Tag: genomics
-
Health Organizations Form Genetics Data Standards Alliance
Some 70 health care organizations worldwide are forming an alliance to develop common standards for collecting and sharing genetic data. The organizations — representing health care providers, government agencies, academic and research institutes, foundations, and advocacy groups — seeks to create a common interoperable framework, with associated regulatory and practical guidelines, for the interchange of…
-
University, Biotech, Life Technologies Partner on Gene Tests
University at Buffalo in New York, the biotechnology company Empire Genomics, and genetics systems developer Life Technologies are establishing facilities at the university to conduct genomic sequencing for research and diagnostics to support personalized medicine. Financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed. Under the deal, Life Technologies is providing equipment from its Ion line…
-
Stem Cell Process Makes Red Blood, Platelets in Quantities
Medical and public health researchers at Boston University developed a lab process for generating from adult stem cells, unlimited quantities of red blood and platelet cells, the type of cells in donated blood. The team led by George Murphy, co-director of the university’s Center for Regenerative Medicine, published its findings online yesterday in the journal Blood…
-
FuturaGene, Danforth Center Partner on Crop Yield Technology
FuturaGene, a Sao Paulo, Brazil biotechnology company in the forestry industry will collaborate with Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis to apply FuturaGen’s yield enhancement discoveries to food crops in developing countries. Financial and intellectual property aspects of the deal were not disclosed. FuturaGene, a subsidiary of the Brazilian forestry products company Suzano…
-
One-Step Process Developed for Genetic Designed Bacteria
Resarchers at University of Adelaide in Australia and Stanford University in California developed a more efficient process for producing genetically designed bacteria. The team led by Adelaide biotechnology professor Keith Shearwin published its findings online earlier this month in the journal ACS Synthetic Biology (paid subscription required). Shearwin and colleagues call their process “clonetegration,” which…
-
Mayo Clinic, Cancer Genetics Form Cancer Diagnostics Venture
The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and Cancer Genetics Inc. in Rutherford, New Jersey formed OncoSpire Genomics, a joint venture to develop personalized cancer diagnostics based on next-generation genomic sequencing. Financial aspects of the deal were not disclosed. Cancer Genetics develops tests to discover genetic abnormalities, particularly those leading to personalized management of cancer. Among…
-
Clinical Trial Underway to Test MicroRNA Cancer Therapy
Mirna Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company in Austin, Texas, recently began a clinical trial to test its lead candidate, MRX34 that simulates the tumor-suppression action of microRNA, as a therapy for cancer. The trial is an early-stage study mainly of MRX34’s safety with patients suffering from cancer of the liver or advanced or metastatic cancer…
-
Nimbus, Shire Partner on Rare Genetic Disease Drug Discovery
Nimbus Discovery, a biotechnology company in Cambridge, Massachusetts will discover and develop new small-molecule drug candidates to treat a set of rare genetic disorders, for the specialty pharmaceutical company Shire plc based in Ireland. Under the deal, Shire will provide Nimbus with periodic milestone payments, and while financial details of the agreement were not disclosed,…
-
Biotech, Sloan-Kettering Partner on Blood Cancer Test
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and biotechnology company Foundation Medicine are developing a new test to diagnose blood-related cancers and connect patients to the best treatment options. Foundation Medicine plans to commercialize the test and bring it to market by the end of 2013. Other financial and intellectual property aspects of the deal…
-
Synthetic Biology Census Shows Company Growth, Consolidation
A census of organizations, agencies, and companies involved in synthetic biology shows rapid growth of the field in the past four years, but also some retrenchment, particularly in the private sector. The study was conducted by the Synthetic Biology Project, an initiative of Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. The Wilson Center…