ST. HELIER, Jersey--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Novocure (NASDAQ: NVCR) today announced 43 presentations on Tumor Treating Fields, including three oral presentations, will be featured at the 24th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) on Nov. 20 through Nov. 24 in Phoenix. Presentations on Tumor Treating Fields cover a broad and growing range of topics. External authors prepared 34 of the 43 presentations.

The oral presentations on Tumor Treating Fields include an EF-14 post hoc subgroup analysis on tumor growth rates, and the pilot study results of Tumor Treating Fields combined with radiotherapy and temozolomide for the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

Highlights among poster presentations include the combinations of Tumor Treating Fields with other therapies such as radiation and immunotherapies, simulations, health economics and outcomes research, patient advocacy, and research on the mechanism of action.

Year after year, it is amazing to see the continued focus on Tumor Treating Fields at the SNO Annual Meeting, said Novocure CEO Asaf Danziger. From our first presentation at SNO in 2008 to today, more than 250 abstracts on Tumor Treating Fields have been included at one of the most important conferences in neuro-oncology worldwide. I am proud of our team for their relentless focus on innovative research and for their consistent drive in raising awareness of our therapy among the scientific community. We look forward to another productive year at SNO.

Oral Presentations

(Abstract #: ACTR-46) Tumor Treating Fields combined with radiotherapy and temozolomide for the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma: Final results from a pilot study. R. Grossman. 2:45 to 2:50 p.m. MST Nov. 22.

(Abstract #: RTHP-28) TTFields treatment affects tumor growth rates: A post-hoc analysis of the pivotal phase 3 EF-14 trial. Z. Bomzon. 4:05 to 4:10 p.m. MST Nov. 22.

(Abstract #: QOLP-24) Patients/parents experiences of receiving Optune delivered tumor treatment fields: A Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium Study: PBTC-048. J. Lai. 7:50 to 7:54 p.m. MST Nov. 22.

Poster Presentations

(Abstract #: RDNA-10) TTFields treatment planning for targeting multiple lesions spread throughout the brain. Z. Bomzon. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. MST Nov. 22. (Radiation Biology and DNA Repair/Basic Science)

(Abstract #: NIMG-20) Evaluation of head segmentation quality for treatment planning of tumor treating fields in brain tumors. Z. Bomzon. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. MST Nov. 22. (Neuro-Imaging/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: HOUT-24) Challenges and successes in the global reimbursement of a breakthrough medical technology for treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. C. Proescholdt. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. MST Nov. 22. (Health Outcome Measures/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: EXTH-02) The blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability is altered by Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) in vivo. E. Schulz. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. MST Nov. 22. (Experimental Therapeutics/Basic Science)

(Abstract #: IMMU-06) TTFields induces immunogenic cell death and STING pathway activation through cytoplasmic double-stranded DNA in glioblastoma cells. D. Chen. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. MST Nov. 22. (Immunology/Basic Science)

(Abstract #: DRES-06) Prostaglandin E Receptor 3 mediates resistance to Tumor Treating Fields in glioblastoma cells. D. Chen. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. MST Nov. 22. (Drug Resistance/Basic Science)

(Abstract #: EXTH-34) In vitro tumor treating fields (TTFields) applied prior to radiation enhances the response to radiation in patient-derived glioblastoma cell lines. S. Mittal. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. MST Nov. 22. (Experimental Therapeutics/Basic Science)

(Abstract #: CSIG-20) Effect of tumor-treating felds (TTFields) on EGFR phosphorylation in GBM cell lines. M. Reinert. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. MST Nov. 22. (Cell Signaling and Signaling Pathways/Basic Science)

(Abstract #: CBMT-14) The dielectric properties of brain tumor tissue. M. Proescholdt. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. MST Nov. 22. (Cell Biology and Metabolism/Basic Science)

(Abstract #: CSIG-26) Is intrinsic apoptosis the signaling pathway activated by tumor-treating fields for glioblastoma. K. Carlson. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. MST Nov. 22. (Cell Signaling and Signaling Pathways/Basic Science)

(Abstract #: ATIM-08) Trial in Progress: CA209-9Y8 phase 2 trial of tumor treating fields (TTFs), nivolumab plus/minus ipilimumab for bevacizumab-nave, recurrent glioblastoma. Y. Odia. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. MST Nov. 22. (Adult Clinical Trials Immunologic/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: ACTR-60) A phase 2, historically controlled study testing the efficacy of TTFields with adjuvant temozolomide in high-risk WHO grade II and III astrocytomas (FORWARD). A. Allen. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. MST Nov. 22. (Adult Clinical Trials - Non-Immunologic/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: TMIC-54) Comparison of cellular features at autopsy in glioblastoma patients with standard treatment of care and tumor treatment fields. A. Lowman. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. MST Nov. 22. (Tumor Microenvironment/Basic Science)

