Microcephaly

Dr. Jose Villar Wins 2024 March of Dimes Agnes Higgins Award in Maternal-Fetal Nutrition

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Woman, Body composition, Microcephaly, Diet, Randomized controlled trial, Pregnancy, Obesity, Growth, Fetus, PAS, Life, Stanford University, Health, University, Mother, World Health Organization, Hypertension, Medicine, Infant, Pre-eclampsia, University of Oxford, Breast milk, CDC, Preterm birth, WHO, Research, Dietary supplement

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Jose Villar, a University of Oxford Professor has been named the 2024 recipient of the March of Dimes Agnes Higgins Award in Maternal-Fetal Nutrition. Dr. Villar, a Professor of Perinatal Medicine at Oxford's Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health and the former Coordinator of Maternal and Perinatal Health at the World Health Organization (WHO) has spent more than a half century researching the effect of maternal nutrition on the health, growth, and development of babies. The award will be presented to Dr. Villar at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) on May 4 in Toronto, Canada.

Key Points: 
  • Prominent Oxford scientist led studies on fetal growth, newborn size, and preterm postnatal growth
    ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Jose Villar, a University of Oxford Professor has been named the 2024 recipient of the March of Dimes Agnes Higgins Award in Maternal-Fetal Nutrition.
  • The award will be presented to Dr. Villar at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) on May 4 in Toronto, Canada.
  • They present a universal blueprint for healthy growth and development from early gestation to two years of age.
  • That is the challenge ahead, and I couldn't be prouder to continue it alongside March of Dimes."

Viralgen Vector Core and Elpida Therapeutics partner to manufacture gene therapy medicines for anticipated Spastic Paraplegia 50 (SPG50) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4J (CMT4J) clinical trials

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Epilepsy, Partnership, FIG4, Hypotonia, Quality of life, AP4M1, Cell, CMT, AAV, Patient, Intellectual, SAN, Microcephaly, Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease, Safety, Membrane, Disease, Pharmaceutical industry, Vaccine

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viralgen Vector Core (Viralgen) and Elpida Therapeutics (Elpida Tx) have partnered to manufacture gene therapies for use in clinical trials sponsored by Elpida Tx involving patients living with SPG50 or CMT4J.

Key Points: 
  • SAN DIEGO, Sept. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viralgen Vector Core (Viralgen) and Elpida Therapeutics (Elpida Tx) have partnered to manufacture gene therapies for use in clinical trials sponsored by Elpida Tx involving patients living with SPG50 or CMT4J.
  • It is anticipated that these trials will take place at various sites in North America and Europe and will explore potential safety and efficacy of the new treatments to be manufactured, as well as potential quality of life improvements.
  • The same CMT4J genotype can present symptoms ranging from mild clinical signs to severe disability.2
    The partnership between Viralgen and Elpida Tx is expected to enable the efficient manufacture of the adeno-associated vector serotype 9 (AAV9) based therapies for use in Elpida Tx's anticipated multi-site clinical trials.
  • We feel so grateful and honored to be working with such an incredible partner."

UMass Chan Medical School announces enrollment in study to examine impact of cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission in early education settings

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 14, 2023
Vaccine, Infection, YWCA, MRNA, Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts, Therapy, YWCA of Central Massachusetts, Community advisory board, Cytomegalovirus, Education, Hearing loss, Parent, Biotechnology, Drug, Medicine, Research, RNA, Messenger, Groundnut rosette virus, Stoddard, Central Massachusetts, Risk, Child, CMV, Microcephaly, Pregnancy, Birth, MPH, Developmental disability, Tutoring, Nursing, MD, Moderna

WORCESTER, Mass., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- UMass Chan Medical School today announced it will begin enrolling participants at group child care and early childhood education settings in Worcester and Cambridge to examine the impact of cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission. The study is a collaboration with Moderna (Nasdaq: MRNA), a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapeutics and vaccines, which is currently researching a vaccine for CMV.

Key Points: 
  • WORCESTER, Mass., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- UMass Chan Medical School today announced it will begin enrolling participants at group child care and early childhood education settings in Worcester and Cambridge to examine the impact of cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission.
  • The study, called CMV Transmission and Immune Tracking (CMVTransmIT), will examine how CMV spreads among children and between household members, with an aim to characterize immune responses to CMV infection over time.
  • Findings from the study will inform the design of CMV prevention strategies, including awareness campaigns for CMV, to potentially reduce its spread in similar group settings.
  • "Dr. Gibson's CMV Transmit study is an important effort to provide a better understanding of CMV transmission dynamics and immune response to infection."

