A GROWING number of overseas clinics touting stem cell therapy for conditions ranging from sexual disorders to HIV are targeting Australia, where such treatments are restricted.

Australian scientists have raised concerns about so-called ''stem cell tourism'', saying many of the treatments offered are unproven, untested and potentially deadly.

The Swiss firm Fetal Cell Technologies International has been advertising in Australia since last year and Emcell, based in Ukraine, started promoting its services last month.

It is estimated as many as 200 Australians have travelled overseas for the therapy. The secretary for science policy at the Australian Academy of Science, Bob Williamson, said he empathised with the desperation of seriously ill people but warned against the unproven therapies, which can cost up to $60,000.

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''The therapies are almost all untested and unproven and sometimes they have killed people,'' Professor Williamson said. The Sun-Herald's calls to Emcell's Melbourne office were not returned.

Stem Cells Australia's Megan Munsie, who is conducting a study into stem cell tourism with Monash University, said many people she interviewed were unaware of the risks of therapy overseas.

''We're not talking about rubbing something into your skin or taking a capsule, we are talking about often a very invasive procedure,'' she said.

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Fears over 'stem cell tourism'

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

Aug. 5, 2012, 3 a.m.

A GROWING number of overseas clinics touting stem cell therapy for conditions ranging from sexual disorders to HIV are targeting Australia, where such treatments are restricted.

Australian scientists have raised concerns about so-called ''stem cell tourism'', saying many of the treatments offered are unproven, untested and potentially deadly.

The Swiss firm Fetal Cell Technologies International has been advertising in Australia since last year and Emcell, based in Ukraine, started promoting its services last month.

It is estimated as many as 200 Australians have travelled overseas for the therapy. The secretary for science policy at the Australian Academy of Science, Bob Williamson, said he empathised with the desperation of seriously ill people but warned against the unproven therapies, which can cost up to $60,000.

''The therapies are almost all untested and unproven and sometimes they have killed people,'' Professor Williamson said. The Sun-Herald's calls to Emcell's Melbourne office were not returned.

Stem Cells Australia's Megan Munsie, who is conducting a study into stem cell tourism with Monash University, said many people she interviewed were unaware of the risks of therapy overseas.

''We're not talking about rubbing something into your skin or taking a capsule, we are talking about often a very invasive procedure,'' she said.

Excerpt from:
Fears over 'stem cell tourism' Save

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A GROWING number of overseas clinics touting stem cell therapy for conditions ranging from sexual disorders to HIV are targeting Australia, where such treatments are restricted.

Australian scientists have raised concerns about so-called ''stem cell tourism'', saying many of the treatments offered are unproven, untested and potentially deadly.

The Swiss firm Fetal Cell Technologies International has been advertising in Australia since last year and Emcell, based in Ukraine, started promoting its services last month.

It is estimated as many as 200 Australians have travelled overseas for the therapy. The secretary for science policy at the Australian Academy of Science, Bob Williamson, said he empathised with the desperation of seriously ill people but warned against the unproven therapies, which can cost up to $60,000.

Advertisement

''The therapies are almost all untested and unproven and sometimes they have killed people,'' Professor Williamson said. The Sun-Herald's calls to Emcell's Melbourne office were not returned.

Stem Cells Australia's Megan Munsie, who is conducting a study into stem cell tourism with Monash University, said many people she interviewed were unaware of the risks of therapy overseas.

''We're not talking about rubbing something into your skin or taking a capsule, we are talking about often a very invasive procedure,'' she said.

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Fears over 'stem cell tourism'

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

03-08-2012 07:00 CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE LATEST UPDATED VIDEO THAT CAME OUT TODAY Subscribe To Get Notified Of The Latest Releases As They Come Out Date: 08-02-12 Host: George Noory Guests: Elaine Fox, Sam Kean In the first half, experimental psychologist and neuroscientist, Elaine Fox, spoke about her work finding the roots of optimism and pessimism, and how we can retrain our brains to be more optimistic. In spite of the economic downturn, she reported that internationally, the vast majority of people are optimistic about the future, and tend to underestimate the chances of bad things happening to them. She characterized optimism in broader terms than just positive thinking, and suggested it has several components including taking positive actions, persistence, and having a sense of control. Surrounding yourself with negative or positive influences or people can make your brain pathways become more entrenched in those outlooks, she noted. Studies involving the so-called "optimism gene" found that those with this genetic marker were less inclined to fall into a depression when a number of negative events befell them, as compared to those without the genetic variant, who had an equal number of bad events occur. Though ultimately we need a balance of what she calls the "rainy" and "sunny" brain, to become more optimistic, she suggested challenging one's irrational negative beliefs, and practicing mindfulness-based meditation. She also pointed out that those ...

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Coast To Coast AM - Personality

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

As a medical student at Johns Hopkins University, Jimmy Lin worked on a case involving a 5-year-old whose development was suddenly stunted and who experienced unexplained and uncontrollable bouts of pain. His parents brought him to the best doctors at Harvard University, the Mayo Clinic and other top medical centers.

"It broke my heart seeing the parents' faces drop when we told them it was most likely a rare genetic condition," Lin said, sitting in a St. Louis coffee shop near the Washington University School of Medicine, where he now works as a genomics researcher. "I remember them walking down the hallway and wondering where they would go next."

Mainstream medicine hasn't focused its resources on the 7,000 rare diseases that have baffled doctors for decades and afflict a combined 350 million people worldwide.

"There are millions of kids wandering from place to place that no one is really helping," said Lin.

He believes answers may lie in their genes. To find out, he and more than a dozen other young scientists and researchers created the Rare Genomics Institute, a nonprofit that leverages falling DNA sequencing costs and rising online giving to support medical research. On the institute's website, children with mysterious illnesses can solicit the $7,500 needed to sequence their genes and their parents' in search of new therapies.

In mid-July, the institute announced that it had completed its first crowdfunded gene sequencing and discovered what it believes is the root cause afflicting 4-year-old Bronx resident Maya Nieder. The girl can't speak, and doctors are unsure whether she can hear. They had likewise failed to determine why she has missed so many developmental milestones.

