MSc Courses in Molecular Medicine, and Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research, at Brunel University
The MSc courses in "Molecular Medicine" http://www.brunel.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/C440PMOLMED and "Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research" http://www.brun...
By: Brunel University
See the article here:
01.09.2014 - (idw) Max-Delbrck-Centrum fr Molekulare Medizin (MDC) Berlin-Buch
Cancer research and the neurosciences at the Max Delbrck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) have been strengthened. The biologist Dr. Michela Di Virgilio from The Rockefeller University in New York, USA began work in September as Helmholtz junior research group leader at the MDC, a research institution of the Helmholtz Association. Concurrently with Dr. Di Virgilio, the neuroscientist Dr. Niccol Zampieri from Columbia University, New York, USA began work as junior research group leader at the MDC and in the excellence cluster NeuroCure* of Charit Universittsmedizin Berlin. Dr. Di Virgilio explores the repair mechanisms with which cells respond to DNA damage. Among other factors, DNA damage can result from ionizing and UV rays, chemicals or toxic metabolic products which occur thousands of times per day. However, cells have control systems that can detect and repair DNA damage within a short time. These repair systems comprise the first line of defense to prevent permanent damage to the DNA. If the repair of the DNA damage does not succeed, or if errors occur, cancer can develop. Moreover, DNA repair systems are of central importance in the treatment of cancer patients with radiation and/or chemotherapy. The frequent resistance to therapy is usually due to a mutation of the DNA repair genes in the tumor cells.
Dr. Di Virgilio received her doctorate from the Universit degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy for the work she performed at Columbia University in New York City in the laboratory of the geneticist and developmental biologist Professor Jean Gautier. She then worked as a postdoctoral fellow at The Rockefeller University in the laboratory of the immunologist Professor Michel C. Nussenzweig. There she investigated repair mechanisms in B cells, the antibody-producing cells of the immune system. In the field of DNA repair, her results are considered to be groundbreaking.
*Along with Charit, the partners of NeuroCure are Humboldt-Universitt zu Berlin, Freie Universitt Berlin, the Max Delbrck Center for Moleculare Medicine (MDC), the Leibniz-Institut fr Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) and the German Rheumatism Research Center Berlin (DRFZ).
Contact: Barbara Bachtler Press Department Max Delbrck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch in the Helmholtz Association Robert-Rssle-Strae 10 13125 Berlin Germany Phone: +49 (0) 30 94 06 - 38 96 Fax: +49 (0) 30 94 06 - 38 33 e-mail: presse@mdc-berlin.de http://www.mdc-berlin.de/en
Read the original here:
From the U.S. to Berlin: Junior Research Group Leaders for the MDC and NeuroCure
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) August 26, 2014
The global market for molecular diagnostics is expected to reach USD 8,020.1 million by 2020, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. Growing demand for personalized medicine and theranostics, and the subsequent introduction of advanced cancer diagnostic technologies are expected to be key factors driving market growth over the next six years. Moreover, the growing global base of geriatric population and chronic diseases such as cancer, coupled with disease triggering lifestyle habits such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption will positively impact market growth.
Molecular diagnostic reagent products dominated the overall market, accounting for over 50% of global revenue in 2013. Reagent market revenue is expected to reach USD 4,739.9 million by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 9.9% from 2014 to 2020. High consumption rates of molecular diagnostic reagents and the growing number of research and development initiatives pertaining to the field of molecular diagnostics are two key drivers of this product segment. The point of care end-use market for molecular diagnostics is expected to be the fastest growing product segment, at an estimated CAGR of 13.3% from 2014 to 2020, on account of factors such as the growing demand for point of care diagnostic procedures as an effective diagnostic tool rendering rapid and accurate results and the introduction of government initiatives such as CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) waived tests.
The report Molecular Diagnostics Market Analysis By Product (Instruments, Reagents), By Technology (PCR, In Situ Hybridization, Chips & Microarrays, Mass Spectrometry, Sequencing), By Application (Oncology, Pharmacogenomics, Infectious Disease, Genetic Testing, Neurological Disease, Cardiovascular Disease) And Segment Forecasts to 2020, is available now to Grand View Research customers at http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/molecular-diagnostics-market.
Request free sample of this report at http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/molecular-diagnostics-market/request.
Further key findings from the study suggest:
Browse all reports of this category by Grand View Research at http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/biotechnology.
For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global molecular diagnostics market on the basis of product and region:
Browse all ongoing reports by Grand View Research at http://www.grandviewresearch.com/ongoing-reports.
About Grand View Research
See more here:
PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:
25-May-2014
Contact: Scott LaFee slafee@ucsd.edu 619-543-6163 University of California - San Diego
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified a mutated gene common to adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) tumors the first known unique molecular signature for this rare, but particularly virulent, form of pancreatic cancer.
The findings are published in the May 25 advance online issue of Nature Medicine.
