StemCell Therapy

This year, five Wesleyan students were inducted into the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Honor Society. Thirty-one students nationwide were given this honor.

Inducted students must be juniors or seniors with a GPA of 3.4 or higher on a 4.0 scale, belong to a student chapter of the ASBMB, and demonstrate exceptional achievement in academics, undergraduate research and science outreach, according to the website.

The inducted students include the following:

Nour-Sada Harzallah 21, a College of Integrative Sciences student majoring in molecular biology & biochemistry (MB&B) and physics. Harzallah, from Tunisia, works in Professor Francis Starrs physics lab, belongs to the Wesleyan Women in Science steering committee, and is a STEM intern for the Office of Equity and Inclusion.

Her involvement in racial and gender equity in STEM has shaped her commitment to work on projects that serve the underrepresented and marginalized outside the lab and from the lab bench, reads her ASBMB bio. Her wildest dream is to develop initiatives that translate cutting-edge technologies into accessible and marketable means of diagnosis and therapeutics in her home country of Tunisia.

Jack Kwon 21, who works with Professor of Biology Michael Weir to study the ribosome.

We are aiming to elucidate the function of a highly conserved region of the ribosome called the CAR interaction surface through wet lab experiments and dry lab Molecular Dynamics simulations, Kwon wrote in his ASBMB bio. Kwon intends to graduate with a masters degree in MB&B through Wesleyans BA/MA program before pursuing a PhD in a related field.

Shawn Lin 22, who is majoring in biology, MB&B, and biophysics. Lin works in the MB&B lab of Professor Ishita Mukerji and the physics lab of Professor Candice Etson.

His research topic is Elucidation of interactions between integration host factor and a DNA four-way junction, reads Lins ASBMB bio. In addition to research, he is also the founder of NORDSAC (National Organization for Rare Disorders Student Association Connecticut). The goal of this organization is to raise awareness of rare disorders among students in Connecticut through fundraising, guest lectures, and rare disease day events.

Alex Poppel, a masters student in the MB&B department. Poppell works in Professor Amy MacQueens MB&B lab.

As a member of Wesleyans ASBMB Student Chapter, his outreach involvement has mainly focused on improving his schools community, such as by promoting undergraduate research opportunity awareness and equity and inclusion efforts in the sciences, Poppels ASBMB bio reads.

Maya Vaishnaw 21, a double major in psychology and MB&B. Vaishnaw works with Professor Erika Taylor in her chemistry lab.

The Taylor Lab takes a multidisciplinary approach to characterizing enzymes with applied chemical and biomedicinal applications, Vaishnaws ASBMB bio reads. In the future, Maya hopes to pursue research in clinical genetics.

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5 Students Inducted Into American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Honor Society - Wesleyan Connection

All cellular life on Earth is based on DNA, which transfers informationabout everything from hair color to personality traitsfrom one generation to the next. The four chemical bases that convey this information are adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T).

The other essential information molecule on Earth is RNA, in which thymine (T) is replaced by uracil (U). RNA has a one-string structure rather than a double-string structure like DNA. The first cellular life on our planet is thought to have relied exclusively on this means of transferring genetic informationin the so-called RNA worldand even today there are viruses (like the one that causes COVID) that only use RNA.

In a paper recently published in Science, a research group led by Dona Sleiman from the Institute Pasteur in Paris has discovered that some viruses show more variation in their genetic coding than was previously known. In the RNA of these viruses, adenine (A) is replaced with Z, where Z stands for diaminopurine.

This follows an earlier study by Zunyi Yang and colleagues at the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution in Gainesville, Florida, showing that an artificial genetic system could be created by adding two additional non-standard bases to ordinary DNA. Amazingly, the artificial six-base system continued to evolve rather than reverting back to the natural four-base system. This implies that the DNA we take as standardmade of A, C, G, and Tis just one of many viable solutions to the challenge of biological information transfer.

The variability does not stop here. Strings of DNA are organized in base triplets that determine which of the standard 20 amino acids are assigned to synthesize proteins. However, these triplet assignments are not universal. For example, CUG, which usually codes for the amino acid serine, instead codes for the amino acid leucine in some types of fungi. Also, some organisms naturally encode for two additional amino acids instead of the standard 20 amino acids.

What does this brief excursion into genetics have to do with alien life? While it is believed that all life on our planet derives from one common ancestor, the genetic code is much more flexible and diverse than usually appreciated. The biochemistry of information transfer in an alien species would almost certainly use different building blocks and encodings, and perhaps even a different number of bases. Our genetic code is surely highly optimized for life on Earth, but I feel certain that there are many optimal solutionsperhaps some that are even betterfor transferring information chemically from one generation to the next.

We, of course, cannot say what type of genetic code an alien species would use. But given that it would most likely be biochemically different, it would mostly likely be easily distinguishable from life on Earth. It may even be more different than we expect. A fascinating out-of-the-box genetic system has been suggested by Gerald Feinberg and Robert Shapiro, based on magnetic orientations rather than chemistry. They showed how magnetized particles, when approaching a magnetic chain, will align with the chain. As a result, the chain is duplicated, and this method could in principle be used to convey information in a binary code.

So, while alien life may well transmit genetic information using structures similar to RNA and DNA, we should always be prepared to expect the unexpected.

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The Science of Aliens, Part 2: What Kind of Genetic Code Would Extraterrestrials Have? - Air & Space Magazine

A UT Austin faculty member, Dr. Shelley Marshall Payne, has been named a recipient of the prestigious Piper Professor Award, an annual award that recognizes outstanding college professors from colleges and universities across the state of Texas.

Dr. Shelley Marshall Payne is a professor in the department of Medical Education and Molecular Biosciences housed in the College of Natural Sciences. Her research interests are in genetics and regulation of virulence factors of gram negative pathogens, including Shigella and Vibrio cholerae.

We are so proud of Dr. Payne and thrilled to see her recognized for her superior teaching and advancement of our students learning during what has been an especially challenging year for all, said senior vice provost of faculty affairs, Tasha Beretvas. We are also very grateful to the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation for their support for teaching excellence through these awards. And we acknowledge the honor that one of our faculty members receiving this award reflects on The University of Texas at Austin.

The Piper Professor Award was established by the San Antoniobased Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation in 1958 and honors 10 professors per academic year for their dedication to the teaching profession and for their outstanding academic, scientific and scholarly achievement. Each Piper Professor receives a certificate of merit, a gold pin and a $5,000 honorarium.

Selection is made on the basis of nominations; each two and four-year college and university in the state may submit only one nominee annually.

More information is available on the Texas Comptroller website.

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UT Austin Faculty Member Receives 2021 Piper Professor Award - Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost - UT News | The University of Texas...

One of the University's leading scientists, Professor Vernonica (Noni) Franklin-Tong has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Professor Franklin-Tong, a plant scientist, was recognised for her pioneering work on self-incompatibility in plants the mechanism which prevents plants from inbreeding. Using the common field poppy as a model system, she has identified novel mechanisms pivotal to regulation of cell growth and programmed cell death in plants.

She joins more than 60 outstanding scientists from around the globe who have been elected to the Royal Society this year as Fellows and Foreign Members.

Announcing the new appointments, Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said: The global pandemic has demonstrated the continuing importance of scientific thinking and collaboration across borders. Each Fellow and Foreign Member bring their area of scientific expertise to the Royal Society and when combined, this expertise supports the use of science for the benefit of humanity.

Our new Fellows and Foreign Members are all at the forefronts of their fields from molecular genetics and cancer research to tropical open ecosystems and radar technology. It is an absolute pleasure and honour to have them join us.

Professor Franklin-Tong said: "I am absolutely delighted to be elected as a Fellow of The Royal Society. It's a huge honour to have this recognition and to join this prestigious group of scientists. I'm indebted to the contribution of my team of researchers over the years.

"As a female professor of mixed ethnicity, I am especially proud of this achievement. I hope it inspires others to reach for the seemingly impossible."

Dr Neil Hotchin, Head of the School of Biosciences, said: Noni is an outstanding plant biologist and her election to the Royal Society is a well-deserved recognition of her truly ground-breakingwork on self-incompatibility in plantswhich has resultedin multiple high impactpapers in journals such asScience and Nature.

For media enquiries please contact Beck Lockwood, Press Office, University of Birmingham, tel: +44 (0)781 3343348.

The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the worlds top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 6,500 international students from over 150 countries.

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Distinguished University of Birmingham plant scientist elected to the Royal Society - University of Birmingham

When you pair graduate students with undergraduates, what do they talk about? In the case of the University of Virginias Double Hoo Awards, they discuss interactive machine learning, the genesis of false memories, how the brain controls infection and politicization in the field of intelligence, among other things.

