Category Archives: Cell Biology

‘From the Valley, For the Valley’: Local Students Start Training at UCSF to Become Physicians for the Region | Newsroom – UC Merced University News

August 19, 2020 medical

The San Joaquin Valley has a shortage of doctors, but students such as Kyle Shen (18) aim to change that by attending a tailored track at UCSFs medical school specifically designed to address this problem.

Shen is one of 12 recently admitted to the newest cohort of students in the UCSF San Joaquin Valley Program in Medical Education, or SJV PRIME. SJV PRIME is for medical students who are committed to ensuring high-quality, culturally appropriate, and accessible medical care to improve health for individuals and communities in the Valley.

I care very much about my hometown, and this program aligns with what I would like to achieve in the future,said Shen, who graduated from UC Merced with a degree in biological sciences with an emphasis in molecular and cell biology. Starting this fall has its challenges because of COVID-19, but Im excited to finally start medical school.

A Merced native, Shen saw first-hand how the physician shortage affected his friends and family, which spurred his interest in pursuing medicine. He volunteered in a local hospitals intensive care unit in high school and college and plans to practice medicine in Merced upon the completion of his program.

Besides bringing more doctors to the Valley, SJV PRIMEs goals include diversifying the workforce with people who understand the communities they are serving. Fifty percent of SJV PRIME students come from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine and 42 percent are the first in their families to graduate from college.

The Valley has one of the lowest ratios of practicing doctors in California and the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the need for more physicians, physician leaders and physician change makers in the region, especially those who come from the diverse communities they serve.

As part of their introduction to the program, incoming students participate in ARISE, or Advance Regional Information: Summer Education. ARISE exposes students to various activities with community partners and initiatives to address health disparities and research unique to the Valley. Community participants include the Fresno County Health Improvement Partnership, Black Infant Mortality Group, Merced-based health educational center Healthy House and local physicians, among others. While ARISE took place virtually due to COVID-19, students were still able to connect with UC Merced faculty and learn about health-related research.

The SJV PRIME Matriculating Class of 2020 is composed of students from a range of Valley towns, including Fresno, Selma, Clovis, Turlock, Merced, Fowler, Reedley and Patterson.

SJV PRIME represents the sixth program in the University of Californias Programs in Medical Education. It was established in 2010 as a partnership among the UC Davis School of Medicine, UC Merced, UCSF Fresno and the UCSF School of Medicine.

Find out more about SJV PRIME here.

Cell Biology

OU professor awarded $550,178 grant by National Science Foundation – College of Arts and Sciences – 2020 – News – OU Magazine – News at OU

August 19, 2020 medical

Oakland University Professor Luis Villa-Diaz has been awarded a $550,178 grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF) for his research on stem cell biology and the potential use of stem cells in regenerative medicine.

Stem cells are cells with the unique ability to divide into identical daughter cells or to differentiate into specialized cell types, said Villa-Diaz, an assistant professor in the biological sciences and bioengineering departments at Oakland University. A better understanding of stem cell biology will advance knowledge of how organs and tissues are formed and maintained during the life of an organism, as stem cells are responsible for those functions.

Villa-Diaz will serve as the principle investigator on the project, which will examine the biological mechanisms that stem cells use to perform two of their main characteristics, including the capacity to divide and create an identical daughter cell a process known as self-renewal and the potential for stem cells to change their identity and become a specialized, differentiated cell.

My lab has been investigating for years these properties and new molecular pathways that are involved on both biological processes, he said. In this project, we will determine the potential function of two proteins the Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) and Integrin-Linked Kinase (ILK) in the nuclei of stem cells regulating the degradation of proteins involved in the regulation of genes that induce stem cell differentiation.

These roles might be unique for stem cells, as in somatic cells these proteins play other roles, Villa-Diaz added. Confirming these new activities of these proteins in the nuclei of stem cells will impact our knowledge of stem cell biology and will help us to better use these cells for therapeutic use in regenerative medicine.

In addition, this project will provide training opportunities for two new graduate students and multiple undergraduates, who will be directly involved in the research activities of this project. Dozens of graduate students will also be trained in methods to effectively communicate scientific knowledge to the public as an outreach component of the NSF grant.

This NSF award means a lot to me because it is a vote of trust on my research program, Villa-Diaz said.

