Q1: I am student of BS Chemistry at University of the Punjab. I have completed six semesters. Now I have to choose major subject for further studies. I am very confused to select my special subject. Please guide me to choose Biochemistry, Inorganic, Physical or Organic Chemistry as major subject. I am interested in Biochemistry and Physical Chemistry but Biochemistry faculty is not good. My future plan is to go abroad for further studies. (Farhat Khan, Lahore)

A: I would suggest that you look at Biochemistry as your main focus and specialisation. This is one area which has several sub specialisations and I would like you to review or explore doing your masters in Clinical Biochemistry.

A more specialise area from Biochemistry would be to consider doing your MSc in Pathology which is now offered under various titles at different universities in Pakistan.

As for your opportunities abroad, there are huge funding available in these areas if you do well. I mean a minimum of no less than 3.5++ CGPA and do an IELTS of no less than 7 band. You may end up getting full scholarship in Germany for your post-graduation.

Q2: My father gave me your email for career consultation as I am facing some challenges. I have done BBA from SZABIST Karachi in 2007 and then I worked in industrial marketing from 2008 to 2013. After that I did double masters in Australia from Macquarie University in Accounting and Business Management.

The professional field is very competitive in Australia and I am confused what career choices to make. I am looking to obtain an MBA from University of Western Sydney as I got admission in their part time programme but I wanted to ask you do you feel an MBA would be beneficial for me at this stage. I am aiming to get part time management work while I do MBA as currently it is hard to get jobs in corporate sector. I am aiming to settle in Dubai or Pakistan in the future so anything that helps me in getting to that point is my goal. Also I am 32-year old so maybe that is also a matter of concern in making a decision. I am currently located in Sydney and planning to move to Perth for MBA or I have also applied for MBA Technology at Sydney AGSM for which I am awaiting admissions. Please guide me on what would be best for me. (Fahad, Australia)

A: I think you achieved a good level of management qualification that is a mix of Pakistani and international flavour. The subject mix that you have chosen are also well in demand and are known to be a good combination. I don't think so doing an extra or an additional MBA from University of Western Sydney will help you in getting any better job. If I was in your place I would find an appropriate and relevant position in strategic and financial management and gain some relevant experience in the international market before returning to Pakistan or Middle East and I am sure you will be able to find ample career opportunities in this part of the world. I wish you all the best.

Q3: I recently completed my Electrical Engineering in power from UET Lahore with CGPA 3.4. What should I prefer? Job, MS or MBA (Eng/ Management), If MS, then which specialisation should I select?

(Ayan Ali)

A: My recommendation to you would be to work for few years in the industry connected to Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing, Power Plants, Operations and Distributions, or Line Management. Once you have completed few years of hands-on experience in your area you can look towards doing and MSc to top up. This could be sustainable power planning and management, it could be an MSc in Technology or Industrial Management but this would be directed by the experience and interest that you will have in any of the above areas.

Q4: I am doing BS in Food Science and Technology from Jinnah University for Women's in Karachi. As this is a public university and I am not satisfied with it, should I continue with this university or should I transfer to private university in Karachi? Or there is any difference of degree if I transfer to private university? And can you please provide me with your contact number? Waiting for your reply as admissions are going on all over Karachi. Thank you (Shahnaha Rizwan from Karachi)

A: I would not recommend leaving a government institution for at least till the completion of your BS. The public sector university degrees are more respected than private universities especially when you are looking to study abroad. I would suggest you to work hard and try to get a first class bachelors' degree and then look towards doing an MSc within the domain of food science which has huge and emerging career opportunities. There are great scholarship opportunities for food scientists across the world and I wish you all the best in your future career.

(Syed Azhar Husnain Abidi is a renowned educationist in Pakistan, with more than 20 years of experience as provider of education counselling services. He has represented Pakistan in over 100 national and international seminars, conferences and fora. He is a recipient of the most coveted civil award Tamgha-e-Imtiaz).

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Career counselling: Questions and answers - The News International

Biochemistry

Lab learning scores with teen athletes – Harvard Gazette

August 16, 2017 medical

For high school student Simo Silva, visiting a biology lab at Harvard was just part of his summer school curriculum. What the 17-year-old Cristo Rey High School student didnt plan on this summer was receiving practical lessons about the human body and biochemistry.

After his Harvard experience, the student athlete is now focusing on how to improve his running technique, and is even talking about how to become a biochemist. Silva credits Harvard Professor Daniel Lieberman, Edwin M. Lerner II Professor of Biological Sciences, for teaching him about the mechanics of running.

I went running a few days later and what [Lieberman] had talked about really made me think and notice what I was doing, said Silva, who is a wrestler, boxes, runs track, and plays soccer.

