News for August 2015

News Archive

The Current issue of “The view from here” discusses Stem Cells. The Current issue of “The view from here” discusses Stem Cells.

The topic of this month’s newsletter from Drug Discovery Today is Stem Cells.

Corrected Protein Structure Reveals Drug Targets for Cancer, Neurodegenerative Diseases Corrected Protein Structure Reveals Drug Targets for Cancer, Neurodegenerative Diseases

Study revises previously published structure of Protein Kinase C enzyme, proposes new strategies to turn the enzyme “on” to treat cancer or “off” to treat neurodegenerative diseases

Scientists identify trouble spot in brain linked to learning difficulties in Down syndrome Scientists identify trouble spot in brain linked to learning difficulties in Down syndrome

New brain research has mapped a key trouble spot likely to contribute to intellectual disability in Down syndrome. In a paper published in Nature Neuroscience, scientists from the University of Bristol and UCL suggest the findings could be used to inform future therapies which normalise the function of disrupted brain networks in the condition.

New Vaccine for Chlamydia to use Synthetic Biology New Vaccine for Chlamydia to use Synthetic Biology

Prokarium Ltd, a biotechnology company developing transformational oral vaccines, today announced new funding from SynbiCITE, the UK’s Innovation and Knowledge Centre for Synthetic Biology. The £498k project is funded at £377k from SynbiCITE and £121k from Prokarium and will enable Prokarium and its collaborator Prof Robin Shattock of Imperial College to complete the pre-clinical development of an innovative Chlamydia vaccine which could enter clinical trials in 2017.

Blocking the PHD2 oxygen sensor inhibits breast cancer dissemination

Scientists at VIB and KU Leuven have shown that reducing the expression of the PHD2 oxygen sensor impairs the ability of breast cancers to metastasize (spread) to other parts of the body. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, primarily due to metastasis. These findings indicate that PHD2 inhibition may have valuable therapeutic potential. The study was published in the leading medical journal Cell Reports, which features cutting-edge biological research.