PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute of Florida (VGTI Florida), a leading nonprofit immunological research institute, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ted M. Ross, Ph.D., as Program Director. Dr. Ross will explore new vaccine technologies intended to protect against all strains of seasonal influenza. Such a vaccine could potentially eliminate the need for seasonal flu shots.

Traditionally, the flu vaccine is a mixture of inactive influenza viruses. However, Dr. Ross is taking a novel approach by examining the use of a synthetic vaccine created from genetic sequences of many different flu viruses. Dr. Ross previously used this method to produce a vaccine against the H5N1 virus, commonly known as the bird flu. The vaccine, well-tolerated in pre-clinical trials, successfully protects against known strains of bird flu. Dr. Ross and his VGTI Florida colleagues are applying similar strategies to fight other serious viruses such as West Nile Virus, Dengue and HIV Type 1 (HIV-1).

The holy grail of influenza vaccine research is a vaccine that protects against all influenza strains, avoiding the need for annual vaccinations, said Jay Nelson, Ph.D., founder and Executive Director, VGTI Florida. Were genuinely excited that Dr. Ross has joined us. His extensive background in immunology and microbiology will further benefit our efforts to develop vaccines that can help people with influenza, especially the elderly, added Dr. Rafick Skaly, Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Director of the institute.

Most recently, Dr. Ross was an Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he served in the Microbiology and Molecular Genetics department and was a full member of the Center for Vaccine Research. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at East Carolina University, School of Medicine in North Carolina.

Dr. Ross has co-authored numerous scientific articles published in journals such as Nature Immunology, The Journal of Virology, Journal of Infectious Disease, Vaccine, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He is a member of the American Society for Virology, American Society of Microbiology, Sigma Xi, International Society of Vaccines, and others. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Arkansas in Zoology and Microbiology, respectively. Dr. Ross earned his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University in Microbiology & Immunology. Additionally, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow in HIV Research at Duke University and a Senior Research Associate in HIV Vaccine Research at Emory University.

VGTI Florida

VGTI Florida is a leading immunological research institute that is on an urgent mission to transform scientific discoveries into novel treatments and cures for devastating chronic illnesses such as cancer and HIV/AIDS. VGTI Florida is an independent non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization located in the Tradition Center for Innovation in Port St. Lucie, Florida. For more information, please visit http://www.VGTIFL.org.

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STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT), the nations only non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to funding cell and gene therapy research for cancer, is excited to play a major role in the recent leukemia study pioneered by scientists at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. ACGT was the initial funding arm for the study using immune-mediated gene therapy for leukemia and lymphoma. This study illustrates the successful and sustained demonstration of how gene therapy uses the bodys own T-cells and turns them into weapons aimed directly at cancer.

Initial ACGT grants were awarded in 2004 to Dr. Carl June of the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, and to Dr. Michel Sadelain, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Gene Therapy & Gene Expression Laboratory in New York City. Preliminary results were issued by Dr. Carl June and the University of Pennsylvania in August 2011, with additional results released this week and presented by Dr. Carl June at the American Society of Hematologys Annual Meeting and Exposition being held in Atlanta, Georgia.

The clinical trial participants, all of whom had advanced cancers, included ten adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, were treated at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) and two children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were treated at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Two of the first three patients treated with the protocol at HUP whose cases were detailed in The New England Journal of Medicine and Science Translational Medicine in August 2011 remain healthy and in full remission more than two years after their treatment, with the engineered cells still circulating in their bodies. Currently, nine out of 12 of the participants show their disease in remission.

The discovery of successful cancer gene therapy treatments are what my husband and I hoped for when we founded ACGT a decade ago, noted Barbara Netter, president and co-founder of the Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy. We knew it would be an uphill battle. ACGT was the only organization willing to take the risk when others were not. With federal funds decreasing, and the realization that pharmaceutical companies will not participate in the research phase until marketable and mass-produced treatments are created, we seized the chance to make a difference. My late husband Edward Netter (1932-2011), was a true visionary in the field of medical research. He would be so thrilled by the progress ACGT has made possible.