This year, UVA awarded 21 Double Hoo Awards to new pairings of undergraduates and graduate student mentors, with the teams receiving up to $6,000. One team from last years recipients was awarded a renewal to continue their research, receiving $3,000 in support. The Double Hoo Award is funded by the Robert C. Taylor Fund.

We love seeing the ways that these student pairs have come together to pursue research and creative inquiry, Andrus G. Ashoo, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research, said. The funded projects represent disciplines across the institution and are pursuing some fascinating questions. It gets me excited for next years research symposium, where they will all present.

While undergraduate research is typically done in close collaboration with faculty members, the Double Hoo Awards add another element: the involvement of a graduate student mentor who plays a key role in defining the project. In the Double Hoo process, the undergraduate student submits the application with a project proposal and budget and identifies a graduate student with whom he or she will work. The graduate student also submits a statement of mentorship as part of the application process.

Not only will the research these students pursue be valuable to their development intellectually, it will also help these students professionally and socially as they learn to navigate a new relational dynamic, Ashoo said. In addition, an opportunity like this can be an experience that helps to clarify questions that the undergraduate or graduate might have about their future goals. For the graduate students, this is an invaluable opportunity to develop as a mentor, learning to provide supervision and incorporating the undergraduate into the larger project goals. This experience will be important, whether they go on to roles in academia, industry or public service.

This years Double Hoo recipients are:

One of last years projects has been renewed for a second year:

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Double Hoo Research: Undergrads and Grads Team Up to Create Knowledge - University of Virginia

Global Genetic Testing Market research report has been prepared with a nice combination of industry insight, smart solutions, practical solutions and newest technology to give better user experience. Under market segmentation chapter, research and analysis is done based on several market and industry segments such as application, vertical, deployment model, end user, and geography. To perform this market research study, competent and advanced tools and techniques have been utilized that include SWOT analysis and Porters Five Forces Analysis. Businesses can surely anticipate the reduced risk and failure with the winning research report.

Global Genetic Testing Market, By Type (Predictive & Presymptomatic Testing, Carrier Testing, Prenatal & Newborn Testing, Diagnostic Testing, Pharmacogenomic Testing, Others), Technology (Cytogenetic Testing, Biochemical Testing, and Molecular Testing), Application (Cancer Diagnosis, Genetic Disease Diagnosis, Cardiovascular Disease Diagnosis, Others), Disease (Alzheimers Disease, Cancer, Cystic Fibrosis, Sickle Cell Anemia, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Thalassemia, Huntingtons Disease, Rare Diseases, Other Diseases), Product (Equipment, Consumables), Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, Italy, U.K., France, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, Rest of Europe, Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia- Pacific, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East & Africa) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2028

Genetic testing market is expected to gain market growth in the forecast period of 2021 to 2028. Data Bridge Market Research analyses the market to reach at an estimated value of 585.81 billion and grow at a CAGR of 11.85% in the above-mentioned forecast period. Increase in incidences of genetic disorders and cancer drives the genetic testing market.

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The major players covered in the genetic testing market report are 23andMe, Inc., Abbott., Ambry Genetics., BGI, Biocartis, BIO-HELIX, bioMrieux SA, Blueprint Genetics Oy, Cepheid., deCODE genetics, GeneDx, Inc., Exact Sciences Corp, HTG Molecular Diagnostics, Genomictree., Illumina, Inc, Invitae Corporation, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Luminex Corporation., ICON plc, Myriad Genetics, Inc, Natera, Inc., Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc, Pathway Genomics, QIAGEN, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and Siemens Healthcare Private Limited among other domestic and global players.

Competitive Landscape and Genetic Testing Market Share Analysis

Genetic testing market competitive landscape provides details by competitor. Details included are company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, global presence, production sites and facilities, production capacities, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, product width and breadth, application dominance. The above data points provided are only related to the companies focus related to genetic testing market.

Genetic tests are the type of tests which are defined as medical devices available in the form of kits and panels that are used for testing genetic diseases in humans. The testing is generally performed by collecting samples ofbloodfrom patients and the samples are then run on laboratory machines using test kits. There are numerous types of tests which are used in testing of genetic disorders which includes, predictive and presymptomatic testing, carrier testing, prenatal and newborn testing, diagnostic testing, pharmacogenomic testing among others.

Rise in awareness and acceptance of personalized medicines is the vital factor escalating the market growth, also rising advancements in genetic testing techniques, rising demand for direct-to-consumer genetic testing, rising consumer interest in personalized medicines in Europe, rising application of genetic testing in oncology and genetic diseases in North America and rising physician adoption of genetic tests into clinical care are the major factors among others driving the genetic testing market. Moreover, rising untapped emerging markets in developing countries and rising research and development activities in the machinery used inhealthcarewill further create new opportunities for genetic testing market in the forecasted period of 2021-2028.

However, rising standardization concerns of genetic testing-based diagnostics and rising stringent regulatory requirements for product approvals are the major factors among others which will obstruct the market growth, and will further challenge the growth ofgenetic testing marketin the forecast period mentioned above.

This genetic testing market report provides details of new recent developments, trade regulations, import export analysis, production analysis, value chain optimization, market share, impact of domestic and localised market players, analyses opportunities in terms of emerging revenue pockets, changes in market regulations, strategic market growth analysis, market size, category market growths, application niches and dominance, product approvals, product launches, geographic expansions, technological innovations in the market. To gain more info on genetic testing market contact Data Bridge Market Research for anAnalyst Brief,our team will help you take an informed market decision to achieve market growth.

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Genetic Testing Market Scope and Market Size

Genetic testing market is segmented on the basis of type, technology, application, disease and product. The growth amongst these segments will help you analyse meagre growth segments in the industries, and provide the users with valuable market overview and market insights to help them in making strategic decisions for identification of core market applications.

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Global Genetic Testing MarketCountry Level Analysis

Genetic testing market is analysed and market size insights and trends are provided by country, type, technology, application, disease and product as referenced above.

The countries covered in the genetic testing market report are U.S., Canada and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Rest of Europe in Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), Brazil, Argentina and Rest of South America as part of South America.

North America dominates the genetic testing market due to rising demand for direct-to-consumer genetic testing and rising consumer interest in personalized medicines. Asia-Pacific is the expected region in terms of growth in genetic testing market due to rise in affordability, increasing surge in healthcare expenditure, and increase in awareness toward early screening of genetic disorders in this region.

The country section of the genetic testing market report also provides individual market impacting factors and changes in regulation in the market domestically that impacts the current and future trends of the market. Data points such as consumption volumes, production sites and volumes, import export analysis, price trend analysis, cost of raw materials, down-stream and upstream value chain analysis are some of the major pointers used to forecast the market scenario for individual countries. Also, presence and availability of global brands and their challenges faced due to large or scarce competition from local and domestic brands, impact of domestic tariffs and trade routes are considered while providing forecast analysis of the country data.

Healthcare Infrastructure growth Installed base and New Technology Penetration

Genetic testing market also provides you with detailed market analysis for every country growth in healthcare expenditure for capital equipments, installed base of different kind of products for genetic testing market, impact of technology using life line curves and changes in healthcare regulatory scenarios and their impact on the genetic testing market. The data is available for historic period 2010 to 2019.

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An absolute way to forecast what future holds is to comprehend the trend today!Data Bridge set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.

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Global Genetic Testing Market Top Countries Analysis and Manufacturers With Impact of COVID-19 | 2021-2028 Detail Analysis focusing on Application,...

Quebec Premier FranoisLegault, announced the appointment of 43 (35 from 2020) individuals to the National Order of Quebec today, including Dr. Morag Park, Director of McGill Universitys Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre (GCRC) who was appointed Chevalire. Dr. Park was nominated by Maryse Lassonde, President of the Quebec Superior Council of Education with the support of the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation (QBCF), with the additional support of McGills Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences as well as the GCRC.

McGill University is proud that the Government of Quebec has chosen to honour Dr. Morag Park for her outstanding contributions in cancer research, said Martha Crago, Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation. Her work has improved our understanding of cancer and has made a mark on Quebecs culture of research excellence. I extend my heartfeltcongratulationsto Dr. Park on behalf of McGills research community.

It is a great honour to be appointed to the Order of Quebec. I am grateful for my incredible colleagues and trainees in the health and research community who have supported me throughout the years and whose collaborations have enabled the progress weve made to date. However, there remains a long road ahead in the fight against cancer, and support for this research is critical, perhapseven more so as we exit the COVID-19 pandemic, where, like so many fields, cancer care and research has been impacted, said Dr. Morag Park on receiving her appointment.