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, with roughly 45,220 new cases diagnosed and more than 38,400 deaths annually. Both numbers are rising. ASC cases are infrequent, but typically have a worse prognosis than more common types of pancreatic cancer.
"There has been little progress in understanding pancreatic ASC since these aggressive tumors were first described more than a century ago," said co-senior author Miles F. Wilkinson, PhD, professor in the Department of Reproductive Medicine and a member of the UC San Diego Institute for Genomic Medicine. "One problem has been identifying mutations unique to this class of tumors."
In their paper, Wilkinson, co-senior author Yanjun Lu, PhD, of Tongji University in China, and colleagues report that ASC pancreatic tumors have somatic or non-heritable mutations in the UPF1 gene, which is involved in a highly conserved RNA degradation pathway called nonsense-mediated RNA decay or NMD. It is the first known example of genetic alterations in an NMD gene in human tumors.
NMD has two major roles. First, it is a quality control mechanism used by cells to eliminate faulty messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules that help transcribe genetic information into the construction of proteins essential to life. Second, it degrades a specific group of normal mRNAs, including those encoding proteins promoting cell growth, cell migration and cell survival. Loss of NMD in these tumors may "release the brakes on these molecules, and thereby driving tumor growth and spread," said Wilkinson.
###
Read more:
Gene mutation found for aggressive form of pancreatic cancer
Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) May 22, 2014
A study from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Drexel University College of Medicine offers a potential new therapy for difficult-to-treat breast cancers. A team of investigators discovered that targeting a specific enzyme can kill triple-negative breast cancer cells, but spare non-tumor cells as well. The study is currently available in the online edition of Molecular Cell.
Breast cancer is the worlds leading cancer in women, and the triple-negative breast cancer subtype is the deadliest and most difficult to treat since there is no targeted therapy currently available, said the studys lead investigator Mauricio J. Reginato, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. We hope this novel discovery may aid in developing new treatment protocols.
The team discovered that O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), an enzyme that adds sugars to a number of nuclear and cytosolic proteins, is essential for allowing cancer cells to switch to glycolysis for energy demands. OGT regulates degradation of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1a), a critical driver of cancer cell metabolism. Importantly, the study shows that reducing levels of OGT or blocking OGT activity with a small molecule selectively induced metabolic stress and cell killing in cancer cells but not in non-cancer breast cells. By profiling hundreds of metabolites, the team discovered that blocking OGT in tumor cells reduces critical metabolites involved in energy production that feeds cancer growth and survival. The authors also discovered that one metabolite elevated under these conditions alpha-ketoglutarate, a critical cofactor for HIF-1a regulation and degradation, is one mechanism by which OGT regulates HIF-1a.
The team showed that this tumor subtype contains higher expression of OGT and HIF-1a compared to other breast cancer subtypes. These results provide evidence that targeting OGT in difficult-to-treat triple-negative breast cancer may provide a future therapeutic option.
The members of the research team included: lead author Christina Ferrer and Valeria Sodi, both PhD candidates in the Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics program; medical student John Falcone; and former student Thomas Lynch, PhD. This research is supported by National Cancer Institute R01 and F31 grants, and past CURE grants. This work also included collaborators from the University of Tennessee and Simon Fraser University in Canada.
About Drexel University College of Medicine Drexel University College of Medicine has established some of the most highly innovative and rigorous academic programs available today, incorporating the Universitys expertise in engineering and technology into traditional medical training. The College of Medicine is home to one of the nations leading centers for spinal cord research; one of the foremost centers for malaria study; and a highly regarded HIV/AIDS program with extensive NIH-funded research in prevention and therapeutic interventions. Drexel University College of Medicine has been designated a Vanguard National Center of Excellence in Womens Health by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and is highly respected in numerous other specialties including cardiology and pain management. Visit http://www.drexelmed.edu for more information. Follow Drexel University College of Medicine on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram.
Read the rest here:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the Immucor PreciseType Human Erythrocyte Antigen (HEA) Molecular BeadChip Test the first FDA-approved molecular assay used in transfusion medicine to assist in determining blood compatibility. The assay can be used to determine donor and patient non-ABO/non-RhD (non-ABO) red blood cell types in the United States.
The surfaces of red blood cells display minor blood group antigens in addition to the major ABO blood group antigens. Some people develop antibodies to non-ABO antigens following transfusion or pregnancy. This is especially true in people who may receive repeated blood transfusions, such as those with sickle cell disease. The development of such antibodies can cause red blood cell destruction if red blood cells with the corresponding antigens are later transfused.
Development of antibodies to non-ABO antigens can be prevented by selecting blood that is better matched to the patients non-ABO antigens. In addition, when a potential transfusion recipient has a known antibody that causes red blood cell destruction, red blood cells that are negative for the corresponding antigen must be found. The identification of red blood cell antigens has traditionally been performed by serological typing. This involves testing blood with reagents (antisera) that are specific for the antigens for which the blood is being tested. However, specific antisera may be scarce or unavailable. The Immucor PreciseType HEA Molecular BeadChip Test provides a new method for determining non-ABO antigens on red blood cells.
