Stem Cell Research
Two promising stem cell start-ups, Pierian and iZumi (a 2009 Fierce 15 winner), are joining hands to become iPierian. The company plans to initially commercialize stem cells for drug discovery work and later advance new stem cell therapies. Report
Scientists in Iran claim to have cloned a cow in a stem cell research program. Story
New Drug Research
A team of researchers at the University of California, San Diego have invented computational tools that enable scientists to rapidly characterize ring-shaped nonribosomal peptides--a class of natural compounds that can be the source of new pharmaceuticals. Release
SUNY is breaking ground on a $20 million biotech research center in Syracuse. Story
The destructive cellular pathways activated in Alzheimer's disease are also triggered following traumatic brain injury, say researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center. They say this finding suggests that novel therapy might successfully target both conditions. Release
Genetics
A prominent Alzheimer's researcher has found a gene that can play a big role in identifying people at risk of developing the memory-wasting ailment. And the discovery could also trigger early treatment, once effective drugs for Alzheimer's are identified. Report
Scientists have identified an "allergy gene" which more than doubles the risk of asthma, hay fever and eczema, a finding that could lead to new therapies to treat those conditions. Report
The International Multicentre persistent ADHD CollaboraTion plans to unveil recent work on the genes they have found that raise the risk of ADHD in adults. Report
A new study suggests that a child's same-sex parent has more influence over whether the child is overweight than genetics. Story
Cancer Research
Xiaoqi Liu, an assistant professor of biochemistry, found that an overabundance of the polo-like kinase 1, or Plk1, molecule during cell growth, as well as a shortage of the p53 molecule, will lead to tumor formation. Studies in Liu's laboratory showed that the Plk1 molecule indirectly attacks p53 in a process called ubiquitination. Release