From the very beginning of her career as a researcher, the Foundation believed in Dr. Morag Parks research projects by awarding her very first research grant in breast cancer. She is a pioneer with her work on breast cancer in Quebec. We are proud to support her since her beginnings and the recognition she receives from the Order of Quebec, said Karine-Iseult Ippersiel, President and CEO of the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation.

A trailblazer, builder and innovator during a career spanning over thirty years, Dr. Park has made contributions to a wide spectrum of cancer research, from the molecular level to the complex cellular interactions within tissues that dictate the biology of human cancers.

Her trajectory began with her identification and characterization of a key oncogene, the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) MET, as a post-doctoral fellow. On this foundation, Dr. Park built a research program of sustained excellence, developing elegant molecular and cell biology approaches to systematically discover key signaling proteins and pathways dictating the functional output of MET and other RTKs which are now key targets in precision medicine for many cancers. Her innovative approach, which set an example followed by many others in the field, identified critical molecular mechanisms of aberrant RTK activation that drive many prevalent cancers. These discoveries have significantly increased our understanding of many crucial processes underlying cancer development, including cell growth and proliferation, survival, motility and invasion and key cell fate decisions.

For the past 20 years, Dr. Park has also built world-leading translational research programs, including innovative pre-clinical models and comprehensive patient sample and data repositories, particularly for breast cancer. These are built on the premise of multidisciplinary collaborations between surgeons, oncologists, pathologists, and informaticians, as well as basic and translational researchers, through her role as Co-Principal Investigator of a Quebec-wide cancer biobanking network of clinicians and researchers. Her work led to a new understanding of the role of non-tumor cells, referred to as the tumor microenvironment in breast cancer, a concept that is now accepted for many cancers. More recently, living biobanks of live cells and tissues harvested during surgeries, developed under Dr. Parks leadership, have allowed the development of patient derived models of breast and other cancers to understand why some patients do not respond to therapy and to develop new therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Parks leadership and expertise in bridging the laboratory and clinic have allowed her to assume leading roles in consortia dedicated to improving outcomes for cancer patients by expanding the reach of precision medicine. These include Qubec Cancer Consortium (QCC), uniting six leading Montreal hospitals, cancer research centres, non-profit and pharmaceutical industry partners, and the Quebec node of the Terry Fox Research Institutes Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network (MoHCCN).

Dr. Park has received many prizes and honours including the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) Robert L. Noble Prize (2017), the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences (CSMB) Arthur Wynne Gold Medal Award (2016), and the Grand Prix Scientifique of the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation (2019). A fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (2007) and of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (2017), she was elected Chair of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Tumor Microenvironment Network (2015-2017). She has been recognized consistently through academic appointments of the highest level, including a Distinguished James McGill Professorship (2020-present) and the Diane and Sal Guerrera Chair in Molecular Genetics (2003-present). Nationally, as the Scientific Director of CIHRs Institute of Cancer Research (2008-13), Dr. Park spearheaded key initiatives on personalized medicine, childhood cancers initiation and progression, the role of lifestyle and the environment. She also co-chaired the Canadian Cancer Research Alliance (CCRA), where she led the development of the first Pan-Canadian Cancer Research Strategic Plan. For these and her other efforts she received the CCRA Award for Exceptional Leadership in Cancer Research in 2015.

Congratulations Dr. Park!

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Morag Park named to the Order of Quebec - McGill Reporter - McGill Reporter

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Third Rock Ventures has closed a Series A financing round thatraised $82 million, funding which will be used to launchFlare Therapeutics, a new biotech startup focused on developing precision treatments for cancer and other diseases. Significant contributions were made to the Series A by Boxer Capital, Nextech Invest, Casdin Capital, Invus Financial Advisors, and Eventide Asset Management.

Flare uses a switch-site based drug discovery approach, which helped the company develop a pipeline of therapeutic programs that target pivotal cancer drivers such as transcription factor dysregulation and mutations. The new financing from the Series A will support its ability to advance its lead precision oncology program toward the clinic.

Flare currently has three lead precision oncology programs. The first program is expected to move into the clinic in 2023 or 2024, while the following two programs are expected to enter the clinic in the two years following.

Abbie Celniker, Ph.D., Flares interim Chief Executive Officer, and Third Rock Ventures partner, said in a statement that the new startup company was created to pursue the mission of conquering transcription factors which have been one of the most sought-after targets of drug developers based on the central role they play in cancer and other diseases.

Transcription factors appear to play a central role in cancer, among other diseases, according to emerging data and scientific discoveries published over the past ten years. Yet, transcription factors have continued to be elusive for finding targetable sites for drug discovery, with less than 1% of transcription factors successfully targeted for medicines, according to a statement made by Flares Scientific Co-Founder, Fraydoon Rastinejad, Ph.D., a professor of biochemistry and structural biology at the University of Oxford.

The novel drug discovery paradigm established by Flare uses an approach that targets transcription factors. According to the company, this strategy is based primarily on a broader understanding of the cooperative communication and allosteric interaction among the elements of the transcriptional molecular complex, in contrast to the previous scientific focus on only single, isolated transcription factor domains.

Recent work by the companys Scientific Co-Founders has helped Flare gain a greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in targeting transcription factors. This understanding, according to Flare, has helped its research team to recognize the broad potential to generalize these principles to the switch site as a focal point for drugging transcription factors in a new way.

Scientific Co-Founder of Flare, Steven McKnight, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Texas, Southwestern, noted, Maturation of the fields of human genetics and the biochemistry of gene regulation now point us towards opportunities for therapeutic intervention using conventional, small molecule drugs.

Likely, Flare will also plan to use the new Series A funding to grow its staff to 25 employees. Currently, the company employs 12 to 15 full-time staffers, mainly relying on contractors and partners to fulfill its operational needs.

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Third Rock Ventures Launches Flare Therapeutics With $82 Million Series A - BioSpace

Over 60 outstanding scientists from all over the globe have joined the Royal Society as Fellows and Foreign Members. The distinguished group of scientists consists of 52 Fellows, 10 Foreign Members and one Honorary Fellow and were all selected for their exceptional contributions to science.

The Royal Society is a self-governing Fellowship made up of the most eminent scientists, engineers and technologists from the UK and the Commonwealth. Its Foreign Members are drawn from the rest of the world.

The Societys fundamental purpose is to recognise, promote, and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity.

The global pandemic has demonstrated the continuing importance of scientific thinking and collaboration across borders, said President of the Royal Society, Sir Adrian Smith.

Each Fellow and Foreign Member bring their area of scientific expertise to the Royal Society and when combined, this expertise supports the use of science for the benefit of humanity.

Our new Fellows and Foreign Members are all at the forefronts of their fields from molecular genetics and cancer research to tropical open ecosystems and radar technology. It is an absolute pleasure and honour to have them join us.

Read the full story and see the list of Cambridge Fellows

Reproduced courtesy of the University of Cambridge

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The Royal Society announces election of new Fellows 2021 - Cambridge Network

UCLA life scientists have identified six "words" that specific immune cells use to call up immune defense genes -- an important step toward understanding the language the body uses to marshal responses to threats.

In addition, they discovered that the incorrect use of two of these words can activate the wrong genes, resulting in the autoimmune disease known as Sjgren's syndrome. The research, conducted in mice, is published this week in the peer-reviewed journal Immunity (Cell Press).

"Cells have evolved an immune response code, or language," said senior author Alexander Hoffmann, the Thomas M. Asher Professor of Microbiology and director of the Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences at UCLA. "We have identified some words in that language, and we know these words are important because of what happens when they are misused. Now we need to understand the meaning of the words, and we are making rapid progress. It's as exciting as when archaeologists discovered the Rosetta stone and could begin to read Egyptian hieroglyphs."

Immune cells in the body constantly assess their environment and coordinate their defense functions by using words -- or signaling codons, in scientific parlance -- to tell the cell's nucleus which genes to turn on in response to invaders like pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Each signaling codon consists of several successive actions of a DNA binding protein that, when combined, elicit the proper gene activation, in much the same way that successive electrical signals through a telephone wire combine to produce the words of a conversation.

The researchers focused on words used by macrophages, specialized immune cells that rid the body of potentially harmful particles, bacteria and dead cells. Using advanced microscopy techniques, they "listened" to macrophages in healthy mice and identified six specific codon-words that correlated to immune threats. They then did the same with macrophages from mice that contained a mutation akin to Sjgren's syndrome in humans to determine whether this disease results from the defective use of these words.