Lin's team posted Nieder's story online, and within hours donors had given the $3,500 needed to sequence key slices of the Nieder family's DNA. (Yale University covered the rest of the costs.) The results, institute officials said, point to a flaw in a gene crucial to fetal development.

The institute carefully chooses the patients it spotlights online. Twenty of the roughly 100 applicants from the past year have been accepted. To appear on the Rare Genomics Institute's website, they must prove they have endured a battery of traditional tests and consulted with a range of doctors to no avail.

Joaking, the young son of a Chilean miner, is among those currently up on the site. His ability to move rapidly deteriorated in the past year.

"Joaking was a normal child until age 3, playing, jumping, climbing ladders, running," his father's testimonial recounts. "At age 4 my son cannot even scratch my face anymore." Family-organized bingo contests raised more than $2,000 to help fund Joaking's tests.

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Crowdfunding pays for genetic research

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By Tedra DeSue - August 3, 2012 | Tickers: BAX, OSIR | 0 Comments

Tedra is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinions of our bloggers and are not formally edited.

Advances continue to be made in the field of regenerative medicine, with many products and procedures being made possible from stem cell therapy. While large companies are making headway in this area, many small companies are just as active, raising much-needed funds through the capital markets.

The main challenge all of these companies face is convincing naysayers that their research and subsequent results are ethical. There has been much ado about regenerative medicine efforts that involve stem cells. This has especially been the case for research and therapy involving human embryonic stem cells. For this reason, investors who may be bullish about the industry may avoid these stocks.

The stem cell market is expected to grow to be a $5.1 billion industry by 2014. One of the reasons stem cell research is important to these companies is that it can help them grow their pipelines, according to a research report on the industry Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine: Benchmarking Analysis of Big Companies Entering the Market.Researchers also see stem cell research as a way to find out the effectiveness of therapies without having to use animals for testing.

Lets take a look at a few of the public companies that have made strides in the stem cell therapy space.

One of the largest pharmaceutical companies active in the stem cell therapy space is Baxter Healthcare (NYSE: BAX). It is in the process of developing stem cell therapy for people who suffer from chronic myocardial ischemia or CMI. The condition stems from coronary artery disease. The company is in the midst of clinical trials to prove that its therapy can repair damaged heart muscles. Its referred to as stem cell therapy CD34+.

Also noteworthy for Baxter is a purchase it made last year. It bought Synovis Life Technologies, which made a name for its self because of the mechanical and biological products it made to repair soft tissue. The acquisition is expected to help Baxter further expand its offerings in the biosurgery and regenerative treatment.

Osiris Therapeutics (NASDAQ: OSIR) accomplished an important feat in the stem cell space by becoming the first company in the world to be able to market its stem cell therapy called Prochymal. On that news in May, its stock traded 20% higher, indicating that investors have more confidence in stocks in this space when they have some kind of meaningful approval by regulators. This product was approved by Health Canada.

Now the company is embroiled in a battle over Prochymal with a French pharmaceutical company that it partnered with to test the therapy. News that the sides have been unable to resolve their differences sent Osiriss stock lower this week. At the time of writing, it had lost 5.32% of its value and was trading around $9.

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Stem Cell Therapy Space Worth Review for Investors

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

A GENE that can beat prostate cancer has been found by British scientists.

The gene, called Decorin, is carried by all men from birth and guards against tumours in the prostate gland.

But when it is faulty, carriers are in greater danger of developing the disease.

The discovery could help the development of drugs to stave off the disease or stop it spreading.

It could also lead to more accurate tests for the illness.

Dr Axel Thomson of the Medical Research Council, which carried out the research with Prostate Cancer UK, said: Decorins normal role may be to slow cancer growth, which is a really exciting possibility.

This could mean that, in the future, measurement of Decorin levels could become a reliable diagnostic test for prostate cancer and also help determine how aggressive the disease is.

Prostate is Britains most common form of cancer, but there is no definitive test for it. There are 250,000 men living with the disease, which kills 10,000 each year.

Dr Kate Holmes, of Prostate Cancer UK, added: This type of early stage research is vital to help us improve our understanding of prostate cancer development and move towards finding better ways to diagnose and treat the disease.

e.little@the-sun.co.uk

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Gene kills cancer of prostate

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Scientists have identified a gene which could be instrumental in the growth of prostate tumours.

The discovery could lead to improved cancer diagnosis and treatment, according to researchers from the University of Edinburgh.

They looked at genes which control how the prostate gland is formed and found that one gene, called decorin, may have a key role in tumour growth.

Lead researcher Dr Axel Thomson, from the university's Medical Research Centre for Reproductive Health, said: "We pinpointed which genes were active in embryonic prostate development and compared their behaviour in the development of prostate cancer."

He continued: "Through this process we were excited to discover that the presence of one gene, decorin, was reduced in tumours compared to normal prostate cells.

"This observation suggests that decorin's normal role may be to slow cancer growth, which is a really exciting possibility.

"If our suspicions are verified then this could mean that, in the future, measurement of decorin levels could become a reliable diagnostic test for prostate cancer and also help determine how aggressive the disease is."

Dr Kate Holmes, head of research at charity Prostate Cancer UK which helped fund the research, said: "This type of early-stage research is vital to help us improve our understanding of prostate cancer development and move towards finding better ways to diagnose and treat the disease.

"Every year 10,000 men lose their lives to the disease, yet we still have very little knowledge of how prostate tumours develop and grow. It is vital that more research of this nature is undertaken and supported so that more clues, such as these, can be discovered."

The research is published in scientific journal Plos One.

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UK & World News: Gene 'could slow cancer growth'

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Scientists have identified a gene that could be instrumental in the growth of prostate tumours.

The discovery could lead to improved cancer diagnosis and treatment, according to researchers from the University of Edinburgh.

They looked at genes which control how the prostate gland is formed and found that one gene, called decorin, may have a key role in tumour growth.

