January 8, 2014 Sophie Langley Using a mouse model, US researchers have linked neurodevelopmental symptoms similar to those seen in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients to changes seen in the bacteria in the animals guts. ASD is diagnosed when individuals exhibit characteristic behaviours that include repetitive actions, decreased social interactions, and impaired communication. Many individuals with ASD also suffer from gastrointestinal (GI) issues, such as abdominal cramps and constipation. Using the co-occurrence of brain and gut problems in ASD as their guide, researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) were investigating a potentially transformative new therapy for autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. The research, which was published online in the December issue of the journal Cell, is the first to demonstrate that changes in the gut bacteria can influence autism-like behaviours in a mouse model. The gut microbiota the community of bacteria that populate the human GI tract previously has been shown to influence social and emotional behaviour. Traditional research has studied autism as a genetic disorder and a disorder of the brain, but our work shows that gut bacteria may contribute to ASD-like symptoms in ways that were previously unappreciated, said Sarkis K. Mazmanian, an author of the … Continue reading →

FARGO Denny Sanford was recovering from possibly fatal blood clots in his lungs when he decided to invest $125 million to bring genetic medicine into the mainstream. Sanford became ill on a hunting trip in south-central South Dakota in October, about 140 miles west of Sioux Falls. Doctors there suspected he had pneumonia, but Sanfords personal physician, Dr. Eric Larson of Sanford Health, suspected a pulmonary embolism a blood clot in the lungs and arranged for an air ambulance to whisk him to Sioux Falls. He really saved my life, Sanford said in a telephone interview with The Forum, referring to Larson, an internal medicine doctor and one of the champions of the new genetic medicine initiative Sanford Health announced Tuesday. Sanford, who is in his late 70s, did not attend Tuesdays announcement, which was made in Sioux Falls, and simulcast to Sanford medical centers in Fargo, Bismarck and Bemidji, Minn. While recuperating in his namesake hospital in Sioux Falls, Sanford reminded Kelby Krabbenhoft, Sanford Healths top executive, that his team was preparing a genetic medicine proposal. He invited them to make their pitch two days later, when he was convalescing at home. Sanfords recent medical emergency made him receptive … Continue reading →

FARGO Sanford Health is embarking on a major initiative to integrate genetic information with primary care enabled by a $125 million gift from namesake benefactor T. Denny Sanford. The new effort, announced Tuesday, is billed by Sanford as the first of its kind in the nation to marry genetic screening with internal medicine doctors throughout its clinic system. The so-called Sanford Imagenetics program will begin offering patients the opportunity for precise genetic testing and genetic counseling later this year. This is the frontier of medicine, Sanfords top executive, Kelby Krabbenhoft, said in making the announcement. This is whats going to change everything for everybody. Sanfords gift will allow the health system to hire and train teams of specialists in a collaboration that also will involve academic centers in the Sanford service area for research, and training physicians and other providers. Each of Sanfords four regional hubs Sioux Falls, S.D., Fargo, Bismarck, and Bemidji, Minn. will have specialists who will work closely with internal medicine doctors. Sanford already has seven genetic counselors, including two in Fargo, and five medical geneticists. Through telemedicine and targeted outreach efforts, the program will be available to patients throughout Sanfords sprawling service area that includes North … Continue reading →

Christmas was two weeks ago but Sanford Health received quite the gift Tuesday morning. $125 Million, that's how much philanthropist Denny Sanford has pledged to help launch a brand new system of patient treatment. A lot of people will probably just look at the $125 Million and be blown away by the amount, but what that money will do is far more amazing. With the gift, Sanford is launching Imagenetics to fighting disease on the molecular level. This is personalized medicine where your DNA helps determine the best course of treatment. This will help cut down on the number of medications, limit side-effects, and could even help doctors treat the condition before symptoms show up. Genetic medicine is already being utilized by Sanford doctors to treat cancers and other conditions, but this will take those practices to the clinic as well. "This really gets to what we call precision medicine that is using the tools of genetics to precisely take care of you as an individual." Said Dr. H. Eugene Hoyme, a geneticist and president of Sanford Research. "Once again he's taken what was possible and today has made it practical for everybody. Thank you Mr. Sanford." Said Kelby Krabbenhoft, … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise (Sioux Falls, SD) Sanford Health announced today Denny Sanford, the preeminent health care philanthropist in the United States, will gift the organization $125 million to establish Sanford Imagenetics, a first-of-its-kind program in the country that integrates genomic medicine into primary care for adults. Mr. Sanfords generosity to this organization is humbling, said Kelby Krabbenhoft, president and CEO of Sanford Health. Including this $125 million gift, Denny has given Sanford Health nearly a billion dollars. Its an incredible honor as well as a tremendous responsibility. Internal medicine physicians assist adult patients by diagnosing and managing complex health issues. Later this year, Sanford Imagenetics will offer patients the opportunity to undergo precise genetic testing and genetic counseling which will provide internal medicine physicians with unprecedented patient-specific information. Arming these physicians with their patients genetic information will improve their ability to prescribe the right medication, appropriate dose or most effective treatment with drugs such as statins and blood thinners. Most physicians can only dream of what it would be like to practice not only on the cutting edge of medical advancement but also work to fundamentally change how patients are treated. The creation of this … Continue reading →

I. Key clinical steps for the NanoXray pipeline II. Strengthening management and corporate governance III. Increasing international reputation IV. Outlook and conclusion V. Financial calendar summary for 2014 I. Key clinical steps for the NanoXray pipeline The NanoXray pipeline progressed significantly over the past 12 months. Lead product NBTXR3 achieved clinical proof-of-concept and NBTX-IV and NBTX-TOPO reached major preclinical milestones. NBTXR3 nanoparticles are designed to absorb X-rays in order to significantly enhance the radiation dose within cancer cells. The French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) gave its approval to Nanobiotix to launch a phase I clinical trial of NBTXR3 in patients with Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS) to assess the feasibility of the concept and the patients tolerance to the product. In June 2013, Nanobiotix published positive interim results from the phase I trial establishing the proof-of-concept of NBTXR3 by demonstrating adequate distribution of the nanoparticles within the tumors for over five weeks of radiation therapy along with patient tolerance to the product. Achieving the proof-of-concept is a key step in the clinical development of NBTXR3, the first product from the NanoXray pipeline, and represents the first stage of Nanobiotixs transition as a novel therapeutic in humans. Following … Continue reading →