AMES, Iowa, April 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --NewLink Genetics Corporation (NLNK), a biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on discovering, developing and commercializing immunotherapeutic products in oncology, announced today that Nicholas N. Vahanian, M.D., NewLink's Chief Medical Officer, is scheduled to present at the Needham and Company 12th Annual Healthcare Conference in New York on Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 12:50 p.m. ET.

About NewLink Genetics Corporation

NewLink Genetics Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel immunotherapeutic products to improve treatment options for cancer patients. NewLink's portfolio includes biologic and small molecule immunotherapy product candidates intended to treat a wide range of oncology indications. NewLink's product candidates are designed to harness multiple components of the immune system to combat cancer without significant incremental toxicity, either as a monotherapy or in combination with other treatment regimens. NewLink's lead product candidate, algenpantucel-L (HyperAcute Pancreas) is being studied in a Phase 3 clinical trial in surgically resected pancreatic cancer patients (under a Special Protocol Assessment with the U.S. FDA) as well as in a separate study in locally advanced pancreatic cancer patients. NewLink has recently launched an adaptive design Phase 2B/3 clinical trial of tergenpumatucel-L (HyperAcute Lung) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. NewLink is developing indoximod, a small molecule, orally bioavailable product candidate from NewLink's proprietary indoleamine-(2,3)-dioxygenase, or IDO, pathway inhibitor technology. NewLink is studying indoximod in various chemotherapy and immunotherapy combination studies independently and in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute. For more information please visit http://www.linkp.com. Patient information is available at http://www.pancreaticcancer-clinicaltrials.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements of NewLink that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "plan", "target", "potential", "will", "could", "should", "seek", or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements about: the prospects of algenpantucel-L, indoximod and our other HyperAcute product candidates and related clinical trials. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements that NewLink makes due to a number of important factors, including risks relating to: the initiation of clinical trials and the completion of enrollment; adverse general economic and industry conditions; and those risks discussed in "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in NewLink's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2012, Form S-3 Registration Statement filed December 28, 2012 and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent NewLink's views as of the date of this press release. NewLink anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. However, while it may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing NewLink's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Contact:

Gordon Link Chief Financial Officer 515-598-2925 glink@linkp.com

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NewLink Genetics to Present at the Needham and Company 12th Annual Healthcare Conference

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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

A new survey commissioned by 23andMe the leading personal genetics company in celebration of DNA Day reveals that the majority of Americans have an interest in learning more about themselves by exploring their DNA, even though many do not fully understand how their DNA functions.

While only two percent of the nation has already had a genetic test done according to the survey, 73 percent of those who have not yet been tested would like to do so in the future. And for many (71 percent), the opportunity to discover the health conditions for which they are genetically most at-risk is what would draw them to genetic testing. In fact, 56 percent said they would consider making lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, based on the results.

Although there is significant interest in learning more about genetic testing, most Americans do not understand the fundamentals of genetics and how DNA functions. More than 80 percent of Americans know that DNA is inherited from both of their parents, and 70 percent are aware that their DNA tells the body which physical traits to express, such as eye and hair color. Yet, half of women surveyed incorrectly believe that the female combination of chromosomes is XY, while almost 25 percent of men surveyed incorrectly believe that the male combination of chromosomes is XX, illustrating confusion around the basic genetics that determine an individuals sex. In addition, 80 percent were unaware that all humans share 99.5 percent of their DNA. These findings underscore that while some people may generally understand how DNA influences their own identity, there tends to be far less understanding of how DNA functions and how all humans are connected by DNA.

"A majority of Americans is interested in the knowledge that their genetic information can provide, said Joanna Mountain, PhD, senior director of research, 23andMe. However, many are unfamiliar with the basics of genetic inheritance and unaware of what they might learn about themselves, in terms of health or ancestry, from their DNA. Our goal is to close the genetics literacy gap and help educate people aboutthe basics of genetic inheritance, the information about ancestry stored in our DNA, the connections between DNA and health, and the potential benefits of genetic testing.

Genetic testing can also help individuals uncover their ancestry composition and trace their family lineage. According to the survey, more than half of Americans know that people can discover living relatives they never knew existed through their DNA, and 53 percent understand that they can learn about the specific regions or countries where their ancestors originated from.

Regardless of why Americans are interested in digging deeply into their DNA, many would share the information in some way; in fact, 71 percent of Americans interested in having a genetic test said they would consider discussing the results with their doctor, while 57 percent said they would consider sharing results with their family members.

As individuals better understand their own DNA, they can also contribute directly to scientific discoveries. 23andMe not only provides individuals with access to their own genetic data, but also offers an opportunity to have their genetic data and responses to online surveys contribute to new scientific and medical discoveries. More than 65 percent of Americans who have not done a genetic test said that knowing that their genetic information could contribute to new discoveries that may lead to life-saving cures and treatments would make them more likely to get tested. Of 23andMes more than 250,000 genotyped customers, nearly 90 percent have opted to participate in the companys research by answering online surveys. As a result, 23andMe has already identified hundreds of new genetic associations.

DNA Day is a day dedicated to promoting genetics education and celebrating the latest advances in genomic research and the many ways genetics impacts our everyday lives. It commemorates the day in 1953 when James Watson, Francis Crick and colleagues published papers in Nature about the structure of DNA. 23andMe is dedicated to helping individuals understand their personal health and ancestry through DNA analysis and research. 23andMe provides individuals with information designed to help them better manage their health, as well as the opportunity to contribute to scientific discoveries. The companys goal is to transform healthcare and enable people everywhere to live longer, healthier lives through advancement of genetic research and the integration of genetics into personalized medicine.

23andMe provides a variety of free educational resources available to anyone on its website. You can view the companys popular Genetics 101 video series and other educational materials at: https://www.23andme.com/gen101/.

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23andMe Aims to Close Genetics Literacy Gap Among Americans in Celebration of DNA Day

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Robert Gordon: The death of innovation, the end of growth
The US economy has been expanding wildly for two centuries. Are we witnessing the end of growth? Economist Robert Gordon lays out 4 reasons US growth may be ...

