Treatments improved through personalised medicine

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The EU is investing in the development of personalised medicine, which allows doctors to offer preventative treatments for cancer and heart disease.

Most commonly used to treat cancer, personalised medicine can offer patients the best possible treatment by focusing on the individual genetic and biological make-up of their tumours. Thanks to advances in research, personalised medicine could be made available to more patients, and scientists are optimistic about its future.

If traditional treatments are ineffective, or the cancer is recurrent, patients can undergo tests to determine the specific molecular anomalies in their tumours, and how bestto block theirenzyme activity. Doctors can then target these anomalies, which may occur in multiple cancers, and are thus able to prescribe medication to treat several tumours simultaneously.

"Personalised medicine works by focusing on the genetic make-up of the tumour, rather than the patient," Agns Buzyn, president of the French National Cancer Institute (INCA), explained during a Medef Summer University workshop.

External factors such as environment and lifestyle are also taken into account, as they can influence a patient's illness andthe effectiveness of its treatment.

Heart disease risk-assessment

Personalised medicine can also be used to treat heart disease. Risk assessment can greatly improve the effectiveness of preventative treatment, and can enable doctors to intervene swiftly with effective measures before any problems arise.

By analysing the concentration of certain proteins in the blood, along with the patient's individual genetic data, it is possible to predict with relative accuracy whether the patient is at risk of developing heart disease in the future.

>> Read: New cardiovascular disease treatments urgently needed, experts say

Pharmaceutical companies take the strain

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The genius of genomics

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It is 14 years since Tony Blair and Bill Clinton invited the world's media to the White House for an announcement that would have seemed like science fiction just a few years earlier: the entire human genome - the genetic blueprint of human beings - had been mapped for the first time.

Looking somewhat awestruck, the prime minister and the president promised their press conference would pave the way for 'a new era of genetic medicine'.

This was not a hollow pledge, but genomics is only now beginning to fulfil its potential.

How can investors gain the diversification that is important in all facets of investing in biotechnology through genomics? Read more: Six stocks and funds to give investors exposure to genomics.

The two world leaders were right in their view that genomics would prove to be a disruptive technology (not that they would have used the term).

But just as it took the mass-produced Ford Model T to translate the invention of the automobile into a technology that changed the world, so the first map of the human genome was not quite the game changer Blair and Clinton anticipated.

'The real catalyst for the take-off of genomics has been the next-generation technology that has brought the cost of gene sequencing to an incredibly low level,' says Jung Ryu, a life sciences tools analyst at New York-based fund manager OrbiMed Advisors, which runs the Biotech Growth and Worldwide Healthcare investment trusts in the UK.

'That first human genome project was completed at a cost of $3 billion (1.8 billion) - by the end of this year, it will be possible to buy table-top gene sequencing equipment that can do the same job for less than $1,000.'

At that price, genomics research is possible in university labs all around the world, and projects of previously unimaginable ambition become cost-effective.

For example, in July in the UK, the National Health Service began awarding contracts for its 100,000 Genomes Project, an initiative to map the DNA of 100,000 Britons by 2017.

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The genius of genomics

Proove Biosciences Will Be Exhibiting at the 21st Annual Napa Pain Conference

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IRVINE, CA and ANNAPOLIS JUNCTION, MD (PRWEB) September 04, 2014

Proove Biosciences, the commercial and research leader in personalized medicine, will be attending the 21st Annual Napa Pain Conference, September 5th-7th, at the Meritage Conference Center. Proove will specifically be presenting research conducted through their proprietary PILL II Study.

The PILL II study examined the prevalence of genetic variations in a population of chronic pain patients who were taking prescription opioids. Proove researchers found that there is in fact a greater prevalence of these genetic variations in the study group vs. the control population.

The Napa Pain Conference is a leading CME pain management conference that traditionally presents new data and best practices in pain therapies. The conference is designed to provide significant educational opportunity to everyone, regardless of position, or role in the pain management and pain treatment industry.