Silva was among a group of local high school biology students visiting Harvards Department of Human and Evolutionary Biology to conduct a lab session with Lieberman as part of the Cambridge-Harvard Summer Academy. The six-week summer school program provided both enrichment opportunities and remedial classes at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School. The program, which has served more than 4,500 local students since it began in 2001, is a partnership between the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Cambridge Public Schools.

By Deborah Blackwell, Harvard Correspondent | August 14, 2017 | Editor's Pick

Science is a process and its nice to show students how we get to where we are now, and how we collect data, analyze data, and make predictions, Lieberman said.

It was that special day on the fourth floor of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, that Silva got a peak into the world of biochemistry.

Ive always been interested in working in a bio lab, so when I got the opportunity to visit one it was really cool and showed me I want to be a biochemist even more, he said.

Silvas biology teacher, Quan Le, 15, recently completed the Harvard Graduate School of Educations Harvard Teacher Fellows program and tries to introduce fun and practicality into his lessons to make them as applicable to the real world as possible. Since many of his students are athletes, Le said he looks for ways to apply science to their passions and interests.

Professor Lieberman was able to make this lab really about how you can use science in your own life, said Le. This is science and it is related to evolution, but it can be useful if youre an athlete. He was able to make it very personal.

The students were thrilled at the idea of visiting a Harvard research lab to learn about biomechanics and how it related to their athletic endeavors, Le said. He first became interested in teaching while volunteering with the Phillips Brooks House Associations (PBHA) Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment program (BRYE) as an undergrad.

When I started volunteering with BRYE through PBHA and teaching during the semesters, I felt like my identity as an immigrant and first-generation student really mattered, said Le. I could really relate to these kids.

Cambridge-Harvard Summer Academy is one of many partnerships and programs that Harvard and Cambridge Public Schools utilize to enhance student performance. The programs range from curriculum-based efforts as well as individualized learning programs serving students of all grade levels.

When students understand why and what they learn, it can make a big difference. We really tried to do that here.Its not just science for the sake of science, Le said. Everything involves science. Once they get that you can really see their interest levels change. And if we can do that, I would consider that a success.

By Peter Reuell, Harvard Staff Writer | August 14, 2017

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Lab learning scores with teen athletes - Harvard Gazette

Biochemistry

Following his gut instincts – Otago Daily Times

August 16, 2017 student

University of Otago graduate and US-based human microbiome research pioneer Prof Rob Knight is the joint recipient of the Massry Prize, a prestigious California-based research award.

Dunedin-born, Prof Knight attended Otago Boys High School and gained an Otago University BSc in biochemistry in 1996.

He is the founding director of the Centre for Microbiome Innovation of the University of California, San Diego.

Microbiomes are distinct constellations of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that live within and around us, including in the human gut. Award organisers said Prof Knight and his two fellow researchers led a field that worked to produce a detailed understanding of microbiomes and methods for manipulating them to benefit human and environmental health.

His work has linked microbes to a range of health conditions including obesity and inflammatory bowel disease, has enhanced our understanding of microbes in environments ranging from the oceans to the tundra, and made high-throughput sequencing techniques accessible to thousands of researchers around the world.

"I greatly appreciate this recognition for microbiome research a scientific field that was relatively underappreciated until recent years," Prof Knight said.

He shares the latest $US200,000 Massry Prize with two fellow US researchers, Dr Jeffrey Gordon, of the Washington University School of Medicine, and Dr Norman Pace, of the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Dr Knight is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the American Academy of Microbiology, and is the author of Follow Your Gut: The Enormous Impact of Tiny Microbes (2015). In 2009, Prof Knight received an Early Career Scientist award in the United States, amounting to more than $US3 million (then $NZ5 million).

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Following his gut instincts - Otago Daily Times

Genetics

Biotechnology Conferences | Biotechnology Events …

August 16, 2017 medical

Sessions and Tracks

Industrial Biotechnology

Industrial biotechnology is the application of biotechnology for industrial purposes, includingindustrial fermentation. The practice of using cells such as micro-organisms, or components of cells like enzymes, to generate industrially useful products in sectors such as chemicals, food and feed, detergents, paper and pulp, textiles andbiofuels. Industrial Biotechnology offers a premier forum bridging basic research and R&D with later-stage commercialization for sustainable bio based industrial and environmental applications.

