11-09-2012 20:18 Paul Solman compares and contrasts health care reform proposals from the Romney and Obama campaigns. Economists on both sides of the political debate discuss increasing efficiency, technological innovation, market competition and vouchers.
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Making Sen$e: Competing Claims About Healthcare Reform - Video
Denver-based DaVita is expanding its push to dominate health care for all Americans, not just kidney patients, with the opening of a LoDo clinic offering primary care to the public.
A subsidiary of DaVita now has primary doctor clinics in 11 states, with plans for many more, including a build-out of a Denver network under the Paladina Health brand name.
The DaVita clinics operate under the "concierge" model, and are open to customers ranging from individuals to large, self-insured businesses.
Individuals pay $99 a month, or $59 for children, to receive most of their health care needs through the clinic. The doctors give cell phone numbers and are available 24 hours a day, coordinating preventive care, tests and specialty care.
For more specialized and expensive surgical or other procedures not handled by the clinic, patients are encouraged to have a backstop or catastrophic insurance plan with a high deductible. Paladina said that most patients will get 90 percent of their annual care through the clinic, for about $1,200 a year.
With two major acquisitions of a clinic group and a physician management company in the past year, DaVita is rapidly testing its premise that data-driven, wellness-focused care will improve health and turn big profits. Outsiders have warned the strategy transforms a dialysis company into a riskier insurance model, and that patients in the past have rebelled against cost-control efforts.
Paladina officials said their doctors have 700 to 800 patients each instead of the usual 3,000 to 4,000, and are compensated in part based on patient satisfaction and improving health.
Other branches of DaVita want to win government pacts to manage care for Medicare patients, for example, in arrangements where DaVita shares in any savings as long as it meets quality goals.
"That's how you fix health care. And we want to be those providers," said Rebecca Steinfort, senior vice president of Paladina Health.
DaVita acquired clinics in 10 other states when it bought operator ModernMed in January, and will consolidate them under Paladina.
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DaVita expands push into all health care with new Denver clinic
I’m trying to figure out just where Mitt Romney stands on health care reform. Obviously, so is Mitt Romney.
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Last week, two important reports underscored the potential for improving the value of health care in the United States.
The first of these, "Best Care at Lower Cost: The Path to Continuously Learning Health Care in America," issued by the Institute of Medicine, highlights two crucial facts. The first is that the health system provides a great volume of care that doesn't help patients. The authors write "there is evidence that a substantial proportion of health care expenditures is wasted, leading to little improvement in health or in the quality of care. Estimates vary on waste and excess health care costs, but they are large" -- possibly amounting to more than $750 billion in a single year.
As the report notes, that is enough to pay the full salaries of all the nation's firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians for more than a decade.
Complexity engulfs doctors
Second, medicine is becoming so complex that it is virtually impossible for an individual doctor to keep pace -- especially without help from computers, the institute says. Consider that the number of medical journal articles has risen to more than 750,000 a year, from 200,000 in 1970. "Diagnostic and treatment options are expanding and changing at an accelerating rate, placing new stresses on clinicians and patients, as well as potentially impacting the effectiveness and efficiency of care delivery," the report concludes.
This report reaches well beyond diagnosis, however. It recommends sensible steps to move us toward a "continuously learning" health system. One of these is to give doctors and other providers expanded real-time access to the latest knowledge through the widespread use of clinical-decision- support computer software, bolstered by continuously updated data on clinical experience.
A second set of recommendations involves health-care payment policies, which, as the institute argues, "strongly influence how care is delivered." The U.S. needs to move faster away from paying providers a fee for each service and instead pay for what they accomplish toward helping patients. The report also calls on health-care leaders to promote and develop a culture of learning among doctors, while also empowering patients by giving them more information about their own medical decisions.
The second important health-care report last week, published in Health Affairs, is based on a comparison of health-care costs and quality among various regions. Although a vast body of previous research has explored the wide variance within Medicare -- and has shown that there is no apparent correlation between cost and quality -- this analysis used data from the private insurer UnitedHealth.
