StemCell Therapy

Gandhinagar: Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) and the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), New Delhi, are jointly organising an International Conference on Urban Transformations, Youth Aspirations and Education in India on February 20-21, 2020. The two-day conference intends to evolve an inter-disciplinary engagement on the nature of urban transformations and the youth in India while understanding policy dynamics in these areas. It will also attempt to understand the challenges to educational access and skills provision for the youth and the constraints of rural-urban migration, social caste background, and peri-urban locations.

Dr Bhushan Patwardhan, Vice Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, will be the Chief Guest at the inaugural program. Dr Patwardhan is a biomedical scientist and a Fellow of National Academy Sciences (India) and National Academy of Medical Sciences (India). He has worked on several policy making bodies including Task Forces of National Knowledge Commission, Planning Commission and has been a consultant to the World Health Organization, Geneva. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine published by Elsevier and is on the Editorial Boards of many reputed Journals. He will speak at the Inaugural Panel on Education along with Prof Sudhir Jain, Director, IIT Gandhinagar; and Prof Pankaj Chandra, Vice Chancellor, Ahmedabad University.

There will also be two keynote lectures on each day of the event. Prof Craig Jeffrey, Professor of Geography at the University of Melbourne, Australia and Director, Australia India Institute, will deliver the first Keynote Lecture titled Fresh Contact: Empowering Youth Innovators in South Asia on February 20. Prof Jeffrey is the author of the book Time pass: Youth, Class and the Politics of Waiting, which is a study of youth which is a study of youth aspirations in small-town North India. The second Keynote Lecture will be delivered by Prof John Harriss, Professor Emeritus of International Studies, Simon Fraser University, Canada, titled Aspiration, Opportunity, Mobility: the prospects for development among Indias youth, on February 21.

The first day of the conference will also have a short film screening titled Lifelines: documenting social change in the Indian Himalayas by Jane Dyson, Professor Anthropology at the University of Melbourne.

Many scholars and experts from India and abroad are invited as speakers during various sessions that will cover a wide range of subjects such as Educational Conundrums of Indian Youth; Youth and Political Mobilisation; Studying the Youth: Methods and Approaches; Peri-urban/Small Town Youth Aspirations; and Urban Landscapes: Marginality and Circulation.

Postgraduate and doctoral students, senior undergraduate students, faculty and researchers in Humanities and Social Sciences from all over the country are going to participate in this international conference. More details about the conference and speakers can be found on the conference website: http://events.iitgn.ac.in/2020/UTYAEI/index.php

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IIT Gandhinagar to organise International Conference on Urban Transformations, Youth Aspirations and Education in India - India Education Diary

New Delhi, Feb 20: The second batch of about 40 Union ministers is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir in April to get first-hand information about various development schemes initiated thereby both the central government and the Union Territory administration, officials said on Thursday.

The PrimeMinisters Office (PMO) will decide the composition of the ministerialdelegation that will undertake the follow up of the first visit of 37 Unionministers, who had toured Jammu and Kashmir last month.

A secondbatch of about 40 Union ministers may undertake a visit to Jammu and Kashmir.Dates and composition of the team have not been fixed yet but it will be donesoon after the Budget session of Parliament, a government official said.

After the recess,the second part of the budget session will begin on March 2 and it will end onApril 3.

The PMO willfinalise the list of the ministers and each minister will be assigned aparticular district and focus will be on the Kashmir Valley, the official said.

Some of theministers of the first batch may also be part of the second batch, he said.

The ministerswill assess the development initiatives undertaken by the central government aswell as the UT administration on the ground and they will not talk aboutpolitical issues, the official said.

By interactingwith the locals, they will try to get first-hand information about the roads,healthcare facilities, power situation, functioning of academic institutionsetc. in the UT, he added.

As many as 37central ministers had visited Jammu and Kashmir last month following a directiveof Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wanted an honest assessment of the variouswelfare schemes being implemented there.

Among those whohad visited Jammu and Kashmir were Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, SportsMinister Kiren Rijiju, ministers of state for home G Kishan Reddy and NityanandRai.

The Unionministers have already submitted their feedback to the PMO on theimplementation of various development schemes there.

There were twosets of feedback one on the initiatives taken by the UT administration andthe other on the Centres initiatives another official said.

Most of thecentral ministers stayed overnight at their respective places of visit such asBaramulla, Ganderbal, Doda, besides others.

In August lastyear, the Centre abrogated Article 370 provisions of the Constitution, whichgave a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, andbifurcated it into UTs Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Since then, theCentre has been closely monitoring the on the ground implementation of variousdevelopment programmes there.

Jammu and Kashmiris currently under the Presidents rule.

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Second batch of Union ministers to visit JK in April - The Kashmir Monitor

The recent advisory from the Ministry of AYUSH on treatments available in traditional medicine against the new COVID-19 epidemic rightfully created an uproar. There is no scientific evidence that the prescribed medicines work. Indeed, at the time all classical medical texts were collated, people didnt have an understanding of a virus. What there was instead, and which still guides treatment in these medical systems, is a holistic plant-based approach to managing symptoms; in the case of the advisory, for respiratory conditions. So why did the ministry publish unscientific statements? And what drives the almost instantaneously binary reaction to claims from traditional knowledge practices?

To answer this, its necessary to understand the history of medical education in India. Like all education before colonial times, Ayurveda too was also taught in the guru-shishya parampara, a system in which the student was immersed in the gurus household and practice, with a strong hands-on training component. Modern medicine came with the colonialists. In 1822, instructions in western and Indian medicine (Unani and Ayurveda) commenced in Calcutta, but by 1835 Thomas Macaulay effected a policy to withdraw support for instructions in native languages as well as for native medical practices.

Hereon, the colonial and later Indian governments undertook investments to increase the number of medical colleges offering education in western medicine in the country. The Medical Council of India Act of 1956 institutionalised this process, and has since decided on the MBBS degree curriculum. Meanwhile, it was predominantly princely endowments that helped the Indian state setup institutions to train students in traditional medicine. The Maharaja of Travancore had established one of the oldest in 1889 in Thiruvananthapuram, and which has since become the Government Ayurveda Medical College. However, it was not until 1970, with the passing of the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, that Ayurveda and Unani training became institutionalised.

This regulatory divide at the top ensured that from the very start of professional training, modern and traditional medical practitioners are kept separated. To this day, an MBBS degree includes no courses in traditional medicine and vice versa, although Ayurveda doctors do study modern anatomy and physiology. While modern biological sciences like biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, etc. are part of an MBBS education, they find no mention in a BAMS degree. Each group is siloed off, and further divided by socio-cultural imprints, with a rather ungenerous alternate label attached to traditional medicinal practices. Even on campuses that have a cluster of excellent science research departments, there is no exchange of staff and students between the Ayurveda college and the rest of the sciences. Structural bifurcation doesnt stop at medical education: it also extends to biomedical research.

Also read: How the Calcutta Medical College Led to the Rise of Biomedicine in India

In 2014, the government decided to hive off what was until then the Department AYUSH as a separate ministry to boost teaching, research and engagement with Indias traditional medical systems. This would have been an excellent policy decision had it not resulted in programmes where, once again, researchers and practitioners of modern biology are not actively involved in grant-giving committees or policy discussions. Its almost certain that the AYUSH ministry did not run their new advisory by any virologist in the country either, not because there arent any but because they dont feature on their rolodex of experts.

Thus we have a treasure trove of information on medical practices that have not been examined in a system that we know as the scientific method. The practice of testing hypotheses and rigorously demonstrating cause and effect has not permeated AYUSH. A favourite refrain of traditional medical practitioners is that it is difficult to perform clinical trials in the strict reductionist approach of modern science because, by philosophy, traditional medicine is personalised.

This is only the start of differences in vocabulary that then precipitate a binary situation: either believe in traditional medicine or dont. But what if we removed belief from this conversation? We must embrace openness and look for commonalities, the most important being that both streams are about saving lives and improving the quality of life. Modern medicine needs to acknowledge that it doesnt have a treatment for all diseases just as much as traditional medicine needs to acknowledge the same thing. We need more conversations between practitioners and researchers of both medical streams to start unpacking the potential of integrative treatments: the success of traditional medicine for chronic illnesses plus the superior surgical skills and life-saving technologies of modern medicine.

Further, we need to reimagine clinical trials to include personalised approaches to healing with metrics that include formulations as well as single chemical entities. We need the participation of the research fraternity, from biologists to statisticians and engineers, to describe new metrics to measure the efficacy of traditional medicine. Unfortunately, the only way an Ayurveda vaidya interacts with these professions today is in the form of a patient.