Related Conferences:

International Conference on Agri Biotech and Environmental Engineering, September 11-12, 2017, San Antonio, Texas, USA; 15th Asia-Pacific Biotechnology Congress, July 20-22, 2017, Melbourne, Australia; 17th Euro Biotechnology Congress, September 25-27, 2017, Berlin, Germany; 18th Biotechnology Congress, October 19-20, 2017, Hilton New York JFK Airport Hotel New York, USA; 19th World Congress on Biotechnology, November 13-14, 2017, Osaka, Japan; 2nd World Biotechnology Congress, December 04-05, 2017, Sao Paulo, Brazil; BioTech 2017 Sensor Technology and Online Analytics for (Bio)Process Understanding, September 07-08, 2017, Wadenswil, Switzerland; SBA17 Synthetic Biology Australasia Conference 2017,September 21-22, 2017, Sydney, Australia; ICONAN2017 International Conference On Nanomedicine And Nanobiotechnology, September 25-27, 2017, Barcelona, Spain; The European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy, October 10-11, 2017, Brussels, Belgium; World convention on sustainable biotechnology, October 12-13, 2017, Auckland, Newzealand; EFIB 2017 The European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy, October 19-20 2017, Brussels, Belgium; InnovateBopitech2017 Biotechnology & Industrial Revolution, November 27-28, 2017, Brisbane, Australia.

Related Societies:

Spanish Society of Biotechnology, Spain;Society for Biotechnology, Japan;Mexican Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Mexico;Society for Chemical Engineering Biotechnology, UK;Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (SIMB), India;Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, India;Tanta Pharmaceutical Scientific Society (TPSS), Egypt;The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, Ireland;The Pharmaceutical Society of Korea, Korea;Society for Biological Engineering, USA;Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore, Singapore;Romanian Society of Medical Mycology and Mycotoxicology, Romania;Russian Medical Society, Russia;Korean Society of Food Science And Technology, Korea;Korean Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, Korea;National Society of Agriculture, USA;Society for Engineering in Agriculture, Australia;New Zealand Plant Protection Society, New Zealand;Society of Microbial Ecology and Disease, Italy;European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology, UK;Indian Society of Nano science And Nanotechnology, India;Iran Society for Cell Biology, Iran;Israel Societies for Experimental Biology, Israel;The Protein Society, USA;International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, UK;Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society, Malaysia;Manchester University Pharmaceutical Society, UK;Pharmaceutical Marketing Society, USA;Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Australia;Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, Ireland;Pharmaceutical Society of Korea, Korea;Italian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Italy;Japanese Society for Quantitative Biology, Japan.

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology is the science that covers all technologies required for producing, manufacturing and registration of biological drugs.Pharmaceutical Biotechnologyis an increasingly important area of science and technology. It contributes in design and delivery of new therapeutic drugs,diagnosticagents for medical tests, and ingene therapyfor correcting the medical symptoms of hereditary diseases. The Pharmaceutical Biotechnology is widely spread, ranging from many ethical issues to changes inhealthcarepracticesand a significant contribution to the development of national economy.Biopharmaceuticalsconsists of large biological molecules which areproteins. They target the underlying mechanisms and pathways of a disease or ailment; it is a relatively young industry. They can deal with targets in humans that are not accessible withtraditional medicines.

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Related Societies:

European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology, UK;Indian Society of Nano science And Nanotechnology, India;Iran Society for Cell Biology, Iran;Israel Societies for Experimental Biology, Israel;The Protein Society, USA;International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, UK;Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society, Malaysia;Manchester University Pharmaceutical Society, UK;Pharmaceutical Marketing Society, USA;Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Australia;Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, Ireland;Pharmaceutical Society of Korea, Korea;Italian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Italy;Japanese Society for Quantitative Biology, Japan;Spanish Society of Biotechnology, Spain;Society for Biotechnology, Japan;Mexican Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Mexico;Society for Chemical Engineering Biotechnology, UK;Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (SIMB), India;Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, India;Tanta Pharmaceutical Scientific Society (TPSS), Egypt;The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, Ireland;The Pharmaceutical Society of Korea, Korea;Society for Biological Engineering, USA;Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore, Singapore;Romanian Society of Medical Mycology and Mycotoxicology, Romania;Russian Medical Society, Russia;Korean Society of Food Science And Technology, Korea;Korean Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, Korea;National Society of Agriculture, USA;Society for Engineering in Agriculture, Australia;New Zealand Plant Protection Society, New Zealand.

Bioeconomy

Biotechnology is an innovative science in which living systems and organisms are used to develop new and useful products, ranging from healthcare products to seeds. The field ofBiotechnologyis growing rapidly making tremendous impacts in Medical/Health Care, Food & Agriculture. The Global Biotechnology industry is in the growth phase of its economic life cycle. Over the five years to 2014, revenue and industry value added (IVA) growth have outpaced world GDP growth. The Frontiers in Biotechnology track will cover current technological aspects that aim at obtaining products with scientific, industrial, health and agricultural applications, from organisms with increasing levels of complexity from bacteria, yeast, plants, animal cells and virus. With the lectures and demonstrations on stem cell therapy,Embryo transfer technology, next generation sequencing, Drug discovery, biotechnology in food and dairy, etc... The participants are expected to acquire knowledge in techniques and methodologies used in Biotechnology.

