October 3, 2019

The cell and gene therapy field has exploded over the past few years. Fueled by innovations in immunotherapy, cell engineering and biomanufacturing, as well as landmark FDA approvals, a new era of medicine is upon us that is delivering new approaches to the treatment of cancer and other serious and life-threatening diseases.

This nascent industry is expanding all across the globe and Maryland, in particular, has seen an exponential boom within its cell and gene therapy cluster. Its this boom that Maryland Tech Council (MTC) CEO Marty Rosendale hopes to capitalize on to help Maryland rise above the likes of leading clusters such as Boston and the San Francisco Bay Area to be the number one destination for life science companies.

Rosendale is a competitive guy, and hes seen this same fire and competitive drive from many of the trade organizations 435 tech and life science members. In a recent Baltimore Business Journal article titled, Md. Tech Council CEO wants state biotech industry to aim higher than top 3, Rosendale shared, I think its time to look again, focus in on areas were already doing very well in, and aim for No. 1.

An important distinction is that Being the #1 place for companies to grow their business is different from being #1 in the rankings of GEN and JLL, he added.

Rosendale believes that Maryland, the anchor of the Biohealth Capital Region (BHCR), is already #1 for many companies due to the regions strong quality of life, close proximity to the National Institutes of Health and other research institutions and its deep talent pool.

He points to recent examples like Kite Pharma choosing to build its manufacturing site in Frederick County and the recent acquisition of Paragon Bioservices by Catalent as confirmation of the BHCRs ascending reputation as a global biohealth cluster. Add to this the regions growing cell and gene therapy industry, its blossoming immunotherapy ecosystem and a rapidly developing advanced biomanufacturing capability, and its easy to see the source of Rosendales confidence.

Success will bring more success. The more we can drive success it will build on itself and the message will become clearer and clearer. Its about getting that message out and incorporating it into the public discussion, he added.

Getting the message out and building on the regions success is what motivated Maryland Life Sciences (a division of MTC) to launch the upcoming Bio Innovation Conference, which is expected to draw a crowd of more than 400 life science professionals on Monday.

The Bio Innovation Conference is focused on cell and gene therapy this year and whats happening in this space and why its happening in Maryland, stated Rosendale.It is designed to explore what can we do, together, to help build this industry. We have panels on advanced biomanufacturing, capital markets and the science behind the industry and great keynotes in Dr. John Tisdale of NIH and Michelle McMurray-Heath of JLABS @ Washington DC, he added.

Were experiencing an exciting time in the region, with wave upon wave of innovations, collaborations, acquisitions, tech transfer and growth, said Rosendale. Companies from all over the country are moving here to experience all that Maryland and the region have to offer. This conference provides the perfect backdrop to showcase it all and discuss how to further propel us to the No. 1 spot among life sciences hubs.

Notable speakers in the cell and gene therapy/biomanufacturing space include:

In our recent podcast, Maryland Secretary of Commerce Kelly Shulz summed up what we need in one word: Stories. We need to tell stories. We need to tell people our success stories and why theyve been successful and why being in Maryland helped them succeed. The more we can tell these stories, the more we can get everyone talking about our region and thereby increase our recognition, Rosendale stated.

If you are attending the Bio Innovation Conference on Monday, youll hear dozens of success stories and will walk away with no doubt as to why biotech, particularly cell and gene therapy and biomanufacturing, is thriving in Maryland.

Over the past 8 years, Chris has grown BioBuzz into a respected brand that is recognized for its community building, networking events and news stories about the local biotech industry. In addition, he runs a Recruiting and Marketing Agency that helps companies attract top talent through a blended model that combines employer branding and marketing services together with a high powered recruiting solution.

Read more:
Bio Innovation Conference to Highlight Cell and Gene Therapy Industry & Why Maryland is Becoming the #1 Destination for Biotech Companies -...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Novartis(SWX: NOVN), a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland, is launching an AI innovation lab to enable its associates to use AI across the business.

The company selected Microsoft Corp. as its strategic AI and data-science partner. The new lab aims to bolster Novartis AI capabilities from research through commercialization and accelerate the discovery and development of transformative medicines for patients worldwide.

As part of the strategic collaboration, Novartis and Microsoft have committed to a multi-year research and development effort. The lab will bring AI to Novartis associates. By bringing together vast amounts of Novartis datasets with Microsofts advanced AI solutions, it will create new AI models and applications that can augment associates capabilities to take on the next wave of challenges in medicine.The lab will use AI to tackle hard computational challenges within the life sciences, starting with generative chemistry, image segmentation & analysis for smart and personalized delivery of therapies, and optimization of cell and gene therapies at scale.

Microsoft and Novartis will also collaborate to develop and apply next-generation AI platforms and processes that support future programs across these two focus areas. The overall investment will include project funding, subject-matter experts, technology, and tools.

Joint research activities will include co-working environments on Novartis Campus (Switzerland), at Novartis Global Service Center in Dublin, and at Microsoft Research Lab (UK) starting with tackling personalized therapies for macular degeneration; cell & gene therapy; and drug designBasel, and Redmond.

.

Originally posted here:
Novartis and Microsoft Team Up to Advance Medicine with AI - FinSMEs

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

By Rob Wright, Chief Editor, Life Science LeaderFollow Me On Twitter @RfwrightLSL

Matt Patterson

THAT WAS A TERRIFYING MOMENT,reflects Matt Patterson, cofounder, chairman, and CEO of Audentes Therapeutics, a genetic medicines company focused on the adeno-associated virus (AAV). It was the fall of 2012, and Patterson was preparing a final pitch to OrbiMed Advisors to lead a $25 million to $30 million Series A funding round for Audentes, which was then just an idea for a company. But pitching OrbiMed wasnt what was terrifying. After all, at the time Patterson was working as an entrepreneur in residence (EIR) for OrbiMed, so he knew the people in the room. However, this was his last pitch after his first few hadnt garnered much interest. You have to remember, in 2012 there werent a lot of gene therapy companies other than bluebird bio, he explains.

In his role as an EIR, Patterson had connected with a researcher at Wake Forest University working on X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM), a severe neuromuscular disease with no available treatment. It took me about 72 hours to decide I wanted to start a company to develop something for these patients and their families, and I quickly came up with an initial vision for how to do a clinical trial, what endpoints to study, and what might be compelling to regulatory authorities, he notes.

But when he made that first pitch to OrbiMed, Audentes was considered extremely high risk, since in addition to being gene therapy, it was based on early-stage preclinical work and a single asset idea. To decrease that risk and make the company more compelling for his final pitch, Patterson added programs for Pompe disease and Duchenne muscular dystrophy through additional academic connections.

As an EIR, you are obligated to provide your employer [i.e., OrbiMed] the first opportunity to invest in any idea you have, though legally youre a consultant and can leave to do your own thing, he clarifies. And although he really wanted OrbiMeds support, he already had determined and communicated that if they werent interested by this point, hed seek funding elsewhere. This was the nerve-wracking part; not having OrbiMed would make raising funds much more difficult. How do you explain to other VCs why the firm you worked for didnt want to be part of the build? he asks.

Ultimately, OrbiMed provided Audentes with $1 million in seed funding and a soft commitment to support the Series A. It wasnt the robust financial infusion Patterson had hoped for, but it was enough to get started.

FROM THE CLEANROOM TO THE BOARD ROOM

Though Patterson studied science in college, he says he didnt know much about biotech until 1993. A college friend, also a biochemistry major, got a lab job at Biogen Idec, he shares. The friend encouraged Patterson to look into the same work, and eventually he landed a manufacturing tech job at Genzyme. I was a protein purification technician in a GMP facility, he recounts proudly. In other words, his days involved gowning in and then spending 6 to 8 hours working away in a lab coat, hairnet, and safety glasses. It has played an important role for me as a CEO, because I can relate well to the day-to-day challenges faced by people working in manufacturing and laboratory areas, he says.

After nearly five years at Genzyme, during which time he transitioned to working in regulatory affairs, he moved to California and joined BioMarin as employee number 15. Now in a more senior role, he had the opportunity to work with and learn from folks like Emil Kakkis, M.D., Ph.D., current president and CEO of Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals. At BioMarin I realized rare diseases was where I wanted to work for the long term, and after leading the regulatory group though approval of our first product, they offered me the opportunity to expand into other more business-oriented roles, he says. This eventually led to Patterson joining Amicus Therapeutics in 2004 as chief business officer and employee number eight. Less than two years later, he was picked to be COO, and less than five years after that he found himself in an even bigger role. John Crowley, Amicus chairman and CEO, was considering alternative careers at the time and had decided to step down, so I became acting CEO. Being a CEO hadnt been a driving force in my early days, but rather something that became more real over time as I found myself in ever-expanding roles. However, Crowley ended up returning as Amicus CEO, and Patterson decided it was time to consider a new opportunity.

In late 2011 he joined OrbiMed as an EIR, where he was working closely with General Partner Jonathan Silverstein, who had brought Patterson to the firm. One of the benefits of being at a VC is there is an amazing number of technologies and company profiles that flow through these firms, he elaborates. It also seemed an interesting way to see a wide variety of prospects, to learn, and eventually land a CEO opportunity. During this time, Patterson became reacquainted with gene therapy. Amazed by the amount of progress being made, especially in the monogenic rare disease targets where he was so personally passionate, he began reaching out to various academic contacts he had made during his time at BioMarin and Amicus. This was how he connected with the researcher at Wake Forest working on XLMTM. The early research was extremely compelling and had all the hallmarks of past successful programs I had worked on, meaning there was significant medical need, a clear understanding of the scientific basis of the disease, compelling early data from two animal models (i.e., mouse and dog), and a motivated patient and medical community wanting to see research advance. All of these things were exciting to Patterson, and he became convinced that he could help.

In preparing for the previously mentioned pitches to OrbiMed, Patterson worked up a vision for how much he needed to raise to accomplish milestones meaningful to VC investors. This is an important part of building early-stage businesses, because when you think about financing, you have to think about how much money is needed to comfortably get to milestones that will produce additional value, as VCs look at it from the perspective of what they are going to get for their money and in what time frame, he explains. This is where working at OrbiMed helped refine Pattersons knowledge, making it easier for him to think about how to pitch an opportunity. Nonetheless, even with this wisdom and pitching to people he knew it remained a challenging conversation.

By the fall of 2012, Patterson had become even more passionate about the company, which by then even had a name Audentes Therapeutics. For those Latin nerds, Audentes means those who have courage, those who have boldness or daring, he notes. Patterson says he consulted his mother (a former Latin teacher) on the name to make sure his grammatical use of the word was accurate. This also explains how the company eventually came up with its NASDAQ ticker symbol, BOLD. The courage theme always resonated with me when I think about the patients and families within the rare disease communities, so I wanted a word that captured that.

THE BUILD ITS NEVER AS EASY AS YOU THINK

After officially founding the company in November 2012, Patterson worked out of his apartment in Manhattan for about six months before moving to San Francisco. I always knew that if I wanted to build an innovative biotech, I needed to put it where I could hire really talented people, and for me, at the time, that was either Boston or San Francisco. Having worked in both regions, Patterson also figured personal connections might prove important to getting those first few staffers on board. People say they like the idea of going to a cool, small startup, but the reality is its not for everyone, he states. Once prospects begin to kick the tires, its personal relationships and a history of working together that tend to make the difference.

But there was a lot to be done before he could begin recruiting. For example, he needed to have weekly calls with the scientists on both U.S. coasts and in France to make sure they were making progress that would keep Audentes on track from a development standpoint. He had to put sponsored-research agreements in place to help fund some of the work that needed to happen to continue to prove the company and its compounds had potential. There were other licenses that were needed to enable the technology to go forward and make the investment story more compelling, he elaborates. So, Patterson started a conversation with another company that had IP related to the vector Audentes wanted to use and convinced them not to force him to pay up front for a license. I pitched the company and my background, and thankfully they thought it credible, he shares. The two agreed on terms that deferred payment until Patterson landed the Series A funding. This, along with securing licenses for any IP developed by the academic scientists he was working with, was pivotal, because now he could comfortably say to VCs that he had key IP agreements in place. The clock was ticking, and all these things needed to happen in parallel, because the reality is a million bucks wasnt going to last very long.

Next, Patterson set about trying to improve his PowerPoint slide deck for the 2013 J.P. Morgan (JPM) healthcare conference in San Francisco. As an executive of Amicus for many years, the JPM environment wasnt new. But instead of getting a room at the Westin St. Francis [the host hotel for the annual gathering] and getting one-on-ones all day with investors, it was me lugging around my laptop and meeting with VC contacts in the lobby of the nearby Hilton with dozens of people around us screaming their own investment stories, he relates. It was an experience that helped him better understand what did and did not resonate with investors which in this case was primarily gene therapy. I heard a lot of different excuses for why people didnt want to invest in gene therapy, but essentially most of them were just saying it was too risky.