ACGT is currently funding 17 clinical trials in cancer cell and gene therapy targeting numerous types of cancers. Since its inception, ACGT has awarded more than $23 million in grants to 39 investigators to treat 11 different types of cancer. In 2012, ACGT also awarded a $500,000 grant to a clinical translational study on pancreatic cancer and has great expectations for its outcome. In ACGTs 2011 grant cycle, 87 scientists from throughout the U.S. responded with grant applications for ACGTs Young Investigator Grants, making 2011 one of the most sought-after funding year in ACGT history. The ACGT funded clinical studies are already showing promise, especially in the treatment of leukemia, lung, melanoma and prostate cancers.

It is so exciting that the pathfinder role ACGT played by provided the seed money for the University of Pennsylvania trial has led to these stunning successes for leukemia treatment, said Dr. Savio Woo, chairman of ACGTs Scientific Advisory Council, and founding Chair of the Department of Gene and Cell Medicine at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.

Woo noted that 100 percent of all funds donated to ACGT go directly toward funding innovative cancer gene therapy research grants. ACGTs Scientific Advisory Council, which comprises some of the best scientific minds and thought leaders with major U.S. medical institutions, oversee all phases of the ACGT grant process. Through this rigorous review, ACGT is able to identify and fund studies with the most potential for positive and innovative outcomes for treating cancer using cell and gene therapy.

The University of Pennsylvanias initial study was funded primarily by ACGT. The most recent clinical trial was also supported by ACGT, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (Dr. June is the leader of one of the LLSs grants), and the National Institutes of Health. In addition, Novartis announced this summer that it would fund additional research at the University of Pennsylvania to further study the immunotherapies and has acquired exclusive rights to market the treatment.

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) is the nations only non-profit dedicated exclusively to cell and gene cancer therapy research. One hundred percent of all contributions to ACGT go directly to research and fund grants with leading scientists in the U.S., representing such institutions as Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, St. Judes Childrens Hospital, Duke University, The Salk Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Stanford University, Dana Farber Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Chicago. A rigorous grant review by Scientific Advisory Council ensures the most promising projects are rewarded. To learn more about the leukemia study at the University of Pennsylvania, and about the Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT), visit http://www.acgtfoundation.org or call 203.358.8000.

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Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy Funds Promising Leukemia Study – Patients in Remission More Than Two Years after Gene ...

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The Pathology Informatics Roadmap for Implementing Cancer Personalized Medicine- Michael Becich
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Patrick Kitzman, PT, PhD "Community Network Development for Brain/Spinal Cord Injury and Stroke"
University of Kentucky College of Education Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion Exercise Science Seminar Series Fall 2012 Biweekly on Fridays 9:00 - 10:00 AM 213 Seaton CenterFrom:Grant SandersViews:3 0ratingsTime:55:21More inEducation

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Luigi on the Spin Bike
Here is our client Luigi (C4-C5 spinal cord injury) pedaling a spin bike for the first time. By taking the handlebars off the bike, putting the high platform walker over the front wheel and using grip gloves, he is able to hold his trunk much more stable as well as hold himself for a much longer time, therefore getting a better push with his legs and for a longer duration. The trainer is spotting to make sure he doesn #39;t slide around on the seat too much, but that #39;s it! He is pushing the pedals all on his own! Go Luigi!From:pushtowalknjViews:0 0ratingsTime:01:36More inNonprofits Activism

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Stem Cell Therapy - Let Your Own Stem Cells Make Wrinkles Virtually Disappear! Free postage
Stem Cell Therapy - Let Your Own Stem Cells Make Wrinkles Virtually Disappear!From:Deals2uTVViews:0 0ratingsTime:02:01More inHowto Style

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Gordon Camp (Parkinson #39;s Disease) Stem Cell Therapy
New Project 46From:OmarGonzalezMDViews:0 0ratingsTime:06:29More inScience Technology

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"Labrum Tear is now Being Treated With Cell Therapy at the Center for Regenerative Medicine Using," according to Dr. Farshchian MD, medical director for the center for regenerative medicine.

