Archive for the ‘Gene Therapy Research’ Category

Newswise Vanderbilt has added genetic screening for the drug tacrolimus to its personalize medicine pharmacogenomics program PREDICT. The new drug screening protocol was added following data that shows a single genetic variation largely impacts different dose requirements for patients.

Tacrolimus is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for organ transplant recipients and is essential for patients receiving new hearts, kidneys and other organ transplants because the drug suppresses the bodys immune system to prevent organ rejection. The drug however can have potentially harmful side effects if not used in precise amounts. Genetic testing through PREDICT offers important benefits to Vanderbilts patients due to the variance in individuals requirements for how much tacrolimus is needed to prevent organ rejection. PREDICT provides Vanderbilts patients a personalized pharmacologic profile tailored to each patient.

Marketed as Prograf, tacrolimus has a narrow therapeutic window. If too little of the drug is used acute transplant rejection may occur. Too much can cause serious side effects, including a form of diabetes and squamous cell skin cancer.

This is an example of a striking variation in genetics by ancestry, said Dan Roden, M.D., assistant vice chancellor for Personalized Medicine. For example, African Americans are more likely to require higher doses of tacrolimus.

More than 2,800 Vanderbilt patients have been found to carry this genetic variation and more than 600 of them are adults who have received or are awaiting heart or kidney transplants.

This information is now included routinely in the electronic health record. Doctors who prescribe tacrolimus receive notifications that they may need to adjust the dose if their patients carry the genetic variation.

Tacrolimus is the fifth drug for which pharmacogenomic information is included in the patients electronic health record at Vanderbilt. The other drugs are the anti-platelet drug clopidogrel (Plavix), the anti-coagulant warfarin, the cholesterol-lowering drug simvastatin (Zocor), and thiopurine therapies, which are used to treat certain cancers and autoimmune disorders.

Since it was launched in August 2010, PREDICT has genotyped more than 14,000 Vanderbilt patients for 184 different genetic variations that affect the bodys response to various drugs.

More than 12,000 of the patients, 88 percent, have genetic variations that increase their risk of adverse effects from one or more of the five drugs currently included in the electronic health record, said Julie Field, Ph.D., PREDICT project manager.

As the value of genetic testing becomes established for other drugs, this information will be added, Field said.

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Transplant Drug Added To Vanderbilt's PREDICT Personalized Medicine Program

GAITHERSBURG, Md. , Aug. 26, 2013 /CNW/ - GeneDx, one of the world's foremost genetic testing laboratories and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. (BRLI) has announced the launch of a comprehensive suite of genetic tests for inherited cancer, including a 26-gene panel for breast and ovarian cancer that includes BRCA1 and BRCA2 and next generation sequencing based multi-gene panels for colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and endometrial cancer.

GeneDx, the first commercial laboratory to utilize next generation sequencing technologies in a CLIA-environment, is among only a handful of commercial labs in the U.S. currently offering testing for inherited cancer. The laboratory will begin accepting specimens immediately.

The test offerings include a rapid turn-around test of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes combining sequencing and deletion/duplication analysis; an Ashkenazi Jewish panel for the three common Ashkenazi Jewish founder mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2; a 26-gene panel for breast and ovarian cancer; an 18-gene panel for pancreatic cancer; an 18-gene panel for colorectal cancer; and an 11-gene panel for endometrial cancer. The test panels, which are marketed as OncoGeneDx, also include a Comprehensive Cancer Panel of 35 genes. All panels include deletion/duplication assessment.

The OncoGeneDx panels utilize the most current data on all the highly penetrant genes associated with inherited cancer, providing rapid results at typically no greater cost than testing for a single gene. GeneDx's OncoGeneDx panels are the most comprehensive on the market today.

Sherri Bale , Ph.D., Managing Director of GeneDx stated, "We are excited to be launching this suite of tests, as we can now bring our extensive experience in genetic testing along with cutting-edge technologies to bear on this very important public health problem that has tremendous impact on patients and their families. They deserve the best that the genetic testing community can provide them, and we are able to do that."

Marc Grodman M.D ., Bio-Reference CEO, announced, "The mission of GeneDx is to help clinicians diagnose complex inherited diseases in an efficient manner. It is part of a larger vision to reconcile technological and scientific advances in testing with our long-standing commitment to appropriate genetic medicine. The introduction of our inherited cancer panels is a natural progression in our ongoing dedication to providing better solutions for both clinical genetic diagnostics and cancer care.