Lead researcher Dr Axel Thomson, from the university's Medical Research Centre for Reproductive Health, said: "We pinpointed which genes were active in embryonic prostate development and compared their behaviour in the development of prostate cancer.

"Through this process we were excited to discover that the presence of one gene, decorin, was reduced in tumours compared to normal prostate cells.

"This observation suggests that decorin's normal role may be to slow cancer growth, which is a really exciting possibility.

"If our suspicions are verified then this could mean that, in the future, measurement of decorin levels could become a reliable diagnostic test for prostate cancer and also help determine how aggressive the disease is."

Dr Kate Holmes, head of research at charity Prostate Cancer UK which helped fund the research, said: "This type of early-stage research is vital to help us improve our understanding of prostate cancer development and move towards finding better ways to diagnose and treat the disease.

"Every year 10,000 men lose their lives to the disease, yet we still have very little knowledge of how prostate tumours develop and grow. It is vital that more research of this nature is undertaken and supported so that more clues, such as these, can be discovered."

The research is published in the scientific journal, PLoS ONE.

Here is the original post:
Gene 'may slow cancer growth'

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

3 August 2012 Last updated at 20:13 ET

Scientists from Edinburgh University have pinpointed a gene they say could lead to improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

The team studied genes that control the formation of the prostate gland and identified one known as Decorin.

The presence of this gene was reduced in tumours compared to normal prostate cells.

The researchers now hope measurement of Decorin levels could become a reliable diagnostic test for prostate cancer.

The study by scientists from the Centre for Reproductive Health was funded by Prostate Cancer UK and the Medical Research Council (MRC).

They believe the gene, Decorin, may play an important role in tumour growth.

Lead researcher, Dr Axel Thomson, said: "We pinpointed which genes were active in embryonic prostate development and compared their behaviour in the development of prostate cancer.

"Through this process we were excited to discover that the presence of one gene - Decorin - was reduced in tumours compared to normal prostate cells.

"This observation suggests that Decorin's normal role may be to slow cancer growth, which is a really exciting possibility.

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Prostate 'growth' gene identified

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

August 3, 2012

April Flowers for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

For about a dozen years, synthetic biologists have been working on designing genetic circuits to perform novel functions such as manufacturing new drugs, producing fuel or even programming the suicide of cancer cells.

Many factors have to be controlled for this dream to become a reality. Scientists have to gain control over complex genetic and cellular components, including genes and the regulatory proteins, called transcription factors, that turn them on and off.

So far, most researchers use bacterium transcription factors to design their synthetic circuits. These dont always translate well to nonbacterial cells and can be a challenge to scale. This makes it harder to create complex circuits.

Timothy Lu, assistant professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT, and a group of colleagues from Boston University and Massachusetts General Hospital have come up with a new method to design transcription factors for nonbacterial cells (in this case, yeast cells). To overcome the current bottleneck that has limited synthetic biology so far, they have designed an initial library of 19 new transcription factors.

Published in the August 2 issue of the journal Cell, the project is touted as being part of a larger, ongoing effort to create genetic parts that can then be assembled into circuits to achieve specific functions.

If you look at a parts registry, a lot of these parts come from a hodgepodge of different organisms. You put them together into your organism of choice and hope that it works, says Lu.

The team got a much-needed boost to build this new library of parts from recent advances in designer proteins that bind DNA.

Transcription factors have a section that latches onto specific DNA sequences, called a promoter. The protein then uses an enzyme called RNA polymerase to start copying the gene into messenger RNA, the molecule that carries genetic instructions to the rest of the cell.

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Library Of Genetic Circuits Developed For Scientific Functions

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The FDA is unlikely to rule out personal genetics tests, but it may require that physicians get more involved.

Self awareness: 23andMe ships "spit kits" directly to consumers who want to explore their genetic makeup. flickr creative commons | Pelle Sten

Personal genetics company 23andMe announced it has applied for U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for seven of its genetic tests. The company hopes that FDA approval will increase consumer confidence and interest in its tests, and ultimately feed into its goal of crowdsourcing human genetic information for medical research.

But it could be a risky moveif regulatory approval includes a requirement for a medical provider's involvement, that could interfere with the company's direct-to-consumer model, at least for some of its tests.

"That's the part where we are going to have to see how it plays out," says Linda Avey, a cofounder of 23andMe who has since left the company. The direct-to-consumer model was a founding principle of 23andMe, which emphasizes individual participation in health and medicine, says Avey.

23andMe, in which Google has invested $6.5 million, offers a genome analysis test directly to consumers, who can use the product to explore their genetic risk for everything from curly hair to Alzheimer's disease. Although the company isn't disclosing which particular tests it is seeking regulatory approval for, Ashley Gould, vice president for corporate development and chief legal officer, says the tests are medically relevant and examine genetic variants with disease connections that are well supported by scientific research. The company is already working on a second submission, and plans to eventually seek approval for some 100 of its 240 tests.

The company has made two other significant moves within the medical arena in recent months. In May, the company patented a genetic variant for Parkinson's disease risk. Last month, 23andMe acquired a patient networking site called Cure Together, an online forum where users share stories of their personal experiences with disease and treatment (see "23andMe Expands Its Data-Mining Operations").

For $299, you can order a genetic test for every genetic trait the Silicon Valley-based company examines. Consumers receive a kit in the mail and return a saliva sample that is then analyzed for around a million variants in the genome. Some of the variants connect to harmless traits like eye color. Others have serious medical implications, such as risk for Parkinson's disease and how an individual's body will respond to certain drugs.

This isn't the first time 23andMe has dealt with the FDA. In 2010, the FDA sent letters of warning to 23andMe and four other direct-to-consumer genetics companies, warning them that their genetic testing service is a medical device and thus needs regulatory approval. The FDA says it oversees direct-to-consumer genetic tests to ensure that such products are safe and effective, and to make sure that manufacturers deliver on their medical claims. "The goal is to ensure that consumers have access to accurate and reliable information that consumers can use to help better understand their own health needs and how to go about seeking additional information," said an agency spokesperson by e-mail.

