area, the authors found, and it's part of an overall funding trend at NASA. From 2003 to 2010, while the total federal science research budget remained steady between $60 billion and $65 billion (in constant 2012 dollars), NASA's research appropriations decreased more than 75 percent, from $6.62 billion to $1.55 billion.

The authors argue that the agency should restructure, refocus and strengthen its R&D programs.

"The United States currently lacks a national space policy that ensures the continuity of research and programs that build on existing capabilities to explore space, and that has defined steps for human and robotic exploration of low-Earth orbit, the moon and Mars," Matthews said. "With Congress and the president wrestling over the budget each year, it is vital that NASA present a clear plan for science and technology R&D that is linked to all aspects of the agency. This includes connecting R&D, with nanotechnology as a lead area, to applications related to the agency's missions."

The authors said that to effectively engage in new technology R&D, NASA should strengthen its research capacity and expertise by encouraging high-risk, high-reward projects to help support and shape the future of U.S. space exploration

"Failure to make these changes, especially in a political climate of flat or reduced funding, poses substantial risk that the United States will lose its leadership role in space to other countries -- most notably China, Germany, France, Japan and Israel -- that make more effective use of their R&D investments," Matthews said.

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For more information or to schedule an interview with Matthews, Evans, Moloney or Carey, contact Jeff Falk, associate director of national media relations at Rice, at jfalk@rice.edu or 713-348-6775.

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NASA must reinvest in nanotechnology research, according to new Rice University paper

Dan R. Littman, MD, PhD, Elected Member of Prestigious Institute of Medicine

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Newswise NYU Langone Medical Center announced today that Dan R. Littman, MD, PhD, the Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Professor of Molecular Immunology, a professor of pathology and microbiology, and a faculty member in the Molecular Pathogenesis program in the Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, has been elected a member of the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Seventy new members and ten foreign associates were named during the IOMs 42nd annual meeting on October 15. Dr. Littman is NYU School of Medicines ninth faculty member to be elected into the IOM.

Being elected into the IOM is an extraordinary honor and is evidence of the remarkable and important contributions Dr. Littman has made to science and medicine, said Robert I. Grossman, MD, dean & CEO at NYU Langone Medical Center. We congratulate Dr. Littman on receiving this significant distinction.

A renowned immunologist and molecular biologist, Dr. Littman has made seminal contributions to numerous fields including understanding the molecular basis of immune recognition, HIV pathogenesis, T-cell differentiation and selection and most recently, the role of commensal bacteria in immune system development and regulation. Dr. Littman is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, a member in the National Academy of the Sciences, and is a fellow in both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Academy of Microbiology.

Dr. Littman has been a leader in applying molecular biology and mouse genetics to study specification of T lymphocyte lineages and the differentiation of inflammatory T helper cells. Early in his career Dr. Littman isolated the genes for the CD4 and CD8 co-receptors and determined how their expression is regulated and their signaling influences selection of helper and cytotoxic cells. His group subsequently went on to demonstrate that CD4 and CCR5 collaborate as co-receptors for HIV, leading to therapeutic targeting of CCR5 in AIDS, and the demonstration that HIV evades host innate responses by failing to replicate in dendritic cells. In recent work, Dr. Littman discovered that the nuclear receptor ROR-gamma-t regulates differentiation of Th17 cells and lymphoid tissue inducer cells, and identified compounds that inhibit its activity and may be effective for autoimmune disease therapy. He identified a commensal gut bacterium that selectively induces Th17 cells and promotes autoimmunity in mice, which may be relevant for human diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, thought to be influenced by imbalanced microbiota. His work has thus had major impact in both immunology and virology, and is being translated into therapies for multiple diseases.

Established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, IOM is recognized as a national resource for independent, scientifically informed analysis and recommendations on health issues. Election to the IOM is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service. New members are elected by current active members through a selective process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health.

"The Institute of Medicine is greatly enriched by the addition of our newly elected colleagues, each of whom has significantly advanced health and medicine," said IOM President Harvey V. Fineberg. "Through their research, teaching, clinical work, and other contributions, these distinguished individuals have inspired and served as role models to others. We look forward to drawing on their knowledge and skills to improve health through the work of the IOM."

The newly elected members raise IOM's total active membership to 1,732 and the number of foreign associates to 112. With an additional 84 members holding emeritus status, IOM's total membership is 1,928. IOM's charter ensures diversity of talent among the Institute's membership by requiring at least one-quarter of the members to be selected from fields outside the health professions, such as engineering, social sciences, law, and the humanities.