A lack of cohesive policymaking that aims to rigorously evaluate and integrate knowledge streams for human wellbeing is preventing us from reaping the full potential of the two. Remarkably, the Charaka Samhita, a basic textbook in Ayurveda, describes a good physician as one who is dynamic and constantly evolving. Its time to take this classical advice seriously.

Megha is an assistant professor at the Centre for Ayurveda Biology and Holistic Nutrition, The University for Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Bengaluru. The views expressed here are personal.

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It's Time the AYUSH Medicinal Systems Developed a New Vocabulary - The Wire

Jeff Boyd will be serving as vice president and chief scientific officer and director of the Center for Genomic Medicine at Northwell Health Systems Cancer Institute in Lake Success. He will also hold an appointment as professor and member of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cancer Center.

Boyd, who began in his position on Feb. 10, was working at the Miami Cancer Institute when he received the offer from Northwell.

It sounded like a great opportunity, Boyd said. Part of it involved being director of the Center for Genomic Medicine, being chief of science for the Cancer Institute, working at the Cold Spring Harbor lab, strengthening that relationship, providing them access to oncologists here, as well as tissue specimens and such that they need in a cancer research lab.

Part of the doctors job will involve the creation of a clinical laboratory and molecular diagnostic lab certified by the Department of Health, where researchers can obtain tumor specimens from cancer patients, isolate DNA and use a state-of-the-art technology known as next-generation DNA sequencing to define genetic architecture of a specific tumor in an individual.

Every breast cancer is different, liver cancer is different, colon cancer is different by the person, Boyd said.

The institute is also looking into the mutations that cause normal cells to turn cancerous, matching certain mutations to specific drugs in a way that Boyd likens to a lock and key.

Were at a point now in our understanding of cancer genetics in drugs being developed that we can match specific drugs precision cancer medicine match a drug to a mutation in that patients tumor, and it stops what its doing to make a normal cell a cancer cell, Boyd said. Thats whats looking to replace chemotherapy. Most of the therapy is nontoxic, it would describe mutations in tumor and any drugs available for that mutation, and thats the future of cancer treatment.

Another operational unit has to do with banking cancer specimens and fluids like blood and urine from cancer patients, where a state-of-the-art specimen vial depository that will take samples ranging from tumor tissue, blood, and urine, all connected to electronic med record.

The days of taking small bits of tumor or vials of blood and putting them in freezer are gone, Dr. Boyd said.

These specimens will be available to any researchers in the Northwell system, as well as those in the Cold Spring Harbor laboratory.

Our colleagues at Cold Spring Harbor are important to the success of our work, Dr. Boyd said.

Dr. Richard Barakat, physician-in-chief and director of the Northwell Health Cancer Institute and senior vice president of cancer services at Northwell Health, had worked with Dr. Boyd at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Genomics has become an important piece to helping us understand the genetic roots of the various forms of cancer, which is why it has become an important area of investment for Northwell Health, Barakat said. We are extremely fortunate to have such an esteemed cancer researcher and internationally-known genomics expert such as Boyd to join the Cancer Institutes leadership team.

Boyd has over 30 years of cancer research experience, most recently serving on the executive leadership team of the Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida as associate deputy director of translational research and genomic medicine.

He also served as a professor and chair of the department of human and molecular genetics, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and associate dean for basic research and graduate programs at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University.

Prior to joining the Miami Cancer Institute in 2015, Dr. Boyd held senior leadership positions at prominent cancer centers across the country, serving as the first executive officer of the Cancer Genome Institute at the Fox Chase Center in Philadelphia, Penn.

He also held numerous senior positions at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and served as a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania and the National Institutes of Health.

Boyd says he and his wife are in the process of moving and hope to live in Lloyd Harbor, close to the Cold Spring Harbor laboratories.

I like to build things, Dr. Boyd said. Ive been in this cancer research and clinical care space for decades, and there is unparalleled opportunity here.

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Boyd named chief scientific officer at Cancer Institute - News - The Island Now

Recipients of INF awards, from left, areSumeet Banker, Jennifer Woo-Baidal, Andrew Geneslaw, Julia Wynn, and Rebecca Hough. Not pictured: Michael DiLorenzo. (Photo: Charles Manley)

Six Columbia pediatrics researchers were awarded start-up funding from the Department of Pediatrics through a new Innovation Nucleation Fund. The recipients, announced during a department faculty meeting on Feb. 13, areSumeet Banker, MD, MPH,Michael DiLorenzo, MD, Julia Wynn, MS,Rebecca Hough, MD, PhD,Jennifer Woo-Baidal, MD, MPH, andAndrew Geneslaw, MD.

The fund wasestablished this year with contributions to the Department of Pediatrics from private donorsand is designed to bring a venture capital approach to supporting new research in childrens health.

The Innovation Nucleation Fund will allow our talented faculty the freedom to pursue innovative, bold ideas in research that could lead to the next major breakthrough in childrens health, saysJordan S. Orange, MD, PhD, the Reuben S. Carpentier Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Awards of $10,000 to $50,000 were given to faculty whose projects demonstrated an ability to advance the departments mission of engaging in advocacy, clinical work, education, and basic or clinical translational research.

Advocacy

Sumeet Banker, MD, MPH,assistant professor of pediatrics in child and adolescent health, will study how to improve disparities in care and communication for children and families with limited proficiency in English.

Clinical Program

Michael DiLorenzo, MD,assistant professor of pediatrics in pediatric cardiology, will investigate the use of transcatheter-based imaging to treat lung problems caused by the accumulation of lymphatic fluid in children with congenital heart defects.

Education

Julia Wynn, MS, associate professor of genetic counseling in molecular genetics, will develop an interactive video educational tool to increase participation in pediatric genomics studies. Co-investigators on the project are Priyanka Ahimaz, MS, assistant professor of genetic counseling; Ilana Chilton, MS, lecturer in genetic counseling; Emily Griffin, MS, lecturer in genetic counseling; and Rebecca Hernan, MS, genetic counselor.

Basic/Translational Research

Rebecca Hough, MD, PhD,assistant professor of pediatrics in pediatric critical care medicine, will use imaging of live mouse lungs to better understand cell-to-cell communication underlying pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome, with the goal of developing targeted therapies for the condition.

Clinical/Translational Research

Jennifer Woo-Baidal, MD, MPH, assistant professor of pediatrics in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition, with co-investigator Dodi Meyer, MD, professor of pediatrics, will evaluate the implementation of Food FARMacia, a novel, clinically based food assistance program to prevent childhood obesity by tackling food insecurity in families with children under age 5.

Faculty INF Award

Andy Geneslaw, MD,instructor in pediatrics in pediatric critical care medicine, will use mobile technology to understand the neurodevelopment effect of severe respiratory failure in infants and toddlers.

A total of 25 proposals were submittedfor consideration by five senior faculty from the Department of Pediatrics.The application process was extremely competitive, and we received many superb proposals, says Orange. We look forward to seeing the impact of these brilliant researchers and their efforts in the near future.

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Columbia Pediatrics Researchers Receive Seed Funding for Innovative Research - Columbia University Irving Medical Center

University Showcase 2/21 8a: Alzheimers and dementia represent a growing crisis around the world and New Mexico faces many challenges in addressing these illnesses.

On this episode we highlight a conference organized by the Alzheimer's Foundation of America coming to the University of New Mexico on February 25.

It is open to the public and no tickets are required, but participants can register here.

We also talk with Dr. Gary Rosenberg, founder of the UNM Memory & Aging Center.

The center opened in 2016 and focuses on advancing research on dementia and helping expand care around the state.

And we check in one with Nicole Maphis, Ph.D candidate in UNMs Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, who is working on a vaccine for Alzheimers with Kiran Bhaskar, an associate professor in UNMs Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, and Bryce Chackerian, Professor and Vice Chair, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. Find the previous interview we did with these researchers here.

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Tackling Alzheimer's and dementia in New Mexico - KUNM

Feb. 19, 2020

A Michigan State University scientist is determined to increase the number of women and girls going into STEM fields. Kayla Conner is a doctoral candidate in theDepartment of Microbiology and Molecular Geneticswho says she wouldnt be the student she is today if it werent for her high school chemistry teacher, Ms. Hardin.

Conner is part of MSUsBroadening Experiences in Scientific Training, an experimental program dedicated to empowering graduate student trainees to develop professional skills and experiences. Recently, reporters with WKAR News sat down with some of the BEST students to learn more about their inspiring life stories. Listen to the audio clip to hear Conners story in her own words and those of Hardin.