"Indeed, we found defects in the use of two of these words," Hoffmann said. "It's as if instead of saying, 'Respond to attacker down the street,' the cells are incorrectly saying, 'Respond to attacker in the house.'"

The findings, the researchers say, suggest that Sjgren's doesn't result from chronic inflammation, as long thought, but from a codon-word confusion that leads to inappropriate gene activation, causing the body to attack itself. The next step will be to find ways of correcting the confused word choices.

Many diseases are related to miscommunication in cells, but this study, the scientists say, is the first to recognize that immune cells employ a language, to identify words in that language and to demonstrate what can happen when word choice goes awry. Hoffman hopes the team's discovery will serve as a guide to the discovery of words related to other diseases.

"The macrophage is capable of responding to different types of pathogens and mounting different kinds of defenses. The defense units -- army, navy, air force, special operations -- are mediated by groups of genes," he said. "For each immune threat, the right groups of genes must be mobilized. That requires precise and reliable communication with those units about the nature of the threat. NFB dynamics provide the communication code. We identified the words in this code, but we don't yet fully understand how each defense unit interprets the various combinations of the codon-words."

And of course, calling up the wrong unit is not only ineffective, Hoffmann notes, but may do damage, as vehicles destroy roads, accidents happen and worse, as in the case of Sjogren's and, possibly, other diseases.

Then, using an algorithm originally developed in the 1940s for the telecommunications industry, they monitored which of the potential words tended to show up when macrophages responded to a stimulus, such as a pathogen-derived substance. They discovered that six specific dynamical features, or "words," were most frequently correlated with that response.

An analogy would be listening to someone in a conversation and finding that certain three-letter words tend to be used, such as "the," "boy," "toy," and "get," but not "biy" or "bey," said lead author Adewunmi Adelaja, who earned his Ph.D. in Hoffmann's laboratory and is now working toward his M.D. at UCLA.

The team then used a machine learning algorithm to model the immune response of macrophages. If they taught a computer the six words, they asked, would it be able to recognize the stimulus when computerized versions of cells were "talking?" They confirmed that it could. Drilling down further, they explored what would happen if the computer only had five words available. They found that the computer made more mistakes in recognizing the stimulus, leading the team to conclude that all six words are required for reliable cellular communication.

The scientists also used calculus to study the biochemical molecular interactions inside the immune cells that produce the words.

Hoffmann and his colleagues revealed in the journal Science in 2014 how and why the immune system's B cells respond only to true threats. In a study published in Cell in 2013, his team showed for the first time that it was possible to correct a cellular miscommunication involving the connection of receptors to genes during inflammation without severe side effects.

Reference:Adelaja A, Taylor B, Sheu KM, et al. Six distinct NFB signaling codons convey discrete information to distinguish stimuli and enable appropriate macrophage responses. Immunity. 2021;54(5):916-930.e7. doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2021.04.011

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

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Researchers Decode the "Language" of Immune Cells - Technology Networks

Early identification of unique cell markers is expected to have valuable impact on patents, clinical efficacy, and manufacturing optimization

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 11, 2021 / RepliCel Life Sciences Inc. (OTC PINK:REPCF)(TSXV:RP)(FRA:P6P2) ("RepliCel" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has now signed and launched a new collaborative research project agreement with the University of British Columbia ("UBC") that enables the second stage of its cell marker research. The project is being co-led by RepliCel's Dr. Kevin McElwee and UBC's Professor Youwen Zhou.

The project commenced in 2017, is designed to deliver a gene and protein expression "map" of healthy hair follicle cells expected to be critically important to improving key components of the manufacturing, regulatory, and clinical profile of RepliCel's cell therapy products.

The initial stage of the study examined multiple cell types from human hair follicles to identify differences, and similarities, in gene and protein expression with the goal of finding markers of interest that would allow potential optimization in target cell isolation from the initial patient tissue biopsy as well as post-manufacturing final product formulation and correlation of specific cellular sub-populations to clinical efficacy. New patents filed around the discoveries made during this collaboration will accrete value to RepliCel's overall technology and product portfolio.

This second stage of the project specifically aims to confirm the presence and in situ localization of cells expressing unique markers selected from the initial project's indicative data and establish robust selection technologies and protocols for the use of the markers in cell isolation and manufacturing of RepliCel's proprietary tissue regenerative cell therapy products.

About Professor Youwen Zhou, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Youwen Zhou is a physician-scientist who is a Professor at UBC's Department of Dermatology and Skin Science. He received his BS degree from Nankai University, China, a PhD in Molecular Genetics from the State University of New York, and an MD degree from the University of Toronto. After completing dermatology specialty training at UBC, he joined UBC Faculty of Medicine as a physician-scientist in dermatology in 2000, and was promoted to full professor in 2013. He founded the UBC Molecular Medicine Lab and Chieng Genomics Center at Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) with infrastructure funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation in 2001. Dr. Zhou's research is centered on biomarkers of skin diseases such as skin lymphoma, melanoma, and vitiligo, using a wide variety of methods and approaches, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS), linkage analysis, next generational sequencing, transcriptional profiling, cellular models, as well as genome editing.

Dr. Zhou has published more than 100 articles in journals such as Nature, Cell, Nature Genetics, and Blood, and holds multiple patents in skin lymphoma diagnostic biomarkers. In 2013, Dr. Zhou was awarded a Barney Usher Award for Outstanding Achievements in Dermatology Research from the Canadian Dermatology Association. Dr. Zhou specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers and skin pigmentation disorders and is a consultant dermatologist at Vancouver General Hospital and British Columbia Cancer Agency. He teaches graduate students, medical students, dermatology residents, and postdoctoral fellows. Dr. Zhou is the past president of the Canadian Society of Investigative Dermatology and served as a board member for Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA). He is also a grant reviewer for CIHR, the Canadian Dermatology Foundation, and the Natural Sciences Foundation of China.

About Dr. Kevin McElwee, Ph.D.

Dr. McElwee, co-discoverer of the Company's technology and co-founder of RepliCel, is a former Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Bradford's Center for Skin Sciences. Previously, he was an Associate Professor in the Department of Dermatology and Skin Health at the University of British Columbia, and Director of the Hair Research Laboratory in the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute at Vancouver General Hospital. His research has been funded by competitive grants awarded by multiple organizations including the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (the equivalent of the National Institutes for Health in the USA).

Dr. McElwee is one of only a small group of research scientists worldwide who studies hair biology and associated diseases. He has worked as a hair research scientist for 25 years and has published over 120 medical journal articles and academic book chapters on hair loss research. Dr. McElwee received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, and his PhD from the University of Dundee, Scotland. Postdoctoral training included three years at the Jackson Laboratory in Maine and four years at the University of Marburg, Germany, studying various hair loss diseases. Dr. McElwee continues to serve as the Company's Chief Scientific Officer.

About RepliCel Life Sciences

RepliCel is a regenerative medicine company focused on developing cell therapies for aesthetic and orthopedic conditions affecting what the Company believes is approximately one in three people in industrialized nations, including aging/sun-damaged skin, pattern baldness, and chronic tendon degeneration. These conditions, often associated with aging, are caused by a deficit of healthy cells required for normal tissue healing and function. These cell therapy product candidates are based on RepliCel's innovative technology, utilizing cell populations isolated from a patient's healthy hair follicles.

The Company's product pipeline is comprised of RCT-01 for tendon repair, RCS-01 for skin rejuvenation, and RCH-01 for hair restoration. RCH-01 is exclusively licensed in Asia to Shiseido Company. RepliCel maintains the rights to RCH-01 for the rest of the world. RCT-01 and RCS-01 are exclusively licensed in Greater China to YOFOTO (China) Health Company. RepliCel and YOFOTO are currently co-developing these products in China. RepliCel maintains the rights to these products outside of Greater China.

RepliCel has also developed a proprietary injection device, RCI-02, and related consumables, which is expected to improve the administration of its cell therapy products and certain other injectables. YOFOTO has exclusively licensed the commercial rights for the RCI-02 device and consumables in Greater China for dermatology applications and is expected to first launch the product in Hong Kong upon it being approved for market launch in either the United States or Europe.

Please visit http://www.replicel.com for additional information.

Notable Facts:

For more information, please contact: Lee Buckler, CEO and President info@replicel.com

SOURCE: RepliCel Life Sciences, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/645993/RepliCel-Launches-the-Next-Stage-of-a-Research-Project-with-the-University-of-British-Columbia-to-Build-World-Class-Hair-Follicle-Cell-Data-Map

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RepliCel Launches the Next Stage of a Research Project with the University of British Columbia to Build World-Class Hair Follicle Cell Data Map -...

