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Biomedical Applications for Nanofibers Sought in Challenge
6 March 2015. A new challenge on InnoCentive is seeking novel ways of using unique properties of nanofibers to treat human diseases. The competition as a total purse of $10,000 and a deadline of 3 April 2015. InnoCentive in Waltham, Massachusetts conducts open-innovation, crowdsourcing competitions for corporate and organization sponsors. The sponsor, in this case,…
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Gates Invests, Supports R&D in RNA Vaccine Maker
6 March 2015. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is making an equity investment and providing a grant to support research at CureVac GmbH, a developer of vaccines and therapies with RNA molecules. The foundation is investing €46 million ($52 million) in CureVac, in Tübingen, Germany, but the amount of the grant supporting research in…
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Trial Testing Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury
5 March 2015. A clinical trial testing a stem cell therapy for spinal cord injury is recruiting patients at an Atlanta rehabilitation center. The intermediate-stage trial, conducted by biotechnology company Asterias Biotherapeutics, aims to initially enroll 13 adults to test three dosage levels of neural stem cells designed to restore motor functions to spinal cord…
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Synthetic Polymer Shown to Reduce Heavy Bleeding
5 March 2015. A University of Washington research team developed a synthetic polymer that in lab animals acts like natural proteins to form blood clots to stop heavy bleeding, a common danger in trauma cases. The group led by Washington bioengineering faculty Suzi Pun and emergency medicine professor Nathan White published its findings yesterday in…
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Robot for Reaching Children With Autism Demonstrated
4 March 2015. Milo, a humanoid robot designed to engage and build social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder, was shown today at a press conference in Washington, D.C. The demonstration also reported on early research findings that suggest Milo can reach some children with autism to develop their social interactions. Autism spectrum disorder is…
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Alliance to Build Photonic Mosquito Control Device
3 March 2015. A collaboration between a social enterprise and lighting technology company aims to develop a laser device to control disease-carrying mosquitoes without pesticides. Financial details of the partnership between Global Good and Lighting Science Group, a designer of advanced industrial and residential lighting systems, were not disclosed. Global Good brings together government, business,…
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Pen-Dispensed Bio-Inks Developed for On-Demand Sensors
3 March 2015. Researchers at University of California in San Diego developed a way to create bioactive inks to use in hand-drawn sensors when needed at the point of care and other applications in the field. The team from the lab of nanoengineering professor Joseph Wang reported on their proof-of-concept findings last week in the…
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Trial to Test Video Game Therapy for Autism
2 March 2015. A clinical trial plans to begin recruiting participants to test a video game designed to engage areas of the brain for building cognitive skills affected by autism. The trial, conducted by Akili Interactive Labs that developed the game, is funded by Delivering Scientific Innovation for Autism or Delsia LLC, a subsidiary of the…
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Genome Editing Shown to Repair Sickle Cell Gene
2 March 2015. Geneticists at the biotechnology company Editas Medicine show how genome editing techniques could repair mutations in the gene that causes sickle cell disease. Cecilia Cotta-Ramusino, a researcher with Editas, presented her findings today at the Keystone Symposium for Genomic Instability and DNA Repair in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. Sickle cell disease is a…
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Adult Stem Cell Quality Control Methods Devised
27 February 2015. A European research team developed a process for testing the safety and quality of adult stem cells before being used in gene therapy treatments on patients. The team led by stem cell scientist Yann Barrandon at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne published its findings today in the journal EMBO…