By Jessica Lake

Updated April 12, 2020 08:32:52

Almost two years ago, our world fell apart.

Our cheeky and sweet three-year-old son Larry suddenly became unwell. His previously robust physicality waned. His ruddy complexion became creamy.

His rosy cheeks and rose red lips glowed a pale pink at best. There were bad bruises on his legs darker and deeper ones than those dotting the knees of his identical twin brother. There was a strange patch of little red dots on his neck petechia, we would later learn pin-prick bleeding under the skin.

We took him to our GP. Then we took him to Monash Children's Emergency. Then, a few weeks later, we arrived at the Children's Cancer Centre of the Royal Children's Hospital.

He was diagnosed with idiopathic very severe aplastic anaemia. For unexplained reasons, his bone marrow had spontaneously started shutting down. We were disoriented and devastated.

Without the ability to make blood, Larry required constant transfusions. Every six-to-10 days, when his nose oozed or a blood blister appeared in his mouth, we would race to the clinic or emergency department (sometimes via ambulance) for a bag of platelets: "yellow medicine" our son called it. Once he could clot again we could relax a little.

About every one-to-three weeks, when he struggled to pull himself out of bed or off the couch, when his appetite diminished and his pallor grew too pale, he would receive a bag of "red medicine" to resuscitate his system.

Until mid 2018, I had the privilege and luck of never thinking much about blood donation. But now, the prospect of a shortage terrifies me.

Due to COVID-19, the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood service faces a critical shortage unless thousands of people donate.

Over a period of 14 months, while our son battled bravely through immunosuppressive treatment and multiple infections, he underwent more than 70 platelet transfusions and 40 blood transfusions. The blood of more than 100 kind souls kept him going.

One day last April, Larry's haemoglobin was the lowest it had ever been. In the 50s. Less than half the level of a "normal" person.

It was a Saturday morning, and I'd just raced him through city traffic to the hospital emergency department yet again.

Once we arrived, they ordered a bag of red cells. He dozed on the trolley bed. His lips the same colour as his skin. His skin the same colour as the sheet he had just vomited on.

I fidgeted and hopped back and forth around the doorway of our cubicle watching for the blood bank delivery. Please. Please. Please. An agonising wait. Finally, it arrived.

A rush of immense gratitude. The nurses did their double cross checks. Name, date of birth, patient number. Then it was hooked up to the IV Pump and connected. 235 millilitres over four hours.

I stared at the bag: "Collected 15 April 2019, due to expire 15 May 2019". I wondered who donated it on that Monday two weeks before. A man or a woman? Young or old? Which centre had they attended? Had they congratulated or rewarded themselves for their gift? I hoped so.

After 20 minutes, my dear little boy started to stir. He'd only had 19ml by then but it was already making a difference. A dusky warm colour was creeping into his complexion. Energy was reaching his cells again. By the time one hour had passed, he was sitting up, demanding food, drawing, playing I-spy and cracking jokes.

I assume if everyone could witness this miraculous transformation, we would all run to the blood bank and offer up our veins. By the end of the day, the bag of blood was empty and Larry was full of life again temporarily.

In August 2019, our son underwent a long-awaited bone marrow transplant.

From a pool of more than 30 million bone marrow donors worldwide, only three were a match, all from overseas.

Someone in Europe willingly, with no financial incentive or reward, booked into their local hospital and had stem cells sucked from their hip bones so that a stranger our son might live. An amazing act of generosity.

The sludgy burgundy bag arrived in Melbourne late at night on a commercial flight. Our little Larry had already undergone seven days of heavy chemotherapy in order to be ready to receive the cells. The last scraps of his immune system had been destroyed to make necessary space.

It was either the beginning, or the end of the road.

After a couple of months in isolation, Larry was discharged from hospital. A new beginning.

He is now six months post-transplant and doing well. He plays riotously with his twin brother and big sister. He no longer needs blood. He can make his own again, for now.

But many children at the Children's Cancer Centre cannot. They rely on platelets, plasma and blood to survive day-to-day. A shortage spells disaster.

Many are also relying on a bone marrow transplant for an ultimate cure. And due to travel bans and overwhelmed hospital systems globally, overseas bone marrow donors are now inaccessible indefinitely.

It is painful to imagine Larry's plight if the coronavirus occurred a year earlier.

Let's honour the tremendous courage of kids like Larry by showing ours. Make an appointment at Australia Red Cross Lifeblood today.

Give blood. Give your name to the bone marrow register. Give laughter, hope and life to these incredible kids.

Let's not let cancer treatment become another casualty of the coronavirus crisis.

Jessica Lake is a mother, writer, academic, and member of the Parent's Advisory Group of the Children's Cancer Centre at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne.

Topics:covid-19,diseases-and-disorders,health,blood,children,family-and-children,community-and-society,melbourne-3000,australia

First posted April 12, 2020 05:00:59

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Scientists at Lund University in Sweden showed long ago they could reprogram human cells into nerve cells and implant them into the brains of rats after a stroke. But would the cells form the vital connections needed to restore mobility and sensations like touch?

Now, they have early evidence that the answer to that question isyes. The Lund team turned skin cells into nerve cells, transplanted them into the brains of the rodent stroke models and observed them for six months. The new cells repaired the damage caused by strokes in the animals, the researchers reported in the journal PNAS.

The Lund University team transplanted the reprogrammed skin cells into the rats cerebral cortices, the region of the brain thats most commonly damaged by stroke. Then they used electron microscopy and other technologies to track the cells. That allowed them to see that the cells were making the connections needed to repair damaged nerve circuits.

Virtual Clinical Trials Online

This virtual event will bring together industry experts to discuss the increasing pace of pharmaceutical innovation, the need to maintain data quality and integrity as new technologies are implemented and understand regulatory challenges to ensure compliance.

We have been able to see that the fibers from the transplanted cells have grown to the other side of the brain, the side where we did not transplant any cells, and created connections, said co-author Zaal Kokaia, professor of neurology at Lund, in a statement.

RELATED: Restoring neurons to preserve memory after heart attack or stroke

Cell therapy has been proposed for treating stroke damage in the past, but efforts to make it a reality have hit some roadblocks. A stem cell therapy being developed by British biotech ReNeuron failed to hit its primary trial endpoint of improving arm and leg movements. ReNeuron has since turned in better results from a trial of its cell therapy for improving vision in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.

Meanwhile, academic researchers are testing a variety of other therapies aimed at repairing stroke damage. Last year, for example, Stanford researchers showed that blocking a particular microRNA prompted star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes to become neurons, which helped restore memory in rats.

The Lund team is now planning additional animal trials to study how their transplanted cells affect memory and other intellectual functions, they said. They will also watch the rats closely to make sure they arent experiencing side effects, and theyll study the impact of the transplants on regions of the brain.

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When Jeff Bezos, the Amazon kingpin, debuted his new muscular physique at the Sun Valley Conference in 2017, he almost broke the internet. His Vin Dieselesque guns launched countless memes about how the dweebs dweeb had transformed himself into a jacked-up specimen worthy of an action franchise.

In interviews Bezos credits his diet (which includes roast iguana and octopus for breakfast), his unwavering commitment to working out, and eight hours of sleep. But not everyone is buying it.

Clean livingthats the catchphrase, isnt it? quips Patricia Wexler, the ne plus ultra of Manhattan dermatologists. Very few admit to doing any procedures.

Not a chance its just diet and exercise, says Roberta Del Campo, a dermatologist based in Miami, the countrys plastic surgery capital. Behind the scenes these people are getting all sorts of injectables and body sculpting treatments, such as Emsculpt and Trusculpt Flex, which have surged in popularity, especially among men, in the last couple of years.

Drew AngererGetty Images

Other experts suspect that captains of industry such as Bezos, who is 56, are going to even greater lengths to project vigor for both boards and broads. The tech titans are all looking much better than they used to, says Jessie Cheung, a Chicago-based cosmetic dermatologist whose holistic approach often involves testosterone and growth hormone substitutes, especially for men of a certain age who are lacking in muscle and look frail.

Access to bio-hacking tools such as stem cells and hormones is allowing men to look, perform, and think better. Its worth noting that Bezos, along with fellow billionaire Peter Thiel, invested in Unity Biotechnology, a company researching drugs and treatments to keep aging at bay. Im pretty sure hes gotten a taste of some good stuff, Cheung says.

Welcome to the new male vanity, in which even Silicon Valley bigwigs considerably younger than Bezos are resorting to newfangled procedures to avoid aging out of the workforce. The stakes have never been higher. American men underwent 1.1 million noninvasive cosmetic procedures in 2018a 72 percent increase since 2000, a trend that shows no signs of abating. In its forecast for 2020, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery predicts the continued rise of the Daddy-Do-Over, the male equivalent of the Mommy Makeover, as men look to boost their confidence and improve their physical appearance.

Its a lesson in maintenance the men in the presidential race would do well to learn. In the not so distant past politicians could dismiss reporters questions about whether theyd had a face-lift, as Arnold Schwarzenegger did during his 2003 run for governor of California, when he joked that they must be confusing him with Cher. Now pols and pundits of every party are being grilled as mercilessly about their appearance as about their Medicare plans.

"Unfortunately for Biden, you can see the work thats been done," says one NYC dermatologist.

Joe Bidens forehead and Donald Trumps hair flap and skin color are dissected with the rigor of Kremlinologists (some of them actually are Kremlinologists, in Trumps case). And with good reason: If Hillary Clintons wrinkles, Elizabeth Warrens glasses, and Amy Klobuchars eyebrows are fair game, why not the nipped and tucked peacocks strutting around on Capitol Hill?

Denials about the scars on the side of Bidens face are, according to the experts, malarkey. Unfortunately for Biden, who has obviously had hair transplants and Botox, among other things, you can see the work thats been done, says Wexler. Nobody should be talking about work. When you have work done, the last thing you want is for people to notice it.

The queen of Fraxels laser focus on male primping is not partisan. Mr. Trump has definitely had workand not great work, at that, she adds. Give him his crumb, though: He wasnt bad looking when he was younger and in better shape.

Trumps penchant for cosmetic adjustments has been an open if much denied secret since at least 1991, when Ivana Trump disclosed his scalp reduction surgery and chin and waist liposuction in their divorce papers. In February the world was served a fresh reminder, when the president was photographed, in an image that quickly went viral, stepping out of Marine One with a windswept rug and a fake tan for the history books.

At tony dermatologist practices from coast to coast, man-tans like Trumps and obvious old-school work like the kind favored by Vladimir Putin is frowned uponif anyone can move any facial muscles at all. Instead, next-gen lasers such as NeoSkin by Aerolase, IBeam, and Nd:YAG are used to eliminate redness and discoloration.

Instead of surgical face-lifts, which, to be fair, remain popular in certain parts of the country (I definitely see them more on the West Coast, Wexler says, where its been around longer and is more accepted), men of means are turning to noninvasive procedures, most notably Ultherapy, a relatively painless FDA-cleared ultrasound treatment that requires no downtime.

Edward George/Alamy Stock Photo

For the ultimate injection of masculine vigor, though, Cheung works with membersand not necessarily of Congress. We make penises bigger and better, she says. Self-confidence for men is tied up with their penises and how well they work. We give them their swagger back.

Men looking for an extra glide in their stride are considering the augmented Priapus Shot, or P-shot, Cheung says, a treatment thats the male equivalent of the O-shot. She is also increasingly recommending a machine called Emsella, better known as the Orgasm Throne, which generates approximately 11,000 Kegel contractions in 30 minutes (it was originally developed for female incontinence). It really gives you an invigorating kick in the pants, Cheung says.

If the recent past is anything to go by, theres no guarantee that the candidates who end up squaring off in November will provide anything resembling accurate medical recordswhich is a shame, as they would make interesting reading. Like Bezos and less heralded moguls across the country, they are unlikely to reveal any touch-ups to anyone but their best pals.

Men will come in and ask for something their friend has had done, Wexler says. But you wont hear anyone on Jimmy Fallon saying, Im so tired: I was at the dermatologist all day.

This story appears in the May 2020 issue of Town & Country.

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Tyto Cares kit includes a connected otoscope among other things

Numerous startups offering telehealth or remote monitoring solutions closed funding rounds this week, despite slowing activity due to the Covid-19 pandemic. One of them is Tyto Care, a startup with a platform for at-home medical exams. It actually includes a kit with several tools that can allow physicians to remotely listen to a patients heart, measure their temperature, and image their throat and ears. Several hospitals in Israel, including Sheba Medical Center, deployed its technology to care for patients remotely.