About NYU Langone Medical Center NYU Langone Medical Center, a world-class, patient-centered, integrated, academic medical center, is one of the nations premier centers for excellence in clinical care, biomedical research and medical education. Located in the heart of Manhattan, NYU Langone is composed of four hospitals Tisch Hospital, its flagship acute care facility; the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, the worlds first university-affiliated facility devoted entirely to rehabilitation medicine; the Hospital for Joint Diseases, one of only five hospitals in the nation dedicated to orthopaedics and rheumatology; and Hassenfeld Pediatric Center, a comprehensive pediatric hospital supporting a full array of childrens health services across the Medical Center plus the NYU School of Medicine, which since 1841 has trained thousands of physicians and scientists who have helped to shape the course of medical history. The medical centers tri-fold mission to serve, teach and discover is achieved 365 days a year through the seamless integration of a culture devoted to excellence in patient care, education and research. For more information, go to http://www.NYULMC.org.

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Dan R. Littman, MD, PhD, Elected Member of Prestigious Institute of Medicine

Dan R. Littman, M.D., Ph.D., elected member of prestigious Institute of Medicine

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Public release date: 16-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Deborah Sabalusky Deborah.Sabalusky@nyumc.org 212-404-3567 NYU Langone Medical Center / New York University School of Medicine

NYU Langone Medical Center announced today that Dan R. Littman, MD, PhD, the Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Professor of Molecular Immunology, a professor in the departments of pathology and microbiology, and a faculty member in the Molecular Pathogenesis program in the Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, has been elected a member of the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Seventy new members and ten foreign associates were named during the IOM's 42nd annual meeting on October 15. Dr. Littman is NYU School of Medicine's ninth faculty member to be elected into the IOM.

"Being elected into the IOM is an extraordinary honor and is evidence of the remarkable and important contributions Dr. Littman has made to science and medicine," said Robert I. Grossman, MD, dean & CEO at NYU Langone Medical Center. "We congratulate Dr. Littman on receiving this significant distinction."

A renowned immunologist and molecular biologist, Dr. Littman has made seminal contributions to numerous fields including understanding the molecular basis of immune recognition, HIV pathogenesis, T-cell differentiation and selection and most recently, the role of commensal bacteria in immune system development and regulation. Dr. Littman is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, a member in the National Academy of the Sciences, and is a fellow in both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Academy of Microbiology.

Dr. Littman has been a leader in applying molecular biology and mouse genetics to study specification of T lymphocyte lineages and the differentiation of inflammatory T helper cells. Early in his career Dr. Littman isolated the genes for the CD4 and CD8 co-receptors and determined how their expression is regulated and their signaling influences selection of helper and cytotoxic cells. His group subsequently went on to demonstrate that CD4 and CCR5 collaborate as co-receptors for HIV, leading to therapeutic targeting of CCR5 in AIDS, and the demonstration that HIV evades host innate responses by failing to replicate in dendritic cells. In recent work, Dr. Littman discovered that the nuclear receptor ROR-gamma-t regulates differentiation of Th17 cells and lymphoid tissue inducer cells, and identified compounds that inhibit its activity and may be effective for autoimmune disease therapy. He identified a commensal gut bacterium that selectively induces Th17 cells and promotes autoimmunity in mice, which may be relevant for human diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, thought to be influenced by imbalanced microbiota. His work has thus had major impact in both immunology and virology, and is being translated into therapies for multiple diseases.

Established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, IOM is recognized as a national resource for independent, scientifically informed analysis and recommendations on health issues. Election to the IOM is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service. New members are elected by current active members through a selective process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health.

"The Institute of Medicine is greatly enriched by the addition of our newly elected colleagues, each of whom has significantly advanced health and medicine," said IOM President Harvey V. Fineberg. "Through their research, teaching, clinical work, and other contributions, these distinguished individuals have inspired and served as role models to others. We look forward to drawing on their knowledge and skills to improve health through the work of the IOM."

The newly elected members raise IOM's total active membership to 1,732 and the number of foreign associates to 112. With an additional 84 members holding emeritus status, IOM's total membership is 1,928. IOM's charter ensures diversity of talent among the Institute's membership by requiring at least one-quarter of the members to be selected from fields outside the health professions, such as engineering, social sciences, law, and the humanities.

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Dan R. Littman, M.D., Ph.D., elected member of prestigious Institute of Medicine

Top tips for starting your own PR agency

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Setting up your own PR company can be a daunting task. Farzana Baduel , director of Curzon PR, takes you through the key factors you should bear in mind Research and planning are vital when thinking about starting up your own PR company. Putting in some solid groundwork will establish your target market, what key services you will need to provide and what sets you apart in the industry. There ...

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The sites and apps to avoid on Ada Lovelace Day

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As we celebrate women in science, technology, engineering and maths on Ada Lovelace Day, Wired.co.uk has gathered together a list of websites and apps to avoid, for Ada's sake.

HeTexted Created by Lisa Winning and Carrie Henderson McDermott, HeTexted is a site where you can upload screengrabs of text messages you've been sent. Having done this, other "unbiased" visitors to the site can vote on whether "he's into you" or "he's not into you". If you don't trust their responses, you can "ask a bro", including the "Dude Whisperer" Mason or "kind-of-a-douchebag" Ben; brutally honest Tim, nice guy Chris and "hit-me-up-ladies" Brian.