Many arthritis sufferers use CBD as an alternative remedy for easing joint pain. Weve put together a list of the best CBD oil for arthritis and a guide to help you get the most out of CBD.

Arthritis is a common condition characterized by joint pain and inflammation. The United States witnessed a significant increase in the prevalence of arthritis in recent years. Standard treatments typically focus on pain relief but arent always effective and can cause notable side effects.

As a result, more and more people are opting for safe, natural options such as CBD oil. Still, with so many products available and a lack of regulation, finding a high-quality CBD product can be difficult.

Thats why we researched and compared numerous leading brands to find the best CBD oil for arthritis as well as the best CBD cream.

Heres our list of the top 10 CBD oils and creams for this debilitating condition, based on the formula, potency, hemp source, third-party testing, pricing, and other factors.

CBD oil and topical CBD products are an increasingly popular option for arthritis sufferers. Although more research is needed, early studies[1] indicate that CBD and other cannabinoids may relieve the pain and inflammation involved in arthritis. Some of the suitable CBD oil for pain can be found here.

This means CBD can help with symptom relief in common types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Better yet, theres some evidence that CBD may have a positive effect on the inflammation that causes some types of arthritis, which means it may help the condition directly.

CBD can also offer indirect benefits for arthritis sufferers, such as improving sleep and mood-related issues.

In comparison, prescription drugs typically only focus on pain relief instead of improving the root cause of certain types of arthritis. They can also cause significant side effects and other issues such as withdrawal in the case of opioids..

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For those who dont mind paying a little more for high-quality CBD from a family-run company with hundreds of satisfied customers, Spruce CBD is a solid pick.

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Spruce CBD was founded in North Carolina in 2018. The company stands out for being a relatively small, family-run business and having hundreds of satisfied customer reviews.

Spruce sources its CBD products from a 200-year-old strain of hemp grown organically in Kentucky and North Carolina. It uses a time-tested alcohol extraction process to create full-spectrum products rich in all of hemps beneficial components.

The company also posts detailed third-party test reports for everyone to see. Besides working well on adults, Spruce CBD is also safe for kids, which makes it one of the most popular choice on the market.

Spruces CBD oil comes in two strengths: regular, with 25 mg CBD per ml and 750 mg total, and high-strength, with 80 mg/ml and 2400 mg CBD in total. Both tinctures are formulated with hemp seed oil and the regular version is also flavored with peppermint.

The 2400 mg tincture may be particularly suited for arthritis thanks to its high potency.

If youre looking for a CBD oil designed for arthritis, CBDfxs wellness tincture is a great choice because it contains multiple anti-inflammatory ingredients backed by evidence-based research.

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CBDfx is an established CBD brand out of California. It offers many different kinds of CBD products with unique formulas, flavors, and other features that make it stand out from the competition.

CBDfx sources its hemp from organic farms in Kentucky. All of its products go through extensive third-party testing to verify their potency and safety.

CBDfxs unique take on CBD products can be seen with their wellness tincture. It contains not only CBD but also a large amount of CBG, another beneficial cannabinoid,

More importantly, this CBD oil carries two natural anti-inflammatory compounds that have been demonstrated to help with arthritis symptoms in research studies: coenzymeQ10[2] (CoQ10)- a rat-based study and curcumin[3] study in humans.

Thats why this CBD oil is especially suitable for dealing with arthritis. Its available in four strengths:

High-quality and all-natural ingredients are what makes Royal CBD a great option. Its all back by lab tests and a 30-day guarantee.

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CBD oils effectiveness in relieving pain is one reason people consider it as an option. Its also attractive because its a natural remedy, working with your bodys natural healing abilities. If its natural healing youre looking for, the Royal CBDs oil may be a good option for you.

Its derived from hemp that is organically grown, as well as grown in a sustainable way to ensure there will be more in the future. Once grown, the hemp is extracted using the CO2 process, which is the safest and cleanest option. You also wont find any added flavors in Royal CBD oil either, just the natural flavoring of the oil.

Some people prefer CBD oils that are as close to natural as possible. In that case, CBDPure is a decent option.

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Washingtons CBDPure has been around since 2016. The company offers a simple yet effective lineup of full-spectrum CBD oil, capsules, and cream sourced from organic hemp grown in Colorado and Washington.

As demonstrated by the companys third-party lab reports, the full-spectrum extract used in its products contains significant amounts of minor cannabinoids like CBC, CBDV, and CBG.

Thats a sign of a high-quality full-spectrum product since these compounds add to the beneficial effects of CBD.

CBDPure offers a 60 ml CBD oil containing full-spectrum CBD extract blended with hemp seed oil and no other extra ingredients. It comes in three strengths:

This isnt the most potent CBD oil on the market. However, if youre looking for a quality low-medium potency tincture made with pure ingredients, CBDPure fits the bill. We also have details of CBDPure brand you can read here.

Medterra is a top-tier CBD brand with competitive prices and is a particularly great option when you need pure CBD oil without any other active ingredients.

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Founded in 2017, Medterra is a leading CBD company known for offering quality products at affordable prices. All of its offerings are completely free of THC and sourced from organic hemp cultivated in Kentucky.

Medterra publishes detailed third-party lab test reports of its products. The company is also certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority, which means it passed a strict independent audit confirming that it follows strict hemp manufacturing standards.

Some people prefer to use CBD oil containing pure CBD (also called isolate) for arthritis and other conditions. In that case, Medterra is a great choice. Its CBD oil comes in three strengths:

It has a straightforward formula combining CBD isolate with coconut MCT oil.

Joy Organics is a good choice when you need CBD oil that doesnt contain any THC but still provides all of the cannabinoids, terpenes, and other beneficial hemp compounds alongside CBD.

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Joy Organics is a family-run CBD company out of Fort Collins, Colorado. It differentiates itself by offering only broad-spectrum CBD products.

Broad-spectrum CBD is a type of whole-plant hemp extract that contains all of the plants beneficial cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other ingredients, but with zero THC.

In that sense, its ideal for those who want to get the most out of hemp while completely avoiding THC.

Joy Organics products are derived from organic Colorado-grown hemp. Theyre comprehensively tested by a third-party lab to make it easy to verify their potency and safety. It is also found to be the best CBD for high blood pressure patients

Joy Organics offers broad-spectrum CBD oil in four strengths:

It uses virgin olive oil as the carrier oil and has four flavor options natural, tranquil mint, summer lemon, and orange bliss.

NuLeaf Naturals is one of the most respected names in the U.S. CBD industry, known particularly for its high-quality full-spectrum CBD oil tinctures.

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Founded in 2014 in Colorado, NuLeaf Naturals is one of the leading CBD brands in the country. Until recently, NuLeaf sold only one type of CBD product full-spectrum CBD oil which highlights the companys unrivaled expertise and a strong reputation.

NuLeaf uses organic Colorado-grown hemp-extracted with CO2 to make its products, which undergo comprehensive third-party testing for cannabinoid levels and contaminants.

The test results confirm that NuLeafs full-spectrum CBD extracts contain the full range of beneficial cannabinoids.

The best CBD oil for arthritis should use a potent, full-spectrum formula, and NuLeaf Naturals certainly meets that requirement.

Its CBD oil has a high potency of 60 mg per ml and comes in five bottle volumes ranging from 5 ml to 100 ml, with 300-6000 mg of CBD. Its formulated with hemp seed oil without any added flavoring.

Many people with arthritis prefer a high-potency CBD oil for significant relief. In that case, CBDistillery is an excellent pick because it offers tinctures containing as much as 167 mg of CBD per ml.

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One of the biggest names in the CBD industry, CBDistillery was founded in Colorado in 2016. The company offers a full range of affordable, high-quality CBD products with multiple strength options.

Theyre derived from organic hemp grown in Colorado and tested by a third-party lab to confirm their potency, safety, and consistency.

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10 Best CBD Oil for Arthritis & Joint Pain - 2021 Product ...

Practicing these habits can slow down OA, keep you healthy and put off surgery as long as possible.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Excess weight worsens OA. Combine healthy eating with regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight.

Control Blood Sugar

Many people have diabetes and OA. Having high glucose levels can make cartilage stiffer and more likely to break down. Having diabetes causes inflammation, which also weakens cartilage.

Maintain Range of Motion

Movement is medicine for joints. Make a habit of putting your joints through their full range of motion, but only up to the point where it doesnt cause more pain. Gentle stretching, raising and lowering legs from a standing or seated position, daily walks and hobbies such as gardening can help. But listen to your body and never push too hard.

