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Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy’: Will Jerrika Hinton Ever Return as Stephanie Edwards? – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Lets be honest, Greys Anatomy fans dont take kindly to new characters. Every time someone is introduced, theres always a bit of backlash. However, when Stephanie Edwards (Jerrika Hinton) first appeared in Greys Anatomy Season 9, viewers knew she would become one of their favorites.

Nevertheless, Stephanie hung up her stethoscope toward the end of season 13, collectively breaking everyones hearts. But is there hope for Hinton to return as Stephanie on Greys Anatomy? Heres what we know.

RELATED: Greys Anatomy: Will April and Matthew Ever Return? The Door Is Still Open

Hinton left Greys Anatomy to pursue other projects. In March 2016, the actor was cast as the leading role for Shonda Rhimes new comedy, Toast. Unfortunately, the pilot wasnt picked up by ABC. But in January 2017, TVLine reported Hinton would exit Greys Anatomy for Alan Balls new HBO show, Here and Now.

When speaking with The Hollywood Reporter after her exit, Hinton shared creator Shonda Rhimes was supportive of her decision.

When Toast didnt go, I went away and had a spiritual summer in a lot of ways, Hinton said in May 2017. Shonda and I had a meeting at the beginning of season 13 where we talked about my departure and my creative process, and she was very supportive of my wishes. I am eternally grateful to her for understanding.

Meanwhile, Rhimes said in a statement:

Actors evolve differently and when an actor like Jerrika comes to me and says she wants to try something new creatively, I like to honor that. Jerrika has shared so much of herself with Stephanie and I am incredibly proud of the journey weve taken together. While Im sad to see Stephanie leave Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, I am excited to see whats next for Jerrika.

HBO canceled Here and Now after one season. However, Hinton currently stars as Millie Morris on Amazon Primes Hunters.

RELATED: Kate Walsh Reflects on Her Greys Anatomy Debut

The Greys Anatomy Season 13 finale titled Ring of Fire served as Hintons last episode as Stephanie. In the previous episode, Stephanie set a rapist on fire. But in a turn of events, he reached a supply of oxygen tanks, causing an explosion at Grey Sloan Memorial.

When the finale originally aired on ABC, fans panicked, wondering whether Shondaland claimed yet another victim. But luckily, Stephanie made it out alive. However, she was covered in major burns. Then in a conversation with Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.), Stephanie realized she wanted to stop living her life in hospitals and really live.

I spent my whole life in hospitals my whole life, she said. And I think I need to see everything thats not the inside of a hospital. I need to travel and explore and hike and breathe, I want to breathe it all in. Away from the monitors and the blood and the sterile gowns. Away from saving other peoples lives. I want my own. Its time I live my own.

RELATED: Greys Anatomy: Will Alex Karev Return After His Exit in Season 16?

After the Greys Anatomy Season 13 finale was released in May 2017, multiple publications asked Hinton whether she would ever consider returning as Stephanie, particularly because the character wasnt killed off. In an interview with Variety, Hinton shared she wasnt sure how to answer. But she pointed out Stephanie wouldnt want to come back for some time.

Because of the nature of her injuries and because of what she says she wants to experience in her next chapter of life, if we do see her come back through those doors, it will be a long time, Hinton said. I think that she needs to heal. She needs to heal in a variety of ways before that place becomes a viable option again.

Then when speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Hinton confirmed she was open to reprising her role sometime in the future.

Yes, the actor said when asked whether she would want to return to the Shondaland series. That place has a really wonderful soft spot in my heart.

Now, its been three years since Hinton left Greys Anatomy and it appears the actor wouldnt say no to Stephanies return depending on the storyline.

It depends on the format, you know? It depends on what the story is, Hinton told CinemaBlend in January 2020. You never say never to things like that.

She continued, That was such a fundamental experience in my career, and so never say never. Although I am enjoying the world outside, certainly, in the current moment.

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Grey's Anatomy': Will Jerrika Hinton Ever Return as Stephanie Edwards? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Anatomy

3 medical dramas to fill that ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ void – IOL

By Debashine Thangevelo Jun 20, 2020

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While Shonda Rhimes long-running series, "Greys Anatomy", is a benchmark for medical dramas - not forgetting its short-lived spin-off series, 'Private Practice", of course - there are other series offering a similar soap-esque feel.

Lets not forget the shows that weve come to love, including "House", "Code Black", "The Night Shift", which approach the theme from unique perspectives.

Below is a list of whats currently available on the small screen.

THE RESIDENT (SEASON 3):

Think of crime dramas. Every series in the genre offers something that satiates viewers appetites. The same applies to 'The Resident". This medical drama, which ticks the box as a must-see, has been renewed for a fourth season.

And it has a phenomenal cast of Matt Czuchry (Conrad Hawkins), Emily VanCamp (Nic Nevin), Morris Chestnut (Barrett Cain) along with new arrivals like Kearran Giovanni (Andrea Baydon), Rob Yang (Logan Kim) Shazi Raja (Nadine Suheimat) and more.

In the new season, the medical staff are subjected to new rules and doctors.

This series gives a surreal feel of a hospital. The writers are most creative with the storylines, especially when it comes to the emergencies handled by the staff at Red Rock Mountain Medical.

Of course, it is wonderfully offset by personal adversities faced by the characters. The series is a few episodes shy of its finale.

NEW AMSTERDAM (SEASON 2):

This series has grown on me. It is helmed by Ryan Eggold, who viewers will remember from "The Blacklist" series. He plays Dr Max Goodwin, the new medical director as New Amsterdam Medical Centre.

He is a bleeding heart, who puts patients before profits, and he is backed by an incredible team of specialists. Their motto is: How can I help? In the previous season, we learned Max has cancer and his wife is pregnant.

This season, he is a single dad (his wife passed away) and his tumour is shrinking thanks to a new therapy. As always, he juggles the politics of the hospital and the resulting drama of his patients and staff. This series has a lot of heart.

CHICAGO MED (SEASON 5):

This is the third Chicago spin-off series, where characters from "Chicago Fire" as well as 'Chicago P.D." crossover in some of the storylines.

Viewers have taken a strong liking to the series, which has been renewed for three more seasons.

This series follows the doctors and nurses at Gaffney Chicago Medical Centre.