The site reads like a particularly depressing Carrie Bradshaw column. Highlights include Lostlady who tells her beau "Love you", he responds "awe", she then underlines her love with the astronomically confusing "to the moon and back and around the Milky Way", and he responds with a smiley and "Please bring an iPhone car charger". Lostlady, you don't need a website to tell you that he's not into you.

As for MissyG, you are onto a winner with Matt, whose first text to you after meeting him was "Imax polars narrated by Meryl Streep!!" along with a picture of a polar bear with her cubs.

Rack Stare Ted Nash might be an impressive budding entrepreneur, but he has produced some Ada-antagonising apps. Rack Stare is a game that challenges players to stare at a woman's breasts without getting caught. This is because it's been scientifically proven that "looking at boobs for at least five minutes a day is good for your health". The game's key adversaries are "smoking hot" ladies in tight outfits. Due to the fact that they are attractive and in tight clothes, "your head unavoidably turns in her direction as you're trying your best not to stare too inconspicuously". You have to "please your eyes with her mouth-watering rack" as long as you can without being noticed.

Lady Popular As RockPaperShotgun put it, "Finally! A game for ladies". Lady Popular acknowledges that icky games with guns, exploring and monsters simply aren't doing it for women. Lady gamers want more appropriate gaming mechanics such as unlocking a boyfriend and changing hairstyles. The city it's based in offers thousands of opportunities such as going to the mall, beauty salon or going to parties at clubs to find the perfect guy. The height of ambition is taking part in fashion catwalks to prove you're the most popular. Players can level up by buying items you like from the mall, dying their hair according to the prevailing fashions, keeping their weight in the ideal range, and finding a boyfriend. Boyfriends come in all professions, so make sure you bag a rich one -- car washers will only give you $50 per day, which won't buy you all the things you like in the mall.

Unilad If you aren't already familiar with Unilad, it's where banter goes to die. It's an agonising process: its what happens when Jeremy Clarkson's jeans accessorise themselves with a low-cut v-neck and Homme Wild, before mangling themselves in the engine of a Subaru Impreza. So you don't have to visit the site yourself, the highlights are thus:

Chubby girls: they need loving to "Why do lads pass up the chubster for someone equally unattractive so very often. It is a mystery that continues to plague the conscious of mankind (sic), as the benefits of these lovely young (and occasionally old) ladies are so clear to the sober mind."

Top 5 breakup lines A heartfelt guide to ditching a girlfriend including "you look like shite" and the "witty and truthful" classic, "It's not you, it's me. It's me who fancies your older sister."

The history of priming the vag "The Middle Ages was just a fucking boring time for everyone. The only way a man could entertain himself was priming and penetrating Vag. With so much disease, death and poverty around the only light of hope for men emanated from the hymens of fruitful virgins."

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The sites and apps to avoid on Ada Lovelace Day

VirusTotal Scanner offers near-instant malware scans

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If youre worried about the safety of a file on your PC then uploading it to VirusTotal.com is a great way to get some piece of mind. The site will run it through more than 40 of the top antivirus tools -- GData, AVG, Avira, Kaspersky, theyre all here -- and let you know if any of them have raised a red flag.

There could be a lengthy delay while the file is uploaded, of course. But you dont have to put up with that, becauseVirusTotal Scannerdelivers the same results without having to upload the file at all.

The program is very simple to use. Theres no installation required, just download and unzip it and theres a portable version you can run right away.

Locate the file of interest, drag and drop it onto the program, and click VirusTotal Scan.

And the key point is that VirusTotal Scanner then calculates a hash (a digital fingerprint) for the file. The hash is then sent to VirusTotal, instead of the file itself, and because its just a number this takes almost no time at all.

As an example, we gave the program a 28.7MB executable to check, and within just two seconds it was displaying the usual VirusTotal analysis: its overall detection ratio, the individual verdict for each tool used, and all the other regular site features.

If this is something you want to use regularly, then the program also comes with a handy setup tool. Using this adds a right-click VirusTotal Scanner option to Explorer context menus, making it just a little easier to check any suspect file.

TheVirusTotal Scannerportable option is good enough for us, though: a simple, straightforward tool which can save a little time whenever you need to check a file for malware.

Photo Credit:Sergii Korolko/Shutterstock

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Honoring the Heroes of Medicine: AMA Foundation Accepting Nominations and Applications for the 10th Annual Excellence …

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CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - Oct 16, 2012) - The American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation recognizes the incredible efforts of physicians, residents and medical students who go beyond the call of duty to improve public health, provide care for people in need and serve as community leaders.

Each year, the AMA Foundation presents the Excellence in Medicine Awards, in association with Pfizer Inc., to acknowledge the everyday heroes who embody the highest values of the medical profession: altruism, public service and dedication to patient care.

Applications and nominations for the 2013 Excellence in Medicine Awards are now being accepted. Submissions are due November 16, 2012.

