By Laura Pullman PUBLISHED: 14:40 EST, 30 June 2012 | UPDATED: 03:20 EST, 1 July 2012 With a ferocious heat wave sweeping across the nation, millions of Americans are taking extra measures to keep cool. But one St Louis family have to go even further to protect themselves from the scorching sun as they have a rare condition which means they physically cannot sweat. Virginia Higgins and her four-year-old son Zane both have a form of ectodermal dysplasias, a genetic condition that affects sweat glands and causes defects in hair, nails and teeth. Scroll down for video Keeping it cool: Virginia Higgins and her 4year-old son Zane, right, both have a form of ectodermal dysplasias which stops their ability to sweat, meaning they need to be extra careful in hot weather Extra careful: Zane's parents use ice blankets and jackets to make sure the 4-year-old doesn't overheat when playing outside; he is pictured here with his dad Brian Diagnosed with the condition as a child, Ms Higgins has become an expert in forward planning for the hot weather. The ectodermal dysplasias are inherited disorders that involve defects in the hair, nails, sweat glands and teeth. Continue reading here: Keeping it … Continue reading →

Halfway around the world in India, Sivaprakash Ramalingam had heard of Johns Hopkins researchers using a promising new technique for gene therapy that he hoped to integrate with stem cells to cure diseases. After getting a doctorate in biochemistry in his native country, he came to Baltimore four years ago to study under the technique's pioneer, Srinivasan Chandrasegaran, at Hopkins' Bloomberg School of Public Health. Ramalingam's research has led him down the path of seeking a cure for sickle cell anemia, a painful, life-shortening blood disorder that afflicts many in his home region in southern India. In the United States, the disease affects 70,000-100,000 people, mostly African-Americans, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. "I couldn't have done this type of research in India," said Ramalingam. "I wanted to use this technique with stem cells to treat disease." Ramalingam's research was given a lift last month by the state. He was one of 17 researchers who was funded by the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission, a state entity that has doled out roughly $10 million to $12 million a year in taxpayer funds since its founding in 2006. The program helps keep Maryland competitive in stem cell research … Continue reading →

The Irish Times - Monday, July 2, 2012 LORNA SIGGINS WORLD leaders in stem-cell technology are due to exchange knowledge of potential treatments at a conference opening in NUI Galway today. Researchers from NUIG, University College Cork and NUI Maynooth will participate in the event, which has been billed as the first major conference on stem-cell therapy in Ireland. Prof Anthony Hollander of the University of Bristol, England who was one of a team which successful created and then transplanted the first tissue-engineered trachea or windpipe is among a number of international speakers presenting findings. The gathering will focus on the realities of stem-cell treatment, Prof Frank Barry, director of NUIGs National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science has said. The therapy is complex and controversial, and sometimes exaggerated claims are made, he said. The researchers are specialists in Mesenchymal, or adult, stem cells, and will be concentrating on what is likely in the future, he added. The list of conditions which could be treated successfully by stem cells is small, but growing, Prof Barry said. Leukaemia and other diseases of the blood appear to respond best. Read the original here: Stem-cell research leaders to meet in NUIG … Continue reading →