PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 21-Jan-2014 Contact: Carole Liernur liernur@jeantet.ch 41-227-043-631 European Molecular Biology Organization The 2014 LOUIS-JEANTET PRIZE FOR MEDICINE is awarded to the Italian biochemist Elena Conti, Director of the Department of Structural Cell Biology at the Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Munich (Germany) and to Denis Le Bihan, the French medical doctor, physicist and Director of NeuroSpin, an institute at the French Nuclear and Renewable Energy Commission (CEA) at Saclay near Paris. The LOUIS-JEANTET FOUNDATION grants the sum of CHF 700'000 for each of the two 2014 prizes, of which CHF 625'000 is for the continuation of the prize-winner's work and CHF 75'000 for their personal use. THE PRIZE-WINNERS are conducting fundamental biological research which is expected to be of considerable significance for medicine. ELENA CONTI is awarded the 2014 Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine for her important contributions to understanding the mechanisms governing ribonucleic acid (RNA) quality, transport and degradation. In order to function properly, our cells need to degrade macromolecules that are faulty or no longer needed. The biochemist deciphered at the level of atomic resolution how faulty RNAs are recognized and eliminated. Notably, her group deciphered the three-dimensional architecture and molecular mechanisms of the exosome, a multiprotein … Continue reading →

LITTLE ROCK - The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has opened a multidisciplinary clinic to serve Arkansas' adult sickle cell patients as part of a statewide comprehensive program to address the disease. The multidisciplinary clinic at UAMS' Outpatient Center is led by Robin Devan, M.D., a palliative care physician in the Department of Internal Medicine in the UAMS College of Medicine. Clinic staff will include an advanced practice nurse, a registered nurse and a social worker. Patients will be seen annually and will receive any primary or specialty care they may need. The program also includes: A Call Center with nurses available 24/7 to assist and advise providers and patients at 1-855-Sic-Cell (742-2355) A Transition Clinic, which will facilitate the smooth transition of pediatric sickle cell patients to adult care A Patient Registry of consenting adults with sickle cell, tracking their care, morbidity and mortality over time "Sickle cell is a chronic, high-maintenance disease, because as a blood disease it affects every organ in the body," Devan said, noting that life expectancy can be in the mid-40s for patients with the most severe form of sickle cell. "People in their 20s and 30s may present with kidney failure, … Continue reading →

By Gu Yang According to statistics, up to August 1st, 2013, clinical trials on stem cell research publicly registered on the website of Clinical Trial have reached 4704, among which 213 were from China. Though it is far from 2805 of the US, Xu Xiaochun, the director of INCOSC and founder of Boya Life, insists that gap between China and developed countries in stem cell research field is not big -- "we are almost starting at the same time, since the key technology of stem cell has just got breakthrough in recent two or three years, and the development history of the whole industry is just 20 years." "This is an original contribution in science which is most likely to be accomplished by China!" Xu Xiaochun stated briefly. The next few years will be the critical period for the development of global stem cell industry, and China is not to miss this valuable but fleeting opportunity. A "gold mine" of USD400 billion is to be discovered Who will be the next Microsoft? Even Gates himself admits that this company will surely come from the field of biological medicine, and it has been a consensus in the industry that stem cell … Continue reading →