(PRWEB) December 11, 2012

Sports injuries need an adequate blood supply and cellular migration. Platelet-derived growth factors are critically involved in this process. These cells allow the body to take advantage of the normal healing pathways at a greatly accelerated rate. During the healing process, the body rushes many cells and cell-types to the injected area in order to accelerate the healing process. These cells perform many functions, including release of growth factors (GF) into the diseased or arthritic and injured sites.

The labrum is a fibrocartilaginous rim which attaches to the acetabulum cavity (This is where the hip joint is located). Its job is to protect the femur (or the hip bone) and decrease any unevenness in its surface. The labrum is important since it decreases stresses between the joint surfaces, by producing a "sealing effect". It acts as a bumper which deepens the joint socket and helps keep the head of femur in place.

The vascularity or blood flow is minimal which is not a good thing at all, this factor makes self healing hard to come by.

Although not very specific the FABRE test (see picture) could be positive in presence of a tear. Here the examiner is anchoring patient's ankle against the opposite knee and pressing on the knee reproducing pain and tenderness in the anterior hip (medical lingo: front).

MRI with contrast is a more specific test allowing the physician to actually visualize the tear.

The condition is painful and annoying since it interferes with activities, This entity may be a risk factor future arthritis and problems to follow. This condition is not common at all but the several times that I have seen it it has involved aggressive physical activity such as jumping on a trampoline or sports injury.

U.S.A. based physician, Dr. Farshchian is a medical author, humanitarian, and active republican member. He is best known for coining the term orthopedic regenerative medicine. Dr. Farshchian is recognized as a leading authority in the new clinical science of regenerative medicine. He is also a Television personality currently hosting "The Arthritis Show".

The Center for Regenerative Medicine in Miami, Florida concentrates on helping arthritic and injured people to get back to a functional level of life and their activities using non-surgical techniques and Orthopedic medicine. The center's expertise is in treatment of conditions of spine, knees , shoulders , and other cartilage damages. They have developed non-surgical and rehabilitation techniques focused on treatment and management of joint pain. Their team includes health professionals organized around a central theme. their website is http://www.arthritisusa.net

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Dr. Farshchian: Labrum Tear is Now Being Treated With Cell Therapy at the Center for Regenerative Medicine Using

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Autologous cell therapy is now being used to help with neck pain at The Center for Regenerative Medicine, according to Dr. Farshchian, the medical director for the center for Regenerative medicine.

(PRWEB) December 10, 2012

All the interconnected structures that give your neck its incredible range of motion are subject to the wear-and-tear damage of arthritis and the over extension injuries of whiplash. Neck pain may result from abnormalities in the soft tissues - the muscles, ligaments, and nerves - as well as in bones and joints of the spine. The most common causes of neck pain are soft tissue abnormalities due to injury or prolonged wear and tear. In rare cases, infection or tumors may cause neck pain. In some people, neck problems may be the source of pain in the upper back, shoulders or arms.

Degenerative diseases that cause neck pain include osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis usually occurs in older people as a result of wear of the joints between the bones in the neck. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause destruction of the joints of the neck. Both of these major types of arthritis can cause stiffness and pain.

Cervical disk degeneration also can cause neck pain. The disk acts as a shock absorber between the bones in the neck. In cervical disk degeneration (typically age 40 onwards), the normal gelatin-like center of the disk degenerates and the space between the vertebrae narrows. As the disk space narrows, added stress is applied to the joints of the spine causing further wear and degenerative disease.