We focus on offering clinically relevant gene panels based on the patient's cancer and family history and provide comprehensive testing to allow patients and their providers to have the most accurate information to guide cancer treatment and prevention. In addition, we are not limited to a single technology for mutation detection. We use all appropriate technologies necessary to answer the clinical question."

Although BRCA1/2 gene sequencing has been available for many years, comprehensive evaluation for deletions and duplications in those genes was launched only recently and has not been available to many patients due to payer restrictions. The OncoGeneDx panels include deletion/duplication analysis of genes in each panel at no additional charge. "Among patients with breast cancer and a significant family history of cancer who test negative for BRCA1 and BRCA2, approximately 12% can be expected to carry a large genomic deletion or duplication in one of these genes. Effective methods for identifying these mutations should be made available to women at high risk," as reported by Walsh T., et al (JAMA, 2006).

Patients who previously had BRCA1/2 testing can now get a "second opinion" to confirm their test results. Second opinion testing may be helpful for women considering prophylactic removal of healthy organs to reduce the risk of cancer, as well as for women who have received an ambiguous result from previous testing or normal results with a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer.

The OncoGeneDx Breast/Ovarian next-generation sequencing panel is the most comprehensive test available today for patients with hereditary breast/ovarian cancer, including all known genes with a significant risk for hereditary breast or ovarian cancer. This test may be useful to patients who previously had normal BRCA1/2 test results with a significant family history of breast or ovarian cancer.

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GeneDx Introduces Advanced Genetic Test Panels for Inherited Cancer Including Breast and Colon Cancer

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 26, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Response Genetics, Inc. (RGDX), a company focused on the development and sale of molecular diagnostic tests for cancer, today announced the acquisition of all of the key assets of Pathwork Diagnostics, including its FDA-cleared, Medicare-reimbursed test for the diagnosis of metastatic, poorly differentiated and undifferentiated cancer.

Terms of the deal include a $200,000 cash payment and issuance of 500,000 shares of Response Genetics common stock with a lock-up period through June 2014. The Company expects the deal to be accretive within its first full year of acquisition.

The acquired assets and associated test use a proprietary microarray platform and proprietary software to compare the expression of 2,000 genes in a patient's tumor with a panel of 15 known tumor types that represent 90% of all cancers. The test received FDA clearance in June 2010 and is the most published, extensively validated molecular diagnostic test of its kind. Prior to its acquisition by Response Genetics, the test generated rapidly growing sales including 2012 sales dollar volume in the mid-seven figure range.

The identity of most tumors can be determined using traditional methods. However, when tumors are poorly differentiated or metastatic with no clear primary origin, providing a definitive diagnosis is usually very difficult or nearly impossible to determine. It is estimated that up to 150,000 newly-diagnosed cancer patients annually, in just the U.S., may have a tumor for which the site of origin is uncertain after the initial diagnostic workup.

"Hard-to-identify tumors pose a significant clinical problem," said Thomas Bologna, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Response Genetics. "The traditional approach -- iterative rounds of testing -- may take weeks and still not definitively identify the type of cancer present. This proprietary gene expression approach that we acquired reduces the time to diagnosis and increases physicians' probability of reaching a definitive diagnosis, a necessary step in therapy selection, and it is well accepted that minimizing the waiting time before treatment maximizes patient outcomes."

Mr. Bologna added, "This acquisition is consistent with our goal to rapidly grow Response Genetics both organically and through a series of acquisitions. Acquiring the assets of Pathwork Diagnostics adds proprietary, Medicare reimbursed content that we believe addresses the needs of both pathologists and oncologists, further expands both our technology and testing base, leverages our current infrastructure well and most importantly adds to the top line growth of our Dx business."

For further transaction details, please refer to the Company's Form 8-K related to the transaction that will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than August 29, 2013.

About Response Genetics, Inc.

Response Genetics, Inc. (the "Company") is a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory focused on the development and sale of molecular diagnostic testing services for cancer. The Company's technologies enable extraction and analysis of genetic information derived from tumor cells stored as formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens. The Company's principal customers include oncologists and pathologists. In addition to diagnostic testing services, the Company generates revenue from the sale of its proprietary analytical pharmacogenomic testing services of clinical trial specimens to the pharmaceutical industry. The Company's headquarters is located in Los Angeles, California. For more information, please visit http://www.responsegenetics.com.

Forward-Looking Statement Notice

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Response Genetics, Inc. Acquires Proprietary FDA-Cleared and Medicare-Reimbursed Test and All Associated Assets for ...

