At first glance the jellyfish Aequorea victoria seems an unlikely candidate to spark a revolution in medical research, but thanks to the work of the marine biologist Osamu Shimomura that's exactly what it did. In their decision to award the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Osamu Shimomura, Martin Chalfie and Roger Y. Tsien for their … Continue reading Jellyfish, worms and research revolutions
Category: Science News
From the Nobel Prize to the clinic through animal research
The winners of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2008 have been announced today, and this year the prize has been split between three scientists whose epidemiological work lead to the identification of viruses responsible for two deadly diseases. Luc Montagnier and Françoise Barré-Sinoussi were given the award for their discovery of the … Continue reading From the Nobel Prize to the clinic through animal research
A pig model of cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is one of the most commonly inherited diseases, affecting about one in every four thousand children born in the USA, and is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. The CFTR gene produces a channel that allows the transport of chloride ions across membranes in the body, and … Continue reading A pig model of cystic fibrosis
Update of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
In a continuing effort to improve the conditions for animals in research, the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) has initiated an update to the 1996 version of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (commonly known as the Guide). The Guide is not only the basis for AAALAC International accreditation, but … Continue reading Update of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
Lasker awards highlight the importance of animal models
Every September the Lasker Foundation announces the names of those scientists who will receive awards for their outstanding contribution to fighting disease, and over time these prestigious awards have gained a reputation as "America's Nobels." Many past awards have been awarded to scientists whose research depended on the use of animals, and this years awards … Continue reading Lasker awards highlight the importance of animal models
Changing cellular career paths.
Every year over 13,000 young people are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease where the bodies own defense system turns on the beta cells of the pancreas that produce insulin. While the development of insulin therapy has enabled many type I diabetics to live relatively normal lives there is as yet no cure … Continue reading Changing cellular career paths.
Taking a BiTE out of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a diverse family of cancers that affect a part of the body's immune system known as the lymphatic system. In NHL white blood cells become cancerous and develop into tumors at key points in the lymphatic system known as the lymph nodes, before spreading to other tissues. About 50,000 Americans develop … Continue reading Taking a BiTE out of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Mice aid development of new weapon against HIV
For the past 25 years scientists have sought to develop treatments for HIV, the virus which causes AIDS. They have had notable successes in that time, particularly with the development of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) which combines several drugs in a potent antiviral cocktail. Unfortunately HAART does not cure HIV infection, and in many … Continue reading Mice aid development of new weapon against HIV
Speaking of Research 