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Getting to Yes, And | Joseph Burke The Anatomy of Yes. - WGN Radio - Chicago
Sponsored Content by VirtaMedDec 23 2019
The benefits of training fine motor skills by utilizing a series of simulated procedures are clear. With discussions typically being based on virtual reality software, a crucial component, which contributes highly to successful simulation, is frequently overlooked: the anatomical model.
Physical anatomy is as significant as the virtual anatomy in medical simulation training. In addition to the simulated bit of the procedure, educational value can be enhanced if what is on the outside looks and feels as realistic.
An inseparable part of successful training in a variety of medical specialties is a physically correct anatomical model that can be used by a trainee. For a trainee to familiarize with the procedural area and gather skills most efficiently, a sense of touch is vital.
Training in realistic conditions can only be done if the simulated environment is immersive, providing a combination of true-to-life physical and virtual anatomy: precise anatomy structure to feel and interact with and visuals inside the simulator.
Arthroscopy is a clear example where VirtaMed Shoulder, Hip, Knee, and Ankle models can be manually handled and positioned during the simulation, for different procedural needs such as acquiring the necessary visibility of operating view, just as a surgeon would do in real life.
In medical specialties where manipulation of anatomy is not included in the course of procedure, the anatomical model is just as important to practice placing the patient in the correct position before the start of the procedure particularly considering the underappreciated risk for injuries which come from incorrect positioning over various disciplines.
A further aspect to think about is that all surgical procedures suggest working closely as a team, including the interactions of different instruments and the correct setup of team members around the patient. It is obvious how an environment such as this, with limited physical space, can be difficult for trainees to work and coordinate movement in.
In surgery, team performance is crucial, so a trainee is required to practice such interactions and communication with his or her peers before entering the OR, which goes with the advantage of having an anatomical model during the simulated procedure.
Additionally, for a trainee to learn to interact with the anatomy and coordinate the visual and physical part of the procedure correctly, the anatomical model should also be correctly shaped and sized to mimic human anatomy and so, provide the possibility to experience the same challenges as in real-life surgery, like difficulty of access to a specific anatomy.
For instance, anatomical models in VirtaMed simulators give guidance for the choice of portals, allowing safe training of portal placement and coordination of instruments.
VirtaMed ArthroS Hip anatomical model. Image Credit: VirtaMed
Another key element, which enables the trainee to develop necessary motor skills, is haptic feedback reproducing the feel of instruments and interactions with tissue or bone throughout the simulated procedure. Tactile sensation is the most subtle interface of simulation. This notion of touch is known as haptics and can be passive or active.
For all these reasons, having a fully articulated, true-to-life, anatomical model available together with highly realistic simulation scenarios is vital for successful and patient safety-focused training. Each part of VirtaMeds anatomical models is made carefully in close cooperation with medical experts around the globe.
VirtaMed is a Swiss company that develops & produces highly realistic surgical simulators for medical training. Surgeons use original instruments to train in a safe environment before performing surgeries on patients.
VirtaMed's vision is to improve the quality of medical care with state-of-the-art, virtual reality based medical training and education.
Our mission is to alter the way medical skills are taught.
As a company, we live innovation in a customer-oriented, agile, diverse and passionate work environment.
Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments.
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The Role of Anatomical Models for Medical Simulation Training - News-Medical.net
Station 19season 3 is going to be premiering on ABC next month, and its going to be doing so in one of the biggest ways imaginable. How else would you describe a crossover between this show andGreys Anatomy? With the former show moving to 8:00 p.m. Eastern andGreysheading back an hour, well be entering an era where there is more cross-show pollination than ever before.
So why are things happening this way? For starters, it just makes sense to go to the hospital after the first responders do what they do and all of this will be apparent within the first episode back. If you recall, the end of the Greys Anatomyfall finale featured some of our favorite characters in the midst of a crisis at Joes Bar. The car colliding into the institution is the sort of thing that would cause a LOT of chaos, and now its going to be up to characters like Ben and Dr. Schmidt to save the day. Thats where you see them in the photo below (via TVLine).
For more video discussion onGreys Anatomyand what is coming up next,check out some of the latest below! You can then also subscribeto CarterMatt on YouTube for some other news and then view our show playlist.