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Insight Genetics, Inc. today announced it has received a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to continue its development of a diagnostic test that meets the significant unmet need for the diagnosis and treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

A continuation of work that Insight Genetics began with the NCI in 2012, the $1,499,412 Fast-Track contract will advance the development of a panel of assays designed to provide a fast and accurate way to identify and characterize oncogenic ROS1, RET and DEPDC1 in a population of NSCLC patients who are triple negative for mutations in EGFR, KRAS, or ALK. Collectively, ROS1 and RET fusions, along with DEPDC1 expression, have been estimated to constitute up to 9 percent of all NSCLC cases, and people who carry these biomarkers are among those with the poorest prognoses.

According to the American Lung Association, nearly 375,000 Americans are living with lung cancer. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that lung cancer accounts for nearly 30 percent of all cancer deaths each year, making it the deadliest form of cancer today.

ROS1, RET and DEPDC1 are important biomarkers in the fight to improve outcomes for those with lung cancer, said David Hout, Ph.D., Insight Genetics Vice President of Research and Development. Cancer therapies targeting these genetic markers have shown great promise, but we need effective and robust diagnostics to help identify the patients who can benefit from these treatments. Our team is delighted to continue our collaboration with the NCI to create companion diagnostic tests that can make this possible.

Companion diagnostic tests such as those Insight Genetics is developing allow physicians to screen cancer patients for particular biomarkers, such as genetic mutations or dysregulation of gene expression. The results can indicate if a targeted therapy is more likely to be effective for a patient and provide indication on the most tolerable and effective dose. Such tests also can help physicians monitor the ongoing effectiveness of targeted medications and help them to determine when a new treatment might be necessary.

There are several therapies targeting RET and ROS1 with fewer yet also promising strategies against DEPDC1 in development. ARIADs Iclusig (ponatinib), Bayers Nexavar (sorafenib), and Exelexis Cometriq (cabozantinib) target RET. Compounds at different stages of clinical development that target ROS1 include Pfizers Xalkori (crizotinib), ARIADs AP26113, Syntas HSP90 inhibitor ganetespib, and Xcoverys X-396. DEPDC1/MPHOSH1 peptide vaccines are currently in Phase I/II clinical trials. Unfortunately, there are currently no regulatory-approved, high-throughput commercial diagnostics to reliably and efficiently identify these biomarkers.

As part of its Phase II contract, Insight Genetics will continue analytical and clinical validation of its three real-time qPCR-based NSCLC assays: Insight ROS Screen, Insight RET Screen, and Insight DEPDC1 Screen. Initial experiments have demonstrated that these proprietary tests are highly sensitive and specific, offering results within 24 hours. This is a significant contrast to fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) detection assays for ROS1 and RET, which are costly, typically less sensitive, and take between 3-7 days to provide results.

This SBIR award is Insight Genetics fifth contract and second consecutive Phase II contract from NCIs Companion Diagnostics program.

About Insight Genetics

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Insight Genetics Awarded National Cancer Institute Contract to Advance Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

DETROIT, Aug. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Genesis Genetics, the world's leading expert on pre-implantation genetic diagnosis and screening (PGD and PGS), has selected Tony Gordon, Ph.D., as lab director (U.K) and vice president (U.S.). As a registered clinical scientist in the U.K., Gordon will sign off on all patient reports and lead efforts to expand Genesis Genetics' testing operations throughout that country. In his role as vice president, Gordon will oversee scientific development, sales and marketing, and provide consultations on cytogenetics to U.S. labs. He will also be instrumental in expanding reproductive health services throughout the organization by developing a global laboratory group to explore new technologies and diagnostic tests.

Prior to his role at Genesis Genetics, Gordon worked at BlueGnome in the U.K. where he, in part with Genesis Genetics, led the development of 24sure-PGS (Preimplantation Genetic Screening), which has been shown to increase pregnancy rates and reduce miscarriages. He also contributed to the development and global uptake of the CytoChip, a postnatal cytogenetic mental retardation/development delay microarray test.

"Genesis Genetics is the most experienced PGD/PGS laboratory, running more tests for more disorders than any other lab in the world," said Gordon. "I'm proud to be a part of this unparalleled group of dedicated people whose goal is to improve pregnancy rates for patients and provide the highest standards of laboratory testing to all of our global labs."

Gordon received his Ph.D. from Nottingham University in the U.K., and completed seven years of post-doctoral work in molecular cytogenetics at the Institute for Cancer Research in Sutton, London. He has also authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific papers, articles and abstracts.

