Genetics and public health
The World Health Organization has launched a new initiative to identify key challenges for genomics to benefit public health in developing countries (8 June). A report from the PHG Foundation outlines a novel framework for comparing different risk prediction models (31 May), whilst new research examines parental views on screening babies for untreatable disorders (9 June), and a new report from the PHG Foundation outlines a new framework for comparing different risk prediction models (31 May). Genetic analysis of the virulent bacterialstrain associated with a recent E.coli outbreak in Germany has revealed a novel genetic composition (14 June).
Ethics, law and policy
A report presents findings that the Human Genome Project has had a strongly beneficial economic impact in the US, with further returns on the original financial investments still to come (12 May). A public consultation is seeking opinion on ethical, legal and social issues arising from new and emerging biotechnologies (23 May). The French government has voted against legal amendments to make permission for research involving human embryos easier to obtain (28 May), and the UK Supreme Court has ruled that up to a million DNA samples must be removed from the national police database (24 May).
Genomic research and tools
Effective exaggeration of findings that link of biomarkers with disease has been observed in highly-cited scientific studies (7 June). As the1000 Genomes Project reports good progress (19 May), new projects are underway to create epigenetic maps (13 June) and tools for genetic investigation of neurological diseases (17 May).
Genetics and disease
Research on autism spectrum disorder has revealed not only new mutations associated with sporadic disease (18 May) but also a possible model of how genetic and environmental factors could contribute to a shared pathology for the condition (30 May). Other new publications examine the influence of genetic factors on disease severity in cystic fibrosis (26 May) and the risk of obesity and metabolic disease (23 May), whilst trials of gene therapy for Parkinsons’ disease have shown promising results (3 June).
New reviews and commentaries
Our selection of interesting recent articles (1 June)
Other recent news and research
New cancer drugs aim to block broken genes
New world report on disability
Genetic key to blood stem cells
Urine test could hold key to early cancer diagnosis
Human Genome Project - too soon for disappointment
Funding shortfall puts UK cystic fibrosis research on hold
Scientists identify overactive genes in aggressive breast cancers
Enzyme treatment hope for Huntingdon’s disease
Gene test predicts leukaemia survival
Multiple sclerosis bone marrow stem cell trial
Governance arrangements for research ethics committees
NHGRI to fund new functional genomics tools
Evidence of altered RNA stirs debate
European call for greater use of clinical research in medical practice
Deprivation and neglect found to age children's chromosomes
Alzheimer's risk gene may damage brain decades before symptoms
Editing scrambled genes in human stem cells
Firm starts stem cell bank with human egg donor
Targeted drugs in focus ahead of cancer meeting
Scientists find genetic link to depression
Sickle cell anaemia treatment ‘effective for children’
EU-funded biology research infrastructure projects
New gene linked to congenital heart defects
Gene clue to how superbugs attack
Breast cancer multi-gene tests compared
New guidelines for cardiovascular genetic testing
See also the Genomics & Health Impact Update from the CDC Office of Public Health Genomics and the GenInfo Monthly Newsletter from HumGen.
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