Cancer
> Theralase Technologies in Toronto says it has achieved preclinical success testing light-activated photo dynamic compounds against various brain and colon cancer cell lines. Item
> University of Minnesota researchers have synthesized a compound derived from the thunder god vine, a Chinese supplement, to successfully treat pancreatic cancer in mice. Item
Stem Cells
> Damage to neural stem cells appears to be a key factor in the progression of Parkinson's disease, scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have determined. Release
> GlycoMimetics says preclinical testing has shown that its drug GMI-1070 can protect hematopoietic stem cells from some chemotherapy-related toxicity. Details are published in Nature Medicine. Release
> Transplanting neural stem cells into animals' brains appeared to speed recovery from stroke and potentially other neurodegenerative disease, Stanford University School of Medicine scientists have found. Blog
Genetics
> Scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital will study genomes from 1,500 Alzheimer's disease patients and their family members to try to decipher the disorder's genetic causes. Item
> The African spiny mouse's ability to regenerate cartilage, skin and hair follicles on its ears may aid in the understanding the genetics of regeneration in humans, University of Florida scientists believe. Story