About Genesis Genetics Genesis Genetics, founded by world-renowned scientists largely responsible for discovering preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) as a clinical practice, is the leading global provider of PGD and provides expert laboratory services for some of the most respected in vitro fertilization (IVF) centers across the country and throughout the world. Genesis Genetics has laboratories in Argentina, Brasil, Jordon, South Africa, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and the United States. For more information visit http://www.genesisgenetics.org

Contact: Dorothy Twinney Dorothy@rbdcreative.com Phone: +1 313-259-5507 Fax: +1 313-259-3474

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Genesis Genetics Selects Tony Gordon, Ph.D., To Lead U.K. And U.S. Operations

Alliance Group chairman Owen Poole presents Mimihau farmers George and Kathryn Smith with three awards, including the gold Alliance Group Limited Terminal Sire Overall award at the Sheep Industry Awards in Invercargill last week. Photo by Beef and Lamb New Zealand

An interest in genetics at school has been a part of George Smith's fibre for many decades.

As a farmer, his schoolboy lessons about dominant and recessive genes came into play when determining desirable traits in his sheep and he was recording genetic information about his flock during the 1970s before it was common to do so.

''Genetics came into [my] studies and I have tried to apply that to sheep,'' Mr Smith said.

Mr Smith farms 282ha on his family property at Mimihau with his wife Kathryn Smith and his son Hamish Smith.

The farm carries 3600 Texels and Texel/Romney/Coopworth composites on rolling hill country.

The couple celebrated 100 years of family ownership in July.

''It was basically just a commercial operation with a few cattle. In 1963 we bought in a few stud Romney ewes because of my interest in genetics,'' Mr Smith said.

The couple took over the farm, which was previously a partnership with his father and brother, in the early 1970s.

Initially he developed his own system for recording genetic traits in his sheep using a manual ledger.

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Genetics part of management parcel

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/g2hdqj/gene_therapy) has announced the addition of Jain PharmaBiotech's new report "Gene Therapy - Technologies, Markets and Companies" to their offering.

Gene therapy can be broadly defined as the transfer of defined genetic material to specific target cells of a patient for the ultimate purpose of preventing or altering a particular disease state. Genes and DNA are now being introduced without the use of vectors and various techniques are being used to modify the function of genes in vivo without gene transfer. If one adds to this the cell therapy particularly with use of genetically modified cells, the scope of gene therapy becomes much broader. Gene therapy can now combined with antisense techniques such as RNA interference (RNAi), further increasing the therapeutic applications. This report takes broad overview of gene therapy and is the most up-to-date presentation from the author on this topic built-up from a series of gene therapy report written by him during the past decade including a textbook of gene therapy and a book on gene therapy companies. This report describes the setbacks of gene therapy and renewed interest in the topic

Profiles of 180 companies involved in developing gene therapy are presented along with 202 collaborations. There were only 44 companies involved in this area in 1995. In spite of some failures and mergers, the number of companies has increased more than 4-fold within a decade. These companies have been followed up since they were the topic of a book on gene therapy companies by the author of this report. John Wiley & Sons published the book in 2000 and from 2001 to 2003, updated versions of these companies (approximately 160 at mid-2003) were available on Wiley's web site. Since that free service was discontinued and the rights reverted to the author, this report remains the only authorized continuously updated version on gene therapy companies.

Benefits of this report

- Up-to-date on-stop information on gene therapy with 73 tables and 15 figures

- Evaluation of gene therapy technologies

- 740 selected references from the literature

- Estimates of gene therapy markets from 2012-2022

- Profiles of 180 companies involved and collaborations in this area

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Research and Markets: Gene Therapy - Technologies, Markets and Companies - Updated 2013 Report with 180 Company Profiles

Aug. 29, 2013 Finnish researchers have identified a genetic mutation causing progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) in the Phalene and Papillon dog breeds. PRA is one of the most common causes of blindness in dogs and in human. This study highlights the shared genetic etiology of many canine and human genetic disorders, and provides new tools to investigate PRA mechanisms while the beloved dogs benefit from genetic testing.

Professor Hannes Lohi's research group at the University of Helsinki and Folkhlsan Research Center, Finland, has identified a mutation in CNGB1 gene, causing progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) in the Phalene and Papillon dog breeds. PRA is one of the most common causes of blindness in dogs and in human. CNGB1 mutations have been previously associated with the corresponding human disease, human retinitis pigmentosa. This study highlights the shared genetic etiology of many canine and human genetic disorders, and provides new tools to investigate PRA mechanisms while the beloved dogs benefit from genetic testing. The study was published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE on August 28, 2013.