(Abstract #: ACTR-26) Safety and efficacy of bevacizumab plus Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) in patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GBM): data from a phase II clinical trial. J. Fallah. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. MST Nov. 22. (Adult Clinical Trials Non-immunologic/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: RBTT-02) Radiosurgery followed by Tumor Treating Fields for brain metastases (1-10) from NSCLC in the phase 3 METIS trial. V. Gondi. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. MST Nov. 22. (Randomized Brain Tumor Trials in Development/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: INNV-16) Complete response of thalamic IDH wildtype glioblastoma after proton therapy followed by chemotherapy together with Tumor Treating Fields. M. Stein. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. MST Nov. 22. (Innovations in Patient Care/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: INNV-20) A systematic review of tumor treating fields therapy for primary for recurrent and glioblastoma. P. Shah. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. MST Nov. 22. (Innovations in Patient Care/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: STEM-16) Dual Inhibition of Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 5 and Protein Phosphatase 2a Enhances the Anti-tumor Efficacy in Primary Glioblastoma Neurospheres. H. Sur. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. MST Nov. 22. (Stem Cells/Basic Science)

(Abstract #: CBMT-13) 3DEP system to test the electrical properties of different cell lines as predictive markers of optimal tumor treating fields (TTFields) frequency and sensitivity. M. Giladi. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Cell Biology and Metabolism/Basic Science)

(Abstract #: EXTH-37) A novel transducer array layout for delivering Tumor Treating Fields to the spine. Z. Bomzon. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Experimental Therapeutics/Basic Science)

(Abstract #: NIMG-41) Rapid and accurate creation of patient-specific computational models for GBM patients receiving Optune therapy with conventional imaging (T1w/PD). Z. Bomzon. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Neuro-Imaging/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: HOUT-17) Utilities of rare cancers like malignant pleural mesothelioma and glioblastoma multiforme - do they compare? C. Proescholdt. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Health Outcome Measures/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: INNV-17) Innovative educational approaches to enhance patient and caregiver understanding of Optune for glioblastoma. M. Shackelford. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Innovations in Patient Care/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: EXTH-05) Therapeutic implications of TTFields induced DNA damage and replication stress in novel combinations for cancer treatment. N. Karanam. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Experimental Therapeutics/Basic Science)

(Abstract #: EXTH-31) Combination of tumor treating fields (TTFields) and paclitaxel produces additive reductions in proliferation and clonogenicity in patient-derived metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. S. Michelhaugh. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23 (Experimental Therapeutics/Basic Science)

(Abstract #: EXTH-53) Tumor Treating Fields leads to changes in membrane permeability and increased penetration by anti-glioma drugs. E. Chang. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Experimental Therapeutics/Basic Science)

(Abstract #: RDNA-01) Tubulin and microtubules as molecular targets for TTField therapy. J. Tuszynski. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Radiation Biology and DNA Repair/Basic Science)

(Abstract #: SURG-01) OptimalTTF-1: Final results of a phase 1 study: First glioblastoma recurrence examining targeted skull remodeling surgery to enhance Tumor Treating Fields strength. A. Korshoej. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Surgical Therapy/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: ATIM-39) Phase 2 open-labeled study of adjuvant temozolomide plus Tumor Treating Fields plus Pembrolizumab in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (2-THE-TOP). D. Tran. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Adult Clinical Trials Immunologic/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: ACTR-49) Initial experience with scalp preservation and radiation plus concurrent alternating electric tumor-treating fields (SPARE) for glioblastoma patients. A. Song. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Adult Clinical Trials - Non-Immunologic/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: RTHP-25) TTFields dose distribution alters tumor growth patterns: An imaging-based analysis of the randomized phase 3 EF-14 trial. M. Ballo. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Radiation Therapy/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: ACTR-19) Report on the combination of Axitinib and Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) in three patients with recurrent glioblastoma. E. Schulz. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Adult Clinical Trials - Non-Immunologic/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: PATH-47) TTF may apply selective pressure to glioblastoma clones with aneuploidy: a case report. M. Ruff. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Molecular Pathology and Classification Adult and Pediatric/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: RARE-39) Combination of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) with lomustine (CCNU) and temozolomide (TMZ) in newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) patients - a bi-centric analysis. L. Lazaridis. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Rare Tumors/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: ACTR-31) The use of TTFields for newly diagnosed GBM patients in Germany in routine clinical care (TIGER: TTFields in Germany in routine clinical care). O. Bahr. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Adult Clinical Trials Non-Immunologic/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: INNV-09) Clinical efficacy of tumor treating fields for newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Y. Liu. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Innovations in Patient Care/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: EXTH-61) Celecoxib Improves Outcome of Patients Treated with Tumor Treating Fields. K. Swanson. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Experimental Therapeutics/Basic Science)

(Abstract #: INNV-23) Glioblastoma and Facebook: An Analysis Of Perceived Etiologies and Treatments. N. Reddy. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Innovations in Patient Care/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: INNV-12) Outcomes in a Real-world Practice For Patients With Primary Glioblastoma: Impact of a Specialized Neuro-oncology Cancer Care Program. N. Banerji. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Innovations in Patient Care/Clinical Research)

(Abstract #: RBTT-11): NRG Oncology NRG-BN006: A Phase II/III Randomized, Open-label Study of Toca 511 and Toca FC With Standard of Care Compared to Standard of Care in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma. M. Ahluwalia. 5 to 7 p.m. MST Nov. 23. (Randomized Brain Tumor Trials Development/Clinical Research)

About Novocure

Novocure is a global oncology company working to extend survival in some of the most aggressive forms of cancer through the development and commercialization of its innovative therapy, Tumor Treating Fields. Tumor Treating Fields is a cancer therapy that uses electric fields tuned to specific frequencies to disrupt solid tumor cancer cell division. Novocures commercialized products are approved for the treatment of adult patients with glioblastoma and malignant pleural mesothelioma. Novocure has ongoing or completed clinical trials investigating Tumor Treating Fields in brain metastases, non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer and liver cancer.