By: TEDtalksDirector

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Robert Gordon: The death of innovation, the end of growth - Video

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Public release date: 25-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Mary Beth O'Leary moleary@cell.com 617-397-2802 Cell Press

Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, affecting more than five million Americans, but currently there is no way to prevent, delay or stop its progression. A study published online April 25 by the Cell Press journal Neuron shows that a gene called CD33 contributes to Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting the ability of immune cells to remove toxic molecules in the brain. The findings provide new insights into the molecular causes of the disease and reveal a novel potential therapy that could prevent cognitive decline and brain damage at early stages.

"Before our study, nothing was known about the function of CD33 in the brain," says senior study author Rudolph Tanzi of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. "Moreover, our findings suggest that pharmaceutical inactivation of CD33 represents a potentially powerful new therapy for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease, and perhaps other neurodegenerative disorders."

One hallmark of Alzheimer's disease is the formation of beta-amyloid plaquesdeposits of toxic molecules between neurons in the brain. Past studies have suggested that these plaques cause neurons to die, leading to cognitive deficits such as impaired memory. Although several genesincluding CD33have recently been implicated in Alzheimer's disease, little is known about how they regulate the formation of beta-amyloid plaques and contribute to disease progression.

In the new study, Tanzi and his team found that CD33 is active in microgliaimmune cells that clean up debris and destroy pathogens in the brain. In brain tissue samples from deceased individuals who had Alzheimer's disease, higher levels of CD33 activity in microglia were associated with an increased number of beta-amyloid plaques. Inactivation of the CD33 gene in mice enhanced the ability of microglia to clear up toxic beta-amyloid molecules in the brain. Similarly, inactivation of the CD33 gene in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease reduced the number of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain.

"This is the first time that we have direct evidence of a gene, CD33, that directly controls beta-amyloid clearance by microglia," Tanzi says. "Our findings raise the exciting possibility that the inability of microglia to degrade beta-amyloid in Alzheimer's disease could be reversed therapeutically by inhibition of CD33 activity."

###

Neuron, Griciuc et al.: "Alzheimer's Disease Risk Gene CD33 Inhibits Microglial Uptake of Amyloid Beta."

Continued here:
New insights into Alzheimer's gene paves the way for prevention

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Public release date: 25-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Mary Beth O'Leary moleary@cell.com 617-397-2802 Cell Press

Most information about the cause of Alzheimer's disease is based on studies from animal models. Now, a study published by Cell Press on April 25th in the journal Cell examines the brain tissue of deceased human patients and sheds light on dysfunctions in molecular networks in the brain that are at the root of Alzheimer's disease. By showing that the TYROBP gene plays a key role in disrupting immune system pathways in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, the study reveals a potential therapeutic target for preventing brain damage caused by this debilitating disease.

"Our goal was to find genes that lead the charge and direct many other genes towards Alzheimer's disease," says senior study author Valur Emilsson of the Icelandic Heart Association. "This findings presents a comprehensive network-based framework to test models of disease mechanism and also offer novel insights for drug discovery programs that can affect neurodegenerative diseases."

Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills. Symptoms usually appear after age 60, and as the population grows older, the incidence of Alzheimer's is expected to increase dramatically. Yet very little is known about the molecular causes of this complex disease, in part because scientists have relied on animal models that do not replicate cognitive deficits and brain damage in humans.

To gain new insights into the molecular underpinnings of Alzheimer's, Emilsson and his team analyzed 1,647 brain tissue samples from deceased individuals who either had Alzheimer's or were healthy. By measuring the activity levels of thousands of genes in these tissues, they determined which molecular networks are disrupted in diseased brains. Their computational analysis revealed the important role of a gene expressed in microgliaimmune cells that clean up debris and destroy pathogens in the brain. They found that this geneTYROBPis overactive in the diseased brain, and it plays a key causal role in disrupting the activity of many other genes that control microglia activation.

"Our study shows that it makes sense to study disease as it actually occurs in the brains of human patients," Emilsson says. "We anticipate that our approach will enhance the transferability of basic biological discovery into meaningful medical progress."

###

Cell, Zhang et al.: "Tracing Multi-System Failure in Alzheimer Disease to Causal Genes."

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Gene networks in brains of deceased patients reveal potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease

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Making personalized medicine a reality
Groundbreaking research from CAMH #39;s Neuroscience Research Department, has made personalized medicine for psychiatric patients a reality. Physicians are now a...

By: CAMHTV

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Making personalized medicine a reality - Video

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Qurebits: computational personalized medicine
Performing engineering analysis on patient specific geometries for daily clinical practice.

By: Qurebits

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Qurebits: computational personalized medicine - Video

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How Much Does a Spinal Cord Injury Cost Me Over a Lifetime?
Spinal cord injuries can be lifechanging and costly. Attorney James Roswold discusses the average cost of a spinal cord injury over someone #39;s lifetime. If yo...

By: KCAccidentAttorneys

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How Much Does a Spinal Cord Injury Cost Me Over a Lifetime? - Video

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Joshua Aquino plays piano for mom Kris. File photo

MANILA, Philippines Host-actress Kris Aquino explained that one of the reasons she is going on temporary leave from showbiz is because she wanted her eldest son, Josh, to undergo stem cell therapy.

During her morning talk show on ABS-CBN, Kris TV, on Tuesday, Aquino said she is considering three options for the treatment of Josh, who is a special child.

The first option is for Josh to undergo treatment in Europe, where live animal stem cells are used.

Kasi meron akong mga friends na yung mga anak nila underwent stem cell therapy and yung condition nila is just like Josh. They had special children, Aquino explained to comedienne Melai Cantiveros, her guest co-host on Kris TV.

Kasi sobrang laki yung naging improvement. So tomorrow, Melai, meron kaming appointment kay Dr. Rex Gloria, who is involved with one of those hospitals sa Europe na gumagawa nito, she added.

Aquino said her second option is to avail of a new treatment in Singapore, which involves the use of fat-derived human stem cells.