Progressive retinal atrophies are common causes of blindness in human and dogs. PRA is caused by the degeneration of the photoreceptor cells, rods and cones, which are needed for dark and day light vision, respectively. PRA often progresses in stages from impaired dark vision to complete blindness. Typical retinal changes are visible in eye examination usually around 3 years of age. There are already 12 known PRA genes found in dogs.

Phalenes and Papillons have mutation in the same gene as human PRA patients

This study aimed to discover the genetic cause of PRA in the Phalene and Papillon breeds. Gene discovery was accomplished by only six PRA-affected dogs.

"Most PRAs, including the one in Phalenes and Papillons, are recessive and caused by single gene defects and small sample numbers can lead to breakthroughs. The symptoms in Phalenes and Papillons start at 5 years of age, and we found some younger genetically affected dogs, who are likely to get PRA later and should be carefully followed," explains corresponding author, professor Hannes Lohi.

New technology facilitates gene discovery

The new CNGB1 mutation in Phalenes and Papillons was discovered with six cases and 14 control dogs and confirmed in a larger cohort of dogs. Gene discovery was greatly facilitated by a new exome sequencing technology, which analyzes all protein-coding regions of the genome at once.

"The rapid advancement of gene technology greatly facilitates gene discovery. After gene mapping we had several candidate regions to choose but exome sequencing quickly identified the actual mutation. The same technology opens possibilities with many other eye conditions we are currently working on," explains lead author Saija Ahonen.

The mutation in Phalene and Papillon dogs was found in the gene, which has been linked to corresponding human retinal degeneration earlier.

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New PRA gene identified in dogs: Phalenes and Papillons

Dr. Mayo Friedlis - Introduction to Stem Cell Therapy
Dr. Mayo Friedlis of Stemcell ARTS (an affiliate of National Spine and Pain Centers) in Fairfax, Virginia introduces stem cell therapy, an innovative solution that can deliver non-surgical...

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Dr. Mayo Friedlis - Introduction to Stem Cell Therapy - Video

Lemon Water (Cell Therapy) - Symmetry
Symm and Tha Professa return with another vibe from "Cell Theryrapy", this time bringing an awareness of supreme health in hip-hop form. On Cell Therapy (Lem...

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Lemon Water (Cell Therapy) - Symmetry - Video

Symmetry (ASSR) - Cell Therapy (Lemon Water) prod. Tha Professa
Almighty Shing Shing Regime 2013© Cell Therapy (Lemon Water) Symm and Tha Professa return with another vibe from "Cell Therapy", this time bringing an awaren...

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Symmetry (ASSR) - Cell Therapy (Lemon Water) prod. Tha Professa - Video

Dr. Mayo Friedlis - When Should You Use Stem Cell Therapy?
Dr. Mayo Friedlis of Stemcell ARTS (an affiliate of National Spine and Pain Centers) in Fairfax, Virginia introduces stem cell therapy, an innovative solution that can deliver non-surgical...

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Dr. Mayo Friedlis - Stem Cell Therapy for Common Injuries?
Dr. Mayo Friedlis of Stemcell ARTS (an affiliate of National Spine and Pain Centers) in Fairfax, Virginia introduces stem cell therapy, an innovative solution that can deliver non-surgical...

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Dr. Mayo Friedlis - Stem Cell Therapy for Common Injuries? - Video

Dr. Mayo Friedlis - Stem Cell Therapy for Athletes and Sports-Related Injuries
Dr. Mayo Friedlis of Stemcell ARTS (an affiliate of National Spine and Pain Centers) in Fairfax, Virginia introduces stem cell therapy for athletes, an innovative solution that can deliver...

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Dr. Mayo Friedlis - Stem Cell Therapy for Athletes and Sports-Related Injuries - Video

Dr. Mayo Friedlis - Stem Cell Therapy for Hip Problems
Dr. Mayo Friedlis of Stemcell ARTS (an affiliate of National Spine and Pain Centers) in Fairfax, Virginia introduces stem cell therapy, an innovative solution that can deliver non-surgical...

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Dr. Mayo Friedlis - Stem Cell Therapy for Hip Problems - Video

The bad news: "Stem cells by themselves do not work."

The good news: "Stem cells by themselves do not work."