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OU professor awarded $550,178 grant by National Science Foundation - College of Arts and Sciences - 2020 - News - OU Magazine - News at OU

Cell Biology

HI’s Dr. Sergio Gradilone invited to join NIH study section – Austin Daily Herald – Austin Herald

August 19, 2020 medical

Dr. Sergio Gradilone, senior faculty member of The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, earned an invite to serve as a member of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Hepatobiliary Pathophysiology Study Section. These critically important study sections review grant applications for specialized research. Gradilone will serve for a term of six years.

Dr. Sergio Gradilone

It was a great honor to receive this nomination by NIH officials and then the letter from UMN Vice President Chris Cramer acknowledging the position, Gradilone said. For me it is exciting to serve in this capacity and is win-win. I will help examine and review potential and innovative research projects which make an impact on cancer research and liver diseases in general, and share what Ive learned about the particular cancer research areas weve been dedicated to.

Gradilone leads the Cancer Cell Biology & Translational Research lab at The Hormel Institute and his research focuses on how a normal cell becomes a cancerous one, looking specifically at the primary cilium, a part of a cell similar to an antenna that receives signals from the environment around it. Gradilones research is currently directed at an aggressive form of liver cancer called cholangiocarcinoma, which originates in the epithelial cells of the bile ducts.

The Hepatobiliary Pathophysiology Study Section reviews grant applications for research involving diseases of the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts or bile. While the study section looks at a wide range of diseases, Gradilone will bring his cancer expertise to the group.

The NIH is a major government source of research grants and all applications go through the NIHs Center for Scientific Review. To make sure each application is properly vetted, there are study sections made up of experts in their respective fields who review those applications.

Study section members are selected based on their publishing record, participation in major scientific meetings, grant funding, and overall recognition of expertise within the field. Members give a significant amount of professional time to their duties and perform an important function in the grant process for biomedical research.

Examples of grant review panels Institute faculty have served on:

American Cancer Society Peer Review Committee on Carcinogenesis, Nutrition, and the Environment

LOreal USA Fellowships For Women in Science

National Science Foundation

NIH Tumor Cell Biology study section

American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grants

Cancer Research UK international

Cell Biology

3D Cell Cultures: Technologies and Global Markets to 2025 Featuring Agilent Technologies, BioVision, Cell Applications, Envisiontec, Mitra Biotech,…

August 19, 2020 medical

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "3D Cell Cultures: Technologies and Global Markets" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The report includes:

Whether the discussion is about stem cells, tissue engineering, or microphysiological systems, their vital role in drug discovery, toxicology, and other areas leading to new product development, 3D cell culture is becoming the environment that will increasingly define the basis for future advances.

To mix metaphors, 3D cell culture is also cross-roads through which just about everything else passes on its way to building knowledgebases or introducing new products. This study is needed to bring together and make sense out of the broad body of information encompassed by 3D cell culture.

Three-dimensional cell culture has been used by researchers for many years now, with early adoption and now key roles in cancer and stem cells. Organ-on-a-chip technology, also known as microphysiological systems, is leading to dramatic breakthroughs. Also, stem cell research coupled with synthetic biology is opening new areas. This study is needed to provide a perspective on these advances.

Furthermore, classical toxicology testing programs have been in place for many decades, and over the past 20 years, animal welfare and scientific activities have spurred the development of in vitro testing methods. In silico methods are advancing in novel ways that need to be analyzed and considered in terms of their impacts on cell culture.

This report investigates the recent key technical advances in 3D cell culture equipment, raw materials, assay kits, analytical methods, and clinical research organization (CRO) services. It should also be pointed out that this report takes a somewhat different position on 2D cell culture. It has been criticized for its inadequacies and the misleading information it can produce. However, a review of industry practices makes it clear that it still has its place and will contribute to future advances in unexpected ways.

The company section looks at many of the suppliers who provide equipment, assays, cells, reagents, and services used in 3D cell culture. This study sought to understand business models and market maturity dynamics in greater depth as well as providing more quantitative analysis of their operations.

Key Topics Covered

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Summary

Chapter 3 Highlights and Issues

Chapter 4 Tissue and Cell Culture: Technology and Product Background

Chapter 5 Assays, Imaging and Analysis

Chapter 6 Regulation and Standardization

Chapter 7 3D Models for Cancer

Chapter 8 Landscape for Toxicology and Drug Safety Testing

Chapter 9 Stem Cell Landscape

Chapter 10 Regenerative Medicine: Organ Transplants and Skin Substitutes

Chapter 11 Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/htgg5z

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3D Cell Cultures: Technologies and Global Markets to 2025 Featuring Agilent Technologies, BioVision, Cell Applications, Envisiontec, Mitra Biotech,...