UPSHER-SMITH LAUNCHES ISOTRETINOIN CAPSULES, USP

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 24, 2023
REMS, Pregnancy, Central nervous system, Medication, Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Face, Marketing, Fetus, Senior counsel, Thymus, Cleft lip and cleft palate, IQ, Skull, Toxicity, Pharmacy, Capsule, Hydrocephalus, Food and Drug Administration, Gland, System, Patient, Birth defect, Risk, Microcephaly, Isotretinoin, FDA, Comparison of multi-paradigm programming languages, Death, Food, Microphthalmia, Birth control

Isotretinoin capsules must not be used by patients who are or may become pregnant.

Key Points: 
  • Isotretinoin capsules must not be used by patients who are or may become pregnant.
  • There is an extremely high risk that life-threatening birth defects will result if pregnancy occurs while taking isotretinoin capsules in any amount, even for short periods of time.
  • If pregnancy does occur during treatment of a patient who is taking isotretinoin capsules, isotretinoin capsules must be discontinued immediately and the patient should be referred to an Obstetrician-Gynecologist experienced in reproductive toxicity for further evaluation and counseling.
  • Because of isotretinoin teratogenicity and to minimize fetal exposure, isotretinoin capsules approved for marketing only under a special restricted distribution program approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

GeoVax Receives Notice of Allowance for Zika Vaccine Patent

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Antibody, Disease, Infection, Biotechnology, Rest, Zika virus, COVID-19, Cancer, Guillain–Barré syndrome, Neurodegeneration, Vaccine, Risk, Pregnancy, Dengue fever, Vaccination, Microcephaly, Tick-borne encephalitis, Patient, Patent, GeoVax, NS1, Flavivirus, Paracetamol, MVA, Woman, Yellow fever, ADE, Flaviviridae, ZIKV

ATLANTA, GA, Jan. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX), a biotechnology company developing immunotherapies and vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a Notice of Allowance for Patent Application No. 17/000,768 titled, “Method for Generating a ZIKV Immune Response Utilizing a Recombinant Modified Vaccinia Ankara Vector Encoding the NS1 Protein.”

Key Points: 
  • ATLANTA, GA, Jan. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX), a biotechnology company developing immunotherapies and vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a Notice of Allowance for Patent Application No.
  • 17/000,768 titled, “Method for Generating a ZIKV Immune Response Utilizing a Recombinant Modified Vaccinia Ankara Vector Encoding the NS1 Protein.”
    “Our novel Zika vaccine candidate, GEO-ZM02, is constructed using our modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vector platform.
  • Preclinical studies demonstrated a single dose of GEO-ZM02 provided 100% protection against a lethal dose of Zika virus,” stated GeoVax CEO David Dodd.
  • The claims to be granted in the patent cover GeoVax’s MVA vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a ZIKV nonstructural (NS1) protein, of which GEO-ZM02 is designed.

Managing Birth Defects for a Lifetime

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Spina bifida, Mental health, Diabetes, Intellectual, Blood, Smoking, Folate, CDC, Ventricular septal defect, Microsoft family features, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Sport, Acne, Woman, Prenatal care, Risk, Pregnancy, Research, Disability, Family, Birth, Muscular dystrophy, Medicine, Infection, Pediatrics, Birth defect, Microcephaly, Health, Insurance, Parent, Zika fever, Isotretinoin, Quality of life, Life, Glucose, Down syndrome, Drinking, Anatomical pathology, Gene, Birth control

While some require minimal intervention after birth, many birth defects affect the individual, parents and families across a lifetime.

Key Points: 
  • While some require minimal intervention after birth, many birth defects affect the individual, parents and families across a lifetime.
  • Birth defects are structural changes present at birth that can affect almost any part of the body.
  • Awareness of birth defects across the lifespan helps provide affected individuals, parents and families the information they need to seek proper care.
  • Learn more about birth defects at each stage of life from the experts at March of Dimes:
    Not all birth defects are preventable but protecting a mother's health before and during pregnancy can help increase the likelihood of a healthy baby.

Charles River and Cure AP-4 Announce Gene Therapy Manufacturing Collaboration

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 6, 2022
Biotechnology, General Health, Medical Devices, Health, Pharmaceutical, Neurodegeneration, Partnership, Corporation, HQ, NYSE, Research, Display resolution, Awareness, Seizure, Cure, Rehabilitation, Phenotype, Hypertonia, DNA, Prognosis, Spasticity, Microcephaly, Quality of life, HSP, Extremities, GMP, CDMO, Patient, Hypotonia, Biotechnology, Therapy, CRL, AP-4, Drug development, Government, Cognate, Pharmaceutical industry, Medical device, Vaccine

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL) and Cure AP-4 , a non-profit foundation dedicated to raising funds and awareness about Adapter-Protein 4 Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (AP-4 HSP), today announced a manufacturing collaboration.