The cervical disk may also protrude and cause pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots when the rim of the disk weakens. This is known as a herniated cervical disk. Because the neck is so flexible and because it supports the head, it is extremely vulnerable to injury. Motor vehicle or diving accidents, contact sports, and falls may result in neck injury. The regular use of safety belts in motor vehicles can help to prevent or minimize injury. A "rear end" automobile collision may result in hyper extension, a backward motion of the neck beyond normal limits, or hyperflexion, a forward motion of the neck beyond normal limits. Most common injuries are to the soft tissues, i.e., muscles and ligaments. Severe injury with fracture or dislocation of the neck may damage the spinal cord and cause paralysis.

Sports injuries need an adequate blood supply and cellular migration. Platelet-derived growth factors are critically involved in this process. These cells allow the body to take advantage of the normal healing pathways at a greatly accelerated rate. During the healing process, the body rushes many cells and cell-types to the injected area in order to accelerate the healing process. These cells perform many functions, including release of growth factors (GF) into the diseased or arthritic and injured sites.

Much less common causes of neck pain include tumors, infections, or congenital abnormalities of the vertebrae. There is also the emotional part, I mean why would the pain get worse with stress and get better with less stress, this must be emphasized when treating patient with neck pain other wise the job is not done. Why the tingling of the fingers? this is because of nerve conduction and dermatomes. Dermatomes are located on the anterior body and the posterior body and are consecutive in the neck and torso regions. Development of the peripheral nervous system will produce a pattern of skin innervated by cutaneous neurons of a certain spinal or cranial nerves. These are called dermatomes and represent specific regions of nerve reception of sensory impulses. The pattern of the dermatome is of major clinical significance when a physician desires to treat a particular portion of the body. For instance the gentleman discussed in the above case having numbness in the index finger as well as his thumb (refer to the picture) may need to be treated specifically at the level of C6-C7.

U.S.A. based physician, Dr. Farshchian is a medical author, humanitarian, and active republican member. He is best known for coining the term "orthopedic regenerative medicine." Dr. Farshchian is recognized as a leading authority in the new clinical science of regenerative medicine. He is also a Television personality, currently hosting "The Arthritis Show."

The Center for Regenerative Medicine in Miami, Florida concentrates on helping arthritic and injured people to get back to a functional level of life and their activities using non-surgical techniques and Orthopedic medicine. The center's expertise is in treatment of conditions of spine, knees , shoulders , and other cartilage damages. They have developed non-surgical and rehabilitation techniques focused on treatment and management of joint pain. Their team includes health professionals organized around a central theme. their website is http://www.arthritisusa.net

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Dr. Farshchian: Autologous Cell therapy is Now Being Used to Help with Neck Pain at The Center for Regenerative Medicine

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Autologous cell therapy is now being used to help with avascular necrosis at the Center for Regenerative Medicine, according to Dr. Farshchian.

Miami, Fl (PRWEB) December 10, 2012

Avascular necrosis can be quite devastating, and lead to total loss of the ankle joint with arthritis, deformity and pain. Loss of blood supply to the bone can be caused by an injury (trauma-related avascular necrosis) When a joint is injured, as in a fracture or dislocation, the blood vessels may be damaged. This can interfere with the blood circulation to the bone and lead to trauma-related avascular necrosis. Studies suggest that this type of avascular necrosis may develop in more than 20 percent of people who dislocate their hip joint.

Some medicines such as Corticosteroids are commonly used to treat diseases in which there is inflammation, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and vasculitis. Studies suggest that long-term, systemic (oral or intravenous) corticosteroid use is associated with 1/3 of all cases of non-traumatic avascular necrosis. The current theory is corticosteroids may interfere with the body's ability to break down fatty substances. These substances then build up in and clog the blood vessels, causing them to narrow. This makes less blood to gets to the bone. Excessive alcohol use and corticosteroid use are two of the most common causes of non- traumatic avascular necrosis. In people who drink an excessive amount of alcohol, fatty substances may block blood vessels causing a decreased blood supply to the bones that results in avascular necrosis.

