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Cancer Institute of New Jersey Aims to Advance Personalized Cancer Treatments Through 'Precision Medicine'

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Molecular biologist Robert Roeder, left, and James Darnell Jr., right, will share the $500,000 Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research for their pioneering research on how cells express their genetic information. (AP Photo)

ALBANY Two molecular biologists who performed pioneering research on how cells express their genetic information were awarded the annual Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research.

James E. Darnell Jr. and Robert G. Roeder will share $500,000, the largest award in medicine and science in the United States. The prize was established in 2000 by the late Morris “Marty” Silverman, a New York City businessman who wanted to encourage health and biomedical research.

Darnell discovered “RNA processing” in human cells at the Massachusetts Institute in 1963 while studying messenger RNA, which is the template for protein synthesis. Roeder broke ground in the field of gene transcription in animal cells as a University of Washington graduate student in 1969.

“By helping to define how cells grow, replicate, and become specialized, these two scientists have allowed countless other scientists and physicians to explore new ways to fight disease including viruses, heart disease, anemia and autoimmune disorders,” James J. Barba, president and chief executive officer of Albany Medical Center, said in March with the award was announced.

Roeder heads the biochemistry and molecular biology lab at The Rockefeller University in New York City, where Darnell is emeritus faculty.

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Pair of molecular biologists receive Albany Medical Center Prize

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) Twomolecularbiologistsare being awarded the annual AlbanyMedicalCenterPrizein Medicine and Biomedical Research.

James Darnell Jr. and Robert Roeder will receive theprizeduring a ceremony Friday and will share $500,000, the largest award in medicine and science in the United States. The two men performed pioneering research on how cells express their genetic information.

Roeder heads the biochemistry andmolecularbiology lab at The Rockefeller University in New York City, where Darnell is emeritus faculty.

The two winners were announced in March.

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Two Molecular Biologists Get $500K Medical Prize

CAMBRIDGE, England–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

Lab21, the global specialist in personalized medicine and clinical diagnostics, is pleased to announce that routine analysis of clinical samples has begun from Lab21 Inc.s new CLIA laboratory in Greenville, South Carolina.

The first assays in the test menu include a new Human Papillomavirus (HPV) High Risk and HPV 16 and 18 Genotyping Service. Using the Roche COBAS 4800 HPV Genotyping test, Lab21 can identify high risk patients and differentiate those patients with HPV 16 and HPV 18 Genotypes. The Lab21 service launches concurrently with new guidelines for the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer which were recently issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS), the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP), and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

Michael Bolick, President, Lab21 Inc said Over recent months we have grown the Greenville team and worked closely with local clinicians to prioritize the menu of tests required by local hospitals. The final validation of these assays and the receipt of our first patient samples are the culmination of Lab21s strong team work internationally. Our colleagues from the UK have developed best practices in molecular diagnostic testing that we have transferred, along with key individuals, into our US operations.

Lab21 Inc is focused on the provision of molecular diagnostic testing services in oncology and infectious disease. Launch of these services will include KRAS, EGFR and BRAF mutation analysis, HIV viral resistance and tropism and viral load assays. This follows Lab21s recent launch of the Clinical Genomics Center at ITOR, a hospital based cancer research organization located in Greenville, South Carolina. It is planned that through the partnership with ITOR, Lab21 will develop new companion diagnostic assays required to accompany new drug therapies.

Ken Morgan, Vice President Operations, Lab21 Inc said We welcome our new Laboratory Manager, Susan Foster, and Clinical Sequencing Group Leader, Jeremy Stuart to Lab21 Inc who are two very experienced clinical testing professionals from market leading companies. During the next 12 months we intend to grow our core team in Greenville rapidly as we add new test menu and launch our own companion diagnostic assays.

END

About Lab21

Lab21 is a global leader in personalized healthcare. It provides diagnostic products and services and supports blood bank screening, medical diagnostics and drug discovery. Lab21 customers include international healthcare providers, pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies. The Products division of Lab21 manufactures immunodiagnostic kits and reagents that are distributed internationally and is focused on infectious diseases for the blood-banking and clinical markets. Our clinical services operations have a growing test portfolio providing companion diagnostics and high technology molecular assays. Lab21′s corporate offices are based in Cambridge, UK and Greenville, South Carolina, with a GMP manufacturing site in Cambridge and other manufacturing facilities in Newmarket, Camberley, Manchester and Bridport. Website: www.lab21.com

About the new guidelines for the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer

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Lab21 Unveils New Molecular Analysis Services at Greenville Site

Home : Health : 2 molecular biologists share $500K medical prize

The Associated Press

Date: Friday May. 11, 2012 8:14 AM ET

ALBANY, N.Y. Two molecular biologists are being awarded the annual Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research.

