Daily Archives: April 9, 2021

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Genprex, Inc. (Genprex or the Company) (NASDAQ: GNPX), a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing life-changing therapies for patients with cancer and diabetes, today announced that its Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Michael Redman, will present at the annual Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mediterranean, which will take place virtually April 6-9, 2021.

Event: 2021 Virtual Cell & Gene Meeting on the MediterraneanDate: The conference will take place virtually Tuesday, April 6 - Friday, April 9Time: Company presentations will be available to view on-demand throughout the entirety of the conferenceRegistration Link: https://bit.ly/3wdVAd1

Organized by the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, the Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mediterranean is a four-day virtual conference featuring more than 80 dedicated company presentations by leading public and private companies, highlighting technical and clinical achievements over the past 12 months in the areas of cell therapy, gene therapy, gene editing, tissue engineering, and broader regenerative medicine technologies. The meeting also includes more than 50 panelists and featured speakers taking part in 13 in-depth sessions covering all aspects of cell and gene therapy commercialization.

Complimentary attendance at this event is available for credentialed investors and members of the media only. Investors should contact Laura Stringham at lstringham@alliancerm.org and interested media should contact Kaitlyn Dupont at kdupont@alliancerm.org.

About Genprex, Inc.

Genprex, Inc. is a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing life-changing therapies for patients with cancer and diabetes. Genprexs technologies are designed to administer disease-fighting genes to provide new therapies for large patient populations with cancer and diabetes who currently have limited treatment options. Genprex works with world-class institutions and collaborators to develop drug candidates to further its pipeline of gene therapies in order to provide novel treatment approaches. The Companys lead product candidate, REQORSA (quaratusugene ozeplasmid), is being evaluated as a treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). REQORSA has a multimodal mechanism of action that has been shown to interrupt cell signaling pathways that cause replication and proliferation of cancer cells; re-establish pathways for apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in cancer cells; and modulate the immune response against cancer cells. REQORSA has also been shown to block mechanisms that create drug resistance. In January 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Fast Track Designation for REQORSA for NSCLC in combination therapy with osimertinib (AstraZenecas Tagrisso) for patients with EFGR mutations whose tumors progressed after treatment with osimertinib alone.

For more information, please visit the Companys web site at http://www.genprex.com or follow Genprex on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the effect of Genprexs product candidates, alone and in combination with other therapies, on cancer and diabetes, regarding potential, current, regarding the Companys future growth and financial status and regarding our commercial partnerships and intellectual property licenses. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include the presence and level of the effect of our product candidates, alone and in combination with other therapies, on cancer; the timing and success of our clinical trials and planned clinical trials of REQORSA immunogene therapy drug, alone and in combination with targeted therapies and/or immunotherapies, and whether our other potential product candidates, including GPX-002, our gene therapy in diabetes, advance into clinical trials; the success of our strategic partnerships, including those relating to manufacturing of our product candidates; the timing and success at all of obtaining any FDA approvals of REQORSA and our other potential product candidates including whether we receive necessary approvals to commence clinical trials or benefit from fast track or similar regulatory designations; costs associated with developing our product candidates, whether we identify and succeed in acquiring other technologies and whether patents will ever be issued under patent applications that are the subject of our license agreements or otherwise. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully under the caption Risk Factors and elsewhere in our filings and reports with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. We undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

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Genprex to Present at the 2021 Virtual Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mediterranean - Business Wire

LEXINGTON, Mass. and AMSTERDAM, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- uniQure N.V. (NASDAQ: QURE), a leading gene therapy company advancing transformative therapies for patients with severe medical needs, today announced that three manuscripts on preclinical data from its gene therapy candidate AMT-130 in Huntingtons disease have been accepted for publication, in the journals Science Translational Medicine, Brain Science, and Brain Communications. The publications show the safety and efficacy of AMT-130 in the deep brain structures of a large animal model and outline a promising novel efficacy biomarker for AMT-130.

Taken together, these publications demonstrate widespread biodistribution and strong, durable efficiency of AMT-130 in disease-relevant regions in a large brain, stated Ricardo Dolmetsch, Ph.D., president of research and development at uniQure. The data provide further support for the potential therapeutic value of AMT-130, and we remain enthusiastic about our Phase I/II clinical trial of AMT-130 in patients with Huntingtons disease.