What makes this situation more challenging for them both is where they are emotionally at the time. Think about it in this sort of way Ben is dealing with Baileys miscarriage and everything that comes with that. Its hard to really separate where he is right now, after all, from what hes gone through. It would be hard for anyone in this position! Schmidts position isnt as devastating, but it is still tough hes been labeled a traitor at work and is ostracized over what he felt was the right thing with the insurance-fraud scandal last season. This episode will be a foundation for these characters in the new year, and in theStation 19part well also get some updates on everyone else, as well.
Related News Be sure to get some more information right now when it comes to Station 19, including other insight on whats coming
Be sure to share right now in the comments! Also, remember to stick around for some other news when it comes to the series. (Photo: ABC.)
Link:
Station 19 season 3 spoilers: First photo from Grey's Anatomy... - CarterMatt
Madrid, Dec 24 (IANS): A creative method used by a teacher in Spain to make her students understand human anatomy has won her admiration from Twitter users.
Veronica Duque's husband posted on his Twitter handle on December 16 pictures of her in a body suit showing a human's internal organs and muscles. He wrote: "Very proud of this volcano of ideas that I am lucky to have as a woman. Today, she explained the human body to her students in a very original way. And the kids freaked out. Great Veronica!!!"
The post got 13.2K retweets and 66.1K likes.
One amused user posted: "You can buy, of course. My wife found it on AliExpress. East Veronica is only with internal organs and muscles. But there are all kinds ... with bones, arteries, lymphatic system ... of all kinds! So ... cheer up."
One post read: "Great. Spectacular. Sparkly. Intelligent. Didactic. Masterly. Surely students will not forget it in their life."
"And I can't put the video with the children's reactions. Wonderful," remarked another.
One user recalled Veronica was his teacher. "She was my tutor in primary school. I remember her with great affection and love. Of the best teachers I've had... I remember some of their classes better than most of the university."
One user praised her: "Excellent example of innovation and creativity... that's what it takes in the world of education to open a student's mind and interest him in the learning universe."
"I was surfing the Internet when an ad of a swimsuit popped up," Veronica, 43, told Bored Panda.
"Knowing how hard it is for kids this young to visualise the disposition of internal organs, I thought it was worth giving it a try," she was quoted by the media report.
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Anatomy of teaching: Spanish teacher wows Twitterati - Daijiworld.com
Greys Anatomy which has a massive fan base is still a big part of Netflixs lineup.
Looking for when season 16 of Greys Anatomy will hit Netflix? Heres everything you need to know.
Greys Anatomy with a lot of viewers has become a dominant force on US network ABC and it continues to be one of the most popular primetime shows on American television.
The series has seen a lot of changes over the past fifteen seasons, but the one character that remains constant is Meredith Grey played by Ellen Pompeo.
Greys Anatomy is not only the longest-running scripted primetime carried by ABC, but this record-breaking season is also the longest-running American primetime medical drama series, exceeding ER, Scrubs, and M*A*S*H.
Usually, all-new seasons of Greys Anatomy arrive in the summer on Netflix.
The fifteenth season had arrived almost one month after the finale had aired on ABC, on the 15th of June.
As per the trends, the new season will wrap up on ABC in the coming 2020 May.
So Netflix will receive season 16 one month after the finale airs.
So we can expect to see season sixteen of Greys Anatomy on Netflix in May/June 2020.
There have been speculations about whether the franchise will renew new seasons after the sixteen seasons or not?
But a sigh of relief was felt among the fans when it was officially announced on 10th May 2019 that Greys Anatomy will come back for two new seasons, 16 and 17 respectively.
The lead actress, Ellen Pompeo has also renewed her contract for two more seasons.
However, the future of Greys Anatomy beyond season 17 remains a mystery.
The popularity of the series is still incredible after all these years but all good things must come to an end eventually.
There have been many rumors that Greys Anatomy will be leaving Netflix as of March 2019.
However, it has been revealed that Greys Anatomy streaming future will still be Netflix.
Netflix library has adopted the series many years and they are considered to be under a legacy contract.
This means that for the foreseeable future Greys Anatomy will continue to stream on Netflix.