Nick Gehlfuss is the lead as Dr Will Halstead (younger brother of Detective Jay Halstead of "Chicago P.D."). Creators Dick Wolf and Matt Olmstead have conceived a wonderful storytelling balance with ingeniously-penned trauma cases and individual setbacks.

NURSES (SEASON 1):

A new series, which takes viewers into the inner sanctum of a young group of nurses as they navigate their way on the job. The new recruits arrive eager and idealistic.

Their first day on the job becomes a crash course in juggling their personal emotions with their professional responsibility.

Ethics come into play and tough judgement calls being made. Amid handling the calls that come into trauma, each cast member is going through their own personal challenges.

This series is similar to "Greys Anatomy", in that it features a diverse cast. It also reminds of a young Meredith Grey and friends as they tried to find their feet in this fast-paced and demanding medical world.

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3 medical dramas to fill that 'Grey's Anatomy' void - IOL

Anatomy

This ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Alum Shares Her Theory on Why She Was Fired From the Show – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Greys Anatomy has seen the departure of top cast members including Sandra Oh, Patrick Dempsey, and Justin Chambers over its 16 seasons. While some of the medical drama stars are written off alive and well, others have met with some sort of untimely demise.

One Emmy Award-winning actress on the show was surprised to get her pink slip from Greys producers, but hypothesized on the potential reason for her firing.

Premiering in 2005, Greys Anatomy catapulted several of its cast members to stardom including Oh, Demspey, Katherine Heigl, and show matriarch Ellen Pompeo. Yet over the past 15 years, some of the stars have either felt the need to move on or that decision was made for them.

Four main characters on Greys each met a permanent end. George OMalley (aka 007), played by T.R. Knight, was hit by a bus saving an innocent bystander in the first episode in Season 6. A plane crash in Season 8 claimed the lives of Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh) and Eric McSteamy Sloan (Eric Dane). And fans are still in mourning over the death of Dempseys Dr. Derek Shepherd, better known as McDreamy, due to a car accident in 2015.

Knowing the creativity Greys brings to its storylines, theres always a chance these characters will reappear in spiritual form. Other cast members who exited the show still breathing include Sara Ramirez (Callie Torres), Sarah Drew (April Kempner), Jessica Capshaw (Arizona Robbins), as well as Oh, Heigl, and Chambers.

RELATED: Which Greys Anatomy Alum Has the Highest Net Worth: Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, or Patrick Dempsey?

Actress, director, and dancer Debbie Allen joined Greys Anatomy behind the camera in 2010, according to Deadline. Taking the directors chair for three episodes, Allen soon served in front of the camera as well in a recurring role as Jackson Averys mom, Catherine, who developed a romance with Dr. Richard Webber (played by James Pickens, Jr.). The two wed after Webbers wife Adele (played by Loretta Devine) died from Alzheimers disease.

Named executive producer of the medical drama by showrunner Shonda Rhimes in 2015, Allen continues to juggle her many responsibilities on the prime time hit show.

With showbiz sometimes being a small world, Allen and Devine had worked together on several occasions prior to their time on Greys. Their continual reunions prompted Devine to speculate on why her character made a permanent departure.

RELATED: Greys Anatomy: James Pickens Talks Richard Webbers Diagnosis and If There Is a Future for Richard and Catherine

In a segment for PeopleTVsCouch Surfing in August 2019, Devine recalled getting written out of Greys.

I got an Emmy for this show for best guest spot and then they fired me right after that, she said, according to Entertainment Weekly. They killed me with that damn Alzheimers.

Devine had been a part of the show for two years before Allen signed on. The actress reflected on their history together and how it often seems that when Allen comes on board, Devine gets the boot.

When I was doingDreamgirls, Debbie Allen came over, took over that, then I was gone, she explained with a laugh. Then she came over there toGreys Anatomy, took over that, then I was gone. I was atThe Client Listand they said Debbie Allen was coming in to direct, I got scared as hell.

The Greys alum clearly feels no ill will toward Allen for the heightened coincidence. Debbies directed me in a million things. Ive done her plays, Devine shared. I love Debbie Allen, but the truth is the truth.

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This 'Grey's Anatomy' Alum Shares Her Theory on Why She Was Fired From the Show - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Anatomy

There’s A McDreamy Rumour That Patrick Dempsey Will Be Involved In ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ S17 – Pedestrian TV

Like many films and TV shows, production on spicy doctor drama Greys Anatomy was delayed as a result of COVID-19.

Still, weve copped a bunch of juicy info about season 17 and we cant not share it with you guys.

Theres a rumour doing the rounds that Patrick Dempsey, aka the hot AF actor behind Derek McDreamy Shepherd, has signed a contract for the series to use his likeness in the forthcoming 17th season.

Meaning he may appear as a ~ghost~ or perhaps in a flashback.

The rumours been banging around on Twitter as well as a bunch of gossip sites but it has yet to be confirmed just yet.

As I said, its just a rumour for now, so keep your scrubs on, but in the meantime I suggest you school yourself on the series before the hotly anticipated season 17 drops.

Greys Anatomy is now streaming on local streaming giant Stan.

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There's A McDreamy Rumour That Patrick Dempsey Will Be Involved In 'Grey's Anatomy' S17 - Pedestrian TV

Neuroscience

Meet 10 Companies Working On Reading Your Thoughts (And Even Those Of Your Pets) – Forbes

Brain-machine interfaces (BMI) and brain-computer interfaces (BCI) are devices that enable direct ... [+] communication between a brain and an external device.

Philosopher John Locke said, I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts. Locke lived during the Age of Enlightenment. He probably wasnt thinking about human machine actions during his philosophical ponderings. But what does it mean when machine actions are the result of human thoughts? No longer part of science fiction, many would argue that brain-machine and brain-computer interfaces are the next way we will communicate with machines and even with one another.

Brain-machine interfaces (BMI) and brain-computer interfaces (BCI) are devices that enable direct communication between a brain and an external device. BCIs let someone type onto a screen without a keyboard. Brain-machine interfaces make it possible for amputees to move robotic limbs. BCIs can be as intricate as placing devices directly on the brain or via devices that communicate directly to machines without invasive surgery.

This type of technology opens a whole world of business applications. From dangerous jobs that already utilize robots to manufacturing, and even the consumer space. Brain-machine interfaces create a new way for humans to interact with technology, whether it be their smartphones, smart speakers, voice assistants, cars, and even each other. Startups and established companies alike realize the promise of brain-machine interfaces. They are racing to link humans to tech and machines, allowing humans to control digital technology using only their minds, which in turn opens up a whole new world of opportunities for businesses and brands to reach the customer of the future.