On the biotech side, there were some notable rounds, too, including $70 million for Aspen Neuroscience, which is developing a new treatment for Parkinsons disease. The company was founded by Scripps Research Professor Emeritus Jeanne Loring, who developed a way to turn pluripotent skin cells derived from skin cells or other adult cells into neurons that produce dopamine.

Read more about the companies that recently raised funding:

Tyto Care

Funding amount: $50 million

Headquarters: New York, Israel

Tyto Care, a company that lets people conduct at-home medical exams, already saw rising demand before the Covid-19 pandemic. The company said it saw threefold growth in sales last year and has continued to see its users increase during the pandemic. Its at-home telehealth kit includes a handheld device with attachments that allow physicians to remotely listen to the heart and lungs, measure temperature, and look at the throat and ears during an exam.

The company closed an oversubscribed $50 million round, co-led by Insight Partners, Olive Tree Ventures and Qualcomm Ventures. Tyto Care plans to use the additional funds to further expand its footprint in the U.S., Europe and Asia, and add new features to its platform, such as home diagnostics.

Aspen Neuroscience

Funding amount: $70 million

Headquarters: San Diego, California

Aspen Neuroscience is developing a treatment for Parkinsons disease using a patients own cells. The company uses induced pluripotent stem cells to make dopamine-producing neurons, which are affected by the disease.

The company closed a $70 million series A round, led by New York-based healthcare investor OrbiMed, with participation from ARCH Venture Partners, Frazier Healthcare Partners, Domain Associates, Section 32 and Sam Altman.

We are impressed by the progress Aspen has made to date against its goals to develop innovative therapies to treat Parkinson disease and encouraged by the broader investment communitys support of the company, OrbiMed Managing Partner Jonathan Silverstein said in a news release.

The company plans to use the capital to fund the development of its lead candidate, including completing studies needed to submit an investigational new drug application to the FDA, and recruiting for clinical trials.

Tango Therapeutics

Funding amount: $60 million

Headquarters: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Tango Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focusing on developing cancer therapies, closed a $60 million series B round. The company is working on developing treatments to counteract the loss of tumor suppressor genes, reverse cancer cells ability to evade the immune system, and identify new combinations that are more effective than single-agent therapies. The oversubscribed financing was led by Boxer Capital, with additional new investors in Cormorant Asset Management and Casdin Capital.

SonderMind

Funding amount: $27 million

Headquarters: Denver, Colorado

SonderMind, a startup that matches users with in-network therapists, raised $27 million in funding. The series B round was led by prominent VC General Catalyst and F-Prime Capital. Existing investors include the Kickstart Seed Fund, Di?ko Ventures and Jonathan Bush.

The company has a large network of behavioral providers in Colorado, and is expanding in Texas and Arizona. It plans to use the proceeds of the funding round to expand its partnership with payors, employers and health systems.

SilverCloud

Funding amount: $16 million

Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts

SilverCloud has seen an uptick in users tapping into its mental health programs for depression, anxiety and other conditions. The company raised a $30 million series B round, led by MemorialCare Innovation Fund, the VC arm of MemorialCare Health System. Other participating investors included LRVHealth, OSF Ventures and UnityPoint Health Ventures.

So far, the company had drummed up partnerships with more than 300 companies. Notably, it was also one of the products selected for Express Scripts first digital health formulary. SilverCloud said it would use the additional funds to expand access to mental health support services for healthcare professionals, as well as their families and their patients.

CyberMDX

Funding: $20 million

Headquarters: New York

Healthcare security startup CyberMDX closed a $20 million funding round. Sham, a French risk management and insurance provider, led the funding round, with participation from Pitango Venture Capital and Oure Ventures.

CyberMDX monitors a providers network for threats to its IT systems, connected medical devices, and other IoT devices. The company said it will use the $20 million to expand its platform to new markets.

Photo credit: Tyto Care

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Funding roundup: At-home medical exams and a Parkinson's treatment - MedCity News

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We can summon our cars with our smart phones, have a drone bring our wildest wishes to our door, and were just an Alexa and Roomba partnership away from having our own The Jetsonsstyle domestic assistant at our beck and call. In the world of aesthetics, futuristic procedures we never knew we needed are here now, too. These are todays top tweaks that prove the future is actually now.

Future FatMoving fat from one part of the body to another is a procedure that has been around since the late 1800s, and because fat transfers have been a reliable source of volume for faces, butts and breasts, their popularity continues to rise. Now, you dont even need your own fat to get a volume boost. Renuva is an alternative way to do fat transfers without liposuction, says Vero Beach, FL plastic surgeon Alan Durkin, MD. It can fill in scars and dimples, and plump hollow cheeks and hands. Instead of creating collagen, it induces natural human fat. When injected, Renuva acts as a scaffold that allows the body to stimulate its own fat cells to grow and divide creating organic fat. So, where does this fat come from? Dr. Durkin says its donated human tissue that is screened extensively and processed for quality and safety. It arrives in dehydrated form and we rehydrate it with saline before injecting it.

Glow GettersThink of microdroplets of filler as the Tiny House Nation of injectable rejuvenation. Although microdroplets have not yet been approved by the FDA in the United States, Juvderm Volite was created for this specific application and is being used extensively and successfully in Europe, says Bloomfield Hills, MI dermatologist Linda C. Honet, MD. Restylane Skinboosters Vital and Vital Lite are also used with the microinjection technique in Canada and marketed with a special microinjection syringe that delivers tiny amounts0.01 milliliters of fillerin a serial injection fashion. The main benefit of this approach? A consistent, superficial glow. We have found that when the hyaluronic acidbased filler is deposited in one area, deeper into the dermis, we still see the plumping and hydration in all areas of the skin,adds Beverly Hills, CA dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD.

A few years ago, under-eye carboxytherapy injection videos were going viral, as the insertion of carbon dioxide under the skin causes skin to inflate like a balloon. That visual hasnt stopped doctors from utilizing carboxytherapy to boost skin rejuvenation. The intent of carboxy injections is to increase oxygen in the skin by increasing capillary blood flow to eliminate carbon dioxide, says San Antonio dermatologist Vivian Bucay, MD. Now, a CO2 Lift mask gives similar benefits without the intense skin expansion. The mask is made of two gels that we mix together and apply on the skin, she adds. Although there are no formal studies to show carboxytherapy speeds recovery compared to other topicals, Dr. Bucay uses it after laser treatments, Ultherapy, microneedling and chemical peels to reduce healing time.

Miracle GrowWhen we think of getting something lasered, we tend to think of the skin- resurfacing treatments that obliterate layers of dead skin to reveal baby-fresh skin. But some doctors, like New York dermatologist Doris Day, MD, are harnessing laser energy to help hair grow in places where it hasnt for years. I use the Fotona laserit employs photobiomodulation, a form of gentle deep heatto stimulate the stem cells of dormant hair follicles and encourage regrowth. The laser energy penetrates the tissue, where it interacts with chromophores and induces a complex set of reactions that increases circulation, reduces inflammation and helps restore normal cellular function. Currently, there are no clinical studies to prove the efficacy of this hair growth treatment, but there are controlled studies being planned. Dr. Day has seen results with some patients as part of a long-term plan that also includes Nutrafol, DuoZyme supplements and quercetin, as well as topical treatments and sometimes platelet-rich plasma therapy.

Body MovinBelly buttons get an automatic upgrade during a tummy tuck or Mommy Makeover, but stand-alone umbilicoplasty is trending as patients continue to find small areas of their bodies to tinker with and perfect. And, its not just about turning an outie into an innie. Most of the belly button surgeries performed by Raleigh, NC plastic surgeon Michael Law, MD are on those who have had a tummy tuck with another doctor and are left with visible scarring, or their belly button has an odd, or operated-on look.

For tummies in need of extra tightening, theres a nonsurgical option being explored that involves the same polydioxanone (PDO) threads used in thread lifts for the face. Abdominal thread lifts are essentially retention sutures, which are placed into the lower, mid or upper abdomen to lift tissue, explains Spokane, WA dermatologist Wm. Philip Werschler, MD. Ideal candidates are those who arent surgical candidates, those who dont want surgery, or those whose concerns are less than what a typical tummy tuck would correct. The in-office procedure takes about one hour and is performed under local anesthetic. There are no current studies to show the efficacy or benefits of thread lifts in this area, but Dr. Werschler says he continues to see good results.

To slenderize the legs, calf reduction is actually a thing. Excess fat on the calves may result in the appearance of cankles being a bit shorter can also make the calves appear thicker, says Los Angeles plastic surgeon Peter Lee, MD. We can perform liposuction in order to trim them down to the patients goal size. Excision techniques may also be needed for the removal of excess tissue. To make calves look smaller without surgery, New York dermatologist Tatiana Khrom, MD uses Botox Cosmetic to reshape: We target the back of the lower leg, the gastrocnemius muscles, to slim the calves and help patients fit into their favorite boots or feel more confident in their shorts, with results lasting up to six months.

Important IntelAll the doctors included in this story mentioned how important creative, off-label use is to the medical communityand strongly stressed seeing a board-certified doctor, practicing within scope, who has vast experience and knowledge on the treatments in question. Off-label use can be safe when done by an experienced doctor who specializes in that off-label treatment; that doctor may also produce research showing efficacy of the off-label use, has been trained on the off-label use, or performs it regularly. Of course, all cosmetic treatments can have a potential risk whether on-or off-label and this is why its important to see a properly board-certified doctor.

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Bizizz Market Research has recently published a research report, 3D Bioprinting Market By Component (3D Bioprinters (Magnetic 3d bioprinting, Laser-assisted bioprinting, Inkjet 3d bioprinting, Micro extrusion Bioprinters, and Other) Bioprinters Bio inks (Natural bio inks, Synthetic bio inks, and Hybrid bio inks)), Material (Hydrogels, Extracellular Matrices, Living Cells, and Other Biomaterials), Application (Research Applications (Drug Research, Regenerative Medicine, 3d Cell Culture) Clinical Applications (Skin, Bone & Cartilage, Blood Vessels, and Others), End User (Hospitals, Research Organizations and Academic Institutes Biopharmaceutical, and Companies), and Region-Global Industry Trends, Estimation & Forecast, 2019 2027. As per the report,Global 3D Bioprinting Marketwas valued at US$ 623 Mn in 2018 and it is anticipated to reach at market value of US$ 1.4 Bn by 2027, witnessing a CAGR of 18.6 % during the forecast period. Key drivers of the market are increasing prevalence of chronic disorders like kidney and heart failures, growing elderly populace, and the insufficient number of organ donors. However, dearth of skilled professionals may hinder the growth of the market during the forecast period.

3D bioprinting technology has witnessed accelerated adoption in the healthcare industry. Bioprinting has emerged as a promising technological know-how for the fabrication of synthetic tissues and organs, which can revolutionize the analysis and cure of more than a few scientific conditions. Bioprinting businesses around the world are constantly innovating in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, drug therapies, and stem cell therapy, which is gaining attention from healthcare authorities and pharmaceutical agencies to envision a future with higher patient care, custom-made medical treatment, and an alternative to organ transplantation.

Over the previous few years, essential technological advancements in the 3D bioprinting space have taken place for numerous scientific applications, inclusive of skin tissue development, most cancers therapeutics, bone and cartilage development, and liver modeling. Advanced technologies grant players with a competitive area and thereby help in strengthening their function and share in the market. For instance, in 2018, Poietis (France) launched the 3D bioprinted pores and skin model, Poieskin. The total human pores and skin model is made by using the bioprinting of essential human collagen and fibroblast for the dermal layer and major human keratinocytes for the epidermal layer.

The 3D Bioprinting market is anticipated to register a CAGR of over 18.6% during the forecast period.

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https://www.bizizzmarketresearch.com/sample/global-overview-of-3d-bioprinting-market

By Material, the living cells segment held a prominent share in Global3D BioprintingMarket in 2018.

On the basis of material, the 3D bioprinting market is segmented into hydrogels, extracellular matrices, living cells, and other biomaterials. In 2018, the living cells segment accounted for the biggest market share particularly due to the developing R&D in the fields of regenerative medicine and stem cell research, and increasing public and personal investments to help research

By Application, Skin Printing Segment of Global 3D Bioprinting Market Is Anticipated To Witness the Fastest CAGR during the Forecast Period

The clinical applications market is similarly segmented into skin printing, bone & cartilage printing, blood vessel printing, and other scientific applications. Among these, the pores and skin printing purposes segment is estimated to develop at the best CAGR of 19.8% in the course of the forecast period. This can be attributed to the technological developments and new product launches in this utility segment, and the growing wide variety of aesthetic and reconstruction surgeries across the globe.

