StemCell Therapy

IN 2016, INVENTOR and scientist Erik Gentalen reached out to a former colleague with exciting news, and a proposition.

"I started a company, and we could use some help," Gentalen said. The former colleague, Lena Wu, had worked with him around 15 years earlier as the director of business development at Caliper Technologies, a Mountain View, California-based bioresearch firm. Gentalen's new company, Intabio, would launch his latest invention, an instrument to analyze and ensure the efficacy and safety of biopharmaceutical drugs. Called the Blaze System, the machine could reduce the analysis time from weeks in some cases to less than 30 minutes per sample, dramatically shortening a drug's development period.

Wu joined Intabio's board later that year and became CEO the next. It was a hire that paid dividends in unexpected ways. When it came time to raise startup capital, Gentalen turned to Genoa Ventures managing director Jenny Rooke, whom he'd met through other investors in the life sciences industry.

"It was Erik's openness to bringing in Lena's complementary strengths that attracted me to the company," Rooke says. "When Lena joined forces with Erik as his business partner and Intabio's CEO, I knew the time was right."

In 2017, Rooke's San Francisco-based venture capital firm led Intabio's $3.2 million seed financing.

"It was clear from the earliest meeting that Jenny had great technical expertise, was willing to be collaborative in solving issues, and was thoughtful and strategic," Wu says. "Many people in Jenny's position are super supportive but not critical. She's the rare combination of both."

Rooke honed her expertise while earning a PhD in genetics at Yale, after which she worked at McKinsey advising pharmaceutical and biotech companies on business strategy. She also served in the executive ranks of U.S. Genomics (later called PathoGenetix), leading R&D and corporate development. Rooke knew the business. According to Wu, she had a keen eye for burnout, a common affliction among entrepreneurs. "She would say, 'You need to take a break. Now, go on vacation,' " Wu recalls. "I've never had another VC tell me to go on vacation."

Though Genoa didn't lead Intabio's Series A or Series B funding rounds, which brought the company's total funding to $30 million, Rooke introduced Wu to other investors and identified VCs to target. "We gained a great deal of credibility as a good investment given Jenny's reputation and the fact that she led our seed round," Wu says.

Intabio's first non-founder hire after raising capital was principal scientist Scott Mack, who helped develop the company's technology and was the first author of the company's published scientific paper describing the technology. (Mack's dog is also the Blaze System's namesake.) As of early 2021, Intabio had more than 40 employees.

Mack and Blaze (the system, not the dog) had their work cut out for them. Getting from a prototype that was tested only in-house at Intabio to a pre-commercial beta system took three years of development. Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Janssen Pharmaceuticals beta-tested the Blaze system, while Merck was an "early access collaborator" that sent samples to Intabio to analyze at the company's lab and return the results. Wu developed Intabio's go-to-market strategy and early access program, with Rooke helping refine and pressure-test aspects of the strategy.

When all was said and done, the proof-of-concept method worked. In January 2021, the life sciences company Sciex announced it had acquired Intabio for an undisclosed sum, just three and half years after the startup began operations. And when negotiating the deal, Wu relied on Rooke to play the role of not just investor but true partner.

"Jenny's input was, as always, both supportive and rigorous," Wu says. "It gave me the confidence that as a management team, we were making the right decision."

From the October 2021 issue of Inc. Magazine

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How a Venture Investor with a PhD in Genetics Helped This Biotech Firm Get Started, Funded, and Acquired - Inc.

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --The Multiple System Atrophy ("MSA") Coalition announces a ground-breaking million-dollar multi-year collaborative project focused on exploring the genetics of up to 1,200 people with either a diagnosis of probable MSA, in the case of living patients, or postmortem pathological confirmation of multiple system atrophy, aimed at locating commonalities in their genes that might contribute to the development of multiple system atrophy. The aim of this collaborative study is to sequence and organize the genomes of existing genetic samples as well as to organize previously sequenced whole-genome data into a single database that is accessible to researchers worldwide. While many researchers have looked at the genetics of MSA, this will be the first time such a large number of genomes from ethnically diverse populations have been sequenced and organized in such a way as to facilitate thorough analysis and collaborative enterprise.

"MSA is not typically passed from parent to child, except in extremely rare cases. However, there are still important clues about the underlying cause of MSA that can be found by examining the genetic code of a large population of MSA patients and looking for commonalities. Because MSA is a such a rare disease, there is a need for multiple researchers to work together and pool their data. Until now there has not been a concerted effort among genetic labs to combine these rare genetic samples from MSA patients with diverse backgrounds into a large, shared database," said Pam Bower, chair of the MSA Coalition's research committee. "The MSA Coalition is proud to be the driver of this ground-breaking study."

University of Florida will perform genetic sequencing under the direction of Matt Farrer, PhD, while storage, analysis and visualization of data will occur at Harvard Medical School in the Clinical Genome Analysis Platform ("CGAP") under the direction of Dana Vuzman, PhD. Additional genomic information will be provided by University College of London, Queen Square Institute of Neurology under the direction of Henry Houlden, MBBS, MRCP, PhD; by Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) under the direction of Matt Huentelman, PhD (Funded in part by the Rex Griswold Foundation, a grant from the NIH NINDS (R21-NS093222, PI: Huentelman), and through institutional support of TGen.); and by Seoul National University, under the direction of Beomseok Jeon, MD, PhD and Han-Joon Kim, MD, PhD. The Core G team also plans to coordinate their work with that being done at NIH under the direction of Sonja Scholz, MD, PhD. The group, collectively known as "Core G" (Genetics), will work closely with Vik Khurana, MD, PhD, board member and Scientific Liaison of the Board of Directors of the MSA Coalition and Chief of the Movement Disorders Division at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Khurana will endeavor to integrate Core G team-member efforts more broadly into the MSA Collaborative Cores Initiative sponsored by the Coalition that will seed fund additional projects over time.

"I am thrilled that after years of planning and deliberation that Core G is funded and ready to go," said Khurana. "This group of terrific researchers, together with their expertise, bring precious patient samples from three continents to establish a foundation upon which other collaborations and initiatives will be built. We are under no illusion that the genetics of MSA will prove challenging, no less than a moonshot. At the same time, genetic insights promise to unlock powerful hypothesis-driven science that can find cures. And so, this moonshot is worth the effort and has been structured to be collaborative, open and sustainable in the long-term."

"We are incredibly proud of assembling this group of world-renowned researchers to collaborate on this project. It has taken almost three years to organize this project and obtain consents from all the institutions involved. Great care has been taken by all contributing institutions to safeguard the privacy of the patients and anonymize the genetic materials, so that patient privacy is protected," said Cynthia Roemer, MSA Coalition board chair. "We are also grateful to our many donors, who have made this project possible, and to the patients we have lost to MSA who generously left bequests to the MSA Coalition to further critical research like this. We quite literally could not do it without them!"

Dana Vuzman, PhD is an Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Director of Genomic Platform Development at DBMI. Dr. Vuzman oversees the implementation of the Clinical Genome Analysis Platform (CGAP) and the Single Cell RNA Platform in the Department. Prior to joining DBMI, she served as Chief Informatics Officer at One Brave Idea, Sr. Director of Biomedical Informatics at KEW, Inc., and Co-Director at Brigham Genomic Medicine. Dr. Vuzman earned her PhD in Computational Biology from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and completed her postdoctoral training in Computational Genetics at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Matt Farrer, PhD is critically acclaimed for his work in the genetics and neuroscience of Parkinson's disease. His inspiration to apply genetic analysis to complex neurologic disorders came from early work as a care assistant of patients and families with neurologic and psychiatric disorders. Dr. Farrer earned his first degree in Biochemistry with a Doctoral degree in Molecular and Statistical Genetics from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, UK. He completed a fellowship in Medical Genetics at the Kennedy-Galton Centre, UK and in Neurogenetics at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Farrer became an Assistant Professor of Molecular Neuroscience in 2000 where he opened his first laboratory to predict and prevent Parkinson's disease. Dr. Farrer became a tenured professor in 2006, a Mayo Consultant, and subsequently, a Distinguished Mayo Investigator. In 2010, Dr. Farrer was awarded a Canada Excellence Research Chair to build the Centre for Applied Neurogenetics and Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada where he became a Professor of Medical Genetics. The Province of British Columbia subsequently awarded him the Don Rix Chair in Precision Medicine, and his team had many notable accomplishments including several new genes and mouse models for Parkinson's disease. The team also implemented high-throughput sequencing in pediatric seizure disorders and neonatology in clinical service. The former was funded through the Medical Services Plan of British Columbia and was a first for Canada.

In 2019, Dr. Farrer accepted an endowed chair at the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases (thanks to a generous endowment from the Lauren and Lee Fixel Family Foundation). Dr. Matt Farrer also directs the UF Clinical Genomics Program. As such he currently has appointments and affiliations in the UF College of Medicine's Neurology and Pathology Departments, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, the Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, and the Center for Neurogenetic in addition to the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases.