For common chronic conditions, for example, the least-expensive costs per medical episode (those at the 10th percentile of all episodes) were about one fifth to one third less than the median, while the most expensive costs per episode (at the 90th percentile) were three to five times the median. In other words, the highest costs are more than 10 times the lowest -- for treating the same condition.
This variation might be understandable if the higher spending bought better results. However, according to the researchers, "for the conditions that we analyzed, we found essentially no correlation between average costs and the measured level of care quality across markets."
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Gayle Gilliam, left, and Breanna Carte, with American Legion Auxiliary Unit 19, followed by the Spring Hill High School Army Junior ROTC, get ready to lead the Freedom Walk Tuesday in remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the American Legion Post 19 on Nashville Highway. Participants made 11 laps around Post 19 for the 11th anniversary of the tragedy.
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A new documentary that reframes childbirth as the most pressing global Human Rights issue today is launching with hundreds of premires all over the world on the same day, Thursday 20th September 2012. The screening in Wellington on that date is at the Penthouse Cinema at 8pm.
Freedom For Birth is a 60 minute campaigning documentary featuring a Who's Who of leading birth experts and international Human Rights lawyers all calling for radical change to the world's maternity systems.
Made by British film-makers Toni Harman and Alex Wakeford, Freedom For Birth film tells the story of an Hungarian midwife gnes Gerb who has been jailed for supporting women giving birth at home. One of the home birth mothers supported by Ms Gerb decided to take a stand.
When pregnant with her second child, Anna Ternovsky took her country to the European Court of Human Rights and won a landmark case that has major implications for childbirth around the world.
Toni Harman, one of the film-makers says, "the Ternovsky vs Hungary ruling at the European Court of Human Rights in 2010 means that now in Europe, every birthing woman has the legal right to decide where and how she gives birth. And across the world, it means that if a woman feels like her Human Rights are being violated because her birth choices are not being fully supported, she could use the power of the law to protect those rights. With the release of "Freedom For Birth", we hope millions of women become aware of their legal rights and so our film has the potential to spark a revolution in maternity care across the world. In fact, we are calling this the Mothers' Revolution."
Karen Guilliland, CEO of the New Zealand College of Midwives says that New Zealanders are likely to be shocked at the story told by Freedom For Birth. "We are one of the very few countries where pregnant women enjoy full rights as a person." Karen recently spoke at the Human Rights in Childbirth Conference at the Hague, in the Netherlands and says that the international audience was inspired by our system. "Human rights seem like such a given in New Zealand but much of the world still does not meet the human rights expectations we take for granted. However, we should never take our maternity rights for granted and Freedom For Birth will encourage us to cherish and protect what we have."
Hermine Hayes-Klein, US lawyer and organiser of the recent Human Rights in Childbirth Conference at the Hague, the Netherlands says, "Freedom For Birth" holds the answer to changing the system. Birth will change when women realise they have a right to meaningful support for childbirth and claim that right. Birth will change when women stand up against the abuses that are currently suffered in such high numbers and say, No More."
When asked why they are showing the film, the two Wellington mothers who are organising the local screening, Karen Gault and Vida Rye say, "We want all women to be fully informed of their birth options and to be supported in their choice of how and where they give birth. We feel privileged to have birthed in a country that has a maternity system that, in the main, respects those choices. However, we feel that we cannot be complacent about what we have, we need to hold on to it for our children and their children, there are still improvements needed".
The local screening of Freedom For Birth will take place at the Penthouse Cinema, Brooklyn, Wellington at 8pm on Thursday 20th September 2012. The screening is to raise funds for the "Birth Centre for Wellington" project.
To book your tickets http://www.birthhub.org/freedomforbirth or contact 04 589 7802.
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Wednesday, 12 September 2012 22:28
Following last year's controversy about academic freedom at the university, Faculty Senate discussed academic freedom at their regularly scheduled meeting Monday.
"I think many of us can agree that there has been a chill on this campus with regard to academic freedom and our faith in academic freedom especially in the classroom," English professor Jill Ehnenn said.
Last year, several faculty members voiced their complaints when tenured sociology professor Jammie Price was placed on administrative leave after students made seven allegations against Price, including engaging in "inappropriate speech and conduct" in the classroom.