Widespread and Sustained Target Engagement in Huntington Disease Minipigs

The paper published this week in Science Translational Medicine examines the translatability and long-term durability of AMT-130 in transgenic Huntingtons disease minipigs, which were used to assess the biodistribution and target engagement in a larger brain. The minipig model is the largest diseased animal model available, generally weighing up to 300 pounds.

AMT-130 was administered by MRI-guided convention-enhanced delivery (CED) at a single dose, bilaterally in the caudate and putamen. Vector DNA distribution and transgene expression in minipig brains demonstrated extensive brain coverage comparable at the interim sacrifice timepoints of 6- and 12-months post administration, leading to significant lowering of mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein in the brain.

At 12 months, the most pronounced mHTT protein lowering was observed in the putamen (85%), caudate (80%) and amygdala (78%), followed by thalamus (56%) and cerebral cortex (44%).

The publication, Widespread and Sustained Target Engagement in Huntington Disease Minipigs upon Intrastriatal MicroRNA-based Gene Therapy, is available online in the journal Science Translational Medicine (DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abb8920).

Well-tolerated in non-human primates and rats

In addition, a GLP toxicity study of AMT-130 in non-human primates and rats was published in January 2021 in the journal Brain Science. The study demonstrated an excellent safety profile and biodistribution after MRI-guided CED of AMT-130 in the treated animals. One-time bilateral administration in the caudate and putamen resulted in widespread vector DNA and miHTT transgene distribution in the brain, particularly in areas associated with HD pathology. Intrastriatal administration of AAV5-miHTT was well tolerated, with no clinically relevant changes in either species.

The publication, Intrastriatal Administration of AAV5-miHTT in Non-Human Primates and Rats Is Well Tolerated and Results in miHTT Transgene Expression in Key Areas of Huntington Disease Pathology, is available online in the journal Brain Science (DOI:10.3390/brainsci11020129).

Monitoring Durability of MicroRNA-based Therapies

A third manuscript was published last week in the journal Brain Communications, examining the potential use of measuring therapeutic HTT microRNA (miHTT) in extracellular vesicles in CSF as sources to monitor the expression and durability of gene therapies in the brain. After AAV treatment in non-human primates, the secretion of mature engineered microRNA molecules was confirmed, with extracellular microRNA levels correlating with viral dose and cellular microRNA expression in neurons. In investigating the detection of engineered microRNAs over time in the CSF of non-human primates after a single intrastriatal injection of AAV5-miHTT, quantifiable engineered microRNA levels enriched in extracellular vesicles were detected in the CSF up to two years after brain infusion.

The results confirm the long-term expression (up to two years) of AAV5-delivered microRNAs in non-human primates and provide further support for the potential use of extracellular vesicle-associated microRNAs as novel biomarkers in ongoing clinical trials of gene therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, including AMT-130.

The publication, Secreted therapeutics: Monitoring durability of microRNA-based gene therapies in the central nervous system, is available online in the journal Brain Communications (DOI:10.1093/braincomms/fcab054).

About AMT-130

AMT-130 comprises a recombinant AAV5 vector carrying a DNA cassette encoding a microRNA that lowers Huntingtin protein in Huntingtons disease patients. AMT-130 is uniQures first clinical program incorporating its proprietary miQURE platform. miQURE is designed to degrade disease-causing genes without off-target toxicity and induce silencing of the entire target organ through secondary exosome-mediated delivery.

About Huntingtons Disease

Huntingtons disease is a rare, inherited neurodegenerative disorder that leads to motor symptoms including chorea, and behavioral abnormalities and cognitive decline resulting in progressive physical and mental deterioration. The disease is an autosomal dominant condition with a disease-causing CAG repeat expansion in the first exon of the huntingtin gene that leads to the production and aggregation of abnormal protein in the brain. Despite the clear etiology of Huntingtons disease, there are no currently approved therapies to delay the onset or to slow the diseases progression.