The approval of the Immucor PreciseType HEA Molecular BeadChip Test provides an alternative to serological typing and may enhance patient care in certain situations, said Karen Midthun, M.D., director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
The Immucor PreciseType HEA Molecular BeadChip Test works by detecting genes that govern the expression of 36 antigens that can appear on the surface of red blood cells. The test uses thousands of coded beads that bind with the genes coding for non-ABO red blood cell antigens that are present in a blood sample. A light signal is generated from each bead that has captured a specific gene. Accompanying computer software decodes the light signals and reports which antigens are predicted to be present on the red cells based on the genes that are detected.
A study was conducted to compare the typing results of the PreciseType HEA Molecular BeadChip Test with licensed serological reagents and DNA sequencing. The results demonstrated comparable performance between the methods.
The product was brought before the FDAs Blood Products Advisory Committee on March 18, 2014. After reviewing the relevant information, the committee concluded that the data provided reasonable assurance that the Immucor PreciseType HEA Molecular BeadChip Test is safe and effective for its intended use.
The Immucor PreciseType HEA Molecular BeadChip Test is manufactured by BioArray Solutions Ltd. of Warren, New Jersey.
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.
###
Original post:
PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:
22-May-2014
Contact: Jeremy Walter Jeremy.Walter@tuhs.temple.edu 215-707-7882 Temple University Health System
(Philadelphia, PA) Innovative treatments for heart failure are lacking, leaving the nearly six million Americans who suffer from the condition with little hope for a cure. But thanks to an $11.5-million Program Project Grant (PPG) from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), scientists at Temple University School of Medicine are now set to further their investigation of key molecular mechanisms in heart failure, an effort that is expected to lead to the development of new heart therapies.
The Principal Investigator on the new PPG award is Dr. Walter J. Koch, PhD, The William Wikoff Smith Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine, Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology, and Director of the Center for Translational Medicine at Temple University School of Medicine (TUSM). Dr. Koch is working alongside two other Temple researchers on the Program Project Grant Dr. Steven R. Houser, PhD, FAHA, Senior Associate Dean for Research, Professor and Chair of the Department of Physiology, and Director of the Cardiovascular Research Center at TUSM; and Dr. Arthur M. Feldman, MD, PhD, Executive Dean of TUSM, and Chief Academic Officer of Temple University Health System.
Each of the scientists is leading a specific project for the grant, with all three projects being natural outgrowths of ongoing research in their individual laboratories. The three projects focus on signaling pathways implicated in cardiac injury and repair, and they likely intersect in heart failure pathology, underscoring the significance of the collaborative research effort.
"The Program Project Grant give us the opportunity to develop novel approaches to treat ischemic heart disease," explained Dr. Houser. "Our goal will be to have new therapeutics ready for patients through our PPG."
The new award represents the second round of PPG funding for the three researchers. Over the course of their previous funding cycle, Drs. Feldman, Houser, and Koch developed highly integrated research programs aimed at better understanding the signaling molecules involved in heart failure. Their preliminary research resulted in the identification of the three signaling pathways that the researchers are now investigating for the second PPG. Those pathways center on an enzyme known as G-protein coupled receptor kinase 5 (GRK5) and on molecules known as arginine vasopressin (AVP) type 1A receptors and transient receptor potential (TRP) channels.
GRK5 forms the basis of Dr. Koch's portion of the PPG. In earlier work, he and colleagues found that the enzyme, which normally resides in the cytoplasm of heart cells, can be transported into the heart cell nucleus. There, in the cockpit of the cell, GRK5 takes control over the activity of certain genes. Its manipulations ultimately cause heart cells to increase in size, creating a condition known as hypertrophy, which is a central feature of heart failure.
Dr. Feldman's PPG research explores the role of AVP type 1A receptors in cardiac injury. In previous work in mice, Feldman's team found that the density of AVP receptors increases in the heart following cardiac injury. The change in receptor expression was associated with diminished heart function. In the next steps of investigation, Feldman hopes to elucidate the mechanism underlying that association.
Read this article:
Temple scientists receive $11.5 million grant for heart failure research
INDIANAPOLIS, May 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today the establishment of a strategic alliance with Pathology, Inc. in Torrance, Calif., that designates the company as a Roche Molecular Center of Excellence (MCOE) for the next five years.
Established in 2002, Roche's MCOE program is designed to create an alliance network that enables non-competing regional laboratories across the U.S. to collaborate and capitalize on scientific knowledge in molecular testing and, in turn, help accelerate the advancement of new test methods and technology.
"Roche is very pleased to welcome Pathology, Inc. into the Molecular Center of Excellence alliance," said Whitney Green, senior vice president, molecular diagnostics at Roche Diagnostics Corporation. "We value their expertise in women's health and look forward to working together in implementing molecular technologies in the advancement of personalized medicine."