The Excellence in Medicine Awards program includes four categories that span the physician lifecycle:

The Excellence in Medicine Awards will be presented at a banquet on February 11, 2013, in Washington,D.C. Award recipients will receive travel expenses to attend the ceremony, and $2,500 grants will be provided to the awarded physicians' organizations.

Biographical videos featuring the 2012 Excellence in Medicine Award recipients can be found on YouTube.

Nominate the outstanding physician in your life, or encourage medical students and residents to apply.Please visit the AMA Foundation website, http://www.amafoundation.org, for more information.

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Honoring the Heroes of Medicine: AMA Foundation Accepting Nominations and Applications for the 10th Annual Excellence ...

Navy medicine fights rising costs

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As health care costs threaten to overwhelm the defense budget, the Navy is increasing efficiency through Web-based care, preventive medicine, joint operations across services and fewer referrals to civilian providers, the services top doctor said Wednesday during a visit to San Diego.

The Defense Department spent about $19 billion on health care in 2001. Last year, the figure climbed to $52 billion.

Were on this trajectory that is non-sustainable, said Vice Adm. Matthew Nathan, U.S. Navy surgeon general.

If the trend continues, by 2020 health care costs will consume the budget for discretionary spending, such as infrastructure, Nathan told the San Diego Military Advisory Council.

We cant provide all medical care at any cost anymore. We cant afford it, we cant sustain it, he said, but neither can the Navy simply stop paying the bill.

We have to figure out, Navy medicine and military medicine, how we can maintain health and do it at lower cost.

The Navy cares for sailors and Marines with a budget of about $6 billion and 65,000 workers. That budget will undoubtedly shrink in coming years as the Corps downsizes by about 20,000, Nathan said. But the needs of wounded service members will continue after the last return home from the war.

If all hostilities ended tomorrow, my current need for trauma support would diminish pretty quickly. But my current need for emotional, psychological support will be a tail that exists for quite awhile, he told San Diego reporters.

To become solvent and sustainable, Navy medicine is adopting a patient-centered medical home model, assigning active duty, retirees and dependents it serves to a cluster of providers and encouraging electronic communication.

Like the invention of antibiotics and anesthesia, I believe the next great panacea of medicine is going to be virtual medicine, the ability to take care of you at your homes, where you can use a smartphone or computer to make appointments, get test results and consult with your doctor, he said. The only time youll have to go see a doctor is when youre really sick and they need to either listen to you, see you or feel whats going on with you.

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Medicine balls offer variety of workouts

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Its small but packs a big punch. A medicine ball is a weighted ball used to whip your body into shape, without taking up much space. Its similar to standard weights, but with the medicine ball you only need one in order to get in a full workout.

If youre a fitness newbie, start with a 4-pounder (sold at most sports stores). Advanced fitness junkies may choose to use a 20-pound ball.

Dr. Rick Kattouf, author of Forever Fit, is a triathlon and conditioning coach based in South Carolina. Below, he shares his favorite medicine ball exercises. Do each exercise 10 times. Gradually work up to doing each one 25 times.

SQUAT TO SHOULDER PRESS: Beginning in a standing position, hold the medicine ball at chest level. Squat, trying to drop your buttocks as low as possible, keeping your heels on the ground. Then, stand up and raise the medicine ball directly over your heat. Bring the medicine ball back to your chest and repeat.

Muscles worked: Quadriceps, glutes, triceps and shoulders.

JUMP SQUATS: Stand and hold the medicine ball at chest level. Squat as low as possible while keeping your heels on the ground. Jump off the ground as high as you can. When you land, you want to immediately drop back into the squat position. This is designed to be a very fast-paced, rapid-fire exercise.

Muscles worked: Quadriceps and glutes.

STRAIGHT-LEG DEAD LIFT: In a standing position, lift the medicine ball above your head, keeping your arms extended. Bend forward from your waist as if you are trying to touch your toes. As you bend forward, keep your arms extended while holding the medicine ball and bringing the ball toward your feet. Keep your knees slightly bent the entire time. When the ball hits your feet or the floor, return to your original standing position, maintaining the full extension of your arms overhead.

Muscles worked: Hamstrings and shoulders.

SIT-UP CHEST PRESS: Lying on a mat or a rug on your back, knees bent and feet flat on the floor, hold the medicine ball on your chest. Perform a sit-up. As you get toward the top of your sit-up position, extend the medicine ball in front of you. Then, bring the ball back toward your chest and lower your upper body down to the starting position.

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Journal Stem Cell Translational Medicine to Publish Article on FDA Communications and the Regulatory Pathway for Cell …

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WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - Oct 17, 2012) - The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), the international organization representing the interests of the regenerative medicine community, announced the publication today of an article on FDA communications to help companies developing cell-based therapies by clarifying the development pathway. The article, entitled "Communications with the FDA on the Development Pathway for a Cell-Based Therapy: Why, What, When, and How?" will be published in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine. It is co-authored by representatives from ARM, Janssen R&D, GE Healthcare and Life Technologies, with the lead author from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).