Protect Joints

Make sure to warm up and cool down when doing exercise. If you play sports, protects joints with the right gear. Use your largest, strongest joints for lifting, pushing, pulling and carrying. Watch your step to prevent falls. Balance rest and activity throughout the day.

Relax

Find ways to reduce or avoid stress through meditation, listening to music, connecting with friends and family, doing fun activities, and finding ways to relax and recharge.

Choose a Healthy Lifestyle

Eating healthy food, not smoking, drinking in moderation and getting good sleep will help you to feel your best.

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Osteoarthritis

An estimated 1.5 million people living in the United States alone have RA, an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain, swelling, and eventually damage.

Researchers continue to look for new ways to diagnose RA, especially in its early stages. That is because the earlier a person receives a proper diagnosis of and treatment for RA, the better their chances of good outcomes, such as limiting joint damage and functional loss.

Researchers also remain uncertain as to what exactly causes RA to develop, although it seems to depend on a mix of genetic and environmental factors.

In more recent years, RA researchers have been exploring the link between ERA, people at risk of RA, and the changes in their oral and intestinal microbiota, or community of microbes.

It seems people with ERA and at risk of RA have abnormal levels of certain bacteria in the mucus that lines the mouth and intestines. They also seem to be more likely than other people to have periodontal disease, or gum disease.

What is more, some research indicates RA may begin in the oral cavity.

That is why a team of researchers from the Academic Centre for Dentistry of Amsterdam (ACTA) set out to analyze the microbial populations and periodontal condition of people with ERA, those at risk of RA, and a control group of people without these conditions for comparison.

Their study appears in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Researchers have long speculated that autoimmune diseases, such as RA, are triggered or caused by microorganisms.

For quite some time, researchers have been aware there are links between periodontal disease, changes in the oral and intestinal microbiome, and RA.

Several studies seem to show that oral microbes in particular anaerobic bacteria, which do not require oxygen may play a role in the development of RA.

A 2009 study highlights three types of anaerobic bacteria occurring in the oral cavity that have been identified in joint fluid from people with RA. Several studies show that antibodies for certain types of anaerobic bacteria associated with periodontal disease may play a role in the development of RA.

Some researchers think these bacteria may cause an RA-associated immune response by producing proteins that trigger the formation of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs).

These compounds appear to promote inflammatory responses in different types of cells, including bone cells. Some studies have shown that this response ACPAs promote may be involved in the mediation of bone damage in the joints of people with RA.

For these and other reasons, the detection of ACPAs is now considered the most specific biomarker for RA in serum, which is the fluid component of blood.

The detection of ACPAs in serum also seems to help predict RA development several years before a person has clinical RA or experiences symptoms and receives an RA diagnosis.

That is why several research teams, including the team involved in the current study, have been exploring how changes in the composition and other components of the oral microbiome may relate to the onset of RA.

In the new study, researchers analyzed the oral microbiome and periodontal status of three groups of 50 people.

People in the first group had ERA, and the second group included people at risk of RA (people with serum ACPAs or arthralgia). People in the third group did not have RA and were not at risk, did not have autoimmune conditions, and were generally healthy.

Each participant was examined by a dentist to assess their periodontal condition. Dentists checked whether their gums bled with probing, the inflamed gum surface area, and how deep into the gum line dental tools could probe.

They also examined how many teeth each participant had, how many of their teeth were missing, decayed, or filled, and whether a person wore a removable denture. They also asked each participant about the last time they brushed their teeth and what their regular oral hygiene measures were.

In addition, the scientists collected from each participant samples of the tongue coating or film, saliva, and subgingival dental plaque, which is found below the gum.

After using devices to amplify the DNA present in the samples, they collected, analyzed, and quantified the microbial populations within the samples. They then compared microbial differences between the three groups.

The team identified no difference in periodontal conditions between the groups. There was also no difference in dental plaque samples.

Yet differences did exist between the oral saliva and tongue coating of people with ERA and at risk of RA compared with the control group.

Levels of bacteria belonging to the genera Prevotella and Veillonella were higher in saliva samples from people with ERA and at risk of RA compared with the control group. Veillonella bacterial levels were also higher in the tongue coatings of the RA groups than in those of people in the control group.

According to the authors, these findings suggest that a possible link between the oral microbe and RA may truly exist.

This also suggests that bacteria from these two genera, as well as some others already reported to be involved in RA onset, could help trigger immune responses that influence the development of RA.

The authors explain that these findings correspond to those of previous studies showing that people with new-onset RA and established RA had increased levels of oral Prevotella bacteria. The results also support research that found increased levels of Prevotella bacteria in the gut microbiome of people at risk of RA or with ERA.

The authors write that some strains of Prevotella can cause chronic inflammation, which can trigger immune cells to be released throughout the body. They add that in some cases, microbial dysbiosis, or microbial imbalances, partially resolves with RA treatment.

Medical News Today spoke with Dr. Vanessa L. Kronzer, who cowrote a recent review on the etiology of RA. She said:

This is an interesting study that, in my mind, achieves two goals. First, it provides further support for the mucosal origin hypothesis for RA. And second, it suggests that dysbiosis occurs even before disease onset and thus may play a role in RA disease pathogenesis.

Dr. Kronzer believes this research is an important step in a long path to understanding the etiology of this important disease.

MNT also contacted Johanna Kroese from ACTA, the corresponding author of the study. She explained:

Our results indicate a possible role for oral bacteria in triggering the onset of RA. Targeting these bacteria might lower the risk of developing RA. Future research can focus on strategies to target these bacteria and improving oral health, and might eventually lead to the development of measures for RA disease prevention.

While the study had many strengths, it also had some notable flaws.

People within the ERA group were receiving treatment for RA, while people at risk of RA and those in the control group were not. The researchers also did not collect information on some factors that may influence dental plaque, such as diet.

To confirm their findings, the authors say future studies must collect multiple datasets over longer periods of time, ideally using large groups of people and consistent collection methods.

Nevertheless, these findings may have uncovered yet another stepping stone in the complex, elusive development process of RA. This could be good news for the millions of people living with RA, and the healthcare professionals trying to diagnose and treat them.

As Johanna Kroese explained to MNT, although further research is needed, improving oral health is relevant for the entire population, and it wouldnt hurt to already pay attention to oral health in persons at risk of developing RA.

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Is there a link between mouth bacteria and rheumatoid arthritis? - Medical News Today

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted significant health disparities in the Hispanic community. Although these disparities are more apparent now, inequalities, including adequate access to health care and information, among Spanish-speaking communities pre-date the current pandemic. Hispanic individuals are also underrepresented in medical research.1

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Richardae Araojo, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) associate commissioner for Minority Health and the director of the Office of Minority Health & Health Equity, agreed with the premise described in a recent CenterWatch article that, Clinical trial researchers should include input from patients before the trial design and consent process even begins to ensure that minority participants feel included and that all study participants stay engaged until the study is complete. He went on to flag the need for more diverse clinical trials, asking that industry and other stakeholders make trial design, logistics, recruitment, and retention practices more patient-centric.2

Latest data made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that 4.4 million individuals who are Hispanic Americans live with some form of doctor-diagnosed arthritis.3 The prevalence of arthritis among Hispanic patients is less than among non-Hispanic White patients4; however, Hispanic patients are nearly twice as likely to become disabled from arthritis and experience joint damage.5

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As part of its ongoing commitment to lead efforts to effectively educate patients who prefer Spanish as their preferred language, CreakyJoints Espaol, the multicultural digital arthritis community for patients and caregivers worldwide and part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), recently launched new digital communication platforms to reach Spanish-speaking families via popular Latino social media platforms.

However, despite the heavy usage of social media, general health information available online for the Hispanic community heavily leans toward misinformation, which has led to low levels of diagnosis and a growing knowledge gap.

With this in mind, CreakyJoints Espaol launched additional communication channels to provide evidence-based health information and support on social media, including WhatsApp. CreakyJoints is the first patient organization to communicate with their members using WhatsApp, which was a priority given its popularity in the Hispanic community. Resources originally developed in English are now available in Spanish (translated with cultural sensitivity) to ensure equitable access to tools needed by patients with arthritis. For example, eRheum.org, a platform that helps patients get the most from their telehealth appointments, is available in both Spanish and English.

CreakyJoints member Yaideliz Acevedo (age 23 years), whose first language is Spanish, is also fluent in English and frequently switches between both languages. However, her mother is more comfortable using Spanish. Yaideliz said to us, When I was first diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when I was 21 years and 1 month after having my son, it was overwhelming. There was a lot to learn about managing my disease and my mom was frustrated that she couldnt find on her own enough Spanish-language health information to understand my disease or its expected progression. At first, she didnt even know that people so young could be diagnosed with arthritis. Resources provided by CreakyJoints Espaol help me understand my disease and share information with my family and friends.