Meron daw sa Singapore na kinukuha daw sa nanay yung stem cell. Parang manggagaling sa fat ng nanay, kasi yung fat ng nanay ang pinaka-highly concentrated yung stem cell, doon, she said. So kukunin either sa hita daw o sa tiyan ng mom, tapos ita-transfer doon sa anak.

Meanwhile, Aquino said her third option is to go to The Medical City in Pasig.

May pangatlo pa being done in Medical City naman now. But that study will be done in July. Yun naman, galing sa bone marrow. Medyo masakit daw yun talaga kasi imagine, bone marrow extraction, she said.

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Kris wants stem cell therapy for son Josh

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

Kris Aquino will try anything -- even the new stem cell therapy technology in Singapore to help eldest son Josh cope with his Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) condition. Read related story: Kris In Search For Joshuas House

"Meron akong mga friends na yung mga anak nila underwent stem cell therapy. And yung condition nila is just like Josh's and they're special children. Sobrang laki kasi yung naging improvement," Kris said on "KrisTV" on Tuesday, April 23.

Physical exam

Kris said Josh will have a physical exam on April 24 to check if he is fit to undergo stem cell therapy.

"Hindi mo naman matatanggi sa akin na anything to improve my son kasi ngayon na-achieve namin yung physical improvement. Kasi di ba naka-lose nga siya ng 120 pounds? So ngayon we have the means naman, bakit hindi ko susubukan kung makakatulong ito for him to become more verbal, yung cognitive skills lalong ma-improve?"

She added, "Meron raw sa Singapore na kinukuha rin sa nanay, yung stem cell. Manggagaling raw sa fat ng nanay. Kasi yung fat ng nanay ang highly-concentrated ang stem cell. So kukunin either sa tiyan or hita ng nanay then itatransfer sa anak."

ABS-CBN announced that Kris will take a leave from work in June to attend to her sons' needs, including bringing Josh abroad "to advance his developmental progress."

Also read: Kris not resigning, will 'take a leave instead'

Adult Josh

"Iyan ita-try nating lahat kasi it's so hard to believe that this June 4, Josh is turning 18. May adult na akong anak. Ita-try natin ito. Part of the reason why I'm taking a leave is because I want Josh to have these opportunities for medical improvement, lalo na andun na siya sa magandang timbang, magandang health, magandang behavior. So, ita-try namin ito para tuloy-tuloy ang progress ng anak ko," she said.

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Kris wants Josh to undergo stem cell therapy

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Scottsdale Regenerative Cell Therapy treatment center, Premier Pain Institute, has opened up a new clinic that facilitates state of the art procedures for pain treatment.

Scottsdale, Arizona (PRWEB) April 22, 2013

The philosophy of the new Scottsdale regenerative cell therapy center, the Premier Pain Institute is to treat each and every patient based on his or her specific diagnosis. With a one-on-one, doctor-to-patient, approach, the Premier Pain Institute ensures that every patient is carefully evaluated and diagnosed. Each patient then receives a specific treatment formulated to target the direct condition that is causing the pain. The Premier Pain Institute simply does not believe in a one-solution-cures-all methodology.

Also, the Scottsdale regenerative cell therapy center, the Premier Pain Institute is not just for people with chronic back pain, but people suffering from carpal tunnel, post-surgical pain, hands/wrists/feet pain, headaches and neck pains, and more. Some of the treatment procedures include injections and transformational selective root sleeve injections. With many doctors, these injections usually involve the insertion of a singular large bore needle into the spine. Dr. Vengurlekar prefers to perform a more precise injection which uses a minimal amount of steroid and thus reduces the number of side effect risks that are typically associated with an epidural injection. Also there is the discography procedure where a particular pain-causing disc is identified and directly targeted for treatment.

The Scottsdale regenerative cell therapy center, overseen by Dr. Vengurlekar, uses regenerative cell therapy to assist patient recovery. Regenerative medicine is a burgeoning scientific field that is focused on the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues, using regenerative cells. Regenerative cells are used to treat patients with damaged tissues due to age or deterioration. During a procedure, regenerative cells are isolated, gathered, and dispersed back to the patient to the site of injury, to assist in the healing process.

Doctor Vengurlekar is a Board Certified Interventional Pain Specialist who specializes in the interventional treatment of pain disorders. With extensive experience in performing minimally invasive procedures in the Phoenix area for years, Dr. Vengurlekar's practice has been dedicated exclusively to the treatment of a broad spectrum of pain disorders.

If an individual feels that they would have to spend a fortune to cure their chronic pain, or are afraid that they may become dependent on narcotics through treatment, they should visit the new Scottsdale regenerative cell therapy center, and talk to Dr. Vengurlekar, today.

****

Premier Pain Institute Contact Information:

Premier Pain Institute

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Scottsdale Regenerative Cell Therapy Treatment Center Premier Pain Institute Opens New Clinic

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HOUSTON, April 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Gene By Gene, Ltd., the Houston-based genomics and genetics testing company, announced that it has signed an agreement with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to become one of its affiliated clinical laboratories.

Under the agreement, scientists at Gene By Gene's Genomic Research Center will provide the clinical phase instruction, training and supervision required for students in the Molecular Genetic Technology Program, one of eight undergraduate programs offered through MD Anderson's School of Health Professions.

"We're delighted to partner with Gene By Gene, with its long and pioneering history in the field of genomics," said Program Director, Peter Hu, Ph.D., with the School of Health Professions. "Gene By Gene's sequencing, next-generation sequencing and microarray laboratory will provide the top level of experience and training that we want all our molecular students to attain."

Gene By Gene's Genomic Research Center is a CLIA registered lab which has processed more than 5 million discrete DNA tests from more than 700,000 individuals and organizations globally. It is now one of only 36 laboratories in the United States, including the Yale University School of Medicine and the Baylor College of Medicine, to achieve this prestigious affiliation.

"We're very proud to be able to share our laboratory and expertise with MD Anderson's School of Health Professions," said Gene By Gene President Bennett Greenspan. "It's an honor to be among the select few companies and institutions that are invited to affiliate with this prestigious institution. In addition, this is a wonderful opportunity for Gene By Gene to continue investing in the next generation of leaders in genomic and genetic science, and we're thrilled to welcome the first students to our Genomics Research Center this May."