Over the next four to five months, Patterson spoke with about 25 VCs with little progress. In retrospect, given the profile of what I was trying to do, the best use of my time would have been with firms that had a history of investing in innovative science at an early stage, because at that time there was really only a handful of VCs interested in early stage, with most of them clearly being more comfortable with programs already having proof-of-concept. But where he did make progress was when he finally connected with Kush Parmar, M.D., Ph.D., at 5AM Ventures. He was a relatively new member of the 5AM team at the time, but lucky for me, he was personally interested, as he had been doing some work on gene therapy and was aware of the advancements made in academic research as well as its potential in rare diseases, Patterson grins. With Parmar as a champion, 5AM was immediately interested, which helped bring OrbiMed further along, as the two had a history of working together. And while OrbiMed, led by Silverstein, stepped up to lead the Audentes Series A, at a $30 million round, they wanted Patterson to find yet one more firm. He continued his dialogue with multiple firms, but with the credibility of OrbiMed and 5AM backing, it suddenly got easier. Once theres momentum in a deal, VCs will often follow each other, the CEO notes. In the end, we were glad to add Versant Ventures as our third, and that became the Series A, closing in July 2013, with OrbiMed investing $15 million, and 5AM and Versant splitting the other $15 million, and all three joining the Audentes board.

HOW A TOTAL FAILURE BECAME A SOURCE OF SUCCESS

Another round of financing was completed in the fall of 2014. At the time, gene therapy was gaining more acceptance as a powerful treatment option for a range of rare diseases, so Patterson started planning to expand the companys pipeline to help mitigate risk and increase the impact of their therapies. And then, the unthinkable happened. We had a total failure of the manufacturing of the lead product in late 2014, which was being done at an academic center, the executive explains.

When he started the company, Patterson felt confident he understood the manufacturing component. After all, biologics manufacturing at Genzyme and BioMarin was where he got his start. Turns out I didnt know as much as I thought, because on the surface gene therapy looks a lot like a traditional biologics manufacturing processes, but the manufacture of AAV gene therapy products was far more complex scientifically than I had initially appreciated, and that was a tough lesson to learn, he states. Further, there was no one in the world that knew how to do it at the scale necessary to run a clinical development program and eventually be commercial. Obviously, the company needed to find a new way. The initial thought was to come up with a small-scale process and work with a CMO. But heres the problem. First, there were no CMOs that knew how to make AAV gene therapy products at the time. Second, if the company did decide to go the CMO route, it would be a long-term collaboration with Audentes essentially teaching the CMO gene therapy process development and scale up. I realized this was a really important turning point in building the company, he relates. Because how to manufacture this type of product, do it well, and at large scale was something that was going to become a big issue, especially considering we were seeing more gene therapy companies being started.

Instead of lamenting over this setback, Patterson viewed it as an opportunity, akin to the biotechs of the 1980s and 90s working on innovative technologies and having to build their own internal manufacturing capabilities. Similarly, we realized this was our moment to be a leader, and we recognized the importance of owning that manufacturing capability, he shares. But there was just one problem he had to convince a board composed primarily of VCs that the money they had just invested should go toward building an internal, large-scale GMP manufacturing facility. That wasnt the plan during the fundraising round, and it wasnt a plan normally supported by investors. Still, Patterson was able to convince them of the incredible importance of having such capabilities to the eventual success of the business. It was the most important strategic decision weve ever made as a business and probably my greatest success as a CEO, he smiles.

The company found an old decommissioned GMP plant in South San Francisco that was really just a section of a warehouse that had been used for biologics manufacturing. We invested $15 million into the facility and leased the adjacent space to be able to expand capacity down the road, Patterson says. Taking such a staged approach made the move more financially feasible for the business. It also made it easier to pitch to the board of directors, who thankfully had the courage to support it, he adds. Its a tired phrase in biologics that the process is the product, but it is very much the case in gene therapy.

That same year, the company began to consider another big move. It was clear we were building a capital-hungry enterprise, which meant going public so we would have the funds needed to continue to build the business the way we knew it needed to be built, he states. After a mezzanine financing round, Patterson and his team began the laborious task of choosing banks for the IPO. It was important to have the panache of at least one larger bank, but I also wanted to make sure it was a bank that would fight for us if times got tough, he says. He also wanted a couple of smaller banks that he felt would work hard to get the deal done, as there were signs the markets would be a little more uncertain in 2016. The syndicate ended up consisting of Bank of America (BofA), Merrill Lynch, Cowen and Company, and Piper Jaffray as joint book-running managers for the offering, and Wedbush PacGrow as acting comanager.

The first quarter of 2016 turned out to be the worst quarter in biotech in many years. But the additional private financing gave Audentes the runway to be patient, and it was finally able to complete the IPO in the summer of 2016.

The banks, of course, wanted Patterson to immediately embark on a road show to announce the deal, but they were surprised to see three weeks blocked off in June on his calendar. He explained he was getting married and didnt believe cancelling his honeymoon in the interest of the IPO would be good for his well-being. Thankfully, all the banks agreed, he shares. So, it turned out to be a pretty fun and exciting six-week window, both personally and professionally.

Today, Audentes Therapeutics is a publicly traded company valued at nearly $1.8 billion.

However, there are other measures of success. For example, in September 2017, Audentes initiated a clinical trial of its lead program, AT132 for XLMTM, and positive results to date led them to announce plans to file for approval of that product in mid-2020. In the meantime, the company has expanded its pipeline of neuromuscular targeted programs, going after Pompe disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and myotonic dystrophy and has grown to more than 250 employees. Throughout the last seven years, weve gone from humble beginnings to where we are today, and while Im sure we have a long road ahead of us, I am very proud of what it has become, Patterson concludes.

When Matt Patterson was at OrbiMed Advisors working as an entrepreneur in residence (EIR), he became enamored with the idea of founding a gene therapy company. He admits, though, that there were plenty of other opportunities that he could have pursued considering the amazing number of technologies and company profiles that flowed through OrbiMed. I had looked at a couple of later-stage companies, as OrbiMed wanted me to be pitching a company that was already in the clinic with some data, he says. But he had made up his mind that he was only interested in finding an opportunity where he could work as CEO. He says that if a company was in the clinic with data that looked good, and they were looking for a CEO, then something else must have been wrong. A fixer-upper wasnt interesting to me, and I didnt want to be a hatchet man whose job it was to fire most of the team and refocus the company, he explains.

He did find some interesting rare-disease assets at some larger companies that he thought were, frankly, not well-suited to advance, and so he set out to try to convince those companies that those assets would be better off in his hands. For example, when Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) bought Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Amylin had an orphan drug product called metreleptin for a genetic disorder. I tried to convince BMS that they should out-license that program to me. The conversation lasted about three days, meaning two interactions of, Thats interesting. Well get back to you. and then, No. In the end, he stayed committed to his original plan and ended up starting a new company, Audentes, around the X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM) program he discovered at Wake Forest University.

Throughout the course of growing Audentes Therapeutics, Matt Patterson admits to taking the concept of culture very seriously, but he wasnt overly formal about defining it especially in those early years. Ive always been fascinated by the fact that, in biotechnology, one could have a brilliant scientific hypothesis and vision, but the idea goes nowhere because you failed to hire and retain a talented team, he mentions. Its critical that people enjoy their work and are inspired to put in the effort needed to be successful. I was always paying attention to our culture. We had a high rate of employee retention, and everything seemed to be going well, he elaborates. But when the company reached the 100-employee mark, he felt culture was something to be discussed a little bit more formally. We spoke about it at a leadership team meeting and attempted to engage the employee base more broadly in the issues they found important, so theyd have a voice, and we could learn.

The company also did various surveys and small group meetings that were really productive, but in the end, Patterson says neither fundamentally changed the companys overarching vision or mission as a business. All of those exercises led to the creation of three core values, although Patterson admits he was skeptical when they began creating them. Ive been at companies where they went through that exercise, and it became something like a 3x5 card that sat on the desk of every employee but was never truly embraced. He recalls starting the first meeting by saying, I dont think this is going to be a good use of time, and the last thing I want is to come up with a few catchy phrases that management thinks sound good but really dont resonate, as that seems silly. Id rather publish nothing than have that outcome. But as the program evolved and the group began getting into the brass tacks of core values and how to make them real, he became more enthusiastic. We came up with three that we felt were meaningful, could be acted upon, and made an example of on a daily basis.

The first is to be bold, find a way. This means striving to really figure out how to solve a tough challenge, whether scientific, clinical, or other. The second is to care deeply about patients, the work, and the team. The third, which is about being focused and working hard every day to achieve the companys goals, is #GSD, which stands for get stuff done, though Patterson shares that they tend to use a four-letter word in place of stuff internally. We felt those three captured who we were and who we wanted to be, he says. When someone does something outstanding to solve a challenge or to help a teammate, Audentes might recognize them with a Boldy, a symbolic award that includes a small financial component.

They implemented the three core values about 18 months ago, and ever since then they seem to come up all the time. When employees use them casually and regularly without management telling them to, thats the most important validation, he contends. And though this CEO went into meetings about culture and core beliefs as a bit of a skeptic, he says he came out a believer.

Link:
Building A 1 Billion Gene Therapy Company In 6 Years - Life Science Leader Magazine

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

GAITHERSBURG, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Maryland Tech Council (MTC) is preparing for one of its most highly-attended conferences of the year, the Bio Innovation Conference, presented by Maryland Life Sciences (a division of MTC). The Bio Innovation Conference provides a forum for professionals from industry, academia and government to discuss trends and insights into Marylands growing life sciences industry, while showcasing the states and regions innovations and successes in the life sciences industry. The all-day event attracts more than 400+ top life science professionals and takes place on October 7, 2019 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center.

Were experiencing an exciting time in the region, with wave upon wave of innovations, collaborations, acquisitions, tech transfer and growth, said MTC CEO Martin Rosendale. Companies from all over the country are moving here to experience all that Maryland and the region have to offer. This conference provides the perfect backdrop to showcase it all and discuss how to further propel us to the No. 1 spot among life sciences hubs.

This years keynote speakers include, John Tisdale, MD, Chief, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, and Michelle McMurry-Heath, MD, PhD, Vice President, External Innovation, Global Leader for Regulatory Science and Executive Director of Scientific Partnerships for JLABS @ Washington, DC. Maryland Secretary of Commerce Kelly M. Schulz will give opening remarks, and Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will help close out the conference.

The conference will also highlight the cell and gene therapy and biomanufacturing revolution taking place in Maryland and throughout the region. Notable speakers in the cell and gene therapy/biomanufacturing space include:

Were pleased that the Maryland Tech Council selected Montgomery County as the location for this important conference, said County Executive Elrich. The life sciences sector is thriving here, so its fitting that the conference is taking place in our county. My administration is focused on creating more opportunities for new and emerging businesses to grow and locate here.

This year for the first time, attendees will be able to simplify the process of searching for, identifying, and meeting with potential partners and business development executives with the BIO One-on-One Partnering system.

Maryland is continuing to make major strides in cell and gene therapy, as well as biomanufacturing, said Secretary Schulz. This conference offers a great opportunity to bring together our best and brightest industry leaders to take a closer look at how the industry is evolving and how Maryland is leading the way.

For more information or to register, visit: marylandlifesciences.com/conference/about/.

About Maryland Life Sciences

Maryland Life Sciences (MDLS), a division of the Maryland Tech Council, is a regional association for the life sciences community. We support our member companies who are driving innovation through advocacy, education, workforce development, cost savings programs and connecting entrepreneurial minds. MDLS represents biotechnology, clinical and research data, therapeutic, genetic, medical device, pharmaceutical and service companies that support Marylands thriving industry. The valuable resources we provide to our members help them reach their full potential making Maryland a global leader in the life science industry. For more information: mdtechcouncil.com/communities/life-sciences/.

About Maryland Tech Council

The Maryland Tech Council (MTC) is a collaborative community that is actively engaged in building strong technology and life science industries by supporting the efforts of our individual members. We are the largest technology and life sciences trade association in the state of Maryland, and we provide value by giving members a forum to learn, share, and connect. MTC brings the regions community together into a single, united organization that empowers our members to achieve their business goals through advocacy, networking and education. The vision for the Maryland Tech Council is to propel Maryland to become the number one innovation economy for life sciences and technology in the country. For more information: mdtechcouncil.com.

