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Legal and regulatory developments
The last month has seen a number of significant regulatory developments in areas relating to genetic testing, and the derivation and use of embryonic stem cells. In the US there have been calls for increased regulation of direct to consumer genetic tests(30 April), and the European Society of Human Genetics has issued new recommendations on patenting and licensing genetic tests (7 May)
The German Parliament voted to ease legal restrictions on human embryonic stem cell research (15 April), whilst legislation to permit therapeutic cloning legislation has continued to move forward in Australia (10 April). In the UK, progress of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill through parliament has thrown up several key issues for debate, including proposed amendments to facilitate human-animal hybrid embryo research (8 April) and to prohibit the selection of a ‘disabled’ embryo over a normal one for implantation during prenatal genetic diagnosis procedures (25 April). The UK Human Tissue Authority has issued new regulations governing the collection of cord blood from newborn babies for banking as a potential source of therapeutic stem cells (13 May), and in the US, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act has finally received congressional approval (9 May).
Evaluation and consultation
In the UK, the House of Lords has issued a call for evidence on genomic medicine (22 April) and the Department of Health has released a progress review on the 2003 Genetics White Paper (28 April). A new report from the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies discusses potential improvements to Health Technology Assessments (23 April), whilst the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has launched a public consultation on Human Biobanks and Genetic Research Databases (20 April).
Genomics research
New international research collaborations have been launched in pharmacogenetics (29 April) and to develop a new tool for diagnosis and monitoring of coeliac disease (7 May), and a new centre for proteomic and genomic research has opened in South Africa (18 April). In the UK, plans to expand the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium to make it the largest ever study of the genetics of common diseases have been announced (21 April), whilst researchers have reported some preliminary success in the use of gene therapy for a serious form of inherited eye disorder, and the identification of possible distinct clinical subtypes of chronic fatigue syndrome / ME based on genetic classifications (11 May).
Selected new reviews and commentaries
Our selection of recent articles of interest (4 May).
Other recent news and research
Gene variant linked to arrhythmias, sudden death
CDFD to develop ‘genetic registry’,
Guidelines for multiplex assays
Microsoft Grants To Fund Genomic Health Care IT Projects
Simpler method raises concerns of human cloning
Stem cell advances could help childless couples
New discoveries in epigenetics hold promise for depression
Genomic locations may warn of heart disease
Ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease share some genetic risk factors
Researchers find links between metabolism, blood pressure
Researchers find genetic link for autism, mitochondrial disease
Researchers discover DNA variations that raise psoriasis risk
Research links gene mutations to low blood pressure
Study finds new genetic clues to bowel disorders
Study links gene variation to asthma
New treatments hope after 'lung cancer gene' found
Embryonic Stem Cells And Cancer Stem Cells Linked By Module Map
Stem cells made to mimic disease
Biomarkers allow doctors to match therapy to patient
Parkinson's research finds different mutations in a single gene suggest that it is primarily an inherited genetic disorder
New gene-switching method may transform disease treatment
See also the Genomics & Health Weekly Update from the CDC Office of Public Health Genomics.
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