About uniQure

uniQure is delivering on the promise of gene therapy single treatments with potentially curative results. We are leveraging our modular and validated technology platform to rapidly advance a pipeline of proprietary gene therapies to treat patients with hemophilia B, Huntington's disease, Fabry disease, spinocerebellar ataxia Type 3 and other diseases.www.uniQure.com

uniQure Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are often indicated by terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "look forward to", "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information available to management only as of the date of this press release. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to whether we will advance our Phase I/II gene therapy clinical trial of AMT-130 in Huntingtons disease. uniQures actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements for many reasons, including, without limitation, risks associated with the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on our Company and the wider economy and health care system, our Commercialization and License Agreement with CSL Behring, the regulatory approval of that transaction, our clinical development activities, clinical results, collaboration arrangements, regulatory oversight, product commercialization and intellectual property claims, as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors described under the heading "Risk Factors" in uniQures periodic securities filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 1, 2021. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and uniQure assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

uniQure Contacts:

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uniQure Announces Publications of Preclinical Data for AMT-130 in Huntington's Disease Showing Safety of Administration in NHPs and Widespread...

SAN DIEGO and CALGARY, AB, April 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Oncolytics BiotechInc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC) today announced that it will host a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) webinar discussing AWARE-1 data, the immunotherapeutic effects of pelareorep in breast cancer, and its synergistic activity with CAR T cells in solid tumors. The webinar will take place on Monday, April 12, 2021 at 2:00 pm ET.

The webinar will feature presentations by Key Opinion Leaders Aleix Prat, M.D., Ph.D. (Clnic Barcelona) and Richard Vile, Ph.D., (Mayo Clinic). Dr. Prat's portion of the presentation will focus on data from the AWARE-1 window-of-opportunity clinical trial evaluating pelareorep with and without atezolizumab (Tecentriq) in early-stage breast cancer, which will be presented at this year's American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting. Dr. Vile will then discuss the results of a preclinical study evaluating pelareorep and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell combination therapy in solid tumors (linkto PR, linkto poster).

During the event, Oncolytics' management team will also give a corporate update and discuss the company's upcoming milestones. Dr. Prat, Dr. Vile, and company management will be available to answer questions following the formal presentations.

To register for the event, please click here.

About the KOLs

Aleix Prat, M.D., Ph.D.is the Head of the Medical Oncology Department of the Hospital Clnic Barcelona (Spain), Associate Professor at the University of Barcelona, Head of the Translational Genomics and Targeted Therapeutics in Solid Tumors Lab at IDIBAPS, and President of the governing board of the Spanish Breast Cancer Cooperative Research Group (SOLTI), which performs clinical trials of excellence in oncology. He was also named a member of the Executive Board of The Breast International Group (BIG) in 2018. BIG is an international non-profit organization that is linked to more than 3,000 hospitals and includes more than 10,000 experts and more than 56 cooperative groups from around the world.

Over his career, Dr. Prat obtained worldwide prestige as a research scientist in the field of breast cancer genomics and biomarker development. In 2008, he became a postdoctoral research associate (2008-2012) at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA) in the Laboratory of Prof. Charles M. Perou, a world-renowned translational researcher in breast cancer. During this postdoctoral experience, he discovered and characterized a new molecular subtype of breast cancer, known as a Claudin-low (Prat et al. Breast Cancer Research 2010; Citations: 1,518). In addition, he contributed to the breast cancer portion of The Cancer Genome Atlas (Nature 2012; Citations: 4,661), which was a landmark molecular characterization study in the field of cancer research.

Richard Vile, Ph.D.is a world-renowned scientist and member of the Oncolytics Scientific Advisory Board with extensive experience studying pelareorep. As a recognized KOL, his research focuses on several areas of immuno-oncology, including oncolytic viruses, adoptive cell therapies (ACTs) such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, and potential synergistic interactions between oncolytic viruses and ACTs. In addition to his role as a professor at the Mayo Clinic ("Mayo"), Dr. Vile is the Director of Mayo's Immuno-oncology and Gene and Virus Therapy programs and Co-Director of the Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy program. He also serves on the editorial board of several prestigious scientific journals, including Molecular Therapy, Gene Therapy, The Journal of Gene Medicine, and OncoImmunology. Dr. Vile received his B.A. in Biochemistry from the University of Oxford and his Ph.D. in Viral Vectors from the University of London.