Read the original:
Maryland Life Sciences Bio Innovation Conference Highlights Region's Growth with Emphasis on Cell and Gene Therapy, Biomanufacturing - Business Wire

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

In a significant setback, Vivek Ramaswamy-backed Arbutus Biopharma is ceasing the development of its experimental hepatitis B therapy, after two healthy volunteers contracted serious liver infection in an early-stage trial.

The therapy, AB-506, is an oral hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid inhibitor designed to thwart viral reproduction, versus existing standard therapies primarily nucleoside analogues that are designed to diminish viral replication.

The two subjects are experiencing resolution of their acute hepatitis. We will continue to follow them and the other study participants said Arbutus chief development officer Gaston Picchio said in a statement on Thursday afternoon.

The companys shares $ABUS sank about 30% to $1 in Friday premarket trading.

The Phase Ia/Ib trial was testing AB-506 in healthy subjects as well as patients with chronic HBV. and HBV-DNA positive subjects with chronic HBV infection. The tranche of healthy volunteers were given AB-506 doses ranging from 30-1000 mg while chronic HBV patients were given different doses of AB-506, with or without a nucleoside analogue.

In July, Arbutus provided a positive update on the trial, reporting that no serious adverse events or clinically significant safety findings were observed in the 33 healthy subjects, adding that ALT levels and other liver function tests were normal throughout the ten days of dosing. Although there were no serious side-effects observed in the group of 24 chronic hep B patients, there were four cases of ALT flares.

On Thursday, the Canadian company provided an update after 28 days of dosing and said the full dataset would be unveiled at a scientific conference later this year.

Terminating the AB-506 program also means Arbutus $ABUS will not initiate a combination study of AB-506 and its experimental RNAi therapy, AB-729, in the second half of 2020, it added.

AB-506 is Arbutus latest casualty. Last October in an announcement unveiling the appointment of Picchio the company said its experimental HBV RNA de-stabilizer, AB-452, will be delayed entering Phase I studies, after some long-term toxicity issues in animal studies emerged.

(T)his latest setback, raises questions about the companys small molecule design capabilities, Chardan analysts wrote in a note on Friday.

Arbutus, formerly known as Tekmira, pivoted from its Ebola effort to hep B after the acquisition of OnCore from a group of Pharmasset vets in 2015. In 2017, crushed by the failure of his Alzheimers bet, Roivants Vivek Ramaswamy who was already an investor invested a further $116.4 million at a premium rate to acquire preferred shares in Arbutus. Last year, Ramaswamy and Arbutus joined forces to spawn Genevant Sciences to develop a slate of RNA-based therapeutics backed by Arbutus proprietary lipid nanoparticle and ligand conjugate delivery technologies.

Arbutus Lipid Nanoparticle technology, which enables RNAi drugs to be encapsulated in tiny particles made of lipids that travel through the bloodstream to target tissues, was used by Alnylam $ALNY to develop its pioneering RNAi therapy, Onpattro, securing a stream of royalty revenue for Arbutus.

See more here:
Two acute cases of liver disease in healthy subjects kill Arbutus' hep B program - Endpoints News

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

From Matthew Knowles revealing a male breast cancer and BRCA2 diagnosis to a sarcoma survivor donating thousands of toys in lieu of birthday presents, heres what is making headlines in the cancer space this week.

In an interview with Good Morning America, the music executive described how he first started to see blood on his T-shirt, then his wife noticed it on the bedsheet. Thats when he went to the doctor and a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy confirmed it was stage 1a breast cancer.

He underwent surgery in July and also had genetic testing done to see if he carried the BRCA gene mutation, which he tested positive for, raising his risk of not only breast cancer, but also melanoma, prostate and pancreatic cancer. I am going to get the second breast removed in January, because I want to do anything I can to reduce the risk, Knowles said during the interview. We use the words cancer-free, but medically theres no such thing as cancer-free. Theres always a risk. My risk of a recurrence of breast cancer is less than 5%, and the removal of the other breast reduces it down to about 2%.

The first call he made was to his kids and former wife. Each child has a 50/50 chance of inheriting a BRCA mutation from their parent. Knowles said he is speaking out to inspire other men to be open about male breast cancer.

A tradition at Boston Childrens Hospital took center stage this week as the hospital turned 150. The hospital looked back on a former patient who was treated for neuroblastoma at 2 years old. When Avery McAvoy was discharged, the nurses and caregivers held a bubble parade something they do for all pediatric patients who are released.

Avery is now 6 years old and started first grade this year. She is still cancer-free.

People around the world are encouraged to Lip Sync for Lymphoma. The aunt of Kevin Siddall, who died after a six-month battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma at 14 years old, came up with the idea to raise money for research.

Those who wish to participate can record themselves lip synching their favorite song, then upload it to a website. They can then ask friends and family to vote for them, which costs one dollar. Participants can also challenge others to join in the fun.

The top 10 performers will battle it out on stage on Oct. 17.

A 5-year-old cancer survivor forgoes birthday presents to donate toys to other kids at the childrens hospital where he was treated.

Weston Newswanger received a rhabdomyosarcoma diagnosis in November 2016 and his mom said that toys became a big part of keeping him happy during treatment.

When she asked him what he wanted for his birthday he said, I dont want anything. I dont need anything, reported CNN.

Family and friends made his wish of giving dinosaurs and Play-Doh a reality by collecting more than 3,000 items. Newswanger and his mom delivered the toys on Tuesday to PennState Childrens Hospital.

Original post:
Friday Frontline: Cancer Updates, Research and Education on October 4, 2019 - Curetoday.com

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The global biologics market 2017 was estimated to be USD xx Million. It is anticipated to increase to a value of USD xx Million with a CAGR of xx% over the forecast period. Continuous activities in research and development, investment in biologics and occurrence of chronic diseases are the factors that are playing a major role in the growth of biologics market. As per WHO, chronic diseases will account for approximately 80% of death by 2020 across the world. Constant development in gene & cellular therapy is catalyzing the market because of its therapeutic outcome and high efficiency. CAR-T-Cell are therapies recently accepted by FDA for the indications of oncology.

Request for sample copy of Biologics Market reportat:https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/165

Drugs are very complicated and need maintenance and controlled conditions for production and development processes. Huge finances are required to regulate the procedures of quality control initially. Biologics are prone to heat, light and require positive atmosphere which is not available worldwide. Strict rules and investment with restricted access to patient for biologics, particularly in emerging countries will affect the growth of global biologics market.

Biopharmaceuticals is getting popular over chemically synthesized molecules which are projected to increase the generation of revenue considerably. Moreover, by using the biologics many metabolic disorders can be treated to increase the demand of biologics market. Developed bioengineering technologies as well for the production of biopharmaceutical is estimated to fuel the pharmaceutical industry. With the advancements in automation, process of assortment can be done with the help of high throughput screening (HTS) system for the selection of duplicates.

Read more details of the report at:https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/industry-reports/biologics-market

Biologics market trends are initiative by government to support biologic drugs that allow funding and investment in research and development eventually increasing the quality of biologic drugs. This will positively upsurge the demand for biologics market growth. Success rate of biologic drugs is increasing thus increasing the demand for manufacturing biologics amongst the big pharmaceutical companies. For example, Bristol-Myers Squibb capitalized about $800 Million in Irish large-scale biologics facility and Novartis AG capitalized about $750 Million in biologics facility in Singapore estimating to complete the production by the end of 2019. Accepting innovative therapies and increase in chronic diseases are the factors that are fueling the growth of biologics market.

Global biologics market is segmented on the basis of application, source, type and region. Based on application, biologics market is divided into cancer, anemia, diabetes and many more. By source, market is divided into animal, human and microorganism. Based on type, biologics market is splited into blood products, gene therapy, vaccines, proteins, monoclonal antibodies and much more.

Topographically, regions involved in accelerating the biologics market share are Asia Pacific, Europe, U.S, South America, North America and Middle East & Africa. U.S biologics market is dominating the market in North America with huge investment and research and development. Growth in the concerns and awareness regarding oncology and its treatment will help to surge the global biologics market in North America. Asia Pacific is propelled to expand rapidly due to less strict rules for the clinical trials of drugs, developing awareness of biologics for the treatment of chronic diseases and manufacturing of biologics in the developing countries.

Key Segments in the Global Biologics Market are-

By Application market is segmented into:

By Source market is segmented into:

By Type market is segmented into:

By Regions market is segmented into:

What to expect from the Global Biologics Market report?

Predictions of future made for this market during the forecast period.

Information on the current technologies, trends, devices, procedures, and products in the industry.

Detailed analysis of the market segmentation, depending on the types, devices, and products.

Government regulations and economic factors affecting the growth of the market.

An insight into the leading manufacturers.

Regional demographics of the market.

Who should buy this report?

Venture capitalists, Investors, financial institutions, Analysts, Government organizations, regulatory authorities, policymakers ,researchers, strategy managers, and academic institutions looking for insights into the market to determine future strategies

Enquire more details of the report at:https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/researchreport/purchase/165

About Us:

Adroit Market Research is an India-based business analytics and consulting company incorporated in 2018. Our target audience is a wide range of corporations, manufacturing companies, product/technology development institutions and industry associations that require understanding of a markets size, key trends, participants and future outlook of an industry. We intend to become our clients knowledge partner and provide them with valuable market insights to help create opportunities that increase their revenues. We follow a code Explore, Learn and Transform. At our core, we are curious people who love to identify and understand industry patterns, create an insightful study around our findings and churn out money-making roadmaps.

Read the rest here:
Global Biologics Market 2019 Research Analysis, Current Trends, Regional Demand, Production Growth, Detailed Overview and Forecast Outlook by 2025 -...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Share on PinterestConducting multigene testing on breast cancer patients when they are diagnosed is cost effective and could potentially save the lives of thousands. Getty Images

Conducting multigene testing on breast cancer patients when they are diagnosed is cost effective and could potentially save the lives of thousands, according to a new study.

But many patients are not offered the testing based on existing criteria, which means people carrying cancer genes are not given the opportunity to find out if they are carriers.

Multigene testing includes an evaluation for the BRCA1, BRCA2 and PALB2 genes. The genes have been linked to inherited cases of cancer. Mutations to the genes can put men and women at a higher risk of breast cancers as well as other cancers.

Currently, testing is restricted based on a patients family history or clinical criteria. The American Society of Breast Surgeons already recommends genetic testing for all patients. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) criteria does not.

Dr. Ranjit Manchanda, a lead researcher and professor at Queen Mary University of London, said that about 50 percent of BRCA carriers do not meet the existing criteria to qualify for genetic testing. As a result, about half of them are at risk but dont know it. Additionally, only 20 to 30 percent of patients who meet the criteria are referred for and access BRCA testing, he added.

The study examining cost-effectiveness of testing was tested on U.S. and U.K models. The testing would be cost effective in between 98 and 99 percent of simulations in the U.K. health system and 64 to 68 percent in the U.S. health system. JAMA Oncology published the report, which included data from about 11,800 women in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.

We feel that all breast cancer patients should be offered the option of multigene testing, Manchanda told Healthline. This approach will save many more lives and prevent many more breast and ovarian cancers than the current clinical approach. I do not see the benefit of testing being restricted.

A study out earlier this year in the Journal of Clinical Oncology assessed data from 959 breast cancer patients and found that 49.95 percent met NCCN criteria. The authors recommended complete genetic testing.

Another study in the same publication published this year was based on data from more than 83,000 women on cancer registries in California and Georgia. About one-quarter of them with breast cancer and about one-third with ovarian cancer had genetic testing in 2013 and 2014.

Several organizations recommend genetic testing for ovarian cancer, but there are fewer that do for breast cancer patients, the authors reported.

Dr. Peter D. Beitsch, a surgical oncologist from Texas who was part of the first supporting study mentioned, told Healthline he agrees that breast cancer patients need genetic testing upon diagnosis. The new research is in line with his findings.

Testing involves a saliva or blood sample, which is easy either way, Beitsch said.

Generally, most patients can pay up front for testing, which costs about $250, Beitsch said.

Insurance does not cover genetic testing for all breast cancer patients at the moment, Beitsch noted. This is because they still follow NCCN guidelines, which have shown to be poor at determining mutation carriers.

Depending on the testing company, testing for cancer genes with expanded panels can cover anywhere from 30 to more than 80 genes. It can identify other organs that may be at risk for cancer, such as pancreatic cancer or melanoma. It can also pinpoint others in a family who may harbor mutations.

They can then be watched more closely or even undergo prophylactic surgery to prevent them from getting a cancer, Beitsch explained.

After unilateral breast cancer, mutation carriers can choose to have a mastectomy on the affected breast, or preventative mastectomy of the second breast to reduce their risk for cancer in that breast, Manchanda explained.