About Gene By Gene, Ltd. Founded in 2000, Gene By Gene, Ltd. provides reliable DNA testing to a wide range of consumer and institutional customers through its four divisions focusing on ancestry, health, research and paternity. Gene By Gene provides DNA tests through its Family Tree DNA division, which pioneered the concept of direct-to-consumer testing in the field of genetic genealogy more than a decade ago. Gene by Gene is CLIA registered and through its clinical-health division DNA Traits offers regulated diagnostic tests. DNA DTC is the Research Use Only (RUO) division serving both direct-to-consumer and institutional clients worldwide. Gene By Gene offers AABB certified relationship tests through its paternity testing division, DNA Findings. The privately held company is headquartered in Houston, which is also home to its state-of-the-art Genomics Research Center.

Media Contact:Kate Croft for Gene By Gene, Ltd. Casteel Schoenborn 888-609-8351 croft@csirfirm.com

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Gene By Gene Signs Agreement with MD Anderson Cancer Center

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- Innovation Centre's ambitious approach to treatment of disease to dramatically improve patient outcomes whilst reducing overall healthcare costs.

GLASGOW, Scotland, April 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Life Technologies( http://www.lifetechnologies.com/us/en/home.html ) Corporation (LIFE) today announces that it is a lead commercial partner along with Aridhia,( http://www.aridhia.com ) a bio-medical informatics company, in the Stratified Medicine Scotland Innovation Centre (SMS-IC). The Ion Proton( http://www.invitrogen.com/site/us/en/home/Products-and-Services/Applications/Sequencing/Semiconductor-Sequencing/proton.html )(TM) sequencing platform will be the primary tool to drive discovery and genetic analysis as SMS-IC aspires to be a world-class centre of research, innovation and commercialisation in stratified medicine. The SMC-IC is a unique collaboration bringing together excellence in the academic, industrial and NHS( http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/introduction.aspx ) communities to create an infrastructure that will act as a springboard to allow Scotland to be at the forefront of the field.

The First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond said: "Scotland has always been a world leader in innovation and this new funding for the Stratified Medicine Scotland Innovation Centre reinforces the Scottish Government's commitment to the Life Sciences securing Scotland's place as a world leader in innovative health technology. The pioneering research carried out by the innovation centres will not only improve the healthcare of patients but also, by way of the unique advanced process of diagnosis, could potentially save lives."

"The Stratified Medicine Scotland Innovation Centre is a ground breaking project that represents a real opportunity to change the way healthcare will be practiced," said Peter Silvester, President Europe, Middle East & Africa of Life Technologies( http://www.lifetechnologies.com/us/en/home.html ). "Life Technologies will provide facilities and the genetic analysis platform with its semiconductor based, Ion Proton( http://www.invitrogen.com/site/us/en/home/Products-and-Services/Applications/Sequencing/Semiconductor-Sequencing/proton.html )(TM) DNA sequencing technology, at a speed, accuracy and cost that would have been impossible just a few months ago. The vision for this project is to combine an individual's detailed genomic data with more traditional patient information to enable faster, more accurate and effective clinical decisions. This is an inflection point in the history of medical research, and there is much more to come."

Stratified medicine is recognised as a key strategic approach to the future diagnosis and treatment of disease and depends critically upon information; the integration of existing data sets to form a comprehensive 'personal' healthcare record and the generation of new data describing patient characteristics - genotype and phenotype - to permit 'stratification.'

Scotland's past investment in electronic health records (EHRs) and translational medicine research, coupled with a vibrant healthcare technology industry, positions Scotland as the location to drive forward the stratified medicine agenda globally. The aim of SMS-IC is to prove the principle of stratified clinical trials and in 2013 it will begin a series of exemplar projects which link patient phenotype, genotypic and other data types enabling precision targeting of populations for clinical trials. Although the Ion Proton( http://www.invitrogen.com/site/us/en/home/Products-and-Services/Applications/Sequencing/Semiconductor-Sequencing/proton.html )(TM)platform is currently for Research Use Only, the ultimate aim is to take stratified clinical trial models from concept to clinical practice. SMS-IC will run a competition to identify suitable projects and applications are invited from interested parties.

A semiconductor chip is at the heart of the Ion Proton's technology. Instead of relying on light-based technology and cameras to capture images of DNA sequences, the Ion Proton( http://www.invitrogen.com/site/us/en/home/Products-and-Services/Applications/Sequencing/Semiconductor-Sequencing/proton.html )(TM) System translates chemical information into digital data. The chip enables sequencing to be performed on a massively parallel format, drastically accelerating the sequencing process.

The Ion Proton( http://www.invitrogen.com/site/us/en/home/Products-and-Services/Applications/Sequencing/Semiconductor-Sequencing/proton.html )(TM)is For Research Use Only, not intended for diagnostic purposes.

About Life Technologies

Link:
Life Technologies' Ion Proton(TM) to Power Stratified Medicine Scotland Innovation Centre

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

PARIS, April 22 (UPI) -- French biologist Francois Jacob, who won a Nobel Prize for work on the genetic mechanisms in bacteria, had died, his family said. He was 92.

Jacob died Friday, his family said in a Radio France Internationale report.

Jacob shared the 1956 Nobel Prize for medicine with researchers Andre Lwoff and Jacques Monod for their work on the genetic mechanisms in bacteria and "discoveries concerning genetic control of enzyme and virus synthesis."

Born in 1920 in Nancy in eastern France, in 1940 Jacob joined the French 2nd Armored Division in London, working to free France from Nazi occupation.

For his wartime service, during which he was injured in a German air attack in 1944, he was awarded France's highest World War II decoration for valor, the Cross of Liberation.

After World War II Jacob completed his medical degree but was unable to practice as a surgeon because his war injuries meant he couldn't stand for long periods to perform operations.

Instead he turned to biological research, joining the Pasteur Institute in Paris in 1950 and spending the rest of his career there.