The rest is here:
When will Season 16 of 'Grey's Anatomy' be on Netflix? - TheNationRoar
According to news articles published in early December, Veritas Genetics, a Massachusetts-based company that hoped to lower the cost of whole-genome sequencing, is suspending its U.S. operations because of a lack of investment. Articles theorize that the decreased funding was driven mainly by new CFIUS regulations and heightened CFIUS scrutiny.
Early in December 2019, Veritas announced that its adverse financing situation had forced the suspension of its U.S. business. Veritas has stated that it is assessing potential paths forward, and there are rumors that one such path is the sale of the company. Veritas will no longer sell its tests, which include genetic testing for diseases and cancers (such as the BRCA test), in the United States. Veritas will continue to operate and sell its tests outside the United States.
Veritas first launched in 2014, and since 2015 it had raised $50 million in financing. Major investors included Chinese companies, such as Lilly Asia Ventures, which invested $10 million into the company, and Simcere Pharmaceutical. However, there has been increased scrutiny in the past two years for transactions that involve Chinese investors, especially when sensitive personal information, such as genetic information, is at stake. This year, for example, CFIUS forced iCarbonX, the Chinese, majority owner of U.S. company PatientsLikeMe, to divest its stake in the U.S. company.
According to news reports, recent CFIUS activity may have scared away not only Chinese investors but also non-Chinese investors reluctant to invest in a company with Chinese ownership. Non-Chinese investors may fear that Veritass Chinese ownership will lead to increased CFIUS scrutiny of any investment into Veritas, regardless of the investors nationality. Investors may also worry that CFIUS scrutiny could delay their return on investment if their firms are forced to stall business to address CFIUSs concerns.
No doubt the proposed CFIUS regulations from September also concern foreign investors: the proposed regulations explicitly target U.S. companies that maintain or collect sensitive personal data of U.S. citizens. While most sensitive personal data only triggers the proposed regulations if the U.S. business maintains or collects such data on greater than one million individuals, companies with genetic data are considered to be covered businesses no matter how many individuals are involved. Thus, companies like Veritas will always fall under CFIUS jurisdiction if a foreign person would acquire certain rights in the company. These rights include:
Several genetic and biopharmaceutical companies expressed concern in public comments to the regulations that the proposed regulations, specifically including all genetic data in the definition of sensitive personal data, would stymie foreign investment in these companies. Several companies argued that the Department of the Treasury should revise the proposed CFIUS regulations to require that genetic data be identifiable. Companies often are in possession of anonymized genetic information, which these companies argued does not pose a risk to national security. We await publication of the final regulations and whether CFIUS will make any changes to the definition of sensitive personal data, particularly as it pertains to genetic information. It is to be seen whether U.S. companies in other industries will face similar funding obstacles as foreign investors grow more wary of CFIUS.
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Veritas, a US Genetic Sequencing Company, Suspends US Operations Due to Decreased Funding; CFIUS Thought to be Leading Cause - Lexology
It hasn't been the best quarter for Myriad Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MYGN) shareholders, since the share price has fallen 20% in that time. In contrast the stock is up over the last three years. However, it's unlikely many shareholders are elated with the share price gain of 47% over that time, given the rising market.
Check out our latest analysis for Myriad Genetics
While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.
Over the last three years, Myriad Genetics failed to grow earnings per share, which fell 37% (annualized).
Thus, it seems unlikely that the market is focussed on EPS growth at the moment. Therefore, we think it's worth considering other metrics as well.
It could be that the revenue growth of 4.2% per year is viewed as evidence that Myriad Genetics is growing. In that case, the company may be sacrificing current earnings per share to drive growth, and maybe shareholder's faith in better days ahead will be rewarded.
You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).
It's good to see that there was some significant insider buying in the last three months. That's a positive. On the other hand, we think the revenue and earnings trends are much more meaningful measures of the business. So we recommend checking out this free report showing consensus forecasts
Investors in Myriad Genetics had a tough year, with a total loss of 8.9%, against a market gain of about 40%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 6.9% over the last half decade. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. If you want to research this stock further, the data on insider buying is an obvious place to start. You can click here to see who has been buying shares - and the price they paid.
Myriad Genetics is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.
Story continues
Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges.
If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
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Does Myriad Genetics's (NASDAQ:MYGN) Share Price Gain of 47% Match Its Business Performance? - Yahoo Finance
Based on the results of the pivotal HER2CLIMB Trial (NCT02614794) presented at the 42nd San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) held in San Antonio, Texas, December 10 14, 2019, and data published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), Seattle Genetics confirmed that the company completed the submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for tucatinib.