James Darnell Jr. and Robert Roeder will receive the prize during a ceremony Friday and will share $500,000, the largest award in medicine and science in the United States. The two men performed pioneering research on how cells express their genetic information.

Roeder heads the biochemistry and molecular biology lab at The Rockefeller University in New York City, where Darnell is emeritus faculty.

The two winners were announced in March.

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2 molecular biologists share $500K medical prize

The Canadian Press – ONLINE EDITION

By: The Associated Press

11/05/2012 1:10 PM | Comments: 0

Enlarge Image

Molecular biologist James Darnell Jr., speaks after being awarded the Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research in Albany, N.Y., on Friday, May 11, 2012. Darnell shares the $500,000 prize with Robert Roeder for their pioneering research on how cells express their genetic information. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

ALBANY, N.Y. – Two molecular biologists have been awarded the annual Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research.

James Darnell Jr. and Robert Roeder received the prize during a ceremony Friday and will share $500,000, the largest award in medicine and science in the United States. The two men performed pioneering research on how cells express their genetic information.

Roeder heads the biochemistry and molecular biology lab at The Rockefeller University in New York City, where Darnell is emeritus faculty.

The two winners were announced in March.

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2 molecular biologists from NYC to share $500K medical prize for pioneering research on cells

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2 molecular biologists get $500K medical prize

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

Blueprint Medicines, a company harnessing the understanding of the molecular blueprint of cancer to develop personalized, highly-selective cancer therapies, today announced the addition of George Demetri, M.D., as a clinical advisor and member of the scientific advisory board. Dr. Demetri is the director of the Ludwig Center at the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and senior vice president for experimental therapeutics at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

In addition to advising Blueprint Medicines on clinical and program development strategies, Dr. Demetri also joins the members of Blueprint Medicines distinguished SAB, which includes experts in cancer genomics, clinical oncology and rational drug development. The companys current scientific advisors include Nicholas Lydon, Ph.D., Brian Druker, M.D., Charles L. Sawyers, M.D., Scott Lowe, Ph.D., David Armistead, Ph.D., Giulio Draetta, M.D., Ph.D., William C. Hahn, M.D., Ph.D., and Ben Askew, Jr., Ph.D.

“It is a pleasure to welcome Dr. Demetri to Blueprint as a clinical adviser and member of our SAB,” stated Chris Varma, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Blueprint Medicines. “Dr. Demetri brings significant experience in cancer research and drug development that is a perfect complement to our founding and internal team at Blueprint Medicines. His commitment to finding new alternatives to treat cancer, individualize therapy through biomarker development and increase patients quality of life will play an important role in our future drug development efforts.”

Dr. Demetri’s research and clinical interests have focused on the translation of scientific discoveries into targeted drugs for the management of sarcomas as a model for solid tumor research and development. This work has led to the successful development of both Gleevec and Sutent, the only two drugs FDA-approved as treatment for the gastrointestinal sarcoma known as GIST. Additionally, Dr. Demetri previously served on the scientific advisory board of Plexxikon, participating in the development of the breakthrough melanoma drug, Zelboraf. A fellow of the American College of Physicians, Dr. Demetri is a member of several professional societies and editorial boards of scientific journals. He is the chair of the medical advisory board for the Sarcoma Foundation of America. Dr. Demetri received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Harvard College, pursued a research fellowship in France and received his M.D. from Stanford University School of Medicine. Following internal medicine residency and chief residency at the University of Washington Hospitals in Seattle, he completed a fellowship in medical oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, where he has served as an attending physician since 1989. He became the director of the Ludwig Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School in 2005.