"There are a number of ways cell-based therapy companies can communicate with FDA that will help them navigate the road from the bench to a regulatory submission," said Michael Werner, Executive Director of ARM. "We hope that our combined experience as co-authors, and our attempt to create a single source of guidance on the regulatory process, will help companies bring new cell-based therapies through clinical trials and the regulatory review process more quickly so they can reach patients faster," added Mr. Werner.

Lead author Ellen Feigal, MD, Senior Vice President for Research and Development at the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) commented, "Cell-based therapies represent a fundamentally new way to treat or cure disease, but developing a new therapy is costly, time consuming and fraught with uncertainty. Our paper takes a practical approach to clarifying the path to market."

"Communications with the FDA on the Development Pathway for a Cell-Based Therapy: Why, What, When, and How?" provides detailed information on options for communicating with the FDA at different stages; the official communications tied to each stage of development; and the most common reasons regulatory applications are delayed. The article can be accessed at: http://stemcellstm.alphamedpress.org/content/early/recent

About CIRM: CIRM was established in November 2004 with the passage of Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act. The statewide ballot measure, which provided $3 billion in funding for stem cell research at California universities and research institutions, was overwhelmingly approved by voters, and called for the establishment of an entity to make grants and provide loans for stem cell research, research facilities, and other vital research opportunities. A list of grants and loans awarded to date may be seen here: http://www.cirm.ca.gov/for-researchers/researchfunding.

About ARM: The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine is a Washington, DC-based multi-stakeholder advocacy organization that promotes legislative, regulatory and reimbursement initiatives necessary to facilitate access to life-giving advances in regenerative medicine. ARM also works to increase public understanding of the field and its potential to transform human healthcare, providing business development and investor outreach services to support the growth of its member companies and research organizations. Prior to the formation of ARM in 2009, there was no advocacy organization operating in Washington, DC to specifically represent the interests of the companies, research institutions, investors and patient groups that comprise the entire regenerative medicine community. Today ARM has more than 120 members and is the leading global advocacy organization in this field. In March 2012, ARM launched a sister organization in Europe -- the Alliance for Advanced Therapies. For more information go to http://www.alliancerm.org.

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Morehouse School of Medicine Mourns the Loss of Senator Arlen Specter

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ATLANTA, Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former U. S. Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA). Senator Specter was a consummate champion of justice and worked tirelessly throughout his career to reduce health and healthcare inequities. He also worked diligently to ensure that there were opportunities for individuals from minority communities and disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue a career in the health professions.

Morehouse School of Medicine President, John E. Maupin, Jr., D.D.S., said, "We very much appreciated Senator Specter's leadership in working with his Senate colleagues to support federal initiatives that enhanced health profession training opportunities for minority students and strengthened the research infrastructure of centers of emerging excellence like Morehouse School of Medicine. He will be sorely missed. The entire Morehouse School of Medicine family extends our deepest sympathy to his family."

During his time in the United States Senate, Specter played a key role in providing federal funding for Morehouse School of Medicine's National Center for Primary Care, a nationally renowned center advancing the value of primary care health services. As chairman of the Senate Health Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Specter was instrumental in bringing attention to identified shortfalls in the National Institute of Health's (NIH) efforts to investigate the causes and cures of ethnic based health disparities. His efforts led to the introduction and ultimate passage of legislation that created the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) at NIH.

About Morehouse School of MedicineMorehouse School of Medicine is one the nation's most widely recognized community-based medical schools. The institution's mission places special emphasis on primary care training; development of model community-based health services and the conduct of research and translation of discovery to benefit vulnerable populations and ultimately eliminate health inequities.

The School offers doctoral programs in medicine and biomedical research; and Master of Science degree programs in public health and clinical investigation. It also sponsors graduate training (residency) programs in family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, public health and preventive medicine, and general surgery.

Morehouse School of Medicine annually ranks as one of the top U.S. medical schools in the percentage of graduates practicing primary care specialties. The School ranks # 1 in the first-ever study of all U.S. medical schools in the area of social mission. Such recognition underscores the vital role that MSM plays in the nation's health care system.

Morehouse School of Medicine is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It is also a member of the Atlanta University Center Consortium, the world's oldest and largest association of historically black colleges and universities. For more information about Morehouse School of Medicine, visit us online at http://www.msm.edu.

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Morehouse School of Medicine Mourns the Loss of Senator Arlen Specter

Dr. Taft Bhuket Elected Alameda County Medical Center's Chief of Medical Staff

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OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 17, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oakland Gastroenterologist Taft Bhuket, MD, has been elected Alameda County Medical Center's (ACMC) Chief of Medical Staff for 2012-14. In this position, he is responsible for leading the medical staff, whose primary purpose is to oversee and improve issues related to the quality of patient care and safety at ACMC.

"It is my honor to serve as Chief of Staff for Alameda County Medical Center," said Dr. Bhuket. "These next few years will be an exciting and challenging time for both our medical center and for American healthcare in general. I look forward to collaborating with the medical staff and ACMC's leadership as we plan for and respond to this dynamic healthcare environment."