Tucatinib is an investigational, oral, small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). Tyrosine kinases are enzymes that are a part of many cell functions, including cell signaling, growth, and division. But in some cases they may be too active or found at high levels in some types of cancer cells. In that case, blocking them may help keep cancer cells from growing.
Tucatinib is highly selective for HER2.
HER2-positive breast cancerPatients with HER2-positive breast cancer have tumors with high levels human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), a protein which promotes the aggressive spread of cancer cells.
According to the American Cancer Society, in the United Stated, an estimated 271,270 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed in in 2019.[1] In addition, based on the available data, between 15% and 20% of all diagnosed breast cancer cases worldwide are HER2-positive.[2]
Historically, HER2-positive breast cancer tends to be more aggressive and more likely to recur than HER2-negative breast cancer.[2][3][4]
In patients with metastatic breast cancer, the most common site of first metastasis is in bone, followed by lung, brain, and liver.[5][6] In about 50% of metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer cases, patients develop brain metastases over time. [2][7]
Although there have been many advances in the treatment of metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, there is still a significant unmet medical need for new therapies that can impact metastatic disease, especially brain metastases. There are currently no approved therapies demonstrating progression-free survival or overall survival benefit for the treatment of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer after progression following treatment with trastuzumab emtanzine.[8][9][10]
Combination therapyIn their NDA, Seattle Generics requested the FDA to approve tucatinib in combination with capecitabine (Xeloda; Genentech/Roche) and trastuzumab (Herceptin; Genentech/Roche) for treatment of patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, including patients with brain metastases, who have received at least three prior HER2-directed agents separately or in combination, in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant or metastatic setting.
This setting is the same setting for which the investigational drug was recently granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA and included patients with brain metastases, who have been treated with trastuzumab, pertuzumab (Perjeta; Genentech/Roche), and trastuzumab emtanzine (Kadcyla; Genentech/Roche).
HER2CLIMB TrialThe HER2CLIMB study is a multinational randomized (2:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled, active comparator, pivotal clinical trial included data from 612 enrolled patients.
The trial results published in the NEJM, presented at the SABCS by Rashmi K. Murthy, M.D., assistant professor of Breast Medical Oncology, demonstrated that tucatinib significantly improved progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer, with and without brain metastasis.
The trial met its primary endpoint of the study demonstrated that the treatment combination reduced the risk of death by 46% compared with trastuzumab and capecitabine alone. The trial also met its secondary endpoints at interim analysis, demonstrating prolonged OS, reduced the risk of death by 34% and extended PFS by 52% among patients with brain metastasis.
Furthermore, with 41%, the overall response rate was higher in the tucatinib group compared with 23% in the standard of care treatment.
This is a uniquely designed trial in that it allowed patients to enroll if they had untreated, treated stable or previously treated, but progressive brain metastasis, Murthy noted.
Brain metastasizes are common in up to half of patients during the disease course, but there are limited systemic treatment options because most available agents have difficulty crossing the blood brain barrier, she added.
Well toleratedThe study results demonstrated that the triplet combination of tucatinib + capecitabine + trastuzumab was generally well tolerated with no unexpected toxicities. In the tucatinib arm the investigators observed diarrhea, hand-foot syndrome, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting, all mostly low grade, as the reported adverse events. Furthermore, there was a low drug discontinuation rate of 5.7% in the triplet arm compared with 3% in the control arm.
This trial verified that tucatinib is both a safe and effective treatment, Murthy explained during the SABCS.
These results are realy unprecedented for late line therapy in locally advanced, metastatic, breast cancer. This is a major treatment advance for patients who have significant unmet medical need. I believe that tucatinib in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine could be the new standard of care for patients pretreated with multiple anti-HER2 agents including patients with brain metastasis, Murthy said.
Todays submission marks another important milestone for Seattle Genetics and tucatinib, and a potential advance for patients with either locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, including those with and without brain metastases, said Roger Dansey, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Seattle Genetics.
We look forward to working with the FDA on the review of this application, he concluded.