Here are 10 companies that are working on connecting our brains or actions to our machines and creating the future of input.

Testing out Neurable at FutureX Live in Atlanta in April 2019.

Neurables mission is very exciting. Ramses Alcaide, founder of Neurable, got the idea for helping people with technology when he was a kid after his uncle lost his legs in a trucking accident. Alcaide said, the idea of developing technology for people who are differently abled has been my big, never-ending quest. Neurable launched onto the brain-computer interface scene in 2017 at SIGGRAPH with a proof of concept BCI game called The Awakening. Users put on a VR headset to escape from a room with only their minds. In December 2019, Neurable raised a $6 million Series A round to develop an everyday consumer based brain-computer interface in the form of headphones.

Alcaide sees neurotechnology built into a pair of headphones as the first step towards a BCI for consumers. Think about stopping, starting, or skipping songs with your mind without ever touching your phone. Interacting with smart devices with just our thoughts through a headphone-like device is impressive enough on its own. For Neurable, its the data behind the interactions that show the real value of BCIs.

Cognitive analytics are, measures of different mental states, especially those aligned with performance. BCI enabled headphones could help a person, enter their desired emotion and then have a customized playlist generated to provoke that response. Not to mention open a whole new world of metrics for marketers, training, health professionals, and a variety of other industries. Alcaide believes computing is going to become more spatial. He said, As it continues to go down that path, we need forms of interaction that enable us to more seamlessly interact with our technology.

MindX believes the next frontier in computing is a direct link from the brain to the digital world. Theyre creating this link by combining neurotechnology, augmented reality and artificial intelligence to create a "look-and-think interface for next-generation spatial computing applications. Part of spatial computing, is being able to interact with computers beyond a two-dimensional screen.

MindX uses smart glasses to create a link between human brains and technology. Julia Brown, MindXs CEO, said smart glasses will let wearers access information with a single thought. Glasses connect to the mind from eye movements. Brain waves signal back what the wearer is thinking and where they are looking. BCI enabled smart glasses opens a world of opportunities for visual search. Think about your lost car keys and the smart glasses can locate them. Wonder what someone is wearing and get the brand and link to places to buy from the glasses - all with a thought.

While some brain-computer interface companies focus on understanding the brain and cognitive metrics, others focus on real-time device control. NextMind, headquartered in Paris, France, uses a non-invasive BMI that translates brain signals instantly from the user's visual cortex into digital commands for any device in real-time. NextMind debuted their device at CES 2020. Visitors to the booth demoed changing channels on a TV with just their thoughts.

Testing the NextMind device at CES 2020 and using thoughts to turn on lights and dim them.

Users wear NextMind on the back of their heads. It creates a symbiotic connection with the digital world by combining neural networks and neural signals. The Next Mind SDK is open to developers. Theyre at a price point that the industry believes consumers are ready for the next phase in computer interaction.

Unboxing Neurosity's Notion developer's kit in January 2020.

Neurositys goal is to help developers get focused faster and stay focused longer. Notion (Neurositys thought-powered computer) has eight sensors as part of an EEG headset. In their demo, a woman scrolls through a recipe on her tablet while cooking. In another, a man changes the lighting in the room with his mind. The Notion brain sensor can be pre-ordered. The device touts its secure design saying, it never stores your brainwaves. Something to look out for in a BCI.

Neurosity launched dev kits in 2019. The Neurosity developer community is one of the signs that brain-computer interfaces have arrived. Developers can write apps for Notions brain sensor, which is developed to do two things: to detect human intent and to quantify the self. Think of it like wearing a fitness tracker for the brain. In April 2020, Neurosity temporarily cut the price of Notion pre-orders to $799 for developers. Neurosity pledges their support to developers interested in helping quantify the human mind even further by making their team available to brainstorm, code, and deploy neuro apps.

Kernel is a neurotechnology company based in Los Angeles, California. Their aim is to create a brain interface that develops real-world applications of high-resolution brain activity. Kernals founder and CEO, Bryan Johnson, believes in a world where people are empowered by technology, not limited by it. He sees neuroscience, specifically Kernals neuroscience as a service (NaaS) as a way to get there. Kernel was featured in I Am Human, a 2020 award-winning documentary about the the scientists and entrepreneurs on a quest to unlock the secrets of the brain.

Kernel created two different experiments with their technology. One is Speller which allows participants to type with only their gaze and a visual keyboard. The other is Sound ID that can decode song IDs based on the brain signals from the listener. These experiments show that with just a helmet, brain scientists can run the same type of experiments as those in labs with room size equipment. With the use of a helmet, brain scientists can study thousands of more people than they can currently. Johnson believes this can help people who have suffered strokes and are unable to speak or those dealing with mental disorders.

There are so many applications when it comes to brain-machine interfaces and neuroscience. Nectomes technology is developed to preserve human memory by studying how the brain physically creates memories. Nectome isnt just creating a BMI for the present. Theyre hoping to change how people preserve the languages, cultures, and wisdom of the past, and how health care engages with individuals memories and personal narratives.

President of Y Combinator, Sam Altman, is one of 25 people who have put down a $10,000 refundable deposit to join a waiting list at Nectome. The only catch is, Nectome needs a living brain to capture the memories. The procedure kills the patient. Nectome planned to test it with terminally ill volunteers in California, which permits doctor-assisted suicide for those patients. Sam said of the procedure, I assume my brain will be uploaded to the cloud. The startup has faced some setbacks but seems to still be in operation.

Eventually, Nectome believes their biological preservation techniques will be like an episode from Amazons Upload TV series. At the end of their life, patients can choose to upload themselves into a digital afterlife.

CRTL-Labs uses non-invasive neural interfaces to expand human bandwidth. CRTL-Labs recreates the 0s and 1s of neurons by listening to muscle twitches. They send the signals into machine learning to decode a persons intention. This network is fed back to the wearer to create a symbiotic relationship. Thomas Reardon, CEO of CRTL-Labs said, AI and Machine Learning can be dominated by us. CRTL-Labs does all of this with a wristband.

Facebooks leadership have talked about a new type of interface that includes work around direct brain interfaces that are going to, eventually, one day, let you communicate using only your mind. In September 2019, they bought CRTL-Labs and have said the following about the acquisition, The goal is to eventually make it so that you can think something and control something in virtual or augmented reality.