Take it from the doctor who has treated 5,000 patients with stem cell therapy, a doctor who is himself a cancer survivor. Thirteen years ago, Dr. Sam Bernal - oncologist, chemist, molecular biologist, lawyer, professor and lecturer, among other things - was a cancer patient who thought he was at death's door. Using stem cells sourced from his bone marrow and peripheral blood, he overcame the disease and has since become an advocate of living fit, living well in order to look good.

Dr. Bernal, who divides his time between Los Angeles, Prague, Makati, and Germany, was a pioneer in stem cell research in the Philippines early on in his career, for which he was cited when he received the Presidential Award for Outstanding Filipinos Overseas from President Benigno S, Aquino III in 2012.

At a recent meeting with journalists, Dr. Bernal hurled the challenge: "What do you need stem cell therapy for if you eat well, sleep soundly, exercise regularly, don't smoke, have a positive attitude, and know how to live in the moment as you gaze at a painting and get a thrill out of small things like that?"

Not only is the doctor a passionate advocate of living the good life, the simple life, and, yes, Argentine tango - "It's better than boring exercises at the gym!" - he believes in healthy eating. "I brought a group of European friends to Manila and they were flabbergasted at our vegetable dishes - laing, gising-gising, buko juice - our simplest food was gourmet cuisine to them!"

No, he's not a vegetarian, but a "flexitarian."

But if stem cells - the body's own master and repair cells - aren't the key to staying young, what is? The holistic approach works best, according to the doctor, stating that the procedure should be recommended by doctors "on a case by case basis." In effect, the doctor prescribes "customizing your stem cell therapy."

In his book, molecular biology provides the battleground from which to attack the afflictions of aging that signal a desire or need to repair or replace one's stem cells. Speaking of books, Dr. Bernal continues to teach at Harvard, Ateneo, UST, and Medical City as a component of his mission to spread the benefits of technology transfer, which is the vision of his company, GlobeTek Science Foundation (based in Makati).

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‘Customize’ your stem cell therapy

Researchers create first ever map showing distribution of red head genes In south-east Scotland 40 per cent carry one of the common variants Results show Yorkshire and Humberside are as redheaded as Ireland

By Damien Gayle

PUBLISHED: 07:30 EST, 24 August 2013 | UPDATED: 11:00 EST, 24 August 2013

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Former Dr Who assistant Karen Gillan: Redheads still face prejudice despite prominence of stars with red hair and numbers of women who dye their hair red

They suffer a lot of stick for their unusual hair colouring, with hurtful taunts of 'Ginger!' resonating around playgrounds across the country.

Despite the prominence of stars Karen Gillan, Prince Harry and Damien Lewis, redheads still complain that they fall victim to prejudice and discrimination.

But new research shows that, far from being rare, Britain and Ireland are in fact host to a secret army of red hair gene carriers.

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Who you calling ginger? Research reveals that far from being rare nearly 20MILLION red hair gene carriers in Britain ...

Researchers create first ever map showing distribution of red head genes In south-east Scotland 40 per cent carry one of the common variants Results show Yorkshire and Humberside are as redheaded as Ireland

By Damien Gayle

PUBLISHED: 07:30 EST, 24 August 2013 | UPDATED: 11:00 EST, 24 August 2013

1,298 shares

99

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Former Dr Who assistant Karen Gillan: Redheads still face prejudice despite prominence of stars with red hair and numbers of women who dye their hair red

They suffer a lot of stick for their unusual hair colouring, with hurtful taunts of 'Ginger!' resonating around playgrounds across the country.

Despite the prominence of stars Karen Gillan, Prince Harry and Damien Lewis, redheads still complain that they fall victim to prejudice and discrimination.

But new research shows that, far from being rare, Britain and Ireland are in fact host to a secret army of red hair gene carriers.

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Ginger genes: Research reveals that 20MILLION red hair gene carriers in Britain and Ireland

Gene Therapy Dr. Cary Harding, MD - 2012 Conference
Liver-directed gene therapy is a promising novel treatment approach for PKU. Dr. Harding expands on overcoming limitations, alternative approaches, and the o...

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Can GMO cure us?: Peter Celec at TEDxBratislava 2013
Peter Celec is the Head of the Institute of Molecular Biomedicine of Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University. In the area of science he deals with the impac...

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By Susan E. Matthews

Those lucky enough to have survived a heart attack often face an uphill battle the trauma associated with the attack can often kill enough heart cells to leave survivors much weaker than before. But with a new personalized genetic approach, researchers may have found a way to reinvigorate the damaged cells, and even get them beating again./p>

Researchers from the Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco found that injecting a therapy of genes into dead heart cells has promising implications for restarting the cells, based on studies done in mice and human cells in a lab. After receiving this therapy, most cells showed some signs of transformation, and 20 percent of them were up and working again, according to the study, published in Stem Cell Reports.

