|
Improving accessibility to all PHG Foundation news and updates, you can now sign up to follow us on Twitter. We are pleased to announce a new facility to comment on our news stories – your perspectives and input can add value to the Genomics and Policy News, so please submit your comments! There is also now a one-click Email and Share option for all news stories.
Genetics, policy and health services
In the UK, there is new guidance for health professionals and discussion on the role of patients in medical research (28 July) and plans have been announced for National Health Service laboratory scientists to take on an expanded genetics role, potentially including patient consultations (30 July). A new report looks at the future of synthetic biology in Germany (11 August), and a public consultation is launched focusing on the ethics of personalised, direct-to-consumer (DTC) testing (16 July).
Prospects for pharmacogenetic testing in the US (including concerns about DTC testing) are highlighted (29 July), a new publication looks at the psychological effects of genetic testing for Alzheimer’s disease susceptibility (22 July), and we provide some perspective on DTC risk predicition services (14 August). We also offer an update on genetic non-discrimination legislation in Germany and the US (10 August) and report on the use of neural transplants for Huntingdon’s disease (24 July).
Genomic research
Various new resources for medical genomic research have been launched recently (4 August), and papers have reported on the first human genome to be sequenced using ‘third-generation’ single molecule technology (12 August) and the first full structural map of the HIV-1 genome (7 August). Findings from new studies on the genetic features of glioblastomas have wider implications for cancer genomics (20 July).
Genetic epidemiology
A new report from the Academy of Medical Sciences looks at the role of genome wide association (GWA) studies in understanding common diseases (15 July). Meanwhile, major GWAs have identified the first common susceptibility locus for ovarian cancer (6 August) and another has confirmed the genetic basis of a long-standing association between blood-group status and pancreatic cancer risk (5 August). Building on previous GWAs findings, two papers report a functional genomics approach to dissecting the role of a genetic locus in increased colorectal and prostate cancer risk (30 July).
New reviews and commentaries
Our selection of recent articles of interest (3 August)
Other recent news and research
New genetic link suspected for Muscular Dystrophy
Cancer gene complexity revealed
Mutations in gene linked to ciliopathies
Cold, flu or pneumonia? Answer may lie in blood test
Sequencing push brings new UK genome analysis center
Genome of leukemia patient reveals common mutations
Scientists halt epilepsy in mice
Rare athlete deaths spur sickle cell trait testing
Experts find new targets to stop breast cancer
Study on sperm made from stem cells retracted for plagiarism
New genetic study of Asperger Syndrome, autistic traits, and empathy
Nanotech gene therapy kills ovarian cancer in mice
MMRF completes sequencing of myeloma genome
Nature or nurture? New epigenetic model blurs the line in the debate
Five hypertension genes found in black Americans
Dilated cardiomyopathy: discovery of novel gene
Link between gene and increasingly common type of blood cancer
Identification of new breast cancer-promoting gene
New tests could aid early Alzheimer's diagnosis
Cold virus used in cystic fibrosis study
Gene mutation could be key to rare blood vessel disease
Antibody gene mystery solved
7 key genes predict brain cancer survival
New Alzheimer's gene is pinpointed
Portable DNA purifier for poor countries
See also the Genomics & Health Weekly Update from the CDC Office of Public Health Genomics and the GenInfo Monthly Newsletter from HumGen.
For our events listing, go to http://www.phgfoundation.org/events
Full listing of new additions to our website at: http://www.phgfoundation.org/whats_new.php
|