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Medical Biotechnology

Medicine is by means of biotechnology techniques so much in diagnosing and treating dissimilar diseases. It also gives opportunity for the population to defend themselves from hazardous diseases. The pasture of biotechnology, genetic engineering, has introduced techniques like gene therapy, recombinant DNA technologyand polymerase chain retort which employ genes and DNA molecules to make adiagnosis diseasesand put in new and strong genes in the body which put back the injured cells. There are some applications of biotechnology which are live their part in the turf of medicine and giving good results.

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Systems and Synthetic Biotechnology

Systems and Synthetic Biotechnology is the use of laboratory techniques to study and modify nucleic acids and proteins for applications in areas such as human and animal health, agriculture, and the environment.Molecular biotechnologyresults from the convergence of many areas of research, such as molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry, immunology,genetics, and cell biology. It is an exciting field fueled by the ability to transfer genetic information between organisms with the goal of understanding important biological processes or creating a useful product.

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Biotechnology Applications

Biotechnology has application in four major industrial areas, including health care (medical), crop production and agriculture, nonfood (industrial) uses of crops and other products (e.g. biodegradable plastics, vegetable oil, biofuels), and environmental uses. AppliedMicrobiologyand Biotechnology focusses on prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells, relevant enzymes and proteins, applied genetics and molecular biotechnology,genomicsand proteomics, applied microbial and cell physiology, environmental biotechnology, process and products and more.

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Algal Biotechnology

It improves the food we eat - meat, milk and eggs. Biotechnology can improve an animals impact on the environment.Algalbiotechnologyis the use of science and engineering to modify living organisms. The goal is to make products, to improve animals and to developmicroorganismsfor specific agricultural uses. It enhances the ability to detect, treat and prevent diseases, include creating transgenic animals (animals with one or more genes introduced by human intervention), using gene knock out technology to make animals with a specific inactivated gene and producing nearly identical animals by somatic cell nuclear transfer (orcloning).

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Environmental Biotechnology

The biotechnology is applied and used to study the natural environment. Environmental biotechnology could also imply that one try to harnessbiological processfor commercial uses and exploitation. It is "the development, use and regulation of biological systems for remediation of contaminated environment and forenvironment-friendly processes(green manufacturing technologies and sustainable development). Environmental biotechnology can simply be described as "the optimal use of nature, in the form of plants, animals, bacteria, fungi and algae, to producerenewable energy, food and nutrients in a synergistic integrated cycle of profit making processes where the waste of each process becomes the feedstock for another process".

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Nano Biotechnology

Nano biotechnology, bionanotechnology, and Nano biology are terms that refer to the intersection of nanotechnology and biology. Bio nanotechnology and Nano biotechnology serve as blanket terms for various related technologies. The most important objectives that are frequently found inNano biologyinvolve applying Nano tools to relevantmedical/biologicalproblems and refining these applications. Developing new tools, such as peptide Nano sheets, for medical and biological purposes is another primary objective in nanotechnology.

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Microbial Biotechnology

Microorganisms have been exploited for their specific biochemical and physiological properties from the earliest times for baking, brewing, and food preservation and more recently for producingantibiotics, solvents, amino acids, feed supplements, and chemical feedstuffs. Over time, there has been continuous selection by scientists of special strains ofmicroorganisms, based on their efficiency to perform a desired function. Progress, however, has been slow, often difficult to explain, and hard to repeat. Recent developments inmolecular biologyand genetic engineering could provide novel solutions to long-standing problems. Over the past decade, scientists have developed the techniques to move a gene from one organism to another, based on discoveries of how cells store, duplicate, and transfer genetic information.

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Food Biotechnology

Food processingis a process by which non-palatable and easily perishable raw materials are converted to edible and potable foods and beverages, which have a longer shelf life. Biotechnology helps in improving the edibility, texture, and storage of the food; in preventing the attack of the food, mainly dairy, by the virus like bacteriophage producing antimicrobial effect to destroy the unwanted microorganisms in food that cause toxicity to prevent the formation and degradation of other toxins andanti-nutritionalelements present naturally in food.

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Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

One kind of biotechnology is gene technology, sometimes called 'genetic engineering' or'genetic modification', where the genetic material of living things is deliberately altered to enhance or remove a particular trait and allow the organism to perform new functions. Genes within a species can be modified, or genes can be moved from one species to another. Genetic engineering has applications inmedicine, research, agriculture and can be used on a wide range of plants, animals and microorganisms. It resulted in a series of medical products. The first two commercially prepared products fromrecombinant DNA technologywere insulin andhuman growth hormone, both of which were cultured in the E. coli bacteria.

The field of molecular biology overlaps with biology and chemistry and in particular, genetics and biochemistry. A key area of molecular biology concerns understanding how various cellular systems interact in terms of the way DNA, RNA and protein synthesis function.