Headquartered in Jersey, Novocure has U.S. operations in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Malvern, Pennsylvania and New York City. Additionally, the company has offices in Germany, Switzerland, Japan and Israel. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.novocure.com or follow us at http://www.twitter.com/novocure.

Approved Indications

Optune is intended as a treatment for adult patients (22 years of age or older) with histologically-confirmed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

Optune with temozolomide is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed, supratentorial glioblastoma following maximal debulking surgery, and completion of radiation therapy together with concomitant standard of care chemotherapy.

For the treatment of recurrent GBM, Optune is indicated following histologically- or radiologically-confirmed recurrence in the supratentorial region of the brain after receiving chemotherapy. The device is intended to be used as a monotherapy, and is intended as an alternative to standard medical therapy for GBM after surgical and radiation options have been exhausted.

The NovoTTF-100L System is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic, malignant mesothelioma (MPM) to be used concurrently with pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy.

Important Safety Information

Contraindications

Do not use Optune in patients with GBM with an implanted medical device, a skull defect (such as, missing bone with no replacement), or bullet fragments. Use of Optune together with skull defects or bullet fragments has not been tested and may possibly lead to tissue damage or render Optune ineffective. Do not use the NovoTTF-100L System in patients with MPM with implantable electronic medical devices such as pacemakers or implantable automatic defibrillators, etc.

Use of Optune for GBM or the NovoTTF-100L System for MPM together with implanted electronic devices has not been tested and may lead to malfunctioning of the implanted device.

Do not use Optune for GBM or the NovoTTF-100L System for MPM in patients known to be sensitive to conductive hydrogels. Skin contact with the gel used with Optune and the NovoTTF-100L System may commonly cause increased redness and itching, and may rarely lead to severe allergic reactions such as shock and respiratory failure.

Warnings and Precautions

Optune and the NovoTTF-100L System can only be prescribed by a healthcare provider that has completed the required certification training provided by Novocure.

The most common (10%) adverse events involving Optune in combination with chemotherapy in patients with GBM were thrombocytopenia, nausea, constipation, vomiting, fatigue, convulsions, and depression.

The most common (10%) adverse events related to Optune treatment alone in patients with GBM were medical device site reaction and headache. Other less common adverse reactions were malaise, muscle twitching, and falls related to carrying the device.

The most common (10%) adverse events involving the NovoTTF-100L System in combination with chemotherapy in patients with MPM were anemia, constipation, nausea, asthenia, chest pain, fatigue, device skin reaction, pruritus, and cough.

Other potential adverse effects associated with the use of the NovoTTF-100L System include: treatment related skin toxicity, allergic reaction to the plaster or to the gel, electrode overheating leading to pain and/or local skin burns, infections at sites of electrode contact with the skin, local warmth and tingling sensation beneath the electrodes, muscle twitching, medical site reaction and skin breakdown/skin ulcer.

If the patient has an underlying serious skin condition on the treated area, evaluate whether this may prevent or temporarily interfere with Optune and the NovoTTF-100L System treatment.

Do not prescribe Optune or the NovoTTF-100L System for patients that are pregnant, you think might be pregnant or are trying to get pregnant, as the safety and effectiveness of Optune and the NovoTTF-100L System in these populations have not been established.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical facts or statements of current condition, this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements provide Novocures current expectations or forecasts of future events. These may include statements regarding anticipated scientific progress on its research programs, clinical trial progress, development of potential products, interpretation of clinical results, prospects for regulatory approval, manufacturing development and capabilities, market prospects for its products, coverage, collections from third-party payers and other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts. You may identify some of these forward-looking statements by the use of words in the statements such as anticipate, estimate, expect, project, intend, plan, believe or other words and terms of similar meaning. Novocures performance and financial results could differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements due to general financial, economic, regulatory and political conditions as well as more specific risks and uncertainties facing Novocure such as those set forth in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 25, 2019, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these risks and uncertainties, any or all of these forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Therefore, you should not rely on any such factors or forward-looking statements. Furthermore, Novocure does not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statement, except as required by law. Any forward-looking statements herein speak only as of the date hereof. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits this discussion.

Read more from the original source:
Novocure Announces 43 Presentations on Tumor Treating Fields at 24th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuro-Oncology - Business Wire

Kevin Eliceiri, professor of medical physics and biomedical engineering at the University of WisconsinMadison, plans to improve the architecture and infrastructure of Manager, an open-source software package for control of automated microscopes.

Open-source software is crucial to modern scientific research for advancing biology and medicine while also providing reproducibility and transparency. Yet, even the most widely used research software often lacks dedicated funding.

Now, Eliceiri has received a $200,000 grant for his work from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. CZI awarded just 32 grants worldwide for 42 such projects.

Kevin Eliceiri works with a swept-field confocal microscope. This project is all about making the workhorse known as the microscope more powerful, says Eliceiri, a principal investigator in the Laboratory for Cell and Molecular Biology.