About AWARE-1AWARE-1 is an open label window-of-opportunity study in early-stage breast cancer enrolling 38 patients into five cohorts:

The study combines pelareorep, without or with atezolizumab, and the standard of care therapy according to breast cancer subtype. Tumor tissue is collected from patients as part of their initial breast cancer diagnosis, again on day three following initial treatment, and finally at three weeks following treatment, on the day of their mastectomy. Data generated from this study are intended to confirm that pelareorep is acting as a novel immunotherapy, to evaluate potential synergy between pelareorep and checkpoint blockade, and to provide comprehensive biomarker data by breast cancer subtype. The primary endpoint of the study is overall CelTIL score (a measurement of cellularity and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes). Secondary endpoints for the study include CelTIL by breast cancer subtype, safety, and tumor and blood-based biomarkers.

For more information about the AWARE-1 study, refer tohttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04102618.

About Pelareorep

Pelareorep is a non-pathogenic, proprietary isolate of the unmodified reovirus: a first-in-class intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus for the treatment of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. The compound induces selective tumor lysis and promotes an inflamed tumor phenotype through innate and adaptive immune responses to treat a variety of cancers and has been demonstrated to be able to escape neutralizing antibodies found in patients.

About Oncolytics Biotech Inc.

Oncolytics is a biotechnology company developing pelareorep, an intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus. The compound induces selective tumor lysis and promotes an inflamed tumor phenotype -- turning "cold" tumors "hot" -- through innate and adaptive immune responses to treat a variety of cancers.

Pelareorep has demonstrated synergies with immune checkpoint inhibitors and may also be synergistic with other approved immuno-oncology agents. Oncolytics is currently conducting and planning additional studies of pelareorep in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies in solid and hematological malignancies, as it prepares for a phase 3 registration study in metastatic breast cancer. For further information, please visit:www.oncolyticsbiotech.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities laws (such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include statements regarding Oncolytics' belief as to the potential and benefits of pelareorep as a cancer therapeutic; Oncolytics' expectations as to the purpose, design, outcomes and benefits of its current or pending clinical trials involving pelareorep; and other statements related to anticipated developments in Oncolytics' business and technologies. In any forward-looking statement in which Oncolytics expresses an expectation or belief as to future results, such expectations or beliefs are expressed in good faith and are believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the statement or expectation or belief will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause Oncolytics' actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the availability of funds and resources to pursue research and development projects, the efficacy of pelareorep as a cancer treatment, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, Oncolytics' ability to successfully commercialize pelareorep, uncertainties related to the research and development of pharmaceuticals, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes to the economic environment. In particular, we may be impacted by business interruptions resulting from COVID-19 coronavirus, including operating, manufacturing supply chain, clinical trial and project development delays and disruptions, labour shortages, travel and shipping disruption, and shutdowns (including as a result of government regulation and prevention measures). It is unknown whether and how Oncolytics may be affected if the COVID-19 pandemic persists for an extended period of time. We may incur expenses or delays relating to such events outside of our control, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition. Investors should consult Oncolytics' quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

Company Contact

Kirk Look

Chief Financial Officer

+1-403-670-7658

[emailprotected]

Investor Relations for Oncolytics

Timothy McCarthy

LifeSci Advisors

+1-917-679-9282

[emailprotected]

SOURCE Oncolytics Biotech Inc.

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Oncolytics Biotech to Host Key Opinion Leader Webinar to Discuss AWARE-1 Data, the Immunotherapeutic Effects of Pelareorep in Breast Cancer, and its...

A Penn Medicine patient with a genetic form of childhood blindness gained vision, which lasted more than a year, after receiving a single injection of an experimental RNA therapy into the eye. The clinical trial was conducted by researchers at the Scheie Eye Institute in the Perelman School of Medicine. Results of the case, detailed in a paper published in Nature Medicine, show that the treatment led to marked changes at the fovea, the most important locus of human central vision.

The treatment was designed for patients diagnosed with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA)an eye disorder that primarily affects the retinawho have a CEP290 mutation, which is one of the more commonly implicated genes in patients with the disease. Patients with this form of LCA suffer from severe visual impairment, typically beginning in infancy.

Our results set a new standard of what biological improvements are possible with antisense oligonucleotide therapy in LCA caused by CEP290 mutations, says co-lead author Artur V. Cideciyan, a research professor of ophthalmology. Importantly, we established a comparator for currently-ongoing gene editing therapies for the same disease, which will allow comparison of the relative merits of two different interventions.

