News for April 2017

News Archive

Wellcome Trust backs Dundee and GSK in quest to find new drugs for neglected diseases Wellcome Trust backs Dundee and GSK in quest to find new drugs for neglected diseases

The University of Dundee has been awarded £7.9 million by the Wellcome Trust for a joint project with GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) to boost efforts to find new drugs to treat some of the world’s most devastating parasitic diseases including visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis, and Chagas’ disease.

Actress Kiruna Stamell debates gene editing with ethicist Dr Christopher Gyngell Actress Kiruna Stamell debates gene editing with ethicist Dr Christopher Gyngell

Two papers published today by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, debate gene editing and the health of future generations. Stage and screen actress Kiruna Stamell, who has a rare form of dwarfism, proposes that gene editing does not represent an improvement in healthcare; while Dr Christopher Gyngell, a research fellow at the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, argues that provided it is well regulated, gene editing could greatly improve the health of our descendants.

Lhasa Limited receives second Queen’s Award for Enterprise as it unveils new CEO Lhasa Limited receives second Queen’s Award for Enterprise as it unveils new CEO

Dr Chris Barber to take the helm in JuneLhasa Limited, an educational charity which creates state-of-the-art in silico prediction and database systems for use in metabolism, toxicology and related sciences, has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for the second year running.

Metastatic breast cancers: Characterising the profile of metastases for improved treatment Metastatic breast cancers: Characterising the profile of metastases for improved treatment

Researchers at the Jules Bordet Institute - Université libre de Bruxelles, VIB and KU Leuven published this 21 of April an important study offering a better understanding of the progression of breast cancer. The conclusions could have an impact on care for patients suffering from a metastatic breast cancer. This is one of the first studies based on the analysis of multiple metastases obtained at the time of patient autopsies.

Sygnature Discovery receives a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise Sygnature Discovery receives a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise

Sygnature Discovery has today been recognised with one of the UK’s most prestigious business awards – the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, International Trade.

CRT Pioneer Fund, Cancer Research UK and NCI Collaborate to Boost Research Against the ‘Undruggable’ RAS CRT Pioneer Fund, Cancer Research UK and NCI Collaborate to Boost Research Against the ‘Undruggable’ RAS

Cancer Research UK and the Cancer Research Technology Pioneer Fund (CPF) have committed £2.5 million in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the US to tackle one of the toughest challenges in cancer that has thwarted researchers for more than 30 years.

Lhasa Scoops Innovation Award Lhasa Scoops Innovation Award

Lhasa Limited, an educational charity which creates state-of-the-art in silico prediction and database systems for use in metabolism, toxicology and related sciences has been recognised for its innovative software.

Intestinal bacteria may protect against diabetes Intestinal bacteria may protect against diabetes

A high concentration of indolepropionic acid in the serum protects against type 2 diabetes, shows a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. Indolepropionic acid is a metabolite produced by intestinal bacteria, and its production is boosted by a fibre-rich diet. According to the researchers, the discovery provides additional insight into the role of intestinal bacteria in the interplay between diet, metabolism and health.

Mission Therapeutics and University of Oxford Awarded Research Grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation Mission Therapeutics and University of Oxford Awarded Research Grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation

Collaborative team to progress novel USP30 inhibitors to develop potential therapies for Parkinson’s disease

The Current issue of “The view from here” is concerned with Drug Repurposing. The Current issue of “The view from here” is concerned with Drug Repurposing.

The topic of this month’s newsletter from Drug Discovery Today is “Drug Repurposing”.

Synthego Awards Synthetic sgRNA Grant to University of Oxford for CRISPR Research Applications in the UK

Leading genome engineering solutions provider announces expanded availability of the most efficient and cost effective synthetic RNA to the UK

Engineering the future Engineering the future

New partnership set to transform the engineering of biology

Drugs targeted against Fractalkine signaling poised to offer major breakthrough in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer Drugs targeted against Fractalkine signaling poised to offer major breakthrough in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer

Non-specific immune system becomes increasing area of focus

First Collaborative Definition of Patient Centricity, Co-created by AstraZeneca with Patients and Carers, Is Published in British Medical Journal First Collaborative Definition of Patient Centricity, Co-created by AstraZeneca with Patients and Carers, Is Published in British Medical Journal

AstraZeneca announced (March 31st 2017) that BMJ Innovations has published the first collaborative definition of patient centricity for the pharmaceutical industry. The definition was co-developed with patients and caregivers using research led by AstraZeneca and patient community advocates to ensure a deep understanding of patient needs and values. Ten associated patient-centric principles were also identified and published in BMJ Innovations to provide the pharmaceutical industry with a consistent reference point to sustain meaningful and mutually beneficial engagement with patients. Wider testing of these outputs among US and European patient communities confirmed their validity.

The Pistoia Alliance Calls on the Life Sciences to Support Greater Collaboration to Overcome Technology Challenges The Pistoia Alliance Calls on the Life Sciences to Support Greater Collaboration to Overcome Technology Challenges

Machine learning, deep learning, and pre-competitive data analysis will deliver tangible benefits to patients