Cell Biology

Life Science Tools and Reagents Market Is Estimated to Over the Forecast Period Key Players are: Abbott Laboratories, Abcam, BD Biosciences, Beckman…

August 19, 2020 medical

The report provides a unique tool for evaluating the Market, highlighting opportunities, and supporting strategic and tactical decision-making. This report recognizes that in this rapidly-evolving and competitive environment, up-to-date marketing information is essential to monitor performance and make critical decisions for growth and profitability. It provides information on trends and developments, and focuses on markets capacities and on the changing structure of the Life Science Tools & Reagents.

Get Sample Copy of The Report NOW!

https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/08132211052/global-life-science-tools-reagents-market-insights-and-forecast-to-2026/inquiry?Mode=21

Top leading Manufactures Profiled in Life Science Tools & Reagents Market Report are:

Abbott Laboratories, Abcam, BD Biosciences, Beckman Coulter Inc., Benitec, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Cell Sciences, Cell Signaling Technology, Cepheid Inc., Charles River Laboratories International Inc., Echelon Biosciences Inc., Emd Millipore, Enzo Biochem, High Throughput Genomics Inc., Illumina Inc., Lifesensors Inc., Lonza Group AG, Luminex Corp., Stemgent, Sysmex-Partec Gmbh, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Trilink Biotechnologies, Tocris Bioscience (Bio-Techne), Vitro Diagnostics Inc., Waters Corp., Xenotech Llc

Market Research Study Focus on these Types:

Tools

Reagents

Market Research Study Focus on these Applications:Proteomics

Cell biology research

Epigenetics

Metabolomics

Bioinformatics

Others

Inquire for Discount of Life Science Tools & Reagents Market Report at:

https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/08132211052/global-life-science-tools-reagents-market-insights-and-forecast-to-2026/discount?Mode=21

Life Science Tools & Reagents Market Scenario:

This research report represents a 360-degree overview of the competitive landscape of the Life Science Tools & Reagents Market. Furthermore, it offers massive data relating to recent trends, technical advancements, tools, and methodologies. The research report analyzes the Life Science Tools & Reagents Market in a detailed and concise manner for better insights into the businesses.

Furthermore, this report on the Life Science Tools & Reagents market demonstrates the recent trends, financial opportunities, governing policies, industry share, manufacturing status of the Life Science Tools & Reagents market, supply chain structure, marketing dynamics and competitive landscape and so on.

Table of Contents:

-Life Science Tools & Reagents Market Overview

-Economic Impact on Industry

-Market Competition by Manufacturers

-Production, Revenue (Value) by Region

-Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions

-Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type

-Market Analysis by Application

-Manufacturing Cost Analysis

-Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers

-Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders

-Market Effect Factors Analysis

-Life Science Tools & Reagents Market Forecast

In conclusion, Life Science Tools & Reagents market report presents the descriptive analysis of the parent market supported elite players, present, past and artistic movement information which is able to function a profitable guide for all the Life Science Tools & Reagents Industry business competitors. Our expert research analysts team has been trained to provide in-depth market research report from every individual sector which will be helpful to understand the industry data in the most precise way.

How we have factored the effect of Covid-19 in our report:

All the reports that we list have been tracking the impact of COVID-19 the market. Both upstream and downstream of the entire supply chain has been accounted for while doing this. Also, where possible, we will provide an additional COVID-19 update supplement/report to the report in Q3, please check for with the sales team.

Irfan Tamboli (Head of Sales) Market Insights Reports

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Life Science Tools and Reagents Market Is Estimated to Over the Forecast Period Key Players are: Abbott Laboratories, Abcam, BD Biosciences, Beckman...

Cell Biology

Johns Hopkins Universitys Biomedical Careers Initiative, a Robust Ph.D. Talent Pipeline for the Regions Life Science Industry – BioBuzz

August 19, 2020 medical

For Ph.D. students, deciding to leave the familiar environment of academia to pursue a career in the industry can be daunting. Often, Ph.D. students are so engrossed in their academic work they are simply unsure of what non-academic opportunities are out there and dont know how to explore or test these options.

The Johns Hopkins University (JHU ) Biomedical Careers Initiative, or BCI, is a robust internship program that exists to help JHU biomedical Ph.D. candidates and postdoctoral fellows better understand career options outside of academia while also providing real-world, industry experiences to explore and assess.