Sports injuries need an adequate blood supply and cellular migration. Platelet-derived growth factors are critically involved in this process. These cells allow the body to take advantage of the normal healing pathways at a greatly accelerated rate. During the healing process, the body rushes many cells and cell-types to the injected area in order to accelerate the healing process. These cells perform many functions, including release of growth factors (GF) into the diseased or arthritic and injured sites.

Other risk factors or conditions associated with non-traumatic avascular necrosis include Gaucher's disease, pancreatitis, radiation treatments and chemotherapy, and blood disorders such as sickle cell disease. Avascular necrosis strikes both men and women and affects people of all ages. It is most common among people in their thirties and forties. Depending on a person's risk factors and whether the underlying cause is trauma, it also can affect younger or older people.

In the early stages of avascular necrosis, patients may not have any symptoms. As the disease progresses, however, most patients experience joint painat first, only when putting weight on the affected joint, and then even when resting. Pain usually develops gradually and may be mild or severe. If avascular necrosis progresses and the bone and surrounding joint surface collapses, pain may develop or increase dramatically. Pain may be severe enough to limit the patient's range of motion in the affected joint. The period of time between the first symptoms and loss of joint function is different for each patient, ranging from several months to more than a year.

U.S.A. based physician, Dr. Farshchian is a medical author, humanitarian, and active republican member. He is best known for coining the term "orthopedic regenerative medicine." Dr. Farshchian is recognized as a leading authority in the new clinical science of regenerative medicine. He is also a Television personality, currently hosting "The Arthritis Show."

The Center for Regenerative Medicine in Miami, Florida concentrates on helping arthritic and injured people to get back to a functional level of life and their activities using non-surgical techniques and Orthopedic medicine. The center's expertise is in treatment of conditions of spine, knees , shoulders , and other cartilage damages. They have developed non-surgical and rehabilitation techniques focused on treatment and management of joint pain. Their team includes health professionals organized around a central theme. their website is http://www.arthritisusa.net

Marty Eugene http://www.arthritisusa.net 305 8668384 Email Information

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SAN DIEGO, Dec. 10, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Institute Of Stem-cell Therapy And Research (GIOSTAR) announced today a collaborative treatment plan to serve the local population suffering from a genetic disease, Sickle Cell Anemia. President and CEO, Mr. Deven Patel and his team met with Honorable Chief Minister Shri Arjun Munda of State of Jharkhand, India in November 2012 to address the local population's medical needs.

A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=16184.

As a follow-up, a government delegation representing the state of Jharkhand, India; Chief Minister, Principal Health Secretary, Chief Secretary and many other officials are visiting GIOSTAR in San Diego on December 14, 2012 to finalize the proposed two (2) billion U.S. dollar contract to be serviced over the next 15 years.

Bob Filner, Mayor of San Diego and City Council Members are among the invited guests for this state visit along with representatives from Belize and the island nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Two hundred (200) jobs are estimated to be created in San Diego and it is expected that the dialog would include an economic development program between City of San Diego and State of Jharkhand, India.

GIOSTAR is a Global Private Funding (Global) incubated company. "Global is a private equity firm that focuses on funding projects and initiatives that are job-creation centric rather than just profit centric. We believe that a venture that draws the best minds and hearts to a unified goal, driven by a unified vision tends to be far stronger and less prone to failure than one driven by just profit. We invest in people, not the business," said Dr. Sam Senev, Chairman and CEO of Global. Senev added that GIOSTAR is a showcase client focused on both serving mankind through quality of life and job creation.

GIOSTAR, headquartered in San Diego, California (USA), was formed with the vision to provide stem cell based therapy to aid those suffering from degenerative or genetic diseases around the world. We are the leaders in developing innovative stem cell based technology.

The Chairman and Cofounder of GIOSTAR, Dr. Anand Srivastava and our team of scientists and clinicians have been associated with leading universities and research institutions throughout USA. GIOSTAR team has extensive research and clinical experience in the field of Stem cell, which is documented by several publications in revered scientific journals.