We need more sophisticated and effective tools to improve the outcomes for patients with cancer, especially as resistance to current targeted therapies continues to present life-threatening problems, said Dr. Demetri. As a result of the cancer genomics revolution, we now understand many of the genomic aberrations that cause cancer. I look forward to working with Blueprints remarkable team to harness this knowledge and to use their unique Insights-to-Validation platform and powerful chemical library to develop the next generation of genomically driven, highly selective and potent therapies.

About Blueprint Medicines

Blueprint Medicines is driving the development of personalized, highly selective cancer therapies that harness the growing understanding of the molecular blueprint of cancer. Using its powerful Insights-to-Validation Platform and proprietary chemical library, Blueprint Medicines is working to develop new therapeutic compounds and combination therapies that target the molecular aberrations that cause cancer and the emerging resistance mechanisms that make it increasingly difficult to treat. Blueprint Medicines was founded in 2011 by a proven team of scientists, including Nicholas Lydon, Ph.D., and Brian Druker, M.D., entrepreneurs with world-renowned expertise in the development of targeted cancer therapies, cancer genomics, and rational drug development, and Third Rock Ventures. Blueprint Medicines is poised to realize the promise of the cancer data revolution: truly personalized therapies that improve outcomes and shift cancer to a manageable condition. For more information on Blueprint Medicines, please visit the companys website at www.blueprintmedicines.com.

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Oncology Expert George Demetri, M.D., Joins Blueprint Medicines as a Clinical Advisor

Featured Article Main Category: Cancer / Oncology Article Date: 08 May 2012 – 0:00 PDT

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Usually, patients suffering from bowel cancer are treated with FOLFOX, a combination of 3 chemotherapy medications. However, between 40 and 60 percent of bowel cancer patients do not benefit from this treatment, and those who do report painful side effects, including nerve pain and horrible tingling, can only do reduced chemotherapy cycles. Put simply, their chemotherapy treatments have to be stopped earlier.

A trial at the University of Leicester, England, will begin investigating the benefits of curcumin, in conjunction with chemotherapy medication. The researchers will recruit around 40 patients who have bowel cancer which has spread to their liver, 75% of whom will take the curcumin pills 7 days prior to starting FOLFOX, the normal chemotherapy treatment.

The goal is to determine whether or not curcumin is a safe addition to the treatment of bowel cancer which has already spread to other parts of the body.

Curcumin is the main curcuminoid of turmeric, a popular Indian spice. It is a member of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae)

Previous studies have supported the idea that curcumin strengthens chemotherapy’s ability to eliminate bowel cancer cells in the lab.

Every year, in the UK alone, around 40,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Funding for this study is provided by the Royal College of Surgeons, Hope Against Cancer and the Bowel Disease Research Foundation.

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Curry Ingredient May Have Cancer Treatment Benefits

Featured Article Main Category: Medical Devices / Diagnostics Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;Biology / Biochemistry Article Date: 04 May 2012 – 11:00 PDT

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This article does not attempt to cover the whole field, but offers, by means of some examples, a few insights into how nanotechnology has the potential to change medicine, both in the research lab and clinically, while touching on some of the challenges and concerns that it raises.

The ability to manipulate structures and properties at the nanoscale in medicine is like having a sub-microscopic lab bench on which you can handle cell components, viruses or pieces of DNA, using a range of tiny tools, robots and tubes.

This creates a need for tools that help scientists experiment and develop such treatments.

Imagine, for example, being able to stretch out a section of DNA like a strand of spaghetti, so you can examine or operate on it, or building nanorobots that can “walk” and carry out repairs inside cell components. Nanotechnology is bringing that scientific dream closer to reality.

For instance, scientists at the Australian National University have managed to attach coated latex beads to the ends of modified DNA, and then using an “optical trap” comprising a focused beam of light to hold the beads in place, they have stretched out the DNA strand in order to study the interactions of specific binding proteins.

One of the researchers, Ned Seeman, said he envisages it will be possible to create a molecule-scale production line, where you move a molecule along till the right location is reached, and a nanobot does a bit chemisty on it, rather like “spot-welding” on a car assembly line. Seeman’s lab at NYU is also looking to use DNA nanotechnology to make a biochip computer, and to find out how biological molecules crystallize, an area that is currently fraught with challenges.

The work that Seeman and colleagues are doing is a good example of “biomimetics”, where with nanotechnology they can imitate some of the biological processes in nature, such as the behavior of DNA, to engineer new methods and perhaps even improve them.