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Related Conferences:

Related Societies:

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Biotechnology Companies & Market Analysis

From agriculture to environmental science, biotechnology plays an important role in improving industry standards, services, and developing new products. Biotechnology involves the spectrum of life science-based research companies working ontransformative technologiesfor a wide range of industries. While agriculture, material science and environmental science are major areas of research, the largest impact is made in the field medicine. As a large player in the research and development of pharmaceuticals, the role ofbiotechnologyin the healthcare field is undeniable. From genetically analysis and manipulation to the formation of new drugs, many biotech firms are transforming into pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical leaders.

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Related Societies:

Biotechnology Capital & Grants

Every new business needs some startup capital, for research, product development and production, permits and licensing and other overhead costs, in addition to what is needed to pay your staff, if you have any. Biotechnology products arise from successfulbiotechcompanies. These companies are built by talented individuals in possession of a scientific breakthrough that is translated into a product or service idea, which is ultimately brought into commercialization. At the heart of this effort is the biotech entrepreneur, who forms the company with a vision they believe will benefit the lives and health of countless individuals. Entrepreneurs start biotechnology companies for various reasons, but creatingrevolutionary productsand tools that impact the lives of potentially millions of people is one of the fundamental reasons why all entrepreneurs start biotechnology companies.

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Related Societies:

Biotechnology Investor & partnering Forum

The Biotech Investor & Partnering Forum is one of the unique conclave focused on the management and economics ofbiotechnologywhich became so important as the field is growing on a fast paced. From agriculture and environment sectors to pharmaceutical and healthcare products and services, the industries and institutions emerging from the biotech revolution Bio-Based Economy represent one of the largest and most steadily growing building blocks of the Global economy. The social impact is overwhelming, generating tremendous progress in quality of life but also difficult issues that needs responsible management based on consumer &bio-industryperspective, solid ethical principles, growing intellectual property rights complexity, long drug development times, Bio security, unusual market structures and highly unpredictable outcomes are just some of the challenges facing biotechnology management today.

Related Conferences:

Related Societies:

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Biotechnology Conferences | Biotechnology Events ...

Genetics

The genetics of heart disease: An update – Harvard Health

August 16, 2017 medical

Recent discoveries hold the promise of better detection and treatment of coronary artery disease.

Published: September, 2017

Image: Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Thinkstock

Coronary artery disease the buildup of cholesterol-laden plaque in the heart's arteries is by far the most prevalent life-threatening heart condition. Despite many important discoveries, the genetic influence on this complex condition remains far from clear. But research continues to provide clues that may soon improve both the prediction and the treatment of this common disease beyond current testing of risk factors.

Many different types of heart disease can be passed down through families. Some are caused by just one or a few genetic changes that have a very strong effect in causing disease. Known as monogenic conditions, they include uncommon disorders that mostly affect the heart's muscle (such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) or electrical system (such as long QT syndrome). Another example is familial hypercholesterolemia, which causes very high cholesterol levels and may lead to premature coronary artery disease (occurring before age 50).

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The genetics of heart disease: An update - Harvard Health

Cell Biology

We Just Figured out How to Activate Stem Cells to Treat Baldness – Futurism

August 16, 2017 medical

In BriefResearchers from UCLA have found a way to successfully reactivate stem cells in dormant hair follicles to promote hair growth in mice. Through this research, they've developed two drugs that could help millions of people worldwide treat conditions that lead to abnormal hair growth and retention.

Researchers have already explored ways to use stem cells totreat everything from diabetes toaging, and now, ateam from UCLAthinks they could potentially offer some relief for people suffering from baldness.

During their study, which has beenpublished in Nature, the researchers noticedthat stem cells found in hair follicles undergo a different metabolic process than normal skin cells. After turning glucose into a molecule known as pyruvate, these hair follicle cells then do one of two things: send the pyruvateto the cells mitochondria to be used as energy or convert it into another metabolite known as lactate.

Based on these findings, the researchers decided to see if inactive hair follicles behaved differently depending on the path of the pyruvate.

To that end, the UCLA team compared mice that had been genetically engineered so that they wouldnt produce lactate with mice that had been engineered to produce more lactate than normal. Obstructing lactate production stopped the stem cells in the follicles from being activated, while more hair growth was observed on the animals who were producing more of the metabolite.

No one knew that increasing or decreasing the lactate would have an effect on hair follicle stem cells, co-lead on the study and professor of molecular, cell, and developmental biology William Lowry explained in a UCLA press release. Once we saw how altering lactate production in the mice influenced hair growth, it led us to look for potential drugs that could be applied to the skin and have the same effect.

Based on their study, the researchers were able to discovertwo different drugs that could potentially help humans jumpstart the stem cells in their hair follicles to increase lactate production.

The first is called RCGD423, and it works by establishing a JAK/STAT signalling pathway between the exterior of a cell and its nucleus. This puts the stems cells in an active state and contributes to lactate production, encouraging hair growth.

The other drug, UK5099, takes the opposite approach. It stops pyruvate from being converted into energy by the cells mitochondria, which leaves the molecules with no choice but to take the alternate path of creating lactate, which, in turn, promotes hair growth.