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The research builds on the Gladstone teams previous work that successfully reinvigorated dead heart cells in mice through an injection of three genes, called GMT. In the latest study, the researchers used a new cocktail of five genes GMT with MYOCD and ZFPM2 and successfully reprogrammed damaged human cells.

The concept behind the approach is sound, but the current efficiency levels are low, warranting more research, said Konstantinos Malliaras, MD, assistant professor at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute.

The researchers are targeting the hearts fibroblasts, a specific type of scar-forming cell that makes up 50 percent of the human heart. The results are preliminary, and researchers noted that they still have some work to do to perfect the cocktail and test the process in larger animals.

Success rates might be improved by transforming the fibroblasts within living hearts rather than in a dish something we also observed during our initial experiments in mice, said Deepak Srivastava, MD, director of Gladstone cardiovascular and stem cell research. However, the researchers also noted that it takes longer to reprogram human cells than mouse cells, and the process remains inefficient.

Unlike some organs, such as the liver, the heart cannot regenerate quickly. The study out today represents one of three approaches currently explored as possible ways to regenerate the heart.

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New Gene Therapy May Help Heart Attack Survivors

Study found that stress triggers a 'master switch' gene called ATF3 This corrupts the immune system, giving cancer an fast-track around body Discovery could help develop drugs to dampen the 'stress gene'

By Emma Robertson

PUBLISHED: 08:56 EST, 23 August 2013 | UPDATED: 10:46 EST, 23 August 2013

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Stress fuels cancer by triggering a 'master switch' gene which allows the disease to spread, according to new research.

The 'unexpected' discovery could lead to the development of drugs that target the protein and stop tumours spreading to other organs and causing death.

Stress has long been linked to many forms of the disease including breast and prostate cancer, but the reason has remained a mystery.

Doctors have discovered the 'stress gene' ATF3 can make immune cells behave erratically, giving cancer an 'escape route' to other areas of the body

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Stress DOES have an impact on cancer: Anxiety switches on a gene that speeds up the spread of the disease

Aug. 22, 2013 In an unexpected finding, scientists have linked the activation of a stress gene in immune-system cells to the spread of breast cancer to other parts of the body.

Researchers say the study suggests this gene, called ATF3, may be the crucial link between stress and cancer, including the major cause of cancer death -- its spread, or metastasis. Previous public health studies have shown that stress is a risk factor for cancer.

Researchers already know that ATF3 is activated, or expressed, in response to stressful conditions in all types of cells. Under typical circumstances, turning on ATF3 can actually cause normal and benign cells to commit suicide if the cells decide that the stressors, such as irradiation and a lack of oxygen, have irrevocably damaged the cells.

This research suggests, however, that cancer cells somehow coax immune-system cells that have been recruited to the site of a tumor to express ATF3. Though it's still unclear how, ATF3 promotes the immune cells to act erratically and give cancer an escape route from a tumor to other areas of the body.

"It's like what Pogo said: 'We have met the enemy, and he is us,'" said Tsonwin Hai, professor of molecular and cellular biochemistry at The Ohio State University and senior author of the study. "If your body does not help cancer cells, they cannot spread as far. So really, the rest of the cells in the body help cancer cells to move, to set up shop at distant sites. And one of the unifying themes here is stress."

Hai and colleagues first linked the expression of the ATF3 gene in immune-system cells to worse outcomes among a sample of almost 300 breast-cancer patients. They followed with animal studies and found that mice lacking the ATF3 gene had less extensive metastasis of breast cancer to their lungs than did normal mice that could activate ATF3.

This stress gene could one day function as a drug target to combat cancer metastasis if additional studies bear out these results, Hai said. In the meantime, she said the results provide important insights into how cells in a tumor use their signaling power to coopt the rest of the body into aiding cancer's survival and movement to distant organs.

The research is published in a recent issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Hai, a member in the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, has studied ATF3 in cancer cells for years. When she had a chance to examine human samples from about 300 breast-cancer patients, she was stunned to find that the expression of ATF3 gene in certain immune-system cells was associated with worse cancer outcomes in this group of patients. ATF3 in cancer cells showed no such association.