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Nanotechnology In Medicine: Huge Potential, But What Are The Risks?

DECATUR, IL- Decatur Memorial Hospital is in the process of constructing a Center for Advanced Molecular Medicine.

The center will allow DMH to improve the diagnosis of cancer, Alzheimer’s and heart disease. The hospital will also be able to produce the agents and drugs it needs right on site.

This technology is available in only a few places in the entire United States, like the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, the University of Virginia and the University of Wisconsin.

DMH Dr. Mark Muscato calls the project “very cutting edge” and the “new wave of medicine.”

“Most places that have these (centers) are very large academic institutions,” Dr. Muscato says. “So it is a great opportunity for our hospital and the City of Decatur to be involved and have this opportunity.”

When the project is finished, Decatur Memorial Hospital will be the only hospital in Illinois with this technology.Construction of the center will be completed in about a month.

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Cutting Edge Technology Coming To DMH

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Michigan State and University of Texas scientists receive Sanberg Awards from ASNTR

Public release date: 1-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Donna Morrison dmorriso@health.usf.edu University of South Florida (USF Health)

Tampa, Fla. (May 1, 2012) At the 19th Annual Conference of the American Society of Neural Therapy and Repair (ASNTR), held April 26 28 in Clearwater Beach, Florida, the ASNTR awarded The 2012 Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award for Brain Repair to Timothy J. Collier, PhD, professor of translational science and molecular medicine at Michigan State University and director of the Udall Center of Excellence in Parkinson’s Disease Research at Michigan State University and the University of Cincinnati. ASNTR also presented The Molly and Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award to Sean I. Savitz, MD, associate professor of neurology at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

The 2012 Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award for Brain Repair

The 2012 award was presented in recognition of Dr. Collier’s long career studying the neurobiology of aging, work that has included investigation of the role of dopamine in neuron biology as applied to aging, Parkinson’s disease, and experimental therapeutics. Dr. Collier was part of a team that first examined cell transplantation in nonhuman primate models of Parkinson’s disease.

The award is named for Bernard Sanberg, father of Dr. Paul Sanberg (University of South Florida), a co-founder of the ASNTR. After Bernard Sanberg died of a stroke in 1999, the award bearing his name was established and is presented by the ASNTR annually to an individual who has made outstanding research contributions in the field of neural therapy and repair. The award, first presented in 2000, is presented every year at ASNTR’s Annual Meeting.

“Professor Collier has been a leader in the field of cellular repair for Parkinson’s disease for over 25 years and consistently has brought new ideas forward on how to stimulate growth and survival of neurons that are crucial for maintenance of proper brain function,” said John Sladek, PhD, director for Outreach and Development, Center for Neuroscience, and professor of Neurology, Pediatrics and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “As director of the highly coveted Morris Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease Research he is in an ideal position to make breakthroughs that will accelerate the transfer of new research into the clinics. As his postdoctoral mentor, I couldn’t be prouder of his accomplishments and look forward to his next important discovery.”

Recent past winners of the award include Donald Eugene Redmond, MD, (2011), Shinn-Zong Lin, MD, PhD (2010) Howard J. Federoff, MD, PhD, Georgetown University (2009); Paul Carvey, PhD, Rush University Medical Center (2008); Barry Hoffer, MD, PhD, NIDA/NIH (2007); and John Sladek, PhD, University of Colorado (2006).

The Molly and Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award

In recognition of his significant contributions to the field of brain repair after stroke, the Molly and Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award was presented to Dr. Savitz for his work in developing novel therapies for ischemic stroke. The award also recognizes his work on animal models and clinical research focused on cell-based therapies, such as the use of bone marrow cells to enhance recovery from stroke. His research into cell-based therapies also includes work with cells derived from the umbilical cord and placenta.

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Michigan State and University of Texas scientists receive 2012 Sanberg Awards from ASNTR

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Robert Oswald, Department of Molecular Medicine-Cornell University, Testifies at Hydrofracking Forum – Video

SAN DIEGO Jack E. Dixon, vice president and chief scientific officer of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and professor of pharmacology, cellular and molecular medicine, chemistry and biochemistry at the University of California, San Diego, has been named a foreign member of the Royal Society. Dixon is among 44 newly elected fellows and eight new foreign members of the Royal Society, a fellowship of the world’s most eminent scientists that is the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.