There has been a lot of fear, complaints and questions regarding academic freedom since last year, Enhenn said.
"This is not an issue that just reflects the voices of five or six people," Enhenn said.
Faculty members expressed their concerns, questions and suggestions to the Faculty Senate and Provost of Academic Affairs Lori Gonzalez.
The administration will come up with answers regarding professors' questions about academic freedom, Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said she is committed to academics and hopes to answer questions in a way that doesn't "pit administration against faculty."
"I just ask that you offer the benefit of the doubt until you can prove that we are not supporting academic freedom," Gonzalez said.
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September 12, 2012 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom Florence, KY-The Southern Illinois Miners took advantage of two errors in the seventh inning and went on to defeat the Florence Freedom 5-3 in game one of the Frontier League Championship series.
With the game tied at 3-3 in the seventh, Jason Ganek reached on a Stephen Cardullo throwing error at third base. Jose Velazquez retired the next two batters bringing Chris Anderson to the plate with Ganek standing at third. Anderson hit a pop up to the right side of the infield which second baseman Pierre LePage dropped. This allowed Ganek to score. The two errors by the Freedom defense gave the Miners a 4-3 lead.
In the ninth, the Freedom had a chance against Miner closer Brandon Cunniff. With the bases loaded and with two outs, Cunniff got Peter Fatse to ground out to second base to end the ballgame.
The Freedom took a 1-0 lead on a Kyle Bluestein solo homerun in the second inning. The Miners then got back to back homeruns in the third. Anderson hit a two run homer off Freedom starter Andy Clark(0-2) and then Cannon Lester followed with a solo shot giving the Miners a 3-1 lead.
Drew Rundle hit his second homerun of the postseason in the sixth. It was a two run shot to left field which tied the game at 3-3.
David Harden(2-0) the Southern Illinois starter improved to 6-0 lifetime against the Freedom as he went 6.2 innings allowing seven hits on three earned runs. Cunniff picked up his fourth save of the postseason in as many tries.
Clark worked six innings giving up four hits on three earned runs with one walk and four strikeouts.
Bluestein and Fatse each had two hits for the Freedom who outhit the Miners 8-6.
The Freedom will look to even up the best of five series at a game apiece on Thursday night. LHP Daniel Calhoun(0-0, 7.20) gets the start for the Miners while the Florence starter is RHP Brandon Mathes(0-0, 4.00). The game can be heard with Steve Jarnicki starting at 6:20 on Real Talk 1160 and realtalk1160.com.
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THE Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) has approved 35 aerospace industry-related projects with investments worth RM2.8 billion.
Its deputy chief executive officer, Datuk Azman Mahmud said of the total, 17 projects are in the maintenance, repair and overhaul business, 20 in the manufacturing, and two in research and development designs.
Speaking to reporters at the signing of a priority resources agreement between Strand Aerospace Malaysia Sdn Bhd (SAM) and France's AKKA Technologies here yesterday, he said the global market for aerospace services is expected to double over the next decade to US$1 trillion (RM3.07 trillion) by 2020.
"Today, much of the high value design works in Malaysia are being outsourced to Taiwan, South Korea and India.
Azman said Malaysia is progressively establishing itself to meet all the ranks in the aerospace industry value chain.
"It was not long ago that Malaysia's aerospace industry served only the airline and second- or third-tier original equipment manufacturer market.
"Now, Malaysia is at the forefront of several markets, including composite designs and manufacturing; aircraft component design and manufacturing; avionics and system designs," he said.
As such, Azman said, the collaboration between SAM and AKKA Technologies is testimony to the capabilities of local players in providing their services globally as well as the high level of confidence and trust the international business has in Malaysia.
He said SAM will capitalise on the strength of Malaysia's high quality engineering pool. SAM is the lead company in the Economic Transformation Programme initiative to grow the country's engineering services industry.
SAM chief operating officer Naguib Mohd Nor said the company, which was established in 2006, has about 70 engineers. This is expected to rise to 100 in the next six months.