Neuralink is a company owned by none other than Elon Musk. The man who made electric cars cool (Tesla) and sends astronauts to space is his own spacecraft (SpaceX) also wants to connect humans to machines. Neuralink takes a slightly different approach to brain-machine interfaces by placing threads into the brain. Elon Musk wants his brain implants to stop humans being outpaced by artificial intelligence.

Neuralink threads are connected to a 4mm chip called the N1. The chips are placed close to important parts of the brain and are able to detect messages as they are relayed between neurons, recording each impulse and stimulating their own. The chip connects to a wireless device worn over the ear which is Bluetooth enabled. Currently, the chip is placed via traditional brain surgery but Musk envisions the chip will be inserted virtually painlessly in the future. Applications for the Neuralink are endless - from treating neurological disorders to replacing language, and eventually turning humans into cyborgs.

Paradromics developed brain-computer interface technology to help those disconnected from the world by mental illness, paralysis, or other types of brain disorders. Paradromics believes they can meet medical challenges with technical solutions. That is, a high-data rate brain-computer interface. Similar to the Neuralink, Paradromics places electrode arrays on the brain. They do this with a computer chip that plugs into a part of the brain called the cortex. With Paradromics technology, mental disorders and injuries no longer have to be debilitating. They can connect those affected back to the world.

Brain-computer interfaces arent just for people. Zoolingua, owned by Con Slobodchikoff, wants people to understand dogs. Their device will allow both dog and human to communicate in both directions. The translating dog collar from the movie UP is coming to real life. Zoolingua bases their technology on research. Observing (through video) dog vocalizations and behavior in specific contexts; classifying the complex forms of communication that occur; and working with computer programs to effectively and accurately decode and translate into US-English.

According to an Amazon report, advances in AI and machine learning will enable companies to make devices that can accurately translate a cats meows and a dogs barks into English. William Higham, co-author of the report, believes devices that can talk dog could be less than 10 years away.

All these companies are working on the future of input.

Separate from Zoolingua, another example of someone working on decoding Fidos thoughts is Dr. Gregory Berns from Emory University. He is a neuroscientist whos also interested in what dogs think. Dr. Berns developed a go/no-go test to scan dog brains in M.R.I machines. The results show dogs use corresponding parts of their brain to solve similar tasks as people do. This isnt something seen in non-primates before.

Neuroscience technology is a quickly developing field. Its one with endless applications for understanding the brain, unlocking human potential, and preserving todays minds for the future. Some of the companies listed above are working towards specific use cases. Some use direct-brain sensors while others use non-invasive devices.

What each brain-machine interface company has in common is that they see the world as a connected place. Its going to become even more so. The future of computing is beyond two-dimensional interactions. Its more than voice, facial recognition, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality.

Its all these things coming together under the power of the human brain.

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Meet 10 Companies Working On Reading Your Thoughts (And Even Those Of Your Pets) - Forbes

Neuroscience

Edited Transcript of BTAI.OQ earnings conference call or presentation 12-May-20 12:30pm GMT – Yahoo Finance

Jun 22, 2020 (Thomson StreetEvents) -- Edited Transcript of BioXcel Therapeutics Inc earnings conference call or presentation Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 12:30:00pm GMT

* Richard I. Steinhart

BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. - CFO

BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. - VP of Clinical Development

* Vimal D. Mehta

BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. - Founder, CEO, President, Secretary & Director

* Vincent J. O'Neill

BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. - Senior VP & Chief Medical Officer

Good morning, and welcome to BioXcel Therapeutics First Quarter Earnings Conference Call and Audio Webcast. Before we start, I would like to inform you that this conference is being recorded. (Operator Instructions).

Just to remind everyone, certain matters discussed in today's conference call or answers that may be given to questions asked are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties relating to future events and/or the future financial performance of the company. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. The risk factors that may affect results are detailed in the company's most recent public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020, which can be found on its website, http://www.bioxceltherapeutics.com or on http://www.sec.gov.

I would now like to turn the conference over to Vimal Mehta, Chief Executive Officer of BioXcel Therapeutics. Please go ahead.

Vimal D. Mehta, BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. - Founder, CEO, President, Secretary & Director [2]

Thank you, operator. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining our conference call to discuss BioXcel Therapeutics' financial results and business highlights for the first quarter 2020. We appreciate everyone's time and attention. Joining me for the call today are Richard Steinhart, Chief Financial Officer; Frank Yocca, Chief Scientific Officer; and Vince O'Neill, Chief Medical Officer.

Before we begin, I want to take some time to address these unprecedented times. The COVID-19 pandemic, a crisis that has created uncertainty around the world has truly affected each and every one of us. I personally want to thank all health care workers who are tirelessly fighting on the front line caring for patients and preventing the

Following the guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the State of Connecticut, we have made vital adjustments across our company aimed at protecting our employees' health and safety, while maintaining key activities needed to advance the development of our clinical programs.

The BioXcel team remains motivated and on track to reach our 2020 milestones. In order to monitor the potential impact of this pandemic on our ongoing trials, we have been in close contact with our clinical sites. To date, we have not experienced any significant delays in our ongoing clinical trials, and have made great strides with our clinical programs.

We will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation and provide any updates as needed.

Shifting our discussion back to our corporate highlights, I would like to first discuss our lead neuroscience clinical program, BXCL501. As a reminder, BXCL501 is our proprietary thin film formulation of dexmedetomidine or Dex for the acute treatment -- for the treatment of acute agitation. We have designed this candidate to be easily administered and have a rapid onset of actions in order to produce a calming effect without excessive sedation.

We have made key advances this quarter in our pivotal trials, SERENITY I and II, which are Phase III studies of BXCL501 for the acute treatment of agitation in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Back in March, we announced that more than 1/3 of the patients in both trials had been enrolled and treated. Enrollment continues to be progressing as planned, and we have not observed a change in enrollment rate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are on track to report top line data from the SERENITY program in mid-2020, and will communicate updates as we get closer to our clinical data readout.

It is important to note that all is schizophrenia and bipolar patients enrolled have successfully self-administered the BXCL501 treatment guided by a health care provider. With our pivotal program readouts only a few months away, we are hopeful that we will be able to submit our first NDA for BXCL501 during the first half of 2021, bringing a noninvasive fast-acting treatment with-in millions of patients who suffer from acute agitation associated with neuropsychiatric disorders.