Additionally they can opt for a surgical ovarian cancer intervention. People who have the genes may also be eligible for novel drugs or other drug therapies through clinical trials.

A major advantage of genetic testing is enabling testing relatives of breast cancer mutation carriers, to identify unaffected relatives carrying mutations who can benefit from early diagnosis and cancer prevention, Manchanda said.

Testing everyone instead of being restricted by family history will identify many more mutation carriers and their family members who can benefit from precision prevention. A large proportion of these cancers are preventable in known unaffected mutations carriers, he added.

Some people dont undergo testing because they dont want to know if they have mutations, while others who do have testing may experience guilt if they dont have the mutations that impact family members, Beitsch noted.

The problem with genetic testing is not over testing, it is under testing, Beitsch said. Theyve found less than 10 percent of people with BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants, and much less than that for the other 30+ genes linked to cancer.

However with increased testing, we must provide education and tools for testing and interpretation to physicians to ensure management is optimized, lives are saved, and genetic mismanagement is minimized, he added.

With test costs declining and hopefully more people given the opportunity to undergo testing, more people can take preventative action to minimize their cancer risk through prevention or early diagnosis options, Manchanda said.

Go here to read the rest:
Here's Why All Women With Breast Cancer Should Get Genetic Testing - Healthline

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Patients at risk of developing cancer can now get faster, more accurate diagnoses, thanks to new genetic and blood tests.

A new diagnostic tool called +RNAinsight allows clinicians for the first time to use paired genetic testing to detect the risk for hereditary cancers, possibly affecting thousands of patients.The biomedical firm Ambry Genetics Corp. manufactures the test, which launched Tuesday.

DNA testing is the standard for hereditary cancer screening, but it excludes large portions of hereditary material, thereby missing variants that increase risks for cancer. But adding RNA to DNA testing can provide more evidence about whether genes have the variants, according to Ambry Genetics.

This is the first time we are offering paired DNA and RNA testing, said Emily Dalton, director of the genetic specialist team at Ambry Genetics. Its going to allow us to identify more patients who are at risk for hereditary cancers and actually provide more accurate results to inform patient care as well.

Researchers also have developed a single blood test that can detect numerous cancers with a degree of accuracy that exceeds 99%.

The test, made by the health care company GRAIL, uses next-generation sequencing technology to search for tiny chemical tags (methylation) in DNA that affect whether genes are active or inactive. It detected more than 20 cancers including breast, colorectal, esophageal, gallbladder, lung and leukemia.

When the test was applied to nearly 3,600 blood samples, it successfully picked up a cancer signal from cancer patient samples and pinpointed the tissue where the cancer began.

Geoffrey Oxnard, thoracic oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and one of the studys researchers, said the blood test uses the cancerous genes to better find cancers.

If we know what a cancerous DNA looks like, then we can go hunting for it, Dr. Oxnard said. We can hunt for all the cancers and then once we found a signal, we can clarify if that is a colon cancer signal or a head and neck signal. And thats amazing.

While some cancers are related to a patients inherited genetics, Dr. Oxnard said cancerous genes more often are completely haywire in different ways.

This year, an estimated 1,762,450 new cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States and 606,880 people will die from the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute.

The most common types of cancer, according to 2018 figures, are breast, lung and bronchus, prostate, colon and rectum, melanoma, bladder, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, kidney and renal pelvis, endometrial, leukemia, pancreatic, thyroid and liver.

This year, almost 700,000 people in the U.S. are expected to seek testing to determine whether they have genetic mutations linked to increased risks of cancers. Of those, an estimated 16,000 people could be affected by the new paired genetic test, said Ambry Genetics.

Kara Milliron, genetic counselor at the University of Michigans comprehensive cancer center, said results from genetic testing for cancer screening could come back in three ways: positive, negative or variant of unknown or uncertain significance.

She said the paired genetic testing provides a better look and interpretation of these variants of unknown significance. The University of Michigans cancer center was one of more than 40 sites in a pilot study that used the +RNAinsight tests on patients.

Cancer is a significant public health problem. It causes tremendous morbidity and mortality every year, Ms. Milliron said. Any improvements to genetic testing where we can get better answers for patients I think is really, really important. And it does have a significant impact on our ability to take care of patients in the best way.

Updated from earlier to clarify the testing does not diagnose cancer but rather helps patients understand their risks of developing a hereditary cancer.

Sign up for Daily Newsletters

More:
Paired genetic tests give patients better idea of their risk for cancer - Washington Times

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

One of 35 people charged in connection with a $2.1 billion health care fraud scheme owns a genetic testing laboratory in Lower Nazareth Township.

Dozens of telemedicine companies and cancer genetic testing labs allegedly billed Medicare for tests patients didnt need, according to a news release from federal authorities. The release calls the scheme one of the largest health care fraud schemes ever charged.

It involved the payment of illegal kickbacks and bribes by genetic testing laboratories in exchange for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries by medical professionals working with fraudulent telemedicine companies for expensive cancer genetic tests that were medically unnecessary, the release says. The news release was issued Friday, Sept. 27.

Often, the test results were not provided to the beneficiaries or were worthless to their doctors, the release says.

Some of the defendants allegedly controlled a telemarketing network that lured hundreds of thousands of elderly and disabled patients. They allegedly paid doctors to prescribe testing without any patient interaction or with only a brief phone conversation with patients they had never met or seen, the release says.

Among the defendants is Minal Patel, 40 of Atlanta, Georgia. He owns LabSolutions, which has offices in Georgia and at 3729 Easton Nazareth Highway in Lower Nazareth Township, records say. Hes charged with 13 federal crimes including health care fraud and conspiracy, records say. He was charged Tuesday, Sept. 24, and the indictment was unsealed Wednesday, Sept. 25, court records say.

Patel solicited medically unnecessary tests from Medicare beneficiaries through telemarketing and health fairs, records say.

LabSolutions allegedly billed Medicare for more than $494 million. In addition, the government seized approximately $30 million in bank accounts from Patel, a Ferrari and a Range Rover, the news release says.

Patels attorneys, Robyn Lynn Sztyndor of Coral Gables, Florida, and Steven H. Sadow, of Atlanta, didnt return messages seeking comment.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.

See the article here:
Lower Nazareth lab linked to 1 of the largest health care fraud schemes ever charged - lehighvalleylive.com

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

What is genetic testing?

Maybe youve heard about genetic testing for diseases and wondered: What does that mean? Should I do it? What do the results mean? Heres what you need to know.

For example, you may be familiar with women who are at risk for or have breast cancer getting tested for genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2. It may sound like they are getting tested to see if they have BRCA1 and BRCA2 but everyone has these genes, says Monique Lubaton, MGC, CGC, cancer genetic counselor for LifeBridge Health. The genetic test actually determines if the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have mutations. In other words, if the test is positive, it means that mutations are present.

However, only about 5-10% of all cancer is due to an inherited gene mutation, so these mutations are rare.

A mutation is when a gene changes. Genetic mutations can be hereditary or happen randomly.

Non-hereditary genetic mutations can by caused by things like:

Lets go back to BRCA1 and BRCA2. A genetic test determines if one (or, rarely, both) of these genes have mutations. If these genes are damaged, a person is up to 80% more likely to get breast cancer. Why? As a tumor suppression gene, the BRCA genes job is to stop cells from growing and dividing rapidly. Therefore, if it has a mutation, cells can develop into cancerous tumors. Theres no foot on the brake, says Lubaton.

So what does it mean for you if you test positive? Genetic test results, such as the discovery of mutations on BRCA1 and BRCA2, are complex and many factors must be considered. A genetic counselor can interpret the results, explain them to you and discuss your options. For example, if you need treatment, genetic information can help make your treatment more effective. There are even new medicines that target certain types of mutations.

Lubaton says that there are a few red flags to keep in mind:

Additionally, genetic testing can help people who have cancer learn why they developed it and if they are at risk for other types. This information is also important for their family members, who may be at risk themselves. However, testing may not be helpful for people who are not considered high risk.

You can meet with a genetic counselor to discuss your personal and family history. If you are a candidate for testing (determined by guidelines and insurance), then your blood will be sent to a reputable clinical genetic laboratory. Once those results are back, the genetic counselor will discuss the results with you.

Over-the-counter tests have become popular, but Lubaton says that people should be cautious about their use.

For example, one over-the-counter test only looks for only 3 out of 1,000 known mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are common in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. These tests also only do one type of imprecise analysis (called genotyping), but a clinical lab test does two types of analysis that are much more accurate.

When the results of an over-the-counter genetic test come in, people might misunderstand the results, and come to incorrect conclusions, both positive and negative. It is important to know that even if you test negative for a gene mutation, it doesnt mean that you wont get cancer, says Lubaton. Also, because science is evolving, knowledge about genes and treatments is changing and a person might base their own conclusions on information that is not current. Direct-to-consumer testing is not comprehensive if you want to learn accurate risks about disease, says Lubaton.

Genetic testing is as complicated as genes themselves. If you think you should be tested or learn more about it, you should speak with a genetic counselor.

If you are concerned about your personal or family history of cancer, a genetic counselor at the Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute can review this history, explain hereditary cancer syndromes in greater detail and discuss the benefits and limitations of genetic testing. For more information, call 410-601-5085. Referrals can be faxed to 410-601-4601.

Follow this link:
What You Need To Know About Genetic Testing - CBS Baltimore

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

KANSAS CITY, Mo. Its a quick test that can unlock the secrets of the past, present, and potential risks in the future.

But is the DNA test dilemma worth the risk?

According to MIT, more people took consumer DNA tests in 2017 than ever before. Most of those results were mailed to homes in the United States. If you crunch the numbers, about 25% of American adults have taken one of the popular at-home tests.

Massive price drops in 2017 led to a surge in popularity with several companies running Black Friday promotions offering test results for under $60, as well as other deals.

The market for the kits continued to grow because its a simple, easy test that can answer all kinds of questions we have about ourselves and provide answers to questions we dont even realize we have.

But, before you dive into your familys DNA makeup, there are some things you need to consider before buying a kit.

The Risks

There are many risks, that pop up when people start taking about these at-home kits. Ironically, the biggest risks dont have anything to do with health issues or previously unknown family members the tests may identify. Here are four of the biggest risks to consider.

Protect Yourself

Obviously, the easiest way to protect your DNA is to never submit it.

If youve decided that you want to go ahead with a test, you may want to consider taking to your doctor about it instead of grabbing a kit from the store. If a doctor takes your DNA sample, its protected by HIPPA, just like other medical procedures.

HIPPA determines how medical information can be shared. HIPPA doesnt cover consumer, or at-home, DNA kits. It actually falls under the authority of the Federal Trade Commission, which has different policies and protections.

While genetic testing can provide all kinds of information, how much do you know about the company youve chosen to do your DNA test?

If youre thinking about it

Here are four things to consider to help protect yourself in the future.

What if Ive already taken a test?

Youve taken the test and have your results. Now youre concerned about having those results floating around out there.

Dont panic, but keep in mind that the U.S Government has quality control guidelines. Because of those guidelines, companies are required to keep DNA information. That means if youve submitted your DNA, its not possible to completely delete the information.

However, all hope is not lost. This is the closest you can get to purging your information from four of the largest DNA Kit sites:

Ancestry

1. Sign into your Ancestry account2. Click on the DNA tab3. Choose Your DNA Results Summary4. Click Settings5. Choose Delete Test Results and enter your password again to confirm you want to delete the detailsIf you complete this process, you will permanently lose your ability to view any AncestryDNA data related to your search. It will also prevent you from showing up in any family finder searches.

23andMe

1. Sign into your 23andMe account2. Click on the account settings page3. Find the 23andMe Data4. Click on Delete Your DataIf you complete this process, you will have the option to download your data before its deleted.

MyHeritage

1. Log into your account2. Click your name in the upper-right hand corner3. Click Account Settings4. Click Delete Account at the bottom of the page

Living DNA

Youll need to contact the company at the help desk. Be prepared to provide your unique LD reference number and why youd like to delete your data.

Its also possible to revoke the permission if youve already allowed a company to share your data. Keep in mind it will be nearly impossible to delete your data from third parties that already have it on file.

Originally posted here:
Beware of these four risks when you share your DNA with a genetic testing company - WDAF FOX4 Kansas City

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The child was critically ill. The treating team at Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC, was stumped and worried that time was running out. Every test was coming back negative.

Genetics was called in to look for chromosomal mutations that might suggest the source of the problems. The geneticist recommended whole-exome sequencing, which tells a story based not only on all of the child's genes, but on two additional sources as well: the mother's and the father's genes.