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d EADS, EUROPE’S largest aerospace company, and BAE Systems, its largest defence company, are in talks about a potential tie-up, the British group has said.
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SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Schiff Nutrition International, Inc., (SHF), is scheduled to present at the Imperial Capital 6th Annual Global Opportunities Conference on Wednesday, September 19th at 3:30 p.m. ET in New York City. Presenting from management will be Tarang Amin, chief executive officer and president; and Joseph Baty, chief financial officer and executive vice president.
A live webcast will be available at the following link and available for a period of 90 days. http://www.schiffnutrition.com/press_webcasts.asp
About Schiff Nutrition
Schiff Nutrition International, Inc. is a leading nutritional supplement company offering vitamins, nutritional supplements and nutrition bars in the United States and abroad. Schiffs portfolio of well-known brands includes MegaRed, Move Free, Airborne, Tiger's Milk, Digestive Advantage and Schiff Vitamins. Focused on quality for 75 years, Schiffs headquarters and award-winning manufacturing and distribution facility are based in Salt Lake City, Utah. To learn more about Schiff, please visit the web site http://www.schiffnutrition.com.
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Schiff Nutrition International, Inc. to Present at the Imperial Capital 6th Annual Global Opportunities Conference
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Liquid Nutrition Group Inc. (Liquid Nutrition or Company) (TSX-V: LQD.V and LQD.WT) announced today a major partnership with Canadian businesswoman, entrepreneur, author and Dragons Den TV personality Arlene Dickinson. The partnership agreement provides Ms. Dickinson with exclusivity in the Alberta marketplace and plans are in development to open multiple stores starting with the first location in Calgary.
The agreement also provides Ms. Dickinson with the rights to open Liquid Nutrition stores in the Halifax market.
From an investment perspective, its very sound, the Liquid Nutrition brand is fresh, new and rapidly expanding. I expect to see fast growth within the next five years, said Arlene Dickinson from her Calgary office. Just as important to me is the lifestyle element, Liquid Nutrition offers customers functional beverages to match their active lifestyles. Liquid Nutrition represents the new takeout, a healthier alternative, and Im proud to be a part of that movement.
Arlene Dickinson has served as an independent director on Liquid Nutritions Board of Directors since the company was publicly listed in the spring of 2011.
Glenn Young, President, Liquid Nutrition Group Inc. is pleased to see Arlene expanding her role and partnership with Liquid Nutrition.
Arlene has provided invaluable counsel and direction as an active member of Liquid Nutritions Board. It is very encouraging to see her make a substantial investment in the company.
This partnership agreement also marks an important milestone for Liquid Nutrition, which has now signed partnerships in all primary Canadian markets.
Team Liquid, which is comprised of Steve Nash (NBA), Torah Bright (snowboarding), Russell Martin (MLB), Suzann Pettersen (LPGA), Matt Ryan (NFL), Vincent Lecavalier (NHL) and Nutritionist Elaine Hastings played a major factor in Ms. Dickinsons decision to invest.
Having so many prominent athletes behind Liquid Nutrition was very encouraging to see as a prospective investor. Im confident Team Liquid will help build Liquid Nutrition into a very authentic brand, added Ms. Dickinson.
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Liquid Nutrition Announces Partnership with Arlene Dickinson
MENLO PARK, Calif., Sept. 12, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. (PACB) provider of the PacBio(R)RS High Resolution Genetic Analyzer, today announced that renowned scientist Lucy Shapiro, Ph.D. of Stanford University has joined the Company's Board of Directors.
Dr. Shapiro currently serves as the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor of Cancer Research and the Director of the Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine at Stanford University's School of Medicine, where she has been as a faculty member since 1989. Dr. Shapiro is a co-founder and director of Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. In 1989, Dr. Shapiro founded Stanford University's Department of Developmental Biology, and served as its Chairman from 1989 to 1997. Prior to that, Dr. Shapiro served as Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. She received a B.A. from Brooklyn College and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Dr. Shapiro has received numerous awards and has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Microbiology, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences for her work in the fields of molecular biology and microbiology. Dr. Shapiro previously served as a non-executive director of GlaxoSmithKline plc from 2001 to 2006.