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Francois Jacob, Nobel winner for genetic work, dies at 92

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Innovation Centre's ambitious approach to treatment of disease to dramatically improve patient outcomes whilst reducing overall healthcare costs.

GLASGOW , Scotland, April 23, 2013 /CNW/ - Life Technologies Corporation (LIFE) today announces that it is a lead commercial partner along with Aridhia, a bio-medical informatics company, in the Stratified Medicine Scotland Innovation Centre (SMS-IC). The Ion Proton sequencing platform will be the primary tool to drive discovery and genetic analysis as SMS-IC aspires to be a world-class centre of research, innovation and commercialisation in stratified medicine. The SMC-IC is a unique collaboration bringing together excellence in the academic, industrial and NHS communities to create an infrastructure that will act as a springboard to allow Scotland to be at the forefront of the field.

The First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond said: "Scotland has always been a world leader in innovation and this new funding for the Stratified Medicine Scotland Innovation Centre reinforces the Scottish Government's commitment to the Life Sciences securing Scotland's place as a world leader in innovative health technology. The pioneering research carried out by the innovation centres will not only improve the healthcare of patients but also, by way of the unique advanced process of diagnosis, could potentially save lives."

"The Stratified Medicine Scotland Innovation Centre is a ground breaking project that represents a real opportunity to change the way healthcare will be practiced," said Peter Silvester , President Europe , Middle East & Africa of Life Technologies. "Life Technologies will provide facilities and the genetic analysis platform with its semiconductor based, Ion Proton DNA sequencing technology, at a speed, accuracy and cost that would have been impossible just a few months ago. The vision for this project is to combine an individual's detailed genomic data with more traditional patient information to enable faster, more accurate and effective clinical decisions. This is an inflection point in the history of medical research, and there is much more to come."

Stratified medicine is recognised as a key strategic approach to the future diagnosis and treatment of disease and depends critically upon information; the integration of existing data sets to form a comprehensive 'personal' healthcare record and the generation of new data describing patient characteristics - genotype and phenotype - to permit 'stratification.'

Scotland's past investment in electronic health records (EHRs) and translational medicine research, coupled with a vibrant healthcare technology industry, positions Scotland as the location to drive forward the stratified medicine agenda globally. The aim of SMS-IC is to prove the principle of stratified clinical trials and in 2013 it will begin a series of exemplar projects which link patient phenotype, genotypic and other data types enabling precision targeting of populations for clinical trials. Although the Ion Protonplatform is currently for Research Use Only, the ultimate aim is to take stratified clinical trial models from concept to clinical practice. SMS-IC will run a competition to identify suitable projects and applications are invited from interested parties.

A semiconductor chip is at the heart of the Ion Proton's technology. Instead of relying on light-based technology and cameras to capture images of DNA sequences, the Ion Proton System translates chemical information into digital data. The chip enables sequencing to be performed on a massively parallel format, drastically accelerating the sequencing process.

The Ion Protonis For Research Use Only, not intended for diagnostic purposes.

About Life Technologies Life Technologies Corporation (LIFE) is a global biotechnology company that is committed to providing the most innovative products and services to leading customers in the fields of scientific research, genetic analysis and applied sciences. With a presence in more than 180 countries, the company's portfolio of 50,000 end-to-end solutions are secured by more than 5,000 patents and licenses that span the entire biological spectrum -- scientific exploration, molecular diagnostics, 21st century forensics, regenerative medicine and agricultural research. Life Technologies has approximately 10,000 employees and had sales of $3.8 billion in 2012.

Life Technologies' Safe Harbor Statement This press release includes forward-looking statements about our anticipated results that involve risks and uncertainties. Some of the information contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements as to industry trends and Life Technologies' plans, objectives, expectations and strategy for its business, contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words "believe," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "target," "estimate," "expect" and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions ("will," "may," "could," "should," etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are detailed in filings made by Life Technologies with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Life Technologies undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Excerpt from:
Life Technologies' Ion Proton™ to Power Stratified Medicine Scotland Innovation Centre

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS, FRANCE--(Marketwired - Apr 23, 2013) - Nicox S.A. (EURONEXT PARIS: COX) today announced promising pre-clinical results on naproxcinod, a CINOD (Cyclooxygenase-Inhibiting Nitric Oxide-Donating) anti-inflammatory candidate, in models of muscular dystrophies. The data were presented by Nicox and the Center for Genetic Medicine Research(1), a center within the Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, in a poster session on April 22(nd) at the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Scientific Conference in Washington, DC.

The research study data were presented in a poster entitled "Long-term treatment with naproxcinod significantly improves skeletal and cardiac disease phenotype in mdx mouse model of dystrophy" (poster #175). In this study, the effects of naproxcinod were investigated on skeletal and cardiac muscle function in mdx mice. Three doses of naproxcinod (10, 21 and 41 mg/kg) were given orally to 4-week-old mdx mice (a reference model for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, DMD) for 9 months and compared to 0.9 mg/kg of prednisolone. The results of the study suggest that naproxcinod may have potential as a safe therapeutic option for the treatment of muscular dystrophies. Naproxcinod treatment at 10 and 21mg/kg resulted in significant improvements in hind limb grip strength as well as an approximately 25-30% decrease in inflammation in fore and hind limbs measured by in vivo optical imaging. Furthermore, there were significant improvements in heart function as evidenced by improved fraction shortening and ejection fraction, measured using echocardiography, along with improvements in systolic blood pressure. In addition, the long term detrimental effects of prednisolone typically seen in skeletal and heart function were not observed at the effective doses of naproxcinod.

Naproxcinod is a CINOD (Cyclooxygenase-Inhibiting Nitric Oxide-Donating) anti-inflammatory candidate originally developed by Nicox for the relief of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis. The results presented on April 22(nd) 2013 were from an exploratory research study sponsored by Nicox and conducted at the Center for Genetic Medicine Research(1). The objective was to investigate the potential for the use of naproxcinod in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) as there is evidence that nitric oxide can play a critical role in the functioning of skeletal muscle.