Our clinical progress continued with the initiation of TRANQUILITY. This study, a Phase IB/II trial for the treatment of acute agitation in geriatric dementia highlight the potential versatility of neuro -- of our neuroscience program in treating disorders beyond neuropsychiatric conditions. Since the TRANQUILITY trial has an adaptive design, we are currently reviewing safety and tolerability data in order to choose the next test in dose. This trial's enrollment is on track, and top line data is expected in mid-2020.

With off-label drugs having a black box warning for the elderly and no FDA-approved therapies to treat agitation in geriatric dementia, there is a desperate need for a safe and effective treatment for patients that struggle with this psychological behavior. We designed BXCL501 to be a fast-acting easy to administer therapy to try to fill this unmet need and provide a treatment, if approved for caregivers, that have travel managing dementia-related agitation.

In parallel, we continue to investigate the use of wearable digital device technologies, such as the Apple Watch, to hopefully enhance the prevention and treatment of dementia-related agitation. Considering this patient population is among the highest risk category for severe illness and death associated with COVID-19, we have taken a cautionary measure to preserve the safety and health of our elderly patients. For the TRANQUILITY trial, all BXCL501 doses have already been manufactured and have been provided to the long-term care facility running the TRANQUILITY study, reducing the risk of exposing the patients.

Additionally, we are continuing our investigation of BXCL501's calming capabilities through the initiation of a Phase II study being performed by researchers at Yale University. The aim of this study is to assess biomarkers associated with agitation, such as skin conductors response, heart rate variability and blood pressure in patients with schizophrenia and their response to treatment with BXCL501. Managing agitation is a challenge for both physicians and caregivers than being able to use these biomarkers as an initial signal prior to the onset of visible symptoms could be very beneficial. These bodily signals could provide sufficient time for caregivers to deliver BXCL501 to patients before an agitation episode becomes dangerous. Even though this study is being performed only on schizophrenia patients, we believe this trial will help open the door to investigate the potential use of BXCL501 in additional indications that exhibit similar physiological signals of hyperarousal, expanding the potential market of this candidate into chronic agitation.

To wrap up this quarter's neuroscience highlights, we received FDA clearance of our IND application for BXCL501 for the treatment of opioid withdrawal symptoms, a potential fourth indication for this candidate. As the #1 cause of death in the U.S. for individuals under the age of 50 years old, accidental drug overdose is rampant in this country, with a majority of fatalities opioid-related.

Furthermore, opioid withdrawal can be very debilitating and uncomfortable, and many addicts continue to take these drugs or relapse to avoid feeling these disturbing symptoms.

There is a desperate need for new efficacious treatment options to help aid this underserved population from continuous abuse. Due to BXCL501's intrinsic potency, favorable delivery method and mechanism of action, we feel this candidate has the potential to offer advantages to treating withdrawal symptoms, helping to combat and abuses urge to relapse.

We are encouraged by the promising results we've witnessed with intravenous drugs in elevating withdrawal symptoms, and we are planning to initiate the RELEASE trial, a Phase Ib 2 trial for the treatment of patients experiencing symptoms of opioid withdrawal shortly.

This past quarter, we have focused our efforts on expanding our neuroscience programs, clinical development strategy, exploring numerous indication in hopes of reaching an extensive patient population. We believe BXCL501 offers a differentiated therapy to treating the millions of patients that suffer from hyperarousal and lack effective alternative. We are focused on increasing the commercial value of this candidate and plan on exploring BXCL501 as a potential treatment for acute agitation in hyperactive delirium as well as for chronic agitation.

Turning the conversation over to our immuno-oncology clinical candidate, BXCL701, our orally available systemic innate immunity activator designed with a dual mechanism of action. Recently, we announced that we are initiating the Phase II efficacy portion of the Phase Ib/II trial of BXCL701 in combination with KEYTRUDA for treatment emergent Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer or tNEPC. Results from the Phase Ib safety lead-in showed that a split dose, totaling 0.6 milligram per day, is the recommended dose when used in combination with KEYTRUDA. This split dose has shown on target side effects consistent with cytokine activation and has an improved safety profile. In the Phase II efficacy trial, approximately 30 eligible men with tNEPC will receive 0.3 milligram of BXCL701 twice daily on days 1 to 14 of each 21-day cycle plus 200 milligram of KEYTRUDA administered intravenously on Day 1 and then every 21 days. We expect to report initial interim data from the Phase II trial in the fourth quarter of 2020. Currently, there are no approved treatments for tNEPC, a rare and highly aggressive form of prostate cancer.

We believe BXCL701 has the potential to be an effective treatment for the subpopulation as it creates an aggressive adaptive immune response, making tumors more reactive to immunotherapies, including KEYTRUDA.

Furthermore, the company is also advancing the clinical evaluation of BXCL701 via the ongoing open-label Phase II basket trial conducted at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. This study is evaluating the combination of BXCL701 and KEYTRUDA in patients with advanced solid cancer that are either naive to or refractory to checkpoint happy and is following the dosing schedule using the Phase Ib/II study for tNEPC. The combination trial of BXCL701, bempeg from Nektar and avelumab from Pfizer and Merck KGaA in pancreatic cancer will start following the completion of Nektar and Pfizer's Phase Ib safety study of bempeg and avelumab and the outcome of that trial.

In February, we raised net proceeds of approximately $60 million in a public offering, which helped to significantly strengthen our balance sheet. This cash, together with our current results, provide BioXcel enough cash runway to fund preclinical regulatory and operational milestones into 2021.

With that, I would like to turn the call over to our CFO, Richard Steinhart. Richard?

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Richard I. Steinhart, BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. - CFO [3]

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Thanks, Vimal. Once again, thank you all for joining us this morning, and welcome to our shareholders. BTI reported a net loss of $14.9 million for the first quarter of 2020 compared to a net loss of $7.2 million for the same period in 2019. The first quarter of 2020 results include about $800,000 in noncash stock-based compensation. The increase in net loss was primarily due to cost associated with our pivotal Phase III trials. Research and development expenses were $12.4 million for this first quarter of 2020 as compared to $5.7 million for the same period in 2019. The increase was primarily due to an increase in clinical trial costs, salaries, bonus and related costs, professional research and project-related costs and chemical manufacturing and controls related to our BXCL501 and BXCL701 product candidates. General and administrative expenses were $2.6 million for the first quarter of 2020 compared to $1.7 million for the same period in 2019. The increase was primarily due to professional fees for legal and patent matters. Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2020 were approximately $15 million as compared to total operating expenses of approximately $7.4 million for the same period in 2019. We had cash and cash equivalents of $80.1 million as of March 31, 2020.