Clinical trialsTucatinib, Trastuzumab, and Capecitabine for the Treatment of HER2+ LMD NCT03501979A Study of Tucatinib vs. Placebo in Combination With Ado-trastuzumab Emtansine (T-DM1) for Patients With Advanced or Metastatic HER2+ Breast Cancer NCT03975647A Study of Tucatinib vs. Placebo in Combination With Capecitabine & Trastuzumab in Patients With Advanced HER2+ Breast Cancer (HER2CLIMB) NCT02614794
References[1] American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts and Figures 2018-2019.[2] Loibl S, Gianni L (2017). HER2-positive breast cancer. The Lancet 389(10087): 2415-29.[3] Slamon D, Clark G, Wong S, et al. (1987). Human breast cancer: correlation of relapse and survival with amplification of the HER-2/neu oncogene. Science 235(4785): 177-82.American Cancer Society (ACS) (2018). Breast cancer HER2 status. Last accessed: December 20, 2018.[4] Kennecke H, Yerushalmi R, Woods R, et al. (2010). Metastatic Behavior of Breast Cancer Subtypes. Journal of Clinical Oncology 28(20): 3271-7.[5] Berman AT, Thukral AD, Hwang W-T, et al. (2013). Incidence and Patterns of Distant Metastases for Patients With Early-Stage Breast Cancer After Breast Conservation Treatment. Clinical Breast Cancer 13(2): 88-94.[6] Duchnowska R, Loibl S, Jassem J (2018). Tyrosine kinase inhibitors for brain metastases in HER2-positive breast cancer. Cancer Treatment Reviews 67: 71-7.[7] Verma S, Miles D, Gianni L, et al. (2012). Trastuzumab Emtansine for HER2-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine 367(19): 1783-91.[8] Geyer CE, Forster J, Lindquist D, et al. (2006). Lapatinib plus Capecitabine for HER2-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine 355(26): 2733-43.[9] Blackwell KL, Burstein HJ, Storniolo AM, et al. (2012). Overall Survival Benefit With Lapatinib in Combination With Trastuzumab for Patients With Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer: Final Results From the EGF104900 Study. Journal of Clinical Oncology 30(21): 2585-92.
Excerpt from:
Seattle Genetics Submits New Drug Application to the US FDA for Tucatinib - OncoZine
The Department of Sports and Health Tourism, Sports Physiology, and Medicine of the Faculty of Physical Education has had its anniversary celebration 10 years from its founding. The staff of the department made a good gift for the anniversary: they published three articles in Q1 journals in the areas of medicine, biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology.
2019 was a very busy year for the department: the team carried out two projects with the support of the Russian Science Foundation. The first is devoted to the study of myokines special proteins that are produced by muscles during physical exercise (the project manager is Professor Leonid Kapilevich, head of the department). In the second project, the effect of physical exertion on the compensation of type 2 diabetes mellitus was studied (the project manager is Professor Alexander Chibalin, a staff member of TSU and Karolinska Institute, Sweden). This resulted in 15 scientific articles in journals included in the international databases Web of Science and Scopus, including three articles in journals from the first quartile.
The article Transcriptomic Changes Triggered by Ouabain in Rat Cerebellum Granule Cells: Role of 3- And 1-Na +, K + -ATPase-mediated Signaling was published in PLoS ONE (the USA journal, impact factor 6.26, 27th of 2,836 journals in the category Medicine Myology). In this work, the role of monovalent ions (sodium and potassium) as regulators of intracellular processes was studied.
This is a fundamentally new approach, explains Leonid Kapilevich. Traditionally, calcium is considered the main ion that is the regulator of cellular metabolism, especially in muscles. However, the team showed that it is the ratio of sodium and potassium in the cell that is able to regulate the process of gene transcription, moreover, regardless of calcium.
The article Elevation of Intracellular Na + Contributes to Expression of Early Response Genes Triggered by Endothelial Cell Shrinkage was published in the journal Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry (published in Sweden, impact factor 5.11, 51stof 2,124 journals in Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology ). This article continues the research whose results are described in the previous article. Here, an attempt is made to understand how sodium ions affect the metabolic processes in the cell. It was found that one of the most likely ways is by changing the osmotic pressure of the cytoplasm and, as a consequence, the volume of the cell and its components.