This project is all about making the workhorse known as the microscope more powerful, says Eliceiri, a principal investigator in the Laboratory for Cell and Molecular Biology in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education, associate director of the McPherson Eye Research Institute, and investigator of the Morgridge Institute for Research. Open-source software not only enables unhindered adoption but importantly free adaptation, taking tools into new directions beyond their original intent.

Eliceiri uses Manager in his own research, which focuses on biophotonics, or the use of light to investigate biological phenomena, and on the application of computational techniques to analyze and process images of biological processes in real time.

Much of this informatics work entails development of the widely used open-source ImageJ software. Manager heavily relies on ImageJ for its functionality and Eliceiris CZI funding will benefit both software packages.

Software allows you to work with the full lifecycle of data how you acquire data, visualize it, analyze it and open-source software is all about accessibility and transparency, allowing scientists to freely try new approaches and understand precisely what was done in a study, Eliceiri says.

The CZI grant will also lead to enhanced data acquisition using Manager.

Not only can open-source software save time and resources, but it can directly lead to new innovation and discovery.

Kevin Eliceiri

When one thinks of how data is acquired, that often doesnt get as much attention as data analysis, Eliceiri says. Im interested in optimizing the settings of the microscope and improving how the hardware are talking to each other.

Eliceiri is using these tools to understand the role that the environment within a cell plays in disease progression.

Optical imaging is the tool of choice for understanding cellular phenomena with precise spatial and temporal accuracy, he adds.

Eliceiri says he has always believed that science is best done by building on the work of others and openly sharing what you have done.

Open-source software is the very embodiment of this concept, he says. Not only can open-source software save time and resources, but it can directly lead to new innovation and discovery.

Founded by Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg in 2015, CZI leverages technology to help solve some of the worlds toughest challenges, from eradicating disease to improving education and reforming the criminal justice system.

Other CZI funded projects include tools for visualizing, analyzing and managing data for research areas such as genomics, structural biology, cell biology, neuroscience and more.

Share via Facebook

Share via Twitter

Share via Linked In

Share via Email

Continued here:
Professor will make 'workhorse' microscope more powerful - University of Wisconsin-Madison

A University of Alabama cancer geneticist is taking his anti-aging research to the next level to effectively end age-related hair loss, wrinkled skin and reduced energy. And he hopes to have products on the market in 5 years.

A new startup out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Yuva Biosciences, is essentially the result of Keshav Singhs attempt to help chemotherapy patients re-grow the hair they lose as a result of the cancer treatment. But what he found could help everyone.

Cropped composite image of a woman when she was young and old

Yuvawhich means youth in Hindihopes to tap into the multi-billion-dollar hair loss prevention and anti-aging skincare market with cosmeceuticals, science-based cosmetics and pharmaceuticals based on its founders research into mitochondrial DNAthe tiny part of cells that produce 90 percent of the chemical energy they need to survive.

Singh said along with causing skin to age and hair to fall out, mitochondrial dysfunction can drive age-related diseases. A depletion of the DNA in mitochondria is also implicated in human mitochondrial diseases, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, age-associated neurological disorders and cancer.

Last year, Singh and his colleagues at UAB reversed wrinkles and restored hair growth in mice. The team triggered a gene mutation that caused mitochondrial dysfunction in mice, causing them to develop wrinkled skin and lose their hair. The UAB researchers discovered that turning off that mutation restored the mice to normal appearance making them indistinguishable from healthy mice of the same age. In effect, when the mitochondrial function was restored, the mice regained smooth skin and thick fur.

The mouse in the center photo shows aging-associated skin wrinkles and hair loss after two months of ... [+] mitochondrial DNA depletion. That same mouse, right, shows reversal of wrinkles and hair loss one month later, after mitochondrial DNA replication was resumed. The mouse on the left is a normal control, for comparison.

Singh along with Bhupendra Singh, Trenton R. Schoeb and Prachi Bajpai, UAB Department of Genetics; and Andrzej Slominski, UAB Department of Dermatology shared their results in apaperin July 2018, Reversing wrinkled skin and hair loss in mice by restoring mitochondrial function, in the Cell Death and Disease, a the online journal, Nature. The work was supported by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants.

Now in addition to his duties as a senior scientist in the Cancer Cell Biology Program and director of the Cancer Genetics Program at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, Singh will serve as chief scientific advisor for Yuva Biosciences.

Keshav Singh, Ph.D., cancer geneticist and chief scientific advisor for Yuva Biosciences

The founding editor-in-chief of Elseviers Mitochondrion journal, Singh said scientists already knew that humans age as mitochondrial DNA content and mitochondrial function decline. He said the trick is to find a way to restore that content and function. And theyve already done that in mice. Now they want to transfer those studies and hopefully similar results to human trials.

Our plan is to look for two things, Singh said. We want to identify natural products which can enhance mitochondrial function. We have already identified at least one of these natural products that enhances mitochondrial function and also seems to prevent hair loss and wrinkles. Secondly, we want to re-purpose drugs that are already FDA-approved.

Singh said the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) already has a library of thousands of FDA-approved compoundsdrugs for everything from diabetes to Alzheimers disease. We want to test them to see which ones might enhance mitochondrial function and even enhance energy, he said, adding that researchers work last year at UAB allowed us to develop a system where we can use different compounds that could enhance mitochondrial function.

Singh said the first of Yuvas products will likely be a topical therapy to halt wrinkles and hair loss and perhaps restore damage already done.