To test that clinical data, she and colleagues conducted two rounds of studies in mice. The researchers first injected breast cancer cells into two groups: normal mice and mice that cannot express ATF3 in any cells. The cancer in normal mice metastasized to the lungs far more rapidly and extensively than did cancer in the mice lacking ATF3. In the second round of experiments, they used genetically altered mice that could not express ATF3 in a group of immune system cells called myeloid cells, and the results were similar.

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The stress and cancer link: 'Master-switch’ stress gene enables cancer's spread

Washington, August 23 (ANI): Researchers have associated the activation of a stress gene in immune-system cells to the spread of breast cancer to other parts of the body.

According to the researchers, the study suggests this gene, called ATF3, may be the crucial link between stress and cancer, including the major cause of cancer death - its spread, or metastasis.

Researchers already know that ATF3 is activated, or expressed, in response to stressful conditions in all types of cells.

Under typical circumstances, turning on ATF3 can actually cause normal and benign cells to commit suicide if the cells decide that the stressors, such as irradiation and a lack of oxygen, have irrevocably damaged the cells.

This research suggests, however, that cancer cells somehow coax immune-system cells that have been recruited to the site of a tumor to express ATF3.

Though it's still unclear how, ATF3 promotes the immune cells to act erratically and give cancer an escape route from a tumor to other areas of the body.

Tsonwin Hai, professor of molecular and cellular biochemistry at The Ohio State University and senior author of the study, said that if your body does not help cancer cells, they cannot spread as far. So really, the rest of the cells in the body help cancer cells to move, to set up shop at distant sites. And one of the unifying themes here is stress.

Hai and colleagues first linked the expression of the ATF3 gene in immune-system cells to worse outcomes among a sample of almost 300 breast-cancer patients.

They followed with animal studies and found that mice lacking the ATF3 gene had less extensive metastasis of breast cancer to their lungs than did normal mice that could activate ATF3.

ATF3 is a master switch type of gene: Its gene product, the ATF3 protein, turns on and off other genes. Knowing this, the researchers analyzed the genes that are controlled by ATF3 using a genome-wide global approach. Combining this set of data with another set of data from human samples, Hai and colleagues were able to identify an ATF3 gene signature that can predict whether cancer patients had a low or high risk of dying.

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Stress gene implicated in cancer spread

York University biology Professor Samuel Benchimol has been awarded the Progeria Research Foundations Established Investigator award, a three-year grant worth $300,000 US.

Dr. Benchimol

Benchimol, who ischair of the Department of Biology at York University and Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Health, is internationally recognized for studies focusing on the p53 gene. Specifically, his research focuses on theinactivating mutations in the p53 gene that contribute to cancer development. He was among a group of researchers that discovered new genes affecting p53 function.

Progeria or Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS), is a rare, fatal genetic condition characterized by an appearance of accelerated aging in children, with average life expectancy being 13 years. It is caused by a mutation in the gene called LMNA (pronounced lamin-a). The LMNA gene produces the lamin A protein which is the structural scaffolding that holds the nucleus of a cell together. The abnormal lamin A protein that causes Progeria is called progerin. Researchers now believe that progerin makes the nucleus unstable. That cellular instability leads to the process of premature aging and disease in progeria.

Were very pleased to hear that Dr. Benchimol received this grant, says Robert Tsushima, associate dean, research & partnerships, in York Universitys Faculty of Science. His research is critical, both in terms of finding a cure for progeria and furthering our understanding of cancer. The p53 gene is the most commonly mutated gene in human cancers.

Benchimols research will build upon preliminary data and test novel hypotheses regarding the role of p53 in mediating the premature aging shown by cells from Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria syndrome (HGPS) patients.

His work, in collaboration with Keith Wheaton, a postdoctoral fellow in his laboratory,will test the hypothesis that progerin causes replication stress, which in turn elicits a growth arrest, and that p53 acts downstream of the progerin-induced replication stress. The hope is that researchers can determine how progerin and p53 collaborate to elicit this cell-aging response.

Prior to joining York University, Benchimol conducted research at the Ontario Cancer Institute and the University of Toronto.

The Progeria Research Foundation (PRF) funds medical research aimed at developing treatments and a cure for progeria. The foundation also has its own cell and tissue bank that provides the biological materials researchers need to conduct their experiments. Additionally, PRF has established a medical and research database to supply physicians and families with medical recommendations for cardiac care, nutrition and other medical issues to help children and adults with progeria have a better quality of life. PRF is also involved in progeria clinical drug trials testing potential treatments.

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Prof receives prestigious award from Progeria Research Foundation