Conner is currently studying what happens to the placenta when a woman gets an infection during pregnancy and what that could mean for the fetus. Shes researching possible ways to stop some of the negative consequences that happen because of infection.

If a woman gets infected with any sort of ailment during pregnancy, whether it be the cold or the flu, it causes inflammation in the mother, says Conner. And that can lead to downstream effects, whether that is stillbirth, preterm labor, birth defects or even ailments later in life.

Conner was raised in Maynardville, Tennessee, and attended a small high school where she found the atmosphere to be less than encouraging and lacking resources for students who wanted to pursue higher education.

A lot of people have the mentality, Im from here so, therefore, I cant, and its really sad, she says. I really dont want people to have that mentality because even though you are from there you can do wonderful things. I dont think I would have had that drive without Ms. Hardin.

Conner looked up to her chemistry teacher and found encouragement to continue her studies.

She told me how well I was doing even when I felt like I wasnt, says Conner. I thought, Man, you know if she thinks I can do it, then maybe I can.

Hardin says that Conner gives her too much credit.

She has a scientific mind and shes curious, says Hardin. It was obvious to me. She had a natural talent for it. As a teacher, I encourage all my students, especially girls, to not look at science and math as something that boys do. You work at it. You keep plugging away and you can do it too.

For Conner, having women who have helped support her has been extremely important. Ive had women who told me that I can and who have helped me in every way they possibly can, she says. I think its important to give back and be that person for someone else. I go to the Girl Scout troops. I have a little outreach program where I do some hands-on activities and I give a talk. Its a fun time.

Only about 24 percent of the STEM workforce is made up of women. There have been studies that have shown that girls in lower education elementary and middle school show the same interest in STEM courses and enroll in courses at the same rates as their male student counterparts, but once it reaches the level of higher education, women do not seek out STEM courses as frequently as men do.

Conner recognizes the disconnect that is happening and strives to inspire talented women to pursue STEM careers.

Its not a mans game, Conner says. It is absolutely a womans game as well. We can be awesome scientists and be awesome mothers, friends and daughters and be whatever we want to be.

MSU BEST seeks to enhance trainees abilities to develop the confidence and competencies useful in navigating and choosing from diverse career opportunities.Learn more about becoming part of the BEST community.

Photos and video by Alec Gerstenberger.

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Shaping the future: Microbiologist's career inspired by influential teacher - MSUToday

Bolesaw Bierut, the communist leader, hands over the casket containing Chopin's heart to Mayor of Warsaw Stanisaw Towiki in 1945. Public domain

When Chopin died in France at the early age of thirty-nine his famous deathbed wish was that his heart should be cut out from his body and sent to Poland.

Terrified of waking up in his own coffin, he said to his sister Ludwika, Swear to make them cut me open, so that I wont be buried alive.

This final morbid request set in motion an astonishing series of events connected with his heart that have lasted over 170 years.

They have involved his heart being smuggled into Tsarist-controlled Poland in a jar of cognac, lying for years in a junk yard, being seized, or perhaps saved, by the Germans during the Warsaw Uprising and finally being the subject of intriguing scientific analysis.

It was this last chapter that caught the attention of the world a few years ago, when Chopins heart was taken out of its casket from a pillar in the Holy Cross Church in Warsaw for the first time since October 1945.

It is common to hear in Poland that Chopin died of a broken heart that longed for its homeland. The real reason for his death, though, was widely attributed to tuberculosis. Yet, there have been doubts about the real cause for more than 170 years.

Chopin pictured in 1849. The composer was plagued by ill health for most of his life.Public domain

Chopin was sickly for most of his life. At the age of 28, he weighed just 45 kg and was diagnosed with tuberculosis, which was treated with fasting and drawing blood.

He often suffered from respiratory infections and coughed for most of his life. Throughout his last 10 years he took opium.

The report prepared by doctors upon his death no longer exists. However, accounts say that the cause of death was given as lung and laryngeal tuberculosis. Over the years, other hypotheses appeared, including cystic fibrosis.

Scientists thought that if they could examine his heart, they could finally determine the cause of his death.

After warnings that the alcohol in the jar containing the organ might have evaporated after 170 years, they finally got their chance when church bosses agreed to open the casket.

When a carefully selected conclave of churchmen and scientists met in secret late one April night in 2014 to open the casket, what they found was an enlarged and floppy heart, still submerged in an amber-brown liquid. This was most likely cognac, commonly used for tissue preservation in the 19th century.

Chopin's heart arriving in Warsaw in 1945.NAC

The researchers saw that the heart was covered with a fine coating of white fibrous materials. Small lesions were visible, the tell-tale symptoms of serious complications of tuberculosis.

The researchers concluded the musician had suffered from pericarditis, a rare complication of chronic tuberculosis. The diagnosis was published in the American Journal of Medicine at the end of 2017.

One of the authors, Professor Micha Witt, head of the Department of Molecular and Clinical Genetics of the Institute of Human Genetics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Pozna, said: We didnt open the jar [] But from the state of the heart we can say, with high probability, that Chopin suffered from tuberculosis while the complication pericarditis was probably the immediate cause of his death.

The heart in a hermetically sealed crystal jar 16 centimetres high and 12 centimetres in diameter. The preserving liquid had lost at most half a centimetre.

The jar was located in a wooden box lined with lead panels. They did not open the jar. Instead, after a thorough visual examination, they strengthened the seal with bees wax.

One thing that they noticed was that the heart had suffered slight damage, probably from being buffeted on the journey from Paris to Warsaw.

An examination of the heart in 2014 came to the conclusion that Chopin had died from complications caused by TB.hopin's heart I should credit all those guys? Micha Witt, Artur Szklener, Wojciech Marchwica, Tadeusz Dobosz

The journey is believed to have taken place in 1850. At the time Poland was a constituent part of the Russian empire. Chopin was regarded as a national hero, so to avoid difficulties with the Tsarist authorities Chopins sister Ludwika decided to smuggle the heart into Warsaw. Legend says that she hid the jar with his heart under her skirt.

It was Chopin's wish to be laid to rest with his family in Powzki cemetery in Warsaw. However, as only his heart came back to the country, the choice was made to give it to the Holy Cross Church.

This was where all the family celebrations had been held, it was the Chopin family's parish church and it was the most important church in Warsaw.

Unfortunately, the church did not want the composers heart. His relationship with the progressive writer George Sand, who changed lovers like pairs of gloves, was deemed a scandal by the church hierarchy.

The heart of one of the worlds greatest ever composers was therefore dumped in part of the crypt where broken odds and ends were kept, in effect a junkyard.

It was probably thanks to this that it survived the plunder of the church by Russians soldiers during the 1863 January Uprising. In 1880, and epitaph was finally ordered. However in the intervening years, people had forgotten exactly where the heart was.

The current resting place of the heart in the Holy Cross Church.Kalbar/TFN

Eventually, a local journalist tracked it down to the crypt and the heart was moved to the main church with great honour.

His heart stayed there until the Warsaw Uprising in 1944 when it faced its greatest danger. But what exactly happened to Chopins heart during that turbulent time remains a mystery.

According to the wartime account of Father Alojzy Niedziela, a young priest at the Holy Cross Church, a German chaplain entered the church in early August and said that eventually the fighting would engulf the church. He asked therefore that Chopins heart be removed for its safekeeping.

There also exists a German newsreel film dated September 9, 1944 showing SS General Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski, accompanied by a unit standing to attention, giving the casket with Chopin's heart to Archbishop Antoni Szlagowski.

The Archbishop is said to have taken the heart to Milanwek and hidden it inside a piano until October 17, 1945, when it returned to Warsaw.

Some stories claim that a German priest may have removed the heart from the church during the war, thus saving it from destruction.Leszek Szymaski/PAP

However, Home Army reports say that the heart was in their possession when they seized the church around August 23, and that it only fell into German hands when they regained control of the church a few days later.

Chopin experts have not been able to reconcile the conflicting accounts to this day.

The heart finally came back to the Holy Cross Church on the anniversary of the composers death on October 17, 1945.

After all this turbulence, it looks likely that Chopins heart can now rest peacefully until the next scheduled viewing in 50 years.

However, some scientists are keen to open it and carry out DNA tests. Professor Witt opposes this idea though.

Genetic testing would require the jar to be opened, which could expose the preparation to serious damage as the atmosphere inside can change dramatically. This can have a very bad effect on what is inside, he said.

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Home is where the heart lies: the amazing story of Chopin's heart - The First News

NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kallyope Inc., a leading biotechnology company focused on identifying and pursuing therapeutic opportunities involving the gut-brain axis, today announced that Peter Hecht, Ph.D., CEO of Cyclerion Therapeutics, has been appointed to the company's Board of Directors.