The article Low AS160 and High SGK Basal Phosphorylation Associates with Impaired Incretin Profile and Type 2 Diabetes in Adipose Tissue of Obese Patients was published in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice (published in the Netherlands, impact factor 3.26, 26th of 133 journals in Internal Medicine). The study examined molecular changes in adipose tissue in patients with diabetes, which contribute to impaired glucose metabolism and can serve as a target for the therapeutic effect of exercise.
The tenth anniversary against the background of the centennials of other departments and faculties looks, of course, modest, but even for this short period the department has something to be proud of, says Leonid Kapilevich. During this time, two doctoral and nine masters theses were defended at the department, 15 student manuals were published, 115 articles were published in journals included in international databases, five monographs, and two grants from the Russian Science Foundation were won.
Go here to read the rest:
Scientists' articles have been published in top journals - Mirage News
A primary project for Garrett Gibbons, a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CNDR), is to develop novel tau antibodies as possibletherapies to treat Alzheimers disease. When in the thick of it, the scientific process becomes a huge, timelyand sometimes redundanttask.
One particular experiment comes to mind: Gibbons and his colleagues were injecting tau into mice models, which the mice developed antibodies against, and when they were harvested, the cells were paired with another cell to make a hybridoma. The problem? After two times running the full experiment, the antibodies still didnt meet certain criteria to be applicable.
Gibbons, quite disheartened, told his adviserVirginia Man-Yee Lee, a Perelman School of Medicine professor and director of CNDR, that the benchmark was too high.
Virginia was like, Well, try again, Gibbons recalled. She pushed back and said how she thought we could do better.
Although admittedly frustrated at the time, Gibbons rethought the project, and, ultimately, underwent a revamped test a third time.
And we got better antibodies, performing better than the previous ones, he said. They are now the candidates that we are evaluating as immunotherapy in mice, as potential treatments for Alzheimers disease.
It is safe to say, noted Gibbons, that without this kind of persistence from Lee, Alzheimers research wouldnt be nearly as developed as it is today. A pioneer in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, Lee was recently recognized for her four decades of work with a $3 million Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, an award backed by major technology leaders from companies including Google and Facebook.
Growing up in Hong Kong in a very traditional Chinese family, my mother never wanted me to become a professional, let alone a scientist, Lee said to the crowd, while accepting her Breakthrough Prize at the Oscars of Science in Silicon Valley in early November. Thankfully John Trojanowski, my life partner and collaborator, convinced me to embark on this wonderful journey with him, identifying proteins that are involved in devastating neurological diseases, which affect more and more of us, but have no effective treatment.
Lee, with a background in biochemistry and neuroscience, and Trojanowski, who studied pathology and neuropathology, have toiled alongside each other at Penn since the mid-1980s. They began work in Alzheimers research when it was very uncommon to do soin fact, their mentors urged them to stay far, far away from it.
What [our mentors] saw as a swamp, said Trojanowski, we saw as a huge challenge and opportunity that has led to an engaging career.
Before Lee and Trojanowski, prior studies had determined that an Alzheimers patients brain progressively accumulates plaques, abnormal clusters of protein fragments called beta-amyloid, that build up between nerve cells, and tangles, which form inside dying cells. Using this as a starting point, the duo detected their first major finding in 1991: that tau is the building block protein of the neurofibrillary tangles.
In 1997, Lee and Trojanowski found that Lewy bodies, the hallmark brain pathology of Parkinsons disease, are formed by alpha-synuclein. Knowing what causes Lewy bodies is important to Alzheimers researchers because about 50 percent of Alzheimers patients have Lewy bodies that contribute to cognitive deficits.
Then, in 2006, they discovered the pathological protein deposits in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, and frontotemporal degeneration, or FTD, are formed by TDP-43, a multifunctional DNA- and RNA-binding protein, and these deposits are also present in a large number of Alzheimers patients brains.
Lee was specifically recognized for the Breakthrough Prize for discovering TDP-43 protein aggregates in FTD and ALS, and revealing that different forms of alpha-synuclein, in different cell types, underlie Parkinsons disease and Multiple System Atrophy.
