Research | Events | Policy | People | Facilities | Business | Trend watch | Journalism grant | Coming up <\/p>\n
Cancer genomics Tumour genome sequencing may identify targeted treatments for only a fraction of patients with advanced breast cancer, according to research published on 7February (F.Andr etal. Lancet Oncol. http:\/\/doi.org\/rdh<\/a>; 2014). Of 423 people studied, the authors identified only 13% with mutations that matched an available experimental treatment. The rate of successful therapy-matching falls short of claims from some tumour-sequencing companies, but researchers expect odds to improve as more drugs move into clinical trials. <\/p>\n Sharing drug data Ten major pharmaceutical companies have agreed to share data from early-stage trials with each other and with academic researcher, as part of a US$230-million venture with the US National Institutes of Health. The Accelerating Medicines Partnership, announced on 4February, is designed to speed up identification of biomarkers and promising drug targets for four diseases: Alzheimers, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and diabetes. Once the data are shared, the companies will be free to pursue proprietary research towards their own therapies. See go.nature.com\/rn12cl for more. <\/p>\n Frederic Stevens\/Getty <\/p>\n Illegal ivory crushed France destroyed 3 tonnes of poached ivory on 6February. It is the first European country to take such a step since the global ban on ivory came into force in 1989. We are resolved to continue the fight against trafficking and to remove any temptation to recover the seized ivory for black-market sales, said French environment minister Philippe Martin. <\/p>\n UK animal research The British government says that it is still committed to cutting the number of animals used in research, despite failing to meet a 2010 pledge to do so. The number of animal experiments in the United Kingdom topped 4million in 2012, up from more than 2.5million in 2000. On 7February, science minister David Willetts unveiled a new plan to reduce animal research, which included encouraging data sharing and providing advice on alternatives to animal testing. But he stopped short of setting a numerical limit on animal experiments. See go.nature.com\/zvmeru for more. <\/p>\n Suicide prevention A national research agenda for suicide prevention in the United States was published on 5 February. The plan was drawn up by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, a publicprivate partnership. It sets a goal of decreasing suicides by 20% over five years. In its report, the team said that researchers should focus on the areas that will prevent the most deaths, such as identifying at-risk people through mental-health screenings in hospital emergency departments, and preventing suicidal people from accessing firearms. See page 131 for more. <\/p>\n Wolf plan flawed The US governments proposal to weaken protection for grey wolves (Canis lupus) is not based on good science, said an independent review panel on 7February. The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) says that wolves in the lower 48states no longer face extinction (see Nature 501, 143144; 2013). But the scientists, appointed by the FWS to review its policy, found that the agency failed to use the best available science to reach its conclusions. The FWS is now reviewing its proposal and will reopen it for public comment for 45days. The government is expected to make a final decision this year. <\/p>\n Growing fish farms Some 62% of all the seafood eaten globally will be farm-raised by 2030, the World Bank predicts in a report released on 5February. Fish farming contributed 40% of total supply in 2010, and is projected to expand to meet growing demand from regions including Asia, the bank says. Depleted wild fish stocks will also contribute to the growth in farmed fish, the report notes. <\/p>\n Climate hubs US agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack announced the creation of seven regional climate hubs on 5February, to help farmers to reduce carbon emissions and cope with climate change. The hubs will provide climate data and assessments, and will support agricultural research. They are part of a move by President Barack Obamas administration to advance climate science at regional and local levels. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read more here: Research | Events | Policy | People | Facilities | Business | Trend watch | Journalism grant | Coming up Cancer genomics Tumour genome sequencing may identify targeted treatments for only a fraction of patients with advanced breast cancer, according to research published on 7February (F.Andr etal. Lancet Oncol. http:\/\/doi.org\/rdh<\/a>; 2014) Continue reading
\nSeven days: 713 February 2014<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"