Yuva Biosciences plans to prevent or undo many of the effects of aging, which is why we like to say our goal is to provide Youthfulness for LifeTM, Singh said. Currently, we are aiming to develop productsto help people look and feel younger. Ourlong-term plan is to increase health span by addressing diseases associated with aging.

With the help of Greg Schmergel, a Boston-based serial entrepreneur, who will serve as chairman of Yuva Biosciences, Singh and four researchersincluding Robert K. Naviaux, MD. Ph.D. and Matt R. Kaeberlein, Ph.D.will occupy lab space at Innovation Depot, Inc. The Depot is a 140,000-square-foot office, lab and co-working startup space for technology companies located near UAB in Birmingham, Alabama. Yuva plans to hire two additional employees early next year.

Schmergel brings more than 25 years of experience in launching multiple high-tech ventures and leading a Massachusetts-based nanotechnology company, Nantero Inc., where he is the co-founder and CEO. A former senior vice president of corporate strategy for About, Inc., Schmergel also serves on the Board of Trustees of Lahey Hospital & Medical Centera, a physician-led nonprofit teaching hospital of Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) based in Burlington, Massachusetts.

In a statement, Schmergel said Yuva is committed to building the company in Birmingham, where well have access to resources like the world-class researchers and facilities at UAB, the startup-focused amenities at Innovation Depot, and the rising regional entrepreneurial network.

Kaeberlein specializes in aging and is past president of the American Aging Association, and professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Washington (UW), in Seattle. Naviaux specializes in mitochondrial and metabolic medicine and is a professor of Genetics at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). Both scientists will serve on the Yuva Biosciences Advisory Board.

Singh said there is no telling how far Yuva could go in aging research, though there is much testing yet to be done. We have discovered that mitochondria, which are the powerhouse of the cell, are the reversible regulator of wrinkles and hair loss, Singh said. The potential is huge as everyone develops wrinkles and most of us lose hair. So, any agent or drug which can slow down or reverse that will have a major impact.

Singh wouldnt speculate on whether manipulating mitochondrial DNA could cause all human organs and systems to regenerate and whether it would reverse aging in themfor example the human brain and any implications his research could have on dementia. And although little change was seen in other organs when the mutation was induced, he did hint that there is indeed great potential for further disease research.

Go here to read the rest:
Geneticists Attempt To Help Chemotherapy Patients Could End Age-Related Hair Loss, Wrinkled Skin And Reduced Energy - Forbes

A major step has been taken towards developing functional miniature versions of human organs in a Petri dish which can be used to shed light on the processes involved in the genesis of diseases.

Scientists from the University of Wrzburg, Germany have taken a major step towards developing functional miniature versions of human organs, known as complex organoids.

Japanese researchers had previously developed a way of creating pluripotent stem cells through epigenetic reprogramming of connective tissue cells, which has yielded a highly valuable cell type that can be used to grow all cells of the human body in a Petri dish.

When culturing these so-called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) as three-dimensional (3D) cell aggregates, the organoids can be created by selectively adding growth factors.

Such organoid models are often similar to real embryonic tissues. However, most remained incomplete because they lacked stromal cells and structures, the supportive framework of an organ composed of connective tissue.

This new development was part of a project led by Dr Philipp Wrsdrfer and Professor Sleyman Ergn, the head of the Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, which has resulted in organoids that have complexity similar to that of normal tissue and are far superior to previous structures.

Organoid models are often surprisingly similar to real embryonic tissues. Shown here (from left): 3D reconstruction of the vascular network within an organoid, brain organoid with blood vessels (red) and brain stem cells (green) and a tumour organoid with blood vessels (red) and tumour cells (green) (credit: Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology).

We used a trick to achieve our goal, explained Philipp Wrsdrfer. First we created so-called mesodermal progenitor cells from pluripotent stem cells. Under the right conditions, such progenitor cells are capable of producing blood vessels, immune cells and connective tissue cells.

To demonstrate the potential of the mesodermal progenitor cells, the scientists mixed these cells with tumour cells and brain stem cells that had previously been generated from human iPS cells. This mixture grew to form complex 3D tumour or brain organoids in the Petri dish featuring functional blood vessels, connective tissue, and in the case of the brain tissue, brain-specific immune cells.

In the future, the miniature organ models generated with this new technique can help scientists shed light on the processes involved in the genesis of diseases and to analyse the effect of therapeutic substances in more detail before using them on animals and human patients, added Sleyman Ergn.

This would allow the number of animal experiments to be reduced. Moreover, the organ models could contribute to gaining a better understanding of embryonic development processes and grow tissue that can be transplanted efficiently.

The project was published Scientific Reports.

Read this article:
Major step taken in creating complex organs in the lab - Drug Target Review

Job Description

Junior Research Fellow (JRF)for Translational Research - Stem Cell-based Neural Tissue Engineering Project:

Title of the Project: Human dental pulp stem cells as a multifaceted tool for accelerating neural regenerationDuration: 3 YearsLocation: Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore

Qualification:

M.Sc/ M. Tech (Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering, Biotechnology, Biology, and Biomedical Sciences) with a minimum of 55% marks.

Skill set required:

Candidate with work experience in biomaterial synthesis, scaffold fabrication and stem cell culture is desirable.