The Nicox's current strategy is to evaluate the opportunity to out-licence naproxcinod for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee. Separately, the Company is also seeking specialized partners in the field of rare diseases who would be able to undertake and fund the potential development of naproxcinod in muscular dystrophy. This approach is aimed at maximising the opportunities to progress the development of naproxcinod in one of these indications.

About muscular dystrophies:

Muscular dystrophies are a group of inherited diseases that cause muscle weakness and muscle loss. These diseases are due to defects in muscle proteins, leading to structure alteration and continuous damage of fibers during contraction. DMD is the most common and serious form of muscular dystrophy, with the onset of symptoms occurring in early childhood (usually between three and five years of age) and primarily affects boys. This progressive condition worsens throughout childhood, with patients becoming wheelchair-bound between the ages of seven and thirteen. Most DMD patients die by the age of 20, most frequently as a direct result of respiratory/cardiac failure.

(1)The Center for Genetic Medicine Research (GenMed) is a center within the Children's Research Institute, at Children's National Medical Center, in Washington DC. The Center is dedicated to translational research in muscular dystrophy. Founded in 1999, GenMed serves as the Department of Integrative Systems Biology (ISB) at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. The muscle disease research group is among the largest worldwide, and includes drug development, pre-clinical, and clinical research groups. GenMed has 50 faculty members and about 170 staff.

About Nicox

Nicox (Bloomberg: COX:FP, Reuters: NCOX.PA) is creating a new mid-sized international player in the ophthalmic market by building a diversified portfolio of innovative therapies and diagnostic tools. With a heritage of scientific, business development and commercial expertise, the Nicox team is focused on developing and marketing novel pharmaceuticals and diagnostic devices that can help people to enhance their sight. In the United States, Nicox markets AdenoPlus, a test for the differential diagnosis of acute conjunctivitis in-licensed from RPS.

The Company's pipeline includes latanoprostene bunod, a novel drug-candidate based on Nicox's proprietary nitric oxide (NO)-donating R&D platform, developed in collaboration with Bausch + Lomb for the potential treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Further NO-donating compounds are under development in non-ophthalmic indications, notably through partners, including Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada).

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Pre-clinical results on naproxcinod in models of muscular dystrophy presented at MDA Scientific Conference

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Natural Bodybuilder - INSANE Genetics (Preview)
Natural bodybuilder fitness model Stephen - Preview video of his upcoming training videos where he will be showing himself working out in the gym and will ...

By: Alon Gabbay

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Natural Bodybuilder - INSANE Genetics (Preview) - Video

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - Apr 23, 2013) - Atossa Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS), The Breast Health Company, believes that new recommendations published on April 16 by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), suggesting that healthy women at high risk for breast cancer take tamoxifen or raloxifene to prevent the disease, are a major step forward. Such drug use can significantly reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, the Task Force report said, so doctors should carefully consider this treatment option for their high-risk patients.

"The USPSTF recommendations are a major step forward but are also incomplete," said Dr. Steven Quay, chairman, CEO and president of Atossa Genetics. "The problem is that the recommendations neglect other steps women can take to better understand their risk of cancer and to spot pre-cancerous changes before tumors actually develop."

Dr. Quay continued, "The identification of high-risk women based largely on family history is woefully inadequate as over 85 percent of women will have no family history. New, personalized diagnostic tools exist that can provide a precise determination of a woman's risk -- and also detect pre-cancerous changes early, for those women without a family history."

For example, Quay points to the ForeCYTE Breast Health Test developed by his own company. The test extracts miniscule samples of fluid from the nipple and examines the duct cells from the breast that are contained in the fluid, much like a Pap Smear looks at cervical cells that undergo changes before becoming cancerous.

The analysis of those duct cells, from which 95 percent of cancers develop, can show that a woman who is deemed to be at high risk because of family history may actually be perfectly healthy, and thus doesn't require preventive drug treatment. Alternatively, the analysis in a woman with no family history may detect pre-cancerous changes -- up to eight years before a tumor is large enough to be spotted on a mammogram. That pinpoints a woman's exact risk of developing cancer and allows any pre-cancer to be treated with drugs such as tamoxifen or even with a new type of treatment administered just to the breasts through the breast ducts.

"Rather than treat women thought to be at high risk for breast cancer because of family history, we believe that a test like ForeCYTE can identify those who really are at high risk or who already show pre-cancerous changes, and thus more precisely identify the women who will truly benefit from preventive treatments," said Quay. "The test can also ease the worries of those who are thought to be at high risk but whose duct cells are actually normal and healthy. And it will free them from taking a medication they don't need, won't benefit from, and that may have serious side effects needlessly if they take it."

About the ForeCYTE Breast Health Test

The ForeCYTE Breast Health Test, intended for the 110 million women in the U.S. ages 18 to 73, is a painless, quick and non-invasive procedure that can be done in a physician's office. A small sample of fluid, aspirated from the nipple of each breast with the Company's patented breast pump, can provide vital early detection of cancer or pre-cancerous conditions that may progress to cancer over an approximately eight-year period before cancer can be detected by mammography or other means. The ForeCYTE test is painless, uses no radiation, no invasive biopsy needles and no surgical incisions.

Samples obtained by the ForeCYTE method are tested at Atossa's wholly owned National Reference Laboratory for Breast Health, a CLIA-certified high-complexity molecular diagnostic laboratory located in Seattle.

About Atossa Genetics, Inc.

Original post:
Atossa Genetics: New Recommendations for Preventive Drug Treatment for Breast Cancer Are Helpful but Incomplete

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - Apr 23, 2013) - Atossa Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS), The Breast Health Company, announced today that Kyle Guse, CFO and General Counsel, will present the Company's business model, products and services, and investment thesis at the FSX San Francisco Conference at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in San Francisco on Thursday, April 25, 2013, beginning at 2:40 pm Pacific Time.

"The national rollout of our ForeCYTE Breast Health Test continues to advance," Mr. Guse stated. "We are pleased by the growing interest and enthusiastic response we are getting from the medical community and patients. I look forward to providing an update on our marketing efforts and other corporate activities at the FSX conference."

About Atossa Genetics, Inc.