North America is anticipated to dominate the Global 3D Bioprinting Market during the Forecast Period

Growing target populace base is in all likelihood to be the crucial cause boosting the regions 3D bioprinting market growth. The existence of well-established corporations and subtle healthcare set-up in consort with high income tiers in the location are also anticipated through the market development. Moreover, huge research and improvement activities carried out inside the place are said to make contributions to market expansion. Additionally, the accessibility of 3D printed drugs that can be tailor-made in accordance with the age and body weight of a person is supporting to boost up the market evolution.

Global 3D Bioprinting market was highly consolidated with key players accounting for significant share in 2018. Prominent players operating in the Global 3D Bioprinting Market are: Solidscape, Inc. (acquired by Prodways Group), TeVido BioDevices, LLC, 3Dynamics Systems Ltd., Bio3D Technologies Pte. Ltd., Aspect Biosystems Ltd., Stratasys Ltd., Luxexcel Group B.V., Materialise N.V., Cyfuse Biomedical K.K., Voxeljet A.G., Envision TEC, and Organovo Holding, Inc., among others.

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Our expanding team of professionals & experts from a wide array of streams and vertical has critical problem solving skills, innovative approaches and research techniques to deliver best solution to our clients. We continuously pushing our capabilities to enhance our services and setting higher quality goals each day. BMR offers syndicated reports, custom reports and consulting services to our clients. We are capable of catering the market research demands of individuals and organizations of various industries across different geographies with utmost data accuracy in minimal turnaround time.

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Global 3D Bioprinting Market is anticipated to reach at market value of US$ 1.4 Bn by 2027 - Galus Australis

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If you notice flakes in your hair or it's simply looking drab, chances are there's something making its home on your head that you definitely don't want there. Depending on your own pH levels, it could be the oil from clogged follicles creating dandruff, but even if you consider your scalp on the normal-to-dry side, product buildup can still linger on the scalp long after you've showered with shampoo and conditioner.

If you'd like to say a final farewell to product buildup, dead skin cells, and excess sebum, using a purifying scalp scrub once a week can exfoliate away dirt and flakes and leave your hair feeling cleaner than you've ever imagined. Beyond scrubs, other treatments like serums and oils can also help fortify follicles so hair grows back in healthier and stronger, plus treat the protective cuticle layer that locks in moisture and keeps hair looking shiny, too.

Check out the best hair-care products at Sephora that tackle everything from itchiness to dullness ahead, and give your scalp the special treat it's not-so-secretly seeking.

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Don't Be Flaky: Try One of These Scalp Treatments From Sephora and Get Your Scalp Right - POPSUGAR

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Theres a great deal of innovation embedded in todays cutting-edge computer chips, but not much of it is as out-of-the-box as the thinking thats driving Australian startup Cortical Labs. The company, like so many startups with artificial intelligence in mind, is building computer chips that borrow their neural network inspiration from the biological brain. The difference? Cortical is using actual biological neurons, taken from mice and humans, to make their chips.

Were building the first hybrid computer chip which entails implanting biological neurons on silicon chips, Hon Weng Chong, CEO and co-founder of Cortical Labs, told Digital Trends.

This is done by first extracting neurons in two different ways, either from a mouse embryo or by transforming human skin cells back into stem cells and inducing those to grow into human neurons.

We then grow those neurons in our laboratory on high density CMOS-based multi-electrode devices that contain 22,000 electrodes on tiny surfaces no larger than 7mm squared, Chong continued. These neurons form neural networks which then start to spontaneously fire electrical signals, after a two-week incubation period, that is picked up by our multi-electrode device. The multi-electrode device is also able to provide electrical stimulation.

The researchers arent the first to develop neural networks based on real neurons. Recently, scientists in the U.K., Switzerland, Germany, and Italy fired up a working neural network that allowed biological and silicon-based artificial brain cells to communicate with one another over an internet connection.A California startup called Koniku, meanwhile, is building silicon chips, created using mouse neurons, which are able to sense certain chemicals.

For now, research like Cortical Labs is still in a relatively early proof-of-concept stage. According to a recent article in Fortune, Cortical Labs current approach has less processing power than a dragonfly brain. That means that, for now, its pursuing humbler ambitions than its eventual goal.

While were still in the process of building the hybrid computer chip, right now were focused on shaping our neurons behavior to play a game of [Ataris] Pong, Chong said. Thats our next big milestone, which will provide a proof-of-concept similar to DeepMinds demonstration [in 2013] of its A.I. playing Breakout.

Commercialization is still a number of years away, Chong continued. But hes convinced it could be a game-changer. When we eventually take our final product to market we believe it will have a wide array of applications across robotics, cloud computing, and computer brain interfaces, he said. This does not include industries that we might not have thought about yet because of the novelty of such a computation paradigm.

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Meet the sci-fi startup building computer chips with real biological neurons - Digital Trends

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Meet the sci-fi startup building computer chips with real biological neurons – Digital Trends | April 8th, 2020

The coronavirus crisis is affecting every aspect of our lives, including the condition of our skin. Have you noticed that your skin is particularly spotty, irritated and angry lately? That's another thing you can blame on COVID-19.

Express.co.ukspoke to Dr. Luca Russo, Dermatologist at Urban Retreat, to find out why.Dr. Russo says there are several reasons for your unexpected breakouts.He said: "There might be several reasons for noticing a tendency to break out during this national emergency."It's probably to do with what's going on inside, and what you're putting in your body, says Dr. Russo.

READ MORE- Coronavirus symptoms: Man reveals skin-related warning sign

Are you up all night worrying about the virus?Dr. Russo says: "The most likely cause of your breakout is stress."During such uncertain and stressful times, our system copes with increased production of Cortisol."Cortisol is an androgen hormone that is released when we are facing unusual challenges and prepare us to "fight'."However, it will also increase the sugar level in the bloodstream and production of sebum that might be a cause of the breakout."

In order to prevent breakouts that stem from high levels of stress, you'll need to calm yourself down.Dr Russo recommends doing activities that allow you to relax and unwind, such as yoga.He also suggests exercising regularly, so it's time to start making use of that daily government-approved walk, cycle, or run.

If you hate exercising, don't worry, the antidote to high cortisol levels doesn't have to be physical.Laughing, a solid night of sleep, or practising your favourite hobby are all effective options.

Having a soak in the bath and doing a face-mask may help you feel more in control of your skin.

This relief may cause a decrease in oil production and pimples.

DON'T MISS...How to help your brain through the coronavirus crisis stress [EXPLAINER]Coronavirus: How to look after your mental health during lockdown [EXPLAINER]Lockdown exercise: The eight exercises you can do at home [INFORMER]

Can you honestly say you have been eating well throughout the lockdown?Most people have stocked up on sugary treats and salty snacks in order to cheer themselves up in the face of COVID-19.And what about the good-old "support local businesses" excuse you use every time you order a greasy takeaway?Dr Russo says: "During isolation food becomes one of the few focal points of the day with more consumption of comfort food."Just like any other organ in your body, a poor diet affects your skin negatively.The body breaks down our food into tiny particles of proteins, fats, and carbs, and circulates it to the organs that need them.These nutrients make their way to your skin too, impacting its condition.It makes sense that inflammatory foods, such as sweets, some dairy, processed meat, and refined carbohydrates, will cause a flare-up in your complexion.

Dr. Russo says: "To improve your skin, you must eat well."Eat foods that are packed with vitamins and proteins and snack on fruit and veg."Drinking lots of water will replace the moisture that is lost through sweat and other processes, keeping your skin hydrated.If you fill up on foods rich in healthy oils and omega-3 fatty acids, you will improve the collagen production in your skin.This makes your skin smoother, suppler, and will help you in the longterm by preventing premature ageing.These oils and fats are found in fish, nuts, olive oil, and many more commonly found items.

During the lockdown, we're stuck inside all day and often don't get a chance to let our skin feel the sun.Dr. Russo says: "At the moment, skin isn't being exposed to natural light much at all."When your skin is exposed to natural light, the production of Vitamin D is increased."Endorphins are also produced, and this boosts your immune system and well-being."Make sure you get some fresh air every day, in order to reap these benefits of the sun.The sun is a great natural resource to improve your skin, but make sure you protect yourself with sun protection before you go out.You should wear an SPF of at least 30 on your face whenever you leave the house or are in front of a window for a prolonged amount of time.

Most people are shunning makeup in favour of the natural look since no one other than our household is going to see our faces.This means you may be tempted to skip your cleansing routine and go straight to bed once the day is over.

If you normally get facials and now can't, this may also be why you are breaking out or seeing changes.Dr. Russo explains: "You have probably been unable to receive professional treatments over this time, and this will contribute towards your breakouts."Dr. Russo recommends continuing with your normal skincare routine.He says: "Carry on as normal, but add an exfoliating cleanser to your routine."Exfoliating cleansers make your skincare routine shorter, by combining exfoliating and cleansing in one step.They remove dead skin cells and any build-up of dirt and oil in one go.There are hundreds of physical exfoliating cleansers on the market, as well as chemical exfoliating cleansers, so take your pick!

While surgical masks are thought to protect us against coronavirus, they're not great for our skin, said Dr. Russo.Wearing a mask over your face for many hours is damaging to your skin, especially when it's hot outside.The mask offers the perfect spot for bacteria and germs to harbour.Try double cleansing on the lower half of your face if you've worn a surgical mask for a prolonged period of time.

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Lockdown skin: Why is my skin worse even though I'm not wearing any makeup? - Express

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Lockdown skin: Why is my skin worse even though I’m not wearing any makeup? – Express | April 8th, 2020

Theres a great deal of innovation embedded in todays cutting-edge computer chips, but not much of it is as out-of-the-box as the thinking thats driving Australian startup Cortical Labs. The company, like so many startups with artificial intelligence in mind, is building computer chips that borrow their neural network inspiration from the biological brain. The difference? Cortical is using actual biological neurons, taken from mice and humans, to make their chips.

Were building the first hybrid computer chip which entails implanting biological neurons on silicon chips, Hon Weng Chong, CEO and co-founder of Cortical Labs, told Digital Trends.

This is done by first extracting neurons in two different ways, either from a mouse embryo or by transforming human skin cells back into stem cells and inducing those to grow into human neurons.

We then grow those neurons in our laboratory on high density CMOS-based multi-electrode devices that contain 22,000 electrodes on tiny surfaces no larger than 7mm squared, Chong continued. These neurons form neural networks which then start to spontaneously fire electrical signals, after a two-week incubation period, that is picked up by our multi-electrode device. The multi-electrode device is also able to provide electrical stimulation.

The researchers arent the first to develop neural networks based on real neurons. Recently, scientists in the U.K., Switzerland, Germany, and Italy fired up a working neural network that allowed biological and silicon-based artificial brain cells to communicate with one another over an internet connection.A California startup called Koniku, meanwhile, is building silicon chips, created using mouse neurons, which are able to sense certain chemicals.

For now, research like Cortical Labs is still in a relatively early proof-of-concept stage. According to a recent article in Fortune, Cortical Labs current approach has less processing power than a dragonfly brain. That means that, for now, its pursuing humbler ambitions than its eventual goal.

While were still in the process of building the hybrid computer chip, right now were focused on shaping our neurons behavior to play a game of [Ataris] Pong, Chong said. Thats our next big milestone, which will provide a proof-of-concept similar to DeepMinds demonstration [in 2013] of its A.I. playing Breakout.

Commercialization is still a number of years away, Chong continued. But hes convinced it could be a game-changer. When we eventually take our final product to market we believe it will have a wide array of applications across robotics, cloud computing, and computer brain interfaces, he said. This does not include industries that we might not have thought about yet because of the novelty of such a computation paradigm.

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Meet the sci-fi startup building computer chips with real biological neurons - Yahoo Tech

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Meet the sci-fi startup building computer chips with real biological neurons – Yahoo Tech | April 6th, 2020

'Let me tell you about the very rich,' wrote F Scott Fitzgerald. 'They are different from you and me.' Above all, in the lengths they will go to acquire, and preserve, perfect skin.

Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the consort of the former Emir of Qatar, may well be the richest person I've ever met. She certainly has skin like no one else on the planet. She's 61 but looks about 40, with a face that seems to have no visible pores, perhaps because it's sculpted out of alabaster.

Admittedly, she is carefully made-up on a regular basis, so she would have been unlikely to want to attend a recent dinner party of Gwyneth Paltrow's in Beverly Hills, at which guests were banned from wearing any cosmetics at all. Kate Hudson and Demi Moore were among those who gamely took the challenge, the idea of which was to allow the assembled LA A-listers to show off their natural glow.