GIOSTAR in July 2011, inaugurated the world's first dedicated stem cell treatment hospital, a 125-bed, contemporary facility with the most advanced on-site stem cell laboratory. This hospital is fully operational. GIOSTAR is developing the world's largest, a three hundred thousand square-foot (300,000SF) state-of-the-art, Stem Cell Treatment Hospital in the Surat Civil Hospital Campus in collaboration with the government of Gujarat. Negotiations are ongoing with China, Philippines, Bahamas, Belize, Thailand, Ukraine and the Middle East to open regional stem cell treatment hospitals and satellite clinics throughout those countries and regions. "We are expanding the GIOSTAR footprint and is in negotiations to open locations near Austin Texas, Phoenix Arizona, and Savannah South Carolina" said Michael Andersen, Vice President of Venture Management at Global. Global and Empyrean West, EB-5 administrators, plan to invest over one hundred and eighty million ($180M) in economic development investments for GIOSTAR projects.

The Global Institute of Stem Cell Therapy and Research company logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=16183.

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LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. biotechnology group Amgen Inc has agreed to buy unlisted Decode Genetics, a pioneer in hunting down genes linked to disease, for $415 million in cash to boost its drive to develop better targeted drugs.

Founded in 1996, Decode blazed a trail in personal genomics by trawling Iceland's unique genetic heritage, which has changed little since the Vikings arrived more than 1,000 years ago, to work out the links between gene variants and common diseases.

But it failed to live up to early expectations after going public in 2000 and filed for bankruptcy protection in 2009, weighed down by debts after 13 years of failing to make a profit, before re-emerging as a privately owned company.

Amgen and Decode said on Monday that the transaction did not require regulatory approval and was expected to close before the end of 2012.

As part of Amgen, Decode's scientists will help in the task of ensuring that experimental medicines hit the right spot. Their know-how should allow Amgen to identify promising new avenues earlier and close down dead-ends more quickly.

"This fits perfectly with our objective to pursue rapid development of relevant molecules that reach the right disease targets, while avoiding investments in programs based on less well-validated targets," Amgen Chief Executive Robert Bradway said.

PERSONALISED MEDICINE

UBS analysts said that the purchase, which will be funded by cash held offshore, was not surprising given that Amgen has key experimental drugs in its pipeline that were identified by human genetics work, including AMG 145 for heart disease and the bone drug romosozumab.

Understanding the genetic basis of disease has become increasingly important in drug discovery as the pharmaceutical industry shifts to developing personalized medicine that is suited for a patient's particular genetic profile.

It is an area where Decode has extensive experience and its scientists have published prolifically on genetic mutations linked to a range of diseases including cancer, heart conditions and schizophrenia.

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1. Introduction and Overview- Biotechnology: Panacea or Pandora #39;s Box NQ
Given the rapid recent advances in genomics, agriculture, transgenic biology, stem cell research and other related areas of biotechnology and a prediction that these fields will continue to mature and become increasingly more sophisticated, there is an growing need to create an informed and educated student in this area. We believe that a working knowledge of DNA, genetics, and biotechnology has become as fundamental to a basic education as an understanding of the solar system. In addition, biotechnology fields offer students career opportunities which is best recognized early in their academics so that they can make the appropriate choices to be best prepared. The rise of recent controversy and misconceptions about many areas of biotechnology including GMOs in food, vaccines and vaccination, personalized medicine, stem cell research and many other topics creates a growing educational challenge. The introduction of a general education course which concentrates on evidence based knowledge on biotechnology and is developed for a general audience with a large potential enrollment is designed to meet that challenge. In turn our experience shows that such a course serves to recruit new scientists and other participants into the careers in the emerging new fields of biotechnology and stimulates further interest in STEM related disciplines. The courses in this series have been established in the curriculum over the past several years with high student demand and interest. Given ...From:Albert KauschViews:0 0ratingsTime:01:05:12More inScience Technology

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Genetic Engineering Awareness
From:corinne ramosViews:2 0ratingsTime:03:50More inPeople Blogs