Stipend: Rs.20,000/- per month (consolidated)

Work functions of the JRF: The JRF will be required to do full time research related to this specific project, in particular biomaterial synthesis and characterization, scaffold fabrication, biological assays, dental stem cell culture.

Principal Investigator:

Dr.Murugan RamalingamCentre for Biomaterials, Cellular and Molecular Theranostics (CBCMT)School of Mechanical EngineeringVellore Institute of Technology (VIT),Vellore 632014

Send your resume along with relevant documents pertaining to the details of qualifications, experience and latest passport size photo on or before (30/11/2019) through online http://careers.vit.ac.in.

No TA and DA will be paid for appearing for the interview.

Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview at a later date which will be intimated by email.

Salary:Not Disclosed by RecruiterIndustry:Education / Teaching / TrainingFunctional Area:Teaching, Education, Training, CounsellingRole:Trainee

Keyskills

stem cellsbiotechnologybiologybiomaterials

Desired Candidate Profile

Please refer to the Job description above

Education-

UG:B.Tech/B.E. - Bio-Chemistry/Bio-Technology, Biomedical, B.Sc - BiologyPG:M.Tech - Bio-Chemistry/Bio-Technology, Biomedical, MS/M.Sc(Science) - Biotechnology, Biology

Company Profile

Vellore Institute of Technology

VIT was established with the aim of providing quality higher education on par with international standards. It persistently seeks and adopts innovative methods to improve the quality of higher education on a consistent basis.The campus has a cosmopolitan atmosphere with students from all corners of the globe. Experienced and learned teachers are strongly encouraged to nurture the students.

See the original post here:
Junior Research Fellow for Stem Cell-Based Neural Tissue Engineering Project job with VELLORE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | 187070 - Times Higher...

XconomyBoston

A cancer tumor is a veritable patchwork of cells with a variety of genetic fingerprints.

Immunitas Therapeutics is using single-cell genomicsan approach that studies the genetic activity of individual cellsto peer deeply into patient tumors and more precisely determine what is fueling the growth.

With that knowledge, the company plans to develop new targets for treating forms of the disease based on what it learns about the interactions between immune cells and cancer cells around tumors.

Now the Boston company has raised $39 million to advance compounds discovered with its computational platform into human testing by the end of 2022.

The startup was founded by venture capital firm Longwood Fund, itself started about a decade ago by a trio of biotechies who worked together at Sirtris Pharmaceuticals through its 2008 acquisition for $720 million by British drug giant GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK).

Lea Hachigian, a Longwood principal, is president of Immunitas. She told Xconomy that Longwood found out about the platform, which had been developed and in use in the labs of its scientific cofounders for about three years, this winter.

The progress it had madeImmunitas already has multiple potential monoclonal antibody treatments in its pipelineprompted the venture firm to turn the tech into a company.

Treatments for cancer based on the genetic signature of a tumor, known as checkpoint inhibitors, have been able to help many cancer patients who previously had few options for treatment. But those treatments are only relevant for about 15 percent to 20 percent of cancer patients, Hachigian says.

Combination approaches, in which drug developers mix and match some of those therapies, havent proven to be a panacea either.

Those approaches are exciting, but they have been limited so far in what theyve yielded in the clinic in terms of efficacy, she says.

There a bunch of patients who havent been able to benefit from some of these treatments, she saysand those are the people for whom Immunitas is aiming to develop new treatments.

It plans to analyze cells from specific patient subgroups, such as people with a well-defined form of a disease or those who have developed resistance to a certain kind of treatment. The companys technology has also led it to identify biomarkers that it intends to use to guide its selection of patients for clinical trials. The idea is that a drug developed from those samples would be targeted at that group.

It is also looking to set itself apart from other drug discovery efforts by analyzing human samples, avoiding the misleading signals that can be sent by animal tests.

Single cell genomics pioneer Aviv Regev, a computational biologist and core member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, was an early collaborator on the project.

Hachigian likened the platform to noise-canceling headphones for tumor biology in how it allows researchers to hone in on drivers of tumor progression.

The companys lead program is designed around a target Immunitas discovered by studying a tumor that is resistant to an existing treatment. Since then it has determined the target is overexpressed in other tumor types, too, both liquid and solid.

Hachigian says the companys deep immunology expertise also set it apart from others using single-cell genomics to find cancer drugs. One of its scientific founders, Kai Wucherpfennig, heads the Dana-Farber Cancer Institutes department of cancer immunology and virology. (Its others are Mario Suv, a physician-scientist in the department of pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital; and MITs Dane Wittrup, the Carbon P. Dubbs Professor in Chemical Engineering and Biological Engineering.)

Immunitas isnt the only startup thats looking cell by cell in hopes of making new biological discoveries that lead to treatments. Regev, in fact, is a co-founder of Cambridge, MA-based Celsius Therapeutics, another new company using single cell genomics to advance its drug discovery efforts.

Celsius launched last year with $65 million in Series A funding led by Third Rock Ventures.

In addition to Longwood, two big pharma companies are among Immunitass biggest backers. Its Series A was led by Leaps by Bayer and Novartis Venture Fund, those companies respective venture arms. Other institutional investors in the round include Evotec, M Ventures, and Alexandria Venture Investments.

The company has five full-time employees and is based in BioLabs, an incubator in Kendall Square. By the end of next year, it plans to have added another 10 or so. And the following year, when it projects it will move into human testing, Immunitas plans to tack on perhaps another 10 more employees to fuel its clinical development efforts.