Both of the drugs have yet to be tested on humans, but hopes are high that if tests are successful, they could provide relief for the estimated 56 million people in the U.S. alonesuffering from a range of conditions that affect normal hair growth and retention, including alopecia, hormone imbalances, stress-related hair loss, and even old age.

However, as undoubtedly pleased as many of those people would be to stimulate their hair growth, the potential relevance of this research stretches far beyond hair loss. The new knowledge gained regarding stem cells, specifically their relation to the metabolism of the human body, provides a very promising basis for future study in other realms.

I think weve only just begun to understand the critical role metabolism plays in hair growth and stem cells in general, noted Aimee Flores, first author of the study and a predoctoral trainee in Lowrys lab. Im looking forward to the potential application of these new findings for hair loss and beyond.

Continued here:
We Just Figured out How to Activate Stem Cells to Treat Baldness - Futurism

Cell Biology

The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Appoints SPARGO, Inc. as Official Exposition and Advertising Sales and … – Newswise (press release)

August 16, 2017 medical

Newswise In August of 2017, SPARGO, Inc. will assume responsibility for the management of exhibit and sponsorship sales for the American Society for Cell Biologys 2017 and 2018 ASCB|EMBO Meetings and 2019 and 2020 ASCB Annual Meetings. Additionally, SPARGO will sell advertising in ASCBs three publications and other digital communications.

The Annual Meeting, which has seen steady attendance growth over the past four years, brings together scientists from all over the world to discuss new experimental results and techniques in various domains of basic science and creates the environment for broader discussions on topics ranging from what is cell biology to the future of biomedical research, funding, training, and publishing. The Learning Center at the Annual Meeting will continue to feature technical and scientific exhibits, integrate the poster sessions, and host the popular Tech Talks and microsymposia presentation theaters in which cutting edge content is delivered by the exhibiting companies.

The 2017 ASCB|EMBO meeting will be held December 2-6 in Philadelphia, PA. The Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region boasts a large concentration of medical and academic institutions. Holding the conference in this region makes it affordable and convenient for both domestic and international scientists to attend.

We are proud to partner with SPARGO, says Alison Harris, ASCB's Director of Meetings. Our aim is to continually improve the meeting experience for attendees and exhibitors, and were confident that SPARGOs experienced team of event management professionals will help us fulfill this mission.

We are honored to have been selected as a partner to ASCB. We will focus on exhibitor satisfaction, improved ROI, and show growth and capitalize on the advertising opportunities as a key strategy for exhibitors to have a year-long exposure to the influential members of the ASCB community, says Susan Bracken, President and CEO at SPARGO, Inc.

About ASCB:

The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) was founded in 1960 to bring the varied facets of cell biology together. The Society's purpose is to promote and develop the field of cell biology. ASCBs mission is to: advance scientific discovery, advocate for sound research policies, improve education, promote professional development, and increase diversity in the scientific workforce. Its objectives are achieved through the scholarly dissemination of research at its Annual Meeting and in its publications. See more at http://www.ascb.org.

About SPARGO, Inc.:

SPARGO is a full-service event management company. SPARGO offers a full suite of services that support the production of tradeshows, conventions, conferences, symposiums, and seminars. See more atwww.spargoinc.com.

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The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Appoints SPARGO, Inc. as Official Exposition and Advertising Sales and ... - Newswise (press release)

Cell Biology

UCLA scientists identify a new way to activate stem cells to make hair grow – UCLA Newsroom

August 16, 2017 student

UCLA researchers have discovered a new way to activate the stem cells in the hair follicle to make hair grow. The research, led by scientists Heather Christofk and William Lowry, may lead to new drugs that could promote hair growth for people with baldness or alopecia, which is hair loss associated with such factors as hormonal imbalance, stress, aging or chemotherapy treatment.

The research was published in the journal Nature Cell Biology.

Hair follicle stem cells are long-lived cells in the hair follicle; they are present in the skin and produce hair throughout a persons lifetime. They are quiescent, meaning they are normally inactive, but they quickly activate during a new hair cycle, which is when new hair growth occurs. The quiescence of hair follicle stem cells is regulated by many factors. In certain cases they fail to activate, which is what causes hair loss.

In this study, Christofk and Lowry, of Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA, found that hair follicle stem cell metabolism is different from other cells of the skin. Cellular metabolism involves the breakdown of the nutrients needed for cells to divide, make energy and respond to their environment. The process of metabolism uses enzymes that alter these nutrients to produce metabolites. As hair follicle stem cells consume the nutrient glucose a form of sugar from the bloodstream, they process the glucose to eventually produce a metabolite called pyruvate. The cells then can either send pyruvate to their mitochondria the part of the cell that creates energy or can convert pyruvate into another metabolite called lactate.