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Ramble: Simelweis Taboo
I just don #39;t understand narrowmindedness. I don #39;t understand the stubborn refusal to face reality with integrity. I don #39;t understand cowardice. We each have only one life. Why squander it on timidity, prejudice and just so stories? Video referenced: "Taboos of Science" scishow youtu.be " Published on Jul 30, 2012 Hank discusses some of the taboos which have plagued scientific inquiry in the past and a few that still exist today. Like SciShow? http://www.facebook.com Follow SciShow: http://www.twitter.com References: dft.ba This video contains the following sounds from Freesound.org: "grim fart.wav" by Walter_Odington "Toilet Flush.wav" by tweeterdj science, scishow, taboo, society, culture, research, study, ignaz semmelweis, germ theory, disease, louis pasteur, antiseptic, social norms, semmelweis reflex, dean radin, noetic science, stem cell, chimaera, human cloning, clone, dolly, sheep, ethics, religion, panayiotis zavos, synthetic biology, genetic engineering, biology, genetics, mental health, gender identity, gender dysphoria, sexual orientation, physics, archaeology, human remains, spirituality, consciousness, poop, toilet, sanitation"From:rriverstone1Views:20 2ratingsTime:15:28More inPeople Blogs

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GEARS - Genetic Engineering at Rutgers Society
Biology Undergraduates discuss their research projects, their findings, and experiences conducting research at Rutgers.From:RutgersViews:7 0ratingsTime:06:34More inEducation

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Washington, December 10 (ANI): A new study has suggested that just as human DNA varies from person to person, so too does the massive collection of microbial DNA in the intestine.

The research was conducted by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany.

It is the first to catalog the genetic variation of microbes that live in the gut, where they extract nutrients from food, synthesize vitamins, protect against infections, and produce compounds that naturally reduce inflammation.

The widespread genetic diversity uncovered by the scientists can help them understand how our microbial genes work together with our human genes to keep us healthy or, in some cases, to cause disease.

"Surprisingly, each of us can be identified by the collective DNA of our gut microbes," said corresponding author George Weinstock, PhD, associate director of The Genome Institute at Washington University.

"That collection is individualized, completely analogous to our human genome. Differences in the way individuals respond to various drugs or the way they use specific nutrients can be traced to the genetic variation in our microbial genes as well as in our human genes," he stated.

The researchers analyzed the microbial DNA in 252 stool samples from 207 individuals living in the United States and Europe.

All the subjects had participated in one of two recent high-profile initiatives to catalog the diverse species of microbes that live in and on the body. Neither of those studies - the Human Microbiome Project, funded by the National Institutes of Health, and the Metagenomics of the Human Intestinal Tract (MetaHIT) project, funded by the European Commission - looked at the genetic variation of the microbial genomes in the body.

For the new study, the researchers zeroed in on 101 species of microbes commonly found in the intestine, identifying more than 10 million single-letter changes in the collective DNA of those microbes. They also found numerous other DNA alterations, including insertions, deletions and structural changes.

In 43 subjects for whom the researchers had two stool samples collected at least a month apart (most were collected six months to a year after the initial sample), the researchers found very little variability in the microbial DNA over time, although the species of microbes in the intestine fluctuated.

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MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Population Diagnostics, Inc. (PDx), a private company with a novel approach for systematically uncovering the genetic causes of disease as well as the genetic basis of drug efficacy and safety, together with collaborators from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, reported today in the journal G3 (GenesGenomesGenetics) the discovery of a collection of gene variants for autism spectrum disorder. These variants confer clinical utility and will enable a new generation of early detection diagnostic tests that will be highly sought after by the patient community. The newly discovered variants will also provide insights into the emerging field of drug discovery for autism.