Pathology, Inc. is one of 35 labs in the U.S. that have received this recognition and joined in this strategic partnership with Roche. "This relationship with Roche will help keep Pathology, Inc. on the leading edge of women's health services and will help ensure that we are supporting physicians and their patients with the most advanced molecular technologies," said Vicki DiFrancesco, president and CEO at Pathology, Inc. "It will also integrally support our mission to help doctors personalize patient care."
As a nationally recognized Roche MCOE, the Pathology, Inc. molecular diagnostics laboratory will offer physicians and patients some of the latest and most advanced molecular technologies, such as Roche's cobas HPV Test, a screening test approved by the FDA for use in helping clinicians assess patients'risk of cervical cancer based on the presence of clinically relevant high-risk HPV DNA.
About Pathology, Inc. Pathology, Inc. is the country's premier full-service independent Women's Health laboratory, providing expertise in reproductive FDA donor testing as well as anatomic, molecular and digital pathology services. Its integrated diagnostic services help doctors personalize patient care to optimally treat disease and maintain health and wellness. The company is committed to providing only the highest level of testing quality and service and working with physicians to provide unique solutions to their most challenging needs.
About Roche Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world's largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and neuroscience. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management. Roche's personalized healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostics that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients. Founded in 1896, Roche has been making important contributions to global health for more than a century. Twenty-four medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and chemotherapy.
In 2013 the Roche Group employed over 85,000 people worldwide, invested 8.7 billion Swiss francs in R&D and posted sales of 46.8 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit http://www.roche.com or http://www.usdiagnostics.roche.com.
COBAS is a trademark of Roche. All trademarks mentioned in this release are protected by law.
For further information, please contact:
See the article here:
Roche Diagnostics recognizes Pathology, Inc as Roche Molecular Center of Excellence
Contact Information
Available for logged-in reporters only
Newswise Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) today launched an ambitious initiative to improve cancer care and research through genomic analysis. The new program will reshape clinical trials and speed the translation of novel molecular discoveries into routine clinical practice. The Marie-Jose and Henry R. Kravis Center for Molecular Oncology (CMO) is named in honor of Marie-Jose and Henry R. Kravis, whose transformative gift of $100 million will make it possible to realize the promise of precision oncology and support the development of new, individualized cancer therapies and diagnostic tools.
Progress in our understanding of the biology of cancer has completely shifted the way we think about and treat cancer, says Craig Thompson, MD, MSK President and CEO. Were moving away from the concept of treating cancer as many different types of the same disease and toward treating each persons cancer as its own unique disease. Now, thanks to the inspiring generosity of the Marie-Jose and Henry R. Kravis Foundation, we will be able to expand and intensify this effort, ushering in what will truly be a new era of precision medicine.
Throughout the course of my involvement at Memorial Sloan Kettering, I have been deeply impressed by the dedication, experience, and competence of the physicians and scientists who are working to unravel the complexities of cancer, says Marie-Jose Kravis, who has been a member of MSKs Boards of Overseers and Managers since October 2000 and is Chair of the Board of the Sloan Kettering Institute. Henry and I are delighted to support this exciting new initiative, which offers such hope to people around the world.
Memorial Sloan Kettering has already proven itself to be a leader in understanding cancer at the genetic level and in putting that knowledge to work for patients, says Henry R. Kravis. The new Center for Molecular Oncology will take these efforts to an entirely new level, and I look forward with great anticipation to the discoveries that lie ahead.
Archived tumor specimens and tissues obtained in clinical trials will be comprehensively profiled by next-generation sequencing and other molecular technologies. The molecular information of each tumor will then be correlated with clinical outcomes to better understand the significance of genetic alterations in tumors and the opportunities they offer for treating cancers more precisely.
The first application of the genomic revolution of the past decade is now being applied to cancer, says Jos Baselga, MD, Physician-in-Chief of Memorial Hospital. We have learned that cancer is actually a disease of the genome, and moving forward, we will need to integrate the vast amounts of molecular discoveries being made with clinical data to develop tumor-specific treatments. The CMO will be the first program in the country to span the full range of activities required to bridge these molecular insights into clinical innovations.
MSK with its exceptionally powerful and seamless integration of clinical and scientific teams focused on cancer is uniquely positioned to launch an initiative of the ambition and scope of the CMO. The aim is to analyze over 10,000 patient tumors in the CMOs first year alone, with an eye toward offering molecular analysis for every type of cancer and for all MSK patients.
In terms of structure, the Marie-Jose and Henry R. Kravis Center for Molecular Oncology epitomizes the multidisciplinary approach to cancer research, which demands that we fully link programs and departments institution-wide so that we can inform each others work with our best and brightest ideas, says Joan Massagu, PhD, Director of the Sloan Kettering Institute.
The rest is here:
Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) May 20, 2014
InSilico Medicine, Inc, the aging and longevity bioinformatics and drug discovery company, today announced the opening of its office in Baltimore within the Emerging Technology Centers (ETC) at Johns Hopkins University Eastern Campus.