23andMe's move to seek regulatory approval is a first for the direct-to-consumer genetics market, and is widely viewed as a necessary step forward. "I think it's a positive move in general for the industry and the field," says Cinnamon Bloss, a clinical psychologist at the Scripps Translational Science Institute who studies how people respond to the kind of genomic information supplied by 23andMe and others. "A central issue is going to be how [the FDA] responds to the notion of offering these tests directly to the consumer," she says.

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Personal Genetics Company Seeks Regulatory Approval

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CLEARWATER, FL--(Marketwire -08/02/12)- Biostem U.S., Corporation, (HAIR) (HAIR) (Biostem, the Company), a fully reporting public company in the stem cell regenerative medicine sciences sector, Chief Executive Officer Dwight Brunoehler stated, "Dr. Prendergast is a very talented and very active clinical and research surgeon. Biostem is fortunate to have his guidance in our scientific and medical pursuits. He will be playing an ever increasingly important role in the company's future regarding the use of stem cells and regenerative medicine."

According to Dr. Prendergast, "The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School currently has several stem cell related projects including the use of stem cells to reduce the risk of kidney related dysfunction following cardiac surgery. As Biostem grows, I look forward to assisting in implementing the Company's stem cell regenerative medicine goals in multiple areas."

Dr. Prendergast is a clinical cardiothoracic surgeon, who performs 200-250 open-heart operations and 5 to 15 heart transplants each year. He is deeply involved in numerous clinical and research activities associated with stem cells and heart repair. He is presently Director of Cardiac Transplantation at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where he holds an Associate Professorship of Surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. In addition to being an active participant in stem cell research program development and teaching medical students and residents, his other interests include medical research funding and humanitarian development of programs for Disabled American Veterans.

Dr. Prendergast received his undergraduate degrees in biophysics and psychology, as well as his medical degree, at Pennsylvania State University. His general surgery residency was for five years at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. His cardiothoracic surgery training was at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, including the Los Angeles County Medical Center. Subsequent fellowship training included pediatric cardiac surgery at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, along with thoracic transplant fellowships at University of Southern California in Los Angeles and at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. He spent three years at the University of Kansas establishing thoracic transplant programs until returning to Temple University Hospital as one of their staff heart and lung transplant surgeons. Subsequent to his time at Temple, he joined up with Newark Beth Israel/St. Barnabas Hospitals, where he assumed directorship as the Chief of Cardiac Transplantation and Mechanical Assistance.

About Biostem U.S. Corporation

Biostem U.S., Corporation (HAIR) is a fully reporting Nevada corporation with offices in Clearwater, Florida. Biostem U.S. is a technology licensing company with proprietary technology centered on providing hair re-growth using human stem cells. The company also intends to train and license selected physicians to provide Regenerative Cellular Therapy treatments to assist the body's natural approach to healing tendons, ligaments, joints and muscle injuries by using the patient's own stem cells. Biostem U.S. is seeking to expand its operations worldwide through licensing of its proprietary technology and acquisition of existing stem cell related facilities. The company's goal is to operate in the international biotech market, focusing on the rapidly growing regenerative medicine field, using ethically sourced adult stem cells to improve the quality and longevity of life for all mankind.

The company's Board of Directors is headed by Chairman, Scott Crutchfield, who also acts as Senior Vice President of World Wide Operations for Crocs, Inc. (CROX) and includes Crocs, Inc. original member, Steve Beck.

For further information on Biostem U.S. Corporation can be obtained through http://www.biostemus.com or by contacting Fox Communications Group at 310-974-6821.

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Biostem U.S., Corporation Scientific and Medical Board of Advisors Member Appointed Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at ...

Recommendation and review posted by sam

HOUSTON, Aug. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Celltex Therapeutics Corporation, a leader in regenerative medicine services, today announced the appointments of Andrea Ferrenz, Executive Vice President, Legal Counsel, and Jane Shen Young, Manufacturing Research Scientist. Ferrenz's primary responsibility will be overseeing operations, including compliance with federal and state regulatory agencies. Young's primary responsibility will be research and development of manufacturing processes and products in regenerative science.

"Celltex is a fast growing company. The additions of Andrea and Jane will enhance our capabilities as we continue to grow," said David Eller, Chief Executive Officer of Celltex. "At Celltex, we firmly believe in the great therapeutic potential for adult stem cells and we are committed to the highest quality banking and multiplication services for clients and physicians."

Ferrenz has more than 15 years of experience in regulatory compliance and litigation, with expertise in food, drug and health law. Prior to Celltex, Ferrenz was Principal Attorney at Emord & Associates, P.C., in Washington, D.C.There, she counseled both national and international clients in health products industries operating under the jurisdiction of the FDA and FTC.Early in her career, Ferrenz worked with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Children's National Medical Center's Center for Cancer and Transplantation Biology.

Ferrenz received her Bachelor's degree in biology from University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and her juris doctorate from George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C.

"As a pioneer in stem cell banking, Celltex is paving the way for this new frontier," said Ferrenz."I hope my background in health and FDA law will be an asset to Celltex and I look forward to helping Celltex grow while maintaining positive relationships with government regulators who work to ensure the safety of health products."

Young joins Celltex from Pharmaceutical Product Development, Inc. in Middleton, Wisconsin, where she served as Associate Research Scientist. Formerly an Internal physician in the Department of Medicine at Wang-Jiang-Shan Hospital in Zhejiang, China, and a Visiting Scientist and Ph.D. in molecular biology and biochemistry at the Lund University, Sweden, Young has expertise in cell biology, molecular genetics and biochemistry. She has also co-authored publications on the development and optimization of laboratory assays, and cell sort and flow cytometry analysis.

Young received her medical degree from Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Zhejiang, China. She received her doctoral degree from Lund University, Faculty of Medicine in Sweden.

"Stem cell banking is cutting edge technology in a field that holds great potential," noted Young. "Quality and safety are tantamount to the growth of this industry and I am excited to help Celltex provide stem cell banking and multiplication of the highest quality to its clients."

For more information on Celltex Therapeutics Corporation and its staff please visit http://www.CelltexBank.com.