That concludes the financial review of the first quarter. Now I'd like to turn the call back to Vimal for any further comments. Vimal?

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Vimal D. Mehta, BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. - Founder, CEO, President, Secretary & Director [4]

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Thanks, Richard. We would now like to open the call to questions. Operator?

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Questions and Answers

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Operator [1]

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(Operator Instructions)

Our first question today comes from Geoff Meacham of Bank of America.

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Scott Daniel Puckhaber, Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division - Former Research Analyst [2]

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This is Scott on for Jeff. I wanted to ask about the Phase I/II study for 501 in dementia. It seems the doses are lower at 30, 60, 90 micrograms due to the elderly patient population. However, in the Phase Ib trial in schizophrenia, the 60 milligram -- microgram dose was not statistically significant. So I was wondering if we should anticipate a tighter window for success given the need to balance dosing and efficacy in these patients. And then as a follow-up for 701, you recently noted the 0.6 milligram dose is recommended. And that's flooding the dose can be associated with an improved safety profile. There are certainly concerns around the safety for 701 given the drug's prior history. So can you give us any insight as to whether splitting the dose might impact efficacy for any reason? And the potential concerns you're seeing around dosing it as a once daily?

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Vimal D. Mehta, BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. - Founder, CEO, President, Secretary & Director [3]

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Thanks, Scott. This is Vimal. I'm going to pass this question to Rob Risinger, who is our VP of Clinical Neuroscience, to answer the fiber on question, and then Vince will pick up the question related to BXCL701. Rob?

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Robert Risinger, BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. - VP of Clinical Development [4]

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Sure. Thank you, Geoff. Good question. The dose range in schizophrenia, we're not banking, if you will, on a thing identical in dementia. As you point out, they are older. They tend to be more frail. And so we are testing a slightly different dose range, simply to determine the doses that may be safe, but also effective.

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Vimal D. Mehta, BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. - Founder, CEO, President, Secretary & Director [5]

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Vince?

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Vincent J. O'Neill, BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. - Senior VP & Chief Medical Officer [6]

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Yes. Thanks, Scott, for the question. So on 701, it was really around splitting dose versus not, I believe. So what we saw on the once daily dosing, so non-split dose at 0.6 milligrams or 600 micrograms was an event of syncope. And this was presented at the ASCO GU poster just a couple of months ago. That required us to expand the cohort, or otherwise, essentially identify a better tolerated dose and schedule. What we found is that by splitting the dose, we no longer saw those types of events. We certainly still saw some on target toxicity. And in oncology, as you know, that's not necessarily a bad thing at all. It speaks that the drug is doing what it's expected to do, but the events of syncope were simply no longer present. So that's -- we believe we fixed the tolerability by splitting the dose. Hopefully, that answers your question.

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Operator [7]

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The next question is from Robyn Karnauskas of SunTrust Robinson Humphrey.

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Robyn Kay Shelton Karnauskas, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., Research Division - Research Analyst [8]

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So first of all, can you give us some data points on what steps are needed to be completed in order to start the opioid withdrawal trial? And what are the rate limiting steps? And then do you think we'll -- we still can see a -- do you think we still can see data this year? And then on 701, so when you think about what you've learned on the safety profile, what is the safety sort of hints you around the efficacy of the drug? Did you learn anything about if the drug is working in the way it should be working? Just give us some thoughts on what you've learned so far from the early data.

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Vimal D. Mehta, BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. - Founder, CEO, President, Secretary & Director [9]

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Thanks, Robyn. This is Vimal. Regarding the opioid withdrawal trial, we had all the pieces ready to go to initiate the trials. And we were running 3 trials, SERENITY 1 into our pivotal Phase III and TRANQUILITY trial and this COVID situation a role. We made a conscious choice, as a company to, like, not start the opioid withdrawal trial, right, in the middle of COVID-19 in the interest of our employees, our partners, employees as well as for the patient safety. As you might have noticed that COVID-19 is creating even a bigger opioid crisis, which is in the press all over the place. The number of patients are plenty, and they keep coming to these sites, and that's what we have been advised by our CRO and the clinical side. We could initiate this study any time. I don't think there is any rate-limiting step. And we will provide the guidance shortly as we indicated that we are about to initiate that trial. So we are in a good position to initiate that opioid withdrawal trial. Regarding the 701 question, I will ask Vince to weigh in what we have been able to observe, besides the safety, any signal from the efficacy aspect. Vince?

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Vincent J. O'Neill, BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. - Senior VP & Chief Medical Officer [10]

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Sure. Thanks, Vimal and good morning, Robyn. So again, I'm going to turn it back to the data that we presented at ASCO GU. In terms of the learnings, I think an important one is that this drug seems to be a strong activator of the innate immune system, and I think that's important because thus far, many of the other potential approaches to activating in the community have been weak. So we do see things like fever and chills, myalgias and puffy ankles, all of which are actually transient. They tend to settle down after the first or second cycle. What we did see, as I mentioned from the previous question, was hypotension and one episode of syncope. By splitting the dose, hypotension events seem to have mitigated substantially. And yet, we see -- we still see the remainder of those on target toxicity. So our belief is that we have a strong innate activator that is, at the same time, safe. And of course, you'll know we have a large safety database behind the drug already at this point. So that's 1 important learning. We havent released any new data from the ASCO GU or since the ASCO GU presentation, but I would simply point out that on efficacy, I mean, this is the Ib portion. This is fundamentally a safety study. The majority of patients were stable and if they would disease and remained on study at the time of that presentation.

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Robyn Kay Shelton Karnauskas, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., Research Division - Research Analyst [11]

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Can you just also give an update on the other trials in going with 701? And if they're proceeding with any issues due to COVID and just the latest update there, and when we can see the next data set from 701?