CreakyJoints recently launched ArthritisPower Espaol, intended for Spanish speakers, many of whom self-identify as Hispanic, to proactively participate in their disease management and contribute to better understanding of patients living with arthritis and other inflammatory diseases.

Available as a free mobile and desktop application, the ArthritisPower Research Registry first launched in 2015. It includes more than 30,000 people who use the same patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures used in their health care providers office to track their experience of rheumatic, musculoskeletal, and other inflammatory diseases. Patients can select from a large range of PROs to track and email those data to their rheumatologist before their next appointment, which may facilitate shared-decision making based on objective measures of disease activity. Patients can also participate in voluntary research studies, many of which result in presentations at US and international medical meetings or publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Eligible ArthritisPower Espaol participants will be invited to join the existing ArthritisPower Patient Governor Group, which is responsible for co-evaluating research study requests in collaboration with clinicians, researchers, and CreakyJoints. The group also provides feedback on what research questions should be next advanced in ArthritisPower.

Our goal is to increase the Hispanic communitys participation in clinical and observational research. To ensure that Hispanic individuals are part of the conversation about what patients living with rheumatic conditions need to better manage their health, they need to be at the table and part of the conversation from the beginning.

Note: To learn more about CreakyJoints Espaol, visit http://www.CJES.org. To learn more and register with ArthritisPower Espaol, visit http://www.ArthritisPower.org.es

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Overcoming Health Disparities by Reaching Patients With Arthritis in Their Preferred Language - Rheumatology Advisor

Women vs men with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) were found to have higher disease activity and were less likely to reach their treatment target, particularly if they had a higher body mass index (BMI), according to study results published in Rheumatology.

In PsA, the prevalence of the disease is similar between the sexes; however, the symptoms can vary.

This study was conducted to evaluate the sex differences in the severity of PsA and the factors related to not reaching the treatment target.

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Patients from an outpatient rheumatology clinic in The Netherlands were included in the current cross-sectional study. Clinical and demographic data were used to assess the following differences between women and men: Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score (PASDAS; individual components included swollen and tender joints [SJC/TJC], enthesitis, C-reactive protein [CRP], dactylitis, physical component summary score of the short form-12 [SF12-PCS], and physician and patient global disease activity visual analog score [VAS]); skin/nail disease; mental component summary score of the short form-12 (SF12-MCS); health assessment questionnaire (HAQ); and inflammatory back pain (IBP).

A total of 855 patients with PsA were included in the study. Results indicated that mean PASDAS was significantly higher in women than men (3.5 vs 2.7, P <.001). Women vs men also had significantly worse scores for SJC, TJC, enthesitis, physician and patient global disease activity VAS, CRP, SF12-PCS, SF12-MCA, and HAQ (all P <.001). PASDAS treatment targets were more frequently not met in women vs men (odds ratio [OR], 2.03; P <.001). Factors significantly associated with not reaching the treatment target for the overall cohort included BMI, nail disease, IBP, and the number of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) used in the past or currently. Stratified for sex, BMI was associated with not reaching the treatment target in women, but not men (OR for BMI 25-30, 3.43; P <.001; OR for BMI 30-35, 2.59; P =.019; OR for BMI >35, 2.41; P =.002).

Study limitations included the cross-sectional design, lack of patients with recently diagnosed disease in the cohort, and the inability to determine the causal relationship between BMI and increased disease activity.

Researchers noted, For [rheumatoid arthritis], there is evidence that being overweight is associated with higher disease activity in women, but not in men. To our knowledge, we are the first to show that the same holds true for PsA. Further, A higher BMI in women, but not men, was associated with not reaching the treatment target. This suggests that rheumatologists should pay extra attention to weight loss in the disease management of women with PsA.

Mulder MLM, Wenink MH, Vriezekolk JE. Being overweight is associated with not reaching low disease activity in women but not men with psoriatic arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published online April 8, 2021. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keab338

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BMI Associated With Higher Disease Activity in Women, But Not Men, With Psoriatic Arthritis - Rheumatology Advisor

Psoriatic arthritis, or PsA, is a form of arthritis associated with psoriasis. PsA affects the joints and the areas of the body where tendons and ligaments connect to bones.

The National Psoriasis Foundation states that about 30% of individuals with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis during their lifetime.

Sometimes, people living with PsA may develop eye conditions, which can range from irritation to vision loss.

This article explains how PsA affects the eyes and how to treat and prevent these complications.

One eye condition that people living with PsA may experience is chronic dry eye, or keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Experts believe that about 2.7% of people with PsA have this condition. However, some studies suggest that the number may be as high as 18.75%.

In a person with this condition, the tear ducts lose their ability to produce tears, which are vital for proper lubrication of the eyes. A lack of adequate lubrication increases the risk of eye infections and can damage the cornea.

In cases where over-the-counter artificial tears prove ineffective, prescription eye drops may help increase tear production and lower inflammation. For some people, steroid eye drops may offer short-term relief to control inflammation.

Uveitis is a type of eye inflammation that affects the middle layer of tissue within the eyeball, called the uvea. The symptoms of uveitis include redness in the white parts of the eyes, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, pain, and floaters.

There are four types of uveitis:

The treatment for uveitis usually starts with corticosteroid eye drops to reduce inflammation. If these do not work, an eye doctor may recommend injecting the eye with a corticosteroid. In cases of infection, an eye specialist may recommend antibiotics.

Cataracts are the result of cloudy films developing over the eye lens, leading to impaired vision. The Arthritis Foundation notes that inflammatory conditions such as PsA may advance the formation of cataracts.

Symptoms include:

People with cataracts require surgery to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial one.

Glaucoma is the term for a group of eye disorders that damage the optic nerve. It can lead to vision loss.

Chronic inflammation from arthritic conditions, including PsA, can contribute to glaucoma by increasing the pressure in the eyes.

This eye condition has no symptoms in the early stages when it is the most treatable. However, an ophthalmologist may detect it when they are carrying out a regular eye examination.

Symptoms that a person may experience include pain, blurred vision, and seeing blank spots or halos around lights. A doctor may prescribe eye drops to reduce the pressure in the eyes. Some people may require surgery.

Peripheral ulcerative keratitis causes the cornea, which is the transparent outer layer at the front of the eye, to become inflamed, which makes it prone to thinning.

The symptoms of peripheral ulcerative keratitis include:

Artificial tears and antibiotic drops can promote healing and prevent infection.

A person can mitigate the risk of developing PsA-related eye problems by reducing inflammation in the body.

As PsA is an inflammatory condition, a doctor may prescribe medication to control inflammation within the body, improving eye conditions related to PsA.

Anyone with PsA should consider undergoing annual eye examinations and regular doctor visits to discuss any new or existing eye-related symptoms.

Some eye conditions do not have any signs in the beginning stages. Due to this, it is vital to get regular eye checkups to detect any problems as soon as possible.

Living with PsA can be challenging. In addition to the joint pain that PsA can cause, many people may develop related eye problems.

The good news is that many PsA-related eye conditions are highly treatable.

As some conditions do not have early warning signs, an eye examination is the best way to detect any abnormalities. A doctor can help a person manage any symptoms related to PsA and eye health.

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Psoriatic arthritis and the eyes: Dry eye, glaucoma, and more - Medical News Today

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition, which means it's caused by the immune system attacking healthy body tissue. The NHS explains: "If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system mistakenly sends antibodies to the lining of your joints, where they attack the tissue surrounding the joint." Research has also uncovered a host of symptoms that are not related to joint pain.

CreakyJoints, a support, education, advocacy, and research organisation for people living with arthritis, reports on the findings of a study published in the journal RMD Open: Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases.

The study found that many rheumatoid arthritis patients had visited their doctor with musculoskeletal complaints about their hand/finger, shoulder, or knees within four to six years (and especially the 18 months) prior to their diagnosis.

"But many also presented with issues that might not seem clearly related to rheumatoid arthritis," CreakyJoints reports.

The study found that carpal tunnel syndrome was more common among those who later developed rheumatoid arthritis.

READ MORE:Rheumatoid arthritis: How to spot arthritis bumps - location and size

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that causes pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and arm.

The study also found infections of the urinary tract and genitals were common among those who went on to receive a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis.

Inflammation of the mucous membranes in the gums, lung, or gut also occurred more often in people who were later diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

What's more, some were diagnosed with psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis), or gout in the period leading up to their rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis.