They found something they weren't looking for. The father, the worried man in the waiting room who raised this child, wasn't the biological father. In genomics it's called an "incidental finding," and it raises huge ethical questions: Do you reveal this to the parents? Only to the mother? Or, if the results don't affect the child's care, do you even tell anyone?

In this case, the team called on the hospital's ethics committee for help.

Monisha Samanta Kisling, MS

"What made it really complicated here is that the father was actually the primary caregiver and was really, really involved with the child," explains Monisha Samanta Kisling, MS, a genetic counselor who has worked at Children's National for 7 years. Plus, the father was the legal parent and responsible for the family as a provider, including securing the child's health insurance. Disclosing this information could have a lasting, lifelong effect.

"He has dedicated his life to and does everything for the child. You're really at risk of causing potential serious conflict for this family, and potentially for this kid who really needs that support system," Kisling says.

If you think this scenario is an outlier, you're mistaken. Various studies have estimated rates of false paternity at between 1% and 10%.[1]

The field of genomics calls misattributed paternity or in some cases, simply paternity a "secondary" or incidental finding. Perhaps, but it's certainly difficult to ignore.

"In a lot of cases, it's just very hard to hide that information with the report that you have," Kisling explains, because the variants that a geneticist discovers in the child's DNA don't match up at all with the father's genes. "If the child didn't inherit any of the variance from the father, that would throw in some question marks, right?"

Paternity might be incidental, but it's clearly significant. This information whether a father is truly a child's biological father can change families in an instant.

Whether to disclose poses a dilemma that can feel fraught. Telling a man that he's not the father of his child can have devastating consequences: He might leave the family. The standard in pediatrics is to practice medicine "in the best interest of the child"[2]; first and foremost is the child's well-being. That means keeping the focus on the child and their future.

Still, because there are really no data about how these shocking disclosures affect families, doctors are truly in the dark about how to handle these tricky scenarios.

"It's hard to make these decisions because we may not know the families that well. We don't necessarily know what's the right decision for them," Kisling says. She believes clinics should approach each family with fresh eyes, because every couple is different.

"I think withholding information can feel paternalistic," Kisling says. "We don't want to say, 'Hey, I don't think you can handle this information.' That's not necessarily our judgment call to make. Overall, it's just a really, really tough decision."

Here is the original post:
'You're Not the Father': A Moral Dilemma in Genetic Testing - Medscape

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

New guidelines for genetic testing should help more women and their relatives take steps to improve their odds against cancer that might run in the family.

All women who have had cancer of the breast, ovary, Fallopian tubes or peritoneum tissue in the walls of the abdomen should be offered a screening tool to determine their risk of mutation, new U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines say.

The new recommendation removes a wording that limited testing to those diagnosed at younger ages.

Thats a pretty big thing, genetic counselor Kimberly Knapp said at Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center in Windber.

In the past, screening for breast cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 was recommended for women who developed breast or ovarian cancer before age 50 and others who had certain types of cancer before age 60.

Now, we dont have to age discriminate, Knapp said.

Anyone with a significant family history of breast or ovarian cancer should also consider genetic screening, which begins with a thorough review of family cancer history with a trained counselor, Knapp said.

Those women can contact breast cancer programs at several of the regions hospitals to find out more about their risk.

Genetic counselors will be able to help determine if they are eligible for genetic testing for the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations.

BRCA is shorthand for breast cancer, but the mutations are also associated with an increased risk of other cancers.

Genetic testing at Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center at Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber tests for the BRCA gene, Knapp said.

Because researchers continually find more genetic links, Windber offers a genetic screening for a panel of almost 50 different mutations.

The new guidelines expand the pool of patients who are eligible for insurance coverage of the test, she said.

At Indiana Regional Medical Center, breast surgeon and genetic counselor Dr. Dan Clark works with families to screen for 24 gene mutations.

Screening is not just a yes or no. You get a report with four pages of results, he said at the hospital.

The report may recommend additional screenings for hereditary cancers, including breast, ovarian and colon cancer.

We know there are a lot of other cancers associated with genetics, he said.

But most cancer is not hereditary, he warned.

The American Cancer Society estimates between 5% and 10% of all cancers come from gene mutations passed on through families.

Clark fears heightened attention on genetic risk may cause women with breast cancer in their families to think they are not at risk, noting most breast cancer patients have no family history of the disease.

Randy Griffith is a multimedia reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 532-5057. Follow him on Twitter@PhotoGriffer57.

Read the original post:
Breast cancer awareness | Genetic testing expanded to help those with disease in their families - Clinton Herald

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

San Francisco, CA (UroToday.com) -- Ambry Genetics(Ambry), a leading clinical genetic testing company, announced the launch of+RNAinsight, a major advancement in genetic testing. +RNAinsight enables clinicians for the first time ever to conduct both DNA and RNA genetic testing at the same time. Substantially more often than DNA testing alone, this paired testing identifies whether someone has a genetic mutation that either increases their risk for developing cancer or that may have contributed to their existing cancer. This is the first genetic testing advancement in over a decade to significantly increase the diagnostic yield (meaning the number of patients identified with a specific hereditary risk for cancer) in genes likeBRCA1andBRCA2. Ambry is the first and only lab to offer paired RNA and DNA genetic testing for hereditary cancer.

DNA testing alone can produce inconclusive, unhelpful results on whether a genetic variant (an error in our DNA) increases the risk for cancer. Moreover, standard DNA testing for hereditary cancer excludes large portions of DNA, thereby missing variants that cause increased risks for cancer. Adding RNA to DNA testing overcomes these limitations for a significant number of patients as RNA provides considerably more evidence than DNA alone about whether the genes in our DNA have variants that cause increased risks for cancer. Clinicians can then use this information with patients and their relatives to try to prevent cancer from developing or to detect cancer early.

We developed paired RNA and DNA testing to provide more accurate and conclusive results that patients and doctors can act on, said Aaron Elliott, PhD, CEO of Ambry Genetics. With +RNAinsight, we not only identify mutations that DNA testing alone would miss, we also provide answers for patients who have been dealing with inconclusive results for years.

This year, almost 700,000 people in the United States are expected to turn to clinical labs for clinical-grade genetic testing to learn whether they have genetic mutations linked with increased risks of cancer. By pairing RNA and DNA testing, it is estimated +RNAinsight may help more than 16,000 of these individuals get the genetic information they need that they might not get from DNA testing alone.

In fact, +RNAinsight will actually help more than these 16,000 individuals because this number does not include their relatives who can then be tested to learn of their own increased risks. Nor does it include patients previously tested who had received inconclusive results from DNA testing alone and will now receive reclassification reports based on +RNAinsight.

Paired RNA and DNA genetic testing is a remarkable leap forward.My patients arefinally getting answers I was unable to provide before, said Huma Rana, MD, Clinical Director of Cancer Genetics and Prevention at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. In our short time using this technology, we have made meaningful changes to patient care.

Additionally, the data illustrates +RNAinsights ability to clarify results that were previously deemed inconclusive as a result of DNA testing alone. +RNAinsight was able to decrease the number of inconclusive results across the included cancer risk genes by approximately five percent relative to DNA testing alone.

+RNAinsight builds on an earlier breakthrough in RNA genetic testing that Ambry led. For three years, Ambry has offered RNA testing retrospectively looking at RNA after DNA testing was complete. While helpful, retrospective RNA testing has limitations that +RNAinsight does not, such as not being able to identify mutations that the earlier DNA testing failed to find and patients who are lost to follow-up.

+RNAinsight is now available through doctors and genetic counselors around the country. For more information on paired RNA and DNA testing, please go towww.ambrygen.com/RNAinsight. For more information on risk factors for hereditary cancer, please visit cancer.govsfact sheeton hereditary cancer and genetic testing.

Source: Cancer, Ambry. 2019. "Ambry Genetics Makes Scientific Breakthrough And Launches Paired RNA And DNA Testing For Hereditary Cancer".Ambrygen.Com. https://www.ambrygen.com/about/press-release/118/ambry-genetics-makes-scientific-breakthrough-and-launches-paired-rna-and-dna-testing-for-hereditary-cancer.

Follow this link:
Ambry Genetics Makes Scientific Breakthrough and Launches Paired RNA and DNA Testing for Hereditary Cancer - UroToday

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

If you think not having a family history of cancer means you have less chance of getting it, think again.

During four years of genetic testing more than 4,100 people with the Information is Power Initiative at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, the results revealed less than three percent of those tested received a positive result.

More than 50 percent of people who received a positive result, which means they have an increased risk of cancer, did not have a strong history of cancer in their family, said Dr. Sara Cooper, a faculty investigator at HudsonAlpha who leads the Information is Power Initiative and runs a lab that conducts cancer research. For example, for the vast majority of breast cancer there is no genetic reason that we know about.

A sedentary lifestyle, being obese and diabetes are indicators for cancer, she added.

The Information is Power Initiative is a collaboration between HudsonAlpha and Kailos Genetics, which is located on the HudsonAlpha campus. The program offers free and reduced cost genetic testing, available by ordering an online kit that includes instructions on how to do a simple DNA sample collection at home, before returning the sample by mail. Kits can be ordered at http://www.hudsonalpha.org/information-is-power

Cooper said as of Aug. 1, 2019, more than 4,100 people had participated in the initiative and took the Information is Power test.

Without this initiative, these individuals would likely not have been offered this kind of test at their physicians office, she said.

Nancy Archuleta, a retired Huntsville businesswoman, said what HudsonAlpha does with its genetic testing related to cancer is something near and dear to her heart because her daughter is a breast cancer warrior.

Any person in todays environment is aware of breast cancer, Archuleta said. You see it on TV, you see the pink ribbons, you see it on license plates and in all actuality, you probably know someone who has had breast cancer. You can reach out into any room and find somebody who has been touched by it.

Awareness is one thing, she said.

When the bulls-eye is on you, thats when you really become aware of how little you know about it, Archuleta shared. You really become aware of your insignificance almost. Its so very important to know everything you can know about it and that is why I will tell you what HudsonAlpha is doing is taking you to the next level of awareness.

Archuleta said her daughter, who lives in Dallas, is fighting her second battle of two unrelated types of breast cancer.

Most people dont know that 75% of breast cancer is spontaneous, not genetic, she said.

Archuleta has gone through paralyzing fear that she had to overcome at times to be an advocate for her daughter as well as take better care of herself.

We used to make our contributions, Archuleta said. But when you personally realize that your dollars make a difference at a place like HudsonAlpha, where theyre really, really taking the issue to heart, then all of a sudden youre putting your money where your mouth is.

The Information is Power Initiative has identified more than 70 genetic changes associated with increased risk of cancer among the tested individuals, representing changes in 17 different genes, she said.

Participant ages have ranged from 19-96 and have been from Madison, Jackson, Limestone, Marshall and Morgan counties in North Alabama. Cooper said 51 percent of tests done during the past four years were free. The other 49 percent were offered at a discounted rate.

The discounted and free rates are made possible by a sponsorship from the Russel Hill Cancer Foundation and donations from the community. HudsonAlpha will host the annual Tie the Ribbons fundraiser Nov. 7, which benefits breast and ovarian cancer programs, including Information is Power.

For more information about the Tie the Ribbons event, contact Elizabeth Herrin at elizabeth.herrin@hudsonalpha.org or go to http://www.hudsonalpha.org/foundation/tie-the-ribbons-event.

View original post here:
Behind the genes of breast cancer | Special Reports - Theredstonerocket

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The importance of getting an annual mammogram is one of the key messages of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For some women, genetic testing can also play a big role in detecting breast cancer and saving lives.

Some genetic mutations can greatly increase a womans chances of getting breast cancer.

Mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can be passed down through a mother or a father. A BRCA mutation is the single, biggest risk factor for breast cancer.

A woman who carries one of these gene mutations has the following chances for breast cancer:

80% chance of getting breast cancer in her lifetime

50% risk of getting breast cancer by age 50

64% chance of getting breast cancer twice in a lifetime.

Genetic testing provides another layer in our efforts to detect breast cancer early so treatment can begin earlier, said Aimee Griffin, director of The Breast Center at Floyd and director of imaging services at Floyd Medical Center.

Genetics can play such a big role in the possible development of breast cancer, and its important for woman to understand there are steps they can take to cut down on that risk, Griffin continued.

Genetic breast cancer risks include:

You are a female who was diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 50.

You are a male who was diagnosed with breast cancer at any age.

Your mother, sister, daughter, grandmother or aunt had breast cancer before age 50 or ovarian cancer at any age.