Henry Houlden, MBBS, MRCP, PhD: Dr. Houlden is a professor of neurology and neurogenetics in the Department of Neuromuscular Disease, University College, London, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, and undertakes research laboratory works on neurogenetics and movement disorders with a particular interest in rare diseases that are adult or childhood-onset, such as multiple system atrophy (MSA), spinocerebellar ataxia and other movement disorders, inherited neuromuscular conditions, and difficult to diagnose disorders, particularly in diverse and underrepresented populations. He assists with the integration of new gene discovery with exome and genome sequencing identifying disease genes such as CANVAS, NARS1, NKX-6.2, SCA11, SCA15, GRIA2, and GAD1, with functional experimental validation in human tissue and other model systems. Dr. Houlden has clinical expertise in inherited neurological disorders and movement disorders such as multiple system atrophy, ataxia, leukodystrophy, epilepsy and paroxysmal conditions, spastic paraplegia and neuromuscular conditions.

Matt Huentelman, PhD: Dr. Huentelman's research interests center around the investigation of the "-omics" (genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics) of neurological traits and disease. His laboratory's overarching goal is to leverage findings in these disciplines to better understand, diagnose, and treat human diseases of the nervous system.

Dr. Huentelman joined TGen in July of 2004 after completing his doctoral work at the University of Florida's Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics at the McKnight Brain Institute where he investigated the application of gene therapy in the study and prevention of hypertension. His undergraduate degree is in Biochemistry from Ohio University's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Clippinger Laboratories. Dr. Huentelman's career includes visiting researcher stints in Moscow, Russia at the MV Lomonosov Moscow State University "Biology Faculty" and in the United Kingdom within the University of Bristol's Department of Physiology.

Beomseok Jeon, MD, PhD: Professor Jeon is the medical director of the Movement Disorder Center, Seoul National University Hospital and is interested in genetics of Parkinsonism and medical and surgical treatment of advanced Parkinson's Disease.

Dr. Jeon earned his undergraduate, MD and PhD degrees from Seoul National University. His clinical interests include Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders including tremor, ataxia, dystonia, and chorea. His research focuses on the role of genetics in movement disorders, especially in the Korean population. He has established a DNA bank of thousands of Korean patients with movement disorders and normal controls. He is also involved in treatment of advanced Parkinson disease, and works with neurosurgical colleagues for various surgical treatment.

Han-Joon Kim, MD, PhD: Dr. Kim is a Professor in the Department of Neurology and the Movement Disorder Center at Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. After graduation from the Medical College of Seoul National University in 1997, Dr. Kim took an internship and residency in neurology at Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) where he became a Movement Disorder Specialist.

Clinically, Dr. Kim has experience with patients with various movement disorders including Parkinson's Disease (PD), Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), other atypical Parkinsonisms, and ataxias. Notably, Dr. Kim has set up a large registry of Korean MSA patients, which will serve as a basis for both observational and interventional studies in this rare disease.

Sonja W. Scholz, MD, PhD: Dr. Scholz is a Neurologist and Neurogeneticist specialized in movement and cognitive disorders. She received her medical degree from the Medical University Innsbruck, Austria. Following graduation, she was a post-doctoral fellow at the Laboratory of Neurogenetics at the NIH's National Institute on Aging (NIA) under the supervision of Drs. Andrew Singleton and John Hardy. She obtained a Ph.D. in Neurogenomics from the University College London, UK in 2010. She then moved to Baltimore to complete her neurology residency training at Johns Hopkins. In 2015, Dr. Scholz received the McFarland Transition to Independence Award for Neurologist-Scientists. She is a Lasker Clinical Research Tenure Track Investigator within the Neurogenetics Branch at the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Her laboratory focuses on identifying genetic causes of neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy, and frontotemporal dementia.

Media Contact

Moriah Meeks, MSA Coalition, +1 (312) 270-0171, mmeeks@staff.msacoalition.org

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The Multiple System Atrophy Coalition Announces a Groundbreaking Project to Explore the Genetics of MSA - Johnson City Press (subscription)

Data breaches are scarily common in todays digital world, and even gargantuan businesses can easily be brought to their knees should a wayward phishing attempt (or a disgruntled former employee) succeed in making off with valuable information.

While your small business probably doesnt have all of the same calibre of worries as your more monolithic counterparts, dont make the mistake of thinking that your data cant be stolen to devastating effect, even if you think the data you have is irrelevant and not worthy of being stolen (youre wrong).

Cloud storage and increased collaborative tool use means that things like sensitive documents and files are at increased risk of theft. Small businesses are especially susceptible to this due to a lower likelihood of advanced security usage, so it pays to know what kinds of things you might be at risk of losing.

According to MUO, employees are most likely to steal collaborative documents, consumer databases, and any resources devoted to research and development.

Safeguarding these items can be tricky due to their relatively high-traffic use, so a preventive strategy is your best defense.

It should be noted that trust in your employees is crucial, and treating them like theyre poised to steal from you at any moment is not a particularly effective management strategy.

However, its important to be aware of the following reasons and possible preventive measures for employee theft of data.

Firstly, corporate espionage (as dramatic as it sounds) is still something you have to worry about as a small business owner. It isnt uncommon for competitors to bribe (or even simply persuade) current employees to share data, even if your competitors are relatively small themselves.

Your employees should know that data is sacred (and confidential), but employing things like intrusion systems and holding trainings for recognition of espionage can help prevent this problem.

Those competitors might also try to snag some of your employees, and not just for their work ethic. Employees may save their own copies of documents that they think will be helpful in their new workspace; in doing so, they can unwittingly aid your competitor with much more than their skillset. Again, reminding your employees that all work documents are both confidential and property of your brand can cut down on accidental data theft in this category.

Non-Compete agreements and NDAs can also prevent this kind of theft, intentional or otherwise; if an employee chooses to leave your business, making sure they are aware of their contractual obligations is key. Perhaps the worst competitor you can have is a former employee who launches their own business in your field, though, and this is a situation in which data theft can be intellectual. Once again, Non-Competes and NDAs are helpful in mitigating damage in this context.

Finally, angry employees can find themselves doing a myriad of dumb (and harmful) things, up to and including data theft.

As mentioned earlier, early prevention is the best way to keep your data on your servers and out of your departing employees hands. Restricting employee access to files and folders can limit the number of possible breaches, and the aforementioned Non-Compete and Nondisclosure agreements are absolutely crucial in any business that deals in datajust make sure youre discussing the terms of those agreements with employees as they come and go.

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This startup wants to keep your dog alive longer based on genetic info - The American Genius

The first look at a threatened rattlesnake species recent genetic history suggests that inbreeding necessitated by limited habitat may not be as detrimental as theory would predict it to be.

In fact, scientists speculate that Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes may have pre-adapted to living in small, isolated populations where the most dangerous genetic mutations that arose could be easily exposed and purged.

Researchers sequenced the genomes of 90 Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes, which were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2016 because of loss and fragmentation of their wetland habitat. For comparison, the researchers also sequenced 10 genomes of a close relative, the Western massasauga rattlesnake, a common species with no limitations on breeding opportunities and large populations.

The Ohio State University team found that the most potentially damaging gene mutations were less abundant in the Eastern than the Western species. This finding suggests the breeding limitations of small, isolated populations might be accompanied by an evolutionary advantage of being able to elbow out genetic variants that get in the way of survival, saidH. Lisle Gibbs, professor of evolution, ecology and organismal biology at Ohio State and senior author of the study.

This is something that has been reported very recently in other endangered species, but its the first time its been shown in a reptile, Gibbs said. We always worry about genetics and the loss of variation and what it means to be in a small population in which theres lots of inbreeding. At least in this species, maybe its not such a big deal.

From a conservation perspective, perhaps we can downplay genetics and say ecology such as habitat restoration is more important.

Gibbs completed the study with Alexander Ochoa, a former postdoctoral researcher at Ohio State who is now a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Central Florida. The research is published in the journal Molecular Ecology.

Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes live in isolated spaces in midwestern and eastern North America, and evolutionary theory posits that the inevitable inbreeding in such populations threatens species with extinction as genetic mutations accumulate. The smallest populations might reach 30 snakes, but Ohios Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area is home to one of the most genetically diverse and largest populations in the country, numbering in the thousands.

Gibbs has studied Eastern massasaugas for over two decades and, as director of the Ohio Biodiversity Conservation Partnership, advises the Ohio Department of Natural Resources on management of the species.

Through years and years of study, we know that most populations are isolated, like little natural zoos scattered throughout the landscape, Gibbs said. Due to habitat degradation, weve known they show little variation but weve never actually looked at variation in genes that code for things that matter to a rattlesnake.

Only recently has it been possible to apply the research techniques perfected with the human genome to work with this species. Gibbs and Ochoa zeroed in on identifying mutations in genes that may affect survival and reproduction to gauge how hazardous inbreeding might be to Eastern massasaugas.

Though a higher overall number of potentially deleterious mutations were found in the common Western massasaugas, that didnt translate to more threats to their survival because most troublesome gene copies were offset by protective copies. That can happen only in heterozygotes, which have two different copies, or alleles, of a particular gene one inherited from each parent. Because of generations of inbreeding, Eastern massasaugas are much more likely to have two copies of the same allele.

Thats why inbreeding has impacts because thats when you get two bad alleles showing up together, with no good allele to compensate, so there is a negative effect, Gibbs said. Theres more inbreeding, so overall you get more mostly bad mutations together, but the really bad ones, because theyre exposed, are also eliminated at a much greater rate.

