Category Archives: Cell Medicine

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Biocept, Inc., a privately-held, CLIA certified laboratory testing company focused on detection and analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in cancer patients, announced that two of its senior scientists, Farideh Bischoff, Ph.D., Vice President of Translational Research, and Lyle Arnold, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, R&D and Chief Scientific Officer, will be making presentations at the 19th Annual Molecular Medicine Tri-Con being held in San Francisco February 19-23. Dr. Arnold spoke during the “Blood-Based Cancer Diagnostics” session on Monday, February 20th. His talk, entitled “The Capture, Identification and Interrogation of Circulating Tumor Cells,” touched on a proprietary, highly sensitive mutation detection technology developed at Biocept called “SelectorTM.” Dr. Bischoff will speak during the “Clinical Use of Circulating Tumor Cells” session on Wednesday, February 22nd. Her talk, entitled “Capture and Detection of CK+ and CK- CTCs for Subsequent Molecular Analysis Using the OncoCEETM Platform,” will cover in part a continuing clinical study in breast cancer with collaborators at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Biocept’s first test, OncoCEE-BRTM for breast cancer, is available through its commercialization partner Clarient, Inc., a GE Healthcare Company. The test includes CTC enumeration and determination of HER2 status by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) from … Continue reading →

In a report in the Feb. 9 edition of Nature, the researchers showed that a chemical modification on the thermostat protein changes how it's controlled. Without the modification, cells use stored energy, and with it, they default to stockpiling resources. When cells don't properly allocate their energy supply, they can die off or become cancerous. The Johns Hopkins team focused especially on enzymes that add or remove so-called acetyl groups from protein molecules. "Understanding how cells are affected by adding acetyl groups to proteins, particularly those involved in energy use, is important because there is increasing use of drugs that block acetyl-removing enzymes for treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases," says Jef Boeke, Ph.D., professor of molecular biology, genetics and oncology, and director of the High Throughput Biology Center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "Blocking acetyl-removing enzymes turns on anticancer genes that help fight cancer; however, it is not known what other genes and cellular processes may also be affected by these treatments." To determine which enzymes remove acetyl chemical groups from which proteins, the researchers engineered human cells with reduced levels of each of 12 enzymes known to remove acetyl chemical groups. In each of these … Continue reading →

Public release date: 21-Feb-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Vanessa McMains vmcmain1@jhmi.edu 410-502-9410 Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions Johns Hopkins and National Taiwan University researchers have discovered more details about how an energy sensing "thermostat" protein determines whether cells will store or use their energy reserves. In a report in the Feb. 9 edition of Nature, the researchers showed that a chemical modification on the thermostat protein changes how it's controlled. Without the modification, cells use stored energy, and with it, they default to stockpiling resources. When cells don't properly allocate their energy supply, they can die off or become cancerous. The Johns Hopkins team focused especially on enzymes that add or remove so-called acetyl groups from protein molecules. "Understanding how cells are affected by adding acetyl groups to proteins, particularly those involved in energy use, is important because there is increasing use of drugs that block acetyl-removing enzymes for treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases," says Jef Boeke, Ph.D., professor of molecular biology, genetics and oncology, and director of the High Throughput Biology Center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "Blocking acetyl-removing enzymes turns on anticancer genes that help fight cancer; however, it is not known … Continue reading →

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/b93d9c/evolutionary_biolo) has announced the addition of John Wiley and Sons Ltd's new book "Evolutionary Biology: Cell-Cell Communication, and Complex Disease" to their offering. Evolutionary Biology: Cell-Cell Communication, and Complex Disease - An Integrative View of the Evolution of Genetics and the Natural World Even in this advanced age of genomics, the evolutionary process of unicellular and multicellular organisms is continually in debate. Evolutionary Biology, Cell-Cell Communication, and Complex Disease challenges current wisdom by using physiology to present an integrative view of the nature, origins, and evolution of fundamental biological systems. Providing a deeper understanding of the way genes relate to the traits of living organisms, this book offers useful information applying evolutionary biology, functional genomics, and cell communication studies to complex disease. Examining the 4.5 billion-year evolution process from environment adaptations to cell-cell communication to communication of genetic information for reproduction, Evolutionary Biology hones in on the "why and how" of evolution by uniquely focusing on the cell as the smallest unit of biologic structure and function. Based on empirically derived data rather than association studies, Evolutionary Biology covers: A model for forming testable hypotheses in complex disease studies The integrating role played by the … Continue reading →

