‘Phenomenal’ trial results may lead to a treatment for Huntington’s disease, experts say
via the Washington Post: The discovery of a drug that may treat the fatal disease known as Huntington’s is being hailed as “historic” by Louise Vetter, president and CEO of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America, and “phenomenal” and “fantastically promising” by Huntington’s researchers, including the woman who discovered the genetic mutation that causes the disease. “I’m […]
Ionis Antisense Oligonuleotide Drug IONIS-HTTRX is Safe and Decreases Levels of Toxic Huntington’s Disease Protein in Cerebrospinal Fluid.
In a statement released today, Ionis Pharmaceuticals announced study results demonstrating for the first time that their drug (IONIS-HTTRX) lowered levels of the abnormal protein causing Huntington’s disease in cerebrospinal fluid, and that this approach was safe and well tolerated in humans. Link: http://ir.ionispharma.com/news-releases/news-release-details/ionis-pharmaceuticals-licenses-ionis-htt-rx-partner-following The IONIS-HTTRx Study: The IONIS-HTTRX trial enrolled 46 patients with […]
Potential Breakthrough for Huntington’s Disease
Lancet, Neurology paper released “Neurofilament light protein in blood as a potential biomarker of neurodegeneration in Huntington’s disease: a retrospective cohort analysis”. Authors: Lauren M Byrne, MRes, Filipe B Rodrigues, MD, Prof Kaj Blennow, PhD, Prof Alexandra Durr, PhD, Prof Blair R Leavitt, PhD, Prof Raymund A C Roos, PhD, Rachael I Scahill, PhD, Prof […]
Pope embraces Huntington’s afflicted in bid to end stigma
http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/pope-embraces-huntington-s-afflicted-in-bid-to-end-stigma-1.3418951 VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis embraced weeping mothers, fathers and children with Huntington’s Disease on Thursday as he sought to remove the stigma of an incurable genetic disorder that causes such devastating physical and psychiatric effects that its sufferers are often shunned and abandoned. One by one, Francis blessed and greeted each of the […]
Dr. Michael R. Hayden Inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
On Thursday, May 4th, six renowned medical pioneers will be recognized as the 2017 Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Inductees at a special ceremony in Québec City, hosted by Université Laval and its Faculty of Medicine and sponsored by the Canadian Medical Association and MD Financial Management. “The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame is proud […]
BC Children’s Hospital researchers & UBC students create their own e-textbook and new software platform
Undergraduate students in Dr. Wyeth Wasserman’s cancer genetics class had a unique assignment: to write their own e-textbook for their course. “Textbooks cost too much and students should have high quality, free materials,” says Dr. Wasserman, who led the project. He is executive director of BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, professor in the Department of […]
Dr. Michael S. Kobor appointed as the Sunny Hill BC Leadership Chair in Child Development
Congratulations to Dr. Michael S. Kobor Dr. Michael S. Kobor has been appointed as the Sunny Hill BC Leadership Chair in Child Development. The Chair has a $6-million endowment that will support research on understanding how early life experiences affect gene expression to influence children’s health and development. Dr. Kobor seeks to understand why some […]