Through another analytical technique comparing the narrowing of the Eastern and Western massasauga genetic makeup over several hundred years, Gibbs and Ochoa confirmed the impact human activity has had on the Eastern massasaugas swampy habitat. Unlike the Eastern species, Western massasaugas live in grassy and woodland regions of the south-central United States that are less densely populated by humans.

We looked at what has happened in these snakes and their population sizes over the last 300 years, which is when humans have been tromping all over North America, impacting the landscape, Gibbs said. The impacts in terms of reducing population sizes are greater in Eastern than in Western massasaugas over this period.

The findings could influence management decisions. A common conservation practice would involve introducing snakes from a more genetically diverse population into a highly isolated group to counter the effects of inbreeding. But it turns out the Eastern massasauga might benefit more from preservation of its habitat while the genetics takes care of itself.

This counterintuitive result makes us rethink what living in a small population is, and whether genetic problems are as important as we think they are, Gibbs said. This is certainly not to say living in a small population isnt bad it just may be that the genetic effects are not as bad as we thought.

This work was supported by the State Wildlife Grants Program administered jointly by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Ohio Division of Wildlife, with funds provided by the Ohio Biodiversity Conservation Partnership between Ohio State and the Ohio Division of Wildlife, as well as the National Science Foundation.

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Threatened rattlesnakes' inbreeding makes species more resistant to bad mutations - The Ohio State University News

Dublin, Sept. 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Animal Genetics Market Research Report: Forecast (2021-2026)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global animal genetics market is likely to grow at a CAGR of 6.4% in the forecast period of 2021-26 due to the surging advancements in continuous genetic alteration practices resulting in the growing production of animals with modified breeds and massive investments by numerous end-user industries. Animal producers are gaining huge milk & meat production by leveraging the technology of animal genetic alterations. With the help of strategic breeding, farmers can yield more substantial gains, which shall expand the end-user base and the overall market growth.

Based on the Animal Type, the Poultry segment registered the fastest market growth. It accounted for higher than USD 1.4 billion in recent years and is likely to continue the pace. The prominent factors for the market growth are the rise in the requirement for better quality food products, like meat, eggs & milk, and the flooding population & urbanization across regions. Hence, it shall continue to propel the demand and attain the fastest market growth in the forecast period.

Based on the Animal Type, the Canine segment in the animal genetics market shall attain the largest market share in the forecast years. It owes to the rapidly increasing research for high-quality breeding among dogs. Furthermore, the genetic research on canines is expanding the discovery of diverse genes implicating in the size, personality traits, and fur color. These factors are leading to the exponential demand for animal genetics to enhance the overall market share., states the author in their research report, "Global Animal Genetics Market Analysis, 2021."

Various microeconomic and macroeconomic characters are burgeoning exponential extensions for the APAC market. Factors like high population density and urban sprawl are enduring the demands of food producers to satisfy nutritional needs by increasing livestock production. Moreover, the animal healthcare ecosystem has been on a constant development path and is creating several opportunities for market leaders to bring effective testing procedures.

The Global Animal Genetics Market has a vast opportunity due to the constant launches and developments of new products and strategies. Various companies adopt these practices to extend their brand and product globally in the animal genetics industry.

With the swiftly surging population, their main objective is to meet the growing demands of different people. Moreover, producers operating in the market adopted different approaches of product innovation to cater to the rapidly changing customer demands.

Key Questions Answered in the Market Research Report:1. What are the overall market statistics or market estimates (Market Overview, Market Size- By Value, Forecast Numbers, Market Segmentation, Market Shares) of the Global Animal Genetics Market?2. What is the region-wise industry size, growth drivers, and challenges?3. What are the key innovations, opportunities, current & future trends, and regulations in the Global Animal Genetics Market?4. Who are the key competitors, their key strengths & weaknesses, and how do they perform in the Global Animal Genetics Market based on the competitive benchmarking matrix?5. What are the key results derived from the market surveys conducted during the Global Animal Genetics Market study?

Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction

2. Preface

3. Executive Summary

4. Impact of COVID-19 on Global Animal Genetics Market

5. Global Animal Genetics Market Trends & Insights

6. Global Animal Genetics Market Dynamics

7. Global Animal Genetics Market Hotspots & Opportunities

8. Global Animal Genetics Market Regulations & Policy

9. Global Animal Genetics Market Outlook, 2016- 2026F

10. North America Animal Genetics Market Outlook, 2016-2026F

11. South America Animal Genetics Market Outlook, 2016-2026F

12. Europe Animal Genetics Market Outlook, 2016-2026F

13. Middle East & Africa Animal Genetics Market Outlook, 2016-2026F

14. Asia Pacific Animal Genetics Market Outlook, 2016-2026F

15. Key Strategic Imperatives for Success and Growth

16. Competition Outlook

Companies Mentioned

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/sjxkme

About ResearchAndMarkets.comResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Opportunities in the Animal Genetics Market to 2026: Asia Pacific Set to Witness Rapid Growth in - GlobeNewswire

Lon Cardon, Ph.D., FMedSci

The Jackson Laboratory, an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution, today announced the appointment of Lon Cardon, Ph.D., FMedSci, a pioneer in human genetics and drug discovery, as its next president and chief executive officer.

Bar Harbor, Maine, Oct. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Jackson Laboratory, an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution, today announced the appointment of Lon Cardon, Ph.D., FMedSci, a pioneer in human genetics and drug discovery, as its next president and chief executive officer. Effective on November 29, Cardon will succeed current President and CEO Edison Liu, M.D., who will step down after a decade of leadership. Liu will continue to serve as a JAX professor studying the functional genomics of cancer with a focus on breast cancer.

After ten years of steering JAX through impressive expansion, dramatic change and remarkable achievements, Ed has made an indelible impact at JAX as a leader, researcher, and oncologist in our local communities and within the global biomedical research field, said David Roux, chairman of The Jackson Laboratory Board of Trustees. We are now thrilled to appoint Lon as the next president and CEO of JAX. Under his leadership, Lon will guide the Laboratory as it propels into its next intense period of growth.

Timothy Dattels, vice chairman of The Jackson Laboratory Board of Trustees and chair of the Presidential Search Committee added, As both an accomplished academic researcher as well as a demonstrated successful leader in both pharma and biotech, Lon is extremely well-suited to shape the vision, impact and strategic direction of The Jackson Laboratory over the next decade.

In his new role, Cardon will develop and drive a clear, integrated strategy for the Laboratorys continued long-term success, leveraging the unique and powerful interplay of JAXs deep expertise in mammalian genetics and human genomics combined with the latest advances in digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and new computation platforms as well as its research, educational and business strengths.

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For many years there has been immense promise to translate human genetics and genomics discoveries into new diagnostics, prognostics and treatments for both common and rare diseases, said Cardon. Many of the foundational pieces are finally coming into place. The next step is to put them together to begin to realize this promise.

The Jackson Laboratory has a unique combination of critical components to finally approach the long-awaited potential of genetics for translation, coupling deep understanding of mouse models of human disease with extensive genetic and genomics expertise, large-scale research capacity, and computational and data analytics to bring it all together. I am excited to lead the organization to help shape a new era for human health where understanding all of our unique genomes will help to predict, treat and modify the course of disease.

Cardon joined BioMarin in September 2017 as chief scientific officer and senior vice president and was promoted in 2019 to chief scientific strategy officer to enrich BioMarins pipeline. Before joining BioMarin, he was a senior vice president at GlaxoSmithKline, leading departments and divisions spanning genetics, molecular biology, computational biology, statistics and epidemiology, and ultimately leading an early-to-late pipeline division called Alternative Discovery and Development. Prior to Cardons 14-year tenure in industry, he spent the first half of his career as a senior academic in the United Kingdom and United States, initially as professor of Bioinformatics at the University of Oxford and then as professor of Biostatistics at the University of Washington and co-chair of the Herbold Bioinformatics Program at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Cardon received his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado and conducted his postdoctoral research in the Department of Mathematics at Stanford University. He has been awarded a Wellcome Trust Principal Fellowship and is an elected Fellow of the U.K.s Academy of Medical Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Cardon has authored more than 225 scientific publications and 15 books and chapters, mainly focused on genetics methodology, applications and discoveries for rare and common diseases, ranging from Huntingtons disease to dyslexia. He is an elected Fellow of the UKs Academy of Medical Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

About The Jackson Laboratory

The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with more than 2,400 employees. Headquartered in Bar Harbor, Maine, it has a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center, a genomic medicine institute in Farmington, Conn., and facilities in Ellsworth and Augusta, Maine, in Sacramento, Calif., and Shanghai, China and a joint venture in Beijing. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health.

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The Jackson Laboratory appoints Dr. Lon Cardon as its next president and chief executive officer - Yahoo Finance

Theres growing concern about genetic discrimination in New Zealand and the lack of Government intervention in this fast-moving field.

As genetictesting becomes more accessible than ever before, there are calls for a line in the sand to be drawn and a final answer toaquestionnot yet canvassed: should insurers be able to use our geneticinformation?

Genetic discrimination is using someones genetic information to discriminate against them to treat them in a way thats different to someone else because we know something about their genetics.

Currently,lifeand health insurance companies in New Zealand are allowed to use thisdatain determining coverand premiumsfor applicants something experts sayanecdotalevidence suggest hasledto increased premiums, or no cover at all.