"With dramatic changes in population numbers, the global ecology, and human and animal migration, there is increased scientific attention and urgency to the better understanding of pathogenic bacteria and viruses," said Dr. Shapiro. "Discovering the fundamental mechanisms that control these microscopic forms of life is vital for dealing with emerging infectious diseases in today's global village. PacBio's technology provides a window into the world of these bacteria and viruses that was previously inaccessible to the field of microbiology, and I'm excited to join the company's board to help support the company's success in these and other important applications."
Michael Hunkapiller, Chairman and CEO of Pacific Biosciences commented: "Lucy is renowned for her contributions to the fields of developmental biology, molecular biology and genetics, and it is an honor to have a scientist of her caliber join our Board of Directors. She has been a strong supporter of our technology, and we look forward to deepening our relationship and leveraging her expertise in the fields of infectious diseases and cancer research, which are key applications for the PacBio RS."
More information about Pacific Biosciences is available at http://www.pacb.com. You can also follow the company on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pacbio.
About Pacific Biosciences
Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. (PACB) offers the PacBio(R)RS High Resolution Genetic Analyzer to help scientists solve genetically complex problems. Based on its novel Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT(R)) technology, the company's products enable: targeted sequencing to more comprehensively characterize genetic variations; de novo genome assembly to more fully identify, annotate and decipher genomic structures; and DNA base modification identification to help characterize epigenetic regulation and DNA damage. By providing access to genetic information that was previously inaccessible, Pacific Biosciences enables scientists to increase their understanding of biological systems.
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Pacific Biosciences Appoints Lucy Shapiro, Ph.D. to Board of Directors
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/hcccqw/future_horizons_in) has announced the addition of the "Future Horizons in the US Infectious Disease Testing Market: Supplier Shares and Sales Forecasts for 100 Tests by Market Segment" report to their offering.
Comprehensive 1,037-page analysis of the US microbiology testing market. Major issues pertaining to the US microbiology laboratory practice, as well as key economic, regulatory, demographic, social and technological trends with significant market impact during the next ten years. Current scientific views on the definition, epidemiology, and etiology of major infectious diseases and microorganisms. Ten-year test volume and sales forecasts for nearly 80 microbiology tests performed in US hospitals, blood banks, physician offices, public health and commercial laboratories. Instrumentation technologies and feature comparison of leading analyzers. Sales and market shares of leading suppliers. Emerging diagnostic technologies and their potential market applications. Product development opportunities. Profiles of current and emerging suppliers, including their sales, market shares, product portfolios, marketing tactics, technological know-how, new products in R&D, collaborative arrangements and business strategies. Business opportunities and strategic recommendations for suppliers.
Contains 1,037 pages and 177 tables
Companies Mentioned:
- Abbott
- Affymetrix
- Beckman Coulter/Danaher
- Becton Dickinson
- bioMerieux
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Research and Markets: Future Horizons in the US Infectious Disease Testing Market: Supplier Shares and Sales Forecasts ...
There was an extremely strong chance DNA found inside the underpants of a five-year-old girl came from the man accused of abusing her, a court has heard.
But the ACT Supreme Court has been told tests for saliva turned up nothing, despite the girls allegation her step-grandfather licked her vagina.
And the court has heard tests werent carried out on other items of clothing and bedding because they were likely to be covered in his DNA and have no probative value.
The underpants were also placed in the same bag as another item of clothing, prompting the defence to suggest the DNA might have transferred from one to the other.
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The 61-year-old man, who cannot be named, is on trial in front of Justice Richard Refshauge accused of two counts of having sexual intercourse with a child.
He has pleaded not guilty, and also denies two alternative charges of committing acts of indecency on the girl.
It is alleged he licked the girls vagina twice when he was babysitting her in April 2009.
The allegations came to light after the girls mother picked her up, when the girl asked her mother if she could tell her the secret she shared with poppy.
The accused man entered the witness box this afternoon and denied any wrongdoing, describing his shock when police confronted him with the allegations.