Key Points: 
  • Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL) and Cure AP-4 , a non-profit foundation dedicated to raising funds and awareness about Adapter-Protein 4 Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (AP-4 HSP), today announced a manufacturing collaboration.
  • Charles River, a contract research and development manufacturing organization (CRO/CDMO), will provide High Quality (HQ) plasmid DNA for Cure AP-4s Phase I/II gene therapy trials against AP-4 HSP.
  • In response to this, Charles River recently announced the opening of a state-of-the-art HQ plasmid manufacturing center of excellence to address these supply shortages and support the growing needs of the cell and gene therapy field.
  • Our partnership with Charles River brings us closer to accomplishing that goal and we are excited to begin manufacturing our treatment with their experienced team.

Celebrating the Mighty Individuals with 5P Deletion Syndrome

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, April 30, 2022
Spectrum disorder, International, Awareness, Disability, Parent, Education, Microcephaly, Intersex Society of North America, Prognosis, Organization, Technology, Society, Quality of life, Syndrome, Cat, Learning, Chromosome, Diagnosis, World, Research, Cri du chat syndrome, Social media, Knowledge, Human, Disorder, Residential care, Toy

LAKEWOOD, Calif. , April 30, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The 5p- Society of North America, along with families and support organizations from over 95 countries, are bringing awareness of 5p Deletion Syndrome also known as 5p Minus (5p-) Syndrome or Cri du Chat Syndrome. This genetic condition is caused by a permanent deletion on the "p" arm of the 5th chromosome. The 2022 awareness campaign celebrates these unique individuals by raising awareness around the world through education and community events, such as the "Faces of 5p-" campaign as well as a Virtual 5K for 5p- event, among others.

Key Points: 
  • May 1-15, 2022: International Chromosome 5P Deletion Syndrome Awareness Week(s) May 5: 5P Deletion Syndrome Day
    LAKEWOOD, Calif., April 30, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The 5p- Society of North America, along with families and support organizations from over 95 countries, are bringing awareness of 5p Deletion Syndrome also known as 5p Minus (5p-) Syndrome or Cri du Chat Syndrome.
  • The 5p- Society's mission is to maximize quality of life of individuals with 5p- and their families.
  • Virtual 5k for 5p-, to raise awareness and money for programs that benefit the 5p Deletion Syndrome community.
  • We have since learned that the syndrome may be misdiagnosed early on due to the absence of this characteristic; hence our emphasis on the more medically accurate name of 5p Deletion or 5p- Syndrome.

UMass Chan Medical School announces research collaboration with Moderna to examine impact of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in young children

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
Eating, Urine, Risk, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Groundnut rosette virus, Infection, Nursing school, Population, Therapy, Microcephaly, Multimedia, Cytomegalovirus, City, Hearing loss, News, Vaccine, CMV, Research, Biotechnology, U.S. News & World Report, MPH, Pregnancy, Health, RNA, Moderna, View, Medical school, RNA transfection, Nasdaq, University of Massachusetts, Drug, Science, VP, Saliva, Education, MRNA, Birth, University, Biomedical sciences, Adult, Pharmaceutical industry, MD, Nursing

WORCESTER, Mass., March 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- UMass Chan Medical School today announced a research collaboration with Moderna, Inc. (Nasdaq: MRNA), a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapeutics and vaccines, on a comprehensive study of cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission in group childcare, education, and household settings.

Key Points: 
  • The study will be led by Laura Gibson, MD, an Adult and Pediatric Infectious Disease specialist at UMass Chan.
  • The UMass Chan Medical School, one of five campuses of the University of Massachusetts system, comprises the T.H.
  • Chan School of Medicine, the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the TanChingfenGraduate School of Nursing; a thriving research enterprise and an innovative public service initiative, Commonwealth Medicine.
  • UMass Chan attracts more than $400 million annually in research funding, placing it among the top 50 medical schools in the nation.In 2021, the Medical School received a $175 million donation from The Morningside Foundation and was renamed the UMass Chan Medical School.

CENTOGENE’s Ground-Breaking Family Genetic Research Published in the New England Journal of Medicine Reveals Path to Potential Cure for Structural Birth Defects

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Lists of diseases, Food, Nature, Cleft lip and cleft palate, The New England Journal of Medicine, Diagnosis, Patient, Risk, Regulation of food and dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Security (finance), Rady, A*STAR, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Exome, Gene, Industry, Genetic distance, Legislation, Company, Microcephaly, Growth, COVID-19, WLS, Embryonic development, Research, Nasdaq, SEC, GLOBE, Pharmaceutical industry

Structural birth defects, such as cleft palate, occur in approximately 3% of live births worldwide.

Key Points: 
  • Structural birth defects, such as cleft palate, occur in approximately 3% of live births worldwide.
  • The analysis revealed that genetic variations affecting a central Wnt regulator WLS causes syndromic structural birth defects.
  • Accordingly, this research is an important step in potentially preventing and curing syndromes and structural birth defects linked to WLS dysfunction.
  • Prof. Peter Bauer, Chief Genomic Officer at CENTOGENE, said, Up until now, the genetic causes of structural birth defects have remained largely unknown.