While insurers may argue it's their right to know a person's medical history researchers say genetics is, in fact, not a part of one's history, but a part of their future.

There are a lot of complexities in determining someone's genetic makeup and whether they are prone to getting a disease later in life.

There are also ways to mitigate and change the outcome of a patient's health once becoming privy to this information. For example, getting a mastectomywill drastically limit the chances of getting breast cancer, but there are fears an insurer may refuse cover based on a positive BRCA gene test regardless.

University ofOtago law and bioethics lecturerDr Jeanne Snellingsaysif people do have the test,and its positive, they can do things tominimisedevelopment of the disease.

They can undergo surveillance, get prophylactic preventative treatment and their risk could be quite similar to someone elses in the end. But, the insurance company is taking this absolutist approach saying that a positive test disqualifies you from obtaining life insurance cover.

There aredoubts about whether an insurance company would have staff with the expertise on hand to dissect someones genetic information.

University of Aucklands Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Professor Andrew Shelling says it usually takes acastofspecialists to trawl through the data of an entire persons genome.

Good luck to the insurance company if they can find something, let us know. Because we have an entire team of experts from the clinicians to thebioinformaticiansto the geneticists who sit in a multi-disciplinary clinic each week trying to discuss the outcomes of what theyre looking at.

Based on the increased complexity of genetic testing nowadays, there is also a risk of getting it wrong if you dont have the right expertise. Hesaid.

There'salsoconcernpeople will not opt for undergoing genetic testing purely based on the fact it could be used by insurers -- and thus, miss out on the opportunity to decreasefuturehealth risks.

Despite the life-saving prevention available through genetic testing, experts say people avoiditand research because they are afraid of insurance discrimination.

This not only limits what a person can do to better their health in future -- but stunts medical research, particularly in minority groups like Mori and Pasifika, whose genetics are an even greater enigma to researchers than Pakeha.

Professor Shelling says we know that Mori have been discriminated against for years and this may be another form of it.

We base a lot of our genetics on European DNA, so for our Mori and Pasific people we dont always know what their results mean in a clinical setting.

We have an extra responsibility as genomic scientists to support Mori and Pasific getting genetic testing and make sure they dont get further discriminated against.

In a lot of our research studies around New Zealand, we are trying to increase the number of Mori and Pasific participants.

He fears if they have any concerns about insurance, theyllturn away from being part of these studies.

It's a conflict Jane Tiller anethical, legal and social advisor for Public Health Genomics at Melbournes Monash University --has battled for five years in Australia where a moratorium's been put in place to try and curb the issue.

Now, in Australia, you can get life insurance up to $500,000. If you try and take out more, you have to then disclose your genetic test results. she said.

She says the moratoriums a good step towards consumer protection but its a fraught approach.

"It goes up to certain financial limits and is only five years. So, we dont know what will happen in 2024 when it ends.

We are still gathering data about how its [the moratorium]working. Were remaining concerned about the lack of Government regulations on this issue.We would like to see a complete ban, like in Canada.

The moratorium isalso self-regulated by the insurance industry.

Self-regulation has been shown to be conflicted and problematic, both in Australia and New Zealand.

Theres very little transparency on how insurance companies use this data.Because this is self-regulated, theres a lot of questions around how decisions are made and what data is relied on.

The newly formed AGenDA (Against Genomic Discrimination Aotearoa) group, is lobbying for Government attention on this issue.

AGenDasmessage is that genetic discrimination is not only aconsumer protection issue, but a human rights issue.

Theysay itsnot just about making sure insurers get the information they need todiscriminate; its about stopping them from discriminatingaltogether. Its about ensuring consumers can make decisions about healthcare and learn empowering information without fear of discrimination for themselves or their family members.

They say thesectorhas come to presume divulgence -- an expectation thats been born of our insurance industry over many years.

The Financial Services Councils Richard Kiplin says its not something companies will ask for but if a client has information, it's only fair that they disclose it.

Within the New Zealand sector organisation by organisation will make their own calls. he said.

Whats important for New Zealand consumers to understand is that this is a complex area, and life companies need to assess risk and theyll do that in an appropriate way.

Genetic testing,at this point of time, is not a standard part of that -- but thats obviously evolving and moving very fast.

I think if people have had a genetic test and have information then they know information that a life and health company would want to understand. And so thats a part of the disclosure process.

Kiplin says hes open to working with researchers and other parties in future to solidify guidelines around genetic testing.

We have a robust committee structure thats been looking at some of these issues and reviewing guidelines.

The sector is never static, theres always stuff you can change and this is one of the big areas of the future.Hesaid.

AGenDAis alsoconcerned at the lack of Government intervention.

The Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs David Clark points towards the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Insurance Law Review.

"Insurer use of genetic testing results is one of many issues raised with MBIE during the course of the review, but it was not highlighted as a significant issue in the submissions (it was mentioned in two out of around 500 submissions received). Hesaid.

Clark mirrors the industrys openness to work with experts to understand the situation better.

Im told, the industryhavepreviously told my officials they are not seeing high levels of genetic testing, but I am open to further briefings on the matter.

The MBIEreview was promptedto ensure New Zealands insurance contract law is facilitating insurance markets that work well and enable individuals and businesses to effectively protect themselves against risk.

In November 2019 the Government agreed tothereform which includesmaking sure insurers ask consumers the right questions, the requirement for policies to be written and presented clearly, strengthening protection for consumers against unfair terms and extending powers to the Financial Markets Authority to monitor and enforce compliance.

Next steps for the review include release of an exposure draft Bill for consultation in late-2021.

Genetic testing has been described asa quantum leap for healthcare. A new kind ofapparatuswe can use to decode our future health.

In July 2021,the World Health Organization (WHO) provided the first global recommendations to help establish human genome editing as a tool for public health, with an emphasis on safety, effectiveness and ethics.

While their concerns are mainly based around the use of genetics to edit our DNA --WHO Director-General,Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, recognisedgenome editing and testing as a potential to advance our ability to treat and cure disease.

"But the full impact will only be realized if we deploy it for the benefit of all people, instead of fueling more health inequity between and within countries,Hesaid.

In September, the WHOrecommended DNA testing as a first-choice screening method for cervical cancer prevention.

It recognised DNA-based testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) has been shown to be more effective than todays commonly used screening methods aimed at detecting and preventing cervical cancer, a major cause of death among women worldwide.

Asgenetictestingbecomesmore mainstream,as the technologies mature,and as testsbecome moreprecise and affordable-- it evolves from being aniche offering tobecomingilluminatedon healthcarescentrestage.

And whilegenetictesting is applauded for its potential to become a part of our everyday health toolbox one question remains:should insurers be able to use our genetic information?

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Genetic discrimination: The next great health battle likely to wash up on NZ shores - Newstalk ZB

Sareptas Genetic Therapies Center of Excellence Building Exterior

The new, state-of-the-art research facility encompasses 85,000 square feet and significantly expands Sareptas global research and development capabilities.

Sareptas Chief Scientific Officer Louise Rodino-Klapac and CEO Doug Ingram were joined by distinguished guests including The Honorable JON HUSTED, Lieutenant Governor, State of Ohio; EDDIE PAULINE, President & CEO, BioOhio; JESSICA EVANS, Psy.D., Assistant Director, Speak Foundation; PAT FURLONG, President & CEO, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy; and representatives from state and local government.

Center dedicated to research and development activities to advance Sareptas industry-leading, multi-platform pipeline

The Center encompasses 85,000 square feet of space, tripling Sareptas footprint in Ohio

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SRPT), the leader in precision genetic medicine for rare diseases, today celebrated the grand opening of the Genetic Therapies Center of Excellence (GTCOE), its new research facility in Columbus, Ohio.

The 85,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility expands Sareptas research and development capabilities and footprint, which includes sites in Cambridge, Andover and Burlington, Mass. With more than 70 employees today and plans to double the number of employees by the end of 2022, the Center is focused on discovery, pre-clinical and clinical development supporting Sareptas pipeline of genetic medicines which includes RNA, gene therapy and gene editing programs. The Center also supports process development and optimization work that enables the transition from clinical-scale to commercial-scale manufacturing, a critical task facing companies developing gene therapies.

Advances in the science of genetic medicine are creating incredible opportunities to develop medicines with the potential to transform the lives of people with rare diseases. Sareptas Genetic Therapies Center of Excellence complements and enhances our existing research and development expertise and will play a central and strategic role in our future as the leader in precision genetic medicine, said Doug Ingram, president and chief executive officer, Sarepta.

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Among the guests joining the Sarepta team today for a dedication, ribbon-cutting ceremony and facility tours: The Honorable Jon Husted, Ohios Lieutenant Governor; Pat Furlong, president and chief executive officer, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD); Jessica Evans, assistant director, The Speak Foundation; local officials; and luminaries from Columbus growing biotechnology sector. At the event, Sarepta also announced a $20,000 donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio, with Dee Anders, chief executive officer and executive director, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio, present to accept.