But they don't, of course, rely wholly on nature for their radiance. Moore's evening beauty routine (pared back to the minimum because, she says, "I like to keep it simple") includes eight separate products, with a total cost of 743.50, from a cleansing elixir to a 355 replenishing facial oil and a rose-quartz facial massager in the shape of a butterfly.

No wonder that, far from being petrified at the thought of the make-up-free dinner, she felt 'full of joy', according to her Instagram posts. Her face wasn't coated in foundation, but it was insulated by a thick layer of cash.

With skincare that promises actually to reverse the visible signs of ageing, beauty brands feel entitled to charge impressive sums. La Prairie has one serum, its Platinum Night Elixir, that sells for over 1,000 for 20ml. It costs about 10 more per gram than solid gold. Imagine if your cat knocked that one off the dressing table.

On the other hand, the scientist who developed it says the peptides and amino acids contained in a single daily drop will leave your skin visibly younger-looking and fresher in two weeks. Users say it feels like wrapping your face in cashmere.

La Prairie Platinum Rare Cellular Night Elixir 20ml, 1,018, Harvey Nichols

I rely on Dr Phillip Levy, a Swiss dermatologist and wound-healing specialist based in Geneva, whose moisturisers and serums are proven to revitalise dermal stem cells to kick-start your skin's own production of collagen. Another doctor - German-born Michael Prager, who operates from a clinic in Wimpole Street - emphasises the rejuvenating effects of combating pollution with an antioxidant cream that fights off free radicals.

Neither of these medical-grade ranges comes cheap, but though Dr Prager's day oil contains pure gold, at 225 for 30ml (drmichaelprager.com), it's not actually as expensive as buying the precious metal itself.

If you're going down the Sheikha Moza route to moneyed perfection with a lavish use of make-up, Gucci Westman is a name to conjure with. This make-up artist, who has worked with Natalie Portman and Nicole Kidman, has her own range, Westman Atelier.

Lip suede in Les Rouges, 75, Westman Atelier (net-a-porter.com)

Yes, the colours are lush but, even better, the brand is 'clean' - beauty-speak for vegan, against animal-testing, paraben-free and so on. Plus, the products moisturise, plump up collagen and soothe as you apply them. Even the mascara conditions your lashes. So what if it costs 58?

Equally impressive is Shiseido's luxury line, Cl de Peau, which does a foundation that's 250 for 27ml, in 13 shades. Again, it's a beauty treatment with SPF and moisturiser as much as a make-up product, and it's what I'll put on if I want anyone to tell me I look glowing.

But, of course, more precious than any cream or blush stick is a little personal attention. Dr Costas Papageorgiou operates out of Harrods and has fairly expensive-looking skin himself. He makes use of a battery of lasers, Botox, fillers and ultrasound, but the key to his success is the consultation that starts off the process.

The Foundation,250, Cl de Peau Beaut (harrods.com)

Seeing your own face in unforgiving 3D on a computer may be a shock, but it certainly helps pinpoint the areas you'd like him to focus on. He's very hot on correcting facial symmetry, which starts out pretty good in babies, but with time and use, the muscles on the face become less symmetrical as bits start to droop or wrinkle. Generally, the more lopsided you are, the more antique you look, and he can address that with filler, Botox and even thread lifts.

But I'm not one for the injectables. It's his Hybrid Energy Lift - a combination of ultrasound, infrared, light and laser - that I really rate (from 6,000 for 120 minutes, facialplasticslondon.com). It, too, stimulates collagen production, but it also gets rid of visible veins and redness, and even reduces big pores. I have had to change the tone of my foundation for a paler one since he did for my (mild) rosacea.

Radical3 Reboot Pro Peel, 89, Dr Levy (editorslist.co.uk)

The key, says Dr Papageorgiou, is to delay and reverse the "ageing cascade". This slow car crash of fine lines around the eyes, sun damage and heavy jowls is all thanks, he says, to "fat atrophy and bone resorption".

But subtlety is all - "A great result is one that shows no signs of intervention"- and nothing, he warns, can really be achieved unless you have a healthy diet, exercise and take vitamins.

Debbie Thomas, at her D.Thomas clinic in London, has a similarly personalised approach. You don't book in for a single treatment, you book for an hour of her expert time, and she'll use a cocktail of lasers, micro-needling and products depending on what you need (475 for a DNA Laser Complete 2 session, dthomas.com).

"I'm afraid,"she says, "traditional facials are not going to transform your skin for more than a few days. You need to upgrade to more advanced treatments if you want long-term results. And those will be more costly."And who can say it's not worth the money?

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The rise of 'rich woman face': how to halt the ageing process (for a certain price) - Telegraph.co.uk

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on The rise of ‘rich woman face’: how to halt the ageing process (for a certain price) – Telegraph.co.uk | April 6th, 2020

Limbs regenerate, embryos grow, and cancers invade.

In each of these processes, cells change dramatically. Betty Hay studied fascinating biological phenomena, relentlessly asking questions with her students and colleagues to understand how cellsbehaved. By the end of her life, she had made enormous research contributions in developmental biology, on top ofcommitting herself to mentoring the next generation of scientists and advocating for more representation of women in science.

She made significant contributions towards understanding cell and developmental biology

Betty Hay began as an undergraduate at Smith College in 1944. She lovedher first biology course and started working for Meryl Rose, a professor at Smith who studied limb regeneration in frogs. I was self-motivated and very attracted to science, she saidin an interview in 2004, Meryl at that time was working on regeneration and by the end of my first year at Smith I was also studying regeneration.

Hay regarded Rose as a significant scientific mentor in her life and followed his advice to apply for medical school instead of graduate school. She ended up attending Johns Hopkins School of Medicine for her medical degree while continuing her research on limb regeneration over the summers with Rose at Woods Holes Marine Biological Laboratory. She stayed at Johns Hopkins after to teach Anatomy and became an Assistant Professor in 1956.

The year after, she moved her studiesto Cornell Universitys Medical College as an Assistant Professor to learn how to use the powerful microscopes located there. Her goal was to use transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a method of taking high-resolution images, toseehow salamanders could regenerate an amputated limb. Nothing couldve kept me from going into TEM, she said later.

With her student, Don Fischman, they concluded that upon amputation, cells with specialized roles,known as differentiated cells and thought to be unchangeable, were able to de-differentiate and become unspecialized stem cells again. These cells without an assigned role could then have the freedom to adopt whatever new roles they required to regenerate a perfectly new limb.

Already making leaps in figuring out an explanation for the process of limb regeneration, Hay turned her attention from salamanders to bird eyes when she moved to Harvard University. She studied the outermost layer of cells on the cornea, known as the cornea epithelium. With the help of a postdoctoral scholar in her lab, Jib Dobson, and a faculty colleague, Jean-Paul Revel, they isolated, grew, and took pictures of cornea epithelium cells and demonstrated the epithelial cells could produce collagen.

Collagen is the main type of protein that weaves together to form the extracellular matrix, a connective tissue (the matrix) found outside of cells (extracellular). The collagen in the extracellular matrix provide structure, acting as a foundation for connective tissues and organs such as skin, tendons, and ligaments. Other scientists in the field were skeptical of the conclusion. They thought that one dedicated cell produced collagen, and nothing else.They dismissed the idea that cells in the cornea could somehow do the same. Despite their doubt, Hay, along with postdoctoral scholar Steve Meier, continued their studies. In 1974, they further showed that not only could epithelial cells produce collagen and extracellular matrix in different organ systems, but that the matrix could also tell other cells what type of cell to become.

She was a committed educator and mentor

Kathy Svoboda and Marion Gordon, two colleagues of hers, wrote about Betty Hay and described her not only as a superb cell and developmental biologist, but also as an educator and beloved mentor.

Limb regeneration in salamanders

Russell et al BMC Biology 2017

She was dedicated to teaching and influenced the careers of many junior and early-career scientists. In addition to working with and training her students to produce successful research and results, others mentioned how she would take the time to introduce students in her department to more established and prominent scientists in the field of cell biology. These actions reflected her belief that every student was worthy of being heard and introduced.

She held influential positions and advocated for more representation of women in science

At the time of her graduation from Johns Hopkins in 1952, she was one of only four women in her graduating class of 74 people. Afterwards, she experienced frequent moves for her career, going from Baltimore, to New York, to Boston. Despite how difficult it felt moving alone and leaving her personal relationships behind every time, she felt it was necessary for her career. In her mind, she strongly believed her research always came first, fueled by her intense desire to find answers, using the scientific approach.

She went on to serve as president for multiple professional societies, such as the American Association of Anatomists, the American Society for Cell Biology, and the Society for Developmental Biology, demonstrating her commitment to leadership and service. In two of these societies, she was the first woman to ever hold the position.

In 1975, she became the first female chair of what is now the Department of Cell Biology at Harvard University and held that position for 18 years. Even with these impressive milestones, she acknowledged one of her biggest obstacles to be achieving acceptance in the male professional world.

In 2004 and nearing retirement, Betty Hay would go on to say, I am very glad to see in my lifetime the emergence of significantly more career women in science, in an interview with editor-in-chief Fiona Watt for the Journal of Cell Science, this so enriches the intellectual power being applied to the field of cell biology.

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Meet Betty Hay, the scientist who saw how cells grow and limbs regenerate - Massive Science

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Meet Betty Hay, the scientist who saw how cells grow and limbs regenerate – Massive Science | April 6th, 2020

Just when you thought the world couldnt get any spookier, say hello to the newly born xenobot, a new kind of living thing.

Its hard to say with certainty who the father is.

Or maybe its just hard to admit whats actually happened: Like a bright child making a weirdo companion from Play-Doh, artificial intelligence has mated with the living cells of a frog to create an eerie hybrid of life and machine.

In a statement from the University of Vermont (UVM), the researchers explain it this way: A team of scientists has repurposed living cells, scraped from frog embryos, and assembled them into entirely new life forms.

These millimetre-wide xenobots can live for weeks, travel about with intent, work in groups autonomously, and heal themselves after being cut.

The idea is they could be set sail in their billions to clean the oceans of microplastics.

The really smart ones could be stationed in your organs, where theyd carry out renovating surgery or deliver drugs.

These are novel living machines, says Professor Joshua Bongard, a computer scientist and robotics expert at the University of Vermont who co-led the research.

Theyre neither a traditional robot, nor a known species of animal. Its a new class of artefact: A living, programmable organism.

The new creatures were designed on the Deep Green supercomputer at UVM and then assembled and tested by biologists at Tufts University.

The Deep Green supercomputer cluster at UVMs Vermont Advanced Computing Core used an evolutionary algorithm to create thousands of candidate designs for the new life forms.

Essentially, the computer was told here are your buildings blocks, literally abstract cubes with the physical parameters and limitations of skin and heart cells of an African frog.

The computer was then given an assignment: Arrange the cells so they could move forward. Or side to side. Or herd tiny sheep (no kidding).

And this is where the Play-Doh analogy comes in: The computer would, over and over, reassemble a few hundred simulated cells into myriad forms and body shapes. Is this one OK? What about this one?

Following the same pattern as human beings leaving behind its long-dead ancestors, Homo Erectus and the other hominins that followed, some of the creatures were selected to survive, but the less-successful species went extinct and were tossed to oblivion.

Eventually, the most promising designs were selected for testing.

And this is where it gets spooky.

Because the next step was to bring those building blocks, those red and green cubes, to life.

Here the research shifted from the UVM supercomputer to the biology labs at Tufts University, where stem cells were harvested from the embryos of African frogs, the species Xenopus laevis. (from which the name xenobot is derived).

The cells were separated into single cells and left to incubate.

The creepy yet wondrous thing is, not kept apart, the cells clump together and try to make something of themselves.

Next step: A microsurgeon, Dr Douglas Blackiston, used tiny forceps and an even tinier electrode, to cut the cells and join them under a microscope into a close approximation of the designs specified by the computer.

Assembled into body forms never seen in nature, the cells began to work together, the researchers advise.

The skin cells formed a more passive architecture, while the once-random contractions of heart muscle cells were put to work creating ordered forward motion as guided by the computers design, and aided by spontaneous self-organising patterns allowing the robots to move on their own.

These reconfigurable organisms were shown to be able move in a coherent fashion and explore their watery environment for days or weeks, powered by embryonic energy stores.

Turned over, however, they failed, like beetles flipped on their backs.

Later tests showed that groups of xenobots would work together like cowboys, moving around in circles, pushing pellets into a central location.

They did this spontaneously and collectively. Others were built with a hole through the centre to reduce drag.

In simulated versions, the scientists were able to repurpose this hole as a pouch to successfully carry an object.

