Public release date: 21-Mar-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Tom Langford tlangford@partners.org 617-534-1605 Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston In a highly anticipated report, landmark recommendations on the handling of incidental findings in clinical genome and exome sequencing are being issued from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). A report of the recommendations, led by Robert C. Green, MD, MPH, a medical geneticist at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), outlines for the first time a minimum list of genetic conditions, genes and variants that laboratories performing clinical sequencing should seek and report to the physicians that ordered the testing -- regardless of the original reasons for which the test was ordered. "If, as expected, these recommendations are adopted by laboratories and clinicians, they will have important implications," said Green, who also co-chaired the ACMG Working Group that developed the recommendations. "As clinical sequencing becomes more widespread, laboratories are looking for guidance on how and what should be communicated to clinicians when results are analyzed. These recommendations will allow a small percentage of families to learn unexpected but potentially life-saving information about an illness they may have never suspected they were at risk for." The recommendations are … Continue reading →

SAN DIEGO, March 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Sequenom, Inc. (SQNM), a life sciences company providing innovative genetic analysis solutions, today announced that Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine (SCMM) has launched an advanced new cystic fibrosis carrier screen test branded under the name Heredi-T. The laboratory-developed test (LDT) is now available as a testing service to ordering physicians. The Heredi-T Cystic Fibrosis (CF) test analyzes 136 mutations and five variants proven to be clinically relevant in causing CF, integrating disease causing mutations selected from the Johns Hopkins CFTR2 database (http://www.cftr2.org). The LDT analyzes nearly six times the number of mutations currently available in other screening methods and can be performed preconception or at any time during pregnancy with a DNA sample obtained from a buccal swab. "The Heredi-T test provides significant new clinical value, offering highly reliable information about a patient's risk of being a cystic fibrosis carrier," said Bill Welch, President and COO of Sequenom. "This introduction adds to Sequenom CMM's leadership in prenatal testing and supports our mission to help health care providers and their patients make more informed clinical decisions through the use of advanced genetics." The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends cystic fibrosis carrier screening … Continue reading →

Heart-related diseases are the leading cause of death in the industrialized world. Cardiac stem cell therapy is a promising new way of reducing those numbers, but its application has proven to be less effective than hoped. Now researchers at Stanford University have developed nanoparticles that can be used to image stem cells implanted into the heart. They claim this will help improve the efficiency of these transplants drastically. Stem cell therapy uses cells that have the ability to transform into a wide variety of mature cell types. When implanted in the heart, for instance, they can transform into heart cells. This ability can be used to repair injured or diseased parts of the heart. Sadly, current methods of introducing stem cells rely on trial and error. Lets say, for instance, that a patient suffers a heart attack, which leaves some of his heart cells injured. To help the heart heal, the patient is first put into an MRI scanner to locate the areas of the heart that need repair. Once those are determined, doctors use the scan to implant new stem cells into these regions. After implantation, the patient is returned to the MRI to determine the location and number … Continue reading →

PALO ALTO, Calif., March 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellular Biomedicine Group (CBMG) announced that in the first week of March 2013, the company launched a clinical trial for TC-DC (Tumor Stem Cell Specific Dendritic Cell) therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer. The clinical trial, which is already in progress, is the result of collaboration between CBMG, California Stem Cell (CSC) and Shanghai's PLA 85 Hospital. It is the first immune cell clinical trial of its kind in China. CBMG's joint venture with CSC grants CBMG an exclusive license from CSC to develop and market CSC's cancer (TC-DC) technology in Greater China. CBMG receives support from CSC's California-based team of scientists and medical professionals, including CSC's Dr. Hans Keirstead. PLA 85 Hospital is a large general teaching hospital with 12 departments, located in Shanghai and has been granted Class A Hospital status at the Tertiary Level (the highest class). The hospital has over 600 beds with more than 200 professors and associate professors, including many well-known experts who are known for their pioneering work in the diagnosis and treatment of tumors. The principal Investigator of the trial and director of the Liver Disease Center of … Continue reading →

NEW YORK, March 22, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Stem for Life Foundation, NeoStem, Inc. (NYSE MKT:NBS), The Pontifical Council for Culture, and STOQ International today released details on the program of The Second International Vatican Adult Stem Cell Conference: Regenerative Medicine A Fundamental Shift in Science & Culture, taking place from within The Vatican, April 11-13, 2013. This event is part of a five-year collaboration between The Stem for Life Foundation, a not-for-profit organization devoted to raising global awareness of the therapeutic potential of adult stem cells, NeoStem, a leader in the emerging cellular therapy industry, The Vatican's Pontifical Council for Culture and its foundation, called STOQ International (Science, Theology and the Ontological Quest). "Regenerative medicine is poised to revolutionize disease management by finding new ways to boost the body's ability to heal itself. Whereas today, treatment for many diseases is a matter of managing symptoms, regenerative medicine seeks to reverse the course of the disease by targeting its cause and repairing diseased or defective tissues or organs," said Dr. Robin Smith, President of The Stem for Life Foundation and CEO of NeoStem. "This conference brings together a notable group of adult stem cell researchers, educators, policy experts, ethicists, … Continue reading →

What are human rights for future generations? Professor Sandra Fredman Co-Director, Oxford Martin Programme on Human Rights for Future Generations Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford http://www.oxfordmar... By: 21school … Continue reading →

Laurent Levy, CEO and co-founder of Nanobiotix, a clinical-stage nanomedicine company pioneering novel approaches for the local treatment of cancer, will speak at UB at 6:30 p.m. March 26 in 109 Knox Hall, North Campus. The lecture is co-sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Academy of the Undergraduate Academies and the Office of Science, Technology Transfer and Economic Outreach. In his talk, titled From my Bathroom to the Stock Market, Levy will discuss Nanobiotix, in particular the story behind the company: What we have done well, what we have done wrong, what were the unexpected levers, the fun NanoXray, Nanobiotixs first-in-class, proprietary technology, enhances radiotherapy energy to provide a new, more efficient treatment for cancer patients. NanoXray products are compatible with current radiotherapy and brachytherapy treatments, and are applicable to treat a wide variety of cancers via multiple routes of administration. Nanobiotixs lead product, NBTXR3, based on NanoXray, is under clinical development for soft tissue sarcoma. For more information, contact the Undergraduate Academies at 645-8177 or academy@buffalo.edu. Continued here: Nanomedicine entrepreneur to speak … Continue reading →

Stem Cell Treatment Update Day 1 March 2013 Judi's Update March 2013 In English and French. By: Judi Lecoq … Continue reading →