Stem Cell Research
Researchers at Geron and Advanced Cell Technology are jockeying to begin the first human clinical trials of embryonic stem cell therapies. Geron plans to file for regulatory approval by the end of this year, with ACT saying it will file its application by the middle of next year. Report
Orthopedic researchers at Jefferson Medical College have for the first time found stem cells in the intervertebral discs of the human spine, suggesting that such cells might someday be used to help repair degenerating discs and remedy lower back and neck pain. Release
According to a new study published in Circulation Research, University of Missouri-Columbia researchers say that a muscular dystrophy patient should be able to maintain a normal lifestyle if only 50 percent of the cells of their heart are healthy. Release
India's first clinical research facility for stem cells and regenerative medicine will be opened in Hyderabad by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology and Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences. Report
Carnegie Mellon University's Stefan F. Zappe is using adult neural stem cells to develop a new stem cell-based drug delivery therapy that may ultimately help treat a variety of inherited genetic disorders like Hunter syndrome. Release
Cancer Research
Colin Self and Stephen Thompson of Newcastle University have developed a technique that uses ultraviolet light to activate antibodies in a targeted attack on tumors. Report
A team of scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University in New York City say that knocking out the virus responsible for a number of cancers could be the most effective approach in preventing the disease. Both liver and cervical cancer are caused by viruses. And the scientists have been developing radioimmunotherapy to kill the viruses. Report
VIB scientists connected to the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, in collaboration with the Flemish biotech company ThromboGenics, have been studying the anti-cancer action of anti-PLGF. Release
U.S. researchers have found a mechanism to predict survival in women aged 65 and older with early stage lung cancer. The new study, published on Thursday in the medical journal Cancer Research, links high levels of aromatase, an enzyme that makes estrogen from another hormone called androgen, to a more aggressive and lethal form of the cancer. Release
A drug-- 2ME2--that has shown promise in treating sarcoma, lung and brain cancers, demonstrates that the drug may also be effective in treating breast cancer, in particular the spread of breast cancer. Urszula Iwaniec, an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences at OSU, is the one of the authors of the study. Release
Genetics
The genome of the Abyssinian cat has been decoded, which will help advance research on some 200 human illnesses. Report
Shared genome data has been used to confirm that the SORL1 gene is linked to Alzheimer's. Report
UK scientists have discovered a genetic marker that may increase a person's susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis. That work may highlight new targets for RA. Report
Genes linked to fruit fly sensitivity to alcohol may shed light on human drinking behavior. Report
New research published in the journal Nature revealed more than 50 genomic regions that are frequently gained or lost in lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer in the United States. Release
More Research
Scientists have discovered that the tuberculosis drug D-cycloserine can alleviate anxiety and counter fear when used in a combination therapy. Report
Researchers at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine have discovered the key brain chemical that causes Parkinson's disease--a "breakthrough" finding that could pave the way for new, far more effective therapies. Release
The unexplained pain experienced by patients with fibromyalgia is the result of a mismatch between sensory and motor systems, new research suggests. Release
British scientists say the nAG protein plays a critical role in spurring limb regeneration in newts, a discovery that could help advance the field of tissue regeneration. Report
A cold sore virus appears to be linked to Alzheimer's disease, a finding that could assist researchers looking for a vaccine to counter the threat. Report
Alzheimer's disease may progress more rapidly in people with high blood pressure or a form of irregular heartbeat, atrial fibrillation, according to results of a Johns Hopkins study published in Neurology. Release
Duke University Medical Center researchers have used imaging technology to identify a new marker that may help identify those at greatest risk for cognitive decline and the development of Alzheimer's disease. Release
Northwestern University researchers have shown that nanodiamonds are very effective at delivering chemotherapy drugs to cells without the negative effects associated with current drug delivery agents. Release