Prior to joining Cyclerion in 2019, Peter was co-founder and CEO of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals from 1998 to 2019. Under his leadership, Ironwood grew into a fully integrated research, development and commercial organization with more than 700 employees. During his tenure the company discovered, developed and commercialized LINZESS (linaclotide) globally for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and chronic constipation. In 2019, Peter led the tax-free separation of Ironwood's non-gastrointestinal (GI) assets and R&D team into Cyclerion, enabling Ironwood to be a profitable GI therapeutics-focused leader. After completion of the spin-off, Hecht joined Cyclerion as its first CEO. He holds a Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of California at Berkeley and was a post-doctoral research fellow at the Whitehead Institute.

"It is an exciting time to join Kallyope," said Hecht. "Their unique platform of integrated technologies has led to a new understanding of gut-brain circuits that has, in turn, resulted in the discovery of novel approaches to diseases of high unmet need in multiple therapeutic areas. I look forward to working with the team as the company begins to advance its portfolio of programs towards the clinic."

"We are delighted to welcome Peter to our Board of Directors at this pivotal time," said Nancy Thornberry, CEO of Kallyope. "As we progress our lead programs and expand our pipeline and novel platform, Peter's experience in building innovation-driven biotech startups into mature biopharmaceutical companies will be invaluable for us."

About Kallyope Inc.

Kallyope, headquartered at the Alexandria Centerfor Life Science in New York City, is a biotechnology company dedicated to unlocking the therapeutic potential of the gut-brain axis. The company's cross-disciplinary team integrates advanced technologies in sequencing, bioinformatics, neural imaging, cellular and molecular biology, and human genetics to provide an understanding of gut-brain biology that leads to transformational therapeutics to improve human health. The company's founders are Charles Zuker, Ph.D., Lasker Award winner Tom Maniatis, Ph.D., and Nobel laureate Richard Axel, M.D. For more information visitwww.kallyope.com.

Contact

Danielle Cantey(202) 337-0808dcantey@gpg.com

Morgan Warners(202) 337-0808mwarners@gpg.com

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Kallyope Inc. Appoints Peter Hecht to Board of Directors - BioSpace

In order to contain a virus, its important to know exactly what youre dealing with and the COVID-19 coronavirus is no different.

One of the key tools to try to contain or limit transmission of infectious diseases is case identification, saysSamira Mubareka, a virologist in the University of Torontos Faculty of Medicine and at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

If you identify cases, then you can contain them. If you miss them, then you dont.

Mubareka and her colleagueRobert Kozak, both in U of Ts department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology, are part of a local working group of scientists who are researching the novel coronavirus outbreak and are developing a suite of tools to control it.

One of their current projects involves using the latest in whole-genome sequencing technology to help hospitals characterize the virus more quickly. Their work may help to track the viruss evolution and trace its spread.

If the viruss genome was a book, were going to figure out its entire story, Kozak says.

Mubareka and Kozak collected specimens of the coronavirus from the first confirmed case in Canada, an adult male who was treated and eventually discharged from Sunnybrook after returning from Wuhan, China the epicentre of the outbreak. Two more cases in Ontario have since been confirmed: the original patients wife, who accompanied him to China, and a woman in her 20s in London, Ont. who had also traveled to Wuhan.

Worldwide, there are more than 73,300 confirmed cases ofCOVID-19 as of Feb. 18. More than 1,800 have died.

Robert Kozak, pictured here in the lab, andSamira Mubareka say their teams work will enable front-line hospital staff to run a test on-site, helping to identify and triage patients more efficiently (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

In Canada, where there are so far seven confirmed cases, health authorities say the risk remains low. But Mubareka and Kozak are preparing for any possible scenario.

You put a smoke alarm in your house even if you hope theres no fire, says Kozak, who previously worked at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg on Ebola and Zika.

Part of the teams work involves developing a test that will speed up the characterization of the virus. Currently, patient samples in Ontario are sent from local hospitals by courier to the Public Health Ontario lab in downtown Toronto for testing, and to the national lab in Winnipeg for confirmation.

The process can take a few days, depending on the hospitals distance from the labs and test volumes.

Mubareka and Kozak say their teams work in collaboration with McMaster University and infectious disease expert Allison McGeer of U of Ts Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Mount Sinai Hospital will enable front-line hospital staff to run a test on-site, helping to identify and triage patients more efficiently. The test involves using swabs from a patients nose and throat to do genomic testing to sequence the virus.

If theyre negative, you can take them [the patients] out of precautions and maybe even send them home, Kozak says. If theyre positive, then you can again take the appropriate precautions to isolate them and do everything else that needs to be done.

The researchers hope they can adapt the approach for mini-sequencers the size of a cell phone, so it can be used more widely.

Vivek Goel,U of Ts vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives,says the university worked quickly to mobilize support for the project.

With its cross-disciplinary expertise and close relationships with area hospitals, the university recognizes that its uniquely positioned to play a leadership role when it comes to these sorts of global health issues, Goel says.

We also have the benefit of having experienced the SARS outbreak in Toronto in 2003, so we know first-hand how important this sort of research can be.

The genomic testing being performed by the U of T-led group could also help researchers get a fuller picture of the mysterious illness.

Although genomic sequences of the virus were published and shared in public databases, many were deposited soon after the first cases were identified in Chinas Hubei province, according to Mubareka.

The problem is that was early on before it started going from person to person-to-person, she says, noting that viruses mutate.

There are only about 50 sequenced genomes of the virus, adds Kozak for about 48,000 confirmed cases.

Youre not getting a great snapshot, he says. Its tough to really understand a lot about the virus.

Among the nagging questions about COVID-19 that U of T and Sunnybrook researchers hope to answer are how long patients remain contagious and if the amount of the virus present in respiratory secretions is proportional to its severity.

Their work may help others understand how the virus spreads from point A to point B, and if its changing in ways that make it more dangerous.

The research team includes U of T students likeNatalie Bell, a second-year masters student in laboratory medicine and pathobiology who is also working with Mubareka on a project related to influenza from swine.

Its really interesting to see science happen in real time, especially being part of Sams lab [and] to see her involvement and the movement from lab to policy work, and how it impacts public health, Bell says.

Mubareka and Kozak plan to upload the sequencing data to public servers and share it with the world to help with epidemiological studies and vaccine design.

We will build global capacity any way that we can, Kozak says.

Mubareka and Kozak say their work was made possible thanks in part to the McLaughlin Centre, which provided emergency funding for the project. We have no shortage of ideas of things we can do to hopefully make a difference, Kozak says, but you always need someone to provide the resources to do it.

Stephen Scherer, the director of the McLaughlin Centre at U of T and a University Professor in the department of molecular genetics, says the centre wanted to make sure the researchers had the necessary funds to do their work in time.

Nobody is busier right now than this group, so we wanted to make the process as easy as possible for them, Scherer says. We also wanted these researchers to know the rest of us value their efforts to keep us safe.

Read more:
U of T and Sunnybrook virologists work on tools to combat coronavirus outbreak - News@UofT

The report titled Global Molecular Microbiology Market is one of the most comprehensive and important additions to Reportspedia archive of market research diaries. It offers thorough research and analysis of major aspects including market size, market growth rate, market profitability, industry cost structure, distribution channel, market trends, and key success factors of the market.

The report includes SWOT and PESTLE analyses to provide a deeper understanding of the industry. All of the foremost companies included in the report are profiled based on gross margin, market share, forthcoming strategies, recent expansions, target customer demographics, products and applications, and other critical factors. The report also offers regional analysis of the Molecular Microbiology market with high focus on market growth, growth rate, and growth potential.

Global Molecular Microbiology Market is valued at USD XX million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ XX million till 2025, rising at a CAGR of 7.8% during the period 2019 to 2025.

Major Players involved in the Global Molecular Microbiology Market:

Roche, Myriad Genetics, Abbott, Qiagen, Danaher (Cepheid), Illumina, Agilent, BioMerieux, Hologic, DAAN Gene, Genomic Health, BD, Foundation Medicine,

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Market Competition

The vendor landscape and competitive scenarios of the global Molecular Microbiology industry are broadly analyzed to help market players gain competitive advantage over their competitors. Market players can use the analysis to prepare themselves for any future challenges well in advance. They will also be able to identify opportunities to attain a position of strength in the global Molecular Microbiology industry. Furthermore, the examination will help them to successfully channelize their strategies, strengths, and resources to gain maximum advantage.

The Essential Content Covered in the Global Molecular Microbiology Industry Report:

* Top Key Company Profiles.