The newly-installed ACMC Medical Staff Officers for 2012-2014 include Lyn Berry, MD, immediate past Chief of Medical Staff; Joe Walker, MD, Vice Chief of Staff; and Michelle "Mickye" Adams, MD, Secretary/Treasurer. Members at large include Swapnil Shah, MD; Pat Twomey, MD; David English, MD; Arlen Ho, MD; Suzie Bruch, MD; and Jackie Bolds, MD.

Dr. Bhuket has practiced at ACMC since 2008, when he was named Chief of Gastroenterology and Director of the Endoscopy Unit. His professional interests are clinical education, systems improvements and operations, and expansion of access to care. Under his leadership, there has been a marked expansion and operational streamlining of GI services, including significant reductions in endoscopy wait times, the launch of the hepatitis C clinic, and the development of the ACMC Colorectal Cancer Screening Program. Dr. Bhuket is a two-time winner of the Department of Medicine's "Teacher of the Year" award and was selected into the prestigious California Healthcare Foundation Leadership Fellowship Program for 2011-13. His scholarly interests are colorectal cancer screening, gastrointestinal bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, and complications of liver disease.

Dr. Bhuket earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin. He went on to complete both medical school and an internal medicine residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas. He subsequently completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of Michigan Medical School where he served as Chief GI Fellow. Dr. Bhuket is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in both Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

NOTE TO EDITORS: A high-resolution photo of Dr. Bhuket is available upon request.

Alameda County Medical Center is a nationally recognized public healthcare system with more than 2,800 employees, 500 physicians, and 475 accredited beds. ACMC provides comprehensive, high quality medical treatment and compassionate care to all residents of Alameda County. The integrated system of hospitals, clinics, and health services is staffed by healthcare professionals who are responsive to the diverse cultural needs of our community. ACMC fosters a learning environment with a wide range of educational programs and activities including medical research and education for students, interns and residents as well as continuing medical education for medical, nursing and other staff. ACMC operates six facilities: Highland Hospital in Oakland, John George Psychiatric Pavilion in San Leandro, Fairmont Hospital in San Leandro and three community-based wellness centers. The system provides a range of services from family and women's health to pediatrics, oncology and orthopedics.

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Dr. Taft Bhuket Elected Alameda County Medical Center's Chief of Medical Staff

Lupus Research Institute awards $1 million to University of Massachusetts Medical School faculty

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Public release date: 16-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jim Fessenden james.fessenden@umassmed.edu 508-856-2000 University of Massachusetts Medical School

WORCESTER, MA The Lupus Research Institute (LRI) has named University of Massachusetts Medical School Professor of Medicine Ann Marshak-Rothstein, MD, one of two recipients of the first LRI Distinguished Innovator Awards. Created to provide outstanding scientists with support to conduct novel research into the fundamental causes of lupus, the $1 million Distinguished Innovator Award was established to address the current lack of treatments for lupus and aims to provide new directions toward a cure or prevention.

"Support from the LRI will enable us to extend our analysis of the cell components recognized by toll-like receptors in mice models to toll-like receptor activation in human cell populations, and allow us to identify those patients most likely to respond to therapies directed at blocking specific toll-like receptors," said Dr. Marshak-Rothstein.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic and often disabling autoimmune disease in which the human immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, health tissues. As a result, no two cases of lupus are alike. Symptoms may affect many different body systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart, and lungs. Some people develop kidney problems, for example, while others suffer from premature heart disease, strokes or lung inflammation. There is no known cause or cure for lupus and no new treatments have been approved for the disease in 50 years, and the treatments currently available can often be toxic and more damaging than the disease itself. Estimates indicate that more than 1.5 million Americans have lupus.

Marshak-Rothstein's research group was the first to propose that toll-like receptors (TLR) a class of proteins that play a key role in the innate immune system could have a primary role in lupus by turning on the immune system to attack the body. Because TLR proteins are essential in fighting any infection, how the body loses control over their activity is a fundamental question in immunology. Finding the causes of lupus, the prototype for autoimmune disease research, could have broad implications across a wide range of illnesses affecting millions. Recent studies found that one TLR, TLR7, has a harmful role, while another, TLR9, has the opposite effect helping to protect against lupus.

Building on this work, Marshak-Rothstein is developing a highly innovative experimental approach to pinpoint which specific TLR is mainly to blame for causing lupus in humans. This experimental approach also promises to reveal new targets for therapies that could prevent or arrest lupus.

"Members of the toll-like receptor gene family have been clearly implicated in the development of systemic autoimmune diseases such as lupus," said Marshak-Rothstein. "These studies will further provide a high throughput system for testing TLR-based inhibitors and thereby identify appropriate TLR-based therapeutic targets."

The LRI received applications for the Distinguished Innovator Awards the first privately funded $1 million grants for lupus research from many of the world's most renowned scientists as well as rising young investigators with great promise for contributing their talent to uncovering the causes of lupus. Rigorous peer-review was conducted by a team of LRI's scientific advisors and 12 of the world's leading lupus experts.