InSilico Medicine, Inc is a Baltimore-based bioinformatics and drug discovery company specializing in cancer, aging research and personalized medicine in age-related diseases. The company developed methods and software tools to predict the effectiveness of the various targeted drugs in oncology and extrapolated these methods to evaluate the possible geroprotective properties of the many drugs with known molecular targets. The mission of InSilico Medicine is to find working solutions to treat, cure and prevent age-related diseases and aging itself through excellence in knowledge management, machine learning and bioinformatics, relentless pursuit for new drug, omics and clinical outcomes data, development of reliable in silico drug screening methods, novel validation approaches and strong international partnerships in personalized medicine.
The state of the whole area of biomedical sciences today resembles that of the dawn of the personal computing in the 80s or Internet in the 90s. And as some of the discoveries transition from the laboratory into clinical practice and mainstream use, Baltimore may eclipse Silicon Valley. Baltimore is one of the few rapidly regenerating and developing cities with highly qualified labor and cost-effective infrastructure and we are proud to join this thriving community. ETC allows the innovative companies to develop within the Johns Hopkins ecosystem and move fast into the emerging areas of science and technology while absorbing the culture of excellence, said Alex Zhavoronkov, PhD, CEO of InSilico Medicine, Inc.
To participate in the rapidly growing science and technology hub in Baltimore and to take advantage of the innovation-friendly environment developed by the community of the top industry captains, InSilico Medicine selected the Emerging Technology Centers at Johns Hopkins Eastern Campus as the optimal location for its research and development operations. This location provides access to thousands of highly educated bioinformatics professionals and interns to work on the highly-ambitious high-impact projects.
We are extremely excited to welcome Insilico Medicine as an ETC portfolio company, said Deborah Tillett, ETCs President. Their amazing research in productive longevity promises to change the future for all of us; they are a great addition to ETC and the City, she concluded.
Proximity to the major academic institutions like the Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Medicine, National Institute on Aging and University of Maryland will allow us to hire the recent graduates and interns as well as collaborate with some of the worlds most advanced geneticists, bioinformaticians and computer scientists. We aim to be a driver of change in medicine embracing the concept of productive longevity and shifting the paradigms from treatment to personalized prevention. Our approach to evaluating the ability of drugs to slow down the age-related processes and possibly repair the accumulated damage is unique and we would be very proud if it becomes one of the many breakthroughs originating from this Mecca of biomedicine, said Qingsong Zhu, PhD, COO of InSilico Medicine, Inc.
Many things are aligned in Baltimore to propel innovative start-up companies in healthcare. Access to world-class researchers and talent in biomedicine, technology and healthcare here in Maryland is unparalleled. If you couple that intellectual asset with a growing entrepreneurial base, a robust investment community, and the active involvement of large prominent institutions like the Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Medicine, BioHealth Innovation, and Northrop Grumman, as seen in the recent successful launch of DreamIT Health Baltimore, Baltimores first health accelerator, you start to see the initial sparks to what will undoubtedly lead to an explosion of innovations. We already see those sparks developing rapidly and InSilico Medicine is a testament to the growing prominence of Baltimore for innovative international companies. Its aim of combating cancer and aging through the use of genomics and novel bioinformatics comes at a very exciting and opportune time, states Benjamin Seo, a Partner at emocha Mobile Health Inc. a company, spun-out of technology developed at Johns Hopkins, offering a mobile health platform for remote patient management on a global scale.
See the original post here:
Remission of Disseminated Cancer After Systemic Oncolytic Virotherapy
Dr. Stephen Russell, the Richard O. Jacobson Professor of Molecular Medicine and a Consultant in Hematology from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, in an article appearing online ahead of print...
By: Mayo Proceedings
Excerpt from:
Remission of Disseminated Cancer After Systemic Oncolytic Virotherapy - Video
Rockville, MD (PRWEB) May 14, 2014
United States (USA)-Molecular Diagnostics Market, Test Volume Forecast & Companies
Molecular diagnostics is a rapidlyadvancing area of research and medicine, with new technologies and applications being added continuously. Molecular diagnostics is the promising area which can transform disease diagnosis, as diagnosis based on symptoms and use of surrogate markers is replaced by genomic and proteomic analysis. This fundamental shift offers the promise for early disease detection, potentially before symptoms have even occurred.
United States molecular diagnostic market for 2018 is anticipated to more than double from its current value in 2013. In United States molecular diagnostic market, infectious disease controls the highest market share in 2013. But in terms of test volume food pathogen testing takes the lead pushing infectious disease at number two position.
Molecular oncology tests have emerged as a significant rapidly growing market segment. In the current medical diagnostics market, molecular diagnostics for cancer testing offers one of the brightest areas for growth and innovation. United States constitutes the largest regional market for blood screening and blood products. Molecular diagnostics is also starting to emerge as an important tool for HLA Testing, Food Pathogen Detection Testing and other disease areas.