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Although more research is needed, the authors of the study suggested that being aware of these findings might help doctors to detect rheumatoid arthritis earlier on.

The authors noted that, in particular, people who see their doctor with new musculoskeletal symptoms such as shoulder pain, chronic knee pain, or carpal tunnel syndrome seem to be more likely to develop inflammatory arthritis within the following 1.5 years.

Consequently, they can consider referring these patients [to a rheumatologist], which may facilitate early diagnosis and treatment, they wrote.

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can be life-limiting but there are proven ways to alleviate them.

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Similarly, improving your diet can provide some relief for rheumatoid arthritis.

"For starters, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts and beans but low processed foods and saturated fat, is not only great for overall health, but can also help manage disease activity," explains the Arthritis Foundation (AF).

In fact, many of these components are found in a Mediterranean-style diet, "which is frequently touted for its anti-aging and disease-fighting powers", notes the AF.

Among other things, the diet can help arthritis by curbing inflammation and aiding weight loss, the health body adds.

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Rheumatoid arthritis: Non-joint symptoms that may precede joint symptoms by five years - Express

VIRGINIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alvotech today filed a federal lawsuit (Case 1:21-cv-00589) seeking to end the monopoly that pharmaceutical giant AbbVie has long-maintained on the adalimumab market, sold as Humira. Humira is the highest grossing prescription drug in the United States with over $16 billion in sales in 2020 (nearly $20Bn globally).

Alvotech has developed a biosimilar (analogous to a generic) of Humira called AVT02, the first-filed biosimilar drug equal in strength to Humiras latest formulation, which AbbVie markets as a high-concentration, pain-free drug. The company is also developing AVT02 as an interchangeable product and it expects results from its ongoing interchangeability study in Q2 of this year. AVT02 could save U.S. taxpayers and the overall healthcare system $8-10 billion annually.

Our new product will be a gamechanger that will provide consumers who are suffering from chronic pain with significant savings, and we look forward to bringing this drug onto the market as soon as possible, said Alvotech Founder and Chairman Robert Wessman.

As alleged in court today, AbbVie seeks to overwhelm Alvotech with 60+ patent claims of questionable validity in order to keep its closest competitor off the market, a tactic it has long used against other competitors. At stake are billions of dollars of cost to the U.S. healthcare system, which is largely driven by AbbVies significant price increases that its Humira monopoly makes possible. Later this month, AbbVie will face questions from Congress about whether the company improperly suppresses competition in order to maintain their monopoly.

As alleged in the filing, AbbVie has taken several improper steps to inflate its patent portfolio, specifically:

Today, affordable biosimilars to Humira are available across Europe and in Japan, Canada and Australia. The settlement agreements that allowed launches in 2018 of biosimilars in Europe were done to delay launches of similar products in the U.S., thus allowing AbbVie the ability to maintain and even increase prices on the U.S. consumer and taxpayer.

As pointed out in Alvotechs lawsuit, AbbVie did not invent adalimumab or the subject matter of the original patents surrounding adalimumab and its use, instead acquiring them from German BASF AG. Nevertheless, despite those original patents expiring in 2016, AbbVie has been able to extend its monopoly to 2023 and beyond by deliberately seeking to block legitimate competition.

In 2010, AbbVie developed and tested a less-painful and higher-concentration version of Humira that was as a 100 mg/ml formulation, which the FDA approved in 2015. Yet the company waited nearly three years before bringing this new formulation to the public, a strategic move meant to entrench their control over the market and hobble the competition. Alvotech has developed and is seeking interchangeability for the less-painful, high-concentration version of Humira, which will offer patients the treatment at a more affordable price point.

Furthermore, AbbVie successfully sought and obtained over 100 additional patents of dubious validity that extended its Humira monopoly beyond 2016. Through settlements reached with their competitors, other biosimilars will not enter the market until 2023.

In just the last four years, since its monopoly should have run its course, AbbVie has reported selling over $75 billion worth of Humira and is forecasted to make an additional nearly $40 billion through 2022.

As alleged in todays filing, this strategy has been called a minefield of IP by those in AbbVies leadership, meaning the company will engage in endless litigation not to protect innovation but to make challenges to its patent claims cost- and resource-prohibitive for competitors.

About Alvotech

Alvotech is a multinational biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and manufacture of high quality biosimilars for global markets. We are specialists in biotechnology, seeking to be a global leader in the biosimilar space by delivering high quality, cost-competitive products and services to our partners and to patients worldwide. Our fully integrated approach, with high-quality in-house competencies throughout the value chain, enables the accelerated development of biosimilar products. Alvotechs shareholder base includes, among others, Aztiq Pharma, led by founder and Chairman Mr. Robert Wessman, Fuji Pharma from Japan, Shinhan from Korea, Baxter Healthcare SA, YAS Holdings, ATHOS (Strngmann Family Office), CVC Capital Partners and Temasek from Singapore.

Alvotechs initial pipeline contains several monoclonal-antibody and fusion-protein biosimilar candidates aimed at treating autoimmunity, oncology and inflammatory conditions to improve quality of life for patients around the world. For more information, please visit our website, http://www.alvotech.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

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Alvotech Seeks to End AbbVie's Wrongful Monopoly on Humira and Bring Affordable Arthritis Treatment to U.S. - Business Wire

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in adverse effects among vulnerable populations, particularly those with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular (CV) disease and diabetes.

Infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis often complicate the natural course of RA, while treatment with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are associated with an increased risk of infection.

Previous data found immunosuppressants did not lead to increased rates of COVID-19 in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory disease.

However, in a new study, investigators, led by Bryant R. England, MD, PhD of the Nebraska Medical Center, found that patients with RA have an increased risk for COVID-19 and hospitalization or death from COVID-19, compared to patients with non-RA.

The study compared the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of severe COVID-19 between patients with RA and a comparator patient group in an at-risk population.

The team hypothesized that patients with RA would have a higher risk of acquiring an infection and were more likely to require hospitalization or die from COVID-19.

To test this hypothesis, investigators conducted a retrospective, matched-cohort study using data from the National Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Patients active in the VHA system were identified as of January 2020, using algorithms for multiple RA diagnostic codes, a rheumatologist diagnosis of RA, and a DMARD or positive RA autoantibody test.

The team matched RA patients to non-RA patients (1:1) on age, sex, and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) site. Patients were followed up with from January 2020 to the first COVID-19 diagnosis, death, or end of the study period in December 2020.

Data on COVID-19 outcomes was collected through the VA COVID-19 surveillance database, including positive tests and hospitalization or death within 30 days of infection.

Investigators used multivariable regressions models to assess the COVID-19 risk in both RA patients versus non-RA patients, including adjustment for demographics, comorbidities, health behaviors, and county-level COVID-19 rates as of November 2020.

The team identified 33,866 patients with RA and 33,866 patients without RA, including 84.5% male and a mean age of 67.8 years.

Patients with RA were more likely to be smokers, have a higher BMI, with a greater comorbidity burden, and more hospitalizations within the past year.

Investigators found in over 62,894 patient-years of follow-up, there were 1503 diagnoses of COVID-19.

In a subset of 338 severe COVID-19 cases, 345 resulted in hospitalization and 84 resulted in death. Within the same observation period, there were 288 non-COVID-19 related deaths.

The data show RA was associated with a significantly higher risk of COVID-19, with a 25% higher risk of COVID-19 with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.25 (95% CI, 1.13, 1.39) and a 35% higher risk of COVID-19 hospitalization or death with an HR of 1.35 (95% CI, 1.10, 1.66).

Other factors in addition to RA status associated with the higher risk included patients treated with DMARDs and prednisone, as well as demographic including Black race and Hispanic ethnicity.

Patients with treated with DMARDs and prednisone were at the highest risk of COVID -19 with a hazard ratio of 1.66 (95% CI, 1.36,2.03), as well as hospitalization or death with a HR of 2.12 (95% CI, 1.48, 3.03), compared to non-RA patients.

Investigators concluded that patients with RA have a significantly increased COVID-19 risk, with immunosuppressive therapy treatment associated with a more severe risk of COVID-19.

Consideration should be given to establishing RA, and potentially other conditions that require treatment with similar immunosuppressive medications, as a chronic condition that receives prioritization for COVID-19 prevention and management strategies, investigators wrote.

The study, Risk of COVID-19 in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A National Veterans Affairs Matched Cohort Study in At-Risk Individuals, was published online in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Excerpt from:
Rheumatoid Arthritis Linked to Adverse COVID-19 Outcomes - MD Magazine