02-10-2011 00:34 Dr Tony Talebi discusses the Plasma Cell Dyscrasias Chapter of "Hematology and Transfusion Medicine Board Review Made Simple." Visit http://www.HemOnc101.com See the rest here: Plasma Cell Dyscrasias - Video … Continue reading →

24-11-2011 04:57 inktalks.com Pioneering surgeon Susan Lim performed the first liver transplant in Asia. But a moral concern with transplants (where do those new livers come from?) led her to look further, and to ask Could we be transplanting cells, not whole organs? At the INK Conference, she talks through her new research, discovering healing cells in some surprising places. Dr.Susan Lim performed the first successful cadaveric liver transplant for Singapore and Asia in 1990. She is also widely known as the 'Spirit of the Century', an Award conferred upon her by the Singapore public in a national contest held to identify the role model for the 21st century. Winner of numerous international awards and recognitions, Susan is a surgeon, scientist and entrepreneur with a focus on technology platforms in medicine. She pioneered Singapore's robotic general surgery program using the da Vinci System, and through her startup imobile health, is working in medical apps based on wireless technology. Susan's biotechnology research is on the role of adipose-derived adult stem cells in regenerative medicine and cancer. Untold Story After pioneering cadaveric liver transplantation in Asia, Susan labored through her second pregnancy facing unexpected moral dilemmas. At the center of her stage … Continue reading →

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BioTime, Inc. (NYSE Amex: BTX), a biotechnology company that develops and markets products in the field of regenerative medicine, today announced that Chief Executive Officer Michael D. West, Ph.D. will present at the 7th Annual New York Stem Cell Summit at Bridgewaters New York City on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 8:48 a.m. ET. Dr. West will provide an update and new information on the Company's manufacturing technologies and cell-based therapeutics in development. The presentation will be available online at http://www.biotimeinc.com. The annual New York Stem Cell Summit provides investors, industry, practitioners, and analysts with the latest developments and investment opportunities in the stem cell marketplace. About BioTime, Inc. BioTime, headquartered in Alameda, California, is a biotechnology company focused on regenerative medicine and blood plasma volume expanders. Its broad platform of stem cell technologies is developed through subsidiaries focused on specific fields of applications. BioTime develops and markets research products in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine, including a wide array of proprietary ACTCellerate™ cell lines, culture media, and differentiation kits. BioTime's wholly owned subsidiary ES Cell International Pte. Ltd. has produced clinical-grade human embryonic stem cell lines that were derived following principles of Good … Continue reading →

16-02-2012 14:48 a Lil' Healing Humor 1step@aTime.Deb H. T6-8 paraplegic goes to Neuroworx in South Jordan Utah for spinal chord injury recovery and is a lil' delirious from working out so hard.Her and her team all find healing in laughter.Laughter is good medicine!!! More here: a Lil' Healing Humor 1step@aTime - Video … Continue reading →

16-02-2012 14:48 a Lil' Healing Humor 1step@aTime.Deb H. T6-8 paraplegic goes to Neuroworx in South Jordan Utah for spinal chord injury recovery and is a lil' delirious from working out so hard.Her and her team all find healing in laughter.Laughter is good medicine!!! More here: a Lil' Healing Humor 1step@aTime - Video … Continue reading →

WALTHAM, Mass., Feb. 17, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On-Q-ity, a life sciences company focused on novel circulating tumor cell (CTC) capture and characterization for clinical researchers and physicians that will enhance decision-making across multiple cancer types, today announced that it will be a corporate sponsor of the Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference being held in San Francisco February 21-23 and will be presenting during the Circulating Tumor Cells Conference Program. Denis Smirnov, Ph.D., Director of Molecular Characterization at On-Q-ity, will be giving a talk on Tuesday, February 21st, on On-Q-ity's CTC platform entitled: "A Microfluidic System for the Selection of Circulating Tumor Cells that Utilizes both Affinity and Size Capture Technologies." Dr. Smirnov recently presented data on On-Q-ity's CTC technology at Select Bioscience's Circulating Tumor Cell Conference in San Diego February 2-3. The Tri-Conference luncheon talk will take place during the first day of the Circulating Tumor Cell track meetings: Moscone North Convention Center, Room 133 Circulating Tumor Cells Conference Program Tuesday, Feb 21, 12:55-1:25 For more information about the Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference please visit http://www.tri-conference.com. About On-Q-ity On-Q-ity is a life sciences company focused on novel circulating tumor cell (CTC) capture and characterization. We are developing products and services for clinical … Continue reading →