In companies market share Hologic Inc., Myriad Genetics and Becton Dickinson together these 3 companies control more than 50% market share for 2013. However Becton Dickinson is expected to lose its market share gradually and Roche is expected to take its place by 2018.
To order this report:
United States (USA)-Molecular Diagnostics Market, Test Volume Forecast & Companies Contact: Shauna 800.298.5699 Customerservice(at)marketresearch(dot)com
Renub Research
Renub Research is a full service market research firm providing customized and syndicated research solutions to business organizations. Renub Research services specialize in Energy, IT & Telecom, Insurance, Financial and Services sector. Our experienced team of analysts collate, evaluate data from credible sources so that you dont miss out on even the minutest detail of information in todays dynamic business environment. Our team of dynamic industry experts makes market research reports on various industries helping our clients in making strategic business decisions.
See the rest here:
United States (USA)-Molecular Diagnostics Market, Test Volume Forecast & Companies
(PRWEB) May 12, 2014
Molecular diagnostics is a rapidlyadvancing area of research and medicine, with new technologies and applications being added continuously. Molecular diagnostics is the promising area which can transform disease diagnosis, as diagnosis based on symptoms and use of surrogate markers is replaced by genomic and proteomic analysis. This fundamental shift offers the promise for early disease detection, potentially before symptoms have even occurred.
United States molecular diagnostic market for 2018 is anticipated to more than double from its current value in 2013. In United States molecular diagnostic market, infectious disease controls the highest market share in 2013.
Browse Full Report with TOC: http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis-details/united-states-usa-molecular-diagnostics-market-test-volume-forecast-and-companies.
But in terms of test volume food pathogen testing takes the lead pushing infectious disease at number two position.
Molecular oncology tests have emerged as a significant rapidly growing market segment. In the current medical diagnostics market, molecular diagnostics for cancer testing offers one of the brightest areas for growth and innovation. United States constitutes the largest regional market for blood screening and blood products. Molecular diagnostics is also starting to emerge as an important tool for HLA Testing, Food Pathogen Detection Testing and other disease areas.
United States Molecular Diagnostics Market & Test Volume Application Segment Analysis (2010 2018)
1. Oncology Testing Breast Cancer Colorectal Cancer Prostate Cancer Others 2. Infectious Diseases Virology Testing HPV Testing HAI Testing Critical Care Testing 3. Genetic Testing 4. Blood Screening 5. Food Pathogen Testing 6. Tissue Typing (HLA Testing)
To Download Full Report with TOC: http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/197391
United States Molecular Diagnostics Company Wise Sales Analysis (2010 2018)
See the article here:
The Ross Prize in Molecular Medicine
The Ross Prize in Molecular Medicine is awarded by the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and its international, peer-reviewed journal, Molecular Medic...
By: feinsteininstitute
Original post:
PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:
8-May-2014
Contact: Karen Kreeger karen.kreeger@uphs.upenn.edu 215-349-5658 University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
PHILADELPHIA - Ancient philosophers looked to alchemy for clues to life everlasting. Today, researchers look to their yeast. These single-celled microbes have long served as model systems for the puzzle that is the aging process, and in this week's issue of Cell Metabolism, they fill in yet another piece.
The study, led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, identifies a new molecular circuit that controls longevity in yeast and more complex organisms and suggests a therapeutic intervention that could mimic the lifespan-enhancing effect of caloric restriction, no dietary restrictions necessary. After all, says senior author Shelley Berger, PhD, "who wants to live on 500 calories a day?"
Berger, a Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor in the departments of Genetics and Cell and Developmental Biology at the Perelman School of Medicine and the department of Biology in the School of Arts and Sciences, studies epigenetics, the science of the control of genetic information. Epigenetics comprises multiple regulatory layers, including chromatin packaging -- the orderly wrapping of DNA around histone proteins in the cell nucleus. By altering this DNA packaging, cells can control when and how genes are expressed.
"Aging is, in part, the accumulation of cellular stress," she explains. "If you can better respond to these stresses, this ameliorates the damage it can cause."
Berger and her team looked for chromatin-associated genes that could influence longevity by searching for genes that already were implicated in epigenetic regulation that might extend lifespan when deleted in the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. One such gene improved lifespan by about 25 percent this would correspond to an increased lifespan in humans from 75 years to about 95 years a substantial benefit to longevity, notes Berger. The research, conducted by postdoctoral fellow Weiwei Dang, PhD, aimed to unravel how this increase in longevity was achieved and if it was related to cellular stress.
First, the team asked whether the gene ISW2 is part of previously identified longevity pathways, especially those associated with caloric restriction, a well-known strategy for extending lifespan. But pathways involving a form of chromatin modification (histone acetylation) came up empty, as did an alternate pathway involving growth control, suggesting ISW2 functions through a never-before-seen mechanism.