"We were enormously impressed by the quality of the submissions," noted world-leading immunologist Dr. William Paul, LRI Scientific Advisory Board Chairman and National Academy of Sciences member. "With these Distinguished Innovator Awards and existing annual Novel Research Grants, the LRI continues to pursue a strategy of funding the most innovative and novel research that has had unprecedented success in driving new answers in a complex disease state. Their work over the past decade has provided the basis for this transformative research initiative to look for the fundamental causes of lupus that can drive to a cure and the means to prevent lupus."

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Lupus Research Institute awards $1 million to University of Massachusetts Medical School faculty

Carnegie Institution and UMass Medical School granted broad US Patent related to RNA interference

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Public release date: 16-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Tina McDowell tmcdowell@carnegiescience.edu 202-929-1120 Carnegie Institution

Washington, D.C.The Carnegie Institution for Science and the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) have been granted United States Patent 8,283,329, entitled, "Genetic inhibition of double-stranded RNA." The patent, issued on October 9, 2012, is broadly directed to the use of RNA interference (RNAi) to inhibit expression of a target gene in animal cells, including mammalian cells.

The process by which RNA, the cellular material responsible for the transmission of genetic information, can silence a targeted gene within a living cell was discovered in 1998 by Carnegie's Andrew Fire, (now a professor at Stanford University) and Craig C. Mello, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, Blais University Chair in Molecular Medicine and distinguished professor of molecular medicine and cell & developmental biology at UMass Medical School. The duo received the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology and/or Medicine for this work.

Already a powerful research tool used to isolate and identify genes and their function in the laboratory, RNAi holds the promise of shutting down disease-causing genes in humans and has broad implications for the development of new treatments and drugs for a range of diseases, including cancer. Researchers around the globeincluding UMass Medical School and the Carnegie Institutionare investigating novel methods for synthesizing and delivering RNAi molecules able to turn off disease-causing genes to human cells. According to the patent, the double-stranded RNA (ds-RNA) responsible for the RNAi process may be either synthesized by the animal cell, or otherwise provided to the cell, in an amount sufficient to inhibit expression of the target gene.

The single-stranded RNA molecule is commonly known for its role in shuttling the genetic code contained in DNA from the cell's nucleus to its ribosomes where proteins are made, and for making sure that the proteins are correctly constructed to perform their functions in living organisms. In RNAi, the first strand of double-stranded RNA molecule has the ribonucleotide sequence that matches the nucleotide sequence in the targeted gene (also called sense); the second strand of RNA has a complementary sequence to that in the target gene (called antisense). When introduced to an organism, the double stranded RNA degrades a specific messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule, which disrupts the message-carrying process and inactivates the gene, essentially halting the progression of an invading viral infection or, for example, tumor growth.

"We are very pleased that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued this broad patent for the groundbreaking work of Dr. Mello and Dr. Fire," said James P. McNamara, Executive Director of the Office of Technology Management of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. "RNA interference is a tremendously promising tool with enormous potential for treating disease. Our hope is to see the further advancement of the RNAi field toward novel therapies in the public interest."

"We are very pleased that the patent office has granted a patent of the present scope for such a fundamental advance," said Richard A. Meserve, president of the Carnegie Institution. "The research exemplifies what Andrew Carnegie sought to accomplishto benefit humankind."

The current patent is the most recent of several patents resulting from this work.

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Carnegie Institution and UMass Medical School granted broad US Patent related to RNA interference

Liberty, Pendleton haven't met expectations this season

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A season ago, Liberty went into its Week 8 de facto region championship game with Pendleton in the midst of one of the best seasons in school history.

Things are a bit different for both teams this year as they prepare for their showdown at Cunningham Stadium on Friday.

Sitting on the playoff bubble in Region 1-AA, Liberty (4-4, 2-3) has adopted a win-or-go-home mentality the last few weeks. Meanwhile, Pendleton (5-3, 2-2), a preseason region favorite riddled with injuries, is already out of the mix for the region championship and is looking to stay under the radar as the postseason approaches.

Liberty coach Kyle Stewart can understand some fans' disappointment as the Red Devils were coming off a 9-3 season that included a playoff victory. Yet, while his team hasn't quite taken the next step in the rebuilding process, Liberty is a far cry from the 4-46 record it carried from 2007 to 2010.

"It's easy to look at past results and say it'll be duplicated," Stewart said. "But this is a different team."

And it's a lot harder to sneak up on teams after last season.

After suffering significant losses to graduation last year, Liberty dropped three league games in a row to Landrum, Blacksburg and Chesnee, the latter two of which will be playing for the region crown Friday.

But something changed last week against Crescent, this year's surprise team in the region. Up 14-7 at halftime, Stewart and his staff reminded their team that its season was on the line.

"A lot of what we do is mental," Stewart said. "At halftime we had a little spark of emotion and got what we needed."