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Court hears DNA findings in child sex case
By Jen Wieczner
Now that scientists have revealed that the huge swaths of genetic code once dismissed as junk DNA are not so worthless, investors may wonder if theres similar hidden value in the biotech sector. The short answer: maybe.
Though analysts say its too soon to tell what impact the discovery will have on stocks, the recent breakthrough may eventually lead to new techniques for the early detection of diseases and to the development of new drugs. And that could be a boon to firms at the forefront of biotechnology and molecular diagnostics.
Even before the findings from the project known as Encode emerged, the biotechnology sector was already on the cutting edge, at least in terms of market performance: The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index ETF /quotes/zigman/85342/quotes/nls/ibb IBB -0.0072% is up more than 47% over the past 12 months, with double the returns of the broader S&P Healthcare Index. But this latest discovery suggests there could be even more promising returns ahead. The new understanding of junk DNA may help science-driven pharmaceutical companies figure out which genetic proteins can be treated with drugs, lead diagnostics companies to which genetic variations are red flags for certain diseases and help other firms evaluate the effectiveness of their treatments, says Dr. Thomas Gingeras, the head of functional genomics at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and one of the principal investigators for the Encode project.
This junk DNA is just another layer of complexity, but it also brings us a little bit closer to having a more full set of therapies that we can bring to patients, says Karen Andersen, a Morningstar biotechnology analyst.
It wouldnt be the first time that what scientists once considered genetic trash turned into corporate treasure. Regulus Therapeutics, a joint venture between drug companies Alnylam Pharmaceuticals /quotes/zigman/92224/quotes/nls/alny ALNY +5.00% and Isis Pharmaceuticals /quotes/zigman/74162/quotes/nls/isis ISIS +0.34% that last month began SEC proceedings to go public, focuses entirely on treating diseases through microRNAbut a decade ago, that part of the genome was also considered junk. (Regulus declined to comment.)
The new research may also bring business to Alnylam, which uses a technique known as RNA Interference to basically turn off disease-causing genes; the data could help the company identify new disease markers for which it could develop therapies, says Barry Greene, Alnylams chief operating officer. It opens up a world of biologic insight that will be helpful, says Greene. While it may take a while for companies to apply the results, the research is a step forward that might eventually lead to companies like Regulus being formed to pursue new genetic therapies: Weve never written aspects of the genome off, Greene says.
The new insight may also have positive implications for molecular diagnostics companies that are already using genomic information to test for diseases, such as Myriad Genetics /quotes/zigman/58124/quotes/nls/mygn MYGN +0.86% , which makes tests for evaluating how likely a person is to develop various types of cancer. Knowing more about the junk DNA might help the company develop more sophisticated tests to detect a disease even before it forms, says Andersen. Myriad declined to comment.
Pharmaceutical companies are also increasingly interested in harnessing our genes to create better drugs and to assess whether those drugs will work for a patient or cause side effects. A large part of the strategy at Roche /quotes/zigman/137625/quotes/nls/rhhby RHHBY -0.68% , for example, is genetic research, which the company uses to create diagnostic tests to go along with each of its drugs, in an effort to deliver more personalized health care. Sixty percent of the drugs in the firms pipeline are now paired with a test, including treatments it is developing for schizophrenia and Alzheimers disease. Roche was not available to comment before press time.
Another type of genetic science known as epigeneticswhich relates to how a gene is expressedis becoming popular with pharmaceutical companies, who are using the concept to create new drugs that can virtually alter a persons genetic instructions, says Andersen. Celgene /quotes/zigman/69584/quotes/nls/celg CELG +0.50% , for one, racked up about $700 million last year in sales of its drug Vidaza, which treats some forms of anemia and leukemia by helping bone marrow produce normal blood cells instead of unhealthy ones.
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Investing in ‘junk DNA’
MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Forensic DNA professionals confront many challenges: cold case investigations, DNA backlogs and new applications like rapid DNA and kinship DNA testing. The 23rd International Symposium on Human Identification (ISHI) presents forensic professionals with an opportunity to learn about these and other developing forensic DNA technologies alongside fellow scientists, law enforcement professionals and forensic experts. This years ISHI will be held October 15-18 in Nashville, Tennessee at the Gaylord Opryland Resort.
