19-06-2012 13:51 Aida Bytyçi is a certified genetic counselor at the McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine at Johns Hopkins University in the US. Her time is divided between providing genetic counseling to patients and working on several research projects, such as one attempting to sequence the whole human genome to identify genes responsible for inherited syndromes and health conditions. As a genetic counselor, Aida provides support and advice to patients and their families on the inheritance and consequences of the genetic disorder. In this ideal position between research and patient care, Aida orients herself with the polar star of creative innovation brought by science and art. She believes that these two disciplines stimulate the mind and require a developed imagination to bring change in people's lives. At TEDxPrishtina Aida tells the greatest story ever written in four letters: A, T, C, and G. These four nucleotides that make the DNA code are the core of the greatest book ever written, the Human Genome. AboutTEDx, x=independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers … Continue reading →

19-06-2012 15:05 The SickKids Centre for Genetic Medicine is bringing together the brightest minds in patient care, education, policy and research with the goal of one day making individualized treatment a standard of care for all children. The Centre for Genetic Medicine has the potential to have a significant impact on the health of children, as 90 per cent of chronic diseases have a genetic component and known genetic diseases account for over half of hospital admissions. Link: The SickKids Centre for Genetic Medicine - Video … Continue reading →

Newswise LOS ANGELES (June 19, 2012) Cedars-Sinais Regenerative Medicine Institute has pioneered research on how motor-neuron cell-death occurs in patients with spinal muscular atrophy, offering an important clue in identifying potential medicines to treat this leading genetic cause of death in infants and toddlers. The study, published in the June 19 online issue of PLoS ONE, extends the institutes work to employ pluripotent stem cells to find a pharmaceutical treatment for spinal muscular atrophy or SMA, a genetic neuromuscular disease characterized by muscle atrophy and weakness. With this new understanding of how motor neurons die in spinal muscular atrophy patients, we are an important step closer to identifying drugs that may reverse or prevent that process, said Clive Svendsen, PhD, director of the Cedars-Sinai Regenerative Medicine Institute. Svendsen and his team have investigated this disease for some time now. In 2009, Nature published a study by Svendsen and his colleagues detailing how skin cells taken from a patient with the disorder were used to generate neurons of the same genetic makeup and characteristics of those affected in the disorder; this created a disease-in-a-dish that could serve as a model for discovering new drugs. As the disease is unique to humans, … Continue reading →

Public release date: 19-Jun-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Nicole White nicole.white@cshs.org 310-423-5215 Cedars-Sinai Medical Center LOS ANGELES (June 19, 2012) Cedars-Sinai's Regenerative Medicine Institute has pioneered research on how motor-neuron cell-death occurs in patients with spinal muscular atrophy, offering an important clue in identifying potential medicines to treat this leading genetic cause of death in infants and toddlers. The study, published in the June 19 online issue of PLoS ONE, extends the institute's work to employ pluripotent stem cells to find a pharmaceutical treatment for spinal muscular atrophy or SMA, a genetic neuromuscular disease characterized by muscle atrophy and weakness. "With this new understanding of how motor neurons die in spinal muscular atrophy patients, we are an important step closer to identifying drugs that may reverse or prevent that process," said Clive Svendsen, PhD, director of the Cedars-Sinai Regenerative Medicine Institute. Svendsen and his team have investigated this disease for some time now. In 2009, Nature published a study by Svendsen and his colleagues detailing how skin cells taken from a patient with the disorder were used to generate neurons of the same genetic makeup and characteristics of those affected in the disorder; this created a "disease-in-a-dish" … Continue reading →

RIO DE JANEIRO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cryopraxis established in 2001 as the pioneer private umbilical cord blood bank in Brazil will be present at Bio 2012 in Boston. Eduardo Cruz, chairman of the board, will be a speaker at the Brazilian break-out session speaking about The Brazilian Biotechnology Sector and showing the results of the company's commitment to R&D. Cryopraxis has already collected and processed more than 25000 cord blood units (CBU) and is actively involved in several R&D projects in Brazil and abroad. A spin-off of Cryopraxis, Cellpraxis, has recently finished one of the world's first cell therapy project clinical trials in Brazil: ReACT. ReACT is a stem cell formulation. This regenerative medicine pioneer product aims on treating an orphan disease condition called refractory angina. Refractory angina patients suffer from untreatable severe chest pain and the results of the clinical trial in a 5 years follow up proved ReACT to positively interfere in the course of the pathology. Most of the individuals treated experienced relief in pain and better quality of life. ReACT will be presented at Bio2012 as an example of Brazil's dynamic biotechnology research. Cryopraxis is accredited by the American Association of Blood Bank since 2009. According to Tatiana … Continue reading →

BYRON, MN--It's a dream for many in the medical field, to use a person's own stem cells to help them heal. And it's a reality already happening in our area. But it's not humans who are being treated. In this case, dogs are the ones being treated. Animal Stem Cell Regenerative Therapy has been performed a few thousand times now across the U.S. Doctors harvest stem cells and re-enter them where the animal is having problems. Both Marley and Vinnie have bad ligaments in their legs, and like many dogs suffering from arthritis, they are subject to monthly doses of expensive drugs. That is until today. Dr. Garren Kelly, D.V.M. at Meadow View Veterinary Clinic just outside Rochester says, "If you'd of asked me 5 years ago if I would be doing anything like this, I would have said no. But then as soon as I saw it i'm like 'Yeah that's for me'. I kind of like staying on the cutting edge of technology and surgeries". The two are undergoing a first of its kind surgery in minnesota, using regenerative stem cells. Blood is taken from the dogs, as well as fat tissue. Then stem cells are separated out … Continue reading →