Proove Biosciences genetic testing has allowed pain management physicians to better assess their patients needs by analyzing how they will react to specific treatments, and help physicians decide if there are better alternatives to consider, stated Brian Meshkin, CEO of Proove Biosciences.

The nationally acclaimed annual conference is the premier event for the study of pain diagnosis and treatment. Regarding opioids and addiction, the conference aims to provide an understanding of current medical treatment; review current processes for patients at risk for aberrant behaviors related to prescription drug abuse; discuss strategies to enhance safety; and increase awareness of best practices to help reduce and prevent opioid over-prescribing.

As the commercial leader in personalized pain medicine research and genetic testing, Proove Biosciences is committed to helping patients manage and treat their pain in the most efficient and safest way possible, stated Meshkin. This is only possible by truly understanding how the patient will react to treatment based off their individual genetic factors, and we are excited to share how Proove has been helping achieve this at the 21st Annual Napa Pain Conference.

About Proove Biosciences

Our mission is to change the future of medicine by providing proof to improve healthcare decisions. We envision a future when clinicians will know how patients are likely to respond to medications before writing a prescription. We believe such knowledge can be provided by genetic testing: Using a simple cheek swab, Proove performs proprietary genetic tests in its CLIA-certified laboratory. Healthcare providers use the results to evaluate how their patients will metabolize medications, and to screen for the likelihood of medication misuse.

Founded in 2009 with offices in Southern California and the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, Proove Biosciences is the leader in genetics-related personalized pain medicine research with hundreds of clinical research sites across the U.S. For more information, please visit http://www.proovebio.com or call toll free 855-PROOVE-BIO (855-776-6832).

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Proove Biosciences Will Be Exhibiting at the 21st Annual Napa Pain Conference

Harvard & Cornell researchers develop untethered, autonomous soft robot

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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

4-Sep-2014

Contact: Kathryn Ryan kryan@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, September 4, 2014--Imagine a non-rigid, shape-changing robot that walks on four "legs," can operate without the constraints of a tether, and can function in a snowstorm, move through puddles of water, and even withstand limited exposure to flames. Harvard advanced materials chemist George Whitesides, PhD and colleagues describe the mobile, autonomous robot they have created in Soft Robotics, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available on the Soft Robotics website.

In "A Resilient, Untethered Soft Robot," Michael Tolley, PhD and a multidisciplinary team of coauthors from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, at Harvard University (Cambridge, MA), and the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University (Ithaca, NY), detail the innovative composite materials, design features, and fabrication methods they used to develop a soft robot capable of functioning for several hours using a battery pack or for longer periods with a light-weight electrical tether, and able to carry payloads of up to 8 kg.

"This paper marks the emergence of soft robot technology from the research lab into the real world," says Editor-in-Chief Barry A. Trimmer, PhD, who directs the Neuromechanics and Biomimetic Devices Laboratory at Tufts University (Medford, MA).

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About the Journal

Soft Robotics, a peer-reviewed journal published quarterly online with Open Access options and in print, combines advances in biomedical engineering, biomechanics, mathematical modeling, biopolymer chemistry, computer science, and tissue engineering to present new approaches to the creation of robotic technology and devices that can undergo dramatic changes in shape and size in order to adapt to various environments. Led by Editor-in-Chief Barry A. Trimmer, PhD and a distinguished team of Associate Editors, the Journal provides the latest research and developments on topics such as soft material creation, characterization, and modeling; flexible and degradable electronics; soft actuators and sensors; control and simulation of highly deformable structures; biomechanics and control of soft animals and tissues; biohybrid devices and living machines; and design and fabrication of conformable machines. Tables of content and a sample issue can be viewed on the Soft Robotics website.

About the Publisher

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Harvard & Cornell researchers develop untethered, autonomous soft robot

Power to the Players: Futurist Jack Uldrich to Address GameStop's Executive Summit

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Dallas, TX (PRWEB) September 04, 2014

GameStop Corp, a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest multichannel video game retailers in the world, and on Thursday, September 4th they will be hosting their Executive Summit featuring Futurist Jack Uldrich as a keynote speaker.