A close male relative was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Women who know they carry the mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene can take steps to manage their cancer risks, including: more frequent, detailed cancer screenings and exams; taking certain drugs to prevent, delay or reduce the risks of cancer; and elective, radical surgery.

While BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 are the most widely known genetic alterations that impact a womans risk for breast and ovarian cancer, there are many other types of genetic alterations that can put a woman or a man at increased risk for breast cancer. The nurse practitioners at The Breast Center at Floyd are all graduates of City of Hopes Clinical Cancer Genetics program, and are specially trained in genetic evaluation, counseling, and testing and can help you and your family understand your cancer risk.

For more information about counseling or genetic testing, contact The Breast Center at Floyd at 706.509.6840.

See the original post:
Genetic testing adds another layer to breast cancer prevention - Northwest Georgia News

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

After losing my mom to ovarian cancer, I had always assumed that I too would be diagnosed with ovarian cancer at some point in my lifeprobably at an early age. She passed away when I was six years old, so my memories of her are blurred with the stories that other people tell. I was just so young.

The thought of getting cancer constantly took up space in my mind, leaving me on edge. It wasnt a daily software that I ran, but it would creep up on me suddenly when I thought about my mom or saw a movie where a character had cancer.

Upon visiting the gynecologist, I would sometimes ask for medical advice on genetic testingbut I always got the same sort of response:

undefined

This response was a relief of sorts; it was a waytonot haveto deal with actually getting the testing done. I could put it on the back burner of my mind and life, right? Well, not so much.

Unsure of even how to pronounce this genetic test so unknown to me, I decided to do some basic internet research. BRCA tests for cancer risk caused by BRCA1 and BRCA mutations. These mutations can be inherited from either parent, and given my moms history of ovarian canceras well as my grandmothersit seemed like I would be a likely candidate.

Following a referral from my gynecologist, I found myself in the waiting room of a comprehensive cancer center one Tuesday morning. For some reason, I thought the room would be filled with other 20- and 30-somethings hoping to get genetic testing done.

I was wrong.

In the waiting room, I saw families, spouses, and cancer patients. Being there immediately brought back so many memories. Im not even sure if Id experienced them or just been told those storiesmemories of my moms illness, and what it must have been like for her to be sick.

When my name was called, I met my genetics counselor and we sat in a room that didnt feel medical at all. It honestly felt closer to a therapists office. Once I sat down with my counselor, I immediately felt at ease. During our two-hour meeting, she explained what the BRCA test was and the different types of genetic mutations that could occur. As we reviewed my family medical history, the counselor reminded me that though I might receive certain results, nothing was certain.

Halfway through the meeting, she asked how I felt about the testing itself, on a more personal level. I immediately burst into tears. I knew I needed to do get the test done, not only for my own peace of mind and health, but so other family members could know as well.

And I felt dumb for being scared when all I had to do wasspit into a cup. But the entire experience carried a ton of weight.

So many thoughts raced through my mind: What were the symptoms of ovarian cancer? Would having it impact the possibility of having kids? Did I want kids? And, of course, would it all even matter if I had minimal luck with dating?

While the counselor did her best to answer my questions, she wanted to make sure I was okay to go through with the test. Though it was a morning full of exhaustion and tears, I knew I was ready. She handed me a saliva sample kit, which was very similar to the experience of 23andMe. Twenty minutes later, I was doneand I would have to wait a month for the results.

In the days leading up to finding out my results, there was an aching fear in my body. Being in limbo is always scarybut then so is the unknown. My overactive imagination certainly didnt help.

Sitting between my genetics counselor and a close family friend, I was finally ready to hear the outcome of the test. I was convinced that Id be diagnosed with either a genetic mutation or would be told that I had ovarian cancer.

I cried in reliefand also out of shock. I had only expected a negative outcome, and honestly didnt know what to do with myself.

This doesnt mean that I will never get ovarian cancer, but it does mean that the risks are much lower than they would be if I tested positive for a genetic mutation. It put so much into perspective, while also relieving a huge amount of worry from my life. I feel incredibly lucky and happy with my choice to get this testing done. I miss my mom every day, and now I can let go of that specific anxiety and move forward, taking care of my body in a more intentional way.

Read more:
I stopped putting it off and finally got the BRCA gene test - Yahoo Lifestyle

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The Black Cumin Seed Oil Market report facilitates decision making on the basis of historic and forecast data and the drivers and restraints on the market. The Black Cumin Seed Oil market report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market.

The following Top manufacturers are assessed in this report: Henry Lamotte OILS GmbH, FLAVEX Naturextrakte GmbH, Henry Lamotte Oils GmbH, Kerfoot Group, Earthoil Plantations, Life Extension, Nuverus, Omega Pharma, BioPraep

Download for Sample Copy of This Report @ https://reporthive.com/request_sample/2039723

Research Methodology: This market study is incorporated by extensive primary and secondary research conducted. Secondary research has been conducted to refine the available data to breakdown the market in various segments, derive total market size, market forecast, and growth rate. Different approaches have been worked on to derive the market value and market growth rate. The research team collects facts and data related to the market from different geographies to provide a better regional outlook. In the report, country level analysis is provided by analysing various regional players, regional tax laws and policies, consumer behaviour and macro-economic factors. The numbers extracted from Secondary research have been authenticated by conducting proper primary research. It includes tracking down key people from the industry and interviewing them to validate the data. This enables the analysts to derive the closest possible figures without any major deviations in the actual number. Our analysts try to contact as many executives, managers, key opinion leaders and industry experts to get first-hand information. Primary research brings authenticity to our reports.

Segment by Type: Food Grade, Cosmetic Grade

Segment by Application: Soap, Health Food, Personal Care Products (Massage Oils, Skin Care Products)

Regional Analysis For Black Cumin Seed Oil Market: United StatesEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaCentral & South America

You can Buy This Report from Here @ https://reporthive.com/checkout?currency=single-user-licence&reportid=2039723

Top key questions answered in this report: 1. What are the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks)?2. Which consumer segment accounted for the highest sales of Black Cumin Seed Oil in 2019?3. What are the business risks and factors concerning the market?4. What are some of the most promising, high-growth opportunities for Black Cumin Seed Oil market by applications, types and regions?5. Which region offers the most lucrative opportunities for the market in 2019?6. What Black Cumin Seed Oil product types will be the most in-demand in the current year?7. What sales channel will account for the largest sales?8. What are the major challenges facing the Black Cumin Seed Oil market?

Highlighted points of the global market research report: It includes global market driving and restraining factorsIt offers business profiles of various global investorsAnalysis of micro and macro-economic factors impacting on the global market

Read Full Report with TOC @ : https://reporthive.com/Report/2039723/Black Cumin Seed Oil Market

Table of ContentsPart 1 Market OverviewPart 2 Key CompaniesPart 3 Global Market Status and Future ForecastPart 4 Asia-Pacific Market Status and Future ForecastPart 5 Europe Market Status and Future ForecastPart 6 North America Market Status and Future ForecastPart 7 South America Market Status and Future ForecastPart 8 Middle East & Africa Market Status and Future ForecastPart 9 Market FeaturesPart 10 Investment OpportunityPart 11 Conclusion

If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as per your requirements.

Contact Us:Report Hive Research500, North Michigan Avenue,Suite 6014Chicago, IL 60611United StatesWebsite: http://www.reporthive.comEmail: [emailprotected]Phone: +1 312-604-7084

View post:
Black Cumin Seed Oil Market Benefits, Forthcoming Developments, Business Opportunities and Future Investments to 2026 | Henry Lamotte OILS GmbH,...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Keith Swayne has a magic touch when it comes to fundraising.

I guess I could go to anyone and get them to write some kind of check just so I would go away, he says, laughing. However, thats not what I want to accomplish. I want to connect people to causes and needs that they can relate to and then help them find a way to help out.

Swayne is so adroit at soliciting donations, in fact, that a campus project he undertook has left people shaking their heads in amazement: His efforts led to a $20 million windfall for investigators at the UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders.

Keiths passionate commitment to supporting our research has been tireless and nothing short of transformative, says Joshua Grill, director of UCI MIND.

It all started with a $150,000 gift the Laguna Beach philanthropist made to the research facility in honor of his late wife, Judy, whom he lost to Alzheimers disease in 2014. He also issued a challenge to the community at the time that boosted the donation to $300,000.

The UCI MIND team then leveraged that seed money to secure a total of $20 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health.

Our research is blazing new trails into understanding the genetic, molecular and cellular underpinnings of disease and is poised to lead to identification of new treatment targets and candidates, Grill says. Keiths initial challenge-gift enabled an exponential impact in terms of research support.

Weian Zhao lab at Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell center at UCI. Lab personnel: Ling Shun, Meglu Han, Michael Toledano, Aude Segaliny, Jan Zimak, Leanne Hildebrand

His late wife would have liked that, Swayne says. The fact that some good came from this terrible disease Judy would certainly want that, he says. And I wanted that too.

The couple, married 50 years, were best friends and committed partners. Judy Swayne, like her husband, was intent on making a difference in her community. Among other contributions, in 1989, she founded the Orange County Community Foundation, which became a major philanthropic institution in the region. Keith Swayne has carried on her legacy as a member of its board, stepping down in September after a stint as chairman.

In addition, Judy Swayne served on numerous nonprofit boards, acted as a role model and mentor to many throughout the philanthropic community, and was the mother of two: a daughter, Anne Keir, who lives in Hawaii, and a son, Kirk Swayne, of Orange County.

The disease was hard on my kids, Keith Swayne says. Its a tough disease.

It was also hard on Swayne himself, Grill notes: Alzheimers is an insidious disorder that robs patients of their most human characteristics language, decision making and, of course, memory.

Ultimately, it also robs patients of their independence, putting a strain on family members.

Keith was a caregiver to his beloved Judy, a costly and taxing role, Grill says. He watched her progress until she succumbed to this unrelenting disease, helpless to do anything to slow or stop its course. He decided to do what he could to prevent others from suffering her fate.

Frank M. LaFerla, dean of the UCI School of Biological Sciences, also recalls Swaynes struggles.

Alzheimers disease really impacted his family, he says. Judy was a very special woman. He wanted to make sure future generations wouldnt experience the pain his wife did.

At the time, LaFerla was director of UCI MIND and talked with Swayne about ways he could make a difference in the search for a cure. One field of research involved stem cells, which experts believe may offer great promise for new medical treatments.

My lab had started getting involved with stem cells many years ago, and about this time a new technology was created using stem cells from your skin, not embryos, LaFerla says. You could take some of a patients skin cells by biopsy and reprogram them to become pluripotent meaning they have the ability to give rise to many different types of cells found in the body, such as brain cells or more skin cells or kidney cells.

Swayne likes innovation and taking chances, LaFerla says: I told him this opportunity was high-risk but had high potential.

That was when Swayne issued his challenge to the community and set about rounding up donors. He held salons at his hillside home, inviting LaFerla and other UCI staffers to speak to local residents. They explained how pluripotent stem cell technology could be used as a tool in Alzheimers research.

I went to people who knew my wife or to people I knew who also had a vested interest in Alzheimers research because they had the disease in their own families, Swayne says.

He found many community members who were willing to contribute.

The odds are that if you live to be 85, theres a 1-in-2 chance youre going to have Alzheimers. A lot of my friends are in my age bracket, says Swayne, 79. The message was compelling.

One thing he learned was that individuals were familiar with the Alzheimers Association but not UCI MIND.

In some respects, UCI MIND is one of the best-kept secrets in Orange County, Swayne says. Many people didnt know that its one of only 30 NIH-designated Alzheimers research centers in the country.

His fundraising zeal and efforts to involve the Orange County community in the effort eventually paid off. As LaFerla says, It worked better than we could ever have dreamed.

When the time came to renew funding for the stem cell research program from the National Institute on Aging, UCI MIND won a five-year commitment to continue its research. One reason behind the NIAs decision: local philanthropic contributions.

With charitable and federal funding in place, UCI established a bank of induced pluripotent stem cells, now a valuable resource for Alzheimers researchers globally. Today, hundreds of cell samples have been provided to investigators at UCI and 10 other research universities around the world, and UCI MIND scientists and their partners have received more than $20 million in grants.

And all of that stemmed, ultimately, from the initial gift we received from Keith, LaFerla says.

Adds Swayne: We grew $150,000 to $20 million. It blows me away.

Hes not resting on his laurels, though. Swayne continues to connect more donors to UCI MIND so that research can progress.

The UCI MIND team is devoted to this cause, he says. Its reassuring to know youve got people with this talent trying to find answers to this disease.

So Swayne writes letters to business and community leaders urging their backing, chairs a panel that seeks new opportunities for philanthropic gifts, speaks on behalf of the institute at public events, and co-leads a caregiver support group for men whose spouses have Alzheimers.