Sarepta has operated in Columbus since 2018 and were proud to be at the forefront of Columbus emergence as a leading hub for biotechnology committed to the local community and the patients and families we serve, said Louise Rodino-Klapac, Ph.D., Sareptas Columbus-based executive vice president and chief scientific officer. Our growing presence in Ohio will help us strengthen our close working relationships with long-standing local partners such as Nationwide Childrens Hospital, while we work with the greatest urgency to advance our pipeline, further the science of genetic medicine and create an environment where future generations of scientific talent will thrive.

Sarepta Therapeutics decision to expand in Ohio is the latest example that Ohio is a great state to grow a business, said Lt. Governor Jon Husted. When we created the Columbus Innovation District last year, we were focused on cultivating the right environment in central Ohio to attract new investments and jobs in gene and cell therapy. This new facility is a victory, as it builds on our strategy, creating jobs and producing some of the most advanced research and development of precision genetic medicine, further solidifying Ohio as a leader in gene therapy.

About Sarepta TherapeuticsSarepta is on an urgent mission: engineer precision genetic medicine for rare diseases that devastate lives and cut futures short. We hold leadership positions in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs), and we currently have more than 40 programs in various stages of development. Our vast pipeline is driven by our multi-platform Precision Genetic Medicine Engine in gene therapy, RNA and gene editing. For more information, please visit http://www.sarepta.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Internet Posting of InformationWe routinely post information that may be important to investors in the 'For Investors' section of our website at http://www.sarepta.com. We encourage investors and potential investors to consult our website regularly for important information about us.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains "forward-looking statements." Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," "intends," "potential," "possible" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding potential opportunities in the rare disease space; the potential transformative benefits of medicines in the rare disease space; our plans to double the number of employees in Columbus, Ohio by the end of 2022; and the potential for our growing presence in Ohio to help strengthen our close working relationships with long-standing local partners while we work with the greatest urgency to advance our pipeline, further the science of genetic medicine and create an environment where future generations of scientific talent will thrive.

These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties are beyond our control. Known risk factors include, among others: we may not be able to execute on our business plans and goals, including meeting our expected or planned regulatory milestones and timelines, clinical development plans, and bringing our product candidates to market, due to a variety of reasons, many of which are outside of our control, including possible limitations on company financial and other resources, manufacturing limitations that may not be anticipated or resolved for in a timely manner, regulatory, court or agency decisions, such as decisions by the United States Patent and Trademark Office with respect to patents that cover our product candidates; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; and those risks identified under the heading Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as well as other SEC filings we make, which you are encouraged to review.

Any of the foregoing risks could materially and adversely affect the Companys business, results of operations and the trading price of Sareptas common stock. For a detailed description of risks and uncertainties we face, we encourage you to review our SEC filings. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements based on events or circumstances after the date of this press release, except as required by law.

Source: Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.

Investor Contact: Ian Estepan, 617-274-4052iestepan@sarepta.com

Media Contact: Tracy Sorrentino, 617-301-8566tsorrentino@sarepta.com

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Sarepta Therapeutics Opens Genetic Therapies Center of Excellence in Columbus, Ohio - Yahoo Finance

The Supreme Court on Friday sought a response from the government on a plea challenging a notification for NEET-Super Specialities (NEET-SS) 2021 in August allowing postgraduates from a broad spectrum of medical disciplines to apply for Doctorate of Medicine (Medical Genetics) and Doctorate of National Board in Medical Genetics courses.

A Bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and B.V. Nagarathna issued notice and listed the case for hearing after two weeks.

The order was passed on a petition filed by the Society of Indian Academy of Medical Genetics, which challenged the validity of the information bulletin published by the National Board of Examinations on August 31.

The society argued that the bulletin contradicted the guidelines prescribed by the National Medical Commission that only aspirants from Medicine, Paediatrics and Obstetrics could apply for the Medical Genetics courses concerned.

The petition noted that elite medical institutes such as the AIIMS restricted admissions to the Medical Genetics courses to these three streams.

Excerpt from:
Supreme Court issues notice to government on admission to Medical Genetics courses - The Hindu

Forester Bradley W. Antill will be a guest speaker at Weldon Baptist Church on Wednesday to discuss the subject Forest Genetics and the Tree of Life.

Born in Norton, Ohio, Antill said he moved to Shallotte to take up a forestry job with the Federal Paperboard. He then moved to Henrico in 1997 for a job with the Coastal Lumber Company in Weldon, which has since changed its name in 2004 to Coastal Timberlands Company.

According to a press release, Antill will discuss how trees are the lifeblood of the local forest industries.

Actually, our very life depends on a specific tree and what we do with it, Antill wrote as an excerpt in the press release. The forest industry has always been at the forefront of genetic research, including cloning; trying to get the best tree to grow. But only one specific tree can claim to be the source of eternal life, the Tree of Life.

The Rev. Francis Kyle, the new pastor at Weldon Baptist, said they are excited to hear Antill speak on the interlaced topics he is knowledgeable and passionate about.

Those intertwining topics are land, trees, people and the God of the Bible who created the land and trees on the third day of creation by merely speaking them into existence Genesis 1:9-13, and created male and female in His image on the sixth day Genesis 1:26-27, Kyle said. And, of course, the Lord Jesus Christ, the financially poor Jewish carpenter from Nazareth yet who simultaneously and supernaturally was also the unselfish and sinless Son of God who lovingly sacrificed Himself for us selfish sinners on an old rugged wooden cross at Calvary in Jerusalem. Brad is a shining and inspiring example of intentionally living to the glory of God in ones workplace.

When asked if his discussion will combine science and religion, Antill disagreed.

I use Creation, the things I see every day in the outdoors, to relate to the Creator, he said. Romans Chapter 1, clearly states that Gods creation is one of the ways God reveals himself, to teach us about who he is. The Bible is his guidebook.

Many in the modern world may prefer to separate science from religion, while others consider creation science instead, which is the teaching and research based upon the belief that biblical accounts of the creation of the world and universe are scientific facts.

Antill also disagreed that science and faith are polar opposites since science only exists because God created the universe and placed physical laws upon which science rests.

What I do is take various elements of forestry, trapping, hunting, fishing and history to illustrate a biblical truth, he said. Man has been searching for a special tree since he was kicked out of the Garden of Eden. So, maybe we can understand that search better by seeing how it is done in forestry.

When asked what people can expect to hear on Wednesday, Antill said his devotions and talks show that the words of the Bible can be understood by seeing the fingerprints left by God surrounding everybody.

Often it involves illustrations parables, similar to what Jesus used when he taught, he said. These everyday examples illustrate a spiritual truth or application found in the Bible. My audience may learn a little bit about forestry, but I hope they learn more about the Creator and his love for us.

Antill said he is passionate about this topic because the Creator desires everyone to understand that their lives have meaning and they were not accidents.

The first decision of consequence man had to make involved a tree, he said. The last decision of consequence a man will make will involve a tree. Lets get together and talk about both.

According to the press release, the presentation is part of Weldon Baptists new Uncommon Christian Speaker Series with a free lunch provided by the churchs Hospitality Committee. Antills outdoor-themed Christian devotional books will also be for sale at a discounted price of $7.

The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside the Daniel Fellowship Hall at Weldon Baptist Church, 609 Washington Ave. A question and answer session will follow at the presentation.

Read the rest here:
'Forest Genetics and the Tree of Life': Local forester to speak at Weldon Baptist about God, living things - The Daily Herald

My grandfather was convinced that his mothers depression began with his fathers stroke. Up to that point, my mother could handle life, he said. Suddenly, she couldnt, because she couldnt do anything about my dad. But I cant help but wonder if its more complicated than that. I think about what Austin told me about the genetic vulnerabilities we all inherit, and I find it hard to believe that Elfriedes depression suddenly appeared in her 60s.

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In recent years, research has been conducted into the idea of inherited family trauma, especially in relation to descendants of survivors of the Holocaust or Indian residential schools. While these are extreme examples of a traumatic event that can affect generations, further research also suggests that inherited trauma can affect anyone.Many of us walk around with trauma symptoms we cant explain, said Mark Wolynn, author of It Didnt Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle, in an interview with Psychology Today. We might have a life-long depression that feels like ours but isnt ours.

According to Wolynn, mental illness symptoms could be the result of trauma that has been inherited. One of the most obvious signs is that we can experience a sudden onset of anxiety or fear when we hit a certain age or reach a certain milestone, he says. Its as though theres an ancestral alarm clock inside us that starts ringing.

To explore my own history, I wanted to learn more about Elfriede. So I visited my grandfather in his 24th-floor apartment in the middle of the pandemic summer. We sat a couple of metres apart; I wore a mask, and I sanitized my equipment before pushing record. My grandfathers apartment overlooked Winnipegs sprawling urban elm forest. It all seemed so far removed from the stories he was telling me.

During the war, Elfriede and her sons moved out of the city to avoid the bombings and lived with their relatives on a farm. She worked as a seamstress, trading her labour for food and other necessities. Despite the challenges, my grandfather said his mother was a joyful person during this time. We were always singing when we did the dishes, he said, adding that Elfriede was always whistling and full of vigour.

However, just because Elfriede sang and whistled doesnt mean there wasnt sadness or worry around their house. There were sad times, he admitted. In his family, it was acknowledged that this was a part of life, and he recalled his mother joking to enjoy being sad. You dont have to be strong when youre sad, she would tell him. If you need to cry, just go ahead and cry.