We can imagine many useful applications of these living robots that other machines cant do, said co-leader Professor Michael Levin who directs the Centre for Regenerative and Developmental Biology at Tufts, like searching out nasty compounds or radioactive contamination, gathering microplastic in the oceans, travelling in arteries to scrape out plaque.

That fear is not unreasonable, Dr Levin said. When we start to mess around with complex systems that we dont understand, were going to get unintended consequences.

How might the creatures eventually work together in bigger systems?

As the researchers admit, who the heck knows?

A lot of complex systems, like an ant colony, begin with a simple unit an ant from which it would be impossible to predict the shape of their colony or how they can build bridges over water with their interlinked bodies.

Dr Levin said its an absolute necessity for society going forward to get a better handle on systems where the outcome is very complex.

A first step towards doing that is to explore: How do living systems decide what an overall behaviour should be and how do we manipulate the pieces to get the behaviours we want?

In other words, he suggested: This study is a direct contribution to getting a handle on what people are afraid of, which is unintended consequences.

If this was a horror movie, it would go like this: The world is under siege from a malevolent virus.

The frightened populace can think of nothing else.

Meanwhile, creepy monsters made from frog skin decide to take over the joint

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Half frog, half machine: The rise of the xenobot - The New Daily

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There are plenty of hair products out there that promise all kinds of miraculous results. If youre experiencing hair loss, hair thinning, or damaged hair, you might be at your wits end trying products to bring your hair back to health. With so many different options out there, its hard to know which product to choose. And how can you be sure whether any of them really work?

One of the latest big trends in the beauty industry is the use of natural plant stem cells to help replenish your hair and promote healthy growth. Companies claim that stem cell shampoo could be the answer to all your hair problems. We decided to test out the latest product from Cel MD, the Biotin shampoo and conditioner, and see the results it produced.

What is Cel MD?

Cel MD is a cosmetics company that utilizes patented techniques and cutting-edge science. Its aim is to bring the best in beauty treatments to retail. The company offers lots of different products, most of which use plant stem cells. These and other natural extracts help promote healthy skin and hair.

Stem cells are non-specialized cells that are found in our bodies. They can form any cell, meaning they have great potential for regenerating lost cells, particularly in our hair and skin. Stem cell products like shampoos use plant stem cells and extracts, which can help the body produce more stem cells naturally. This can, in turn, lead to healthier hair.

Biotin Shampoo and Conditioner Ingredients

Cel MDs Biotin shampoo and conditioner include the following active ingredients:

Biotin Stem Cell Shampoo and Conditioner Results

Biotin Stem cell Shampoo and conditioner are most effective for thin and flat hair. These products are supposed to promote new hair growth while also strengthening hair and preventing breakages and damage.

The shampoo is listed as being hypoallergenic, meaning its unlikely to cause any rashes or discomfort. I used the Biotin shampoo and conditioner for six weeks, during which time we followed the instructions provided. Both the shampoo and conditioner were used together, with a short, cold water rinse in between.

After just two weeks of using the product, I found that my hair was softer and looking healthier. I was able to grow my hair longer without suffering from the damaged look that had always happened previously. At the end of the six weeks, my hair was noticeably looking a lot thicker, shinier, and was softer to the touch. My hairstylist commented on how it had improved, and it was clear that the shampoo and conditioner were working their magic.

Originally posted here:
Cel MD Biotin Shampoo and Conditioner Review - Explosion

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Cel MD Biotin Shampoo and Conditioner Review – Explosion | April 3rd, 2020

Australian startup Cortical Labs is building computer chips that use biological neurons extracted from mice and humans, Fortune reports.

The goal is to dramatically lower the amount of power current artificial intelligence systems need to operate by mimicking the way the human brain.

According to Cortical Labs announcement, the company is planning to build technology that harnesses the power of synthetic biology and the full potential of the human brain in order to create a new class of AI that could solve societys greatest challenges.

The mouse neurons are extracted from embryos, according to Fortune, but the human ones are created by turning skin cells back into stem cells and then into neurons.

The idea of using biological neurons to power computers isnt new. Cortical Labs announcement comes one week after a group of European researchers managed to turn on a working neural network that allows biological and silicon-based brain cells to communicate with each other over the internet.

Researchers at MIT have also attempted to use bacteria, not neurons, to build a computing system in 2016.

As of right now, Corticals mini-brains have less processing power than a dragonfly brain. The company is looking to get its mouse-neuron-powered chips to be capable of playing a game of Pong, as CEO Hon Weng Chong told Fortune, following the footsteps of AI company DeepMind, which used the game to test the power of its AI algorithms back in 2013.

What we are trying to do is show we can shape the behavior of these neurons, Chong told Fortune.

READ MORE: A startup is building computer chips using human neurons [Fortune]

More on neurons: Artificial and Biological Neurons Just Talked Over the Internet

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This Startup's Computer Chips Are Powered by Human Neurons - Futurism

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Just before Christmastime, Howard Federoff got a tip from Washington: There was a new virus in China. And this one could be bad.

News report of the virus had not yet appeared. Federoff, a neuroscientist, was briefed because years before, he was vetted as part of a group he didnt give a name for the group to consult for the US government on emerging scientific issues. His day job, though, was CEO of Aspen Neurosciences, a Parkinsons cell therapy startup that days before had come out of stealth mode and gave word to investors they were hoping to raise $70 million. That, Federoff realized, would be difficult if a pandemic shut down the global economy.

I started thinking rather early onThere might be something on the horizon that we dont fully understand, Federoff told Endpoints News. We knew that if something did change, it could change rather quickly.

Operating with insight and knowledge other biotechs lacked access to, Federoff went into overdrive trying to close before Covid-19 hit the US, and he emerged today with $70 million in Series A funding led by OrbiMed. The other investors included Frazier Health Partners, Sam Altman and ARCH Venture Partners, the VC whose leader Robert Nelsen became one of the earliest and most prominent voices calling for change.

Weve had long conversations, Federoff said of him and Nelsen.

With the Series A, Federoff has convinced A-list investors to back one version of a long-sought solution to Parkinsons. Aspen will use stem cells grown from Parkinsons patients own skin tissue to grow dopamine neurons that can be implanted into the brain and hopefully replace the degenerating neurons. The idea has been around for decades, with the first transplant occurring in the 80s, but it was never scaleable. The technology to produce stem cells on demand didnt exist.

The company has a rival in BlueRock, which uses donor stem cells and which Bayer acquired in August at a valuation of $1 billion.

Over the winter, though, the investor hunt became less about pitching the science which Federoff says everyone agreed was promising than about beating the clock and investors rising worries about the economy. He prepared to work fast, turning an early meeting with Frazier at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference into a pivotal one. As the months passed, he phoned investors multiple times a day to keep funding on track.

They were already in from the standpoint of the science, Federoff said. I could tell that there was a growing weariness about whether all that they had previously considered as part of their own respective portfolios outside of Aspen would all be possible.

The money he secured will help fund their Phase I trial on Parkinsons and a second program that uses a form of gene therapy to implant stem cells that have a genetic marker for Parkinsons edited out. The plan had been to start a trial in 2021, but Federoff knows there are no more guarantees.

At this time its not clear what Covid-19 will do to projections, he said.

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'There was a growing weariness': Rushing against a pandemic clock, Aspen Neurosciences secures $70M Series A - Endpoints News

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on ‘There was a growing weariness’: Rushing against a pandemic clock, Aspen Neurosciences secures $70M Series A – Endpoints News | April 2nd, 2020

Disclosure: Dr Henderson is the president and principal owner of The Synaptic Space, a neuroimaging consulting firm, and owner of Neuro-Luminance Corporation. Please see the listed studies for a full list of disclosures.

During the last 20 years, a large body of research has accumulated on the beneficial effects of infrared light in the range of 600 to 1000 nm. Infrared light can activate mitochondria, which in turn stimulate second messenger systems, DNA transcription, and growth factors.1,2 As a result, new synapses are formed, circuits regrow, and pluripotent stem cells differentiate into neurons.

Animal studies have shown that infrared photobiomodulation (PBM) may reduce the size and severity of brain injury and stroke, as well as diminish damage and physiological symptoms in depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Parkinson disease, and Alzheimer disease.1,3-6 Michael Hamblin, PhD, from the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, a leader in the field, describes PBM as the use of red or near-infrared light to stimulate, heal, regenerate, and protect tissue that has either been injured, is degenerating, or else is at risk of dying.1

Generally in medicine we shy away from the word heal when referring to the brain, and regenerate stirs vague recollections of Frankenstein. Nevertheless, early findings in mouse models of brain injury and disease have spawned a different sort of monster in the commercial world. The internet is now loaded with companies offering infrared LED helmets or pads for the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other brain disorders, often based on exaggerated claims about healing the brain. Exorbitant prices in the thousands of dollars are charged for a device that can be made for less than $30. As a result, the public is misled and the potential scientific benefits of infrared light are sullied.

It is time to separate fact from fiction. Yes, infrared light can induce the cellular events described here, reduce the size of stroke injury or TBI in mouse models, and protect neurons from neurotoxins. But is treating a human with a 0.5-W LED the same as treating a mouse? Certainly not! When it comes to infrared light treatment, it is all a matter of getting there: the infrared light must be able to penetrate all the overlying tissue to reach the brain.

Can Infrared Light Reach the Brain?

Can 0.5-W LEDs penetrate human scalp and skull to reach the brain? The answer is No.2 My colleague, Larry Morries, DC, and I showed that these LEDs did not even penetrate 2 mm of human skin. In contrast, our laser device, which emits infrared light in the range of 10 to 15 W, was able to effectively penetrate human tissue. We found that 33% of our 10-W infrared laser energy penetrated 2 mm of human skin and delivered from 1.2% to 2.4% of the energy from our device 3 cm into the brain. These data were replicated in a study by Juanita Anders, PhD, and colleagues at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences.7

The human scalp and skull provide a significant barrier. Infrared light energy needs to be in the range of 0.9 to 15 J/cm2 at the target tissue to activate mitochondria and other cellular events.2-3,8-9 Even if a 0.5-W LED only had to penetrate the skull to reach the surface of the brain, it could only deliver 0.0064 J/cm2, or 1/140th of the minimum energy necessary to induce PBM.10 No energy would be expected to reach the depths of the brain needed to treat stroke, Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, or many brain injuries. Although more than 40% of the incident light from a light source may penetrate mouse skull, only 4.2% penetrates human skull.8,10

There is a hairier problem facing LED devices: human hair blocks infrared light. More than 98% of infrared light can be blocked by 2 mm of hair (ie, 9.764 W of a 10-W beam of 810 nm infrared light is absorbed by human hair).11 If 98% of the energy from a 0.5-W LED is absorbed by hair, 80% to 90% is absorbed by 2 mm of skin, and 96% of incident energy is attenuated by skull, then claims of neurophysiological benefits of LED-based devices become highly questionable.

Another misconception propagated by companies selling LED-based devices is that multiple LEDs somehow increase light penetration, even though each LED projects light on its own path. For example, 100 0.5-W LEDs do not generate 50 W on the brain, they generate 0.5 W on 100 spots.11 The argument that light scattering in the brain provides the cumulative value of multiple LEDs also falls apart if nothing can get through the overlying tissues.

Given that a small percentage (<1%) of incident infrared light gets through human scalp and skull, we must question the results of human trials of LEDs. Studies demonstrated small yet almost insignificant positive effects, and the benefits are generally transient.12 In contrast, our protocol yields persistent and robust clinical changes in patients with TBI, PTSD, and depression.

Treating TBI, PTSD, and Depression with Infrared Light

Our patented multi-Watt Neuro-Luminance approach involves transcranial infrared laser treatment (NILT), and in 2015 we published an initial open-label trial of 10 subjects with mild to moderate TBI.13 After a course of 10 NILT treatments (20 treatments in a subset of 4 patients), all patients experienced significant clinical improvement of symptoms, including headaches, cognitive problems, sleep disturbances, irritability, and depression. In telephone interviews every 6 months after treatment, patients report sustained improvements.12

An open-label clinical trial (n=39) of multi-Watt Neuro-Luminance demonstrated effectiveness for depression.4 Overall, 92% of patients responded and 82% remitted, which is notably better than the response rate for oral antidepressants. Patients saw benefits within 4 treatments, and some achieved resolution of depressive symptoms within 8 treatments. In follow-up telephone interviews, patients report sustained improvements. Similarly, in our unpublished data, using a protocol of 20 treatments, each lasting 24 minutes, over the course of 9 weeks, 20 patients with PTSD treated with multi-Watt NILT experienced reduced hyperarousal, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and nightmares.