Sarah de Crescenzo is an Xconomy editor based in San Diego. You can reach her at sdecrescenzo@xconomy.com.

Read the original here:
With Cell-By-Cell Take on Drug Discovery, Immunitas Debuts With $39M - Xconomy

Work type: Full-timeDepartment: Department of Microbiology (20700)Categories: Academic-related Staff

Applications are invited for appointment as Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology (Ref.: 499145), to commence as soon as possible on a three-year fixed-term basis, with the possibility of renewal subject to satisfactory performance.

Applicants should possess: (i) a Ph.D.degree with at least 3 years' relevant post-doctoral experience in the field of immunology; (ii) evidence of high-quality research as indicated by publication records; and (iii) experimental experience in B-cell and T-cell immunology. The appointee is expected to participate in the research area of vaccine development, with a strategic focus on the dendritic cell biology and adaptive immunity. Experience in single-cell RNA sequencing would be essential. Those who have previously been awarded external funding in the capacity of Principal Investigator are preferred.

A highly competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience will be offered, in addition to annual leave and medical benefits. At current rates, salaries tax does not exceed 15% of gross income. The appointment will attract a contract-end gratuity and University contribution to a retirement benefits scheme, totalling up to 15% of basic salary.

The University only accepts online applications for the above post. Applicants should apply online and upload an up-to-date C.V. (preferably with an academic transcript). Review of applications will start on December 4, 2019 and continue until December 18, 2019, or until the post is filled, whichever is earlier.

Read more:
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology job with THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG | 186941 - Times Higher Education (THE)

Global Uk Hematology And Flow Cytometry Analyzers And Reagents Market 2018 2026 Report provides an analytical calculation of the prime challenges faced by this market at present and in the forthcoming years, which helps market participants in recognizing the difficulties they may face while operating in this market over a longer period.

About Uk Hematology And Flow Cytometry Analyzers And Reagents Market

A flow cytometer is an instrument used to investigate and quantify cells and their properties, such as cell size, cell viability, etc. Flow cytometers are used in many disciplines such as molecular biology, cell biology, immunology, and medicine. Increasing incidence of infectious diseases, rising prevalence of blood disorders, and growing demand for blood testing and donations are the major factors driving the growth of the UK hematology and flow cytometry analyzers and reagents market. In addition, integration of hematology analyzers with flow cytometry, and new advancement in technologies are also witnessed to be a UK hematology and flow cytometry analyzers and reagents market trend. However, the slow adoption of this instrument in the developing countries may hamper the market from growing. Moreover, rising demand of automated hematology analyzers and growing awareness among end-users about advanced hematology analyzers are likely to gain significant impetus for the UK hematology and flow cytometry analyzers and reagents market share in the coming years.

Request For Sample PDF Report (Kindly Use Your Bussiness/Corporate Email Id to Get Priority): https://www.esticastresearch.com/report/uk-hematology-and-flow-cytometry-analyzers-and-reagents-market//#request-for-sample

The Uk Hematology And Flow Cytometry Analyzers And Reagents Market Research Report contains complete industry information and changing trends in the market that allows users to spot the pin-point analysis of the market along with revenue, development, and profit during the forecast period. It offers a detailed study of the Uk Hematology And Flow Cytometry Analyzers And Reagents market by using a SWOT analysis. This gives a comprehensive analysis of drivers, restraints, and opportunities of the market.

Major Point of this Reports

Reports 5 Forces analysis illustrates the potency of buyers and suppliers operating in the industry.The reports provide an in-depth breakdown and current and upcoming trends to explain the upcoming investment pockets.Uk Hematology And Flow Cytometry Analyzers And Reagents market provides information about key drivers, restraints, and opportunitiesThe qualitative and quantitative analysis of the market from 2018 to 2026 is provided to determine the market potential.

Uk Hematology And Flow Cytometry Analyzers And Reagents Market Segmentation

Uk Hematology And Flow Cytometry Analyzers And Reagents Industry Types:

By Hematology Type

Hemostatis AnalyzersHematology AnalyzersPlasma Protein Analyzers

Uk Hematology And Flow Cytometry Analyzers And Reagents Industry Applications:

Infectious DiseaseHemorrhagic ConditionsAnemiaOthers

Competitive Landscape

Global Uk Hematology And Flow Cytometry Analyzers And Reagents Industry is highly fragmented and the market leaders/key players/major manufacturers have used various strategies such as product launches, acquisitions, agreements, expansions, partnerships, joint ventures, and others to increase their domination over this market.

Key players profiled in the report include.

AbbottAgilent TechnologiesBeckman Coulter/DanaherBecton DickinsonBio-RadCellaVisionHoribaIris Diagnostics/DanaherNihon KohdenOrtho-Clinical DiagnosticsRocheSiemensSysmex

Regional Analysis

The Uk Hematology And Flow Cytometry Analyzers And Reagents market report keenly emphasizes on industrial affairs and developments, approaching policy alterations and opportunities within the market. The regional development methods and its predictions are explained in every key point that specifies the general performance and issues in key regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, South America, and the Middle East & Africa (MEA).