BCI provides opportunities for students to go out and test what might be a great fit for them. When youre in the lab working toward your PhD you get to see what academia is like but you might also have an interest in working in science policy, for example. You might get to attend an info session to hear about working at a venture capital firm, but that doesnt allow you to experience working there yourselfWe want to provide an opportunity for students to actually go and experience a job and prototype it to see if its a great fit, stated Dr. Rhiannon Mayhugh, Assistant Director of Experiential Learning at JHU School of Medicines (SOM) Professional Development and Career Office (PDCO).

We want our interns to build new skills in their chosen field, which they can bring back to the lab and make them more competitive in the job market. We also encourage students to do informational interviews during the internship to help them build their professional network, which is another important part of career exploration and making the transition into a new field, she added.

The program launched in 2013 and is housed within the PDCO. Dr. Peter Espenshade, JHU SOMs current Associate Dean for Graduate Biomedical Education and Professor of Cell Biology, and Dr. Arhonda Gogos, current JHU SOM Deputy Director of the Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, spearheaded BCIs creation. The program was initially supported by the JHU Office of the Provosts Ph.D. Professional Development Innovation Initiative, which still supports the program in its effort to ensure that Johns Hopkins Ph.D. students, while immersed in their training, can learn about, have exposure to, and begin to explore a range of career options relevant for their field, and for their lives.

Since 2013, BCI has helped more than 80 JHU trainees obtain paid internship positions across a wide range of non-academic, industry fields, including biotechnology and pharma, science policy, and consulting, among others. The program is highly structured and designed to provide tailored support to both interns and BCI intern host companies, which include some of the BioHealth Capital Regions (BHCR) best-known companies.

The PDCO office encourages Ph.D. students to start exploring career options and thinking about internships early on when they are in their first or second year. This allows them to plan ahead for their internships that are typically engaged in the later years of their training. Mayhugh meets with Ph.D. students interested in the internship program to do some discovery about their goals, timing, and needs. She also helps interns with developing their resumes, coordinating with their lab and mentors to ensure continuity between the internship and their Ph.D. work, and preparing for internship interviews. Mayhugh and BCIs goal is to make the internship application process as close to a real job application process as possible.

BCI also puts a strong emphasis on assisting interns with making the transition from an academic environment to an industry culture, which can be challenging for some Ph.D. candidates.

There is a lot of uncertainty. There is some fear of the unknown at first. Being able to test something out can help break down some of these fears and possible myths about working in the industry. An internship can really demystify the industry and help interns make a more informed decision, stated Mayhugh.

For BCI partner organizations seeking to hire interns, BCI and Mayhugh handle a great deal of the intern coordination and administrative work to save partner organizations time. For example, Mayhugh markets internship openings to PhDs for host organizations using listserve communications. Whats more, BCI interns can stay on their JHU stipend and health benefits during their 3-month, full-time internship; BCI only requests reimbursement from host organizations post-internship, which simplifies the entire process.

Former BCI interns speak glowingly about the program and how it helped them crystallize their goals and paved the way for their current careers in the industry.

Former BCI intern Dr. Leo Hagmann, who is now a Senior Scientist at Thrive Earlier Detections Baltimore location, shared this about his internship experience: The BCI really allows students a low-risk way to experience these careers immersively, while handling the administrative overhead around health insurance, compensation, and leave timing. The selection of sponsoring organizations the BCI assembled was of high quality while providing a diversity of sectors to choose from, and my experience turned out to be even better than I had hoped.

The biggest thing that the BCI internship helped me see was that a career in science outreach was possible. I had long assumed I would continue doing outreach as a hobby while working some other job. Thanks to the internship I did with the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, I was able to experience what a science outreach career looks like and be competitive when applying for positions while finishing up my Ph.D., shared Dr. Lily Raines, who is currently the Manager of the Office of Science Outreach at the American Chemical Society.

Current Booz Allen Hamilton (BHA) Associate and former BCI BHA intern Felix Yu shared, As a graduate student, my primary concerns when considering a non-academic career in the industry were whether my existing skillset from graduate school was translatable and whether Ill receive support from my thesis PI and/or administrators at the UniversityThe steps to initiate and gather relevant resources from scratch were the most daunting and difficult.

The BCI team offered me insight, comfort, and support to navigate the transition. I had the privilege to work with Pat Phelps and Caroline Pounds (ex-assistant Director) in the past and our working sessions offered me a safe space to rediscover my own abilities and limits outside of my thesis lab. From our conversations, I became more confident and was able to prepare myself more efficiently for the consulting industry. More importantly, they assisted me with working through any internship requirements with my thesis PI and department administrators, which alleviated any stress and potential complications, added Yu.

BCI does a great job connecting Ph.D. candidates to the many opportunities across so many non-academic, innovative fields in the region. Part of what makes our internship program great is that a lot of our opportunities are within commuting distance of Johns Hopkins. There are also so many Hopkins alumni that stay in the area so our interns can really utilize our alumni network, stated Mayhugh.

The BCI program tries to facilitate the internship process to make it as easy as possible for the student and the host organization while remaining flexible for each, she added. We want our interns and host organizations to have great experiences that add value and are mutually beneficial.

BCI recruits interns for summer, fall, and winter/spring cycles and the internship program is still placing Ph.D. students at host companies despite COVID-19, as internships have moved to a virtual format to adhere to pandemic safety protocols and policies for the time being.

If youre a current JHU Ph.D. student or post-doctoral fellow, or a company looking to become a BCI partner/host organization, please contact the BCI program at bci@jhmi.eduPh.D. students can review current internship openings you can click here.

Steve has over 20 years experience in copywriting, developing brand messaging and creating marketing strategies across a wide range of industries, including the biopharmaceutical, senior living, commercial real estate, IT and renewable energy sectors, among others. He is currently the Principal/Owner of StoryCore, a Frederick, Maryland-based content creation and execution consultancy focused on telling the unique stories of Maryland organizations.

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Johns Hopkins Universitys Biomedical Careers Initiative, a Robust Ph.D. Talent Pipeline for the Regions Life Science Industry - BioBuzz

Cell Biology

Live-Cell Imaging Market Size By Product Analysis, By Application, By End-Users, By Regional Outlook, By Top Companies and Forecast to 2027 – Bulletin…

August 19, 2020 medical

New Jersey, United States,- The Live-Cell Imaging Market is predicted by Verified Market Researchs report to find players focusing on new product development to secure a strong position in terms of revenue sharing. Strategic collaboration can be a powerful way to bring new products to the market. The level of competition observed in the market may increase.

This research report categorizes the global market by players/brands, regions, types, and applications. The report also analyzes the global market status, competitive landscape, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, sales channels, five forces of distributors, and porters.

The latest 2020 edition of this report reserves the right to provide further comments on the latest scenarios, recession, and impact of COVID-19 on the entire industry. It also provides qualitative information on when the industry can rethink the goals the industry is taking to address the situation and possible actions.

The report covers extensive analysis of the key market players in the market, along with their business overview, expansion plans, and strategies. The key players studied in the report include:

Live-Cell Imaging Market Segment Analysis-

The research report includes specific segments by Type and Application. Each type provides information about the production during the forecast period of 2015 to 2027. The application segment also provides consumption during the forecast period of 2015 to 2027. Understanding the segments helps in identifying the importance of different factors that aid market growth.

Global Live-Cell Imaging Market, By Product

Instruments Consumables Software

Global Live-Cell Imaging Market, By Application

Drug Discovery Developmental Biology Cell Biology Stem Cell Biology

Global Live-Cell Imaging Market, By End User

Academic & Research Institutes Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies Academic & Research Institutes

The study analyses the following key business aspects:

Analysis of Strategies of Leading Players: Market players can use this analysis to gain a competitive advantage over their competitors in the Live-Cell Imaging market.

Study on Key Market Trends: This section of the report offers a deeper analysis of the latest and future trends of the Live-Cell Imaging market.

Market Forecasts:Buyers of the report will have access to accurate and validated estimates of the total market size in terms of value and volume. The report also provides consumption, production, sales, and other forecasts for the Live-Cell Imaging market.

Regional Growth Analysis:All major regions and countries have been covered in the report. The regional analysis will help market players to tap into unexplored regional markets, prepare specific strategies for target regions, and compare the growth of all regional markets.

Segmental Analysis:The report provides accurate and reliable forecasts of the market share of important segments of the Live-Cell Imaging market. Market participants can use this analysis to make strategic investments in key growth pockets of the Live-Cell Imaging market.

Business Opportunities in Following Regions and Countries:

North America (United States, Canada, and Mexico)

Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia, Spain, and Benelux)

Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, Southeast Asia, and Australia)

Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia)

How will the report assist your business to grow?

The document offers statistical data about the value (US $) and size (units) for the Live-Cell Imaging industry between 2020 to 2027.

The report also traces the leading market rivals that will create and influence the Live-Cell Imaging business to a greater extent.

Extensive understanding of the fundamental trends impacting each sector, although greatest threat, latest technologies, and opportunities that could build the global Live-Cell Imaging market both supply and offer.

The report helps the customer to determine the substantial results of major market players or rulers of the Live-Cell Imaging sector.

Reason to Buy this Report:

Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players, and segments in the global Live-Cell Imaging Market. Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies. The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in Live-Cell Imaging Market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies.

Thank you for reading our report. The report is available for customization based on chapters or regions. Please get in touch with us to know more about customization options, and our team will ensure you get the report tailored according to your requirements.

About us:

Verified Market Research is a leading Global Research and Consulting firm servicing over 5000+ customers. Verified Market Research provides advanced analytical research solutions while offering information enriched research studies. We offer insight into strategic and growth analyses, Data necessary to achieve corporate goals, and critical revenue decisions.

Our 250 Analysts and SMEs offer a high level of expertise in data collection and governance use industrial techniques to collect and analyze data on more than 15,000 high impact and niche markets. Our analysts are trained to combine modern data collection techniques, superior research methodology, expertise, and years of collective experience to produce informative and accurate research.

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Live-Cell Imaging Market Size By Product Analysis, By Application, By End-Users, By Regional Outlook, By Top Companies and Forecast to 2027 - Bulletin...

Cell Biology

Hereditary Disease Foundation Launches Fund in Honor of Biomedical Pioneer and Huntington’s Disease Researcher Nancy S. Wexler – BioSpace

August 19, 2020 medical

NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hereditary Disease Foundation today announced that it is establishing a research fund to honor Dr. Nancy S. Wexler, a world recognized leader in genetics who led an international team that in 1993 identified the gene that causes Huntington's disease, a devastating inherited neurodegenerative disorder. The fund is being launched with $350,000 in gifts and pledges. In the last two years, the foundation has provided over $3 million for research worldwide.

Dr. Wexler is President of the Hereditary Disease Foundation, which funds innovative research to find treatments and cures for Huntington's disease and impact other brain disorders. She recently revealed that she has been diagnosed with Huntington's disease, the illness she has spent her life studying.

The Nancy S. Wexler Discovery Fund will encourage research collaborations and the recruitment of young scientists. Each year the fund will award the Nancy S. Wexler Young Investigator Prize to a researcher whose work reflects the highest caliber of excellence, diligence and creative thinking. The fund will also support scientific collaborations, educational workshops and conferences.

"Nancy Wexler is celebrating her 75th birthday this year, and there is no more fitting way to honor her pioneering work, relentless dedication and enduring optimism than by establishing this fund in her name," said Meghan Donaldson, CEO of the Hereditary Disease Foundation. "We thank our contributors and friends for their support of our work, moving us toward the day when families will no longer have to face the terrible challenge of Huntington's disease."

Recipient of Young Investigator Prize "The fund honors Nancy Wexler's unparalleled contributions to Huntington's disease research and her extraordinary ability to recruit young, talented scientists to the field and build research collaborations," said Dr. Anne B. Young, Chair of the Hereditary Disease Foundation Scientific Advisory Board and Vice Chair of the HDF Board of Directors. "We are thrilled to present the first Nancy S. Wexler Young Investigator Prize to Dr. Osama Al-Dalahmah, whose brilliant work is bringing us closer to new therapies and potential cures for Huntington's disease."

Dr. Al-Dalahmah, neuropathology instructor in the department of pathology and cell biology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, is being recognized for his work to discover ways of increasing the brain's ability to protect itself from damage caused by Huntington's disease. He is studying astrocytes the major support cells in the brain that ensure the proper functioning of neurons and their role in the progression of Huntington's disease.

"I believe that bringing astrocytes into the spotlight will open new therapeutic avenues for people with Huntington's disease. Huntington's disease changes astrocytes in several ways, some of which may be neuroprotective and beneficial for neurons," said Dr. Al-Dalahmah. "Tapping into the neuroprotective potential of astrocytes in Huntington's disease will bring us much needed hope. The Hereditary Disease Foundation especially Dr. Nancy Wexler makes my research possible and is the reason why I joined the ranks of Huntington's disease researchers," he added.

Searching for Treatments and Cures for a Devastating Disease Huntington's disease causes irreversible declines in control of mood, memory, and movement. There is currently no cure. Each child of a parent affected with Huntington's disease has a 50% risk of inheriting the same lethal affliction. The disease usually appears in the prime of life age 30-50 but it can strike as early as 2 or as old as 80. It is invariably fatal over 10 to 20 years. Most individuals in the late stages of the disease lose the ability to walk, talk and feed themselves, but are still aware of themselves and their families. Since Huntington's disease is caused by a single gene, it serves as a model to potentially unlock cures for other brain disorders such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrig's (ALS) diseases.

About the Hereditary Disease Foundation The Hereditary Disease Foundation (HDF) was established in 1968 by Dr. Milton Wexler after his wife Leonore was diagnosed with Huntington's disease, which meant their daughters Alice and Nancy were also at risk. From 1979 to 2002, Dr. Nancy Wexler led an international team of scientists and doctors to Venezuela, which has the world's highest prevalence of the disease, to gather clinical data working with thousands of Huntington's disease patients and their families. In 1983, HDF-supported researchers discovered the neighborhood of the Huntington's disease gene using DNA markers, the first marker for any genetic disease. As a result of this discovery, a genetic test for Huntington's disease was developed. This breakthrough also helped launch the Human Genome Project. After finding the marker, the HDF formed the Gene Hunters, a collaboration of 100 international scientists who, over the next decade, pioneered many technologies for mapping and finding genes. In 1993, they identified the Huntington's disease gene. This discovery laid the foundation for all research on Huntington's disease. Today, techniques such as gene silencing and gene editing are being studied and developed, and several clinical trials in humans are now underway.

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SOURCE Hereditary Disease Foundation

Cell Biology

Recursion and University of Utah launch regions largest life science incubator – Newswise

August 19, 2020 medical

Newswise Altitude Lab announced its first resident companies and opened applications for its breakthrough collaborative facility and program. Founded by Recursion and the University of Utahs Center for Technology & Venture Commercialization (TVC), the incubator fills the critical role of finding, supporting, incubating and accelerating early-stage life science and health care companies in Utah. Altitude Lab is the first of its kinda blended incubator/accelerator program focused on developing diverse and inclusive businesses in the health care sector.

Were focused on where innovation and economic growth truly startfounders, explained Chandana Haque, executive director of Altitude Lab. We see an opportunity in Salt Lake City to propel global health care innovation by meeting the needs of a diverse community of entrepreneurs.

Altitude Lab brings together important elements to address critical gaps for founders, both in Utah and in the sector. As residents of the incubator, founders will have access to a cutting-edge 14,500-square-foot facility equipped with nearly a million dollars of the latest molecular and cell biology tools, laboratory space and modern office and networking facilities. Altitude will also offer workshops, mentoring and non-dilutive funding designed to address the opportunity gap experienced by underrepresented founders. Half of resident companies will have an underrepresented founder or executive and one third will receive grants that cover the cost of residency.

Altitude Lab is bringing together resources and a community that many startups lack, but were pivotal to Recursions success, said Chris Gibson, co-founder and CEO of Recursion. Together with the university and other partners, we can help reduce the friction of finding key assets, like lab space and capital, for a new generation of diverse companies and founders. Its an approach that we see transforming the industry in this region.

Utah is a substantial source of innovation, as TVC has launched more than two hundred companies in just the last decade, one of which was Recursion, said Keith Marmer, associate vice president for technology & venture commercialization and corporate partnerships at the U. We understand that one of greatest obstacles to building a company is finding affordable lab and office space, so Altitude Lab is providing the region with an important building block to nurture and accelerate ideas to market.

The incubators first companies include:

Altitude Lab will officially open its collaborative wet lab facility in October to enable therapeutic, diagnostic, medical device, research tools and health tech companies.

Learn more about Altitude Lab and apply for residency ataltitudelab.org.

About Altitude Lab

Altitude Lab is building a new, representative generation of founders to seed the next cycle of biotech innovation in Salt Lake City. Located in University of Utah Research Park, Altitude Lab is an incubator focused on early stage life science and health care companies. The initiative is part of alarger city planandcollaborative visionfrom Recursion and the University of Utah to foster socially-responsible entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic productivity. The Recursion Charitable Foundation, under which Altitude Lab operates, has filed for 501(c)(3) status and currently operates as a nonprofit organization. Learn more ataltitudelab.orgor connect onTwitter.

About Recursion

Recursion is a clinical-stage biotechnology company combining experimental biology and automation with artificial intelligence in a massively parallel system to efficiently discover potential drugs for diverse indications, including genetic disease, inflammation, immunology and infectious disease. Recursion applies causative perturbations to human cells to generate disease models and associated biological image data. Recursions rich, relatable database of more than 5 petabytes of biological images generated in-house on the companys robotics platform enables advanced machine learning approaches to reveal drug candidates, mechanisms of action and potential toxicity, with the eventual goal of decoding biology and advancing new therapeutics to radically improve lives. Recursion is headquartered in Salt Lake City. Learn more atrecursionpharma.com, or connect onTwitter,Facebook, andLinkedIn.

About the Center for Technology & Venture Commercialization

The Center for Technology & Venture Commercializationis dedicated to helping the University of Utahs faculty inventors bring their innovations to market. TVC is responsible for all aspects of invention management, patent prosecution, licensing, startup formation and support, equity management and early-stage funding. The centers mission is to generate economic returns for the university and the state of Utah, expand the universitys reputation for innovation and positively impact society. The University of Utah was recentlyrankedas the 30th-most innovative university in the world by Reuters.

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Recursion and University of Utah launch regions largest life science incubator - Newswise

Cell Biology

More Talent Rushes To The Synthetic Biology Gold Mine: Venture Capitalist Mitchell Mutz Leaves Roche To Join Codon Capital – Forbes

August 19, 2020 medical

Synthetic biology sells picks and shovels for the $4 trillion bioeconomy, and Codon Capital sees ... [+] this opportunity. Mitchell Mutzthe accomplished venture investor, biotech serial entrepreneur, and inventorjoins Codon Capital to build a better world with biology.

Synthetic biology sells picks and shovels for the $4 trillion bioeconomy, and Codon Capital sees this opportunity. Its investments are a who's who of synthetic biology, including up-and-coming unicorns Pivot Bio, Zymergen, Bolt Threads, and more. Now, Codon Capital and its founder, Karl Handelsman, have attracted new talent. Mitchell Mutzthe accomplished venture investor, biotech serial entrepreneur, and inventorhas departed Roche Venture Fund to join Codon Capital at its San Francisco-based office.

If you follow my column, you know that synthetic biology is a fast-growing field at the forefront of manufacturing. It combines computation, automation, and our ability to read/write/edit DNA to make sustainable, high-performance products with biology. This includes better pharmaceuticals and diagnostics for Covid-19, smart drugs for cancer and diabetes, and products we dont associate with biotech like cars, sports apparel, and cell phones.

Mitchell Mutz joined Codon Capital to pursue a simple investment thesis: back great technology teams ... [+] that make the impossible possible.

Mutz has firsthand experience in this industry. He was the first employee at Labcyte, a company developing revolutionary lab equipment for scientific research, which two years ago exited with an impressive sale to Beckman Coulter for $310 million. In addition to being Labcytes first employee, Mutz also founded Amplyx Pharmaceuticals in 2007, a small molecule therapeutics company that has raised over $140 million in venture financing and recently completed a phase two clinical trial. After three and a half years as senior investment director at Roche Ventures, hes joining the Codon Capital team, focusing on therapeutics and synthetic biology.

With a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Rochester, experience working in midsize biotech companies, and 36 issued patents, Mutz sees himself as an investor, serial entrepreneur, and inventor. His expertise and long-time connection to Handelsman make him excited about his new role at Codon Capital.

I'm a huge synthetic biology fan. I've been thrilled beyond belief, although we didn't envision at the time how much Labcyte has become involved with being an engine for synthetic biology, says Mutz. I'm very excited to be more active in that space.

Although the economic outlook is a little more uncertain now, Handelsman sees no need to put his foot on the brake.

Karl Handelsman, founder of Codon Capital and synthetic biology investor, at SynBioBeta

Even though it is a time of turmoil, the need for early-stage innovation has never been greater, says Handelsman. This is a time when entrepreneurs and investors are stepping up to do even bolder things. It's a tough time, but its a very good time to start things. We need more innovation, and entrepreneurs have a robust desire to build out really important companies.

What does Codon Capital look for in biotech companies? In a challenging technical and economic landscape, Handelsman says Codon Capitals investment thesis is simple: We back great technical teams to make the impossible possible.

Mutz and Handelsman are not the only ones who see this young industrys potential: synthetic biology investment has topped $18 billion over the last ten years. Whether it's improving humans lives, sustaining the planet, or capitalizing on the coming bio-industrial revolution, more and more investors see synthetic biology as the ultimate enabling technology of the triple bottom line.

Follow me on Twitter at @johncumbers and @synbiobeta. Subscribe to my weekly newsletters in synthetic biology. Thank you to Stephanie Michelsen for additional research and reporting in this article. Im the founder of SynBioBeta, and some of the companies that I write about are sponsors of the SynBioBeta conference and weekly digest. Heres the full list of SynBioBeta sponsors.

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More Talent Rushes To The Synthetic Biology Gold Mine: Venture Capitalist Mitchell Mutz Leaves Roche To Join Codon Capital - Forbes