Keith gives a voice to the nearly 6 million Americans with Alzheimers and the more than 15 million caregivers like him, Grill wrote earlier this year in a letter nominating Swayne for the Outstanding Philanthropist Award, which will be conferred on Nov. 14 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Orange County in celebration of National Philanthropy Day. UCI MIND would not be the organization it is without the leadership of Keith Swayne.

The rest is here:
Stemming the Tide of Alzheimer's - UCI News

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

While its common knowledge that UV rays are bad for your skin, you should also be wary of pollution & blue light & we rounded up products that protect you from these environmental aggressors.

Whether you live in a big city or not, pollution is found in the air everywhere and it is seeping into your skin, which is super scary. Aside from pollution, another factor affecting your complexion is blue light, which is radiated from your phones and computer screens. So, to protect your skin from all of these environmental aggressors, we rounded up the best products that defend your skin and help block daily exposure so that you can maintain a clear and smoothe complexion.

One of our favorite products is the Kitao Matcha + Chia Cleansing Cream, which is formulated with matcha green tea, acai, chia seed, and quinoa, which all work together to remove makeup and oil while stopping environmental pollution from aging your skin. The Ao Skincare 6000X Elemental Screen SPF 30, is another great product as its a sheer lotion formulated with New Zealand Astaxanthin, a super-antioxidant 6,000 times stronger than Vitamin C, to protect your skin from all different types of environmental stress, while repairing it from the damage thats already been done.

Other products intended to help fight pollution include the Paulas Choice Skincare Triple Algae Pollution Shield, which contains a triple-algae complex that prevents polluted particles found in the air from sticking to your skin and getting in your pores. The Murad City Skin Overnight Detox Moisturizer is also another one of our favorites because its formulated with antioxidants from marrubium plant stem cells, which help detoxify your skin while reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles caused by pollution.

If youre looking to specifically target blue light exposure, look no further than the Chantecaille Blue Light Hyaluronic Serum. Its perfect for all skin types and is a gentle pre-serum formulated with botanicals that shield the skin from blue light pollution. Aside from creams, the DIFF Eyewear Kira Gold + Amber Tortoise blue light glasses are a serious must. Not only are these glasses super cute, but they also contain blue light lens technology that blocks 30% of HEV light. Plus, for every pair of glasses sold, DIFF will help to provide the gift of sight to someone in need.

We have to mention the Clarisonic Mia Smart Anti-Aging and Cleansing Skincare Device because this is the ultimate cleaning tool. It does just about everything for your skin including exfoliate, minimize pores, firm skin, reduce puffy under-eyes, and blend foundation. Using this after a long day will make you feel and look 10x cleaner.

No matter what youre looking for, click through the gallery to see a mix of great products that will protect your skin. Plus, if youre looking for a mix of fun products and lifestyle items, you have to try our newestHollywoodLife Box, which has a value of over $260 and is on sale NOW for only $49.99! Buy the box right now atHollywoodLifeBox.com& even better, use the code HLBOX25 to get a 25% discount off your entire order!

Here is the original post:
Save Your Skin 20+ Products That Block Pollution & Blue Light From Your Phone - Hollywood Life

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

AN ordinary man with ordinary interests, Patrick Keane loves life, even though it has become more of a challenge than ever before.

He cannot play a round of golf or go for a walk by the beach any more. But he doesnt want pity and exudes positivity. So he enjoys soaking in the sea air around Clonea or Garryvoe without stretching his legs.

But reality has a way of crashing through the faade at times, no matter how strong you are.

For Patrick, it can be when he wakes up and cannot feel his legs, or loses his train of thought, or misses his mouth when trying to eat because he cannot feel the spoon in his hand. Or if he gets out of bed and falls and screams at himself, Just get up will ya, ya fool!

But the man known as Pa to his friends, or Patch to his mother Margaret, brother Paul and sisters Yvonne and Elaine, dusts himself down, drags himself back to an upright position and goes about taking on the day in as fearless a fashion as possible, given what he must encounter now and the knowledge of what lies ahead.

Multiple sclerosis affects the central nervous system, the brain and the spine, and while the rate of degeneration differs for all, there is no escaping the degeneration. Ireland has 8,000 sufferers with apparently no cure.

Patrick, who was diagnosed in January, 2009, is not without hope however. A doctor, Denis Federenko, has been providing stem cell transplants to people from all over the world at the AA Maximov Hospital in Moscow, with some success, by wiping out the faulty immune system with drugs used to treat cancer and replacing it with stem cells taken from the patient.

Irish comedian, Stephen Garland is one who underwent treatment in November, 2016, having been told he was around six months away from being confined to a wheelchair.

He returned home just before Christmas that year and has thrived since, even writing a show about his journey to Russia and back.

Garland brought his creation, Post-Disposed, back to the world-renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August, confirming his continuing improved health.

The treatment costs between 50,000 and 60,000 including aftercare and other expenses. It can be hard to ask for help but so many people have extended a hand to Patrick, without ever being asked. People Patrick doesnt know from Adam or Eve have even contributed to his cause and it moves him to tears.

Time is against the Corkman however, because if his condition exceeds 6.5 on a scale of 0-8, he will not be taken on. At present, he is between 5.5 and 6, and has been accepted, but clearly the treatment must take place sooner rather than later.

To that end, a Breakfast With The Stars event is taking place at The Park Hotel, Dungarvan on Thursday, October 10. Tipperarys All-Ireland-winning manager, Liam Sheedy and multiple champion jockey Davy Russell will regale patrons with stories from their careers, prompted by MC Marty Morrissey.

All proceeds will go towards funding Patricks treatment and ancillary expenses. Ticket purchasing details are below.

Here is more about Patricks story...

************

LAYLA walks into the family home in Ballinroad, just outside Dungarvan. It was Patrick who named her, after the Eric Clapton song that he happened to be listening to when the family were discussing what to call the now 12-year-old dog.

Music is a boon, a real infusion of energy, pumping the blood, making him feel like he could jump out of his skin and dance like the old days. He cant but that burst of adrenaline is a godsend.

I have the car adapted with hand controls, Patrick explains. I dont use my feet for driving. Push and pull the lever in the car.

On a Sunday morning I love nothing better, especially when I am down at home. Head down the coast road to Tramore, listen to a bit of music.

I would listen to absolutely anything. I am influenced by dads taste in music. All the older stuff, 70s, 80s rock music kind of stuff. You could find me listening to dance music two minutes later. Once it has a beat I couldnt care less.

Patricks dad, Richie Keane, was a hard worker, who was brilliant with his hands and especially with cars. And all his life he had a smaller shadow. The son looked up to the father like he was Superman.

When he was sick and on his last legs, talking through the window from the house he taught me how to take the sump off my car because it was cracked and leaking oil. He was able to guide me through it without looking at it, word for word.

I restored a Jeep that he left when he passed away. It was a 1983, same age as myself, Mercedes jeep. Very rare, like hens teeth. Restored it to about 25,000 to 30,000 worth.

I had to sell it. I couldnt drive it anymore because the leg was so bad. That was hard. That was the last connection. It was something I had to remember him by. The day I saw that go out the drive was tough.

Richie died in November, 2008, around the time of Patricks 25th birthday. Richies mother passed away two weeks later. Patrick was diagnosed with MS in January, 2009. Already a celiac and diabetic, he was accustomed to restrictions and putting up with things. This was a different stratosphere though.

It began with losing his balance and the development of numbness down his right side.

I went to the doctor, and I think, by the look on his face, he knew there was something not right. He sent me to Ardkeen (Hospital) and I got checked out. They had me in isolation for about a week. Then I was told it was MS.

I didnt know what it was but it was something I heard from a conversation when I was younger, That poor fella has MS. I didnt know I would end up the way I am now.

I have friends since that have been diagnosed after me that I have gotten to know from reaching out. There are a couple of them in a wheelchair. As it progresses, that is where you are heading. But there is a gentleman up the road and he must have it for 20-something years. Unless someone told you, you wouldnt know he has MS.

Part of the difficulty of dealing with MS is that no two cases are alike. Keeping active, having physiotherapy regularly and working are advantages and Patrick has not declined as quickly as others because of that.

But he has hit the secondary stage, where there are cognitive problems and, in particular, his short-term memory is affected.

People say to me, do you get pain with it? I dont know what new pain or old pain is. I just get on with. I have my days where I whinge and moan and cry. God knows I have them. But there is people out there worse off. I have what I have.

It could get worse. Now that it is gone to progressive MS, it probably will. When or how long? Who knows?

It is a horrible disease, there is no two ways. But you get up, get on with it, and do what you can.

He went to Australia not long after the diagnosis. It was a real gesture of defiance, one that probably scared his mother but he knew too that it might well be a case of now or never.

A blocklayer by trade, Patrick eventually had to give that up as his coordination worsened and he nearly fell off a roof. He is on crutches now for three years and would not be able to catch a football if you threw it at him. He wears a leg cast too, to reduce the instances of tripping himself up, without eradicating them totally. He has a mobility scooter.

A 35-year-old man doesnt dream about a mobility scooter, he wants a flash sports car. But it allowed me to go down to the Greenway for the first time. That was nice, to be on the Greenway, to be out, and see the whole lot of it, it was lovely. But watching other people cycle off down killed me.

My two nephews were out the front playing soccer. I used to do the exact same thing. They were saying Patrick, are you coming out to play? I said I would love to but that gets you. Its the simple little things.

Katie, my partner, I dont know where I would be without her. My mam, the girls and my brother, they are fantastic. They have been with me since the start of it.

I decided I want to be independent. If I didnt have the car I dont know what I would be doing. That is my freedom. I can get into the car, go to the shop for coffee. I will get there. I will get the same place as anyone else will, but it will take me longer.

He lives in Cork with Katie and her son Aaron, and works for Voxpro, who have been tremendously supportive. If he were housebound, he would wither.

I am an outgoing guy. I would chat away, waffle on about anything for hours on end. But you take that away I dont know have I changed since the diagnosis.

I have tried to remain as positive as possible but sometimes its hard. Simple little things you take for granted. Just run out there to get the clothes off the line. Now I have had to get handrails put into the house so that I can get up when I trip and fall.

I would wake in the mornings and the legs are like jelly. They shake, you cant control it, you let them shake out and that could be for 20 or 30 seconds. Real spasticity and stiffness in the legs. With the heat during the summer, I sat in the car with the air con on. I would be good for doing weather forecasta. I know what its like when I wake up in the morning, ever before the curtains are pulled. I feel it in my body.

He has been trawling for potential treatments, along with his medical team. Dr Federenkos work stands up to inspection. Stopping the MS in its tracks without the need for further medication would be a tantalising prospect.

Reversing the effects is something he dare not even contemplate, though the treatment has had that effect in Garland and many others.

Being given the green light, after Dr Federenko reviewed his case and medical records, was like an infusion in itself. Patrick details every step of the treatment and though it sounds daunting, it isnt compared to the alternative.

He set up the GoFundMe page (https://www.gofundme.com/f/stop-ms-progression-with-stem-cells-transplant) and was staggered by the reaction. Meanwhile, the local community has rallied, as have his work colleagues and friends, organising fund-raiser after fund-raiser. People he didnt know had events. He finds it hard to process.

To ask for someones help, it is a sign that you are not able. I have talked about this treatment for so long and I got so bad in my legs and balance and everything, I finally gave in and set up the GoFundMe page. It killed me to have to do it.

There was a donation yesterday on GoFundMe from Jamaica. I dont know the person but they found it in their heart to say, There you go. People said to me, Sorry I cant give you too much, I want to give you more. If it is a euro or 20 cent, it could be that 20 cent or euro that gets me over the line.

Whatever happens, he will not give up because it is what he learned when he was Richies shadow: It is instilled in me from dad, I would always have looked up to him. Even now, since he has passed away, I would always say to myself, What would he do? Would he have approved of that? He would always say to stick at something until you get it. If you are going to start something, do it. Just dont walk away from it.

Breakfast With The Stars, featuring Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy, one of the all-time greats of National Hunt racing Davy Russell and RTs Marty Morrissey, takes place at The Park Hotel on Thursday, October 10. To book a table of 10 for 1000 contact Michael Ryan (087 2585299) or The Local Bar (058 41854).