As the largest conference on DNA analysis for human identification, the symposium attracts more than 800 DNA analysts and forensic scientists from around the world, providing these professionals an opportunity to explore and debate the latest research, technologies and ethical issues in the industry today. This years presenters and topics include:
Author and Educator Douglas Starr
Co-director of Boston Universitys graduate program in Science and Medical Journalism and author of Gold Dagger award-winning book The Little Killer of Shepherds: A True Crime Story and the Birth of Forensic Science, Starr is this years keynote speaker. In his latest book, Starr tells the story of forensic sciences 19th century pioneers and the notorious serial killer they caught and convicted using their new scientific techniques. Winner of the Gold Dagger award in the U.K. and a finalist for the Edgar Allen Poe award in the U.S., the book received laudatory reviews, including an Editors Choice listing in the New York Times Book Review and a place on the True Crime Bestseller lists of the Wall Street Journal and Library Journal.
SNA International Founder Amanda Sozer
SNA International lends expertise to forensic labs and mass fatality identification projects. Founder and President Amanda Sozer, who received recognition for her outstanding efforts during 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, will be leading a workshop on forensic science and human rights at ISHI. The workshop will include speakers who have worked on human rights projects as well as a presentation on the AAAS Guidelines for Scientists and Human Rights Organizations, developed by a group of collaborating scientists and representatives of human right organizations. The guidelines are designed to be helpful to those establishing science and human rights partnerships and to facilitate and promote cooperation between scientists and human rights organizations seeking scientific expertise.
Sequencing the Black Death Genome: Hendrik Poinar
Hendrik Poinar and his colleagues at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada developed a technique to find and sequence the Black Death genome using the skeletal remains of its victims. The possibility of environmental contamination was high. To address this, Poinar and his team extracted the DNA using a molecular probe made from a modern strain of DNA, testing this new technique on approximately 100 samples of teeth and bone excavated from a London plague pit. The result was a strain of Y. pestis unlike any known today: the Black Death. Poinar will share details of this process during his talk at ISHI.
Workshops: DNA Backlog Reduction, Cold Case Investigative Techniques
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2012 International Symposium on Human Identification Features Emerging and Best Practice Forensic DNA Techniques ...
News Release
Jay Keasling is a leading authority and pioneer in the field of synthetic biology. He holds joint appointments with Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley and is CEO of the Joint BioEnergy Institute and director of SynBERC. (Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt, Berkeley Lab)
Jay Keasling, a leading authority and pioneer on synthetic biology who has engineered microbial factories to manufacture an affordable version of a frontline antimalarial drug and biofuel substitutes for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, has won a 2012 Heinz Award, which is presented by the Heinz Family Foundation and carries with it a cash prize of $250,000.
Among his multiple titles, Keasling is the Associate Laboratory Director for Biosciences at the U.S. Department of Energys Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), CEO for DOEs Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), the Hubbard Howe Jr. Distinguished Professor of Biochemical Engineering at the University of California (UC) Berkeley, and director of the Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center (SynBERC).
Dr. Keasling is a pioneer in a field few people even know exists but that has profound implications for the future of medicine, chemistry and energy, and for the future of our planet, said Teresa Heinz, who chairs the Heinz Family Foundation, in announcing the award. Dr. Keaslings research is revealing how we can use natural systems to produce cheaper, more environmentally-friendly compounds for everything from anti-malarial drugs to biofuels. His work, and the deep human compassion that drives it, is proof that we really can invent our way to a more sustainable future.
This year marks the 18th annual presentation of the Heinz Awards which are intended to honor outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions in five areas: Arts and Humanities; Environment; Human Condition; Public Policy; and Technology, the Economy and Employment. The awards were established by Teresa Heinz in 1993 to honor the memory of her late husband, U.S. Senator John Heinz. In addition to the monetary award, recipients are presented with a medallion.
The 2012 Heinz Awards will be presented at a ceremony in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 11. Keasling, 48, who was honored in the Technology, the Economy and Employment category, joins a distinguished classical/modern music composer, an advocate for smarter community design, a champion of diversity in science education, and an architect of responsible climate policies in this years class of Heinz Award winners.
I am deeply honored by the recognition of my work by the Heinz Foundation, Keasling said. The work they have recognized was done by so many motivated, dedicated people in my laboratory, people from Berkeley Lab, UC Berkeley, Amyris, OneWorld Health, Sanofi-Aventis and JBEI. These collaborative efforts are great examples of the importance of team science in biology.
The Heinz Award presented by the Heinz Family Foundation honor outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions in five areas: Arts and Humanities; Environment; Human Condition; Public Policy; and Technology, the Economy and Employment. Recipients receive a medallion and a cash prize of $250,000. (courtesy of Heinz Foundation)
Paul Alivisatos, director of Berkeley Lab and a long-time friend and colleague of Keasling said, Jay Keasling has used his groundbreaking work in synthetic biology to improve the lives of millions of people in some of the most impoverished places on earth, making him a true science hero and most deserving of the Heinz Award. He is an exemplar of Berkeley Lab, who is now using teamwork and synthetic biology to tackle another critical issue of our day: how to harness renewable energy in a clean, economical and scalable fashion.
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Synthetic biology pioneer Jay Keasling receives Heinz Award
NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) The UK government plans to establish a center that will focus on synthetic biology science as part of a broad initiative to cultivate and promote new national industrial capabilities, a senior government official said yesterday.
In a speech outlining a range of government plans to foster new innovation-driving industries, UK Business Secretary Vince Cable said the government will establish the Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC) for Synthetic Biology in response to a recent independent report advising that the UK should seek to become a world leader in the synthetic biology field.
The recent Roadmap for Synthetic Biology report urged the UK to invest in a network of multidisciplinary synthetic biology centers, including an IKC. And synthetic biology has been identified by the government's Technology Strategy Board as one of a few innovation areas that can have an impact on future economic and business growth.
In his statements, Cable also said that the UK plans on Oct. 8 to launch a competition for synthetic biology research projects funded with 6.5 million ($10.5 million). As GenomeWeb Daily News reported in May, the Advancing the Industrial Application of Synthetic Biology initiative will fund competitive grants going to companies and research organizations of any size to conduct feasibility studies that show how synthetic biology can be used in commercial settings.
Unveiling of the Roadmap report in July, Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts said that synthetic biology "has the ability to revolutionize major industries in bioenergy and biotechnology in the UK. If we develop this exciting area to its full potential there are fantastic opportunities in sectors such as biofuel and medical care that are largely untapped."
The Roadmap report cited an analysis by BCC Research that concluded that the global synthetic biology market will grow from $1.6 billion in 2011 to $10.8 billion by 2016.
Also in July, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council said that it would join the ERASunBio network, an EU program with 16 partner countries supported by 2 million from the EU's Seventh Framework program.
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UK Plans Synthetic Biology Knowledge and Innovation Center
Editor's Choice Main Category: Genetics Also Included In: Biology / Biochemistry Article Date: 12 Sep 2012 - 11:00 PDT
Current ratings for: Sex Can Cause Genetic Changes In Women
5 (1 votes)
A team of researchers from the University of East Anglia set out to determine the response female fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) have to mating.
The findings, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, indicated that semen consists of a single protein which generates a variety of responses in numerous genes in females, which appears evident at different instances and in different areas of their bodies after mating.
The discovery in the flies, the authors suggest, may be similar to responses in many animals, where semen is inserted into the female's body while having sex.
According to research earlier this year in PLoS Biology, neurodegenerative disorders that occur in both fruit flies and humans are caused by mutations in the same gene, showing that it is plausible that humans may experience the same effect during sex that fruit flies do with the activation of genes.
Scientists have been aware that males pass on seminal fluid proteins to their partner while mating, impacting their feeding, sleep patterns, immunity, egg laying, sexual receptivity, and water balance.
Professor Tracey Chapman, from UEA's school of Biological Sciences and head author, said:
Researchers identified significant changes to genes linked to:
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Sex Can Cause Genetic Changes In Women