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Legal and policy news
Major legal developments in the last month have included rulings against the US BRCA gene patent holders (30 March) and in favour of a UK science writer being sued for libel over criticism of chiropracty (6 April). In Turkey, there are fears that a new law will stifle genetic and biomedical research (4 April), whilst in the UK a government strategy group has called for greater skepticism with respect to science (31 March).
Debate surrounding the tenth anniversary of the completion of the human genome sequence (8 April) has been accompanied by concerns that current approaches to privacy and data protection in genomics may not be appropriate (12 April). An OECD document reviews the prospects for human health technologies over the next five years (31 March).
Genetic testing and disease
Plans for a new public genetic test registry in the US have been announced (19 March), and a range of evidence for the clinical utility of genetic testing released: pharmacogenetic testing prior to the use of warfarin was found to reduce hospitalisations (20 March), but there was insufficient evidence to support the use of testing common genetic variants to assess breast cancer risk (22 March) or gene expression profiling for lung cancer prognosis (23 March).
Genetic screening and services
The Chief Medical Officer for England has called for improved services for rare diseases in his annual report (18 March), a move welcomed by the PHG Foundation who also drew attention to the prospects for newborn screening for some of these disorders. The US approach to looking at evidence for newborn screening has been published (7 April), and a major PHG Foundation report will be released soon addressing the issue of expanded screening in the UK.
In clinical genetics, an influential paper suggests that copy number variants do not account for a significant part of genetic susceptibility to common diseases (1 April), whilst media reporting of a family law lecture has generated some controversy around the genetic risks associated with marriages between cousins (30 March).
Genetic epidemiology
Research has implicated new candidate genes in genetic susceptibility to kidney disease (13 April), lung cancer in non-smokers (30 March) and blood clotting disorders (25 March).
Translational medicine
Progress in the creation of tissues and organs in regenerative medicine is reported (5 April) along with innovative new approaches to cancer treatment combining RNA interference with nanoparticle delivery (26 March).
New reviews and commentaries
Our selection of recent articles of interest (2 April)
Other recent news and research
Childhood deafness gene uncovered
Genetic clue to fight sudden cardiac death
Gene links lower birth weight and diabetes
Genes that cause brain aneurysms identified
Genetic engineering raises hope for Lyme Disease vaccine
Clue to motor neurone disease revealed in new genetic study
Cell memory of DNA damage contributes to cancer
Blocking gene boosts cancer killing radiotherapy
New test may allow screening for Fragile X Syndrome
New tool developed for DNA research
Autism susceptibility genes identified
Why cystic fibrosis patients live longer in some countries
Scientists find aging gene is linked to immunity
Gene mutation may be key to schizophrenia
Gene test helps select breast cancer chemotherapy
Test predicts which patients benefit from MS drugs
Altering a gene in mice led to fast healing
New theory Of Down Syndrome may lead to new therapies
Newer genetic test for autism more effective
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
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