Talking with my grandfather about mental illness, I sometimes felt as though we were communicating across a great divide. He spoke in terms of clear causes and effects. I asked him if he had ever felt depressed or anxious, and he described a time in his early 30s, when he and my grandmother were living in Whitehorse with four children under the age of six. He hesitated to use the word anxiety but told me that there were times at the end of the month when the young couple could barely afford groceries. There was a reason for me being anxious, and I think if youre anxious for a reason, you should be.

One of the most obvious signs is that we can experience a sudden onset of anxiety or fear when we hit a certain age or reach a certain milestone. Its as though theres an ancestral alarm clock inside us that starts ringing.

But its not always that cut and dried for me. Often, I have a hard time determining what is causing my anxiety, or why some days I wake up feeling depressed and others I wake up feeling fine. I think about my unexplained anxieties or depression and I wonder if these could somehow be connected to a trauma experienced by Elfriede or one of my other ancestors whose experience of mental illness I know less about.

Of course, one of the main reasons for learning about these family histories is to also figure out ways to make mental illness a less disruptive part of ones life. Although our genetics or inherited trauma may predispose us to have a full mental illness jar, as Austin puts it, she also emphasizes that there are ways to manage its contents. Strategies such as exercise, routines, healthy eating habits, a good nights sleep or the right medication can help people avoid reaching the point where their jar is overflowing.

Just a couple of years ago, my mother began cross-stitching to help increase the size of her own jar. Most of the pieces shes stitched have a minimalist style colourful text on a plain background. Shes referred to it as a form of meditation, a way to ruminate on a particular word or phrase as she pierces the fabric with the needle and draws the thread through, over and over, until its finished. Shes stitched simple words, such as love or peace, as well as profanity-laced slogans such as fuck the patriarchy.

She stitched a series of pieces at the beginning of the pandemic, the ones that I described at the start of this essay. In the weeks after we stapled the messages to the utility poles around our neighbourhood, we watched as people shared their discoveries of the cross-stitches on local Facebook pages, describing how they had brightened their day or reminded them of the good in the world.

Its been more than a year since then, and, on the whole, I think I can confidently say that my mental health has improved. My mother and I still talk about the ways we experience our mental illness and the coping mechanisms that we have developed, but these days our conversations are less about managing mental health crises and more about whether we are feeling well enough to slowly wean ourselves off our medications. At the same time, I am now aware of the family history of mental illness that will shadow me throughout my life, possibly stitched into my very DNA, and how Im more prepared than ever to take it on.

***

Isaac Wurmann is a writer based in Berlin.

This story first appeared in Broadviews Oct/Nov 2021 issue with the title My fathers nose, my mothers anxiety.

We hope you found this Broadview article engaging.

Our team is working hard to bring you more independent, award-winning journalism. But Broadview is a nonprofit and these are tough times for magazines. Please consider supporting our work. There are a number of ways to do so:

Thank you for being such wonderful readers.

Jocelyn Bell

Editor/Publisher

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My mother and I have the same mental health disorders. But is it genetic? - Broadview Magazine

An international research team led bythe University of California, San Diego (UCSD) has identified a genetic cause for a syndrome that has stumped clinicians for many years. And thescientists saythey might be able toprevent the disease-causing mutation during pregnancy based on promising mouse studies.

The researchers identified the condition,dubbed Zaki syndrome,after doctors from around the world compared clinical notes that showed children born with it had DNA mutations in the Wnt-less, or WLS, gene. By boosting Wnt signaling with a drug in mouse models, they were able to reverse developmental disabilities caused by the disease, they reported in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Zaki is a rarecondition that hampers prenatal development ofthe eyes, brain, hands, kidneys and heart and that causes lifelong disabilities.The syndrome is named after Maha Zaki, M.D., Ph.D., at the National Research Center in Cairo, who was the first to spot it.

RELATED:Haisco to pay $140M to get the ball rolling on Biosplice's phase 3 osteoarthritis drug in China

The UCSD team, working withRady Childrens Institute for Genomic Medicine and researchers around the world,started by scouring databases of20,248 families who had children with neurodevelopmental disorders. They zeroed in on mutations in the WLS gene, which controls signaling levels for Wnt, a hormonelike protein that's involved in embryonic development. The scientists then created stem cells and mouse models of Zaki syndrome and used them to test a drug that boosts Wnt signaling.

The drug, CHIR99021, amped up Wnt signalingand restored development in the models. The mouse embryos grew body parts that had failed to develop, and their organs resumed normal growth, the scientists said.

The Wnt signaling pathway, discovered in the 1980s, has caught investor interest and is core to the missions of biotechs Surrozenand Biosplice Therapeutics, formerly known as Samumed. Biosplice's Wnt-modulating kinase inhibitor is in multiple phase 3 trials and has garnered licensing agreements in China and Korea in recent months. Meanwhile, Surrozen is targeting Wnt in designing regenerative medicines for diseases in the eye, lung, kidney and a host of other areas. Phase 1 studies are slatedfor next year, and the biotech hit the Nasdaq last month.

The UCSD-led team was surprised to discover that Zaki syndrome could could be prevented in preclinical models with a drug,said author Guoliang Chai, Ph.D., a former postdoctoral fellow at UCSD's School of Medicine, in a statement. Now the researchers are thinking about how to transform Zaki into an entirely preventable condition.We can see this drug, or drugs like it, eventually being used to prevent birth defects, if the babies can be diagnosed early enough.

Read this article:
Researchers unravel the genetic cause of a childhood disorder and a potential way to prevent it with drugs - FierceBiotech

With the number of patients getting physically examined at outpatient departments (OPDs) of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) rising by 67% over a week, the institute will call a review meeting in a week to decide upon the operations.

The PGIMER had resumed the walk-in facility for physical consultation at its OPDs on September 27. Since then, in the six working days, 32,913 patients were physically examined while 8,540 people were given consultation on telephones. The OPDs were closed on Saturday (Gandhi Jayanti) and Sunday.

On Monday, 6,579 patients got physical consultation at the hospitals New OPD department, as compared to 3,942 last Monday. Before the resumption of the walk-in facility, nearly 3,000 patients were visiting various OPDs daily, after prior appointments through tele-consultation or official website.

Keeping in view the possibility of a third wave, the institute authorities believe that capping the number of patients for physical examination is important. The institute is providing tele-consultation only between 8 am to 9 am, to scale up physical consultation.

The number of patients coming to the institute is more than expected. Since Covid-19 cases in Chandigarh and neighbouring states are fluctuating daily, crowding at one place can spread the infection. A cap of numbers and resuming OPDs in a phased manner is a must, said a PGIMER official, who did not wish to be named.

Dr Jagat Ram, director, PGIMER, said that on an average, 6,000 patients are visiting the institute daily, and each patient has two or three attendants with them. The total footfall is more than 18,000 daily.

At present, we are trying to manage the crowd and are accessing problems being faced by patients. In a week, we will call a review meeting with heads of each department and will decide upon further action. Guidelines on OPD operations will be reviewed, he said.

Before the contagion, over 10,000 patients visited PGIMERs OPDs daily. Since the suspension of walk-in consultation and online appointments in March last year, the institute had been providing OPD services through tele-consultation. From June 21 this year, physical consultations resumed, but only after prior appointment through tele-consultation.

On September 6, the institute also restarted an online appointment facility, but with a cap of 30 patients per department to ensure adherence to Covid protocols. Later, the limit was increased to 50 patients, with 100 allowed at three major departments opthalmology (eye), hepatology (liver) and internal medicine.

Now, patients can simply walk into the institutes New OPD between 9.15am and 11am and get registered.

More:
PGIMER to review operations as OPD footfall rises - Hindustan Times

Experiments to see how human tissue will grow in zero-gravity conditions are to be conducted onboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Researchers at Airbus and the University of Zurich (UZH) plan to send materials up with the next supply flight for the ISS that will enable astronauts to grow three-dimensional organ-like tissues called organoids.

The organoids, which will be grown from human adult stem cells, cannot be produced on Earth because they require supporting skeletons due to the effect of gravity.

3D organoids are of great interest to pharmaceutical companies because they could allow drugs to be tested directly on human tissue which could produce more reliable results and eliminate the need for animal models.

Organoids grown from patient stem cells could also be used in the future as building blocks for tissue replacement therapy for damaged organs. Globally, the number of donated organs is far from sufficient to meet demand.

Initial preparatory tests on the ISS 18 months ago were successful. In this experiment, 250 test tubes containing human stem cells that spent a month on board the space station showed differentiated organ-like liver, bone and cartilage structures that developed as intended from the tissue stem cells.

In contrast, the cultures created on Earth, which were grown as controls under normal gravity conditions, showed no or only minimal cell differentiation.

In the current mission, tissue stem cells from two women and two men of different ages are being sent into space.

The researchers are testing how robust the method is when using cells of different biological variability. They expect production to be easier and more reliable in microgravity than using support structures to grow on Earth.

Currently, the focus is on production engineering issues and quality control, said UZH scientist Oliver Ulrich.

With regard to the envisaged commercialisation, we now have to find out how long and in what quality we can keep the organoids grown in space in culture after their return to Earth.

Airbus project manager Julian Raatschen said: If successful, the technology can be further developed and brought to operational maturity. Airbus and the UZH Space Hub can thus make a further contribution to improving the quality of life on Earth through space-based solutions.