* Main Business and Rival Information

* SWOT Analysis and PESTEL Analysis

* Production, Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin

* Market Share and Size

The Molecular Microbiology Industry segment by regions includes:

Americas (United States, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil), APAC (China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, and Australia), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, and Spain), and Middle East & Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, and GCC Countries).

Global Molecular Microbiology Market Segmentation by Product:

By Type Molecular Microbiology market has been segmented into Quantitative PCR Detection Diagnostic Kits, Pathogenic Microorganisms Diagnostic Kits, etc.

Global Molecular Microbiology Market Segmentation by Application:

By Application Molecular Microbiology has been segmented into Human, Veterinary, etc.

Inquire Here For Queries Or Report Customization: : https://www.reportspedia.com/report/life-sciences/global-molecular-microbiology-market-2020-by-company,-regions,-type-and-application,-forecast-to-2025/50888#inquiry-before-buying

Key Questions Answered

1) What will be the size and CAGR of the global Molecular Microbiology market in 2025?

2) Which product will gain the highest request?

3) Which application could show the best development/growth?

4) What will be the competitive landscape in future?

5) Which players will lead the global Molecular Microbiology market in the coming years?

6) Which region will gain the largest share of the industry?

The report offers comprehensive analysis of the value chain, production, consumption, sales, and opportunities in the global Molecular Microbiology market. Market players can also use it to get useful endorsements and suggestions from market experts and knowledgeable industry analysts.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

1 Industry Overview

2 Industry Chain Analysis

3 Manufacturing Technology of Molecular Microbiology market

4 Major Manufacturers Analysis

5 Global Productions, Revenue and Price Analysis of Molecular Microbiology market by Regions, Creators, Types and Applications

6 Global and Foremost Regions Capacity, Production, Revenue and Growth Rate of Molecular Microbiology industry 2015-2019

7 Consumption Volumes, Consumption Value, Import, Export and Trade Price Study of Molecular Microbiology market by Regions

8 Gross and Gross Margin Examination

9 Marketing Traders or Distributor Examination

10 Worldwide Impacts on Molecular Microbiology Industry

11 Development Trend Analysis

12 Contact information

13 New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis

14 Conclusion of the Global Molecular Microbiology Industry 2019 Market Research Report

Continued

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Global Molecular Microbiology Market Increasing Demand with Leading Player, Comprehensive Analysis, Forecast 2025 - News Times

A team of researchers from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine has identified a novel protein that would prevent the development of neuropathy in cancer patients who receive chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy is one of the most commonly recommended treatments for many forms of cancer. One major side effect, however, is peripheral neuropathy, or the damage or dysfunction of one or more nerves that typically results in numbness, tingling, muscle weakness and pain in the affected area. It frequently starts in a patient's hands and feet, though other regions and parts of the body can also be affected.

At the moment, there is no way to prevent or treat neuropathy caused by chemotherapy drugs. The only option is to limit or discontinue the chemotherapy treatment. As a result, many patients are not able to tolerate chemotherapy well.

In a recent study published by theJournal of Biological Chemistry, a team of researchers jointly led by Assistant Professor Raymond Deron Herr and Assistant Professor Raghav Sundar from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine set out to examine whether S1P2, a receptor protein that resides on the surface of cells in the nervous system, is a potential target in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. The team first looked at the effects of platinum-based chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin, on the regulation of S1P2 and found that chemotherapy alters S1P2 activity. The team further demonstrated that the activation of S1P2 with a drug-like compound, can protect the nerve cells from damage and pain. This is in contrast to the accumulation of free radicals in nerves, leading to nerve degeneration when the receptor is removed. The team concluded that it is possible to block both the nerve injury and the pain when S1P2 is activated with a drug while administering cisplatin.

There are three major classes of drugs that cause neuropathy: platinum compounds (cisplatin and oxaliplatin), taxanes (paclitaxel), and a targeted medication known as bortezomib.

"While the study focused on the effects of cisplatin, based on what we know about the molecular processes, it is likely that an S1P2 drug will work in all cases of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. Furthermore, it is possible that such a drug could treat many other forms of neuropathy, such as those caused by nerve injury, autoimmune disease, or diabetes," said Dr Herr.

"Neuropathy or numbness from chemotherapy is a common and debilitating side-effect faced by patients, with few proven treatments. Our study provides a deeper understanding of the biology of this condition, allowing potential treatments to reduce chemotherapy-induced neuropathy to be developed. We are currently exploring new drug molecules that would allow the activation of S1P2 in a more effective and stable manner," added Dr Sundar, who is also a Consultant with the Department of Haematology-Oncology at the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS) and the National University Hospital.

Reference: Wang, et al. (2020) Activation of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 2 attenuates chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. Journal of Biological Chemistry DOI:10.1074/jbc.RA119.011699

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

Continued here:
Protein Prevents Neuropathy From Chemotherapy - Technology Networks

High levels of glucose in the blood can damage the peripheral nerves in your body, causing decreased sensation in the feet and hands as well as problems to the urinary tract, digestive system, and heart. With over 60 per cent of diabetics eventually developing peripheral neuropathy, it is one of the main secondary complications they face. Mild to moderate symptoms include pain, numbness and tingling sensation in the feet and legs. Fortunately, diabetic neuropathy can be prevented if strict control is maintained on blood sugar levels on a daily basis. Lifestyle changes and complementary therapies can help achieve this effectively. Three of the most commonly practiced alternative therapies to help prevent diabetic neuropathy are naturopathy, yoga and acupuncture.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture uses the science of inserting long, fine needles at various points in the body to stimulate the sensory receptors and stimulate them. A study published in the Journal of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine found that acupuncture drastically improves the positive effects of diabetes medication and alleviates the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. Once they started the acupuncture regimen, the success rate of the symptom score went up from 8 percent to 90 per cent. The neuropathic disability score also went up from 37.45 to 90 once acupuncture was introduced into the treatment regimen.

Naturopathic and yogic interventions to improve diabetic neuropathy

Diet and exercise: The best defense against progressive damage from diabetic neuropathy is to manage the disease itself. Keep your blood sugar levels in check by eating healthy. Ensure that your diet includes a lot of fiber rich foods and whole grains, and very little saturated and trans fats. Structured physical interventions also play an important role in keeping blood sugar levels in check. Make sure you get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every day. Meditation and deep breathing can help you manage chronic stress.

Supplements: Winter ginseng is very effective at keeping the blood sugar in control and managing the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Not only does it help increase the level of serum insulin, it also improves the insulin sensitivity of muscle cells as well as the bodys glucose tolerance, thereby easing the severity of diabetic neuropathy.

Yoga poses for the management of neuropathy

Yoga helps improve blood flow to the extremities, improves the bodys glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.

Exercise for feet and hands: Sit down in padmasana and extend your arms fully in front of your chest. This pose will help stretch both fingers and toes. It will help improve blood flow to the periphery and strengthen your nerves. If you can do it for a few minutes every day, you will start to experience relief.

Poses for diabetic neuropathy: If the condition is not severe, then traditional hatha yoga poses like trikonasana, ustrasana and dhanurasana will do. If the neuropathy is more advanced, it needs gentler practice under the guidance of a trained instructor. However, you can still benefit from gentle twist exercises, meditation and closely supervised backbends.

More:
Yoga to acupuncture: Alternative therapies to prevent diabetic neuropathy - Business Standard

The report titled Global Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market is one of the most comprehensive and important additions to Reportspedia archive of market research diaries. It offers thorough research and analysis of major aspects including market size, market growth rate, market profitability, industry cost structure, distribution channel, market trends, and key success factors of the market.

The report includes SWOT and PESTLE analyses to provide a deeper understanding of the industry. All of the foremost companies included in the report are profiled based on gross margin, market share, forthcoming strategies, recent expansions, target customer demographics, products and applications, and other critical factors. The report also offers regional analysis of the Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment market with high focus on market growth, growth rate, and growth potential.

Global Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market is valued at USD XX million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ XX million till 2025, rising at a CAGR of 6.2% during the period 2019 to 2025.

Major Players involved in the Global Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market:

Aptinyx Inc, Sova Pharmaceuticals Inc, MAKScientific LLC, Asahi Kasei Pharma Corp, PledPharma, Regenacy Pharmaceuticals, Immune Pharmaceuticals Inc, Nemus Bioscience Inc, Metys Pharmaceuticals AG, DermaXon LLC, WinSanTor, Kineta Inc, Solasia Pharma K.K., Apexian Pharma, Krenitsky Pharmaceuticals Inc, PeriphaGen,

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Market Competition

The vendor landscape and competitive scenarios of the global Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment industry are broadly analyzed to help market players gain competitive advantage over their competitors. Market players can use the analysis to prepare themselves for any future challenges well in advance. They will also be able to identify opportunities to attain a position of strength in the global Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment industry. Furthermore, the examination will help them to successfully channelize their strategies, strengths, and resources to gain maximum advantage.