Our observations about hair follicle stem cell metabolism prompted us to examine whether genetically diminishing the entry of pyruvate into the mitochondria would force hair follicle stem cells to make more lactate, and if that would activate the cells and grow hair more quickly, said Christofk, an associate professor of biological chemistry and molecular and medical pharmacology.

The research team first blocked the production of lactate genetically in mice and showed that this prevented hair follicle stem cell activation. Conversely, in collaboration with the Rutter lab at University of Utah, they increased lactate production genetically in the mice and this accelerated hair follicle stem cell activation, increasing the hair cycle.

Before this, no one knew that increasing or decreasing the lactate would have an effect on hair follicle stem cells, said Lowry, a professor of molecular, cell and developmental biology. Once we saw how altering lactate production in the mice influenced hair growth, it led us to look for potential drugs that could be applied to the skin and have the same effect.

The team identified two drugs that, when applied to the skin of mice, influenced hair follicle stem cells in distinct ways to promote lactate production. The first drug, called RCGD423, activates a cellular signaling pathway called JAK-Stat, which transmits information from outside the cell to the nucleus of the cell. The research showed that JAK-Stat activation leads to the increased production of lactate and this in turn drives hair follicle stem cell activation and quicker hair growth. The other drug, called UK5099, blocks pyruvate from entering the mitochondria, which forces the production of lactate in the hair follicle stem cells and accelerates hair growth in mice.

Through this study, we gained a lot of interesting insight into new ways to activate stem cells, said Aimee Flores, a predoctoral trainee in Lowrys lab and first author of the study. The idea of using drugs to stimulate hair growth through hair follicle stem cells is very promising given how many millions of people, both men and women, deal with hair loss. I think weve only just begun to understand the critical role metabolism plays in hair growth and stem cells in general; Im looking forward to the potential application of these new findings for hair loss and beyond.

The use of RCGD423 to promote hair growth is covered by a provisional patent application filed by the UCLA Technology Development Group on behalf of UC Regents. The use of UK5099 to promote hair growth is covered by a separate provisional patent filed by the UCLA Technology Development Group on behalf of UC Regents, with Lowry and Christofk as inventors.

The experimental drugs described above were used in preclinical tests only and have not been tested in humans or approved by the Food and Drug Administration as safe and effective for use in humans.

The research was supported by a California Institute for Regenerative Medicine training grant, a New Idea Award from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the National Cancer Institute (R25T CA098010), the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01-GM081686 and R01-GM0866465), the National Institutes of Health (RO1GM094232), an American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant (RSG-16-111-01-MPC), the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (5R01AR57409), a Rose Hills Foundation Research Award and the Gaba Fund. The Rose Hills award and the Gaba Fund are administered through the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center.

Further research on the use of UK5099 is being funded by the UCLA Technology Development Group through funds from California State Assembly Bill 2664.

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UCLA scientists identify a new way to activate stem cells to make hair grow - UCLA Newsroom

Cell Biology

New Executive Committee Members at RMS – Labmate Online

August 16, 2017 student

The Royal Microscopical Society has announced changes to its governing Executive Committee following a recent AGM.

Dr Peter OToole from the University of York has been appointed as Vice-President of the Society and Professor Maddy Parsons has become the new Honorary Secretary for Biological Science.

As Vice-President, Dr OToole will be supporting the current President Professor Michelle Peckham in forming the strategy for the RMS and managing its ongoing activities. With over 1500 members worldwide and activities including an annual calendar of around 20 conferences and training courses, a scientific journal and an active Primary School scheme reaching thousands of children each year, this is a big responsibility to undertake.

Dr Peter O'Toole heads the Imaging and Cytometry Labs within the Technology Facility at the University of York which includes an array of confocal microscopes, flow cytometers and electron microscopes. His research is currently focused on both technology and method development of novel probes and imaging modalities. He has ongoing collaborations with many leading microscopy and cytometry companies and his group also provides research support to many academics and commercial organisations. Dr OToole is also heavily involved with teaching microscopy and flow cytometry which includes organising and teaching on both the RMS Light Microscopy Summer School and the RMS Practical Flow Cytometry courses.

Professor Michelle Peckham, President of the RMS said Im really pleased that the Society has elected Dr OToole as the new Vice-President. Dr OToole has done an excellent job of co-chairing the mmc-series as well as emc2012 when we hosted the European Congress in Manchester. I believe that his passion for teaching and his work as an advocate for Imaging Facility Managers will make him a really great leader for the Society and I look forward to working with him further over the next 3 years.

As Honorary Secretary for Biological Science, Professor Parsons will be championing life sciences in the activities of the RMS as well as acting as Life Sciences Chair for their successful flagship mmc-series, the next event being mmc2019.