The sample material will return to Earth at the beginning of October with the first results expected from November.

In June, an additional solar array was deployed on the ISS to give the station a much needed electricity boost as demand for low-gravity experiments and space tourism grows.

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Human tissues to be grown in microgravity conditions aboard the ISS - E&T Magazine

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition in which the bodys immune system attacks its own tissues. The condition typically causes swelling, stiffness, and pain in the joints. However, it may also affect other areas of the body, including the cardiovascular system, kidneys, skin, and eyes.

For some, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms can significantly affect their ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. In these situations, the person may qualify for disability benefits.

This article discusses when RA is a disability, how to know if a person living with RA qualifies for benefits, and how to claim them. We also provide tips on how to manage the symptoms of RA.

RA is a progressive condition, meaning that it will worsen over time. The pace at which the disease progresses will depend on multiple factors, including:

In a 2008 study of RA and work disability in the United States, 35% of people stopped working within 10 years of their initial RA diagnosis.

According to the Global Healthy Living Foundation, to qualify for disability benefits, a person would need to show that they are unable to work for a year or that working may result in death.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers RA a disability if a person meets the following eligibility criteria:

The SSA calculates work credits based on the total amount a person earns each year. According to the SSA, in 2021, a person can receive one credit for every $1,470 of earned income for a maximum of four credits per year.

Though the amount needed per credit often increases each year, a person can accumulate credits at different points in their life. They will not disappear if a person stops working for several years.

Disability benefits, more commonly known as Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), are available for qualified individuals. To qualify, a person must have worked and paid into social security for a number of years.

The SSA outlines the number of years a person needs to have worked to qualify for SSDI. The number of years varies based on the age of the person. According to the SSA, people 3142 years old need to have earned 20 credits in the 5 years before becoming disabled.

However, a person aged 62 years or older needs to have earned 40 credits in the 10 years before becoming disabled.

According to the SSAs monthly statistical snapshot, the average monthly benefit in June 2021 for people under 65 years old with a disability was $1,310.

The SSA classifies RA under inflammatory arthritis.

According to the SSA, to qualify for SSDI, a person living with RA needs to meet one or more of the following criteria:

In determining benefits, the SSA will also look at a persons ability to sustain work based on their Social Securitys Medical-Vocational Guidelines.

The guidelines use the Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) to determine how much work a person living with RA can reasonably carry out. The RFC classification outlines four broad categories based on the physical demands of a persons work. They include:

If a person cannot complete their expected work based on their disability and experience level, they may qualify for full benefits. However, a person who can complete light or sedentary work may not be eligible if they can work in a sedentary position.

The RFC also takes into account the following factors to determine if a person should receive SSDI:

People may apply for SSDI benefits online here or by calling 800-772-1213.

The SSA provides an Adult Disability Checklist to help people determine what they need before applying for disability benefits. They provide one checklist for completing an application online and another for completing an application over the phone.

The checklist details the documents and information a person needs to apply for benefits. Some of the information a person will need includes:

There is no cure for RA, but there are ways to manage its symptoms and slow its progression. The goal of most treatment plans is to:

Some standard treatment options include:

A person should talk to their doctor if they notice worsening or continued symptoms. Working closely with a doctor is important for managing symptoms and reducing the severity of RA.

RA is a chronic disease that primarily affects the joints but can also affect other parts of the body. The condition can progress to the point that a person finds it difficult or impossible to maintain their occupation.

The SSA classifies RA as a type of inflammatory arthritis. A person with RA may qualify for benefits if they become unable to work. A person must document that they meet the Social Security criteria for disability before receiving any benefits.

Although there is no cure for RA, a person can manage the condition with medications, therapies, and appropriate lifestyle changes.

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Is rheumatoid arthritis a disability? Benefits and more - Medical News Today

The Virginia woman says she and her whole family got the vaccine as soon as it was available. She's immunocompromised and susceptible to getting really sick if she caught Covid-19. She has lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and it is these diseases that add an extra layer to her frustration and anger.

"We did our part to preserve ourselves, our community, in trying to help battle this by getting vaccinated," Melendez said. "It's just unfortunate that the ignorance and laziness, for lack of better words, of other people who avoided taking the vaccine and ended up in the hospital with Covid, now has to impact me."

The antibody treatment blocks an inflammatory protein called IL-6 that causes damage in rheumatoid arthritis. That same protein plays a role in some of the serious symptoms in people with severe Covid-19 infections.

In the United States, supplies of several dose levels of this medicine have been out of stock since last Monday.

A life saver and life changer

For patients with Covid-19, the drug can be lifesaving. For patients with rheumatoid arthritis, like Melendez, it can be life-altering.

"It has restored my ability to have a fully functioning life," Melendez said. "Before it, it was so bad that simple things like brushing my teeth, combing my hair, opening a bottle of water, unfastening a pair of jeans, going to a restaurant, feeding myself were all challenges. Standing up and walking was hard. That's how bad my RA gets and I'm only 47."

Without the medication, even for a month, people can suffer debilitating flare-ups.

"It isn't easy to switch drugs, especially when you're on a serious drug like Actemra," Taylor said. "You surely don't want to be bouncing around."

Genetech is expanding manufacturing

On Thursday, Genentech sent a notice to customers saying it was "working as urgently as possible to expedite replenishments and increase manufacturing capacity and supply wherever possible."

The company said the medicine should be available for distribution starting Monday, August 30, but "given continued tight supply, Genentech anticipates additional intermittent periods of stockouts in the months ahead if the pandemic continues at the current pace."

A subcutaneous injectible form of Actemra that has not been authorized to treat Covid-19 is still available for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Snow suggested patients ask their doctors about it. It's unclear if insurance would cover it.

And for hospitalized Covid-19 patients, there are some alternatives if Actemra is not available.

"We also strongly encourage Roche to facilitate technology transfer and knowledge and data sharing to broaden access to this important treatment," the WHO said in its statement.

More pandemic shortages

"All it takes is a little spike in demand and we have problems," Fox said.

Because of the uncertainty of surges, some facilities also hoarded some medication. Genentech recently said it would not take orders back, and that should cut down on hoarding, Fox said.

"The same as any other manufacturer, they're going to make enough for what they think they need for the year. Nobody wants to have extra inventory sitting around," Ganio said.

Ganio said the American Society of Health System Pharmacists has also heard reports of shortages of in-line filters that are used with IV bags. There's been more demand for them due to the increasing use of the Regeneron antibody cocktail used to treat people with Covid-19.

"It's very frustrating. In shortage after shortage after shortage the manufacturer does not have a plan for when they can't supply product. It's often 'good luck, we're out,' " Fox said. "All decisions are made about the business first and unfortunately, there's no requirement to make anything, no matter how life saving it is."

"I know I can't be the only person who's sitting here today on edge," Melendez said. "I want to make sure they don't forget about us."

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Pandemic surge causes major shortage of a drug that treats rheumatoid arthritis and severe Covid-19 - CNN

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune disorder. People with RA have an increased risk of diabetes, while diabetes can also raise the risk of RA. Excessive inflammation, lifestyle factors, and genetics may be among the factors that connect the two conditions.

RA and diabetes also share several risk factors and causes, including certain medications.

This article discusses the link between RA and diabetes and explains how people can prevent and treat each of these conditions.

Although diabetes and RA share some similarities in terms of their causes and risk factors, they are very different conditions.

RA is an inflammatory autoimmune disease in which the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissue. It often causes inflammation in the joints of the hands, knees, or wrists. In some cases, it may affect the lungs, heart, eyes, or other organs throughout the body.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In a person living with the condition, the body either does not produce enough insulin or does not use it effectively. In either case, blood sugar levels will elevate.

The most likely connection between type 2 diabetes and RA involves inflammation and a buildup of cytokines known as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the body. The Arthritis Foundation notes that TNF plays a necessary role in wound healing by causing an inflammatory effect. However, it can be harmful when too much TNF is circulating in the body.

In RA, the immune systems attack on the joints causes TNF to build up in the body. In type 2 diabetes, fat cells mainly produce TNF, which can cause the body to develop insulin resistance over time. As a result, it is possible that the inflammation and TNF associated with RA could increase the risk of a person developing type 2 diabetes.

Other possible connections between RA and type 2 diabetes involve medications and lifestyle factors that can act as risk factors for both conditions.

Certain medications, such as corticosteroids, can increase the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. Also, RA might lead to a person having a more sedentary lifestyle, which is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

People living with type 1 diabetes may also be at higher risk of developing RA and vice versa.

The Global Healthy Living Foundation, a nonprofit organization, explains that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks insulin-producing cells. It notes that a person living with one autoimmune disorder has an increased chance of developing a second one at some point in their lifetime.

People living with RA may have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers have found that people living with RA are 23% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared with the general population.

In a 2020 review, researchers noted that RA can negatively affect a persons insulin resistance, which can cause the body to develop more fat. They also reported that many people with RA who develop type 2 diabetes also have other risk factors, including obesity.

People living with RA may be more likely to develop type 1 diabetes, as both conditions are autoimmune disorders. A person who has an autoimmune condition is more likely to develop another one during their lifetime.