This is exceptionally important work, and we are very proud that it is taking place at Penn. Penn President Amy Gutmann
The discoveries led by Dr. Lee and her team are extraordinary, and absolutely worthy of the prestigious Breakthrough Prize, said Penn President Amy Gutmann, who went to Silicon Valley to support Lee in receiving her honor. Dr. Lee and her team have worked to fully understand the different segments of Alzheimers disease and other related disorders, using that knowledge to develop models that are becoming the foundation for therapies that will, hopefully, stop or reverse these diseases. This is exceptionally important work, and we are very proud that it is taking place at Penn.
Its rewarding, Lee said, to reflect on how researchers are becoming increasingly interested in TDP-43s involvement in neurodegenerative diseases, and the biology that is able to follow, now.
It is gratifying that people can, and people are very interested in, using the system that weve built to identify potential therapies, Lee explained. I am really optimistic that maybe some treatment for Alzheimers and Parkinsons will become available in the next, lets say, one or two decades.
Gibbons, who can distinctly remember being a teenager and watching his grandfather cope with all the stages of Alzheimers, as well as the impact it had on his family, knew rather early it would be a field he would want to pursue. But, it wasnt until he was immersed in the research that he realized how complicated it really was.
When I first got to Penn, I was kind of blown away with the challenge and sort of became cynical and pessimistic, Gibbons said. But I like the way that Dr. Lee continues to forge ahead and isnt overwhelmed as a young investigator, that gives me a lot of inspiration and hope. Of course there will be failures, and of course science is hard. This is worthwhile, and we will get there.
In terms of Lee as a leader, Mike Henderson, a research associate in her lab, said he appreciates the way she guides him in his learning, but also provides him with the independence needed to encourage innovative, out-of-the box thinking.
She really shows you what it takes to be a good scientist in the field, he said, adding how inquisitive Lee always is. Shes very curious and I think thats really what has driven her lab and what has made her so successful.
The main reason Henderson came to Penn, he noted, was to work not only with Lee and Trojanowski, but also with the team theyve assembled through the creation of the CNDR, which celebrated its 25th year in 2018. About 50 people are part of the center today.
From the Maloney Building on Penns campus, where CNDR is housed, Lee and Trojanowski have been able to foster multidisciplinary collaborations between basic and clinical scientists, and provide resources to enable the very best research projects, including a brain and biosample bank, a drug discovery program, data management and biostastic support, and expertise in biochemistry, histology, molecular biology, microscopy, tissue culture, and genetics.
John and I spent a lot of time developing an infrastructure to do this type of work, and Penn has been such a fantastic environment, said Lee, who acknowledged all of her collaboratorsstudents, postdocs, and staff scientistsat the Breakthrough event. I truly want to thank them for their dedication and commitment, she said.
Talking later, Trojanowski added, They have made possible all that we have accomplished.
There is no doubt about it: Talking about his beloved wife of 40-plus years is probably one of Trojanowskis favorite things to do. Shes always pushing herself to be better, and shes always pushing me to be better. She is driven, hardworking, very bright, determinedall of the things that you expect to see and need to see in people that are going to be as successful as she is.
Not only is she passionate about science, he adds, shes determined to solve any problem she ever sets her eyes on. Plus, shes an amazing preceptor, trainer, encourager of science in young people. She is just exceptional, he added.
Trojanowski attended the Breakthrough event with his wife, thrilled to stand by her side on such an exciting day. Its an outstanding recognition, he said.
One might think a $3 million check in the bank could be a ticket out of work, but for Lee, she was back in Philadelphia after just a couple days. As always, she rode her bike to the officeready and willing to take on her next challenge.
What Id like to do in the next 10 to 20 years, Lee said, is really work with companiespharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companiesto come up with treatments.
Virginia Man-Yee Lee is the John H. Ware 3rd Endowed Professor in Alzheimers Research in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicinein the Perelman School of Medicine.
John Q. Trojanowski is the William Maul Measey - Truman G. Schnabel, Jr., M.D. Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicinein the Perelman School of Medicine.
The Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, founded in 2013, honors transformative advances toward understanding living systems and extending human life. It is sponsored by Sergey Brin, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, Pony Ma, Yuri and Julia Milner, and Anne Wojcicki.
Homepage photo: Today, about 50 people make up the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, led by Lee and Trojanowski, who both expressed how thankful they are for such a great team.
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An Alzheimer's research pioneer, right here at Penn - Penn: Office of University Communications