Donations can also be made to Patrick Keanes GoFundMe pagehttps://www.gofundme.com/f/stop-ms-progression-with-stem-cells-transplant

Follow this link:
"I have talked about this treatment for so long... I finally gave in and set up the GoFundMe page. It killed me to have to do it." - Echo...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Weve been slathering moisturizer on our face for years, we exfoliate regularly and we even jumped in headfirst to trendy ten-step skin-care routines (sometimes even morning and night). But we recently realized something big: That we were stopping the skin-care love at our jaw. Think about it: Our neck and dcollet are prone to just as much sun damage, pollution and general aging concerns as our face, because all of these areas are typically left exposed (unless its mid-winter and were on the turtleneck train).

While its certainly possible to use face products on the neck, the skin on this part of the body is thinner and the concerns are a bit different. Thats where a specialized neck cream comes in. Specifically formulated to lift sagging skin and make horizontal lines disappear, these creams are the trick to achieving the youthful look we want. Here are 13 formulas that reign supreme.

RELATED: The Best Eye Cream for Wrinkles, from $13 to $315

Introducing: the end all be all of neck creams. This product not only gets rave reviews from shoppers for how well it works, but it has also won countless awards in the beauty spacefrom New Beauty to Shapemagazine to Harpers Bazaar. Why? Four main line-fighting ingredients: Niacinamide (to strengthen the skins barrier and supercharge the other ingredients), peptides (to plump skin and address fine lines and wrinkles), ceramides (which can help replenish and restore skin and improve its texture) and hyaluronic acid (aka the most powerful hydrating ingredient there is, which holds 1,000 times its weight in water). After just a few uses of this cream youll notice a visibly tighter, lifted and smoother appearance. Take that, tech neck.

Buy It ($139)

While it is a major concern, neck issues dont just stem from staring down at our phone all day long. Environmental aggressors from sun and pollution can also accelerate aging of the skin. This firming cream helps to reverse the damage on the neck and dcollet with amino acids that stimulate collagen production. How well does it work? One reviewer says, "I am on my second bottle, because the first worked so well. It is worth the price."

Buy It ($88)

If you have a nut allergy, finding natural beauty products can be a bit tricky since everything seems to be made from some form of coconut. But were happy to report that this organic neck cream is totally nut-free. Instead, youll find ingredients like hibiscus to increase elasticity, edelweiss to tighten the appearance of skin and botanical hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate. It's "easily spreadable and light" as one reviewer stated, but it's powerful enough to really get the job done.

Buy It ($92)

We slather on collagen products to up elasticity on our face, but why dont we do the same to the rest of our skin? We no longer have an excuse with this collagen-packed tightening cream made to tauten and tone the thicker parts on our neck that are prone to premature sagging. And if you're wondering if the results are visible,ponder no more. A loyal user says, "I noticed a change after just using one jarI don't think that has ever happened."

Buy It ($135)

The product name says it all. This cream quite literally perfects the skin on the neck and dcollet by lifting and firming while fading dark spots and hyperpigmentation from one too many days in the sun. Its paraben-free and dermatologist approved, and one reviewer dubbed it her "daily need" so you know it lives up to the hype.

Buy It ($78)

While we can treat damage that has already been done, we love this neck cream for its ability to also protect against future damage. Retinol works the same as it does on our face to resurface skin, revealing newer, younger cells over time. But most impressively, after a 28-day consumer study, 100 percent of participants reported fewer fine lines and wrinkles, improvement of skin texture and firmer, younger looking skin. One person even had people ask whatshe was doing differently.

Buy It ($75)

Guys, Gwyneth Paltrow is this brands creative director of makeup, so you know its products pass the clean test. This product in particular is formulated with a blend of fruit stem cells and botanical extracts to fade fine lines and wrinkles by improving skins elasticity. Plus, the addition of peptides helps to reduce the depth of crease lines from staring at our phones all day. Oh, and 93% of users on Dermstore give it a five-star review.

Buy It ($60)

You dont need to get a pricey cosmetic procedure to restore your neck to its youthful best. Just slather on this cream for restored firmness and softer skin (one reviewer couldn't stop raving about how smooth it made her skin). Its advanced delivery system uses something called nano-platinum particles to target cell structures and lift sagging skinall without going under the knife.

Buy It ($67)

We cant get enough of BareMinerals all-natural makeup, and this neck cream has us stockpiling its skin care too. Its formulated with the same vegan, cruelty-free standards (aka no animal testing or byproducts ever) and provides results that you can actually see in as little as four weeks. How, you ask? Mineral gold with age-defying peptides, which helps to visibly reduce the appearance of wrinkles and horizontal neck lines by upping skins natural collagen production. Skin is left looking more firm and dewy but not greasy.

Buy It ($45)

It Cosmetics dubs this cream shapewear for your neck, and based on that statement alone, were sold. This product has been clinically tested to reduce the look of those deep-set horizontal neck lines we thought we had to live with until now. Just slather it on morning and night and the fast-absorbing formula will get to work improving firmness, smoothness and elasticity thanks to a tightening effect. Have sensitive skin? Youre free to use this gentle cream and reap all the benefits without irritation. Plus, as one reviewer states, you just might notice a difference in as little as one week.

Buy It ($52)

Sometimes all it takes to start a morning off on the right foot is a French skin cream so luxurious that we feel like were in Paris (just let us have this). Thats where Sisleys neck cream comes into play. Made specifically to treat the delicate skin below our jaw, it creates an immediate tightening effect by adhering an invisible elastic film onto the surface of the skin for a physical and noticeable lift.It'sinfused with soy fiber extract to fight the loss of firmness and improve skin tone, as well as a decadent amount of shea butter, which leaves skin super hydrated, nourished and softer than ever before. Now all we need is a warm buttered croissant waiting for us in the kitchen and our Parisian fantasy is complete.

Buy It ($180)

Tarte already makes our favorite concealer, so it's no surprise that we love its highly-rated neck cream, too. This naturalmulti-tasking treatment hydrates delicate skin with three ingredients: maracuja (aka passion fruit), sodium hyaluronate and algae extracts.The trio helps to target and improve the appearance of theneck and dcolletby promoting cell regeneration and skin elasticity. The results? Fewer fine lines and wrinkles and a lifted, less-crepey appearance.

Buy It ($44)

Fact: The neck and dcollet are some of the first stops to reveal our age. Thanks to thinner, more sensitive skin and the exposure to environmental aggressors, we start to noticesagging and creasing in these places before the same problems reveal themselves on our face. Not to worry though, because this rich cream is specifically formulated for those very concerns. It goes on smooth and absorbs quickly, leaving behind a hydrated and plumperappearance, effectively fading fine lines and wrinkles. But this cream does so much more than moisturizeit's packed with retinol and tripeptides to encourage cell turnover and collagen production, which help to reveal newer, more youthful skin beneath it. Plus, bearberry leaf extract acts as an eraser for dark spots by brightening and evening out pigmentation issues. Oh, and one reviewer mentions that i smells like vanilla. Um, why haven't we been using this our whole adult life?

Buy It ($104)

RELATED:8 Dark Spot Treatments That Help Battle Sun Damage

PureWow may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was created independently from PureWow's editorial and sales departments.

Read this article:
The Absolute Best Neck Cream on the Web (and 12 More We Also Love) - Yahoo Lifestyle

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Hair loss at any age can be distressing, and getting to the root of the cause can be easier said than done as there are a myriad of reasons why your tresses may not be as full as they once were.

In fact, recent research commissioned by leading hair supplement provider Viviscal revealed that there was confusion amongst those surveyed as to the real reason for behind their hair loss.

50 per cent of women over 25 revealed that hormones including pregnancy, menopause andpolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) had contributed to their hair loss or thinning, while 27 per cent of women felt that diet was a key factor in their loss or thinning.

In response Dr Martin Wade, Consultant Dermatologist at The London Skin and Hair Clinic, has given his expert opinion on the top 5 leading causes of hair loss (in no particular order).

1. Seasonal shedding: As days get shorter its thought that the pineal gland which secretes melatonin and according to this research paper has long been known to modulate hair growth in the brain gets less light stimulation. This has a consequence as the process by which the pineal grand secretes melatonin is dictated by light.

2. Ageing: Androgenetic Alopecia is one of the most common forms of hair loss for both men and women, and is also referred to as female or male pattern hair loss. Each time the hair follicle goes through the hair cycle it reduces in size, resulting in a smaller hair shaft. Over time the hair shaft becomes so small that it no longer protrudes above the level of the skin in the scalp.

MORE:This hair loss shampoo and conditioner with over 400 5* reviews has just launched in Boots

3. MW: Post pregnancy: After a woman gives birth there is a massive dip in female hormones, and a much milder effect can occur when women stop taking the oral contraceptive pill. This sharp change in oestrogen and progesterone levels both of which play a vital role in promoting hair growth can lead to hair loss.

4. Menopause: As with the above when a woman goes through the menopause she will go through a gradual yet progressive decline in female hormones.

5. Diet: This is complex area but, essentially, if the body is not getting the key nutrients it needs for healthy hair growth including vitamin A, B and C and minerals such as calcium and magnesium, according to this study or if the body goes into shutdown mode from a lack of calories due to a restrictive diet or dramatic weight loss over a short period of time, this could upset the bodys internal metabolism. A recent UCLA study showed that hair follicle stem cells have their own unique metabolism.

Have you experienced any of the above?

Read more:
An expert reveals the top 5 leading causes of hair loss - woman&home

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Stem cells are biological cells which have the ability to distinguish into specialized cells, which are capable of cell division through mitosis. Amniotic fluid stem cells are a collective mixture of stem cells obtained from amniotic tissues and fluid. Amniotic fluid is clear, slightly yellowish liquid which surrounds the fetus during pregnancy and is discarded as medical waste during caesarean section deliveries. Amniotic fluid is a source of valuable biological material which includes stem cells which can be potentially used in cell therapy and regenerative therapies. Amniotic fluid stem cells can be developed into a different type of tissues such as cartilage, skin, cardiac nerves, bone, and muscles. Amniotic fluid stem cells are able to find the damaged joint caused by rheumatoid arthritis and differentiate tissues which are damaged. Medical conditions where no drug is able to lessen the symptoms and begin the healing process are the major target for amniotic fluid stem cell therapy. Amniotic fluid stem cells therapy is a solution to those patients who do not want to undergo surgery. Amniotic fluid has a high concentration of stem cells, cytokines, proteins and other important components. Amniotic fluid stem cell therapy is safe and effective treatment which contain growth factor helps to stimulate tissue growth, naturally reduce inflammation. Amniotic fluid also contains hyaluronic acid which acts as a lubricant and promotes cartilage growth.

With increasing technological advancement in the healthcare, amniotic fluid stem cell therapy has more advantage over the other therapy. Amniotic fluid stem cell therapy eliminates the chances of surgery and organs are regenerated, without causing any damage. These are some of the factors driving the growth of amniotic fluid stem cell therapy market over the forecast period. Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases which can be treated with the amniotic fluid stem cell therapy propel the market growth for amniotic fluid stem cell therapy, globally. Increasing funding by the government in research and development of stem cell therapy may drive the amniotic fluid stem cell therapy market growth. But, high procedure cost, difficulties in collecting the amniotic fluid and lack of reimbursement policies hinder the growth of amniotic fluid stem cell therapy market.

The global amniotic fluid stem cell therapy market is segmented on basis of treatment, application, end user and geography:

Rapid technological advancement in healthcare, and favorable results of the amniotic fluid stem cells therapy will increase the market for amniotic fluid stem cell therapy over the forecast period. Increasing public-private investment for stem cells in managing disease and improving healthcare infrastructure are expected to propel the growth of the amniotic fluid stem cell therapy market.

However, on the basis of geography, global Amniotic Fluid Stem Cell Therapy Market is segmented into six key regionsviz. North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding China, China and Middle East & Africa. North America captured the largest shares in global Amniotic Fluid Stem Cell Therapy Market and is projected to continue over the forecast period owing to technological advancement in the healthcare and growing awareness among the population towards the new research and development in the stem cell therapy. Europe is expected to account for the second largest revenue share in the amniotic fluid stem cell therapy market. The Asia Pacific is anticipated to have rapid growth in near future owing to increasing healthcare set up and improving healthcare expenditure. Latin America and the Middle East and Africa account for slow growth in the market of amniotic fluid stem cell therapy due to lack of medical facilities and technical knowledge.

Some of the key players operating in global amniotic fluid stem cell therapy market are Stem Shot, Provia Laboratories LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Mesoblast Ltd., Roslin Cells, Regeneus Ltd. etc. among others.

The report covers exhaustive analysis on:

Regional analysis includes

Report Highlights:

NOTE All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis expressed in reports are those of the respective analysts. They do not necessarily reflect formal positions or views of Persistence Market Research.

Continue reading here:
Amniotic Fluid Stem Cell Therapy Market Growth to Be Fuelled by Advancements in Technology - Zebvo

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith