StemCell Therapy

Dining in the Dark participants are led to their table at an event in recent years.

JAMESTOWN The Chautauqua Blind Association celebrates its 10th Annual Dining in the Dark on Friday, March 27 at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron, Dining in the Dark is a unique experience of eating without seeing.

Starting at 6 p.m., guests are invited to socialize, enjoy a cash bar and bid on silent auction items. Dinner seating begins at 6:30 p.m., where each guest will be blindfolded prior to being led by a sighted guide to their table to enjoy a three course meal.

During the event, the Chautauqua Blind Association will be announcing the Dr. Tim Grace Sight for Success Program. The Chautauqua Blind Association has been providing free vision screenings throughout Chautauqua County for over 40 years, says Lisa Goodell, executive director. We have historically identified 14% to 16% of the children we screen to be experiencing vision problems and we began to notice that those same children were identified year after year as not passing the CBA Vision Screening and not receiving treatment for their vision problems. To address this situation, we created the Sight for Success Program in 2019. Following the untimely death of Dr. Timothy Grace, many individuals made donations and memorials in Tims name, asking that their donation reflect Tims passion of improving the eye health of our community. The perfect partnership was formed by combining Dr. Graces vision of eye health and the Chautauqua Blind Associations Sight for Success Program. Therefore, at the 10th Annual Dining in the Dark, the CBA Sight for Success Program will become the Dr. Timothy Grace Sight for Success Program.

Inaugurated in 2017, the Louise Tefft Award has been given to community members who have greatly supported the Chautauqua Blind Associations mission of enabling visually impaired people to be active members of their community and to provide education and services to prevent vision loss.

Louise was a client of CBA for over 25 years and attributes all of the services she received from CBA to the fact that she was able to remain independent, in her home, for her entire life, says Goodell. This years award recipient will be Kathy and Tim Grace. Kathy supported CBA for many years, including being an instrumental part in the Chautauqua Blind Associations fundraising efforts. She helped CBA get involved with the JCC Occupational Therapy Assistant Program which provided sighted guides since inception of Dining in the Dark. Kathy also conceptualized the idea of the Wine and Art Auction as a second fundraiser and worked tirelessly on both events to make them successful. Dr. Tim Grace has supported the mission of CBA for countless years both financially and through advocacy for the blind and visually impaired.

The one of a kind sensory adventure offers guests the opportunity to have a dining experience without the use of their sight! It is more than just a meal; it is a journey of the senses that will make you re-evaluate your perception of taste, smell and touch all in the dark. We are very proud that this annual fundraiser and awareness event has supported our Youth Vision Screening Program, says Goodell. Ten years ago, when I presented this idea to our Board of Directors, many questioned whether it would be well-received. They supported my idea and for 10 years now, it has provided funds to screen over 20,000 children.

Reservations are $65 per person and include a three course meal. Dinner options are a 6 oz filet mignon, stuffed chicken breast, miso glazed salmon and vegetable lasagna. Reservations are appreciated by Wednesday, March 18 and can be made online at chautauquablind.org or by calling 716-664-6660.

Dining in the Dark offers community partners and businesses a great way to support the Chautauqua Blind Association while receiving exceptional visibility and recognition. Sponsorships are available to fit any budget and include dinner reservations. Program listings are available for $100.

For sponsorship information, call Lisa Goodell at 664-6660. Sponsorship deadline is March 18. A special thank you to the 2020 event sponsors which include UPMC Chautauqua, HomeTown Insurance, Weber Knapp, Chautauqua Chemical and Ahlstrom Schaefer.

Donations for the silent auction are appreciated and can be dropped off up until the day of the event at The Chautauqua Blind Association, located at 510 W. Fifth St., Jamestown.

All event proceeds will support the Youth Vision Screening Program. In 2019, the Chautauqua Blind Association screened over 4,000 children under the age of 6. Over 600 of these children were determined to have undiagnosed vision problems. These children are referred to area eye care professionals for further evaluations and/or treatment. The Chautauqua Blind Associations goal is to provide this program free of charge to area children. The funds raised at Dining in the Dark make sure that any child in Chautauqua County as access to this service.

If unable to attend but interested in supporting the mission of the Chautauqua Blind Association, a tax-deductible donation can be made online at chautauquablind.org or by sending a check to the Chautauqua Blind Association located at 510 W. 5th Street, Jamestown, NY.

For almost 100 years, the Chautauqua Blind Association has been providing Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties with Vision Rehabilitation Services, and Orientation and Mobility instruction to blind and legally blind residents. These services include low vision rehabilitation, pre-school vision screenings, advocacy and education. Detecting vision changes early and effectively is crucial in providing necessary treatment and rehabilitation in order for a visually impaired person to live more efficiently and independently. The Chautauqua Blind Association has been a local resource for the visually impaired, regardless of financial ability. The Chautauqua Blind Association is a United Way Partner.

For more information about the Chautauqua Blind Association or to learn more about upcoming events, visit Chautauquablind.org or call 664-6660. The Chautauqua Blind Association is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit charitable organization.

The worst weekly slide since 2008, U.S. stocks dropped approximately 13% as of Friday afternoon. While not good ...

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Full menu on tap for 10th Dining in the Dark | News, Sports, Jobs - Evening Observer

A doctor was able to save Ruby's eyes and found a new way to detect an aggressive childhood cancer

LOS ANGELES Retinoblastoma is an aggressive cancer in children that robs them of their sight.

Now doctors have a new way to detect it and that may end up saving the eyesight of children facing a life of blindness.

Ruby Chan was born three months premature.

Three months later she was diagnosed with a life-threatening, sight-stealing disease.

"She wasn't even supposed to be born yet at this point and they were like, we'd like to take her eye out tomorrow," recalled Ruby's mother, Nellie Chan.

Ruby was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a cancer of the eye where tumors develop behind the retina.

There are two main types of retinoblastoma, intraocular and extraocular. Intraocular means that the cancer is in one or both eyes but has not spread to other parts of the body, while extraocular means it has spread.

Instead of having her eye removed, Ruby's parents decided to do their research.

They foundLos Angeles Children's Hospital ocular oncologist Jesse Berry who developed a liquid biopsy for children like Ruby that answers many of the unknowns.

"How likely is it that an eye will respond to therapy and how likely is it that an eye might have continued recurrence even in spite of treatment?" asked Dr. Berry.

Using a needle, a pea-sized amount of liquid is extracted.

"Instead of placing the needle directly into the tumor, we actually extract a very little bit of liquid called the aqueous humor from the front of the eye."

In a research setting only, that liquid is tested for DNA molecules that are shed from the tumor cells.

Doctors can predict with 75% to 85% accuracy if the tumor will respond to standard treatments.

PARENTS, BEWARE:The best detection may be you! When looking at your child's photograph, instead of the typical red eye from flash photography in a child with retinoblastoma, the pupil will appear white.

There has been much research conducted in the past few decades that have led to higher cure rates and fewer side effects.

Researchers have learned that using focal treatments like laser therapy kills tumor cells more precisely. They have begun to examine ways of taking advantage of the gene changes in the cells of retinoblastoma.

Ruby had chemo to reduce the size of the tumors and more than 70 laser procedures to burn the edges of them.

Tumors in Ruby's left eye have not impacted her sight.

The original tumor in Ruby's right eye has left her with 25% of her vision.

With the help of targeted therapies they're hoping to save both of Ruby's eyes.

Children's Hospital Los Angeles is now running a multicenter trial.

Following strict research protocols, surgeons from all over the country can take a sample of the aqueous humor and send it to Dr. Berry and her team for evaluation.

If this story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Jim Mertens atjim.mertens@wqad.comor Marjorie Bekaert Thomas atmthomas@ivanhoe.com.

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YOUR HEALTH: A cancer that robs children of their sight - WQAD.com

Call for Hospitals and Clinics who are part of the Global Sight Initiative through a commitment of $250k to spark innovation in technology

US based Seva Foundation has announced a call for ideas to identify innovative technology-based solutions to improve eye care delivery. It iscommitting $250k to spark innovation in technology to help people see.

This call for ideas is limited to hospitals and clinics that are currently an active part of the Global Sight Initiative. The Global Sight Initiative, a network of more than 100 hospitals around the world, collaborates to accelerate the development of high quality, high volume, sustainable eye care services through innovation, training, mentoring, research, and advocacy.

Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a vision impairment, and of these, at least 1 billion people have a vision impairment that could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed. A recent study in theLancet Global Healthprojected a three-fold increase in global blindness by 2050. Reversing this trend will require innovation and identifying creative uses of technology to multiply effectiveness in providing eye care to people who need these services.

Seva seeks innovative, locally applicable solutions that leverage technology to extend the reach and impact of eye care services.

"We know that there are a lot of innovative ideas that our partner eye clinics want to try but just don't have the initial capital investment to get their idea off the ground. With these funds, Seva can promote these great ideas and further our mission to end avoidable blindness", says Kate Moynihan, Seva Foundations Executive Director.

Qualifications

Must be a hospital or eye clinic that is actively part of Sevas Global Sight Initiative.

Apply

Seva will release awards of up to $50,000 per award and announce the recipients by the end of Q2 2020. Interested applicants may submit a 1-2 page Letter of Intent (LOI) that clearly outlines your organizations ideas on how to use technology to reduce visual impairment and blindness.

Key information to include:

Submissions

Submit LOI via email with a subject line: Your Organization Name Call For Ideas Submission.LOIs must be received by 11:59 pm (Pacific Time) on 25 March 2020.

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Call for Ideas: Innovative technology to reduce visual impairment & blindness - BSA bureau

Paralympic champion Libby Clegg has made it through to the semi-final of Dancing On Ice after the judges unanimously saved her.

Libby was in the skate off with Coronation Street star Lisa George.

While Lisa was devastated to be leaving the show, she was thrilled she had reached that stage in the competition.

She told host Holly Willoughby: "I'm made up I got this far. I've had so much fun. Thank you Tom!"

Libby has made history on the hit ITV show as the first blind celebrity to take part.

Although the medal winning sprinter actually claims her condition gives her an advantage on the ice.

She explained: "I cant see so dont feel dizzy or nauseous when I do spins.

Although I cant watch my partner demonstrate moves on the ice, I have great hearing so listen to his skates and try to mimic the clicks, scrapes and foot placements I hear.

I count the number of strides it takes to reach the barrier of the rink so I dont just fly into it. And, touch wood, Ive not had any injuries. I dont suffer things other people do.

Libby's incredible peformances have now earned her a place in the semi-final alongside Perri Kiely and Joe Swash.

The athlete, who has been awarded an MBE for her contributions to athletics and charity, has Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy disease, which she was diagnosed with when she was nine.

She has previously described it as "like looking at a pixelated computer screen or a scrunched-up firework".

Libby is registered blind and now only has limited vision in her left eye.

Heartbreakingly, her condition is deteriorating and there is no treatment for Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy, which means she could one day lose what's left of her vision.

Libby said: "Im at the age where my sight should be stabilising but its still deteriorating.

"Things will never go black, but I dont know yet exactly what I will be able to see."

But Libby, who has a baby son, Edward, with her partner and fellow Paralympian, Dan Powell, is determined her condition won't hold her back.

There is also a 50/50 chance her son will inherit the same condition as his mum - but that's something Libby is prepared for.

She said: "If he does have a sight condition, it's not that I would expect him to become a Paralympic champion or anything, but there are options

"There are a lot of things you can do that people tend to restrict you and not think you can.

"He could go into anything. If he can't see, we're not going to treat him any differently anyway."

Read more:
Dancing On Ice star Libby Clegg's heartbreaking prognosis for her eye condition - Mirror Online

(PRESS RELEASE) Prevent Blindness, the nations oldest eye health and safety nonprofit organization, has declared March as Workplace Eye Wellness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 2,000 U.S. workers sustain a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment a day. About one-third of the injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments, and more than 100 of these injuries result in one or more days away from work.

For those who work outside an office setting, Prevent Blindness warns of common causes for eye injuries and urges everyone to wear the proper eye protection for risks that include:

The type of safety eye protection that Prevent Blindness recommends depends on the hazards in the workplace. For areas that have particles, flying objects, or dust, safety glasses with side protection (side shields) should be worn. Goggles should be worn for anyone working with chemicals. And, for those working near hazardous radiation (welding, lasers, or fiber optics) special-purpose safety glasses, goggles, face shields, or helmets designed for that task should be worn.

Those who work within an office setting (working with computers and other digital devices) are at higher risk for digital eye strain. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), eye strain symptoms include dry eyes, blurry vision, tearing or watery eyes, and headache. The cause of digital eye strain is that people blink less when they stare at digital devices. The AAO adds that normally, humans blink around 15 times per minutebut this blink rate can be cut in half when staring at screens or doing other near work activities (like reading).

Prevent Blindness recommends placing a digital screen 20 to 26 inches away from the eyes and slightly below eye level. Also, adjust lighting to lower glare and harsh reflections. More tips may be found at here.

Recognizing your eye health and safety needs within the workplace, and taking all the necessary steps to protect vision, can help us all to continue to protect healthy eyesight for years to come, said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness.

For more information about workplace eye health topics, call Prevent Blindness at (800) 331-2020 or visit here.

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Eyecarrot Announces Vision Training Partnership Agreement with the Dallas Stars - InvisionMag

Even Oprah Winfrey It can be shot down But she will get up all over again, and you will by no means preserve her down.

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The famed tv mogul took the phase at her 2020 Vision: Your Lifestyle in Emphasis Tour display at the Discussion board in the Los Angeles space on Saturday, though ironically speaking, about the thought of preserving stability in lifetime.

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"This is my definition of what wellness implies to me. This is my definition, not yours, just an plan, due to the fact you will determine it for yourself. Wellness for me usually means that all the things in harmony and balance does not mean anything is the identical. or they are at peace at all occasions, "claimed Winfrey, in advance of shedding his stability, falling and landing on his aspect just before sitting down and obtaining up.

She was unharmed and laughed at the incident, as was the audience.

"It really is superior to be chatting about stability and fall," he mentioned afterwards, triggering laughter in the group. "Jesus, you are so amusing! Lord. You're so funny."

Winfrey then asked anyone to convey his new sneakers and transformed his shoes for white types.

Saturday's present functions famed guests Jennifer Lopez.

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Oprah Falls Onstage at 2020 Eyesight Tour Clearly show and laughs - gotech daily

High blood pressure reads as 140/90mmHg on a blood pressure test. Without one of those machines, how could you know you have the deadly health condition? Theres a sign in your eye that could indicate you have the health issue.

An optometrist an eye doctor from America, Dr William White, says that while he does his routine examination on his patients, hes always on the look out for clues indicating somebody is suffering from high blood pressure.

We [optometrists] can see changes due to vascular conditions caused by hypertension, he said.

Hypertension is the medical term given to high blood pressure.

Underpinning this statement, a 2013 study published in the journal Hypertension focused its attention on 2,900 patients who showed signs of hypertensive retinopathy (blood vessel damage in the eyes).

After 13 years, they found those who had a mild form of hypertensive retinopathy had a 35 percent greater risk of stroke.

That risk increased to 137 percent with those who displayed moderate to severe hypertensive retinopathy.

Dr White said: High blood pressure has a cumulative effect. If it's uncontrolled over years, it's going to cause damage later in life."

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High blood pressure symptoms: The sign in a persons eyes that could signal the condition - Express

(PRESS RELEASE) Prevent Blindness, the nations oldest eye health and safety nonprofit organization, has declared March as Workplace Eye Wellness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 2,000 U.S. workers sustain a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment a day. About one-third of the injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments, and more than 100 of these injuries result in one or more days away from work.

For those who work outside an office setting, Prevent Blindness warns of common causes for eye injuries and urges everyone to wear the proper eye protection for risks that include:

The type of safety eye protection that Prevent Blindness recommends depends on the hazards in the workplace. For areas that have particles, flying objects, or dust, safety glasses with side protection (side shields) should be worn. Goggles should be worn for anyone working with chemicals. And, for those working near hazardous radiation (welding, lasers, or fiber optics) special-purpose safety glasses, goggles, face shields, or helmets designed for that task should be worn.

Those who work within an office setting (working with computers and other digital devices) are at higher risk for digital eye strain. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), eye strain symptoms include dry eyes, blurry vision, tearing or watery eyes, and headache. The cause of digital eye strain is that people blink less when they stare at digital devices. The AAO adds that normally, humans blink around 15 times per minutebut this blink rate can be cut in half when staring at screens or doing other near work activities (like reading).

Prevent Blindness recommends placing a digital screen 20 to 26 inches away from the eyes and slightly below eye level. Also, adjust lighting to lower glare and harsh reflections. More tips may be found at here.

Recognizing your eye health and safety needs within the workplace, and taking all the necessary steps to protect vision, can help us all to continue to protect healthy eyesight for years to come, said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness.

For more information about workplace eye health topics, call Prevent Blindness at (800) 331-2020 or visit here.

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Vision Expo East 2020 to Take Place as Planned March 26-29 - InvisionMag

A large biotech is partnering with a firm developing cell and gene therapies on treatments for neurological diseases like Alzheimers and Parkinsons.

Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Biogen said Thursday afternoon after markets closed that it had partnered with Brisbane, California-based Sangamo Therapeutics in a deal that could be worth up to $2.7 billion. The partnership will initially focus on two preclinical Sangamo gene therapy candidates ST-501 for tauopathies such as Alzheimers and ST-502 for synucleinopathies like Parkinsons disease, plus an undisclosed neuromuscular target. It also includes exclusive rights for up to nine other undisclosed neurological targets.

Biogen will pay Sangamo $350 million upfront, which includes a license fee and equity investment, while Sangamo will be eligible for up to $2.37 billion in milestone payments, plus royalties.

Shares of Sangamo were up more than 28% on the Nasdaq after markets opened Friday. The company had also announced its fourth quarter and full year 2019 financial results. Biogens shares were down 2.6%.

Sangamo had reached out to multiple companies in a competitive process. While declining to say how many companies the biotech had spoken to, Sangamo head of corporate strategy Stephane Boissel said in a phone interview that it had put together multiple term sheets.

Its a combination of economics, but also the expertise of that partner in that particular field, Boissel said, referring to why the company had chosen Biogen. Biogen, in the pharma world, is probably the best franchise when it comes to neurology.

Adrian Woolfson, Sangamos executive vice president for research and development, said in the same call that it was also because of an appreciation for Biogens enthusiasm and energy.

I think its fair to say we had a very good chemistry with them at a personal level when we went to meet with them in Boston, and we seemed to get along very well, Woolfson said.

Sangamo has existing partnerships with a number of other firms, including Pfizer and Gilead Sciences.

Biogens moves into Alzheimers disease have not been without controversy. The company plans to file for Food and Drug Administration approval of aducanumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the amyloid beta protein that has long dominated Alzheimers research. The company initially halted the Phase III development program for the drug when it was predicted to fail, but revived it when a post-hoc analysis indicated potential efficacy. Investors have remained skeptical.

Still, that did not come up in the minds of Sangamos executives, Boissel said. While emphasizing that he could not compare the two companies approaches, Woolfson added that gene therapies are potentially better ways to address neurological diseases like Alzheimers because they can switch off genes completely rather than being limited to taking out specific proteins, as monoclonal antibodies are.

ST-501 targets tau, another protein that has been researched as a potential therapeutic target in Alzheimers. ST-501 and ST-502 use adeno-associated viral vectors to deliver zinc finger protein transcription factors (ZFP-TFs), a form of gene therapy that Sangamo said in its quarterly earnings presentation is ideally suited to neurological disorders due to its ability to up- or down-regulate gene expression.

Boissel did not disclose specific timelines for ST-501 and ST-502, but noted that the next steps in their development will be preclinical studies to enable them to enter the clinic.

Photo: John Tlumacki, The Boston Globe, via Getty Images

Continued here:
Biogen teams up with Sangamo in gene therapy deal worth up to $2.7B - MedCity News

24 Feb 2020

Another gene therapy for a central nervous system disorder has posted positive results. The Phase 1/2 trial enrolled 18 men with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a disease of retinal degeneration that leads to blindness. Robert MacLaren of the University of Oxford led the study, published February 24 in Nature Medicine.

The dose-escalation trialtested six doses; the therapy consisted of an adeno-associated virus 8 expressing a normal copy of the RP GTPase gene. Seven patients saw improvements in their vision that endured for the six-month duration of the trial. Inflammation within the eye cropped up at the higher doses, which may have temporarily blurred therapeutic effects in some patients.

Interest in using gene-based therapy for AD and other neurodegenerative disorders has grown ever since such a therapy was approved for treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in babies and toddlers, and the field is now looking to learn from trials of other nervous system disorders (Nov 2019 news;Dec 2019 news).

X-linked RP is caused by mutations in the RP GTPase regulator (RPGR) gene. The mutations trigger degeneration of photoreceptors starting in childhood. No treatments exist. Recent approval of a gene therapy for another retinal disorderRPE65-related retinal degenerationsuggests retinal gene therapy could work (Russell et al., 2017).

However, the RPGR gene has confounded scientists, as it contains a repetitive, purine-rich stretch that undergoes alternative splicing. Tinkering with the sequence has boosted fidelity and stability of the gene, and conferred therapeutic benefits in animal models of the disease (Fischer et al., 2017).

In this trial, each of the 18 men, who were between 22 and 50 years old, had severe retinal degeneration. They were recruited in six cohorts of three patients each, who received increasing doses of the viral therapy. The participants received an injection of the virus into their subretinal space; they were then monitored for safetythe trials primary outcomeand tested for vision and retinal sensitivity for six months.

Across the cohorts, 55 adverse events occurred, all mild. Seven out of nine patients on the three highest doses experienced mild retinal inflammation, which was corrected by oral corticosteroids. In all, the trial met its primary safety endpoint.

Seven out of 12 patients receiving one of the top four doses had visual gains in the treated eye. This was gauged by retinal microperimetry, a map of the quality of light perceived across the retina. The improvements started at one month and continued at the six-month follow-up. The researchers proposed that inflammation in the top three dose cohorts may have offset visual improvements in some patients.

The trial was not designed to draw conclusions about efficacy. The researchers speculated that the therapys effectiveness will boil down to the stage of retinal degeneration, vector dose, and any interfering effects of inflammation. The second phase of the study will compare two doses to placebo.

Though the eyes are not strictly the brain, retinal therapy can be considered as part of the revitalization of gene-therapy approaches for neurodegenerative diseases. AAV-based expression of survival motor neuron 1 has improved life for those with SMA, but the tricky aspects of RPGE gene expression, and the inflammatory response that cropped up at higher doses, point to potential challenges other gene therapies may have to overcome (Nov 2016 news; Mendell et al., 2017).Jessica Shugart

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Retinal Gene Therapy Trial Posts Positive Result - Alzforum

Repligen says it will continue to expand capacity to feed demand for its OPUS range of prepacked chromatography columns.

For the full year 2019, revenues at bioprocess vendor Repligen Corporation came in at $270 million (250 million), up from $194 million in 2018. Revenues grew across all the firms divisions, with organic growth of 20%, 30% and 40% for Repligens proteins, filtration and chromatography franchises, respectively.

And within the chromatography franchise, the firms OPUS range of prepacked chromatography columns stood out.

Image: iStock/Oakozhan

Our OPUS business finished up over 30% for the quarter and 50% for the year. The story in the quarter was the continued adoption of our prepacked column technology in CDMOs and gene therapy accounts, which now account for 20% of our OPUS revenue, said CEO Tony Hunt in a conference call discussing results.

We delivered approximately 1,400 columns to our customer base in 2019, up from 700 columns in 2018.

Part of this was the demand driven by a robust biologics market. In the US alone, 10 new mAbs [monoclonal antibodies] and two gene therapy drugs were approved in 2019, said Hunt. With a rich pipeline of over 1,000 biological drug candidates, the expectations are high for strong growth in the years ahead.

And increased capacity allowed Repligen to feed the demand. We were able to improve our lead times significantly by bringing five new production suites online in December, said Hunt.

Last year, the firm announced investment plans to add two OPUS manufacturing suites at its Ravensburg, Germany site and six suites at its Waltham, Massachusetts. Those were expected to come online during the first three to nine months of 2020, so its not clear whether the five suites which began production in December formed part of that investment.

We expect continued momentum for OPUS in 2020 as our customers scale and expand. We expect our OPUS franchise to grow at or above 20% in overall chromatography at 15% in 2020.

Repligen also spoke about the growing demand for its products from the gene therapy sector, something Hunt was vocal about at last months JP Morgan Healthcare conference.

Talking last week, Hunt said Repligen has more than 50 significant customers in the gene therapy space, and the sector now represents around 15% of the firms total business.

We havent seen any slowdown in gene therapy, and were expecting gene therapy will grow about 30% for us in 2020.

Gene therapy was cited as chief among the many tailwinds that underpinned Repligens accelerated growth in 2019 by Jefferies analyst Brandon Couillard.

By our math, this surge in gene therapy demand accounted for two-thirds of Repligens accelerated core growth of +33% in 19 (from +17% in 18), he wrote in a note.

Looking ahead, with the cell/gene therapy market expected to grow 2-3x faster than the broader ~$10 billion bioprocessing market over the next three to five years, the mix shift should continue to be accretive to its overall growth profile over time.

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Repligen up on OPUS and gene therapy demand - Bioprocess Insider - BioProcess Insider

If you ever end up in an emergency room, the first thing that happens is a doctor or nurse will check your critical vitals: your temperature, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and pulse. If those indicate your life is at risk, your care is prioritized over others who have already been waiting or who have been seen by a doctor but require additional testing (e.g. an x-ray or blood test) or a specialist to review their symptoms. This process, called triaging, is the global standard for allocating resources in emergency care.

Triaging is a marvel of modern healthcare if it is abundantly clear that you are on deaths door. But if theres no textbook description of your condition, it can leave you needlessly suffering while the experts try to figure it out. Thats often the case for those with rare diseases, a group of conditions that are not individually common, but combined, affect an estimated 10% of the global population, some 475 million people. An estimated 80% of the 7,000 identified rare diseases are caused by DNA mutations that occur during pregnancy, meaning most of those with this category of illness are born with it. In many cases, these babies emerge from the womb with life-threatening conditions that doctorsworking the triage systemwill immediately address. However, this also tends to lead doctors to then ignore the underlying rare diseasean unnecessary medical expenditure, in the triage system framework.

I am one of the people living with a rare disease.

I was born with a number of symptoms and signs that put my life at risk a collapsed lung, a premature exit from my mothers body after only six months, and malnutrition from a hole in my amniotic sac. These problems were all treated and resolved over a multiple month stay in the hospital dictated by the triage system. I was allocated hospital resources for my life-threatening conditions until I was deemed stable enough to go home: the point at which I wouldnt die if I left the care of the hospital.

But there was another problem that was overlooked, and which wasnt diagnosed until I was five years old.

Every bone in my body was bent and every muscle atrophied or non-existent. I couldnt move my neck away from shoulder; I couldnt straighten my legs, knees, arms, wrists, ankles, toes, hands, or fingers beyond fixed, fully bent positions.

The triage system worked at saving my life, but never addressed how I would live day to day or even physically move from a single location by myself. It never addressed the underlying issue and root of the problem: a rare orthopedic genetic disease.

The life or death triage standard is one of the primary reasons that it takes, on average, seven years for people with a rare disease to get a diagnosis in the U.S.and

I am one of the lucky ones. Serendipitously, a Because of these surgeries, and additional ones Ive had since, I could feed myself, live free from a wheelchair, go to school through the post-graduate level, and hold a full-time job.

The orthopedic surgeries I neededover 29 of them in less than 30 yearshave cost millions of dollars. And these costs grow each year as I undergo additional exploratory surgery in the absence of any cure. However, these costs are still lower than what I would have incurred had I been left as the triage system deemed stable as an infant. I would have required 24-hour in-home care my entire life. I would never have been able to use the bathroom alone, to get dressed alone or to even leave the house alone. The lifetime value of a working individual according to the US Office of Management and Budget is on average $7 million to $9 million. The cost of a full-time caregiver is on average $40,320 a year; if a rare-disease patient reaches the average US life expectancy of 78 years old, the lifetime cost of full-time care is at least $3 million.

Our healthcare system needs to weigh the long-term costs of leaving behind people with rare disease, and, more specifically, evaluate the economic consequences that follow at a global scale.

Even more so, we need to weigh the costs of creating a pipeline to fill the treatment gap facing people with rare disease., Using genomic sequencing, clinicians can holistically understand the genetic roots of rare disease and even potentially cure rare disease through gene therapy, which modifies and permanently fixes abnormal genes that cause a specific rare disease at birth.

Nonetheless, identifying the root genetic cause of rare disease is the only way to begin to cure a rare disease rather than just treating the symptoms in an ad hoc fashion. While certain pharmaceutical drugs can be developed from the findings in a genomic sequence to help mitigate or lessen symptoms, the science suggests the only way to cure a rare disease is to administer an even newer science called gene therapywhich modifies and permanently fixes genes that are abnormal. Considered to be the most expensive option, a However, this nascent science is costly: gene therapy costs around $2 million for current US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved options.

Insurance plans in the US rarely pay for clinical-grade whole-genomic sequencing (which can carry a price tag of up to $9,000)let alone gene therapies. Yet if the most expensive cost to cure a rare disease is $2 million, thats still far less than $3 million for a lifetime of full-time care (which excludes additional expenses). And new studies, like one the World Economic Forum released in the lead up to this years International Rare Disease Day, show that we can ultimately save money in the long term by funding more treatments and, as an added benefit, potentially develop more cures by learning when treatments work and when treatments dont work.

We cant create clinical pathways for the more than 7,000 rare diseases overnight, but we need a standard of care that goes beyond using death as the primary barometer of focus, over-simplifies the complexity of what it means to be healthy, and only considers short term costs. An economically effective, new model could center on allocating resources with the end goal to allow people to reach a level of health that provides basic mobility or basic independencea level of health allowing economic productivity. We are living in a time of unprecedented medical innovation, and our system of coverage needs to catch up. We can do better than just keeping people alive.

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The Bad Economics of the U.S. Health Care System Shows Up Starkly in its Approach to Rare Diseases - TIME

The IPO market is feeling the effects of the coronavirus outbreak with a surge in the VIX volatility index weighing on IPO activity. Since 2015, a week in which VIX volatility has surpassed 35 has been followed by a week averaging two US IPO pricings. Our observational trend continues through 2020, as one biotech entered the public market this past week. Six IPOs and three SPACs submitted initial filings with the SEC.

Passage Bio (PASG), a preclinical biotech developing gene therapies, priced at the high end of the range to raise $216 million at a $840 million market cap. The deal raised 72% more in proceeds than Passage Bio originally filed for. The company is furthering the research from UPenn's Gene Therapy Program, which is headed by co-founder James Wilson. Bolstered by the recent performances of other large early stage biotech IPOs, Passage Bio finished up 23%, another sign that biotechs are pushing back against the effects of the coronavirus.

Chinese medical information platform Zhongchao (NASDAQ:ZCMD) began trading on Monday after raising $12 million in an IPO on Friday 2/21. The company was flat after its first day on the Nasdaq and is currently down 2%.

1 IPO During the Week of February 24th, 2020

IssuerBusiness

DealSize

Market Capat IPO

Price vs.Midpoint

First DayReturn

Returnat 02/28

Passage Bio

$216M

$840M

6%

+23%

+23%

Preclinical biotech developing gene therapies for rare CNS disorders.

Healthcare benefit management platform Accolade (ACCD) filed to raise $100 million, biotechs NLS Pharmaceutics (NLSP) and ORIC Pharmaceutics (ORIC) filed for $40 million and $86 million, respectively. Construction software Procore Technologies (PCOR) filed for an estimated $400 million. Medical device maker Pulmonx (LUNG) filed for $86 million, and marketing data platform ZoomInfo (ZI) filed for $500 million. SPACS, Social Hedosophia II (IPOB.U), Social Hedosophia III (IPOC.U), and GigCaptial3 (GIK.U) filed for $300 million, $600 million, and $200 million.

9 Filings During the Week of February 24th, 2020

IssuerBusiness

DealSize

Sector

LeadUnderwriter

Accolade

$100M

Health Care

Goldman

Provides a platform that helps employees manage their healthcare benefits.

NLS Pharmaceutics

$40M

Health Care

Maxim

Biotech focusing on therapies for CNS and sleep disorders.

ORIC Pharmaceuticals

$86M

Health Care

JP Morgan

Phase 1 biotech developing small molecule therapies for cancer.

Procore Technologies

$400M

Technology

Goldman

Provides cloud-based construction management and collaboration software.

Pulmonx

$86M

Health Care

BofA

Makes minimally invasive medical devices for emphysema.

Social Hedosophia II

$300M

SPAC

Credit Suisse

Second blank check company formed by Social Capital and Hedosophia targeting US tech.

Social Hedosophia III

$600M

SPAC

Credit Suisse

Second blank check company formed by Social Capital and Hedosophia targeting ex-US tech.

ZoomInfo

$500M

Technology

JP Morgan

Provides a data platform for sales, marketing, and recruiting professionals.

GigCapital3

$200M

SPAC

Nomura

Third blank check company led by semiconductor veteran Avi Katz.

The Renaissance IPO Indices are market cap weighted baskets of newly public companies. As of 2/27/20, the Renaissance IPO Index was up 1.4% year-to-date, while the S&P 500 was down 7.8%. Renaissance Capital's IPO ETF (NYSE: IPO) tracks the index, and top ETF holdings include Uber (NYSE:UBER) and Spotify (NYSE:SPOT). The Renaissance International IPO Index was up 2.2% year-to-date, while the ACWX was down 9.3%. Renaissance Capital's International IPO ETF (NYSE: IPOS) tracks the index, and top ETF holdings include Adyen and Meituan-Dianping.

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Editor's Note: The summary bullets for this article were chosen by Seeking Alpha editors.

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IPO Weekly Recap: Yes, The IPO Market Has Caught The Coronavirus - Seeking Alpha

Rare Disease Day is celebrated across the globe to raise awareness amongst the general public and policymakers about rare diseases and how they impact patients lives. The first Rare Disease Day was celebrated in 2008 on February 29 because of its rare date and since then, occurs on the last day in February each year, a month with a rare number of days.

Although rare suggests not many people are affected with a condition, collectively, 300 million people around the world live with a rare disease and they face similar challenges. The barrier to an accurate diagnosis means patients may doctor hop and spend years getting a host of tests done because no one is familiar with the condition and can diagnose it. Theres often frustration due to this lack of understanding from health care professionals, and living in the unknown.

Even with a diagnosis, more than 90% of rare diseases are still without an FDA approved treatment, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.

Some rare diseases may cause a multitude of different health problems that keep children from going to school or being able to socialize with others in the same way their peers can. Similarly, rare diseases may affect physical appearance and make children self-conscious or have low self-esteem.

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Michigan Medicine researchers are constantly working to better understand the mechanisms behind rare diseases. Education helps health care professionals make accurate diagnoses, create treatment methods and improve the quality of life for those that live with these conditions.

Heres a sampling of their research from the last year.

Systemic Scleroderma Treatments: Where Are We Now?A new and novel outcome measure is being used to determine effectiveness of new scleroderma treatments.

Gene Therapy Treatment Targets Rare Mutation Tied to BlindnessAdvances in gene therapy are yielding new options for treating inherited retinal degenerations, giving specialists new tools and new hope for patients and families.

A Mission to Improve Cystic Fibrosis Treatment Across the GlobeTo reach patients in need, one doctor has developed atraining program to improve testingand care available for those with thegenetic disease, starting intheMiddle East.

Accelerating Childrens Access to New Treatments for High Risk Brain TumorsMichigan Medicine joins an exclusive, global network that helps speed up the process of linking children with incurable brain cancer to promising clinical trials.

A New Clue in the Mystery of ALS, Frontotemporal DementiaMichigan Medicine researchers identify a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative conditions using animal models.

Drug Trial Seeking First Ever Treatment for Dangerous Side Effect of Prader-Willi SyndromeA worldwide research effort is underway for finding a treatment option for hyperphagia, the most common genetic cause of life threatening childhood obesity.

Arthritis Treatment Could Provide Relief for Lichen Planus Skin RashIts often difficult to manage patients with this skin inflammation, but new research identifies a target that existing medications may be able to address.

Approach Could Help in Treating Glioblastoma, Other Rare CancersMichigan led research presents a new way of uncovering predictive biomarkers when data from large randomized trials arent available.

Sickle Cell Disease Could Be Treated by Turning Back the ClockReactivating genes normally active before birth could prevent the harmful effects of this blood disorder with few treatment options.

Registry Helps Move Aortic Dissection Care Forward Diagnosis, treatments and outcomes for acute aortic dissection have evolved, with an international registry revealing trends and the power of using data.

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To learn more about Rare Disease Day, visit the National Organization for Rare Disorders website.

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10 Studies That Highlight the Importance of Rare Disease Research - Michigan Medicine

DUBLIN, Feb. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Stem Cell Banking - Market Analysis, Trends, and Forecasts" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The growing interest in regenerative medicine which involves replacing, engineering or regenerating human cells, tissues or organs, will drive market growth of stem cells. Developments in stem cells bioprocessing are important and will be a key factor that will influence and help regenerative medicine research move into real-world clinical use. The impact of regenerative medicine on healthcare will be comparable to the impact of antibiotics, vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies in current clinical care. With the global regenerative medicine market poised to reach over US$45 billion by 2025, demand for stem cells will witness robust growth.

Another emerging application area for stem cells is in drug testing in the pharmaceutical field. New drugs in development can be safely, accurately, and effectively be tested on stem cells before commencing tests on animal and human models. Among the various types of stem cells, umbilical cord stem cells are growing in popularity as they are easy and safe to extract. After birth blood from the umbilical cord is extracted without posing risk either to the mother or the child. As compared to embryonic and fetal stem cells which are saddled with safety and ethical issues, umbilical cord is recovered postnatally and is today an inexpensive and valuable source of multipotent stem cells. Until now discarded as waste material, umbilical cord blood is today acknowledged as a valuable source of blood stem cells. The huge gap between newborns and available cord blood banks reveals huge untapped opportunity for developing and establishing a more effective banking system for making this type of stem cells viable for commercial scale production and supply. Umbilical cord and placenta contain haematopoietic blood stem cells (HSCs). These are the only cells capable of producing immune system cells (red cells, white cells and platelet).

HSCs are valuable in the treatment of blood diseases and successful bone marrow transplants. Also, unlike bone marrow stem cells, umbilical cord blood has the advantage of having 'off-the-shelf' uses as it requires no human leukocyte antigen (HLA) tissue matching. Developments in stem cell preservation will remain crucial for successful stem cell banking. Among the preservation technologies, cryopreservation remains popular. Development of additives for protecting cells from the stresses of freezing and thawing will also be important for the future of the market. The United States and Europe represent large markets worldwide with a combined share of 60.5% of the market. China ranks as the fastest growing market with a CAGR of 10.8% over the analysis period supported by the large and growing network of umbilical cord blood banks in the country. The Chinese government has, over the years, systematically nurtured the growth of umbilical cord blood (UCB) banks under the 'Developmental and Reproductive Research Initiation' program launched in 2008. Several hybrid public-private partnerships and favorable governmental licensing policies today are responsible for the current growth in this market.

Competitors identified in this market include:

Companies Mentioned

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/vgxw4q

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

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

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Global Stem Cell Market Poised for Strong Growth as Global Regenerative Medicine Market Poised to Reach US$45 billion by 2025 - PRNewswire

SINGAPORE, Feb. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tessa Therapeutics (Tessa), a clinical-stage cell therapy company developing next-generation cancer treatments, today announced that the Company's investigational CD30-directed autologous chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CD30 CAR-T) therapy has been granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory CD30-positive classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Tessa expects to initiate its pivotal Phase II multi-site trial in the fourth quarter of 2020.

"The RMAT designation speaks to the strength of the data in two independent Phase I/II trials, which show promising efficacy and a strong safety profile of the therapy in Hodgkin lymphoma patients whose disease had failed to respond to other available therapies," said Ivan D. Horak, M.D., President of Research and Development at Tessa Therapeutics. "We look forward to working closely with the FDA as we advance our trial at multiple sites in North America and work to bring this potentially transformative treatment option to patients."

The RMAT designation is supported by clinical data from two independent CD30 CAR-T Phase I/II studies in patients with relapsed or refractory CD30-positive classical Hodgkin lymphoma conducted by Baylor College of Medicine (NCT02917083) and University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCT02690545). Both studies demonstrated objective response rates of more than 70%, with 18 patients achieving complete response out of 27 patients treated with CD 30 CAR-T with lymphodepleting chemotherapy as of November 2019.

Dr Horak added: "As part of our longer-term R&D program, we are also developing an allogeneic CD30-CAR Epstein-Bar Virus-Specific T cell (CD30-CAR EBVST) therapy product that combines the unique properties of VSTs and CD30 CARs, in an effort to develop off-the-shelf cell therapies intended to treat a range of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors."

RMAT designation is designed to facilitate development and expedite review of cell therapies and other qualifying regenerative medicines intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition; and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug has the potential to address unmet medical needs for such disease or condition. Advantages include all the benefits of the FDA's Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy Designation programs, such as early interactions with the FDA that may be used to discuss potential surrogate or intermediate endpoints to support accelerated approval and satisfy post-approval requirements.

More information on Tessa's CD30 CAR-T therapy pivotal Phase II clinical trial is available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04268706.

-End -

About Tessa Therapeutics

Tessa Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of cell therapies for a broad range of cancers.

Tessa's fast-growing clinical pipeline includes two investigational autologous cell therapies in late-stage clinical development for nasopharyngeal cancer and classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Combining the unique properties of Virus-Specific T cells (VSTs) and CD-30 Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CD30-CARs), Tessa is also emerging with a new approach to cancer cell therapy through the development of a novel, allogeneic platform technology. The platform holds potential for the creation of off-the-shelf cell therapies against a variety of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.

Tessa's strategic partnerships with leading US academic centers and manufacturing and supply chain capabilities across Asia and the United States, have enabled the company to successfully deliver cell therapies on a global scale, creating a fully integrated approach to the treatment of cancer.

For more information on Tessa, please visit http://www.tessatherapeutics.com.

SOURCE Tessa Therapeutics

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Tessa Therapeutics Announces US FDA Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) Designation Granted to its CD30 CAR-T Cell Therapy for the Treatment...

St. Paul, MN, February 27, 2020 --(PR.com)-- Recombinetics (RCI) today announced a collaborative research project with University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) to identify key factors that improve the efficiency of generating interspecies chimera between pigs and humans. This near-term goal will benefit the long-term objective of advancing regenerative medicine through the reliable production of therapeutic human cells, tissues and organs using blastocyst complementation. This would create a more reliable supply of live-saving transplantable organs on demand that is not reliant on human donors.

This collaboration will leverage the expertise of RCI in producing inter-species chimeras, specifically using the blastocyst complementation method, where the host species is mutated to ablate a crucial organ or lineage, and the human donor cells are populating the missing niche. Our plan is to understand the relationship between human and pig cells through development and utilize gene editing to improve the survival, engraftment and differentiation of the donor human cells in the specific niche. These technologies could very well hold the crucial step that move us towards producing human components in bio-incubators.

Project efforts will be led by Ohad Gafni, Ph.D., RCIs Director of Stem Cell Technologies and Jun Wu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Scientists have struggled to produce inter species chimera due to poor survival and engraftment of the injected donor cells in the host environment. In this collaboration, we will combine in vitro and in vivo studies to enhance the efficiency of producing pig: human chimeras as a foundation for producing therapeutic human cells, tissues, and organs, says Dr. Gafni.

About RecombineticsFounded in 2008, Recombinetics (RCI) is producing gene-edited animals for biomedical and food production purposes and is generating commercial and collaborative revenues. RCIs technology platform supports three business lines: Acceligen (precision breeding to enhance health, well-being and productivity in food animals and aquaculture); Surrogen (gene-edited swine models of human diseases for biomedical research and pre-clinical trials by pharmaceutical and medical device companies); and Regenevida (development of human regenerative products including cells, tissues and organ products in swine models for exotransplantation to humans). Learn more at Recombinetics.com.

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Recombinetics Announces Collaboration with University of Texas Southwestern to Advance Regenerative Medicine Through Therapeutic Cell, Tissue, and...

Aspire Regenerative

SAN DIEGO (PRWEB) February 27, 2020

Dr. Ryan McNally, the medical director of Aspire Regenerative, is the featured guest on Dr. Hanisha Patels natural health podcast, Mahan Health. The episode, New Year, Younger You?, focuses on the latest developments in medicine and technology that promote aging well and gracefully. It is currently available on all major podcast platforms.

During the lively and informative episode, Dr. McNally shares his expertise in the field of regenerative medicine and how it can help rejuvenate healthy tissues. The ultimate goal of these therapies is to slow down the progression of aging and prolong overall wellness. Subjects that Dr. McNally explores during the podcast include stem cell therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, and products derived from fetal tissue found in cord blood, placental tissue, and perinatal fluid. One of the most promising new areas of regenerative medicine that Dr. McNally discusses is stem cell derived-exosome therapy, which uses the part of a cell that is rich in growth factors.

Dr. McNally is responsible for guiding the vision of Aspire Regenerative, a state-of-the-art facility in San Diego that delivers integrative and technologically advanced medical care. He also oversees the development and implementation of science, research, and technology at Aspire. Dr. McNally is a licensed naturopathic doctor with multiple certifications in regenerative medicine, aesthetics, and injection therapies. In addition, he is a faculty member at the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine and an adjunct faculty member at Bastyr University California, where he formerly served as chief medical officer. A sought-after speaker at conferences and universities, Dr. McNally also publishes articles in peer-reviewed professional journals and frequently serves as a guest expert for podcasts, magazines, and newspapers.

About Aspire Regenerative: Aspire Regenerative is a state-of-the-art medical practice offering personalized regenerative treatments and integrative therapies to help patients reach their goals and achieve the best possible results. We have reinvented medical care by incorporating the principle of cell and tissue regeneration, which translates to youthful and vibrant function. Our in-depth expertise and collaboration with researchers allow us to integrate innovative technology into individualized patient care with therapies that are safe and effective. For more information, visit https://aspireregenerativehealth.com/.

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Aspire Regenerative Medical Director Featured on New Podcast - PR Web

One in 14 Ontarians can expect to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime. COURTESY OF ED UTHMAN/FLICKR

University of Toronto scientists have identified a key protein as a common factor in the growth of many different types of colorectal cancer tumours, according to research published in the Journal of Cell Biology. Colorectal cancer develops in the colon or rectum. In Ontario, it is also the second most fatal cancer, and one in 14 Ontarians can expect to be diagnosed with this form of cancer in their lifetime.

In past research, scientists have linked the excessive accumulation of beta-catenin, a protein with crucial functions in cell development, to the expression of genes that drive tumour proliferation. Research has associated 80 per cent of colorectal cancers with gene mutations that greatly increase the production of beta-catenin.

The co-authors of the study have identified another protein, Importin-11, as the compound that enables beta-catenin transportation to the nucleus of the human cell. Cancer therapies that inhibit this transport could be a promising way to treat colorectal cancer.

Fundamental research provides new knowledge for cancer therapies

The Varsity spoke to Dr. Stephane Angers, a co-author of the study and an associate professor at U of Ts Department of Biochemistry. Angers lab has spent a considerable amount of time studying biological pathways the series of chemical changes during cellular development that give cells their final functions.

Angers noted that Monika Mis, the lead author of the study and a PhD student, uncovered the role of Importin-11 in colorectal cancer in Angers lab. Mis used the gene-editing CRISPR-Cas9 technology to screen genes in colorectal cancer calls to identify a novel gene, IPO11, which encodes for the protein Importin-11.

Current treatment options for colorectal cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and other radiation therapy. Although this discovery is still in its fundamental stages, blocking the transport of beta-catenin holds great promise for developing new therapies.

As Angers put it, It provides new ammunition, new possibilities, and new knowledge that could lead in the future to new therapies, but it is very much at the discovery level at this point.

More research required to develop therapies

Further research could involve drug discovery and widen the scope of Importin-11 function in various cells. Researchers may also find it valuable to analyze existing data about colorectal cancer. The goal is to understand how the mutations affect tumour formation and develop therapies that harness this knowledge.

Angers lab is also investigating other potential applications of the Wnt pathway, a specific biological pathway associated with beta-catenin. A particularly interesting aspect is its role in regenerative medicine, which is the study of restoring human cells, tissues, and organs.

We think that with new molecules that we have developed we can now activate the pathway in order to promote the regenerative abilities of tissues, noted Angers.

Tags: biology, cancer, medicine, oncology

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New ammunition uncovered by U of T researchers to develop colorectal cancer treatment - Varsity

For many people, the concept of a shorter workweek is enticing. After all, it can be difficult to find enough time for the things we love.

Is it reasonable then, in our quest for happiness, to begin working less? Advocates of a shorter workweek would agree, but these policies have yet to be widely-adopted.

Todays chart plots data from the World Happiness Report 2019 and the OECD to determine if theres any correlation between a countrys happiness and average hours worked per person.

The unhealthy side effects of working long hours are well established. In extreme cases, however, symptoms can extend beyond the usual stress and fatigue.

For example, the American Heart Association found that people under the age of 50 had a higher risk of stroke when working over 10 hours a day for a decade or more. Another study, conducted across 14 countries, concluded that people who worked long hours were 12% more likely to become excessive drinkers.

If working longer days is so harmful to our well-being, what happens if we work fewer hours instead?

The tables below list the happiest countries as well as the unhappiest countries in the OECD; happiness scores range from 0 to 10, with a 10 representing the best life possible.

Based on the data, there appears to be some degree of correlation between a persons happiness and the amount of hours they work.

Heres how the five happiest countries stack up:

The five happiest countries each work over 100 hours less than the OECD average. Compare this to the five least happiest countries:

Coincidentally, all five of the least happiest countries work more hours than the OECD average, up to over 264 hours in the case of Greece.

Happiness is multifaceted, though, and we should avoid drawing conclusions from a single variable. For instance, the World Happiness Report 2019 calculates happiness scores based on eight distinct metrics:

With these in mind, we can make a few additional observations.

Four of the five happiest OECD countries are located in the Nordics, a region known for low corruption rates and robust social safety nets. On the other end of the scale, economic hardship is a recurring theme among the OECDs least happiest countries. The falling Turkish lira and Greeces debt crisis are two significant examples.

To properly measure the happiness-boosting potential of a shortened workweek, it seems we need to isolate its effects.

Employers are now experimenting with shorter work schedules to see if happier employees are in fact better employees.

Perpetual Guardian, a New Zealand-based estate planning firm, trialed a four-day workweek for two months with no changes to compensation.

The trial was hailed as a success. Employee stress levels fell by 7 percentage points while overall life satisfaction rose by 5 percentage points. Perhaps most impressive is the fact that productivity remained the same.

Employees designed a number of innovations and initiatives to work in a more productive and efficient manner.

Helen Delaney, University of Auckland

Following the trial, the firms founder expressed interest in implementing the four-day workweek on a permanent basis.

Filimundus, a Sweden-based software studio, trialed a six-hour workday in 2014. Staff reception was positive, and the company has since adopted it permanently.

There were trade-offs, however. While staff enjoyed more time for their private lives, productivity across different departments saw mixed results.

We did see some decrease in production for some staff, mostly our artists, but an increase in production for our programmers. So money-wise, in costs, it evened out.

Linus Feldt, CEO

Interestingly, the studio also trialed a seven-hour workday, and saw no positive effects.

Public healthcare workers in Gothenburg, Sweden, trialed a six-hour workday for two years. Similar to the first case, compensation was unchanged.

While the trial achieved good resultsstaff experienced lower stress levels and patients received a higher level of carethe policy was unsustainable.

Its far too expensive to carry out a general shortening of working hours within a reasonable time frame.

Daniel Bernmar

17 additional staff were hired to compensate for the shorter workdays, increasing the local governments payroll by $738,000. The city council did note, however, that lower unemployment costs offset this increase by approximately 10%.

These experiments are garnering attention from around the world.

Even Japan, a country known for its overtime culture, is getting in on the action. Microsoft offices in the East Asian country tested a four-day workweek in August 2019, and reported happier staff, as well as an impressive 40% boost in productivity.

While the results of these early experiments are indeed promising, theyve exposed the nuances that exist between industries and job types, and the need for further trials. One thing is certain thoughshorter workweek policies should not be interpreted as a one size fits all solution for happier lives.

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Ranked: The Most Innovative Economies in the World - Visual Capitalist