Atossa Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS), The Breast Health Company, based in Seattle, WA, is focused on preventing breast cancer through the commercialization of patented, FDA-designated Class II diagnostic medical devices and patented, laboratory developed tests (LDT) that can detect precursors to breast cancer up to eight years before mammography.

In addition to the ForeCYTE Breast Health Test, Atossa markets the ArgusCYTE Breast Health Test, a blood test for recurrence in breast cancer survivors that provides a "liquid biopsy" for circulating cancer cells and a tailored treatment plan for patients and their caregivers.

For additional information, please visit http://www.atossagenetics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated or estimated future results, including the risks and uncertainties associated with marketing plans, actions by the FDA, regulatory clearances, responses to regulatory matters, Atossa's ability to continue to manufacture and sell its products, the efficacy of Atossa's products and services, the market demand for and acceptance of Atossa's products and services, performance of distributors and other risks detailed from time to time in Atossa's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation its registration statement on Form S-1 filed January 28, 2013, and periodic reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q, each as amended and supplemented from time to time.

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Atossa Genetics to Present at FSX San Francisco Investor Conference

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Apr. 23, 2013 Researchers at Micro Orthopaedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, led by Dr. Ai-xi Yu, have suggested that articular cartilage defects can be repaired by a novel thermo-sensitive injectable hydrogel engineered with gene modified bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs). The chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol composite hydrogel containing hTGF-1 gene modified BMSCs was injected into rabbits with defective articular cartilage. Sixteen weeks later the defected cartilage regenerated and was proven to be hyaline cartilage.

This work can be found in the January 2013 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine.

"No reliable approach is currently available for complete restoration of damaged articular cartilage," said Dr. Bai-wen Qi, "in this study, CS/PVA gel was combined with rabbit bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) transfected with hTGF-1 and used to repair rabbit articular cartilage defects and the repair effect was evaluated."

Tissue engineering combined with gene therapy technology has the potential to manage the repair of defective articular cartilage. In this study, through minimally invasive injection methods the authors were able to repair rabbit articular cartilage defects with CS/PVA gel and gene modified BMSCs. Dr. Qi said "CS/PVA gel can be applied to the repair of articular cartilage defects as an injectable material in tissue engineering, and the regenerated cartilage can secrete cartilage matrix and perform the functions of hyaline cartilage. Use of this gel for cartilage repair has advantages such as the minor surgical procedure required, tight bonding with the damaged tissue and lack of rejection."

Dr. Steven R. Goodman, Editor-in-Chief of Experimental Biology and Medicine said "The study by Qi and colleagues is very exciting as it combines tissue engineering and gene therapy approaches to successfully repair defective articular cartilage. The approach should be adaptable in the future to human tissue repair."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Repairing articular cartilage defects with an injectable gel engineered with gene modified BMSCs

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

ALEXANDRIA, VA--(Marketwired - Apr 23, 2013) - In a major advance in the use of gene therapy for treating type 1 diabetes, researchers have shown that this approach can provide beneficial therapeutic effects in dogs for up to four years, without causing hypoglycemia, according to a study published in the May issue of the journal Diabetes.

Researchers from the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, led by Dr. Fatima Bosch, had previously shown positive effects using gene therapy to regulate glycemic control in mice. This study was the first to show long-term beneficial effects in large animals (beagle dogs), a major step toward ultimately testing the procedure in humans.

"Moving from mice to large animals is a big step," said Bosch, who is the Director of the Center of Animal Biotechnology and Gene Therapy. "If something works well in large animals, we have reason to believe, based on the previous experience in the field of gene transfer, that it is likely that we will see a similar outcomes in humans. For example, gene therapy that worked well in large animals to treat hemophilia is now seeing positive results in clinical trials with humans. We hope that in a few years, we'll be able to test this therapy for type 1 diabetes in humans as well."

Bosch and her team injected five lab dogs with two genes -- insulin and glucokinase -- using an adenoassociated virus (AAV) vector. The vector, or vehicle for DNA transmission, comes from a virus that is non-pathogenic and is able to "infect" cells in the animal's skeletal muscle with the two genes. Because skeletal muscle cells do not divide, the genes remain there long-term. This means the animal only needs to be injected once and the genes can continue to do their work, acting as "glucose sensors", continuously releasing low levels of insulin and expressing glucokinase, which helps regulate glucose uptake in response to rising and falling circulating glucose levels, for years.

In this study, the treated dogs maintained normal blood glucose levels for more than four years after injection, without showing signs of hypoglycemia, a risk associated with other treatments that seek to achieve tight blood glucose control. This is also the first time a single therapeutic intervention has been used to achieve long-term maintenance of normoglycemia after development of diabetes, the authors said.

Treating the dogs with just one gene did not achieve the same results, the researchers said, noting that both were needed to keep blood glucose levels in the normal range. The next step is to test the procedure on "companion animals," different breeds of dogs that have type 1diabetes and live with families, rather than in the lab. In this study, researchers will test their ability to better adjust the insulin doses in different size and breeds of dogs living in "real life" situations. Once they are able to determine how to adjust the therapy in this context, the investigators will be ready to test the treatment on humans, Bosch said.

"Overall the report by Bosch and colleagues is a substantial advance in the attempts to develop clinical gene therapy for type 1 DM," writes Timothy O'Brien, Director of the Regenerative Medicine Institute, at the National University of Ireland, Galway, in a commentary accompanying the study in Diabetes. He notes that "substantial challenges" remain in pursuing this type of treatment, but that "they are worthy of pursuit given the ultimate prize if the approach is successful."

Bosch notes that gene therapy does not represent a "cure" for type 1diabetes because it does not regenerate beta cells, but rather could lead to an effective long-term treatment. Maintaining blood glucose levels in the normal range is critical for managing diabetes and for preventing serious complications associated with the disease, such as nerve damage, heart and kidney disease.

This study also holds promise for treating dogs with diabetes, Bosch said. As it has in humans, diabetes has been increasing in recent years in dogs, she noted.

To reach lead researcher Fatima Bosch, Center of Animal Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Barcelona, Spain: email Fatima.bosch@uab.es or phone: 34 93 581 4182.