The Essential Content Covered in the Global Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Industry Report:

* Top Key Company Profiles.

* Main Business and Rival Information

* SWOT Analysis and PESTEL Analysis

* Production, Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin

* Market Share and Size

The Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Industry segment by regions includes:

Americas (United States, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil), APAC (China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, and Australia), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, and Spain), and Middle East & Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, and GCC Countries).

Global Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market Segmentation by Product:

By Type Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment market has been segmented into Calcium Channel 2-delta Ligands, Antidepressants, Opioids, Others, etc.

Global Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market Segmentation by Application:

By Application Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment has been segmented into Platinum Agents, Taxanes, Vinca Alkaloids, Others, etc.

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Key Questions Answered

1) What will be the size and CAGR of the global Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment market in 2025?

2) Which product will gain the highest request?

3) Which application could show the best development/growth?

4) What will be the competitive landscape in future?

5) Which players will lead the global Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment market in the coming years?

6) Which region will gain the largest share of the industry?

The report offers comprehensive analysis of the value chain, production, consumption, sales, and opportunities in the global Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment market. Market players can also use it to get useful endorsements and suggestions from market experts and knowledgeable industry analysts.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

1 Industry Overview

2 Industry Chain Analysis

3 Manufacturing Technology of Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment market

4 Major Manufacturers Analysis

5 Global Productions, Revenue and Price Analysis of Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment market by Regions, Creators, Types and Applications

6 Global and Foremost Regions Capacity, Production, Revenue and Growth Rate of Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment industry 2015-2019

7 Consumption Volumes, Consumption Value, Import, Export and Trade Price Study of Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment market by Regions

8 Gross and Gross Margin Examination

9 Marketing Traders or Distributor Examination

10 Worldwide Impacts on Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Industry

11 Development Trend Analysis

12 Contact information

13 New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis

14 Conclusion of the Global Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Industry 2019 Market Research Report

Continued

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Global Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market 2020 Research Report by Manufactures, Types, Applications and Forecast to 2025 ...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --In a report released this morning, the Personalized Medicine Coalition (PMC) explains how 12 personalized treatments and seven diagnostics the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved or cleared in 2019 will improve patient care and make the health system more efficient by addressing root causes of rare diseases, expanding treatment options for cancer patients, and targeting therapies to responder populations. The approvals and clearance decisions expand the frontiers of the rapidly evolving field of personalized medicine for the benefit of patients and health systems.

Personalized Medicine at FDA: The Scope & Significance of Progress in 2019defines personalized medicine as a field "in which physicians use diagnostic tests to determine which medical treatments will work best for each patient or use medical interventions to alter molecular mechanisms, often genetic, that cause disease or influence a patient's response to certain treatments." The report classifies 11 new therapeutic molecular entities and one gene therapy as personalized treatments. Five of those treatments are the first to address root causes of devastating rare diseases. Four others provide new options for cancer patients, and two include FDA labeling that will help patients avoid debilitating and costly adverse side effects. The report also explains how seven newly cleared or approved diagnostics will help make the health care system more efficient by targeting treatments to only those patients who will benefit from them, sparing expenses and side effects for those who will not.

"Personalized Medicine at FDA: The Scope & Significance of Progress in 2019 reminds us that personalized medicine offers new hope to patients with devastating diseases as well as opportunities to avoid prescribing therapies that will be unsafe or ineffective for certain populations of patients," said Edward Abrahams, President, PMC.

In classifying 11 of the 44 (25 percent) new therapeutic molecular entities FDA approved last year as personalized medicines, this year's report marks the sixth straight year that personalized medicines have accounted for more than 20 percent of the agency's new drug approvals. These approvals have increased sharply since 2005, when personalized medicines accounted for just 5 percent of newly approved therapies.

About the Personalized Medicine Coalition:The Personalized Medicine Coalition (PMC), representing innovators, scientists, patients, providers and payers, promotes the understanding and adoption of personalized medicine concepts, services and products to benefit patients and the health system. For more information about PMC, visit http://www.personalizedmedicinecoalition.org.

PRESS CONTACT

Christopher J. WellsVice President, Public AffairsPersonalized Medicine Coalitioncwells@personalizedmedicinecoalition.org (202) 589-1755

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SOURCE Personalized Medicine Coalition

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Personalized Medicine Products Advanced by FDA in 2019 Address Root Causes of Rare Diseases, Offer Expanded Options for Cancer Patients, and Help...

DUBLIN, Feb. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Personalized Medicine Market Analysis 2019" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Personalized Medicine market is expected to reach $3.92 trillion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 12.1% during the forecast period.

The efficient and advanced technology and higher prevalence of disease are driving the market growth. However, the higher cost of research and developments is hampering the market.

Based on the End-user, the hospital's segment is estimated to have a lucrative growth due to the lower cost personalized medicines availability in the hospitals. As the practice of personalized medicine becomes more widespread, hospitals will also experience the need to adapt. That does not mean every hospital and medical centre should try and drive the science, but they should be open to collaborations to facilitate such work.

The key vendors mentioned are Abbott Laboratories, Affymetrix Incorporated, Agendia N.V, Agilent Technologies, Inc, Amgen, Inc, Asuragen Incorporated, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Llc, Celera Diagnostics LLC, Celgene Corporation, Roche Diagnostics Corporation, Precision Biologics Incorporated, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Inc, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis AG, Decode Genetics Inc., Exact Science Corporation, Exagen Diagnostics Inc., GE Healthcare, and Genelex Corporation.

Key Questions Answered in the Report

Key Topics Covered

1 Market Synopsis

2 Research Outline

3 Market Dynamics3.1 Drivers3.2 Restraints

4 Market Environment

5 Global Personalized Medicine Market, By Product5.1 Introduction5.2 Diagnostics5.3 Personalized Medical Care5.4 Personalized Nutrition & Wellness5.5 Therapeutics

6 Global Personalized Medicine Market, By Technology6.1 Introduction6.2 Metabolomics6.3 Pharmacodynamics6.4 Pharmacogenetics6.5 Pharmacogenomics6.6 Pharmacokinetics6.7 Pharmacoproteomics6.8 Point-of-Care Testing6.9 Stem Cell Therapy

7 Global Personalized Medicine Market, By Therapeutic Area7.1 Introduction7.2 Autoimmune Diseases7.3 Blood Transfusion Safety7.4 Cancer Management7.5 Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD)7.6 Central Nervous System (CNS) Disorders7.7 Coagulation Therapy7.8 Diabetes7.9 Infectious Diseases7.10 Antiviral7.11 Neurology7.12 Psychiatry7.13 Oncology7.14 Immunology7.15 Respiratory

8 Global Personalized Medicine Market, By Distribution Channel8.1 Introduction8.2 Dietary Care Centers8.3 Hospital's Pharmacies8.4 Retail Pharmacies8.5 Other Distribution Channels

9 Global Personalized Medicine Market, By Application9.1 Introduction9.2 Biomarker Identification9.3 Clinical Research Applications9.4 Companion Diagnostics9.5 Health Informatics

10 Global Personalized Medicine Market, By End-user10.1 Introduction10.2 Academic Institutes10.3 Bio and Health Informatics Companies10.4 Clinical Care and Research Laboratories10.5 Contract Research Organizations10.6 Hospitals10.7 Molecular Diagnostic Laboratories and Testing Facilities10.8 Research Laboratories10.9 Service Providers10.10 Partner10.11 Venture Capitalists10.12 Other End-users

11 Global Personalized Medicine Market, By Geography11.1 North America11.2 Europe11.3 Asia-Pacific11.4 South America11.5 Middle East & Africa

12 Strategic Benchmarking

13 Vendors Landscape13.1 Abbott Laboratories13.2 Affymetrix Incorporated13.3 Agendia N.V13.4 Agilent Technologies Inc.13.5 Amgen Inc.13.6 Asuragen Incorporated13.7 Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, LLC13.8 Celera Diagnostics LLC13.9 Celgene Corporation13.10 Roche Diagnostics Corporation13.11 Precision Biologics Incorporated13.12 Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.13.13 Sigma-Aldrich Corporation13.14 Johnson & Johnson13.15 Novartis AG13.16 Decode Genetics Inc.13.17 Exact Science Corporation13.18 Exagen Diagnostics Inc.13.19 GE Healthcare13.20 Genelex Corporation

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Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

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Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com

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Personalized Medicine Market Worth $3.92 Trillion by 2026 - Insights Into Diagnostics, Medical Care, Nutrition & Wellness, and Therapeutics - P&T...