The team then looked for answers in the function of the ISW2 protein, and found that its absence alters the expression of genes involved in protecting cells from such stresses as DNA damage. Deletion of ISW2 increases the expression and activity of genes in DNA-damage repair pathways an effect also seen during calorie restriction.
Go here to read the rest:
Contact Information
Available for logged-in reporters only
Newswise DALLAS May 7, 2014 UT Southwestern Medical Center today announced the formation of the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine led by Dr. Eric Olson, Chairman of the Department of Molecular Biology.
This new Center was made possible by a $10 million endowment gift from the Hamon Charitable Foundation. It is being established to promote discoveries that will provide new approaches to healing and regeneration, including advances in stem cell biology, tissue engineering, and organ fabrication.
We look forward to the emergence of the Hamon Center as a leading source of transformative insights into regenerative science and medicine, said Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky, President of UT Southwestern. We are delighted to be able to announce this very generous gift from the Hamon Foundation, the establishment of the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, and this important new role for Dr. Olson.
Dr. Olsons work has produced new insights into heart development and regeneration. His work has illuminated a detailed genetic model for heart development that provides a framework for how these genes function in normal and abnormal heart development. These advances provide a basis for the development of new approaches to the treatment and prevention of cardiac defects in infants and cardiac repair in adults, including several therapeutics already in development.
We all know what degeneration is. Thats what happens with age. Regeneration is the opposite. It centers on how to rejuvenate aged and diseased tissues, said Dr. Olson. The goal of this Center is to understand the basic mechanisms for tissue and organ formation, and then to use that knowledge to regenerate, repair, and replace tissues damaged by aging and injury.
Under Dr. Olsons leadership, the Hamon Center will both foster collaborative interactions among existing faculty and, with its appointing authority, recruit junior and senior new faculty. In addition, the Center will support new core facilities, expanded biobank activities, and the development of new training and educational activities related to regenerative science and medicine.
Dr. Olsons work has been widely recognized by numerous awards and honors, including his election to the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. More recently, he received the Passano Award in 2012, the Research Achievement Award from the International Society for Heart Research in 2013, and also in 2013, the March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology.
Dr. Olson has been a member of the UTSouthwestern community since he was recruited in 1995 to be the founding Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology. He holds the Annie and Willie Nelson Professorship in Stem Cell Research, the Pogue Distinguished Chair in Research on Cardiac Birth Defects, and the Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Science.
See more here:
Molecular Biology Chair Eric Olson to Head to New Hamon Center for Regenerative Medicine
08.05.2014 - (idw) Max-Delbrck-Centrum fr Molekulare Medizin (MDC) Berlin-Buch
The new biannual research report for the years 2012 and 2013 of the Max Delbrck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch has now been published. In the 326-page report, which is predominantly in English, the 62 research groups of the MDC, the central units (technology platforms) and the clinical groups in the Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the MDC and the Charit Universittsmedizin Berlin give an overview of their work in the research areas of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, cancer, diseases of the nervous system and systems biology. In his introduction to the research report, Professor Walter Rosenthal, MDC board chairman and scientific director, noted that the MDC had received the best possible mark of outstanding in its evaluation by international reviewers in 2012. At the same time the course was set for the further development of the MDC and its deeper integration into research activities on the state and federal level.
In his introductory remarks, Professor Rosenthal highlighted the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), which was founded in 2013. The MDC and the Charit have cooperated since 1992 in translational research the transfer of findings of basic research to applications in the clinic. With the new Berlin Institute of Health which has a thematic focus on systems medicine, the MDC and the Charit will substantially expand this cooperation. Furthermore, in 2012 the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), in which the MDC participates, was opened. It is one of a total of six German Centers for Health Research (DZG) which the Federal Ministry of Education and Research has established.
The MDC was founded on Campus Berlin-Buch in 1992. It is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres and receives its basic operational funding of approximately 68 million euros a year in a fixed ratio of 90 percent from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and 10 percent from the state of Berlin. In addition, extramural grants acquired by the researchers are in the two-digit million-euro range each year. At present (as of April 2014), 1615 people from 58 countries work at the MDC, among them 461 scientists and 371 doctoral students.
To receive this research report, please request a copy from the MDC Press Department.
Contact: Barbara Bachtler Press Department Max Delbrck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch in the Helmholtz Association Robert-Rssle-Strae 10 13125 Berlin Germany Phone: +49 (0) 30 94 06 - 38 96 Fax: +49 (0) 30 94 06 - 38 33 e-mail: presse@mdc-berlin.de http://www.mdc-berlin.de/ Weitere Informationen:http://www.mdc-berlin.de/43173227/en/research/research_report/Image/MDC_research...
Read this article:
PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:
5-May-2014
Contact: Scott LaFee slafee@ucsd.edu 619-543-6163 University of California - San Diego
With accelerating development of personalized cancer treatments matched to a patient's DNA sequencing, proponents say frontline physicians increasingly need help to maneuver through the complex genomic landscape to find the most effective, individualized therapy.