About Celltex

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Celltex Therapeutics Corporation Expands Laboratory Operations And Adds Depth To Its Management Team

Recommendation and review posted by sam

By Tedra DeSue - August 3, 2012 | Tickers: BAX, OSIR | 0 Comments

Tedra is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinions of our bloggers and are not formally edited.

Advances continue to be made in the field of regenerative medicine, with many products and procedures being made possible from stem cell therapy. While large companies are making headway in this area, many small companies are just as active, raising much-needed funds through the capital markets.

The main challenge all of these companies face is convincing naysayers that their research and subsequent results are ethical. There has been much ado about regenerative medicine efforts that involve stem cells. This has especially been the case for research and therapy involving human embryonic stem cells. For this reason, investors who may be bullish about the industry may avoid these stocks.

The stem cell market is expected to grow to be a $5.1 billion industry by 2014. One of the reasons stem cell research is important to these companies is that it can help them grow their pipelines, according to a research report on the industry Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine: Benchmarking Analysis of Big Companies Entering the Market.Researchers also see stem cell research as a way to find out the effectiveness of therapies without having to use animals for testing.

Lets take a look at a few of the public companies that have made strides in the stem cell therapy space.

One of the largest pharmaceutical companies active in the stem cell therapy space is Baxter Healthcare (NYSE: BAX). It is in the process of developing stem cell therapy for people who suffer from chronic myocardial ischemia or CMI. The condition stems from coronary artery disease. The company is in the midst of clinical trials to prove that its therapy can repair damaged heart muscles. Its referred to as stem cell therapy CD34+.

Also noteworthy for Baxter is a purchase it made last year. It bought Synovis Life Technologies, which made a name for its self because of the mechanical and biological products it made to repair soft tissue. The acquisition is expected to help Baxter further expand its offerings in the biosurgery and regenerative treatment.

Osiris Therapeutics (NASDAQ: OSIR) accomplished an important feat in the stem cell space by becoming the first company in the world to be able to market its stem cell therapy called Prochymal. On that news in May, its stock traded 20% higher, indicating that investors have more confidence in stocks in this space when they have some kind of meaningful approval by regulators. This product was approved by Health Canada.

Now the company is embroiled in a battle over Prochymal with a French pharmaceutical company that it partnered with to test the therapy. News that the sides have been unable to resolve their differences sent Osiriss stock lower this week. At the time of writing, it had lost 5.32% of its value and was trading around $9.

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Stem Cell Therapy Space Worth Review for Investors

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

by Stephanie Russo - Aug. 1, 2012 06:22 PM The Republic | azcentral.com

Former Arizona banking executive Gene Rice died on Monday.

Rice, 82, who died in Phoenix, ran MeraBank, the state's largest savings and loan, until 1990, when the failed thrift was taken over by the federal Resolution Trust Co. Rice's uncle founded the thrift in 1936 as First Federal Savings. Rice was a longtime executive and began serving as the chief executive officer in 1984.

In later years, Rice ran a commercial brokerage business, Gene Rice Financial. He also had a small mortgage company and owned another business that sold bank-card processing equipment to small businesses.

He was an active consultant, financial adviser and mentor during his retirement. Arizona House Speaker Andy Tobin said Rice's mentoring encouraged people to finish college, join community service groups and continually work hard. He said Rice pushed his employees and friends to "aspire to great heights."

"In the days when our communities were planning Arizona's future, when leaders were needed to support local charities and inspire young people to build a greater Arizona, we were all fortunate enough to have Gene Rice fill that need," Tobin said in a statement released Tuesday.

A memorial service will be held for Rice on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier, 4715 N. Central Ave., Phoenix.

In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be made to the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

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Longtime banker Gene Rice dies

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Feb. 20, 1927 - July 30, 2012

W.E. "Gene" Deskins, a professor and mathematician who was chairman of the math department at the University of Pittsburgh during the 1970s and 1980s, enjoyed being in the classroom.

"He loved to teach. He loved finding students who really enjoy math," said his daughter, Samantha E. Deskins of Austin, Texas.

Mr. Deskins died Monday in his Point Breeze home. He was 85 and had been suffering from dementia.

He was a native of Morgantown, W.Va., and received a bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky and master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

His area of research was in classic group theory, a branch of modern algebra, said Charles Cullen, an associate professor emeritus at Pitt and a department colleague of Mr. Deskins.

Mr. Deskins was a frequently published scholar and a lecturer and invited speaker at various academic gatherings in this country and abroad.

Beginning in the early 1950s, he taught at Wisconsin and later at Ohio State and Michigan State universities. By then, he had developed an affinity for Pittsburgh, He traveled a number of times from Columbus, Ohio, to attend Pittsburgh symphony performances and eventually made this city his home, his daughter said.

In 1971, Mr. Deskins came to Pitt as a professor and chairman of the mathematics department. After stepping down from the chairmanship in 1987, he became associate dean of what was then called Pitt's college of arts and sciences, a position he held until retiring from Pitt in 1995 as a professor emeritus.

"He did a great deal to strengthen the research abilities of the mathematics department," Mr. Cullen recalled.

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Obituary: W.E. 'Gene' Deskins / Math professor cultivated students and garden

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Public release date: 3-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Julie O'Connor julie.oconnor@wayne.edu 313-577-8845 Wayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research

DETROIT Wayne State University researchers are testing a way to determine the status of fetal chromosomes that could lead to healthier outcomes for mothers and their babies.

Supported by a two-year, $418,000 exploratory/developmental grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health, the researchers will capture human fetal cells for genetic study within the first two months of pregnancy using a newly developed, safe, noninvasive retrieval technique similar to a Pap test.

D. Randall Armant, Ph.D., and Michael P. Diamond, M.D., professors of obstetrics and gynecology in Wayne State's School of Medicine, are the principal investigators of the study. Susan Land, Ph.D., associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, is a co-investigator.

Titled "Genetic Analysis of Human First Trimester Trophoblast in Ongoing Pregnancies," the project targets cells called trophoblasts, which surround the blastocyst, a cluster of cells that results from successful fertilization. Researchers are particularly interested in "invasive" trophoblasts, which attach the blastocyst to the uterine wall; the cells become the placenta and the membranes that nourish and protect the developing organism.