Enquire Here For Queries Or Report Customization: https://www.esticastresearch.com/report/uk-hematology-and-flow-cytometry-analyzers-and-reagents-market//#customization

Strategic Points Covered in TOC:

Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product scope, market risk, market overview, and market opportunities of the global Uk Hematology And Flow Cytometry Analyzers And Reagents market

Chapter 2: Displaying the competitive nature among key manufacturers, with market share, revenue, and sales

Chapter 3: Presenting global Uk Hematology And Flow Cytometry Analyzers And Reagents market by regions, market share and with revenue and sales for the projected period

Chapter 4, 5, 6, and 7: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue share and sales by major countries in these various regions

Chapter 8: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the global Uk Hematology And Flow Cytometry Analyzers And Reagents market which consists of its revenue, sales, and price of the products

If you need specific information, which is not currently available in the Report of Scope, we will give it to you as a part of customization. To know more please Drop Down Your Inquiry(help@esticastresearch.com).

1055 West 7th Street,Los Angeles, CA 90017 (P) USphone 213-935-7207print (213) 935-7208Email help@esticastresearch.com

David Barstow is a senior editor at SG Research Sphere covering products, apps, services, and consumer tech issues and trends. He is very active in social media and collects regular information for the company. He brings a great vision to the nexus of content and the social, digital, video and pragmatic network. He has eight years of experience with his expertise in conglomerate industries.

View original post here:
Uk Hematology And Flow Cytometry Analyzers And Reagents Market 2019 - 2026| Size, Share, Latest Trends, Growth Strategies and Forecast Analysis - SG...

Omega 3 fatty acid health welfare connected to stem cell regulation researchers discover. For years researchers have acknowledged that imperfections in a former cellular antenna known as the primary cilium are connected to obesity and insulin aversion. Presently researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found that the peculiar minuscule cellular attachment is discerning omega 3 fatty acids in the food and that this gesticulation is in a beeline impacting how stem cells in fat tissue splinter and convert into fat cells.

The discovery constitutes an absent connection between two worlds that of dietary science and that of molecular and cellular biology. Dietary studies have long ago discovered that the expending of omega 3 fatty acids crucial fatty acids customary in fish and nuts is linked with lesser of heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and even depression.

Researchers in Jacksons lab was not observing omega 3s when they commenced their research. They were observing the gesturing molecule that fat stem cells were discerning. The molecule could have been anything gesturing trail in cellular biology frequently include esoteric molecules handful of people have listened to. They were aware of the fact that uncommon illnesses including a deficiency in the primary cilium, people are often hungry and cannot put a halt to consuming and thereby become obese and insulin unaffected by. So they were taken aback when the signal flipped out to be omega 3 fatty acids.

Steve Lopez is the Editorial Page Editor for News Raise. He covers Health. He has won more than a dozen national journalism awards for his reporting and column writing at seven newspapers and four news magazines.

Read the rest here:
Omega 3 Fatty Acid Health Welfare Connected To Stem Cell Regulation Researchers Discover - News Raise

Researchers these days routinely use pluripotent stem cells to develop into specific tissue cells, and a variety of methods to coax those tissues to grow in Petri dishes into simple organoids. The goal, in many cases, is to grow realistic, complex organs that are not only excellent models for research but have the possibility of use for full-blown organ transplants. For example, in April 2019, researchers at Tel Aviv University successfully bioprinted the first 3D human heart using the patients own cells and various biological materials such as collagen and glycoprotein.

Now this has moved a step further. To date, these grown or bioprinted organoids are incomplete, lacking some of the vasculature and infrastructure of organs. But researchers at the University of Wrzburg in Germany took their research one step further.

We used a trick to achieve our goal, said Philipp Wrsdrfer with the Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology at Wrzburg. First we created so-called mesodermal progenitor cells from pluripotent stem cells.

Under specific conditions, these progenitor cells can produce blood vessels, immune cells and connective tissue cells. The researchers mixed the progenitor cells with cancer cells as well as brain stem cells that had earlier been developed from human iPS cells.

The mixture of cells grew and formed complex three-dimensional tumor or brain organoids in a petri dish. The organoids had functional blood vessels and connective tissue. In the brain tissue, microglia cells were developed, which are brain-specific immune cells.

The research was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

In the future, the miniature organ models generated with this new technique can help scientists shed light on the processes involved in the genesis of diseases and analyze the effect of therapeutic substances in more detail using them on animals and human patients, said Sleyman Ergn, who conducted the work with Wrsdrfer. This would allow the number of animal experiments to be reduced. Moreover, the organ models could contribute to gaining a better understanding of embryonic development processes and grow tissue that can be transplanted efficiently since they already have a functional vascular system.

The authors wrote, Organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are state of the art cell culture models to study mechanisms of development and disease. The establishment of different tissue models such as intestinal, liver, cerebral, kidney and lung organoids was published within the last years. These organoids recapitulate the development of epithelial structures in a fascinating manner. However, they remain incomplete as vasculature, stromal components and tissue resident immune cells are mostly lacking.

About a year ago, researchers at Johns Hopkins University, the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and the National Institute of Mental Health grew retinas in Petri dishes. The retina is the part of the eye that collects light and translates it into the signals that the brain interprets as vision. The cells grew into 20 to 60 tiny balls of cells, called retinal organoids. The tiny human retinas responded to light and were used in their research to better understand how color vision develops.

See the article here:
Growing Organs in the Lab: One Step Closer to Reality - BioSpace