GameStop's entire network of retail stores and family of brands are spread over 6,650 company operated store locations, which are placed in 15 countries in the world. So obviously they are committed to future-proofing themselves when it comes to the future of gaming. Uldrich, as a futurist, best selling author and international speaker aims to deliver insightful information on how to prepare for that future.

Uldrich says, "It is too soon to know whether all the latest and greatest technologies will work as promised but its not too soon for financial planners, healthcare professionals and environmentalists along with countless other industry professionals, especially those in the gaming industry, to begin exploring how augmented reality tools can be used to help their clients and customers achieved their stated goals."

His talk, "Business as Unusual: How to Future-Proof Your Business" is custom designed for GamesStop's Executives who will be making key decisions in the coming years on the industry's future. Combining predictions, his business acumen, tangible examples, and his key principle of unlearning, Uldrich intends to arm the GameStop executives with all the power they need in order to continue their tremendous success. Lending even more credence to GameStop's motto of "Power to the Players."

Jack Uldrich, in addition to speaking on future trends, emerging technologies, innovation, change management and leadership, is also a leading expert on assisting businesses adapt during times of transition. He has served as an advisor to Fortune 1000 companies and is noted for his ability to deliver provocative, new perspectives on competitive advantage, organizational change and transformational leadership.

Highly regarded for his unique ability to present complex information in an entertaining, understandable and digestible manner that stays with his audiences long afterwards, Uldrich has spoken to hundreds of businesses and organizations, including the American Medical Association, Fiatech, FS Systems, Cisco, and United Healthcare, along with hundreds of other clients in both the corporate and non profit sectors all over the world.

Following his keynote for GameStop, and throughout the month of September, Uldrich will be speaking in Vancouver at the Western Energy Institute Annual Meeting, AgBank's District CFO Meeting in Minneapolis, the PMMI in Chicago, the CPSU Society in Anaheim, The National Council for Continuing Education & Training in Denver and the Textile Rental Services Association in Las Vegas, NV.

Parties interested in learning more about Jack Uldrich, his books, his daily blog or his speaking availability are encouraged to contact Amy Tomczyk at (651) 343.0660.

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Power to the Players: Futurist Jack Uldrich to Address GameStop's Executive Summit

Internationally Acclaimed Futurist Jack Uldrich to Headline 7 Events in September

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New York, NY (PRWEB) September 04, 2014

Jack Uldrich, global futurist and best-selling author of "Foresight 20/20" will be presenting seven keynote speeches nationally and internationally throughout the month of September.

Uldrich is a renowned business trend expert and the author of eleven books, including: "The Next Big Thing is Really Small: How Nanotechnology will Change the Future of Your Business" and "Jump the Curve: 50 Strategies to Help Your Company Stay Ahead of Technology." A former naval intelligence officer and Defense Department official, Uldrich also served as the Director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Governor Jesse Ventura.

His schedule for speaking during the month of September is currently as follows:

Sept. 4: GameStop Executive Summit, Southlake, TX

Sept. 8: Western Energy Institute Annual Meeting, Kelowna, British Columbia

Sep. 16: AgBank District CFO Meeting, Minneapolis, MN

Sep. 17: Packaging Machine Manufacturers Institute (PMMI), Chicago, IL

Sep. 21: CPSU Society, Anaheim, CA

Sep. 29: The National Council for Continuing Education & Training, Denver, CO

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Internationally Acclaimed Futurist Jack Uldrich to Headline 7 Events in September

Why dislikes aren’t that bad #FreedomFamily – What do you think? – Video

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Why dislikes aren #39;t that bad #FreedomFamily - What do you think?
Dislikes are not the end of the world and are in fact the equivalent of a like but without a share attached to it. I also share the top 10 most disliked videos on YouTube Join the #FreedomFamily...

By: Freedom!

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Should academic freedom be absolute?

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Academic freedom. Two noble words. And very difficult to fault. Yet, somehow, it remains a problem in Malaysia.

COMMENT

By Wong Mun Loong

We have seen Azmi Sharom, a UM lecturer, being charged for sedition. Why? Because he offered a view and exercised his academic freedom.