Founded in 1660, Royal Society Fellows have included Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Ernest Rutherford, Albert Einstein, Dorothy Hodgkin, Francis Crick, James Watson and Stephen Hawking. Today there are approximately 1,500 fellows and foreign members, including more than 80 Nobel laureates. Foreign members to the Royal Society are elected for life through a peer-review process on the basis of excellence in science. There are currently about 140 foreign members.

“Jack E. Dixon is one of the most influential biochemists of his generation. His elegant studies have radically advanced our understanding of cell signaling and the molecular basis of pathogenesis,” said the Royal Society in announcing his election on Sunday (April 22).

Dixon was instrumental in the analysis of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases). He also discovered that the bacterium responsible for the plague or “black death,” Yersinia pestis, harbors the most active PTPase yet described. This enzyme functions as a lethal weapon when injected into mammalian cells to block the immune response. This mechanism is now recognized as a widely used strategy for pathogenic bacteria to disarm the host’s immune system.

A powerful advocate for scientific research, Dixon is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences and past president of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

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Professor named to prestigious Royal Society

AMSTERDAM, April 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ —

Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics (AMT) Holding N.V. (in liquidation) (AMT), today reported its results for the year to December 31, 2011.

Key Highlights

Jrn Aldag, Liquidator of AMT, commented: “We believe that the gene therapy business developed by AMT offers significant promise. We are very disappointed that whilst the majority of CHMP members voting followed the advice of the experts at the CAT and the SAG, there were still a sufficient number of blocking votes to prevent Glybera advancing for the benefit of patients. Nevertheless we are encouraged that no safety of manufacturing issues were raised in the latest CHMP assessment. We believe that, under uniQure’s ownership, the future of gene therapy development is very encouraging.”

Operations

The progression of AMT’s lead product, Glybera through the assessment process was the key focus of the Group’s activities during 2011 until the outcome of the reexamination process of the CHMP in October. Thereafter, the Group went through a strategic reorganization to reduce costs and secure additional funds. This resulted in a 50% reduction in headcount and the transfer of AMT’s operations and programs to a newly created company uniQure BV. uniQure received an initial 6.0 m in new financing from one of AMT’s investors, Forbion. Since completion of the transaction, on April 5, 2012, another of AMT’s investors, Gilde Healthcare, has invested a further 1.0 m into uniQure.

Lipoprotein Lipase Deficiency (LPLD)

AMT has developed Glybera for the treatment of Lipoprotein Lipase Deficiency (LPLD), a rare and very severe disease. In patients with mutations in the LPL gene, dietary fat (triglyceride molecules) cannot be broken down and so causes chylomicrons, which carry triglycerides around the body, to accumulate in the blood. This may result in recurrent extremely painful and life-threatening episodes of pancreatitis. Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, is a major clinical symptom of LPLD. It causes severe abdominal pain and often leads to hospitalization of patients as well as other complications such as diabetes and early atherosclerosis.

AMT submitted the Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for Glybera in December 2009; in June 2011 the CHMP published its opinion that Glybera was not approvable at that time. In July 2011, AMT filed for reexamination of the dossier. Two new rapporteurs examined the application for approval under exceptional circumstances, and both issued positive assessments. The Scientific Advisory Group (SAG), an expert panel specifically selected to evaluate clinical results and the science of the product, and the Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT), which provides guidance on advanced therapeutics such as gene and cell therapy, after extensive review and analysis of the data advised the CHMP that Glybera should be approved now under exceptional circumstances. The CHMP Rapporteurs, SAG and the CAT concluded that data from three Glybera clinical trials demonstrated meaningful evidence of clinical efficacy, without any major safety concerns. However, the CHMP was not bound to follow this advice, and maintained its negative opinion.

In January 2012 AMT announced that the European Commission Standing Committee, which makes the final determination on approvability of novel therapies, requested further information from CHMP, which resulted in a further assessment of Glybera in a limited patient population. In April 2012 AMT announced that the CAT remained positive and that a majority of CHMP voting members were also positive on Glybera. However the CHMP vote was only 16 – 15 in favour and consequently Glybera failed to achieve the level of 17 positive votes required for an approval.

Link:
Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics Reports Full Year Results 2011