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Vincent J. O'Neill, BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. - Senior VP & Chief Medical Officer [12]

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Sure. So I'll take them off. I mean, I'll take the triple combination study first. So I think as we've mentioned, the doublet of bempeg on NKTR-214 plus avelumab has to be combined before we add in 701. So that study is in the hands of Pfizer. Pfizer did announce maybe 6 weeks ago that they were pausing all trials. They announced approximately a week ago that they're reopening all trials. So that study was underway, the patients were enrolled, and it's now reopened again to accrual. So our anticipation is that, as we previously guided, we will add in the 701 portion to that doublet once we have safety data later on this year. So that's the triple combination. And then the MD Anderson study, and that's an important part of the development plan. As you're aware, that's in hot tumors, both in patients who are KEYTRUDA naive and also patients who feel KEYTRUDA progressed through it. That study is open. It opened just at the turn of the year, and that's progressing. Again, consistent with guidance, we are anticipating to be able to present data at the end of the year from that trial study.

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Operator [13]

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The next question is from Do Kim of BMO Capital Markets.

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Go here to see the original:
Edited Transcript of BTAI.OQ earnings conference call or presentation 12-May-20 12:30pm GMT - Yahoo Finance

Neuroscience

In-Situ Hybridization Market Trend Analysis and Major Factors Forecast Report till 2026 – CueReport

According to new Recent report on In-Situ Hybridization market Size By Types (Radioactive isotopes and Non-radioactive labels and Others), by Application (Cancer Diagnosis, Immunology, Neuroscience, Cytology and Infectious Diseases), By Regional Outlook - Global Industry Analysis Report, Growth Potential, Price Trend, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2020 2026.

The research report on In-Situ Hybridization market is a detailed documentation of the important parameters that are slated to hold relevance in this business arena over the projected duration of the study. Additionally, the documents gives notable inputs in terms of the impact of COVID-19 on the industry growth. A conclusive analysis of various drivers, restraints, and opportunities shaping the business space also covers an immense portion of the study. Further, it also discusses the regional landscape as well as the competitive terrain of the In-Situ Hybridization market.

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Excerpt from:
In-Situ Hybridization Market Trend Analysis and Major Factors Forecast Report till 2026 - CueReport

Cell Biology

Understanding the potential of COVID-19 convalescent plasma – Stripes Japan

The Department of Defense has set a goal to collect more than 8,000 donated units of plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 by Sept. 30, 2020. This blood will be used to treat critically ill patients and support the development of an effective treatment against the disease.

Like a missile locking on its target, antibodies attack invaders inside the body with a singularity of purpose: search and destroy. Typically, infection-fighting white blood cells produce antibodies as an appropriate response to an invading germ. In some people whose immune systems cant mount a sufficient attack against a virus, donated antibodies from another persons plasma may help. Researchers believe the power of antibodies lies in their ability to bind to a virus and neutralize it, or block it from entering cells, said Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad, director of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, Maryland. Modjarrad leads the Armys COVID-19 vaccine development research.

But not all antibodies are created the same. Antibodies come in different flavors, some of them are neutralizing and some of them are non-neutralizing and we dont know exactly which individuals are developing what type of antibody, said Shelly Krebs, chief of B Cell Biology Core at WRAIR Military HIV Research program.

COVID-19 convalescent plasma, or CCP, from a recovered patient could be a mixture of both neutralizing and non-neutralizing antibodies. In fact, people infected with COVID-19 can have varying antibody responses. Some may not have enough antibodies in their plasma to benefit another patient, which is why CCP first needs to be tested for neutralizing antibody levels before transfusing, explained Modjarrad. His lab works to understand the mechanism of COVID-19 antibodies to predict the levels required to offer a person protection from the virus.

Transfusing antibodies provides short-term immunity as the donor antibodies last several weeks to months inside the body, said Navy Capt. (Dr.) Todd Gleeson of the Navy Bloodborne Infection Management Center, located at Naval Support Activity Bethesda, Maryland. It is likely that a person with COVID-19 who receives CCP will also still develop their own immune cells and produce antibodies to fight the virus if that person is re-exposed in the future, said Gleeson, who leads a convalescent plasma study of patients at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center also at NSAB in Bethesda. But scientists just cant confirm that yet. They hope to uncover the answer and many more as they study CCP and COVID-19 antibodies to better treat patients and develop future vaccines.

Military medical treatment facilities will soon take part in an observational study across the Department of Defense to help researchers track trends among patients with COVID-19. The data will help trace recovered patients to ask for CCP donations as the DoD seeks to build a storehouse of CCP for patients admitted to Military Health System facilities and those deployed outside the U.S., explained Army Col. (Dr.) Andrew Cap, director of research at the Army Institute of Surgical Research in San Antonio, Texas. The goal is to build a convalescent plasma capability within the DoD, both on the collection and on the treatment side, said Cap, who helped draft a CCP protocol for the DoD.

Future research may lead to the development of highly concentrated neutralizing antibodies extracted from large quantities of convalescent plasma as a potential therapy for prevention and treatment, added Cap.

Scientists believe monoclonal antibodiesderived from a single immune cellmay also hold potential as both a treatment and preventive measure against COVID-19. Krebs and her team have engineered monoclonal antibodies in the lab by isolating the best neutralizing antibodies from CCP samples to create an army of exact replicas that target the COVID-19 virus down to the atomic level, explained Modjarrad. We know where and how well its going to target, and we know the kinetics of how long it will last in the body and how long it will provide protection, he explained, noting convalescent plasma does not provide that level of effectiveness. CCP is not generally used for prevention but for treatment. Monoclonal antibodies could be used for both treatment and prevention of COVID-19 because the transfused neutralizing antibodies would provide immediate immunity, he added.

Monoclonal antibodies have been in use for decades and revolutionized cancer treatment. Krebs lab plans to expand the research into monoclonal antibodies against COVID-19 into animal studies this summer. Our primary goal is to come up with a treatment for people who have COVID-19, she said.

Anyone able to donate convalescent plasma should contact the Armed Services Blood Program or goonlineto find a complete list of available collection centers.

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Understanding the potential of COVID-19 convalescent plasma - Stripes Japan

Cell Biology

Researchers discover new and improved way to treat poor-prognosis blood cancer – News-Medical.Net

Researchers at Children's Cancer Institute have discovered what could prove a new and improved way to treat the poor-prognosis blood cancer, acute myeloid leukemia or AML.

Unlike acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood cancer, AML is notoriously difficult to cure, often proving resistant to standard treatments. The researchers have been investigating what they believe to be the root cause of treatment resistance, leukemia stem cells, and have now hit upon a new therapeutic approach that works by targeting these cells.

