Category Archives: Molecular Medicine

The partnership brings an integrated diagnostic approach to advance the early detection of pancreatic cancer.

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Aug. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The PRECEDE Consortium (PRECEDE) and Konica Minolta Precision Medicine, Inc. (KMPM) announced today that KMPM and its subsidiaries, Ambry Genetics and Invicro, have joined as partners to bring a novel integrated diagnostic approach to support PRECEDE's mission for increasing survival rates for pancreatic cancer patients through early detection.

According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, with a 5-year survival rate of just 10 percent[1]. The PRECEDE Consortium is a highly collaborative international effort comprised of over 35 leading academic medical centers across the globe to transform the early detection and prevention of pancreatic cancer, with the aim of increasing the 5-year survival rate from 10 percent to 50 percent within the next 10 years.

Together, KMPM and PRECEDE Consortium will bring their expertise and resources in genetic testing, pathology, and imaging to determine who is at an elevated risk for developing pancreatic cancer, define that risk, and invite those at elevated risk into state-of-the art clinical screening programs. The coordinated plan by KMPM and the PRECEDE Consortium is to analyze and standardize data curated through LATTICE, an integrated diagnostics platform, that runs on Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS). LATTICE uses Amazon HealthLake, a HIPAA-eligible service that helps organizations store, transform, query, and analyze health data, and will help researchers and clinicians gain new genomic insights for detecting and preventing pancreatic cancer.

One of the most significant challenges in determining who is at an elevated risk for pancreatic cancer has been the lack of infrastructure and protocols to support the translation of molecular imaging data, sequencing data, and diagnostics technology data. The analysis of this data is critical for informing disease detection, prevention, and treatment. KMPM's focus on multi-omics and multimodal data has spurred their development of LATTICE, which they plan to use to securely aggregate diagnostics, imaging, and informatics data from the PRECEDE study in one seamless, standardized platform to better derive new insights for preventive and managed care.

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"As a surgeon and scientist who has spent my entire career taking care of pancreatic cancer patients and trying to improve survival for this intractable disease, it is clear that early detection is likely to have the greatest impact in changing outcomes," said Dr. Diane M. Simeone, Principal Investigator of PRECEDE and Director of the Pancreatic Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health. "Through this innovative partnership we expect to curate and analyze large amounts of data in an unprecedented way to optimize early detection methods for pancreatic cancer."

"Machine learning may offer healthcare and life sciences organizations the opportunity to normalize, index, structure, and aggregate data in a way that makes it easier for clinicians to understand relationships in data and support better patient care," said Dr. Taha Kass Hout, Director of Machine Learning at AWS. "We are excited to support the PRECEDE Consortium as they work to predict and prevent pancreatic cancer using LATTICE."

"Early identification can have a life-changing impact for patients at a high risk for pancreatic cancer," said Aaron Elliott, KMPM CEO. "By leveraging the LATTICE platform, PRECEDE will be able to help more healthcare providers, researchers, and scientists harness the power of diagnostics, imaging, and informatics to find novel associations and biomarkers for the early detection of pancreatic cancer."

The PRECEDE Consortium is currently providing clinical care to high-risk patients at designated academic medical institutions and enrolling eligible patients into its observational longitudinal prospective cohort study. The PRECEDE study plans to grow to include over a hundred institutional partnerships and expand the cohort to over 10,000 high risk individuals for this important study. For more information on PRECEDE and its Consortium members please visit, precedestudy.org

About PRECEDE Founded in 2018, The PRECEDE Consortium is a highly collaborative international effort to improve survival for pancreatic cancer by improving early detection, screening, risk modeling, and prevention for those with a heritable risk for pancreatic cancer. PRECEDE's mission is to increase the survival of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer from 10% to 50% in the next ten years by partnering with top researchers, industry, academic institutions, survivors, and families dedicated to preventing and ending pancreatic cancer. The largest effort of its kind, PRECEDE utilizes a novel collaboration and data-sharing model to evaluate at-risk individuals for pancreatic cancer. Working collaboratively, PRECEDE aims to better define who is at risk, determine the level of risk, and enroll those at elevated risk into state-of-the-art screening programs to help put an end to pancreatic cancer.

About KONICA MINOLTA PRECISION MEDICINE, Inc.Konica Minolta Precision Medicine, Inc. (KMPM) is a comprehensive precision diagnostics company dedicated to advancing technologies that accurately predict, detect and treat disease. Powered by proprietary software platforms, best-in-class genomics technology from Ambry Genetics Corporation, and industry-leading radiology and pathology services from Invicro, LLC, KMPM is uniquely equipped to collect, analyze, and report on multi-modal precision diagnostic data sets. This comprehensive approach will drive clinical access to novel diagnostic assays through the company's extensive network of healthcare providers and pharmaceutical partners. LATTICE is a trademark of Ambry Genetics.

Media Contact:Simone Jackenthal Email: sjackenthal@tridentdmg.com

[1] American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2021. Atlanta, Ga: American Cancer Society; 2021.

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SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --The global regenerative medicine marketsize is expectedto reach USD 57.08 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 11.27% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Recent advancements in biological therapies have resulted in a gradual shift in preference toward personalized medicinal strategies over the conventional treatment approach. This has resulted in rising R&D activities in the regenerative medicine arena for the development of novel regenerative therapies.

Key Insights & Findings:

Read 273 page research report, "Regenerative Medicine Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Cell-based Immunotherapies, Gene Therapies), By Therapeutic Category (Cardiovascular, Oncology), And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2027", by Grand View Research

Furthermore,advancements in cell biology, genomics research, and gene-editing technology are anticipated to fuel the growth of the industry. Stem cell-based regenerative therapies are in clinical trials, which may help restore damaged specialized cells in many serious and fatal diseases, such as cancer, Alzheimer's, neurodegenerative diseases, and spinal cord injuries. For instance, various research institutes have adopted Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs) to develop a treatment for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Constant advancements in molecular medicines have led to the development of gene-based therapy, which utilizes targeted delivery of DNA as a medicine to fight against various disorders. Gene therapy developments are high in oncology due to the rising prevalence and genetically driven pathophysiology of cancer. The steady commercial success of gene therapies is expected to accelerate the growth of the global market over the forecast period.

Grand View Research has segmented the global regenerative medicine market on the basis of product, therapeutic category, and region:

List of Key Players of Regenerative Medicine Market

Check out more studies related to Global Biotechnology Industry, conducted by Grand View Research:

Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:Sherry JamesCorporate Sales Specialist, USAGrand View Research, Inc.Phone: 1-415-349-0058Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519Email: [emailprotected]Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.comFollow Us: LinkedIn| Twitter

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Regenerative Medicine Market Size Worth $57.08 Billion By 2027: Grand View Research, Inc. - PRNewswire

Balik Scientists. Balik Puso. Balik Pilipinas.

Seven Filipino virologists who were trained abroad responded to the call of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to be part of the first-of-its-kind Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines or VIP.

As they are scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato Boy T. de la Pea on Friday, Aug. 13, they are expected to share their expertise in the study and development of local vaccines against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and their scientific researches on virology and other diseases.

It has been noted that from 1975 to 2020, the DOST was able to work with 564 Balik Scientists through 716 engagements under its brain gain flagship initiative, Balik Scientist Program (BSP).

The Balik Scientist Program has been bringing home Filipino scientists from all corners of the world for almost 46 years now, DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Cristina L. Guevara told the Manila Bulletin.

As the Philippines continues to fight and brace itself for the effects of the pandemic, we saw the eagerness and dedication of our Balik Scientists to help our country. We wish to express our gratitude to our Balik Scientists for their unconditional and unwavering love and service to the country.

As the DOST is set to roll down its red carpet to the seven Balik Scientists, it is good to know their affiliations and expertise, putting them at the heart of the anatomy of the VIP which may rise at the New Clark Economic Zone in Capas, Tarlac by the end of 2023 or in 2024.

The profiles of the seven Filipino virologists were provided by Office of the Undersecretary for Research and Development, led by Guevara.

DR. ELPIDIO CESAR NADALA JR.

Ph.D. in Microbiology and Animal Virology

Post Doctoral in Aquatic Virology and Medical Biotechnology

-Vice President of Research and Development, Diagnostics for the Real World, Ltd (DRW), California, USA

Dr. Elpidio Cesar Nadala Jr. is a virologist and microbiologist with 20 years of experience in academic research and 17 years in the industry developing diagnostic assays for the detection of bacterial and viral pathogens.

He is the co-founder of the Diagnostics for the Real World, Ltd (DRW), where he spearheaded the development of rapid diagnostic tests for the detection of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) surface antigen, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) antibodies, and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) antibodies, as well as improved versions of the CE-marked Chlamydia rapid test.

His team was behind the development of the SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 test for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 test was developed and validated within two months in 2020.

Currently, the SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 test is used in 79 hospitals and schools in the United Kingdom with a total of 648 Assay Modules deployed and 300,000 tests used so far.

DR. LOURDES NADALA

Ph.D. in Microbiology (Major in Animal Virology)

-Vice President, Regulatory Affairs/Quality Assurance, Diagnostics for the Real World, Ltd (DRW)

Dr. Lourdes Nadala is a microbiologist/virologist by training with over 15 years of experience in microbial systematics and culture collection-related activities and over 20 years of shrimp and human diagnostics, including ISO accreditation and successful regulatory submission of in vitro diagnostic medical devices.

She spearheaded DRWs efforts for ISO 13485 accreditation and regulatory approval of in vitro diagnostic (IVD) products which include molecular point-of-care tests for early diagnosis of HIV in infants, viral load monitoring, and recently, SARS-CoV-2 Test using the SAMBA platform.

She also has extensive experience in field evaluations and clinical trials in IVDs.

She also worked on detection methods for infectious pathogens and spoilage organisms affecting food safety, ISO accreditation for 9001 and ISO Guide 34 (Reference materials), AOAC validations, and customer-driven research projects related to food safety and shelf life.

DR. TEODORO FAJARDO JR.

Ph.D. in Molecular Biology (Major in Molecular Biology and Molecular Virology

Post Doctoral Fellow at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK with PhD in Public Administration (Major in Public Management)

-Healthcare Scientist Team Manager , UK National External Quality Assessment Service (NEQAS)

Dr. Teodoro Fajardo Jr. has specialization in Molecular Virology and Molecular Biology (which includes but not limited to: gene cloning, virus isolation, culture, propagation, and virus plaque assay, TCID50, reverse genetics virus propagation, generating infectious RNA of (+) RNA virus creating virus progeny from in-vitro transcribed RNA, and other molecular virology techniques (in vitro RNA synthesis of full-length viral RNA, in vitro RNA transcription, cell-free and mammalian cell mRNA translation, cell-free viral assembly system, RNA-RNA interactions assay for viral RNA packaging and assembly, nucleic acid isolation and purification, site-directed mutagenesis and cloning,gel electrophoresis, viral protein isolation and analysis, western blot, in vitro and in vivo gene expression of monocistronic and bicistronic mRNA, in-vitro mRNA translation, transfection of cultured cell, viral plaque analysis, analysis of expressed viral proteins)

DR. MYRA HOSMILLO

Ph.D. in Molecular Medical Science

Post Doctoral Fellow in Professor Ian Goodfellows Lab, Division of Virology, Department of Virology

-Research Associate, Division of Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge

Dr. Myra Hosmillo is an expert in the field of virology, specifically on veterinary and medical virology with a 12-year research career largely focused on virus-causing gastroenteritis.

She first worked on animal viral gastroenteritis caused by rotaviruses, caliciviruses, hepatitis E virus, toroviruses, and coronaviruses.

She was also involved in developing experimental systems to use animal viruses as a surrogate model of human viruses; particularly established an enhanced cell culture system and reverse genetics of porcine sapovirus to study its virus replication and the interactions with host innate immune response.

In Cambridge, she developed fundamental systems to directly study the pathogenesis of human norovirus using human intestinal organoids and replicon systems in human gastric tumor cells.

DR. CHRISTINA LORA LEYSON

PhD in Infectious Diseases

-Postdoctoral Researcher, Exotic and Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Group, Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory (SEPRL)

Dr. Christina Lora Leyson is an expert in standard DNA, RNA, and protein laboratory techniques including quantitative PCR, cloning, and protein expression and knowledge on sequence analysis, phylogenetics, and homology modeling with basic coding skills using Python for applications such as data wrangling and analysis.

DR. HOMER PANTUA, DVM

Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences specializing in Immunology and Virology

-Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA; BioAssets Corporation

Dr. Homer Pantua is an Innovative and motivated infectious disease drug discovery scientist with over 13 years of industry experience as the lead scientist.

He has strong technical skills that encompass microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, biochemistry, and biotechnology.

He has an excellent track record of working as a lead scientist in diverse projects that progressed from early discovery to development.

DR. LEODEVICO L. ILAG

Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology; Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Structural biology of viruses and viral proteins

-Molawin Creek Ventures Pty. Ltd. (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia); Xerion Ltd (Brighton, Victoria, Australia); Philippine Asian Biotechnology R&D, Inc. (Manila, Philippines); Plentex Philippines, Inc, Plentex Realty Inc, PlentexAgri-Milling Corp, Plentex Aquaculture Corp (Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines)

Dr. Leodevico L. Ilag is a veteran microbiologist and immunologist with 25 years of solid research in discovery, preclinical and clinical development of biologics and dietary/food ingredients (peptides, proteins, antibodies, natural products, agricultural waste streams) with applications in oncology, cardiovascular disease, CNS, infectious disease, metabolic disease, and dermatology.

He has technical experience in antibody engineering; structural biology; virology; immunology; biochemistry; microbiology; genetics.

He has 25 years of international (Europe, US, Asia, and Australia) entrepreneurial biotechnology experience (R&D, business development/licensing/deal-making, strategy, general management, intellectual property management, financing, and operations) from conception through seed financing to initial public offering (IPO) raising the equivalent of more than A$80 million.

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Meet the 7 Pinoy virologists who will be at heart of anatomy of soon-to-rise PH Virology and Vaccine Institute - Manila Bulletin

For lower-stakes COVID-19 checks, rapid antigen tests offer a quick and simple way to screen for SARS-CoV-2 at home. They can be particularly helpful if you know or suspect youve been exposed to the coronavirus but cant access professional testing (or wait for the results).

FDA-authorized at-home antigen diagnostic tests can detect active COVID-19 infections, including in asymptomatic individuals, in about 15 minutes. Overall, these tests are less sensitive than molecular diagnostic tests done in labs. Still, the results of at-home antigen testing can provide additional dataif not total peace of mindregarding ones COVID-19 status, especially if you test frequently. Depending on your situation, it may make sense to have a few of these tests on hand.

Keep in mind that a negative result doesnt necessarily mean someone doesnt have COVID-19, and these tests arent meant to be used as the sole method of diagnosis. Antigen tests are a cheap and easy way to identify a person who may be contagious, said Dr. Matthew McCarthy, an associate professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. For people with no known COVID-19 exposures, if youre going to Thanksgiving, and theres 20 people there and theyre all fully vaccinated, you can do an antigen test before you go to make sure youre not bringing the virus into the party, he said, citing one potential use.

Taking a rapid antigen test might also be appropriate before interacting with someone who may be more vulnerable to contracting the virus. Even people who are fully vaccinated may want to take one of these convenient at-home tests before going to spend time with Grandma, or whatever it may be, said Dr. Clare Rock, a clinical epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who runs a COVID-19 infection-control consultancy.

At-home COVID-19 antigen tests are accessible and fast. Rather than waiting for an appointment (or ordering a mail-in kit and shipping a sample) and then waiting for the results of a molecular diagnostic test, with an at-home antigen test you can generally go from swab to result in as few as 15 minutes. The tests are generally easy to perform, and you can read the results manually (as with a home pregnancy test) or digitally (with an app).

COVID-19 antigen tests are less sensitive than molecular diagnostics. Unlike molecular diagnostic tests for COVID-19 that involve amplifying viral nucleic acids to the point where they can be more easily detected, antigen tests detect unamplified traces of virus and thus dont pick up small signals as readily. (Antigen tests are not to be confused with antibody tests, which are meant to detect antibodies produced to respond to the virus, and are not used for diagnostic purposes.)

Although at-home antigen tests are not fail-safe, even molecular diagnostics like the gold-standard PCR tests are not always accurate when it comes to detecting active COVID-19 cases, since results depend on, among other things, the timing of the test. If youre swabbed too soon after an exposure, you may test negative even if you are carrying the virus. You can also receive a positive PCR test result after youre no longer infectious.

Compared with molecular diagnostics for COVID-19, antigen tests are not as sensitive if were looking to understand is there any even minute piece of virus present, clinical epidemiologist Rock said, but they are very sensitive if were looking to see is there a level of the virus that we have to be concerned that somebody could transmit to someone else.

There are nine SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests from five companies now authorized by the FDA for emergency use at home. These are variations of Abbotts BinaxNow COVID-19 Antigen Self Test, Access Bios CareStart COVID-19 Antigen Home Test, Ellumes COVID-19 Home Test, the InteliSwab COVID-19 Rapid Test from OraSure Technologies, and the Quidel QuickVue At-Home COVID-19 Test. Of these, the Abbott BinaxNow, Ellume COVID-19 Home, and Quidel QuickVue tests are currently available direct to consumers, without a prescription, in pharmacies and online.

The instructions that accompany all of these tests include a disclaimer that negative results may require additional testing for confirmation. For each of them, theres a small chance of false positive results, too.

We typically recommend getting tested three to five days after exposure.Dr. Matthew McCarthy, Weill Cornell Medical College

The accuracy of an at-home antigen test depends in part on test sensitivity (the tests reported ability to detect a true positive), test specificity (its reported ability to detect a true negative), sample integrity (whether a swab contains enough sample or the swab solution is contaminated by, say, another pathogen), whether one follows the manufacturers instructions exactly, the time since a persons last known or suspected exposure and/or their onset of symptoms, and ones viral load at the time of testing. (The tests are currently authorized for use on people as young as 2, provided any childs sample is obtained and processed by an adult.)

For a test to be considered for emergency use authorization, test makers must submit to the FDA clinical data demonstrating test sensitivity and specificity. Some independent studies have shown much lower sensitivity and specificity for some antigen tests, particularly when theyre used on asymptomatic individuals. (There is one commercially available SARS-CoV-2 molecular diagnostic test currently authorized by the FDA for emergency use entirely at home, meaning you dont need to send a sample off to a lab for testing: the Lucira COVID-19 All-In-One Test Kit. It is slightly more sensitive95.2%compared with some FDA-authorized at-home antigen tests, and it provides results in 30 minutes. But it is currently unavailable on Luciras website and at Amazon, where it was once sold.)

At the time of publication, at-home antigen tests were hard to find because a surge in COVID-19 cases caused a spike in demand for them. If you have trouble finding them online, call local pharmacies (these tests are often stocked behind the front counter).

Abbott BinaxNow COVID-19 Antigen Self TestSensitivity: 84.6% (PDF) (within seven days of symptom onset)Specificity: 98.5% (PDF) (within seven days of symptom onset)Tests included: twoCost: $24Availability: Amazon, CVS, Walmart

Ellume COVID-19 Home Test (app required)Sensitivity: 95% (PDF)Specificity: 97% (PDF)Tests included: oneCost: $35Availability: Amazon, CVS, Target

Quidel QuickVue At-Home COVID-19 TestSensitivity: 84.8% (PDF)Specificity: 99.1% (PDF)Tests included: twoCost: $25Availability: Amazon, Walmart

The key to getting trustworthy antigen test results is testing frequently. Serial testing boosts sensitivity, said Christoper Brooke, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The odds that youre going to test negative twice when youre infected are much lower than the odds that youre going to test negative once.

Rather than having a swab shoved up into the nasopharyngeal cavity, which you might encounter at a clinical testing site, the at-home antigen tests from Abbott, Ellume, and Quidel require a less-penetrative mid-nasal swab. Each test comes with specific instructions, which essentially require that you swab your nose, dip the swab into a solution, transfer some of the solution into a small reservoir, and wait for the result.

After 15 minutes or so, you can read the results of the Abbott BinaxNow and Quidel QuickVue tests much like you would a home pregnancy test: Two lines indicate a positive result, and one line (the control) indicates a negative. A very faint second line can still indicate a positive result. The Ellume COVID-19 Home Test requires Bluetooth connection to a phone to provide results in 15 minutes via a companion app (iOS, Android). According to the companys privacy policy, Ellume must provide public health authorities with the users date of birth and their state and zip code of residence, test result, test result date, and possibly other information as required by law.

As is true for all COVID-19 diagnostics, including PCR tests, the timing of sample collection against the last known or suspected exposure and/or symptom onset is the biggest factor that can affect the accuracy of at-home antigen test results. This is why, for example, Abbotts BinaxNOW and Quidels QuickVue test kits come with two tests, intended to be used between two and three days apart.

The sensitivity of a test really depends on when you use it, said Daniel Larremore, an assistant professor of computer science at the University of Colorado Boulder who has modeled the effects of repeated population screening of asymptomatic people with molecular and antigen tests. An infected persons viral load changes over time. When you reach a high enough viral load, antigens are going to be at a high enough concentration to be detected. Testing yourself the day after attending a party with someone who didnt know they had COVID-19 at the time is unlikely to be useful. Twenty-four hours after exposure, no test is going to be positive, Larremore said. If you wait too long to test, you may miss peak antigen concentration, meaning you should see a fainter positive line if the test detects SARS-CoV-2 antigens in your sample.

We typically recommend getting tested three to five days after exposure, said McCarthy of Weill Cornell. If you have COVID-19like symptoms, theres no need to wait to test.

Consult a physician if youre unsure of or confused by the result of an at-home COVID-19 antigen test. Whether you should seek a confirmatory molecular test depends on your circumstances. One should treat a positive antigen test result as a true positive, said Larremore, particularly if additional factorssuch as a potential exposure or the appearance of symptomssupport the result. This means isolating, alerting any contacts, and possibly seeking to confirm the result with a lab test. Seek medical treatment for symptoms as needed. According to Weill Cornells McCarthy, following up on a negative antigen test result with a confirmatory molecular diagnostic may not be necessary in cases where someone has a low suspicion of having COVID-19 (for example, they are asymptomatic, fully vaccinated, and/or have no known exposures).

Getting a lab-performed PCR test is your best bet for an accurate COVID-19 diagnosis, but appointments can be difficult to get, and sometimes it takes so long to get the results that they are useless, said Brooke of the University of Illinois. Ideally everyone would have frequent PCR testing with rapid results reporting, but thats obviously not possible. Antigen tests are often the only really viable available choice, so they can play a really important role in increasing the frequency of testing, and the breadth of testing, across the population.

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At-Home COVID-19 Antigen Tests: What You Should Know - The New York Times

Molecular Targets and OncoDNA Therapeutics Drive Precision Medicine Across Multiple Solid Tumor Types and 4 Hematologic Malignancies in Decoding and Disabling Treatment Resistant Cancers

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nathan Sassover, CEO of World Cancer Institute Inc. today stated: We are presenting further clinical guidance on the progression of the multivalent CancerVX / OncoVacx combinatorial therapeutic platform:

"Our first 2017 reported favorable Breast Cancer patient outcome in a Stage 3b ductal infiltrating carcinoma was followed by several years of additional refinement in creating an enlarged optimal platform of compound protocols which conjoin molecular cancer genetics with epigenetic DNA reversible pharmaceutics and epigenomic targeting of a spectrum of solid tumor and hematologic cancers often resistant to chemotherapy and radiation.

"It is our continued belief that this primary focus on the causal point of aberrant cell formation / replication at the nexus of the mitotic spindle and microtubule chromosomal interface is the dynamic and formative inflection point and catalyst within the tumor microenvironment." The integration of DNA demethylation and HDAC -Histone Regulation via Histone Deacetylase Methyltransferase Inhibitors remains the clinical focal point of our therapeutic framework."

World Cancer Institute Protocols conjoining CancerVX / OncoVacx have been designed as a monotherapy or combination therapy comprising multivalent compound conjugates within a clinical framework addressing the majority of prevalent cancers.

Sassover added:

"The spectrum of our most recent 2018 / 2019 reported Case Studies and additional planned Case Studies are intended to add more clinical credence to the targeted safety / efficacy outcomes and targeted patient treatment endpoints. We feel it further affirms World Cancer Institute's view that OncoEpigenomics defines the future of cancer immunotherapies as more likely to be systemically safe in contrast to CRISPR and other gene editing protocols requiring extraction and re-infusion of modified DNA to initialize any interventional treatment.

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To date the benefits derived from these gene modification/editing procedures have been limited to small subsets of patients, while notable immediate and delayed side effects, coupled with other adverse events have been reported by medical institutions and medical journal published outcomes have revealed patient responses with notable increase in levels of post-treatment complications. There have been continuing clinical reports of diminished efficacy of various 'in laboratory' gene editing therapies over time,

Sassover further commented: "Oncologists and scientists would concur that the endpoints of cancer treatment should be defined by rapid onset effective treatment as well as more probable bioactive prevention of adverse events, relapse and disease recurrence."

CASE STUDY OVERVIEW: PATIENT PROFILE

A relatively rare and aggressive cancer type -Metastatic Testicular Carcinoma is currently in review by World Cancer Institute for administration of the OncoEpigenomic IECT [ IntraTherapies Epigenetic Cancer Therapies] CancerVX / OncoVacx compound as a next phase adjuvant protocol as described in this article and more definitively in the attached Medical Guide in reference to the specific 43 year old male Testicular Carcinoma-Metastatic case.

Proposed Treatment Protocol

The proliferating and rapidly replicating characteristics of this initial testicular Carcinoma was diagnosed followed by immediate surgical procedure at Eisenhower Medical Center Rancho Mirage CA. The patient initiated contact with World Cancer Institute in March 2018 and after describing the condition was immediately directed to proceed to Eisenhower for emergency evaluation.

Following surgery and extended chemotherapy the case continues to be evaluated as a clinical setting for initiating a multivalent treatment protocol comprising CancerVX / OncoVacx 4Q Quadravalant Protocol to mediate the manifold issues which are shown to be a challenge to all noted chemotherapy combinations utilized to date in this patient following original surgery and subsequent discovery of an abdominal mass altering the sequence and modality of treatment preceding Onco DNA ImmunoTherapeutics based on original diagnosis of testicular cancer originating in March 2018.

Additionally, following left orchiectomy further diagnostics revealed a hyper metabolic malignant abdominal mass requiring surgery and continued extended chemotherapy treatment.

OncoEpigenomic Drug Combinatorial Treatment Protocol may create multipoint MOA-Mechanisms of Action and extended efficacy in treatment resistant cancer types when conjoined with a PARP Inhibitor Treatment for certain advanced Breast Cancers [Stage 3 /3b/Stage 4] and further extending to hematologic malignancies including CML- advanced Leukemia, and MDS-Myelodysplastic Syndrome now under clinical consideration in other treatment resistant cancers.

HYBRID EPIGENOMIC GENE EXPRESSION / SUPPRESSION DYNAMICS FURTHER AUGMENT AND EXTEND ENHANCED ALTERABLE DNA ATTRIBUTES OF CANCERVX / ONCOVACX IN AGGRESSIVELY INDUCING RAPID CELL DEATH IN ABERRANT CELL STRUCTURES IMPLICATED IN INCIPIENT STAGES OF CANCER DEVELOPMENT.

Microscopic images of a breast cancer cell with DNA damage. Left, six hours after treatment with either the epigenetic agent alone or the PARP inhibitor alone. Right, six hours after treatment with both a CancerVX/OncoVacx type DNA Demethylation/Histone Regulation conjoined Epigenetic drug and in parallel with a specific PARP inhibitor. [Yellow staining indicates trapping of the PARP enzyme at site of the DNA damage.]

Drugs defined as PARP inhibitors, which functionally sabotage cancer cells' ability to repair damage to their DNA have shown some instances of clinical promise in treating human breast cancers that contain BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations. A referenced new study suggests that significantly enhanced efficacy with extended effect over time is achievable in other forms of breast cancer and not linked to BRCA mutations. Research further reveals benefits extending to advanced Leukemia by adding DNA Demethylation / Histone Regulation via Histone Deacetylase Methyltransferase Inhibitors as the specific epigenetic drug intervention conjoined with a PARP Inhibitor resulted in a strong antitumor response against breast cancer cells without BRCA mutations as well as clinically demonstrated efficacy in achieving a halt to the growth of acute myeloid leukemia cells 8 days after the start of the combination therapy.

The surprise that leukemia cells were this sensitive to the combination treatment and further research confirms initial findings with some probable benefit for breast cancer and ovarian cancers for which PARP inhibitors work by blocking the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase enzyme or PARP, which helps repair naturally occurring breaks in strands of DNA. Notably, some cancers exhibit more frequent reliance on PARP than others.

For tumors sensitive in that way, the inhibitors are one clinical weapon in sabotaging the cancer cells' ability to repair their own DNA. Continuing PARP research further demonstrates that PARP inhibitors also vary in functional value according to how intensely and durably the PARP enzyme is trapped at certain DNA damage sites. This suggests a possible ramp up in the duration and intensity of this trapping, could potentially increase the efficacy of the drug.

The research team found that the combination PARP / Epigenetic treatment increased the time that PARP was trapped at sites of DNA damage in cancer cells, extending the time from 30 minutes to three to six hours following treatment. Epigenetic drugs specifically of the CancerVX / OncoVacx type demonstrate a MOA-Mechanism of Action which initializes molecular alteration of the specific property of DNA and the process by which it is coiled and processed. Specifically, epigenetic PK- pharmacokinetics- block proteins that attach gene-regulating methyl groups to DNA and traps those proteins on DNA.

The proteins blocked by the CancerVX / OncoVacx type construct also exhibit dynamically interact with PARP enzymes at DNA damage sites,

World Cancer Institute debuted its first targeted epigenetic DNA ImmunoTherapeutics in 2008-2010 and further enlarged its spectrum of protocols as more specifically targeted OncoEpigenomic platforms which emerged as the result of clinical guidance provided by Dr. Brent Treiger during 2008-2010. Dr Treiger, a Northern California based Oncologist who died in 2011 was highly regarded worldwide as the scientist of Doxil, the preeminent therapeutic drug for ovarian cancer and also prescribed for breast cancer.

Dr. Treiger worked closely with World Cancer Institute and Nathan Sassover, Founder/CEO of World Cancer Institute commencing in 2008 in guiding criteria for both monotherapy based treatment as well as combination protocols, optimal drug delivery for CancerVX as well as guidelines for dosage range of the monotherapy and combination protocols and compound conjugates comprising the epigenomic Cancer DNA therapeutics developed by World Cancer Institute.

Contacts: Karen Howard : News@WorldCancerInstitute.com Source: World Cancer Institute

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https://drive.google.com/file/d/123_ReAwFcSe9w_AuOkpb30wr5-ZISJEL/view?usp=drivesdk https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qz36H9JbE9S71eQufTh452Mg0wev1QnF/view?usp=drivesdk https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qz36H9JbE9S71eQufTh452Mg0wev1QnF/view?usp=drivesdk

Cision

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SOURCE World Cancer Institute

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Clinical Protocols based on Molecular Cancer genetics and DNA OncoPharmaceutics to detect aberrant cellular malformations induced by DNA methylation...

Whether you love drinking a glass of chardonnay with your midday meal or can't make your famous pasta sauce without adding a pour of pinot, countless people consider wine an essential component of many a meal. However, while you may imagine you're sipping your way to better health with every glass, the benefits you reap from your wine intake have a lot to do with how much you consume, your biology, and other possible risk factors you may not even realize.

Before you pour another glass, read on to discover the major effects drinking wine has on your health, according to science. And for some dietary additions virtually everyone could benefit from, check out The 7 Healthiest Foods to Eat Right Now.

While many people know that alcoholic beverages like wine can have an effect on their liver health, it's not as commonly known that those drinks can have a profound effect on a person's risk of cancer north of the neck, too.

In fact, a 2004 study published in Oral Oncology found that, similar to other alcoholic beverages, wine was associated with an increased risk of both oral cancer and cancer of the pharynx, with risk increasing along with total alcohol consumption.

Want to better protect your health? Start by ditching the 50 Worst Foods to Never Eat if Cancer Runs in Your Family.

If you want to reduce your lifetime cancer risk, you may want to scale back your wine consumption starting now.

According to a 2019 research article published in BMC Public Health, drinking a bottle of wine a week increases a person's lifetime cancer risk as much as smoking five cigarettes for men and 10 cigarettes for women.

RELATED: For the latest healthy eating news delivered to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter!

While alcohol has a reputation for being harmful to your liver, wine may have less of a detrimental effect on this vital organ than other types of boozein fact, it may actually have a protective effect.

According to a 2018 study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology, among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, those who drank wine in a non-binge-type fashion were less likely to have liver scarring than those who drank other types of alcohol or no alcohol.

READ MORE: Drinking Habits That May Cause Liver Damage, According to Science

You've likely heard that wine is good for your heart, and research suggests that's truewhen consumed in moderation, at least.

A 2001 study published in the International Journal of Molecular Medicine found that the polyphenol resveratrol in red wine may help protect against heart disease. However, other studies have found that high rates of alcohol consumptionbut not specifically wine consumptioncan increase a person's risk of various types of cardiovascular disease, so it's important to keep those drinks to a minimum.

For more ways to protect your cardiovascular health, start by cutting The 50 Foods That Have Been Linked to Heart Disease.

If you want to keep those pearly whites healthy, making wine part of your regular routine is a good place to start. A 2018 study published in the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry found that the caffeic and p-coumaric acids found in red wine made it more difficult for the bacteria that form dental plaque and cavities to adhere to teeth and gums, lessening the likelihood that they will cause decay and disease over time.

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Major Effects Drinking Wine Has on Your Health, Says Science | Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

KLOKKARSTUA, Norway, Aug. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mel-Mont Medical, a boutique medical device and technology company dedicated to improving women's health through the use of its DNA and mRNA patented self-sampling screening kit, Mia by XytoTest, receives clinical validation as being equally effective to clinician-collected sampling.

"Current estimates indicate that every year 569,847 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 311,365 die from the disease. Cervical cancer ranks as the third most frequent cancer among women in the world," according to Globocan information center on HPV and cancer.

The Mia by XytoTest device can be safely used by women at home, or in-office by a clinician, without the need for a vaginal speculum. The uniqueness of Ma by XytoTest empowers sexually active women to further their self-care opportunities and pre-screen for HPV-caused cancers. The patented technology that is Mia by XytoTest enables laboratories to detect Hr-HPV DNA and allows for risk stratification by detecting biomarkers mRNA E6/E7 from the seven HPV-types proven to be the most crucial for progression to cervical cancer.

"The idea of self-collection using Ma by XytoTest arose from the need to raise awareness of self-care and the need for accessible, routine preventative testing among the sexually active female population. Molecular screening increases sensitivity and specificity, adding clinical value to fight diseases with high morbidity and mortality rates that are ironically preventable, such as cervical cancer," said Mel-Mont Medical's CEO, Frank Melndez.

A recent publication1comparing self-collected to clinician-collected cervical samples to detect HPV infections by a 14-type HPV DNA test and a 7-type HPV mRNA E6/E7 test concludes that Mia by XytoTest equals clinician-collected samples in quality.

"Claiming self-collected specimens accessible for HPV mRNA testing was CE marked to the IVD directive 98/97/EC cleared, making PreTect and its E6/E7 mRNA technology a pioneer for this promising strategy," said Bente Marie Falang, Global Director of In-vitro Division at PreTect, AS.

In addition to providing effective self-sampling options, women who test positive for HPV are, along with their physicians, then prescribed appropriate treatment recommendations specific to each woman's mRNA biomarkers.

Mia by XytoTest and 7-type mRNA E6/E7 afford women new and innovative alternatives in cervical cancer prevention and are now being used across Europe and Mexico. Further, the device permits women in healthcare-deprived countries or with economically-distressed circumstances to access affordable, live-changing technology.

"Integrative multi-disciplinary molecular testsaccurately triaging exfoliated cervical specimens will improve cervical cancer prevention programs while simplifying healthcare procedures in HPV-infected women. Hence, the concept of a "liquid biopsy" (i.e., "molecular" Pap test) highly specific for early identification of cervical precancerous lesions is of critical importance in the years to come,"2 indicated Ana Gradssimo, Ph.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY a recent publication (2).

About Mel-Mont Medical, Inc.:Mel-Mont Medical, having offices in the United States and Europe, is a boutique medical device and technology company initially focused on products that use mRNA to screen and diagnose, through minimally-invasive means, HPV-caused cancers.

About PreTect, AS:PreTect AS, a fully ISO 13485:2016, CE/IVD certified, and FDA registered mRNA manufacturing facility based in Klokkarstua, Norway, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mel-Mont Medical, Inc.

1https://rdcu.be/clGVo 2https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5904788/

For more information: Bente Marie FalangUstadhagan 8 /N-3490Klokkarstua, NorwayPhone: +47.32.79.88.00Email: [emailprotected]Web: http://www.mel-montmedical.com

SOURCE Mel-Mont Medical, Inc.

mel-montmedical.com

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Mel-Mont Medical announces the validation of its patented self-sampling technology, Ma by XytoTest, for molecular screening using HPV-DNA and 7-Type...

Hope Didier

KENNESAW, Ga. (Jul 30, 2021) Hope Didier forged her own path at Kennesaw State an academic journey that blended divergent passions in dance and the sciences.

The July graduate will earn two bachelors degrees this week in fields not typically paired: dance and molecular and cellular biology. Didier intertwined the two degrees seamlessly, serving as stage manager in multiple dance productions and spearheading cancer cell research that led to scholarly recognition at state and national levels. This fall, she will continue her education at Wake Forest University in a molecular medicine doctoral program.

I would take certain biological principles or ideas and use them as a foundation for a piece I was choreographing or to better educate my peers on what our bodies are actually doing as we move and dance in space, said Didier, who has been dancing since age 3.

As a scientist and dancer, I can appreciate the movement of the often unseen aspects of life under a microscope, in a way that Im not sure many would, and then translate that work in a manner that could be understood by more individuals, no matter their background or expertise.

Didier credits her parents, who teach middle school math and science, for her biology enthusiasm. She added that her parents encouraged creativity and curiosity, and also have a strong interest in music, which likely led to her dance involvement at an early age. Like many of her friends, Didier contemplated a ballet career, having danced with the Atlanta Ballet throughout high school and performed at the Fox Theatre and the Cobb Energy Centre.

Didiers interest in KSU Journey Honors College led her to apply to its Presidents Emerging Global Scholars (PEGS) program, an initiative that challenges Honors students to grow as scholars, leaders and innovators. She was impressed by the faculty who interviewed her for the program and the opportunity to study abroad in both Costa Rica and Italy during her first year.

A friend from the PEGS program introduced her to Jonathan McMurry, a biochemistry professor in the College of Science and Mathematics, since Didier was eager to explore scientific research as an undergraduate.

Hope was so obviously driven, intelligent, and genuinely interested in research, McMurry said. I saw untapped potential in her as a freshman, and thats the type of student researcher every professor wants to encounter.

Didier evolved into an accomplished and disciplined researcher, focusing on using cell-penetrating peptides, or short chains of amino acids, to deliver biomolecular cargo into cervical cancer cells to stop cell growth and catalyze cell death.

She presented aspects of her work at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research twice, and Posters at the Georgia State Capitol in 2020. She won the Top Poster Award at the Birla Carbon Symposium, in which she spent the entire summer conducting research, and received the Anthony Shuker Scientific Award at the Georgia BioInnovation Summit, both in 2018.

Didiers research interests in the healthcare field carried over into volunteering and conducting research at the Emory Winship Cancer Institute and working in the trauma/surgery ICU at Wellstar Health Systems Kennestone Hospital as an operating room surgical technician.

I witnessed firsthand the frontlines of the global pandemic and had the terrifying privilege of holding the hands of critically ill and dying patients, Didier said. It was physically and emotionally challenging, but also made it increasingly clearer to me that I am meant to serve patients and advocate for the very best healthcare practices.

Ultimately, the Peachtree City, Ga. native knew that her trajectory would lean more toward a career in medicine.

Classes like kinesiology and nutrition and learning the way the body moves and works has opened my eyes to how I could meld my two passions, she explained. Im going to keep dancing as part of my life, whether Im teaching on the side or doing small work for studios or companies.

As part of KSU Journey Honors College, Didier completed two Honors theses one in biology on the deterioration and death of cervical cancer cells and the other in dance, focused on a kinesiological approach for understanding the biological phenomenon of programmed cell death.

Didier credits the dance program for expanding her knowledge and techniques, preparing her for any aspect of dance. She learned about the production side of dance from part-time instructor David Tatu, and worked alongside him last spring on a unique production, Moon Dust, a collaboration between the College of the Arts and the College of Computing and Software Engineering.

As an artist and a scientist, I have found that there is this shared zeal for inquiry and constant curiosity, which makes solving problems and creating art so exciting, she said. My two worlds have a lot to learn from one another, and I look forward to future opportunities in which my passions can come together to create something beautiful and share knowledge in an innovative way.

Now Didier is ready to take on the next challenge, pursuing a doctorate in molecular medicine and translational science at Wake Forest University. She will then transition into the physician assistant program in the Wake Forest School of Medicine.

My entire time at KSU has been a massive highlight of my life and always will be, Didier said. The people are what make KSU amazing, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Jolle Walls

Photos by David Caselli

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The universitys vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.

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Kennesaw State graduate blends arts and science, evolves as researcher - News

LONDON, Aug. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Theragnostics, which is developing molecular radiotherapy for imaging and treating a broad range of cancers, announces today the appointments of Dr Dennis Langer and Professor Ken Herrmann as Non-Executive Directors to its Board.

Dr Dennis Langerhas served as a director of both public and private biotechnology, pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies, and has an extensive pharmaceutical company background. He previously served as CEO of Neose Technologies, Inc.; was President of Dr Reddy's North American business; and was Senior Vice President of Research and Development at GlaxoSmithKline plc. He is currently a Director of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Myriad Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MYGN) and Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: BTX). Dr Langer is a graduate ofColumbia University, and earned an M.D. atGeorgetown University School of Medicineand a J.D. at Harvard Law School.

Professor Ken Herrmannis Chair of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the Universittsklinikum Essen in Germany. Among his many achievements he is a world leading expert in the clinical development of therapeutic and diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals. He was previously Professor in the Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division of the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology at the University of California Los Angeles ; he also served as Vice Chair of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Universittsklinikum Wrzburg. He is currently the Chair of the EANM Oncology & Theragnostics committee and Section Editor of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.He is on the board of Sofie Biosciences.

Ian Gowrie-Smith, Executive Chairman of Theragnostics, said:"We are very pleased to welcome two high calibre board members to Theragnostics. Dennis has significant business and development acumen, extensive experience and a successful track record in working in the pharmaceutical sector. Ken's extensive knowledge in the clinical development and commercialisation of radiopharmaceuticals is key to the advancement and maturity of Theragnostics. Both will aid us in implementing and enhancing our strategy of bringing novel PARPi diagnostic agents and new targeted therapies to patients."

Greg Mullen, Chief Executive Officer of Theragnostics, added:"I am very pleased to have Dennis and Ken with their expertise and track record, join our board. The appointments come at a pivotal time as we prepare for the next stage of growth and complements the management team's expertise as we advance our programmes into clinical development."

Theragnostics technology platform enables the development of molecular radiotherapy based on a PARPi for imaging and treating cancer. Theragnostics modifies a PARPi drug molecule with a radioactive atom to create a radionuclide PARPi (rPARPi). This can either be used to image PARP in a cancer patient for diagnostic use or the radioactive isotope can be used to deliver a therapeutic dose of radiation into tumour cells, which offers the potential to molecularly target the radiation in order to hit and kill tumour cells whilst avoiding damage to healthy cells and associated side effects.

About Theragnostics

Theragnostics is a private clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing precision oncology products for diagnostic medical imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy. The Company has completed several proof-of-concept phase I and II clinical trials for several radionuclide diagnostics and targeted therapies. For more information, please visit http://www.theragnostics.com.

SOURCE Theragnostics

theragnostics.com

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Theragnostics Strengthens Board of Directors with Key Appointments - PRNewswire

Eight members of the editorial board of a scientific journal have resigned after it published a slew of controversial papers that critics fear could be used for DNA profiling and persecution of ethnic minorities in China.

The journal, Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine, is the latest to be caught up in controversy involving ethically fraught research. Emails obtained by The Intercept show that the journals editor-in-chief has been slow to respond to queries about the papers, which involve research on Tibetans and Uyghurs, among other ethnic groups, and were first brought to her attention in March. The journal is published by Wiley, a multinational company based in New Jersey that is one of the worlds premier scientific publishers.

Studies involving DNA profiling, facial recognition, and organ transplantation have sparked controversy at other journals, but this is the first time that so many members of a journals editorial board eight of 25 have resigned in response to such issues.

Yves Moreau is seen at the Thermodynamics Instituteat the University of Leuven in Leuven, Belgium, on Feb. 4, 2020.

Photo: Lies Willaert

The papers were flagged by Yves Moreau, a bioinformatician at the University of Leuven in Belgium who over the past few years has waged a tireless campaign to get journals to retract troubling or unethical papers.

Moreaus quest began in 2015, when Kuwait announced plans for compulsory collection of DNA from all citizens, residents, and visitors. He helped spearhead an international campaign against the law and won an early victory when it was overturned the following year. He became convinced that if left unchecked, science and artificial intelligence would be used to further authoritarianism. In technology, we have this nice comfortable geek image, he said. But when you really look at the history of technology, you see that it has been a nexus of power forever for at least 2,000 years. While many geneticists have worked for decades to overturn the idea that race is a scientific concept, Moreausaw that authorities around the worldcould exploit new technologies like readily available DNA testing for political gain.

Moreau later turned his attention to DNA profiling in China, particularly in Xinjiang, where an estimated1 million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities have been interned in camps or forced into labor. Authorities there have alsocollected DNA samples from residents. Moreau periodically runs an automated search for papers on ethically charged topics. Earlier this year, that search turned up 18 papers at Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine.

Some of the papers describe genetic differences between ethnic groups. Police can use such research for DNA profiling, to better match crime suspects with DNA samples from the broader population. Other papers relied on samples that Moreau suspected were taken without proper consent. The Chinese government has been collecting DNA from men of all ethnicities, with the aim of building out genetic information for all 700 million males in China. Chinese police also forcibly collect DNA from certain groups, including migrant workers and political dissidents.

While Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine isnt a leading outlet for genetic research, it has an impact factor of 2.183, meaning that its papers are cited and read by other scientists. The Wiley name lends it an imprimatur of respectability.

As its title suggests, the journal was founded to focus on genetics research with medical applications. Many of the editorial board members study how genetics can help doctors treat patients or help scientists cure disease. But in 2019, the journal started publishing papers by authors in China on forensic genetics, a field that involves close collaboration with police. Forensic genetics has long been controversial in the United States. It is even more problematic in China, where DNA collection is part of a sustained effort to persecute ethnic minorities and other groups.

The title of one paper published by the journal is Forensic characteristics and genetic affinity analyses of Xinjiang Mongolian group using a novel six fluorescent dye-labeled typing system including 41-Y-STRs and 3 Y-InDels. Another maps genetic differences between branches of Chinas majority ethnic group, Han Chinese, and other groups, including Tibetans and Hui Muslims. Several of the papers list co-authors or funding from institutions affiliated with Chinese police. One lists a co-author from the Public Security Bureau in Tibet, the police agency in the region.

A graphic published in the journalMolecular Genetics & Genomic Medicinepurports to represent the genetic distance between various ethnic groups, including Uyghur groups.

Credit: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Hart replied the next day. I am looking into this matter and will respond shortly, she wrote. Moreau sent several follow-up emails. But months passed without an update, he told The Intercept.

On Tuesday, in response to questions from The Intercept, the Wiley public affairs office emailed a statement from Hart. We are actively investigating and driving toward a timely, transparent resolution, Hart said. We take the concerns expressed extremely seriously and regret that delayed communications may have indicated otherwise.

In June, Moreau took the issue to the entire editorial board. In a lengthy email, he listed the suspect papers and explained how police in China use forensic genetics.

Other board members echoed his calls for an investigation. Several said they were not actively involved in the journals work and had no idea that the papers had even been published. The journals editorial board positions are honorary; scientists often sit on multiple boards at once.

In emails obtained by The Intercept, Hart wrote to the board that same day, explaining that she had experienced adeath in her familyand had drafted a message to Moreau that ended up trapped in her outbox. I will send a message soon outlining our decision on how to address this issue, she wrote.

A few weeks later, when she had not provided any further explanation to the board or to Moreau, board members started resigning.

I would have wanted to hear much more quickly from the editorial staff, said Ophir Klein, a pediatric medical geneticist at the University of California San Francisco and one of the board members who quit. The lack of communication made me really concerned, he added.

The lack of communication made me really concerned.

Another board member, Joris Veltman, told The Intercept that he has remained on the board so that he can push for scrutiny of the papers. On July 7, Veltman, who is the dean of the Biosciences Institute at Newcastle University Medical School in the United Kingdom, escalated the issue by emailing Wileys management. The publishers director of research integrity, Chris Graf, responded that Wiley would begin an investigation immediately. Veltman asked why Wiley hadwaited so long.

In a statement, a Wiley spokesperson wrote that the companys Integrity in Publishing Group was overseeing the matter. We have completed the first step of the investigation, which is to assess concerns vis--vis our publishing standards, the statement read. We are now proceeding to connect with the authors and the institutional review boards associated with the papers to clarify the consent procedures for the research undertaken. The spokesperson said that the company could not provide a timeline for the investigation, beyond to say that it would likely continue into September.

Moreau said the focus on consent is too narrow. The larger question, he said, is whether the journal should be publishing research on vulnerable minorities, some of which directly involves the authorities persecuting them. Klein, the board member, said that if the research is determined to be unethical, at a minimum it should be retracted.

Moreau is not holding his breath. He has previously secured retractions from IEEE and Springer Nature, two other major scientific publishers, but Wiley has declined to retract a paper on ethnicity and facial recognition that he and others flagged in 2019. In September 2020, the journal, WIREs Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery, issued an expression of concern. The note focuses only on possible misrepresentation of a data set and figure in the article, not broader ethical issues.

Last month, The Guardian reported that the editor of another Wiley journal, Annals of Human Genetics, resigned in September 2020 after Wileydeclined to publish a letter he co-authored with Moreau and others proposing that his and other journals boycott papers from China. In turning down the letter, Wiley senior managers said that publishing it could cause problems for its China office, he told the paper.

Moreau said he will persist. At this point, you cannot stay silent, he told the Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine editorial board in one email. This situation is creating a shameful embarrassment that reflects poorly on all medical genetics journals and on the entire medical genetics community. Public trust in human genetics depends on our communitys ability to transparently abide by its moral duty.

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Journal Board Members Resign After Controversial Papers - The Intercept - First Look Media