Our collaboration with Population Diagnostics has been very fruitful, said the primary investigator, Dr. Stephen Scherer at The Hospital for Sick Children. We set out to understand microarray platform differences in copy number variant (CNV) detection but because of PDxs technical contribution, which delineates benign variants from those that are pathogenic, we were able to effectively interpret the genome at a higher resolution than obtained with previously utilized microarrays. This focused our attention on smaller variants associated with autism. Not only were we able to confirm variants in genes that we and others have previously discovered using alternate methods, but more importantly, we are pleased that an abundance of novel variants have been uncovered. We intend to report on additional discoveries in future publications that are based on an even finer-scale interpretation of the data in this joint project.

In addition to discovering sixteen novel genes associated with autism (many implicated in neurodevelopment), this study highlights the general importance of analyzing genomes specifically for CNVs, which is a type of genetic variant that can disrupt, delete, or generate multiple copies of a gene. However, the analytical tools that detect CNVs differ significantly in their output. For example, 64% of the CNVs observed in this study using a high resolution platform specifically designed to detect CNVs were missed in a prior CNV study that used SNP microarrays, which are not optimized for CNV detection because they were originally designed to detect another class of variants called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Many SNP-based studies did not yield sufficient medically useful information and the SNP microarray data were subsequently mined for the presence of CNVs, which is a suboptimal strategy. The size of CNVs that can be detected is a key difference, and in this study the researchers found that 75% of the CNVs missed by SNP microarrays were small and these afford a greater opportunity to pinpoint single genes involved in autism. A more refined analysis of the autism patients used in the present study is underway and is revealing additional small CNVs in novel autism genes as well as novel variants in previously known autism genes.

Population Diagnostics holds two US patents (7,702,468 and 7,957,913) that describe a method of comparison of CNVs in subjects with a given condition to those present in a cohort comprised of healthy individuals. By eliminating benign and irrelevant CNVs in such a comparison, one is quickly led to genes that are pathogenic, which can then be interrogated using higher resolution genetic analysis techniques such as sequencing. In addition to disease gene discovery, PDxs methods can also reveal genetic biomarkers applicable for patient stratification (optimization of clinical trials), such as genetically differentiating a drug responder from a non-responder (efficacy) or identifying individuals most likely to experience a serious adverse event to a given drug.

The discoveries reported in this study underscore that the genetic landscape for autism involves numerous genes containing many low frequency genetic variants with large effect, said Dr. Peggy Eis, Chief Technology Officer at Population Diagnostics. Collectively, these newly discovered genes from our collaboration with SickKids, along with novel genes from our finer-scale analysis that will be reported in a future paper, represent a significant portion of the unexplained genetic contribution to autism and greatly expand our understanding of the underlying genetic causes of autism. We are excited about the opportunity to accelerate their clinical use in diagnostic tests, as potential drug targets and as genetic biomarkers in therapeutics development.

The US CDC estimates 1 in 88 children have autism. Genetics is believed to be the major causal factor, with up to 90% of cases having a genetic contribution. Rare gene variants are usually sufficient to cause autism by themselves. There is no single cause or type of autism. The average age of diagnosis is 4.5 years via observational methods and it is clear that the earlier the diagnosis the better the treatment outcome through early intervention modalities. With knowledge of the various genetic causes, a genetic test can be performed immediately after the birth of a child and provide the maximum opportunity for treatment. There are ~4 million live births in the US per year and 45,000 of these newborns will develop autism.

About Population Diagnostics, Inc.

Population Diagnostics, Inc. (PDx, http://www.populationdiagnostics.com) is applying its discoveries in human genetics to the development of DNA-based diagnostics and personalized medicine tests. PDxs technology, which reveals the genetic causes of complex diseases such as autism, Parkinsons, Alzheimers, and food allergies, enables development of early detection diagnostic tests that predict pre-symptomatically why some individuals will suffer from debilitating diseases while others will not. When applied to drug discovery, the technology enables pharmaceutical companies to develop targeted therapies and companion diagnostics. Its novel technology and exclusive products places PDx in a prime position to (i) transform how physicians diagnose and manage disease in their patients and (ii) enable pharmaceutical companies to expand the number of available therapies and market drugs with higher efficacy and safety.

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