Stem cells are special cells that are not only capable of giving rise to different types of cells, but also of copying themselves indefinitely in a process known as self-renewal. If stem cells in the blood becomes cancerous, they can multiply out of control, causing leukemia. And while ever leukemia stem cells remain in a child's body, that child remains at risk of relapse.

Leukemia stem cells have their own protective mechanisms that make them resistant to anticancer drugs. After chemotherapy, if even one leukemic stem cell is left alive, it can regenerate and the disease can come back."

Dr. Jenny Wang, lead researcher, head of the Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Group

The new treatment approach, published this month in one of the world's leading cancer research journals, Cancer Cell, works by disrupting the ability of leukemia stem cells to self-renew. Specifically, it uses an antibody treatment (anti-RSPO3) to interfere with the interaction between two key molecules thought to drive the self-renewal process.

Using highly specialized laboratory models ? mice growing cancer cells taken directly from patients with AML ? the researchers found that the treatment not only markedly reduced the amount of leukemia, but also prevented new leukemia cells from growing. Importantly, it did not harm healthy stem cells, which children treated for AML need to reconstitute their blood system after treatment.

Best of all, the new targeted therapy has the potential to replace intensive chemotherapy - the cause of serious long-term side effects. Following more preclinical studies, the researchers hope to see the therapy progress to clinical trial and prove effective in children with AML.

"This disease is very tough, and the survival rate is low," says Dr Wang. "We really need to find a cure."

Source:

Journal reference:

Salik, B., et al. (2020) Targeting RSPO3-LGR4 Signaling for Leukemia Stem Cell Eradication in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancer Cell. doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2020.05.014.

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Researchers discover new and improved way to treat poor-prognosis blood cancer - News-Medical.Net

Cell Biology

Scientists Uncover Immune Cells That May Help Those Suffering From Allergies and Asthma – SciTechDaily

These microscopic critters are hard to avoid, which means nearly everyone has been exposed.

Study opens up new path to research to fighting allergic diseases.

The world is full of house dust mites. Do some cleaning, and youll probably stir some up. While everyone has immune cells capable of reacting to common allergens like house dust mites, most of us have no allergic symptoms.

Still, many people do react with the typical allergic symptoms: sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy, swollen nasal passages. Others have a much more severe reaction: a life-threatening asthma attack.

To treat the root cause of allergies and asthma, researchers need to know exactly what sets these patients apart from healthy individuals.

In a new Science Immunology study, published on June 12, 2020, scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) offer a clue to why non-allergic people dont have a strong reaction to house dust mites. Theyve uncovered a previously unknown subset of T cells that may control allergic immune reactions and asthma from ever developing in response to house dust mites and other possible allergens.

We discovered new immune cell subsets and new therapeutic opportunities, says Grgory Seumois, Ph.D., instructor and director of LJIs Sequencing Core and co-leader of the new study. This new population of cells could be one, out of many unknown mechanisms, that explains why healthy people dont develop inflammation when they breathe in allergens.

The study highlights the power of unbiased single-cell genomics approaches to uncover novel biology, says LJI Professor Pandurangan Vijayanand, M.D. Ph.D., senior author of the new study.

The study builds on the Vijayanand labs expertise in linking gene expression to disease development. The team also took advantage of the Immune Epitope Database, an LJI-led resource that houses information on how the immune system interacts with allergens like house dust mites.

Why house dust mites? These microscopic critters are hard to avoid, which means nearly everyone has been exposed. Even in people without a house dust mite (HDM) allergy, the immune system is likely to react in some way as it learns to recognize HDM molecules. This makes HDM a useful model for studying what causes allergies and asthma attacks.

The LJI team used a technique part of the genomic revolution arsenal of tools, called single-cell RNA-seq (or single cell transcriptomics) to see exactly which genes and molecules specific T cells produce in response to HDM allergens. They tested cells from four groups of people: people with asthma and HDM allergy, people with asthma but no HDM allergy, people with only HDM allergy, and healthy subjects.

Their analysis suggests that a subset of helper T cells, called interleukin (IL)-9 Th2 expressing HDM-reactive cells, is more prevalent in the blood of people with HDM-allergic asthma compared with those who are only allergic to HDM. Further analysis suggested that those IL9-TH2 cells are enriched in a group of molecules/genes that increased the cytotoxic potential of those cells. In other words, those specific T cells could kill other cells and drive inflammation.

In contrast, another subset of T cells stood out in the non-allergic subjects. These T cells express an interferon response signature and were enriched for a gene that encodes a protein called TRAIL. The work done by Seumois and his colleagues suggest that TRAIL could be important because it could dampen the activation of helper T cells.

This finding may mean that people with this specific cell population could have less T-cell driven inflammation in response to HDM allergens. At last, this could provide a clue to why some people develop allergies and asthma while others do not.

Now if functional studies confirm this dampening effect, were curious if there is a way to boost the activation of these T cells or induce their proliferation in asthmatic or allergic populations, says Seumois. Can we act on those cells very early on, before asthma has developed?

For example, genomics studies like this one may someday help identify children at risk of developing asthma and allergies. Early detection could open the door to preemptively acting on immune cells before development of allergy and asthma.

While Seumois emphasizes that there is much more work to be done, he says the transcriptomic method used for this study could accelerate future asthma and allergy research. This is the first large-scale, single-cell, RNA-seq transcriptomic analysis for LJI, says Seumois. Now that we have developed the bench know-how and analysis pipeline, it could be applied to many diseases.

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Reference: Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of allergen-specific T cells in allergy and asthma by Grgory Seumois, Ciro Ramrez-Sustegui, Benjamin J. Schmiedel, Shu Liang, Bjoern Peters, Alessandro Sette and Pandurangan Vijayanand, 12 June 2020, Science Immunology.DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aba6087

The study, titled Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of allergen-specific T cells in allergy and asthma, was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grants U19AI100275, U19AI135731, R01HL114093, S10RR027366 and S10 RR027366) and the William K. Bowes Jr. Foundation

Additional study authors included Ciro Ramrez-Sustegui, Benjamin J. Schmiedel, Shu Liang, Bjoern Peters and Alessandro Sette.

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Scientists Uncover Immune Cells That May Help Those Suffering From Allergies and Asthma - SciTechDaily