In a paper published in the May 5 online issue of The Oncologist, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center detail their experience evaluating 34 patients between December 2012 and June 2013 using a molecular tumor board a new type of advisory group comprised of multidisciplinary experts, including those in the fields of tumor genetics, basic science and bioinformatics.
"Next generation sequencing tools were used to profile patients' tumors," said Razelle Kurzrock, MD, director of the Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. In the 34 cases examined, no two patients shared the same genomic abnormalities. "We found 74 genes with 123 aberrations involved in cancer growth. Technology is permitting us to look at the molecular level of tumors, but most physicians are not trained in advanced genomics. We need access to experts in fundamental molecular biology to translate the data."
The Moores Cancer Center's Molecular Tumor Board brought together medical, surgical and radiation therapy oncologists, biostatisticians, radiologists, pathologists, clinical geneticists, basic and translational science researchers, and bioinformatics and pathway analysis specialists to discuss the intricacies of tumor genetics and tailor a personalized treatment plan for patients with advanced cancer or who have exhausted standard therapies.
Of the 123 abnormalities found in the patients' genetic cancer profiles, 107 of these irregularities appeared only once. "Cancer can be different in every patient," said Barbara Parker, MD, Moores Cancer Center deputy director for Clinical Affairs. "Standard therapy can be very efficient for many patients, but for those who do not respond to conventional treatment we need to find alternatives that will work for their disease."
For 12 patients studied who had failed to respond to conventional therapy, treatment plans were modified according to the results of their genomic testing and the Molecular Tumor Board's input.
"Three of the patients who had personalized cancer treatment plans discussed at the Molecular Tumor board had a partial response," said Richard Schwab, MD, Moores Cancer Center hematology oncologist and co-director of the Biorepository and Tissue Technology Shared Resource. "Developing a plan tailored to a patient's genetic makeup is helping us treat patients who are not responding to standard care or whose disease may have become drug resistant."
More:
05.05.2014 - (idw) Veterinrmedizinische Universitt Wien
Why phosphate rich foods can increase blood pressure and promote vascular calcifications has been discovered for the first time by scientists at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna. The key is the hormone, FGF23 (Fibroblast Growth Factor 23), which is produced in the bones, and regulates blood levels of calcium and sodium via the kidneys. When the level of FGF23 is raised, as through a high phosphate diet, calcium and sodium accumulate, putting strain on the cardiovascular system. The study appears today in the journal, EMBO Molecular Medicine. Phosphate rich foods include processed cheese, Parmesan, cola, baking powder and most processed foods. Phosphates are widely used in the food industry as preservatives and pH stabilizers. When large quantities of phosphates are consumed, production of the FGF23 hormone is stimulated, which has a negative effect on the cardiovascular system. Reinhold Erben, the head of the Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Biophysics at the Vetmeduni Vienna, warns that our phosphate consumption is relevant for our state of health.
Over 500 million people around the world suffer from chronic kidney disease. Clinical studies have shown that these patients often develop cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure and vascular calcification. Until now, the connection between renal disease, the accumulation of the hormone FGF23 which is produced in the bones, and cardiovascular disease was unclear.
FGF23 controls renal excretion of sodium, and so the blood pressure
The researchers showed that FGF23 has a so called sodium conserving effect, meaning it controls the reabsorption of filtered sodium in the kidneys. Mice lacking FGF23 excrete higher amounts of sodium in their urine, resulting in low blood pressure. Animals with high FGF23 levels show high levels of sodium in their blood, and in turn, high blood pressure.
A raised level of FGF23 puts increased strain on the heart. Reinhold Erben explains that, In patients with chronic renal disease, both the phosphate levels and the levels of FGF23 are chronically high. This often leads to cardiovascular disease.
FGF23 controls calcium, and therefore vascular calcification
A second study, published by Erbens group in mid-January in EMBO, showed that FGF23 also controls calcium levels. As with sodium, the calcium is filtered in the kidneys and reabsorbed back into the body. If this reabsorption does not take place, the body loses calcium. Too much FGF23 leads to increased take up of calcium by the kidneys, and results in vascular calcification. Olena Andrukhova, the leading author of both studies, is keen to stress that, Patients with chronic kidney disease often also suffer from cardiovascular disease. Raised FGF23 levels are partly responsible for this. Our results for the first time are able to explain this connection.
The hormone FGF23 is formed in the bones and controls the excretion of phosphate via the kidneys. When there is too much phosphate present in the body, the FGF23 level rises which leads to the excretion of excess phosphate. If too much phosphate is ingested with food, or if the excretion process via the kidneys does not work correctly, phosphate and FGF23 levels increase. A dangerous spiral begins that can have serious consequences on the overall health.
New critical values of FGF23 in science
Read the original post:
New cause of high blood pressure and heart disease discovered
Worms In Space
Molecular medicine scientist Nathaniel J. Szewczyk talks about research with worms on the International Space Station. Scientists are trying to find out whic...
By: Kowch737
See the article here: