PLOS: What will genomics look like in a decade?
A new PLOS paper examines where genomics will be in a decade. A number of genomics leaders make projections in the paper of how big data, genomics and healthcare will intertwine by 2025.
Ancestry.com joins the healthcare fray with disease-tracking AncestryHealth
Ancestry.com's first offering, AncestryHealth, helps users track their genealogical predisposition to hereditary disease, but the company plans to expand this new health division well beyond family mapping.
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When Investment Rhymes with Canada
Canada has a proud history of achievement in the areas of science and technology, and the field of biomanufacturing and life sciences is no exception.
4 thought-provoking observations from Season 3 of Orphan Black
Orphan Black has given us a glimpse at what the implications of human cloning might look like in the future, albeit with much more murder and conspiracy than we'd hope for in reality.
7 new genes identified as potential indicators for anxiety disorders
Anxiety disorders are unique to each person who is challenged with them. So why are many patients put in a broad category for treatment?
Do the Orphan Black clones have ideal genetics to positively contribute to society?
What does Orphan Black demonstrate when it comes to having "good" genes?
Want a Nobel Prize? You can buy one… Watson’s, in fact.
Well, this is tragic. James Watson – yes, the Watson & Crick Watson – is auctioning off his Nobel Prize because he’s short of cash. Ever since a public outing of some IQ-related racist comments, the laureate told the Financial Times that he’s now considered an “unperson.” Watson, who earned the accolade in 1962 for discovering the structure of DNA, will auction off […]
Stanford, SAP partnership explores genetics role in chronic conditions
Much of the discussion on big data has focused on claims information from insurers and EHRs from providers, but a collaborative effort underway at the Stanford School of Medicine with SAP is hoping to tap into a different set – genomic data. The possible benefits of sharing genetic data on a wide scale have great […]
Wow of the Week: Older moms outlive younger moms
You hear an awful lot about the risk factors of waiting to have a child. But older moms may have a secret advantage. New research suggests that moms who have children at an older age may live longer than younger mothers. For older women who still want to have kids, risk of chromosomal abnormalities in […]
Convergence of HIT + digital health + genetics inspires founder of Helix Health Advisors
When it comes to genomic technology, Carol Isaacson Barash is a go-to source. She is the founder of Helix Health Advisors, a consultancy specializing in integrating transformative genomic technologies at the point of care. She also has 25 years of experience in genetics/genomics technologies, bioethics and applications to clinical care. Barash will be speaking at 9:20 a.m. […]
Polaris, ARCH Venture Partners put $15M behind launch of deCODE genetics spinoff NextCODE
Sequencing the genome is one thing, but applying the data produced from that process to clinical care is a whole other thing. A new startup called NextCODE Health has launched with $15 million and a license to use the genomics platform of deCODE genetics to develop sequence-based clinical diagnostics. deCODE, a once-bankrupt Icelandic company now […]
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
What are the biological roots of mental illness? A $12M NIH grant-funded study seeks answers
A group of researchers led by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine are exploring the biological causes of mental illness through a multisystem disorder linked to a single missing chromosome. Their study has received funding through a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, part of the National Institutes of Health. It will […]
Would you donate your data for the future of precision medicine?
The term “precision medicine” might not yet be part of the average person’s vocabulary, but UCSF and its collaborators are hoping a public awareness campaign will move the needle in that direction. Dr. Susan Desmond-Hellmann, chancellor of the university, is spearheading a public campaign called Me For You that’s urging the public to do its […]
Unmet need, actionable results, clinical utility: 3 non-negotiables for new diagnostics
There are thousands of genetic test products on the market today, and more being introduced all the time. As targeted drugs and personalized medicine become reality, the diagnostics market has become a welcoming place for startups. That doesn’t mean the market has room for every new kind of test, though. “Having great science is a […]
Wow of the Week: Britain shows support for genetically modified embryos to prevent disease
Talk about wow. Reports out of Britain this week suggest that it could soon become the first country to allow an in-vitro fertilization technique that uses genetic material from three people. The technique in question – referred to as three-parent in vitro fertilization – involves intervention in the fertilization process to remove defective mitochondrial DNA […]
Will Myriad ruling stifle innovation? Many still see plenty of incentives for genetics companies
Even before the Supreme Court ruled on Myriad Genetics yesterday, there was talk in the biotech industry that a decision against the company’s patents would spell bad news for innovation. Trade group BIO is among those expressing concern post-ruling about how young biotechs who have built their business models on DNA patents will fare. Others […]