Such cells carry genetic material from the fetus. Armant's team will gather them through transcervical sampling, a method that uses a cytobrush inserted into the cervix. Researchers believe the technique is less intrusive than previously used methods, yields intact fetal cells and can be done as early as six to 12 weeks; doctors typically must wait 10 to 14 weeks to use other methods, which can carry more risk to mothers and fetuses.

"The earlier you get the information, the more time the doctor has to manage whatever problems are coming up during or after the mother's pregnancy," Armant said. "It also gives the parents more time to make decisions about the pregnancy."

Researchers will isolate trophoblasts using immunomagnetic nanotechnology, taking advantage of unique proteins on the surface of fetal cells. Highly sensitive genetic tools capable of analyzing single cells will verify the fetal origin of captured cells before their DNA is analyzed for chromosome number.

Armant said that tests based on fetal cells obtained from the cervix eventually could alert doctors to things like ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, preterm labor, poor fetal growth, preeclampsia, fetal Rh incompatibility and chromosome number disorders, like Down syndrome. It also could help detect inherited genetic diseases, such as muscular dystrophy, sickle cell anemia and hemophilia.

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Wayne State researchers working to improve genetic analysis, disorder detection

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03 August 2012 | last updated at 12:51AM By Mahaizura Abdul Malik | johor@nst.com.my 0 comments

A faculty staff (left) shows FPREE deputy dean Issham Ismail an equipment to be used in the nuclear engineering course. Pic by Mahaizura AbdMalik

JOHOR BARU: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) is introducing a nuclear engineering degree programme, the first such programme in Malaysia, in September, in an effort to produce professionals in the field.

UTM's Faculty of Petroleum and Renewable Energy Engineering (FPREE) dean Prof Dr Ariffin Samsuri said the course had been approved by the Higher Education Ministry.

"The course is offered to meet current needs. It is expected that by 2020, the country would need additional energy sources," he said at a press conference recently.

"Nuclear energy is widely used in the fields of genetic engineering, agriculture and manufacturing. It is seen as an alternative source of energy and one of the cheapest to produce.

"Even though nuclear energy is one of the cleanest sources, there are issues regarding its safety. The new programme will focus on the safety aspects, including its effects on the environment. The programme also meets the standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency," he said.

Ariffin said the first group of students for the four-year course will comprise 30 local students.

He said those who are interested to apply must have a Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia, matriculation or diploma holders with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 3.0.

"Students will undergo a 12-week training according to the Malaysian Engineering Accreditation Council requirements at the Atomic Energy Licensing Board in Dengkil, Selangor," "We hope the programme will produce nuclear engineers who will serve in Malaysia and abroad," he said.

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UTM offers nuclear engineering degree

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Public release date: 2-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Vicki Cohn vcohn@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, August 2, 2012National guidelines recommend the use of therapeutic hypothermia to improve outcomes in patients who suffer a heart attack outside of a hospital. The results of a survey of all 73 acute care hospitals in New Jersey evaluating the adoption and implementation of this life-saving treatment from 2004-2011 is published in Therapeutic Hypothermia and Temperature Management, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Therapeutic Hypothermia and Temperature Management website at http://www.liebertpub.com/ther.

Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) involves reducing the body temperature to below normal levels for a prolonged period to minimize the potential damage caused by traumatic or ischemic injury that reduces blood flow to the tissues.

Factors contributing to the initially slow and more recently accelerated implementation of TH in New Jersey hospitals are described by Derek DeLia and colleagues from Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Saint Barnabas Medical Center (Livingston, NJ), and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (Newark, NJ). The authors discuss the wide variation observed in the criteria for patient selection for TH across hospitals and the impact that variations in TH use can have on patient care in the article "Post-Cardiac Arrest Therapeutic Hypothermia in New Jersey Hospitals: Analysis of Adoption and Implementation."

"This communication is important because it focuses on the need of continued adoption and utilization of therapeutic hypothermia targeting cardiac arrest," says W. Dalton Dietrich, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal and Kinetic Concepts Distinguished Chair in Neurosurgery, Professor of Neurological Surgery, Neurology and Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. "It is hoped that this journal will continue to provide guidance as more hospitals and treating physicians use this beneficial treatment in limiting the devastating consequences of brain injury."

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About the Journal

Therapeutic Hypothermia and Temperature Management provides a strong multidisciplinary forum to advance the understanding of therapeutic hypothermia. Novel findings from translational preclinical investigations as well as clinical studies and trials are featured in original articles, state-of-the-art review articles, provocative roundtable discussions, clinical protocols, and best practices. Therapeutic Hypothermia and Temperature Management is the journal of record, published in print and online with open access options. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Therapeutic Hypothermia and Temperature Management website at http://www.liebertpub.com/ther.

About the Publisher

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Implementing a therapeutic hypothermia program for post-cardiac arrest in acute care hospitals

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Public release date: 2-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: William Raillant-Clark w.raillant-clark@umontreal.ca 514-343-7593 University of Montreal

This press release is available in French.

Researchers at the University of Montreal and its affiliated CHU Sainte-Justine and CHUM hospitals have linked some cases of Essential Tremor (ET) to a specific genetic problem. ET is the most common movement disorder, becoming increasingly frequent with increasing age, which is characterized by an involuntary shaking movement (tremor) that occurs with motion, particularly when doing precise fine movement. The researchers will be publishing their findings tomorrow in The American Journal of Human Genetics.

Exactly why this shaking occurs has remained unknown, despite the work of many clinicians and researchers for decades. While it is known that there is a problem with the parts of the brain that control certain muscles, it has been a challenging endeavor to identify what exactly is malfunctioning in the nervous system of affected individuals. Despite strong evidence that the disease has a genetic basis and years of research effort, no actual genetic link had been identified until today.