The Arthritis Foundation suggests that people over the age of 45 years get screenings for diabetes every 3 years, noting that this is particularly important for those living with RA.

Learn more about risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

People living with type 1 diabetes have a higher risk of developing RA. In part, this may be due to both conditions being autoimmune disorders. There also may be a genetic link between the two conditions research has shown that the gene PTPN22 is linked to both conditions.

Some researchers believe that the inflammation associated with type 2 diabetes triggers RA in people who are genetically predisposed. A 2014 study in Taiwan supports this theory, finding that living with type 2 diabetes increases the risk of RA in females.

It is unclear whether type 1 or 2 diabetes could make RA symptoms worse. However, similar lifestyle changes can help both conditions, including:

Doctors can help create an effective treatment plan for a person living with RA, diabetes, or both.

A doctor can recommend a combination of medications alongside self-care strategies to slow the progression of RA and prevent joint damage. The CDC says that possible strategies for people living with RA include:

Learn some tips for dealing with rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups here.

The Arthritis Foundation notes that treating a person living with RA and type 2 diabetes is not much different than treating a person living with RA alone. One of the most important aspects for a person living with both conditions is to get regular exercise to help prevent heart disease.

A doctor may recommend a combination of medications and lifestyle adjustments to manage diabetes. In some cases, a person may find that diet and exercise modifications are enough to control their blood sugar.

If a person cannot control their blood sugar with diet and exercise alone, a doctor may recommend medication. They may recommend drugs to help the body process sugar or prescribe insulin.

Read a review of therapies and lifestyle changes for diabetes here.

RA and diabetes share some similar features, and a person with one condition may have an increased risk of the other.

People living with type 1 diabetes may have an increased risk of RA, and vice versa, due to the connection between autoimmune disorders and genetics. The inflammation associated with type 2 diabetes may put individuals with this form of diabetes at higher risk of RA. RA can make a person more likely to develop type 2 diabetes by affecting their insulin resistance.

A person living with RA should get regular screenings and watch for warning signs of diabetes. A person with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes should follow their doctors treatment advice.

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Rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes: Link, prevention, treatment - Medical News Today

A medication used widely in treating rheumatoid arthritis is out of stock due to a rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations, affecting patients in the U.S. and Utah. (Adam Sotelo, KSL-TV)

SALT LAKE CITY A medication used widely in treating rheumatoid arthritis is out of stock due to a rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations, affecting patients in the U.S. and Utah.

Sharon Greenwood, of Utah County, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when she was just 12 years old.

"There is no cure," Greenwood said. "Even if (arthritis) gets in your jaw, then eating is a problem because you can't chew."

Decades later and a dozen or so failed treatments, Greenwood finally has a medication that works for her tocilizumab, known by the brand name Actemra. She has been using the treatment for 10 years.

"Without it, the pain is completely debilitating," Greenwood explained.

However, Greenwood says her monthly treatment is now out of reach.

"I went in for my treatment on Wednesday with the hospital," Greenwood said that's when her nurse at Intermountain American Fork Hospital told her there was a major shortage.

"Apparently, just that morning, the drug had been called in. The nurses were told they were not to use it for anyone because it was being confiscated and gathered up to be sent to a central location," Greenwood said.

Greenwood said she was one of the last rheumatoid arthritis patients to get their treatment.

"The nurse apparently had my drug in her hand and the pharmacist said 'No, we have to take that,' and she said 'No, our patient is here waiting for it,'" she said.

#EXCLUSIVE- "There's no guarantee," Hundreds of patients... are out of crucial treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, Actemra. @genentech says surge in #COVID19 hospitalizations is to blame for unsatiable demand...& it's affecting Utahns like Sharon Greenwood. Story now on @KSL5TVpic.twitter.com/CbQz5nPGHI

Greenwood said nurses told her the drug was going to be reserved for COVID-19 and possibly cancer patients as the delta variant fuels a surge in virus cases and hospitalizations.

"They told me they were hoping to have more come in in about 4-6 weeks, which will be around the time I have my next appointment, but there's no guarantee," Greenwood said, explaining that she is worried about the possibility of not getting her next treatment.

On June 24, the FDA issued an emergency use authorization for Actemra to treat COVID-19 patients in hospitals, including adults and kids age 2 and older.

"The EUA is based on results from four randomized, controlled studies that evaluated Actemra for the treatment of COVID-19 in more than 5,500 hospitalized patients. The results of these studies suggest that Actemra may improve outcomes in patients receiving corticosteroids and requiring supplemental oxygen or breathing support," said a company spokesperson for Genentech, the U.S. manufacturer of Actemra.

Genentech is the sole manufacturer and supplier of the drug in the U.S. Its parent company, Roche, manufactures the drug outside of the U.S.

However, despite efforts to ramp up production, Genentech confirmed in a written response to KSL, "they're experiencing a temporary stock out" of the drug in the U.S. since Aug. 16.

A company spokesperson added they expect to receive scheduled replenishments by the end of August. However, they warned, if the pandemic continues to spread at its current pace, there could be more shortages in weeks and months ahead.

"The dramatic emergence of the COVID-19 delta variant, as well as the unexpected slowing of vaccination rates in the U.S., has led to an overwhelmingly high incidence of COVID-19 hospitalizations in certain areas of the country. This new wave of the pandemic has led to Genentech experiencing an unprecedented demand for Actemra IV well-over 400% of pre-COVID levels over the last two weeks alone and it continues to increase," said Lindsey Mathias, senior manager of Genentech corporate relations.

In the meantime, Greenwood said her doctor and nurses told her the drug is being stockpiled and rationed priority is going to COVID-19 patients.

"For me, it's about quality of life. But for them, it's a matter of life or death, and so it does need to go to them first because they are the greater need," Greenwood said.

Nevertheless, Greenwood said the situation underscores the impact of others' choice not to be vaccinated as Intermountain experts have previously stated 90% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated.

"Unless you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, you may never know that choosing not to be vaccinated is affecting people like me," Greenwood said, "My hope is that people would choose wisely."

The World Health Organization, in conjunction with UnitAid, released a statement last week calling on the company to ensure equal access to the medicine and look for ways to increase global supplies.

KSL's Garna Mejia is also in contact with Intermountain Healthcare, Greenwood's health care provider, for more information on what exactly the supply shortage looks like in Utah. An update is expected later this week.

The most updated information on the U.S. supply of Actemra can be found here, while information on world supplies can be found here.

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Drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and COVID-19 in short supply - KSL.com

TUESDAY, Aug. 24, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Worse functional status and increased probability of functional decline are seen for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with lower socioeconomic status (SES), according to a study published online Aug. 4 in JAMA Network Open.

Zara Izadi, M.Pharm., from the University of California in San Francisco, and colleagues examined the association between SES and functional status in patients with RA using data from the American College of Rheumatology's Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness registry. Data were included for 83,965 patients with a confirmed RA diagnosis who were seen at participating rheumatology practices.

The researchers found that the mean functional status score was worse at lower SES levels for all measures (e.g., Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire quintile 1 and 5: 1.79 and 2.43, respectively). The probability of functional decline was 14.1 and 18.9 percent in the highest and lowest SES quintile, respectively, in longitudinal analyses. Disease activity partially mediated the association between SES and functional decline (7 percent).

"We found important disparities in functional status by SES in a national cohort of individuals with RA, despite utilization of rheumatology care," the authors write. "Future qualitative research is important to further our understanding of factors that affect functional status, including factors outside of medical care that can be intervened on."

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text

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Poverty Tied to Worse Functional Status in Rheumatoid Arthritis - HealthDay News

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) As hospitals across Mississippi and around the country continue to deal with high numbers of COVID-19 patients, yet another one of their resources is running low.

One of the challenges we face is, How do we treat patients in a consistent fashion?' says North Mississippi Health Services Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jeremy Blanchard.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved tocilizumab for emergency use in late June. Two months later, a global shortage of the drug has drawn the concern of the World Health Organization.

Sometimes either those medications or our testing supplies have come at risk, Dr. Blanchard says. Most recently, we have one of our medicationsthat we use with severe respiratory dysfunctions that has a threatened supply chain right now.

The WHO says tocilizumab can play a key part in keeping patients alive and reducing the need for mechanical ventilation for the severely ill.

Very similar to the hydroxychloroquine family (of drugs) used in rheumatoid arthritis, says Hank Norwood, a pharmacist for Allegro Family Clinics.

Now Mississippi hospitals must rely on alternatives.

The steroid inhalers, the steroid packs, the antibiotic packs, and the breathing inhalers, Norwood says.

Dr. Jeremy Blanchard says NMHS hospitals have algorithms to help guide them in choosing the best treatment for a patient.

What they are is, if A happens then do B and if B happens then you do C, he explained. Its based on a positive test and a set of symptoms that says you have COVID.

But Dr. Blanchard says the best way to treat COVID is still to prevent someone from getting it.

If you were going to look at what evidence do we have that really has been effective in treating and managing COVID, the three biggies that come up first are going to be vaccination, masking and monoclonal antibodies, he says.

The WHO says it is working to expand the number of manufacturers of tocilizumab across the globe.

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Mississippi hospitals dealing with global shortage of arthritis drug tocilizumab used to treat severely ill COVID-19 patients Mississippi hospitals...