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Gene Therapy Used in Dogs to Treat Type 1 Diabetes

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A KEY TO REGENERATIVE MEDICINE: Discovery of a new adult stem cell with special properties
Learn about the exciting discovery that could revolutionize regenerative medicine by providing a source to produce organs derived from a patient #39;s own stem c...

By: YourekaScience

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A KEY TO REGENERATIVE MEDICINE: Discovery of a new adult stem cell with special properties - Video

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Panel - Regenerative Medicine in Wound Healing Tissue Engineering
Regenerative Medicine in Wound Healing Tissue Engineering Ted Tenthoff, Managing Director Senior Biotechnology Analyst, Piper Jaffray (moderator) Milka B...

By: AllianceRegenMed

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Panel - Regenerative Medicine in Wound Healing

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Public release date: 22-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Mika Ono mikaono@scripps.edu 858-784-2052 Scripps Research Institute

LA JOLLA, CA April 22, 2013 In a serendipitous discovery, scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have found a way to turn bone marrow stem cells directly into brain cells.

Current techniques for turning patients' marrow cells into cells of some other desired type are relatively cumbersome, risky and effectively confined to the lab dish. The new finding points to the possibility of simpler and safer techniques. Cell therapies derived from patients' own cells are widely expected to be useful in treating spinal cord injuries, strokes and other conditions throughout the body, with little or no risk of immune rejection.

"These results highlight the potential of antibodies as versatile manipulators of cellular functions," said Richard A. Lerner, the Lita Annenberg Hazen Professor of Immunochemistry and institute professor in the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology at TSRI, and principal investigator for the new study. "This is a far cry from the way antibodies used to be thought ofas molecules that were selected simply for binding and not function."

The researchers discovered the method, reported in the online Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences the week of April 22, 2013, while looking for lab-grown antibodies that can activate a growth-stimulating receptor on marrow cells. One antibody turned out to activate the receptor in a way that induces marrow stem cellswhich normally develop into white blood cellsto become neural progenitor cells, a type of almost-mature brain cell.

Nature's Toolkit

Natural antibodies are large, Y-shaped proteins produced by immune cells. Collectively, they are diverse enough to recognize about 100 billion distinct shapes on viruses, bacteria and other targets. Since the 1980s, molecular biologists have known how to produce antibodies in cell cultures in the laboratory. That has allowed them to start using this vast, target-gripping toolkit to make scientific probes, as well as diagnostics and therapies for cancer, arthritis, transplant rejection, viral infections and other diseases.

In the late 1980s, Lerner and his TSRI colleagues helped invent the first techniques for generating large "libraries" of distinct antibodies and swiftly determining which of these could bind to a desired target. The anti-inflammatory antibody Humira, now one of the world's top-selling drugs, was discovered with the benefit of this technology.

Last year, in a study spearheaded by TSRI Research Associate Hongkai Zhang, Lerner's laboratory devised a new antibody-discovery techniquein which antibodies are produced in mammalian cells along with receptors or other target molecules of interest. The technique enables researchers to determine rapidly not just which antibodies in a library bind to a given receptor, for example, but also which ones activate the receptor and thereby alter cell function.

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Scientists find antibody that transforms bone marrow stem cells directly into brain cells

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

LA JOLLA, Calif., April 22, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a serendipitous discovery, scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have found a way to turn bone marrow stem cells directly into brain cells.

Current techniques for turning patients' marrow cells into cells of some other desired type are relatively cumbersome, risky and effectively confined to the lab dish. The new finding points to the possibility of simpler and safer techniques. Cell therapies derived from patients' own cells are widely expected to be useful in treating spinal cord injuries, strokes and other conditions throughout the body, with little or no risk of immune rejection.

"These results highlight the potential of antibodies as versatile manipulators of cellular functions," said Richard A. Lerner , the Lita Annenberg Hazen Professor of Immunochemistry and institute professor in the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology at TSRI, and principal investigator for the new study. "This is a far cry from the way antibodies used to be thought ofas molecules that were selected simply for binding and not function."

The researchers discovered the method, reported in the online Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences the week of April 22, 2013, while looking for lab-grown antibodies that can activate a growth-stimulating receptor on marrow cells. One antibody turned out to activate the receptor in a way that induces marrow stem cellswhich normally develop into white blood cellsto become neural progenitor cells, a type of almost-mature brain cell.

Nature's Toolkit

Natural antibodies are large, Y-shaped proteins produced by immune cells. Collectively, they are diverse enough to recognize about 100 billion distinct shapes on viruses, bacteria and other targets. Since the 1980s, molecular biologists have known how to produce antibodies in cell cultures in the laboratory. That has allowed them to start using this vast, target-gripping toolkit to make scientific probes, as well as diagnostics and therapies for cancer, arthritis, transplant rejection, viral infections and other diseases.

In the late 1980s, Lerner and his TSRI colleagues helped invent the first techniques for generating large "libraries" of distinct antibodies and swiftly determining which of these could bind to a desired target. The anti-inflammatory antibody Humira, now one of the world's top-selling drugs, was discovered with the benefit of this technology.

Last year, in a study spearheaded by TSRI Research Associate Hongkai Zhang, Lerner's laboratory devised a new antibody-discovery techniquein which antibodies are produced in mammalian cells along with receptors or other target molecules of interest. The technique enables researchers to determine rapidly not just which antibodies in a library bind to a given receptor, for example, but also which ones activate the receptor and thereby alter cell function.

Lab Dish in a Cell

For the new study, Lerner laboratory Research Associate Jia Xie and colleagues modified the new technique so that antibody proteins produced in a given cell are physically anchored to the cell's outer membrane, near its target receptors. "Confining an antibody's activity to the cell in which it is produced effectively allows us to use larger antibody libraries and to screen these antibodies more quickly for a specific activity," said Xie. With the improved technique, scientists can sift through a library of tens of millions of antibodies in a few days.

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Scripps Research Institute Scientists Find Antibody that Transforms Bone Marrow Stem Cells Directly into Brain Cells

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith