Genomics
Blocking some T cells may unleash full power of immune system against cancer
Researchers have identified a way to restrict regulatory T-cell activity in tumor cells, which in turn can unleash other immune cells to attack tumors in cancer patients. The research is being published in the August 3 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Read More
Bio-Techne launches multiplex spatial genomics assay
Bio-Techne has expanded its RNAscope in situ hybridization technology portfolio with the release of the new RNAscope HiPlex V2 assay for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded and fixed and frozen samples for up to 12 targets. Read More
Optogenetic gene therapy provides hope for retinitis pigmentosa patients
Optogenetic therapy bypasses traditional methods of repairing defective photoreceptors in the eye by targeting other retinal cells. Recently, three examples of optogenetic therapeutics under development highlight many of the challenges this type of gene therapy faces for the treatment of a devastating genetic eye disease. Read More
EMBL partners with DeepMind to predict 3D structure of human proteins
Google Health's DeepMind announced a partnership with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) to offer the scientific community open access to the most comprehensive database developed to date of predicted 3D protein structures. Read More
Cellular programming spurs next-generation cell therapies
Cellular reprogramming of ex vivo cells may offer improvements on first-generation adoptive cell therapies, which have experienced limited clinical success due to complex manufacturing, potential patient rejection, and availability of clinical cell types. Further, in vivo reprogramming may expand on this concept by eliminating the need for manufacture and the risk of immune rejection. Read More
Iodine-activated nanoparticles trigger DNA damage in cancer cells
Newly designed nanoparticles containing iodine have been shown to kill cancer cells by causing DNA damage when activated by radiation. The in vitro findings were published in Scientific Reports on July 14. Read More
Thermo Fisher opens cGMP plasmid DNA manufacturing facility in Calif.
Thermo Fisher Scientific announced it has officially opened its new current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) plasmid DNA manufacturing facility in Carlsbad, CA, a step the company hopes will help it meet the rapidly growing demand for plasmid DNA-based therapies and vital mRNA-based vaccines. Read More
Gene therapy tackles 2 rare childhood diseases 2 different ways
Two new studies point to the efficient use of gene therapy to treat deadly childhood genetic diseases. The first study used direct gene therapy infusion to treat a rare neurodevelopmental disorder, while the second study used prenatal base editing in mouse models as proof of concept for the treatment of genetic diseases. These vastly different approaches show the promise of gene therapy for a variety of devastating diseases. Read More
Strateos launches hybrid SmartLab software platform
Strateos has launched SmartLab, a modular cloud-based software platform designed to assist life science research organizations in connecting onsite research and development labs with remote-controlled facilities. Read More
Machine learning helps scientists map the mammalian immune system
The use of advanced machine-learning software has led to the identification of hundreds of new genes that likely affect the working immune system, according to findings from a study published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Read More
Conferences
CPhI North America
August 10-12
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States
Bioprocessing Summit
August 16-19
Boston, Massachusetts United States
6th Annual CAR-TCR Summit
August 30 - September 2
Online
European Congress of Immunology (ECI) 2021
September 1-4
Belgrade Serbia
Medical Affairs Strategic Summit (MASS)
September 13-15
New Brunswick, New Jersey United States
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