US researchers continue ongoing research into 3D printed pharmaceuticals, presenting their unique findings in Polymers for Extrusion-Based 3D Printing of Pharmaceuticals: A Holistic Materials-Process Perspective.

While many have predicted that the pharmaceutical industry was perched on the edge of a massive transformation due to the advantages offered by 3D printing, there are still many ongoing studies regarding suitable printers, materials, and critical issues such as the impacts of DIY drugs and more formalized manufacturing. In this study, the researchers examine both extrusion-based FDM 3D printing and pressure-assisted micro-syringe 3D printing as they compare them to more traditional processes, along with techniques, challenges, and consider the general direction of the industry overall.

Within the pharmaceutical industry today, 3D printing has made impacts in digital fabrication of drugs, implants, drug delivery systems, and more; however, the researchers point out the importance of such processes especially in creating personalized medications. Citing the success, and FDA approval, of epilepsy drug SPRITAM, the authors stress advantages in the trend toward patient-specific treatmentand specifically, medicine.

Current pharmaceutical manufacturing practices are not costeffective for personalized medicine, state the researchers. 3D printing pharmaceuticals are more suitable than current manufacturing practices for tailored solid dosages.

Although the first waves of pharmaceutical 3D printing began with inkjet printing, strides since then have been not only impressive, but fascinating to much of the public, including:

FDM and PAM printing processes have been most attractive to users due to accessibility and affordability, the potential for fabricating and tuning complex geometries, and more.

(a) The proportion of research articles published on different types of 3D printing processes in the last five years (20152019, total 202 articles); (b) The number of published scientific articles (research and review) in the period from 2015 to 2019 which reported the use of extrusionbased (fused deposition modeling (FDM) or pressureassisted microsyringe (PAM)) 3D printing (source: Scopus database and PubMed).

Choosing the right materials is critical to the success of 3D printing medications also, along with the capability for attaining FDA approval. As a highly suitable material, polymers may be used to print the following in relation to tablets and caplets:

Polymers multifaceted utilization in solid dosage drug delivery systems solidifies its importance in pharmaceutical 3D printing applications, state the researchers.

2dimensional (2D) schematic of the extrusionbased 3D printing process: (a) fuseddeposition modeling (FDM), (b) pressureassisted microsyringe (PAM).

And while they have reviewed studies from multiple other scientists, the authors here point out that while such guides are needed, no detailed discussion on how polymers should be selectedalong with other detailsexists.

Comparison of FDM and PAM 3D printing technologies

Processing is very similar via FDM or PAM, with the extra benefit of being more environmentally friendly, offering the ability for remote control of printing, and small batch, on-demand printing.

Comparison of different processing steps required for traditional direct compression (DC) tablet manufacturing vs. advanced manufacturing, 3D printing (FDM or PAM).

Typical polymers that can be used for 3D printing in pharmaceuticals include:

Summary of polymers based on (a) water solubility and drug release type, (b) their selection for either FDM or PAM 3D printing method.

Obviously, the pharmaceutical industry is highly regulated, with good reason, and the production of medications can be complex due to stringent requirements in production for the safety of the patient. In terms of 3D printing, however, a list of challenges still present themselves such as lack of predictability and consistency in quality of product due to issues like shrinkage or warping, problems with mechanical stability and other properties, and more.

Though a large-scale production of pharmaceuticals using 3D printing might be a long way from now, personalized medicine is possible inhouse for immediate use, conclude the researchers. Future work to enable drug product manufacture using FDM and PAM 3D printing technologies should include the suitability and characterization of polymers and other excipients amenable to processing.

Polymer materials and their properties, specifically their rheology should be investigated to allow a wider formulation and 3D printing design space. A better understanding of the rheological properties of APIpolymer mixtures and their measurement is necessary for the successful 3D printing of pharmaceuticals.

What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts! Join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.

Characterizations required for 3D printed structure, drug, and polymer (or other functional excipients, if necessary).

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US Researchers Provide Holistic Perspective on Extrusion-Based 3D Printing of Personalized Medicine - 3DPrint.com

JUPITER, Fla., Feb. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Jupiter Medical Center is pleased to announce an affiliation with Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, providing access to groundbreaking cancer treatments to residents in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. Part of the University of Miami Health System, Sylvester is South Florida's only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center.

The affiliation between Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Jupiter Medical Center will enable Jupiter cancer patients to have seamless access to Sylvester's highly specialized treatments, innovative therapies, world-renowned experts and clinical trials.

Patients with highly complex or rare cancers will benefit from the specialized expertise, leading-edge technology and clinical research available at NCI-designated cancer centers, such as Sylvester. Those treatments include bone marrow transplants, CAR T-cell immunotherapy, precision medicine approaches, cancer prevention, proton therapy coming later this year, and other new methods to preventing and treating cancer.

"Our affiliation allows patients to continue to receive world-class, personalized and comprehensive cancer care at Jupiter Medical Center, while making it easier for our patients to access the experts, specialized technology and scientific breakthroughs being made at Sylvester," said Dr. Amit Rastogi, president and chief executive officer of Jupiter Medical Center. "The relative proximity of Jupiter Medical Center and Sylvester will help support collaboration and cooperation between the medical teams at both institutions."

"We have a highly-qualified team of more than 300 cancer-focused physicians and researchers working together to deliver world class expertise in cancer prevention, innovative treatments and survivorship to patients," said Dr. Stephen D. Nimer, director of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. "This affiliation allows Sylvester to work with a hospital that shares our mission to make advanced cancer care available to a broader community. We are very happy to have an opportunity to work with Jupiter Medical Center to provide pioneering treatments to more patients from Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast."

Dedicated nurse navigators will facilitate communication and coordination of care between the medical teams at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Jupiter Medical Center. The agreement also provides opportunities for cancer experts from both medical centers to collaborate on patient evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment, sharing best practices to determine the best treatment plans for all types of cancer.

Jupiter Medical Center is home to the new Anderson Family Cancer Institute, a 55,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art cancer center opening in March 2020. Accredited by the American College of Radiology, the Commission on Cancer and the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, Jupiter Medical Center offers full spectrum of cancer care, including advanced diagnostics, personalized treatments provided by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, support services for family and caregivers and survivorship programs.

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of only 71 NCI-designed centers nationwide. This designation recognizes cancer centers that meet rigorous standards for multi-disciplinary care and state-of-the-art research focused on developing new approaches to treating and curing cancer.

About Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of UHealth - University of Miami Health System and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is the only cancer center in South Florida designated by the National Cancer Institute. NCI designation recognizes that Sylvester has met the most rigorous standards for cancer research, beginning in our laboratories, extending to patient care, and meeting specific needs in our community. Sylvester is known as South Florida's leader in patient-focused cancer research and care, offering the only Phase 1 Clinical Trials program the first step in evaluating how patients respond to the latest investigational treatments. NCI designation further expands Sylvester's ability to provide access to novel therapies through more clinical trials and collaboration with other designated centers. Equipped with a highly qualified team of more than 300 cancer-focused physicians and researchers working together, Sylvester discovers, develops, and delivers more precision cancer care. To serve current and future patients, Sylvester has a network of conveniently located outpatient treatment facilities throughout South Florida.

About Jupiter Medical Center

Ranked #1 for quality, patient safety and patient satisfaction, Jupiter Medical Center is the leading destination for world-class health care in Palm Beach County and the greater Treasure Coast. In 2019, the Leapfrog Group named Jupiter Medical Center a "Top Hospital," a distinction earned by only 6 percent of hospitals nationwide. Jupiter Medical Center is also the only hospital in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties to receive a 4-star quality and safety rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Outstanding physicians, state-of-the-art facilities, innovative techniques and a commitment to serving the community enable Jupiter Medical Center to meet a broad range of patient needs. The region's only independent, not-for-profit hospital, Jupiter Medical Center offers specialty concentrations in orthopedics and spine care; cancer care and oncology; cardiac and vascular care; neuroscience and stroke care; women's and children's services; urgent care; and other key areas. For more information on Jupiter Medical Center, please call (561) 263-2200 or visit jupitermed.com.

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CHICAGO, Feb. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Single-cell Analysis Marketby Cell Type (Human, Animal, Microbial), Product (Consumables, Instruments), Technique (Flow Cytometry, NGS, PCR, Mass Spectrometry, Microscopy), Application (Research, Medical Application), End User - Global Forecasts to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Single-cell Analysis Marketis projected to reach USD 5.6 billion by 2025 from USD 2.1 billion in 2019, at a CAGR of 17.8% during the forecast period.

