Ceregene Reports New Findings Regarding How Parkinson’s Brains Respond to Neurotrophic Factors Ceregene, Inc., reported that its scientists and collaborators have published new experimental findings in support of its Parkinson’s disease program. The publication reports the first evidence that gene transfer can provide targeted expression of a neurotrophic factor, i.e., neurturin or NRTN, intended to restore and preserve dying neurons. [Ceregene, Inc. Press Release] Neuralstem Receives FDA Orphan Designation for Spinal Cord Stem Cells for Treatment of ALS Neuralstem, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Orphan Products Development has granted it orphan drug designation for the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) with its human spinal cord derived neural stem cells (NSI-566RSC), currently in a Phase I safety study to evaluate the safety of the product and the surgical route of administration in a wide range of ALS patients. [Neuralstem, Inc. Press Release] Neuralstem Updates ALS Clinical Trial Progress Neuralstem, Inc. updated the progress of its ongoing Phase I human clinical trial of the company’s spinal cord stem cells in the treatment of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. [Neuralstem, Inc. Press Release] Salk Institute Celebrates Grand Opening of the Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Center The Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Center at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies officially opens on February 9, 2011 after quietly hiring two faculty members specializing in biophotonics—the science of using and manipulating light to investigate biological function—and building up its core facility’s imaging capacity to rival most if not all academic research institutions of its size in the nation. [Salk Institute for Biological Studies Press Release] Salk Professor Terrence Sejnowski Elected to National Academy of Engineering Terry J. Sejnowski, Ph.D., has been elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering, an honor considered one of the highest accolades in the engineering world. Dr. Sejnowski, whose work on neural networks helped spark the neural networks revolution in computing in the 1980s, is recognized for his “contributions to artificial and real neural network algorithms and applying signal processing models to neuroscience.” [Salk Institute for Biological Studies Press Release] Maas Biolab Wins World Cyclosporin Brain Formula Patents Maas Biolab received United States Patent 7,446,093, European Union Patent 1,091,750 and Patents in India, Canada and New Zealand for its Mitogard(R) cyclosporin formulas. Mitogard(R) is designed for central nervous system delivery to treat neurodegenerative diseases, in particular amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. [Mass Biolab Press Release] Cuts Disastrous for Brain Science Research, Academics Warn The closure of drug company research facilities and “draconian” funding cuts will have a disastrous impact on brain science in Britain, senior academics have warned. [The Guardian] Setting the Record Straight on Neuroscience Funding The Medical Research Council (MRC) sets the record straight following recent concerns in the research community about the level of investment in neuroscience research in the UK. [Medical Research Council Press Release] |