LED Photobiomodulation in Comparison

Naeser and colleagues15 treated 2 patients with TBI daily for approximately 1 hour by applying 3 separate LED cluster heads (2 head; 1 foot). The first patient, who was 7 years post-TBI and had significant postconcussive symptoms, received weekly treatments over the course of 7 months and then daily treatments at home for more than 6 years. The patient experienced transient benefits, and if treatment was stopped, symptoms returned within 2 weeks.15 The second patient received daily treatments, and in 4 months, most symptoms improved, allowing her to return to work. This patient also noted that symptoms returned if treatments were stopped for more than 1 week.15

In an open-label study,16 11 patients with TBI and persistent cognitive dysfunction were treated for 18 sessions, each lasting 20 minutes, over the course of 6 weeks. At follow-up, there had been a significant effect on attention, inhibition, verbal learning and memory, and long-delay free recall.16 The LED treatment led to mild improvement in 3 of 5 cases of depression.

In 12 patients with TBI treated with 220 0.5-W LEDs for 18 sessions, each lasting 20 minutes, over the course of 6 weeks, there was significant improvement in psychological testing results (P =.45).17 However, the study did not correct for multiple comparisons, instead using parallel paired t-tests, which could exaggerate findings.18 PTSD has received considerably less attention.19,20

Cassano and colleagues21 described a 5-W laser treatment of 4 patients with depression. In a double-blind, sham-controlled extension of their initial findings, subjects in the treatment group received 16 treatments, each lasting 30 minutes, over the course of 8 weeks.22 In 13 completers, Hamilton-D-17 scores separated the treatment group from sham controls (mean score, 15.74.41 vs 6.17.86; P =.031). In contrast, in our open-label trial of a 13-W laser, the mean Hamilton-D-17 score decreased from baseline (mean score, 21.485.24 to 6.05.12; P =6.4510-13).23

Table. Case series, open-label, and double-blind studies of infrared light therapy for TBI, PTSD, and depression

Alternative Explanation for Clinical Response to LED Brain Treatments

Researchers, along with the human PBM field, need to reconsider the potential mechanisms underlying the meager improvements derived from LED-based devices. The light from LED devices may not penetrate beyond the skin, but could induce central nervous system benefits via a remote or systemic effect in irradiated skin, dubbed remote photobiomodulation.24

Infrared irradiation can have remote or indirect effects on tissue that has not been irradiated. For example, Braverman and colleagues25 demonstrated this indirect effect by creating matching skin lesions on the left and right dorsum of a rabbit, treating 1 side with infrared light. Both lesions showed accelerated healing relative to nonirradiated controls. Rochkind and colleagues26 demonstrated that remote PBM could occur in the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system. After bilateral sciatic nerve crush, 1 side was irradiated with infrared light and the other side was not. Nerves on both sides showed enhanced recovery of function, and the number of anterior horn motor neurons was greater on both sides compared with nonirradiated controls.

Ganeshan and colleagues27 irradiated the dorsum and hind limbs of a rat with infrared light (670 nm) before injection of a neurotoxin (MPTP) and demonstrated reduced loss of dopaminergic neurons in rodents treated with indirect PBM to the skin compared with untreated controls. Given the overwhelming evidence that low-power LEDs do not penetrate the brain, it is more likely that the benefits of LED-based devices result from an effect mediated by the skin, where most, if not all, of the infrared energy is absorbed. In other words, LED-based devices may be working by remote PBM.

Conclusions

The excitement about the potential of infrared light therapy is not merely that it does not involve taking a pill. There is considerable enthusiasm about its potential to treat conditions such as TBI, dementia, and Parkinson disease. In our excitement, we must not overlook the unique physical limitations of light. Similarly, we must not imbue infrared light with magical powers. Infrared light can only work if it reaches target tissue.

Thus, a sharp divide can be drawn between LED-based treatment technologies, which offer minimal results and may not even reach the brain, and multi-Watt technologies that demonstrably reach the brain and offer lasting clinical benefit. Potentially, infrared light may prove to be effective for numerous neuropsychiatric conditions. However, for infrared light to work on the brain, it must be able to reach the brain.

References

1. Hamblin MR. Shining light on the head: Photobiomodulation for brain disorders. BBA Clin. 2016;6:113-124.

2. Henderson TA, Morries, LD. Near-infrared photonic energy penetration: can infrared phototherapy effectively reach the human brain? Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2015;11:2191-2208.

3. Chung H, Dai T, Sharma SK, Huang YY, Carroll JD, Hamblin MR. The nuts and bolts of low-level laser (light) therapy. Ann Biomed Eng. 2012;40(2):516-533.

4. Henderson TA, Morries LD. Multi-Watt near-infrared phototherapy for the treatment of comorbid depression: an open-label single-arm study. Front Psychiatry. 2017;8:187.

5. Johnstone DM, Moro C, Stone J, Benabid AL, Mitrofanis J. Turning on lights to stop neurodegeneration: the potential of near infrared light therapy in Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease. Front Neurosci. 2016;11;9:500.

6. Hamblin MR. Photobiomodulation for Alzheimers disease: has the light dawned? Photonics. 2019;6(3):77.

7. Tedford CE, DeLapp S, Jacques S, Anders J. Quantitative analysis of transcranial and intraparenchymal light penetration in human cadaver brain tissue. Lasers Surg Med. 2015;47(4):312-322.

8. Ando T, Xuan W, Xu T, et al. Comparison of therapeutic effects between pulsed and continuous wave 810-nm wavelength laser irradiation for traumatic brain injury in mice. PLoS One. 2011;6(10):e26212.

9. Yip KK, Lo SC, Leung MC, So SK, Tang CY, Poon DM. The effect of low-energy laser irradiation on apoptotic factors following experimentally induced transient cerebral ischemia. Neuroscience. 2011;190:301-306.

10. Lapchak PA, Boitano PD, Butte PV, et al. Transcranial near-infrared laser transmission (NILT) profiles (800 nm): systematic comparison in four common research species. PLoS One. 2015;3;10(6):e0127580.

11. Henderson TA, Morries LD. Near-infrared photonic energy penetration principles and practice. In: Hamblin, MR and Huang YY, eds. Photobiomodulation and the Brain: Low-level Laser (Light) Therapy in Neurology and Neuroscience. London: Academic Press; 2019.

12. Morries LD, Henderson TA. Treatment of traumatic brain injury with near-infrared light. In: Hamblin, MR and Huang YY, eds. Photobiomodulation and the Brain: Low-level Laser (Light) Therapy in Neurology and Neuroscience. London: Academic Press; 2019.

13. Morries LD, Cassano P, Henderson TA. Treatments for traumatic brain injury with emphasis on transcranial near-infrared laser phototherapy. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2015;11:2159-75.

14. Connolly KR, Thase ME. If at first you dont succeed: a review of the evidence for antidepressant augmentation, combination and switching strategies. Drugs. 2011;71(1):43-64.

15. Naeser MA, Saltmarche A, Krengel MA, Hamblin MR, Knight JA. Improved cognitive function after transcranial, light-emitting diode treatments in chronic, traumatic brain injury: two case reports. Photomed Laser Surg. 2011;29(5):351-358.

16. Naeser MA, Zafonte R, Krengel MH, et al. Significant improvements in cognitive performance post-transcranial, red/near-infrared light-emitting diode treatments in chronic, mild traumatic brain injury: open-protocol study. J Neurotrauma. 2014;31(11):1008-1017.

17. Hipskind SG, Grover FL Jr, Fort TR, et al. Pulsed transcranial red/near-infrared light therapy using light-emitting diodes improves cerebral blood flow and cognitive function in veterans with chronic traumatic brain injury: a case series. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2019;37(2):77-84.

18. Henderson TA, Morries LD. Infrared light cannot be doing what you think it is doing (re: DOI: 10.1089/photob.2018.4489). Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2019;37(2):124-125.

19. Schiffer F, Johnston AL, Ravichandran C, et al. Psychological benefits 2 and 4 weeks after a single treatment with near infrared light to the forehead: a pilot study of 10 patients with major depression and anxiety. Behav Brain Funct. 2009;5:46.

20. LED light therapy to improve cognitive & psychosocial function in TBI-PTSD veterans. ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT02356861. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02356861. Accessed February 29, 2020.

21. Cassano P, Cusin C, Mischoulon D, et al. Near-infrared transcranial radiation for major depressive disorder: proof of concept study. Psychiatry J. 2015;2015:352979.

22. Cassano P, Petrie SR, Mischoulon D, et al. Transcranial photobiomodulation for the treatment of major depressive disorder. The ELATED-2 Pilot Trial. Photomed Laser Surg. 2018;36(12):634-646.

23. Henderson TA, Morries LD. Multi-Watt near-infrared phototherapy for the treatment of comorbid depression: an open-label single-arm study. Front Psychiatry. 2017;8:187.

24. Gordon LC, Johnstone DM. Remote photobiomodulation: an emerging strategy for neuroprotection. Neural Regen Res. 2019;14(12):2086-2087.

25. Braverman B, McCarthy RJ, Ivankovich AD, Forde DE, Overfield M, Bapna MS. Effect of helium-neon and infrared laser irradiation on wound healing in rabbits. Lasers Surg Med. 1989;9(1):50-58.

26. Rochkind S, Rousso M, Nissan M, Villarreal M, Barr-Nea L, Rees DG. Systemic effects of low-power laser irradiation on the peripheral and central nervous system, cutaneous wounds, and burns. Lasers Surg Med. 1989;9(2):174-182.

27. Ganeshan V, Skladnev NV, Kim JY, Mitrofanis J, Stone J, Johnstone DM. Pre-conditioning with remote photobiomodulation modulates the brain transcriptome and protects against MPTP insult in mice. Neuroscience. 2019;400:85-97.

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Infrared Laser Treatment of TBI, PTSD, and Depression: An Expert Perspective - Psychiatry Advisor

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Infrared Laser Treatment of TBI, PTSD, and Depression: An Expert Perspective – Psychiatry Advisor | April 2nd, 2020

BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Seattle Genetics, Inc.. (Nasdaq:SGEN) today provided an update on the phase 1b/2 multicohort EV-103 trial (also known as KEYNOTE-869) of PADCEVTM (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy pembrolizumab for the treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who are unable to receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy in the first-line setting. Based on recent discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), data from the randomized cohort K, along with other data from the EV-103 trial evaluating PADCEV combined with pembrolizumab as first-line therapy for cisplatin-ineligible patients, could potentially support registration under accelerated approval regulations in the United States. PADCEV is a first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that is directed against Nectin-4, a protein located on the surface of cells and highly expressed in bladder cancer.1

We are excited that EV-103 provides PADCEV with a potential pathway for U.S. accelerated approval in first-line metastatic urothelial cancer, said Roger Dansey, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Seattle Genetics. Our initial data on the combination of PADCEV and pembrolizumab in previously untreated patients who could not receive cisplatin are encouraging.

EV-103 is a multi-cohort, open-label, multicenter phase 1b/2 trial of PADCEV alone or in combination, evaluating safety, tolerability and efficacy in muscle invasive urothelial cancer, and in locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer in first- or second-line settings. Cohort K from EV-103 is intended to enroll 150 patients randomized 1:1 to PADCEV monotherapy or PADCEV in combination with pembrolizumab in locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer patients who are ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The primary outcome measure is objective response rate (ORR) per blinded independent central review (BICR) using RECIST 1.1 and duration of response (DoR).

In addition to EV-103, the recently initiated EV-302 phase 3 randomized clinical trial is intended to support global registrations and potentially serve as a confirmatory trial if accelerated approval is granted based on EV-103. The EV-302 trial is evaluating the combination of PADCEV and pembrolizumab with or without chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in patients with previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer. Importantly, EV-302 includes metastatic urothelial cancer patients that are either eligible or ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The trial is expected to enroll 1,095 patients and has dual primary endpoints of progression-free survival and overall survival. Both the EV-103 and EV-302 trials are being conducted in collaboration with Astellas and Merck.

FDA recently granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for PADCEV in combination with pembrolizumab for the treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who are unable to receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy in the first-line setting based on initial results from the EV-103 trial.

PADCEV (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) was approved by the FDA in December 2019 and is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who have previously received a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor and a platinum-containing chemotherapy before (neoadjuvant) or after (adjuvant) surgery or in a locally advanced or metastatic setting. PADCEV was approved under the FDAs Accelerated Approval Program based on tumor response rate. Continued approval may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.2

About Bladder and Urothelial Cancer

It is estimated that approximately 81,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2020.3 Urothelial cancer accounts for 90 percent of all bladder cancers and can also be found in the renal pelvis, ureter and urethra.4 Globally, approximately 549,000 people were diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2018, and there were approximately 200,000 deaths worldwide.5

About PADCEV

PADCEV is a first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that is directed against Nectin-4, a protein located on the surface of cells and highly expressed in bladder cancer.6,7 Nonclinical data suggest the anticancer activity of PADCEV is due to its binding to Nectin-4 expressing cells followed by the internalization and release of the anti-tumor agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) into the cell, which result in the cell not reproducing (cell cycle arrest) and in programmed cell death (apoptosis).8 PADCEV is co-developed by Astellas and Seattle Genetics.

Important Safety Information

Warnings and Precautions

Adverse Reactions

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 46% of patients treated with PADCEV. The most common serious adverse reactions (3%) were urinary tract infection (6%), cellulitis (5%), febrile neutropenia (4%), diarrhea (4%), sepsis (3%), acute kidney injury (3%), dyspnea (3%), and rash (3%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 3.2% of patients, including acute respiratory failure, aspiration pneumonia, cardiac disorder, and sepsis (each 0.8%).

Adverse reactions leading to discontinuation occurred in 16% of patients; the most common adverse reaction leading to discontinuation was peripheral neuropathy (6%). Adverse reactions leading to dose interruption occurred in 64% of patients; the most common adverse reactions leading to dose interruption were peripheral neuropathy (18%), rash (9%) and fatigue (6%). Adverse reactions leading to dose reduction occurred in 34% of patients; the most common adverse reactions leading to dose reduction were peripheral neuropathy (12%), rash (6%) and fatigue (4%).

The most common adverse reactions (20%) were fatigue (56%), peripheral neuropathy (56%), decreased appetite (52%), rash (52%), alopecia (50%), nausea (45%), dysgeusia (42%), diarrhea (42%), dry eye (40%), pruritus (26%) and dry skin (26%). The most common Grade 3 adverse reactions (5%) were rash (13%), diarrhea (6%) and fatigue (6%).

Lab Abnormalities

In one clinical trial, Grade 3-4 laboratory abnormalities reported in 5% were: lymphocytes decreased, hemoglobin decreased, phosphate decreased, lipase increased, sodium decreased, glucose increased, urate increased, neutrophils decreased.

Drug Interactions

Specific Populations

For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information for PADCEV here.

About Seattle Genetics

Seattle Genetics, Inc. is a global biotechnology company that discovers, develops and commercializes transformative medicines targeting cancer to make a meaningful difference in peoples lives. The company is headquartered in Bothell, Washington, and has offices in California, Switzerland and the European Union. For more information on our robust pipeline, visit https://www.seattlegenetics.com and follow @SeattleGenetics on Twitter. For information on our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit our website.

About the Astellas and Seattle Genetics Collaboration

Seattle Genetics and Astellas are co-developing PADCEV under a collaboration that was entered into in 2007 and expanded in 2009. Under the collaboration, the companies are sharing costs and profits on a 50:50 basis worldwide.

About the Seattle Genetics, Astellas and Merck Collaboration

Seattle Genetics and Astellas entered a clinical collaboration agreement with Merck to evaluate the combination of Seattle Genetics and Astellas PADCEV and Mercks KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), in patients with previously untreated metastatic urothelial cancer. KEYTRUDA is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.

Seattle Genetics Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release are forward looking, such as those, among others, relating to the potential of data from the EV-103 clinical trial to support accelerated approval in the U.S. of PADCEV in combination with pembrolizumab for the treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who are unable to receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy in the first-line setting; the possibility of using data from the EV-302 clinical trial to obtain global regulatory approval or confirm accelerated approval of PADCEV in the referenced first line setting; clinical development plans relating to PADCEV; the therapeutic potential of PADCEV; and its possible safety, efficacy, and therapeutic uses, including in the first-line setting. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include the possibility that ongoing and subsequent clinical trials of PADCEV may fail to produce data sufficient to support regulatory approvals; the fact that FDA has not made a final determination regarding whether the data from the EV-103 clinical trial will be sufficient to support accelerated approval in the U.S.; the risk that the COVID-19 pandemic could delay our ability to conduct the EV-103 clinical trial and delay FDAs regulatory timelines, including with respect to any potential accelerated approval; the fact that adverse events or safety signals may occur and that adverse regulatory actions or other setbacks could occur as PADCEV advances in clinical trials even after promising results in earlier clinical trials. More information about the risks and uncertainties faced by Seattle Genetics is contained under the caption Risk Factors included in the companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Seattle Genetics disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

1Challita-Eid P, Satpayev D, Yang P, et al. Enfortumab Vedotin Antibody-Drug Conjugate Targeting Nectin-4 Is a Highly Potent Therapeutic Agent in Multiple Preclinical Cancer Models. Cancer Res 2016;76(10):3003-13.2 PADCEV [package insert]. Northbrook, IL: Astellas, Inc.3 American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2020. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2020/cancer-facts-and-figures-2020.pdf. Accessed 02-20-2020.4 American Society of Clinical Oncology. Bladder cancer: introduction (10-2017). https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/bladder-cancer/introduction. Accessed 05-09-2019.5 International Agency for Research on Cancer. Cancer Tomorrow: Bladder. http://gco.iarc.fr/tomorrow.6 Challita-Eid P, Satpayev D, Yang P, et al. Enfortumab Vedotin Antibody-Drug Conjugate Targeting Nectin-4 Is a Highly Potent Therapeutic Agent in Multiple Preclinical Cancer Models. Cancer Res 2016;76(10):3003-13.7 PADCEV [package insert]. Northbrook, IL: Astellas, Inc.8 PADCEV [package insert]. Northbrook, IL: Astellas, Inc.

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Seattle Genetics Announces Potential Accelerated Approval Pathway in the US for PADCEV (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) in Combination with Immune Therapy...

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Seattle Genetics Announces Potential Accelerated Approval Pathway in the US for PADCEV (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) in Combination with Immune Therapy… | April 2nd, 2020

- Novellus's patented mRNA-based cell-reprogramming technology creates unique mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with superior immunomodulatory properties and manufacturing advantages over primary adult donor-derived MSCs - much greater supply and faster scale-up

- MSCs prevent and suppress cytokine storm believed to be the cause of the severe inflammation of ARDS and now seen in COVID-19 patients

CRANFORD, N.J., April 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Citius" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: CTXR), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing critical care drug products, today signed an exclusive six-month option agreement to in-license a stem-cell therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from a subsidiary of Novellus, Inc., a preclinical-stage biotechnology company based in Cambridge, MA.

Novellus's patented process uses its exclusive non-immunogenic synthetic messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) molecules to create induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that, in turn, generate mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with superior immunomodulatory properties. MSCs have been shown to be safe in over 900 clinical trials and to be safe and effective in treating a number of inflammatory diseases, including ARDS.

"ARDS is the most common cause of respiratory failure and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Currently, there is no proven treatment for ARDS. Literature supports the use of counter-inflammatory MSCs for ARDS, and papers published in China have shown that at least seven COVID-19 patients with ARDS responded to MSC therapy. Clearly this is an avenue that shows promise and should be pursued as a potential treatment for ARDS. We believe Novellus is at the forefront of creating allogeneic, iPSC-derived MSCs. These cells have the potential to overcome the limitations of MSCs derived from adult donors, which are telomere shortened and introduce variability into the manufacturing process," said Citius Chief Executive Officer Myron Holubiak.

Novellus Chief Science Officer Matt Angel, PhD, stated, "Using our mRNA-based cell-reprogramming technology, Novellus can provide a near-unlimited supply of MSCs for treating patients with ARDS, including those critically ill from COVID-19. These will be allogeneic ('off-the-shelf') cells that in vitro have demonstrated much greater expansion potential and much higher immunomodulatory protein expression than donor-derived MSCs. We are excited to employ our technology to such an urgent medical crisis and believe that our MSCs represent an ideal source of cells to be used in this extremely important development effort."

Holubiak added, "No effective pharmacotherapy for ARDS exists, and ARDS-related morbidity and mortality are high. MSCs have been studied in the treatment of lung injury, and we aim to build upon this work with Novellus's iPSC-derived MSCs to improve the immunomodulatory response in humans. We have assembled a team of experts who are dedicated to advancing this project to an Investigational New Drug (IND) application as quickly as possible."

About ARDSAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a type of respiratory failure characterized by rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs. ARDS is a rapidly progressive disease that occurs in critically ill patients most notably now in those diagnosed with COVID-19. ARDS affects approximately 200,000 patients per year in the U.S., exclusive of the current COVID-19 pandemic, and has a 30% to 50% mortality rate. ARDS is sometimes initially diagnosed as pneumonia or pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs from heart disease). Symptoms of ARDS include shortness of breath, rapid breathing and heart rate, chest pain, particularly while inhaling, and bluish skin coloration. Among those who survive ARDS, a decreased quality of life is relatively common.

About Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Citius is a late-stage specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of critical care products, with a focus on anti-infectives and cancer care. For more information, please visit http://www.citiuspharma.com.

About Novellus, Inc.Novellus is a pre-clinical stage biotechnology company developing engineered cellular medicines using its non-immunogenic mRNA, nucleic-acid delivery, gene editing, and cell reprogramming technologies. Novellus is privately held and is headquartered in Cambridge, MA. For more information, please visit http://www.novellus-inc.com.

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Safe HarborThis press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting Citius. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "should," and "may" and other words and terms of similar meaning or use of future dates. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition, and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated are: the risk of successfully negotiating a license agreement with Novellus within the option period; our need for substantial additional funds; the estimated markets for our product candidates, including those for ARDS, and the acceptance thereof by any market; risks associated with conducting trials for our product candidates, including those expected to be required for any treatment for ARDS and our Phase III trial for Mino-Lok; risks relating to the results of research and development activities; risks associated with developing our product candidates, including any licensed from Novellus, including that preclinical results may not be predictive of clinical results and our ability to file an IND for such candidates; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; the early stage of products under development; risks related to our growth strategy; our ability to obtain, perform under, and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; our ability to identify, acquire, close, and integrate product candidates and companies successfully and on a timely basis; our ability to attract, integrate, and retain key personnel; government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

Contact:Andrew ScottVice President, Corporate Development(O) 908-967-6677ascott@citiuspharma.com

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Citius Signs Exclusive Option with Novellus to License Novel Stem-Cell Therapy for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Associated with COVID-19...

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Citius Signs Exclusive Option with Novellus to License Novel Stem-Cell Therapy for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Associated with COVID-19… | April 1st, 2020

TORONTO, March 31, 2020 /CNW/ - The Gairdner Foundation is pleased to announce the 2020 Canada Gairdner Award laureates, recognizing some of the world's most significant biomedical research and discoveries. During these challenging times, we believe it is important to celebrate scientists and innovators from around the world and commend them for their tireless efforts to conduct research that impacts human health.

2020 Canada Gairdner International AwardThe five 2020 Canada Gairdner International Award laureates are recognized for seminal discoveries or contributions to biomedical science:

Dr. Masatoshi TakeichiSenior Visiting Scientist, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan; Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

Dr. Rolf KemlerEmeritus Member and Director, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany

Awarded "For their discovery, characterization and biology of cadherins and associated proteins in animal cell adhesion and signalling."

Dr. Takeichi

The Work: The animal body is made up of numerous cells. Dr. Takeichi was investigatinghow animal cells stick together to form tissues and organs, and identified a key protein which he named 'cadherin'.Cadherin is present on the surface of a cell and binds to the same cadherin protein on the surface of another cell through like-like interaction, thereby binding the cells together. Without cadherin, cell to cell adhesion becomes weakened and leads to the disorganization of tissues. Dr. Takeichi found that there are multiple kinds of cadherin within the body, each of which are made by different cell types, such as epithelial and neuronal cells. Cells with the same cadherins tend to cluster together, explaining the mechanism of how different cells are sorted out and organized to form functional organs.

Further studies by Dr. Takeichi's group showed that cadherin function is supported by a number of cytoplasmic proteins, includingcatenins, and their cooperation is essential for shaping of tissues. His studies also revealed that the cadherin-dependent adhesion mechanism is involved in synaptic connections between neurons, which are important for brain wiring.

Dr. Kemler

The Work: Dr. Kemler, using an immunological approach, developed antibodies directed against surface antigens of early mouse embryos. These antibodies were shown to prevent compaction of the mouse embryo and interfered with subsequent development. Both Dr. Kemler and Dr. Takeichi went on to clone and sequence the gene encoding E-cadherin and demonstrate that it was governing homophilic cell adhesion.