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The growth in this market is driven by technological advancements in single-cell analysis products, increasing government funding for cell-based research, growing biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries, wide applications of single-cell analysis in cancer research, growing focus on personalized medicine, and the increasing incidence and prevalence of chronic and infectious diseases. However, the high cost of single-cell analysis products is expected to restrain the growth of this market to a certain extent during the forecast period.

The research applications segment accounted for the largest share of the market, by application, in 2018

Based on application, the Single-cell Analysis Market is segmented into research (cancer, immunology, neurology, stem cell, and other research applications) and medical applications (noninvasive prenatal diagnosis, in vitro fertilization, and circulating tumor cell detection). The research applications segment accounted for the largest share of the market in 2018. Increasing government initiatives in stem cell research and the wide usage of single-cell analysis in cancer research are the major factors driving the growth of the research applications segment.

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The flow cytometry segment accounted for the largest market share in 2018

Based on technique, the market is segmented into flow cytometry, NGS, PCR, microscopy, mass spectrometry, and other techniques. The flow cytometry segment accounted for the largest market share in 2018. The large share of this segment is attributed to the wide usage of flow cytometry in detecting and measuring the physical and chemical characteristics of a population of cells or particles. However, the NGS segment is projected to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period. The high growth of the NGS segment is driven by the increasing application of single-cell analysis products in drug discovery for cancer and other chronic diseases.

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North America dominates the Single-cell Analysis Market

The global market is segmented into five major regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In 2018, North America accounted for the largest share of the market. The growth in this market can be attributed to the increasing drug development activities in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, rising prevalence of chronic and infectious diseases, and an increase in stem cell research activities.

Prominent players in the Single-cell Analysis Market include Becton, Dickinson and Company (US), Danaher Corporation (US), Merck Millipore (US), QIAGEN (Netherlands), Thermo Fisher Scientific (US), General Electric Company (US), 10x Genomics (US), Promega Corporation (US), Illumina (US), Bio-Rad Laboratories (US), Fluidigm Corporation (US), Agilent Technologies (US), NanoString Technologies (US), Tecan Group (Switzerland), Sartorius AG (Germany), Luminex Corporation (US), Takara Bio (Japan), Fluxion Biosciences (US), Menarini Silicon Biosystems (Italy), and LumaCyte (US).

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Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Marketby Product (Reagents, Beads, Centrifuge), Cell Type (Human, Animal), Cell Source (Bone Marrow, Adipose), Technique (Filtration), Application (Cancer), End User (Hospitals, Biotechnology) - Global Forecast to 2024

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Single-cell Analysis Market Worth $5.6 Billion by 2025 - Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets - PRNewswire

Bringing new medicines to patients struggling with serious illness is the driving force behind drug discovery and development. Originating as small molecules, drugs have shifted to large molecule therapies and will continue to shift as precision medicine is adopted. In spite of these different types of drugs, the development time to create them has not changed dramatically. It still takes 10 to 15 years to bring a drug to market. For this reason, there is tremendous interest when it comes to finding ways to develop drugs with higher throughput methods. This article highlights advances in three technology areas that show great promise to speed the drug discovery and development process.Automation and roboticsThe need for automation and robotics is not a new topic in drug discovery but an area where great progress has been and continues to be made. Automation is essential to implementing high-throughput strategies. What started out as a solution to achieve higher throughput has extra benefits. An automated process provides better data quality due to process consistency. Human error is minimized, and the presence of an audit trail allows traceability if questions arise. Automation also provides walk away freedom for the scientist to pursue other tasks.

To witness an automated set up, one may find that each automation step may not be fast in and of itself. But consider the shift away from an 8-hour employee workday to one of continuous 24-hour operation. Screening projects are now reduced by at least a factor of 3, thus yielding higher throughput.

Automation can be categorized into three general modes defined as (1) batch, (2) semi-automated, and (3) integrated. The three modes range from limited to extensive on key automation criteria which include things like flexibility, walk away capabilities, number and complexity of tasks. Batch mode, for example still requires a scientist to load stacks of plates that then are subjected to a limited step in the process. Integrated automation, the most sophisticated, is capable of carrying out multiple scheduled steps facilitated by a robotic mover. This allows unmanned operation for extended periods providing walk away or overnight convenience.1An important consideration in any automated solution is the skill requirement of the operator. More sophisticated systems will require automation programming skills often leveraging automation engineers. Specialized training from the equipment vendor may also be required. Batch automation can often be accomplished with little specialized training. Compared to ten years ago, automation today has evolved and become more democratized. This continued trend will reduce the need for specialized training in the future with more turn-key and intuitive solutions becoming commercially available.

David Ebner, Principal investigator at the Target Discovery Institute in Oxford, UK explains: There are two key limiting factors for any group trying to do high-throughput screening today. The first is the expertise to translate a benchtop assay to a high-throughput platform and the second factor is the expense. Centralized core facilities are one way to address the expense factor. And as automation becomes more turn-key, the need for specialized engineers is reduced, allowing future resources to be more research scientist driven.

The discovery and development of small molecules and antibodies targeting T cell function, as well as T cell-based cell therapies and cell manufacturing, require assays to rapidly and reliably profile T cell activation and cell health. In this app note, discover how phenotypic screening addresses these needs, using a single assay to provide rapid, optimized monitoring of cell proliferation, activation markers and cytokines.

Microfluidic technology, a more extreme form of miniaturization, addresses some of these known fluid handling challenges.4 Microfluidic chips provide the benefits of reduced volumes while replacing liquid handling mechanics with channels connected to liquid reservoirs. In some cases, the device has integrated tools such as electrodes built-in and can combine multiple operational steps. 5Microfluidic devices are also able to isolate single cells, which can be further cultured on the chip. This ability removes cellular heterogeneity on cancer cell populations as an example. Traditional drug screening methods see response information from an average of all cells. The microfluidic solution allows analysis of a single cell's antidrug response.4 In addition to this cell-on-chip model, recent advances have led to tissue-on-chip and organ-on-chip models which are still early in development. These kind of chip models may someday provide a powerful alternative to animal models.6 Because they are early in development, they are not high- throughput solutions today. But they show great promise to speed determination of drug activity, optimal combinatorial drug screening and toxicity testing in the future.4Artificial intelligenceApplied to drug discovery, artificial intelligence (AI) has been used in medicinal chemistry for designing compounds since the 1960s. 7 Machine-learning tools like quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modeling have identified potential target molecules from millions of candidate compounds. 8 Today, AI has expanded its application in drug discovery to a range of tasks from robotics control to image analysis and logistics. AI has also been applied throughout the drug discovery process from target selection, hit identification, lead optimization through to preclinical studies and clinical trials. 7, 8Dr Mohammad HamediRad and colleagues at the University of Illinois explain that with new uses of AI, "the role of researcher changes from drivers of the experiments to supervisors of the system." AI, integrated with robotic systems enables automation of the design, build, test, and learn (DBTL) cycle. This results in a platform that designs experiments, executes them, analyzes the data then optimizes and executes subsequent experiments iteratively. This closed loop discovery reduces the total number of experiments and generates the best possible optimization. The concept was demonstrated by HamediRad and colleagues in 2019. Their fully-automated platform evaluated less than 1% of possible variants and outperformed traditional screening methods by 77%.9AI platforms can cut down the development time from lead molecule to a candidate by more than half. AI predicted molecules are more likely to be correct and allow a focused effort. Time isnt wasted testing irrelevant molecules which would have been worked on otherwise and make up 90% of the molecules tested by traditional methods.10 Currently, AI can help find novel compounds which are more potent and selective using high quality screening data sets much faster and at less expense than screening alone, explains Ebner.

Personalized or precision medicine is another area where AI plays an important role. Precision medicines are a growing proportion of drugs in the industry pipeline. 11 Extensive collections of human samples (diseased and healthy) are required for biomarker identification in developing a personalized medicine. 12 Typically, all samples are sequenced using next-generation sequencing which generates massive amounts of data. AI methods of deep-learning make analysis of these big data sets possible. 8Automation Journey Guide: How To Automate Simple to Complex Workflows For Achieving Results Beyond High-throughput

Laboratory automation is playing a key role in advancing scientific research, from pharmaceutical development to diagnostics. Whether it is to automate a simple or sophisticated workflow, automation is now used in labs throughout the world to increase their capacity and throughput. In this eBook, discover a detailed guide to introducing automation to your lab.

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High-throughput Technologies in Drug Discovery - Technology Networks