Scientists already knew that mutations in a gene called FUS (Fused in Sarcoma) cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. The ET research team was successful in identifying mutations that cause ET in this gene, and they also proved that the disease mechanisms for ET and ALS FUS mutations are different. "When I started my post-doctoral work in the Rouleau laboratory, I felt compelled to study essential tremor. I saw a great opportunity to identify the first ET gene considering the plethora of families collected for study in the laboratory, and the availability of new sequencing technologies that has revolutionized gene discovery efforts," said lead author Dr. Nancy Merner. "As a proof of principle study, we chose one family to sequence and took a simple approach to overcome particular clinical barriers that have hindered previous gene discovery attempts."

The other members of the research team share her clinical focus. "This discovery has provided the world with the first insight toward the disease mechanism of essential tremor, which is crucial for disease management, particularly for future drug developments. It also presents a logical approach that can be used for additional ET gene discoveries, which we are currently pursuing" said Dr. Guy Rouleau. "There is currently a lack of consensus on the diagnostic criteria of ET thus a genetic diagnosis can be beneficial, especially for familial cases. Transitioning to a genetic diagnosis would cut down on ET misdiagnosis," added Dr. Patrick Dion who is another key researcher on this project. Misdiagnosis occurs in 37-50% of individual cases.

To affected individuals, the tremors are generally annoying and embarrassing, and can interfere with everyday tasks such as working, writing, eating, or drinking, since tremors affecting the hands are the most common and affected individuals can have trouble holding or using small objects. "Our overall goal in this endeavor is to improve the quality of life of affected individuals," said Dr. Merner. "The road is now paved for improvement."

The identification of FUS was performed in the Rouleau laboratory and supported by the Chaire Jeanne-et-J.-Louis-Lvesque en Gntique des Maladies du Cerveau de l'Universit de Montral. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research has also funded the pursuit for additional ET genes.

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Researchers find genetic cause for body tremors

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Public release date: 2-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Elisabeth Lyons elyons@cell.com 617-386-2121 Cell Press

Genetics clearly plays a role in cancer development and progression, but the reason that a certain mutation leads to one cancer and not another is less clear. Furthermore, no links have been found between any cancer and a type of genetic change called "copy-number variants," or CNVs. Now, a new study published by Cell Press in The American Journal of Human Genetics on August 2 identifies CNVs associated with testicular cancer risk, but not with the risk of breast or colon cancer.

Some cancers, including breast and colon cancer, are caused by mutations that are passed from one generation to the next. However, most cancers, including testicular cancer, are sporadicthey arise without a family history of cancer. Many of these sporadic cancers result from genetic mutations in germ cellsthe cells involved in reproductioneven though neither parent has the mutation. Scientists call these "de novo" mutations.

In order to identify rare de novo mutations associated with cancer risk, Dr. Kenneth Offit and colleagues searched for CNVs, which are duplications or deletions of one or more sections of DNA, in cancer patients and their cancer-free relatives. They found a significant increase in the number of rare de novo CNVs in individuals with testicular cancer as opposed to breast or colon cancer. Although such CNVs have been associated with autism and other neurocognitive and cardiovascular disorders, they were not previously known to be associated with cancer.

The authors propose that de novo changes (as opposed to those inherited from parents) might be indicative of conditions that have traditionally resulted in reduced fertility. Although modern treatment regimens allow more than 90% of men with testicular cancer to live long and reproductive lives, the condition traditionally left affected men childless. "We speculate that the paradigm of a de novo germline disease etiology may be less applicable to late-onset cancers," says Offit, "in part explaining the lower frequency of de novo events we found in adult-onset breast and colon cancer cases." Pinpointing the specific genetic changes that lead to cancer development will improve the understanding of the origins of cancer, leading to new treatment strategies and ultimately easing the burden on those afflicted with these diseases.

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Stadler et al.: "Rare De Novo Germline Copy-Number Variation in Testicular Cancer."

ABOUT THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS

The American Journal of Human Genetics (AJHG) is ASHG's official scientific journal, published by Cell Press. AJHG is the most highly regarded peer-reviewed journal dedicated to studies in human genetics and earned an impact factor of 11.680 in 2011. AJHG provides cutting-edge research and review articles related to genetics and genomics and the application of genetic principles in health, disease, medicine, population studies, evolution, and societal impacts. For more information about AJHG, visit: http://www.ajhg.org.

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Genetic copy-number variants and cancer risk

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Will Explore Major Advancements, Innovations, Challenges, and Evolving Business Models

Newswise As advancements in genetic testing, personalized medicine and molecular diagnostics continue to reach new heights, they are also facing the growing pains and challenges of an emerging industry struggling with policy, regulatory framework, industry standards, and product commercialization.

At the 4th Annual Consumer Genetics Conference, the fields preeminent researchers, clinicians, government regulators and industry leaders will provide their varying perspectives on this evolving field, and the crucial topics surrounding its implications to clinical health and medicine. In this highly interactive forum, panel participants will represent a broad spectrum of viewpoints, and will engage in an open discussion on best practices and policies, as well as new advancements and challenges. Through the course of this dynamic exchange, the future of consumer-based genetics will be explored, examined, and shaped.

Major themes to be covered at this conference include: Big Data/Analysis, Molecular Diagnostics, Sequencing, Translational Genomics, Venture Capital and Investment Banking, Genome Data: The Physicians Perspective, Genome Interpretation, Visions for Personalized Medicine, Prenatal/Neonatal Diagnostics, Nutrition, Food Genetics and Cosmetics, Disease Diagnostics, The Empowered Patient, and Consumer Genetics Companies

Please note, a significant discounted price to this conference is available until end-of-day August 3.

Forum: 4th Annual Consumer Genetics Conference When: Wednesday, October 3 to Friday, October 5 Where: Seaport Hotel, Boston, MA Registration & Program Schedule: http://www.consumergeneticsconference.com Media Registration & Interviews: lynn.blenkhorn@fkhealth.com or 508-851-0930 For More Information: Cambridge Healthtech Institute at 781-972-5400

Program Highlights Include:

Keynote: Lee Silver, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Biology and Public Affairs, Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University, Self-Discovery in the Age of Personal Genomes

Keynote: Jay Flatley, President and CEO, Illumina, The Big Picture: Visions for Personalized Medicine

Keynote: Kenneth Chahine, Ph.D., J.D., Senior Vice President and General Manager, DNA, Ancestry.com, An Inside Look at How AncestryDNA Uses Population Genetics to Enrich Its Online Family History Experience

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4th Annual Consumer Genetics Conference to Examine the Key Issues Facing Clinical Genetics, Personalized Medicine ...