Dr. Kemler also discovered the other proteins that interact with the cadherins, especially the catenins, to generate the machinery involved in animal cell-to-cell adhesion. This provided the first evidence of their importance in normal development and diseases such as cancer. It has been discovered that cadherins and catenins are correlated to the formation and growth of some cancers and how tumors continue to grow. Beta catenin is linked to cell adhesion through interaction with cadherins but is also a key component of the Wnt signalling pathway that is involved in normal development and cancer. There are approximately 100 types of cadherins, known as the cadherin superfamily.

Dr. Takeichi

The Impact: The discovery of cadherins, which are found in all multicellular animalspecies, has allowed us to interpret how multicellular systems are generated and regulated. Loss of cadherin function has been implicated as the cause of certain cancers, as well as in invasiveness of many cancers. Mutations in special types of cadherin result in neurological disorders, such as epilepsy and hearing loss. The knowledge of cadherin function is expected to contribute to the development of effective treatments against such diseases.

Dr. Kemler

The Impact: Human tumors are often of epithelial origin. Given the role of E-cadherin for the integrity of an epithelial cell layer, the protein can be considered as a suppressor of tumor growth. The research on the cadherin superfamily has had great impact on fields as diverse as developmental biology, cell biology, oncology, immunology and neuroscience. Mutations in cadherins/catenins are frequently found in tumors. Various screens are being used to identify small molecules that might restore cell adhesion as a potential cancer therapy.

Dr. Roel NusseProfessor & Chair, Department of Developmental Biology; Member, Institute for StemCell Biology andRegenerativeMedicine, Stanford University, School of Medicine.Virginia and Daniel K. Ludwig Professor of Cancer Research. Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Awarded"For pioneering work on the Wnt signaling pathway and its importance in development, cancer and stem cells"

The Work: Dr. Nusse's research has elucidated the mechanism and role of Wnt signaling, one of the most important signaling systems in development. There is now abundant evidence that Wnt signaling is active in cancer and in control of proliferation versus differentiation of adult stem cells, making the Wnt pathway one of the paradigms for the fundamental connections between normal development and cancer.

Among Dr. Nusse's contributions is the original discovery of the first Wnt gene (together with Harold Varmus) as an oncogene in mouse breast cancer. Afterwards Dr. Nusse identified the Drosophila Wnt homolog as a key developmental gene, Wingless. This led to the general realization of the remarkable links between normal development and cancer, now one of the main themes in cancer research. Using Drosophila genetics, he established the function of beta-catenin as a mediator of Wnt signaling and the Frizzleds as Wnt receptors (with Jeremy Nathans), thereby establishing core elements of what is now called the Wnt pathway. A major later accomplishment of his group was the first successful purification of active Wnt proteins, showing that they are lipid-modified and act as stem cell growth factors.

The Impact: Wnt signaling is implicated in the growth of human embryos and the maintenance of tissues. Consequently, elucidating the Wnt pathway is leading to deeper insights into degenerative diseases and the development of new therapeutics. The widespread role of Wnt signaling in cancer is significant for the treatment of the disease as well. Isolating active Wnt proteins has led to the use of Wnts by researchers world-wide as stem cell growth factors and the expansion of stem cells into organ-like structures (organoids).

Dr. Mina J. Bissell Distinguished Senior Scientist, Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Faculty; Graduate Groups in Comparative Biochemistry, Endocrinology, Molecular Toxicology and Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA

Awarded "For characterizing "Dynamic Reciprocity" and the significant role that extracellular matrix (ECM) signaling and microenvironment play in gene regulation in normal and malignant cells, revolutionizing the fields of oncology and tissue homeostasis."

The Work: Dr. Mina Bissell's career has been driven by challenging established paradigms in cellular and developmental biology. Through her research, Dr. Bissell showed that tissue architecture plays a dominant role in determining cell and tissue phenotype and proposed the model of 'dynamic reciprocity' (DR) between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and chromatin within the cell nucleus. Dynamic reciprocity refers to the ongoing, bidirectional interaction between cells and their microenvironment. She demonstrated that the ECM could regulate gene expression just as gene expression could regulate ECM, and that these two phenomena could occur concurrently in normal or diseased tissue.

She also developed 3D culture systems to study the interaction of the microenvironment and tissue organization and growth, using the mammary gland as a model.

The Impact:Dr. Bissell's model of dynamic reciprocity has been proven and thoroughly established since its proposal three decades ago and the implications have permeated every area of cell and cancer biology, with significant implications for current and future therapies. Dr. Bissell's work has generated a fundamental and translationally crucial paradigm shift in our understanding of both normal and malignant tissues.

Her findings have had profound implications for cancer therapy by demonstrating that tumor cells can be influenced by their environment and are not just the product of their genetic mutations. For example, cells from the mammary glands grown in two-dimensional tissue cultures rapidly lose their identity, but once placed in proper three-dimensional microenvironments, they regain mammary form and function. This work presages the current excitement about generation of 3D tissue organoids and demonstrates Dr. Bissell's creative and innovative approach to science.

Dr. Elaine FuchsHoward Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and Rebecca C. Lancefield Professor and Head of the Robin Chemers Neustein Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Cell Biology; The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA

Awarded"For her studies elucidating the role of tissue stem cells in homeostasis, wound repair, inflammation and cancer."

The Work: Dr. Fuchs has used skin to study how the tissues of our body are able to replace dying cells and repair wounds. The skin must replenish itself constantly to protect against dehydration and harmful microbes. In her research, Fuchs showed that this is accomplished by a resident population of adult stem cells that continually generates a shell of indestructible cells that cover our body surface.

In her early research, Fuchs identified the proteins---keratinsthat produce the iron framework of the skin's building blocks, and showed that mutations in keratins are responsible for a group of blistering diseases in humans. In her later work, Fuchs identified the signals that prompt skin stem cells to make tissue and when to stop. In studying these processes, Fuchs learned that cancers hijack the fundamental mechanisms that tissue stem cells use to repair wounds. Her team pursued this parallel and isolated and characterized the malignant stem cells that are responsible for propagating a type of cancer called "squamous cell carcinoma." In her most recent work, she showed that these cells can be resistant to chemotherapies and immunotherapies and lead to tumor relapse.

The Impact: All tissues of our body must be able to replace dying cells and repair local wounds. Skin is particularly adept at performing these tasks. The identification and characterization of the resident skin stem cells that make and replenish the epidermis, sweat glands and hair provide important insights into this fountain of youth process and hold promise for regenerative medicine and aging. In normal tissues, the self-renewing ability of stem cells to proliferate is held in check by local inhibitory signals coming from the stem cells' neighbours. In injury, stimulatory signals mobilize the stem cells to proliferate and repair the wound. In aging, these normal balancing cues are tipped in favour of quiescence. In inflammatory disorders, stem cells become hyperactivated. In cancers, the wound mechanisms to mobilize stem cells are hijacked, leading to uncontrolled tissue growth. Understanding the basic mechanisms controlling stem cells in their native tissue is providing new strategies for searching out refractory tumor cells in cancer and for restoring normalcy in inflammatory conditions.

2020 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health AwardThe 2020 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award laureate is recognized for outstanding achievements in global health research:

Professor Salim S. Abdool KarimDirector of CAPRISA (Centre for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa), the CAPRISA Professor in Global Health at Columbia University, New York and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Professor Quarraisha Abdool KarimAssociate Scientific Director of CAPRISA, Professor in Clinical Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York and Professor in Public Health at the Nelson Mandela Medical School and Pro Vice-Chancellor (African Health) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Awarded"For their discovery that antiretrovirals prevent sexual transmission of HIV, which laid the foundations for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), the HIV prevention strategy that is contributing to the reduction of HIV infection in Africa and around the world."

The Work: UNAIDS estimates that 37 million people were living with HIV and 1.8 million people acquired HIV in 2017. In Africa, which has over two thirds of all people with HIV, adolescent girls and young women have the highest rates of new HIV infections. ABC (Abstinence, Be faithful, and use Condoms) prevention messages have had little impact - due to gender power imbalances, young women are often unable to successfully negotiate condom use, insist on mutual monogamy, or convince their male partners to have an HIV test.

In responding to this crisis, Salim and Quarraisha Abdool Karim started investigating new HIV prevention technologies for women about 30 years ago. After two unsuccessful decades, their perseverance paid off when they provided proof-of-concept that antiretrovirals prevent sexually acquired HIV infection in women. Their ground-breaking CAPRISA 004 trial showed that tenofovir gel prevents both HIV infection and genital herpes. The finding was ranked inthe "Top 10 Scientific Breakthroughs of 2010" by the journal, Science. The finding was heralded by UNAIDS and the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs in AIDS and provided the first evidence for what is today known as HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

The Abdool Karims have also elucidated the evolving nature of the HIV epidemic in Africa, characterising the key social, behavioural and biological risk factors responsible for the disproportionately high HIV burden in young women. Their identification of the "Cycle of HIV Transmission", where teenage girls acquire HIV from men about 10 years older on average, has shaped UNAIDS policies on HIV prevention in Africa.

The impact: CAPRISA 004 and several clinical trials of oral tenofovir led tothe WHO recommending a daily tenofovir-containing pill for PrEP as a standard HIV prevention tool for all those at high risk a few years later. Several African countries are among the 68 countries across all continents that are currently making PrEP available for HIV prevention. The research undertaken in Africa by this South African couple has played a key role in shaping the local and global response to the HIV epidemic.

2020 Canada Gairdner Wightman AwardThe 2020 Canada Gairdner Wightman Award laureate is a Canadian scientist recognized for outstanding leadership in medicine and medical science throughout their career:

Dr. Guy Rouleau Director of the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro); Professor & Chair of the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University; Director of the Department of Neuroscience, McGill University Health Center

Awarded "For identifying and elucidating the genetic architecture of neurological and psychiatric diseases, including ALS, autism and schizophrenia, and his leadership in the field of Open Science."

The Work: Dr. Rouleau has identified over 20 genetic risk factors predisposing to a range of brain disorders, both neurological and psychiatric, involving either neurodevelopmental processes or degenerative events. He has defined a novel disease mechanism for diseases related to repeat expansions that are at play in some of the most severe neurodegenerative conditions. He has significantly contributed to the understanding of the role of de novo variants in autism and schizophrenia. In addition, he has made important advances for various neuropathies, in particular for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) where he was involved in the identification of the most prevalent genetic risk factors -which in turn are now the core of innumerable ALS studies worldwide.

Dr. Rouleau has also played a pioneering role in the practice of Open Science (OS), transforming the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro) into the first OS institution in the world. The Neuro now uses OS principles to transform research and careand accelerate the development of new treatments for patients through Open Access, Open Data, Open Biobanking, Open Early Drug Discovery and non-restrictive intellectual property.

The Impact: The identification of genetic risk factors has a number of significant consequences. First, allowing for more accurate genetic counselling, which reduces the burden of disease to affected individuals, parents and society. A revealing case is Andermann syndrome, a severe neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative condition that was once relatively common in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region of Quebec. Now this disease has almost disappeared from that population. Second, identifying the causative gene allows the development of treatments. For instance, his earlier work on a form of ALS linked to the superoxide dismutase-1 gene (SOD1) opened up studies which are now the focal point of phase 2 clinical studies showing great promise.

Byactingasalivinglabforthelast coupleofyears,TheNeuroisspearheading the practice of OpenScience (OS).TheNeurois alsoengagingstakeholdersacross Canadawiththegoal of formalizinganational OSallianceforthe neurosciences.Dr.Rouleau'sworkinOScontributesfundamentallytothetransformationoftheveryecosystemofsciencebystimulatingnewthinkingandfosteringcommunitiesofsharing.InspiredbyTheNeuro'svision,theglobalsciencecommunityisreflecting oncurrentresearchconventionsandcollaborativeprojects,andthemomentumforOSisgainingafootholdinorganizationsandinstitutionsinallcornersoftheearth.

About the Gairdner Foundation:

The Gairdner Foundation was established in 1957 by Toronto stockbroker, James Gairdner to award annual prizes to scientists whose discoveries have had major impact on scientific progress and on human health. Since 1959 when the first awards were granted, 387scientists have received a Canada Gairdner Award and 92 to date have gone on to receive the Nobel Prize.The Canada Gairdner Awards promote a stronger culture of research and innovation across the country through our Outreach Programs including lectures and research symposia. The programs bring current and past laureates to a minimum of 15 universities across Canada to speak with faculty, trainees and high school students to inspire the next generation of researchers. Annual research symposia and public lectures are organized across Canada to provide Canadians access to leading science through Gairdner's convening power.

http://www.gairdner.org

SOURCE Gairdner Foundation

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2020 Canada Gairdner Awards Recognize World-renowned Scientists for Transformative Contributions to Research That Impact Human Health - Benzinga

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