Liberty forced five turnovers Colby Gibson and Payton Dameron returned interceptions for touchdowns and scored 27 unanswered points in the second half of the 41-7 rout.

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Liberty, Pendleton haven't met expectations this season

Liberty Safe and Security Products, Inc. Warns of Residential Security Containers with Unauthorized UL Marks

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PAYSON, Utah, Oct. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Liberty Safe and Security Products, Inc. is notifying consumers and distributors that the Residential Security Containers / Personal Safes identified below have not been evaluated for compliance to the appropriate Standards by UL and bear an unauthorized UL mark.

Name of product: Residential Security Container / Personal Safes Models: LH05, LH08, LH12 Manufacturer: Liberty Safe and Security Products, Inc. Date of Manufacture: January 2008 to July 2012

The Product bears the following UL mark:

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121017/LA95394-a)

Photos of the Product:

LH05 LH08 LH12

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121017/LA95394-b)

Sold at: The product is sold at over 400 locations across the country through website at: http://www.libertysafe.com.

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Liberty Safe and Security Products, Inc. Warns of Residential Security Containers with Unauthorized UL Marks

Western Alliance and Western Liberty Bancorp provide update on merger

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Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL) and Western Liberty Bancorp (WLBC), referred to herein as Western Alliance and Western Liberty, announced that Western Alliance has received regulatory approvals to proceed with the merger of Western Liberty with and into Western Alliance, with Western Alliance surviving. Western Alliance and Western Liberty intend to consummate the merger as soon as practicable following the satisfaction of all closing conditions, including the receipt of stockholder approval by Western Liberty. The merger is to be voted on by Western Liberty's stockholders at a special meeting of Western Liberty stockholders scheduled for 10:00 a.m., local time, on October 17, 2012 at Western Liberty's principal executive offices at 8363 W. Sunset Road, Suite 350, Las Vegas, NV 89113.

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Western Alliance and Western Liberty Bancorp provide update on merger

Western Alliance Bancorporation and Western Liberty Bancorp Announce Receipt of Regulatory Approvals

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PHOENIX & LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL) and Western Liberty Bancorp (WLBC), referred to herein as Western Alliance and Western Liberty, announced today that Western Alliance has received regulatory approvals to proceed with the merger of Western Liberty with and into Western Alliance, with Western Alliance surviving. Western Alliance and Western Liberty intend to consummate the merger as soon as practicable following the satisfaction of all closing conditions, including the receipt of stockholder approval by Western Liberty. The merger is to be voted on by Western Libertys stockholders at a special meeting of Western Liberty stockholders scheduled for 10:00 a.m., local time, on October 17, 2012 at Western Libertys principal executive offices at 8363 W. Sunset Road, Suite 350, Las Vegas, NV 89113.

About Western Alliance Bancorporation

With $7.2 billion in assets, Western Alliance Bancorporation is the parent company of Bank of Nevada, Western Alliance Bank doing business as Alliance Bank of Arizona and First Independent Bank, Torrey Pines Bank, and Shine Investment Advisory Services. These dynamic organizations provide a broad array of deposit and credit services to clients in Nevada, Arizona and California, and investment services in Colorado. Staffed with experienced financial professionals, these organizations deliver a broader product array and larger credit capacity than community banks, yet are empowered to be more responsive to customers' needs than larger institutions. Additional investor information can be accessed on the Investor Relations page of the company's website, http://www.westernalliancebancorp.com.

About Western Liberty Bancorp

With $199 million in assets, Western Liberty Bancorp is a Nevada bank holding company which conducts operations through Service1st Bank of Nevada, its wholly owned banking subsidiary, and Las Vegas Sunset Properties. Service1st Bank operates as a traditional community bank and provides a full range of deposit, lending and other banking services to locally owned businesses, professional firms, individuals and other customers from its headquarters and two retail banking facilities located in the greater Las Vegas area. Services provided include basic commercial and consumer depository services, commercial working capital and equipment loans, commercial real estate loans, and other traditional commercial banking services. Primarily all of the banks business is generated in the Nevada market.

Additional Information

This communication is being made in respect of the proposed merger involving Western Alliance and Western Liberty.

In connection with the proposed merger with Western Liberty, Western Alliance filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4, as amended, that included a proxy statement of Western Liberty that also constitutes a prospectus of Western Alliance. Western Liberty mailed the proxy statement/prospectus to its stockholders. Investors and security holders are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus, including a supplement thereto, regarding the proposed merger because it contains important information. You may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement/prospectus, including the supplement, and other related documents filed by Western Alliance and Western Liberty with the SEC at the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov. The proxy statement/prospectus and the other documents may also be obtained for free by accessing Western Alliances website at http://www.westernalliancebancorp.com under the tab Investor Relations and then under the heading Financial Documents or by accessing Western Libertys website at http://www.westernlibertybank.com under the tab Investor Relations and then under the heading Financial Information.

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Western Alliance Bancorporation and Western Liberty Bancorp Announce Receipt of Regulatory Approvals