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Winning government approval would be the first step in increasing public confidence in personalized genetic testing

Maciej Frolow / Photodisc / Getty Images

Earlier this week, the personal gene-testing company 23andMe announcedthat its seeking the blessing of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its DNA tests that allow people to peer into their genetic makeup.

If the FDA grants approval, it would be a major step forward for the growing industry springing up around genetic testing. Every day, it seems, scientists are reporting new gene-based discoveries that allow them to better pinpoint the causes of disease. As technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, single-gene tests are being joined by the sort of genotyping technology used by 23andMe, which scans about 1 million points on the genome that are known to vary among humans. An even more complex technique, genomic sequencing, looks at about 3 billion points that cover a persons entire genetic code. 23andMe the name is a reference to the 23 pairs of chromosomes that comprise a persons genome intends to eventually offer sequencing, but the cost starts at around $4,000, which is considerably more expensive than the $299 the company charges for its testing.

Not only is sequencing more costly, but it also uncovers a trove of data that researchers have yet to fully understand. Even among the more targeted areas of the genome that 23andMe examines, there is much information that remains murky if not elusive. Of the 1 million points we look at, theres only a fraction of those that science can tell us anything about, says Ashley Gould, 23andMes vice president for corporate development and its chief legal officer.

Since 23andMe began offering testing in late 2007, more than 150,000 people have become clients. The vast majority have been adults, although parents can give consent for their children to participate. Our goal is to get 1 million in our database, says Gould. Having more people will increase our power to conduct research. There is immense power in coming together to progress research.

(MORE: 23andMe Seeks FDA Approval for Personal DNA Test)

The company was co-founded by Anne Wojcicki, who is married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Her bio on the company website explains why shes interested in personal genetics, expressing her hope that the company will create a common, standardized resource that has the potential to accelerate drug discovery and bring personalized medicine to the public. (Plus, getting access to her own genetic information and understanding it has always been one of Annes ambitions.)

The $299 fee includes processing of a saliva sample via a collection kit the company sends out. The data gleaned from the sample is shared with users via a secure website. Customers also have access to the companys ancestry features, which have helped people track down relatives. There are 242 health reports available for different conditions, enabling users to learn more about traits like freckling or eye color as well as carrier status for cystic fibrosis, for example, and risk for diseases such as Alzheimers. As new literature is published, we add new reports, says Gould.

When data reveals increased risk for certain diseases, 23andMe offers up videos that share more detailed information about that specific condition. The company also has a relationship with a nationwide genetic counseling service that users can call for an appointment.

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Personal Genetic Testing: Can DNA Discovery Go Mainstream?

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--Genetics Expert Is Program Director of 22q and You Center at The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia--

Newswise Philadelphia, Aug. 2, 2012 --Donna McDonald-McGinn, M.S., CGC, associate director of Clinical Genetics and program director of the 22q and You Center at The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, received the Angelo DiGeorge Medal of Honor on July 6 at the 8th Biennial International 22q11.2 DS Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Ms. McDonald-McGinn, who began her career at CHOP in 1985, is the second person to receive this highly esteemed honor.

The Angelo DiGeorge Medal recognizes outstanding contributions to understanding and/or treatment of chromosome 22q.11.2 deletion syndrome, a relatively common multisystem genetic disorder. The International 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Consortium established the award in 2010 to commemorate the life and work of the late Dr. DiGeorge, a Philadelphia pediatrician at St. Christophers Hospital for Children who described aspects of the syndrome in the medical literature nearly 50 years ago.

In presenting this award to Ms. McDonald-McGinn, Dr. Peter Scambler of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London praised her singular breadth of achievement and dedication. He particularly singled out her work in recently co-authoring an important scientific article that presents best practice recommendations for patients with this syndrome.

Chromosome 22q.11.2 deletion syndrome is a congenital disorder that occurs when a portion of the DNA on chromosome 22 is missing. It occurs in about 1 into 2,000 to 1 in 4,000 births, making it nearly as common as Down syndrome. The loss of genetic material has multiple effects, which may include abnormalities in the immune system, the heart, the endocrine system, facial features and cognitive abilities.

Over the years, researchers have found that deletions on this section of chromosome 22 are an underlying cause of various clinical diagnoses, known by such names as DiGeorge syndrome, velocardiofacial syndrome, and conotruncal anomaly face syndrome, among others.

The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia has a long history of studying chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Elaine Zackai, M.D., the medical director of the 22q and You Center, recalls that she saw a child with DiGeorge syndrome in 1982, and realizing that the patient had more than the usual findings, suggested doing a chromosomal analysis. Her colleague, Beverly Emanuel, Ph.D., now the Hospitals chief of Human Genetics, discovered the actual deletion in chromosome 22, and ultimately developed a diagnostic test.

Shortly after Childrens Hospital developed this laboratory test in 1992, Ms. McDonald-McGinn was instrumental in launching the Hospitals 22q and You Center, which draws patients from throughout the world. She has published more than 80 articles on this deletion syndrome, has served as a tireless advocate for children and families, and has spent countless hours working on support and educational events related to this condition.

Dr. Zackai added that Donna McDonald-McGinn has unique qualities: being very smart and savvy, having the ability to bring the right people together, and being the glue that holds them togetherShe is innovative, ambitious, never stops until the job is done, and then goes the extra mile looking toward the future.

About The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia: The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nations first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals and pioneering major research initiatives, Childrens Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country, ranking third in National Institutes of Health funding. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 516-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu.

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DiGeorge Medal Honors Genetics Expert for Longstanding Work on Chromosome Deletion Syndrome

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