Professor Parsons is Professor of Cell Biology at Kings College London. Maddy was awarded a Royal Society University Research Fellowship in 2005 to establish her own group within the Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics at Kings College London. Professor Parsons has established collaborations with developmental biologists and clinical researchers to study adhesion receptor signalling in skin blistering, wound healing, inflammation and cancer. She works closely with physicists, biophysicists and other world-leading cell migration groups in the field to develop and apply new imaging technologies to dissect spatiotemporal cytoskeletal signalling events in live cells, tissues and whole organisms. As a result of her interest and applications of advanced microscopy, Professor Parsons developed a strong working partnership with Nikon, which subsequently led to the establishment of the state-of-the-art, world-class Nikon Imaging Centre at Kings College London of which she is Director. Professor Parsons also currently works alongside other biotech and pharmaceutical companies to develop and apply advanced imaging approaches to basic mechanisms that underpin drug discovery.

Allison Winton, Chief Executive of the RMS said Professor Parsons has been an active member of the RMS Life Sciences committee for many years and has helped to organise both our Frontiers in BioImaging and Abercrombie meetings identifying key emerging topics and developing valuable links between the Society and many eminent scientists working in the field. Professor Parsons proactive and approachable nature as well as her vast knowledge and experience in the field will make her a great representative for biological science in the Society.

Cell Biology

Breast cancer breakthrough: This technique could predict if disease will spread to lungs – Express.co.uk

August 16, 2017 medical

Almost 54,000 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in the UK during 2013, according to Cancer Research UK figures.

In 2014, 11,400 people died from the disease.

Now scientists are hoping more lives could be saved following a medical breakthrough.

Scientists part-funded by Breast Cancer Now, the Medical Research Council (MRC) and other collaborators have developed an innovative imaging technique that could predict whether breast cancer will spread to the lung.

In a new study published in Theranostics, researchers have demonstrated in mice that a new non-invasive imaging method can be used to detect changes in the lungs that signal breast cancer may soon spread there before any metastases are visible.

If given the green-light for use in humans, this approach could enable patients to be offered more intensive therapy earlier, to potentially prevent breast cancer spread.

Dr Fabian Flores-Borja, Research Fellow at the Breast Cancer Now Research Unit at Kings College London said: By combining cell biology and imaging techniques, we have established a method to predict, at an early time-point during tumour development, whether tumour invasion will occur.

We envision this technique being used to help select patients for either further surveillance or intensified therapy, as well as aiding cancer research.

The development of a test that is able to identify an increased risk of metastasis soon after a patient is diagnosed with breast cancer, would be very useful in helping choose the best treatment for patients.

Previous research has shown that the gathering of a special type of immune cell called myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in locations such as the lung prepares the ground for breast cancer metastasis - spread.

This is because the local immune system is suppressed promotes the formation of new blood vessels - a condition called angiogenesis.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF BREAST CANCER?

Researchers at Kings College London have now developed a radioactive tracer molecule to detect MDSCs accumulating in the lung in preparation for the arrival of breast cancer cells and the formation of metastases.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Now, has hailed the news as incredibly exciting.

While more research is needed before this could be tested in patients, the prospect of a hospital scan which could predict whether breast cancer will spread to the lungs is incredibly exciting.

More immediately, this study brings a brand new method to the table that will help researchers unpick how the immune system is involved in the spread of breast cancer.

Finding ways to predict and halt the spread of the disease will be crucial if we are to finally stop people dying from it.

This is a promising step towards being able to use 3D imaging to help offer more personalised therapy. Ultimately, anything that could provide patients and their doctors with a more accurate picture of whether their breast cancer may spread will help us tailor treatments to stop this from happening.

Dr Mariana Delfino-Machin, MRC Programme Manager for Cancer, said the research paves the way for new treatment in the clinic.

"Innovative, non-invasive imaging methods like this, which can help predict and diagnose disease as early as possible and avoid the discomfort of current invasive tests, have the potential to greatly impact cancer treatment and outcomes, she said.

Experts said more studies are now required to develop a more effective tracer molecule - suited for use in humans - to be tested in future clinical trials.

SIX BREAST CANCER MYTHS BUSTED

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Breast cancer breakthrough: This technique could predict if disease will spread to lungs - Express.co.uk

Medical School

Monthly Archives: August 2017

Career counselling: Questions and answers – The News International

Lab learning scores with teen athletes – Harvard Gazette

Following his gut instincts – Otago Daily Times

Biotechnology Conferences | Biotechnology Events …

The genetics of heart disease: An update – Harvard Health

We Just Figured out How to Activate Stem Cells to Treat Baldness – Futurism

The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Appoints SPARGO, Inc. as Official Exposition and Advertising Sales and … – Newswise (press release)

UCLA scientists identify a new way to activate stem cells to make hair grow – UCLA Newsroom

New Executive Committee Members at RMS – Labmate Online

Breast cancer breakthrough: This technique could predict if disease will spread to lungs – Express.co.uk