Public release date: 7-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Dawn Peters sciencenewsroom@wiley.com 781-388-8408 Wiley New research reveals a shared genetic susceptibility to epilepsy and migraine. Findings published in Epilepsia, a journal of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), indicate that having a strong family history of seizure disorders increases the chance of having migraine with aura (MA). Medical evidence has established that migraine and epilepsy often co-occur in patients; this co-occurrence is called "comorbidity." Previous studies have found that people with epilepsy are substantially more likely than the general population to have migraine headache. However, it is not clear whether that comorbidity results from a shared genetic cause. "Epilepsy and migraine are each individually influenced by genetic factors," explains lead author Dr. Melodie Winawer from Columbia University Medical Center in New York. "Our study is the first to confirm a shared genetic susceptibility to epilepsy and migraine in a large population of patients with common forms of epilepsy." For the present study, Dr. Winawer and colleagues analyzed data collected from participants in the Epilepsy Phenome/Genome Project (EPGP)a genetic study of epilepsy patients and families from 27 clinical centers in the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand. The … Continue reading →

BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine has been awarded $50,000 for the David L. Rimoin Memorial Fund from the Los Angeles-based Sports Spectacular organization. This donation will support the David L. Rimoin Lifetime Achievement Award as well as provide for genetics training for up-and-coming medical geneticists. The late Dr. David Rimoin was a world-renowned geneticist whose work was supported by the Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular from 1986 until his passing in May 2012. As a visionary, admired teacher, prolific author, mentor, beloved friend, researcher and skilled and caring physician for five decades, Dr. Rimoin touched the lives of generations of patients as well as trainees and colleagues. Dr. Rimoin was also the founding president of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). "Dr. David Rimoin was a pioneer in the field of genetics. He broke medical ground and played a key role in the fight against Tay-Sachs disease," said Sports Spectacular's Executive Committee Member, Beth Moskowitz. "Sports Spectacular started 27 years ago when Dr. Rimoin first arrived at Cedars-Sinai. We have been extremely lucky to be part of his research and even more lucky to be part of his life." … Continue reading →

NEW YORK & PETACH TIKVAH, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics (BCLI), a leading developer of adult stem cell technologies for neurodegenerative diseases, announced today that the Israeli Ministry of Health has fast-tracked its current Phase I/II ALS safety trial to a Phase IIa dose-escalating trial, significantly expediting the companys clinical development program and saving valuable time. The trial, which will evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of BrainStorms NurOwn stem cell therapy candidate, will be launched immediately at the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem. The Ministry of Health approved acceleration to a Phase IIa trial based on evaluation of only 12 of the initial cohort of 24 patients in the companys Phase I/II trial at Hadassah. In the Phase IIa trial, the second group of 12 patients will receive combined intramuscular and intrathecal administration of NurOwn cells in three cohorts, with increasing doses. The study participants, who have already been recruited, will be followed for three to six months after transplantation. Acceleration to Phase IIa will save us critical time, enabling us to proceed much more quickly with achieving our goal of developing an effective treatment for ALS, commented Dr. Adrian Harel, BrainStorms CEO. Professor Dimitrios Karussis, Principal Investigator of … Continue reading →

Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. (CDI) recently announced a Center of Excellence agreement with AstraZeneca to accelerate the pace of drug discovery through the use of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines and tissue cells. iPSC technology, based on reprogramming adult cells from a simple blood sample or a skin biopsy to a pluripotent stem cell state, shows promise in delivering robust human cell models of high utility in drug discovery and without the ethical concerns linked to the use of human embryonic stem cells. Steve Rees, VP Screening Sciences & Sample Management, Discovery Sciences at AstraZeneca, said, This agreement with Cellular Dynamics enables AstraZeneca to access world-leading expertise in stem cell technology so that we can better test potential new medicines for safety and efficacy. Bob Palay, chief executive officer of CDI, said, This is the third Center of Excellence agreement we have entered into with a global pharma company, and these partnerships show customer recognition that leveraging CDIs technical expertise and resources can help accelerate their discoveries. We are excited that AstraZeneca shares our vision that iPSC technology can be transformative. The Center of Excellence agreements show CDIs leadership in developing best practices to employ human iPSCs to … Continue reading →

ALLENDALE, N.J. and HACKENSACK, N.J., Jan. 7, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeoStem, Inc. (NYSE MKT:NBS) and its subsidiary, Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC ("PCT"), an internationally recognized contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), and Hackensack University Medical Center ("HackensackUMC"), part of the Hackensack University Health Network and a hub of healthcare for the Northern New Jersey and New York metropolitan areas, announced today that HackensackUMC has renewed its engagement of PCT's services for processing and storage of a variety of cell types used therapeutically by the hospital. HackensackUMC will use the services of PCT for processing and storage services for peripheral blood progenitor cells, donor leukocytes, bone marrow and cord blood, as well as for further assays, storage, retrieval and transportation. HackensackUMC was recently voted one of the best hospitals by U.S. News and World Report 2012-2013, placing it fourth out of the 184 hospitals in the New York Metropolitan Area and number 1 in New Jersey. HackensackUMC has grown to be a preeminent cancer treatment facility with one of the largest blood and bone marrow transplant programs in the world. "We are very excited to continue our relationship with HackensackUMC, whose engagement of PCT began in 1999, thirteen years ago," … Continue reading →