If we were to look back on our history, we would find many a public intellectual, including the late Usman Awang and Samad Ismail, experiencing the wrath of the colonial authorities and the sharp end of the Sedition Ordinance.

Somehow, history repeats itself and we are seeing the increased use of sedition charges against commentators, politicians, journalists and other members of our society.

Sadly, our body politic has not matured enough and we still cling on to this colonial legacy like Linus hanging onto his security blanket.

When are we going to be mature enough and practise, as our present prime minister has suggested, being the worlds best democracy?

Our prime minister in the last week has sought to impress upon us to be more educated, more global, more open, and yet somehow his words and pronouncements appear to be falling on desert land. There is a flurry of activity and then the new normal sets in and the landscape returns to being barren once again.

There are good things associated with academic freedom the exploration of ideas, the stretching of our imagination and the quest to be innovative. Academic freedom allows us to ask difficult questions and address them.

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Should academic freedom be absolute?

Freedom Foods laps up more of A2 Milk

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ASX-listed Freedom Foods Group bought almost one million shares of A2 Milk Co this week for about $589,000 after its stake was diluted in the past year due to the issue of partly-paid shares.

The Sydney-based food company bought 942,500 shares in four transactions in A2 this week at an average price of about 62.5 cents, according to a substantial shareholder notice filed to the NZX on Friday.

Freedom Foods holds about 117.9 million shares, or 17.9 per cent of A2, leaving it as the biggest shareholder in the milk marketing company. A2 markets milk with a protein variant said to have health benefits and plans to expand in the US, UK and Asia.

Because A2 issued partly-paid shares to executives earlier this year, Freedom Foods' stake was diluted down from 18.1 per cent when it made its last disclosure in December 2012.

Shares of A2 rose 1.6 per cent to 63 cents on Friday, and have dropped 23 per cent this year.

Last month A2 reported a slump in annual profit to $10,000, even as sales rose 17 per cent to $111 million, as a strong kiwi dollar eroded the value of revenue and earnings.

In its August 29 results announcement, Freedom Foods said it intends to keep a strategic stake in A2 in the medium-term, while keeping the option to "realise capital from the investment to support growth opportunities."

Freedom Foods said A2 offers "potentially significant value creation" through the milk marketing firm's growth in Australia and international markets.

Shares of Freedom Foods rose 3.7 per cent to A$3.12 on the ASX on Thursday, and have climbed 13 per cent this year.

NZN

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Freedom Foods laps up more of A2 Milk

A2 shareholder Freedom Foods buys $589k of shares

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By Paul McBeth

Sept. 5 (BusinessDesk) - ASX-listed Freedom Foods Group bought almost one million shares of A2 Milk Co this week for about $589,000 after its stake was diluted in the past year due to the issue of partly-paid shares.

The Sydney-based food company bought 942,500 shares in four transactions in A2 this week at an average price of about 62.5 cents, according to a substantial shareholder notice filed to the NZX. Freedom Foods holds about 117.9 million shares, or 17.9 percent of A2, leaving it as the biggest shareholder in the milk marketing company.

Because A2 issued partly-paid shares to executives earlier this year, Freedom Foods' stake was diluted down from 18.1 percent when it made its last disclosure in December 2012.

Shares of A2 rose 1.6 percent to 63 cents today, and have dropped 23 percent this year. The stock is rated an average 'buy' based on four analyst recommendations compiled by Reuters, with a median target price of 80 cents.

Last month A2 reported a slump in annual profit to $10,000, even as sales rose 17 percent to $111 million, as a strong kiwi dollar eroded the value of revenue and earnings.

In its Aug. 29 results announcement, Freedom Foods said it intends to keep a strategic stake in A2 in the medium-term, while keeping the option to "realise capital from the investment to support growth opportunities."

Freedom Foods said A2 offers "potentially significant value creation" through the milk marketing firm's growth in Australia and international markets.

Shares of Freedom Foods rose 3.7 percent to A$3.12 on the ASX yesterday, and have climbed 13 percent this year.

(BusinessDesk)

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A2 shareholder Freedom Foods buys $589k of shares