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A single injection reverses blindness in patient with rare genetic disorder | Penn Today - Penn Today

PITTSBURGH, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeuBase Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: NBSE) (NeuBase or the Company), a biotechnology company accelerating the genetic revolution with a new class of precision genetic medicines, announced today that it will host a virtual R&D day for investors and analysts on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. EDT.

During the event, NeuBase will present new data, along with an in-depth review of the Companys pipeline of drug candidates including in Huntingtons disease, myotonic dystrophy type 1, and a new oncology program for a target that has previously been thought of as undruggable as well as an introduction to the expanded management team.

Additional details will be made available prior to the event. The event will be webcast live on NeuBases website at https://ir.neubasetherapeutics.com/news-events/ir-calendar. Following the live webcast, a replay will be available on the Companys website and archived for approximately 90 days.

About NeuBase Therapeutics, Inc.NeuBase is accelerating the genetic revolution by developing a new class of precision genetic medicines which can be designed to increase, decrease, or change gene function, as appropriate, to resolve genetic defects that drive disease. NeuBase's targeted PATrOL therapies are centered around its proprietary drug scaffold to address genetic diseases at the DNA or RNA level by combining the highly targeted approach of traditional genetic therapies with the broad organ distribution capabilities of small molecules. With an initial focus on silencing disease-causing mutations in debilitating neurological, neuromuscular, and oncologic disorders, NeuBase is committed to redefining medicine for the millions of patients with both common and rare conditions. To learn more, visit http://www.neubasetherapeutics.com.

Use of Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These forward-looking statements are distinguished by use of words such as "will," "would," "anticipate," "expect," "believe," "designed," "plan," or "intend," the negative of these terms, and similar references to future periods. Forward-looking statements include, among others, those related to our expectations regarding virtual R&D day and the information to be presented during the event. These views involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and, accordingly, our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this press release. Factors or events that we cannot predict, including those risk factors contained in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, may cause our actual results to differ from those expressed in forward-looking statements. The Company may not actually achieve the plans, carry out the intentions or meet the expectations or projections disclosed in the forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Because such statements deal with future events and are based on the Company's current expectations, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties, and actual results, performance or achievements of the Company could differ materially from those described in or implied by the statements in this press release, including: the Company's plans to develop and commercialize its product candidates; the timing of initiation of the Company's planned clinical trials; the timing of the availability of data from the Company's clinical trials; the timing of any planned investigational new drug application or new drug application; the Company's plans to research, develop and commercialize its current and future product candidates; the clinical utility, potential benefits and market acceptance of the Company's product candidates; the Company's commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy; global health conditions, including the impact of COVID-19; the Company's ability to protect its intellectual property position; and the requirement for additional capital to continue to advance these product candidates, which may not be available on favorable terms or at all, as well as those risk factors contained in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.

NeuBase Investor Contact:Dan FerryManaging DirectorLifeSci Advisors, LLCdaniel@lifesciadvisors.com OP: (617)430-7576

NeuBase Media Contact:Jessica Yingling, Ph.D.Little Dog Communications Inc.jessica@litldog.com+1 (858) 344-8091

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NeuBase Therapeutics to Host a Virtual R&D Day on June 8th to Provide Updates on the Drug Development Pipeline Targeting Genetic Diseases -...

Tao Guo,1 Xue Dong,2 Shanli Xie,3 Ling Zhang,4 Peibin Zeng,5 Lin Zhang6

1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, Peoples Republic of China; 2Department of Gynecology, Cheng Du Shang Jin Nan Fu Hospital, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, Peoples Republic of China; 3First Peoples Hospital of Guangyuan, Guangyuan, Sichuan, 628000, Peoples Republic of China; 4Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Guangyuan Central Hospital, Guangyuan, Sichuan, 628000, Peoples Republic of China; 5West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, Peoples Republic of China; 6Department of Forensic Biology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, Peoples Republic of China

Correspondence: Peibin ZengWest China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, Peoples Republic of ChinaEmail [emailprotected]Lin ZhangDepartment of Forensic Biology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, Peoples Republic of ChinaEmail [emailprotected]

Abstract: Ovarian cancer is a common and complex malignancy with poor prognostic outcome. Most women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed with advanced stage disease due to a lack of effective detection strategies in the early stage. Traditional treatment with cytoreductive surgery and platinum-based combination chemotherapy has not significantly improved prognosis and 5-year survival rates are still extremely poor. Therefore, novel treatment strategies are needed to improve the treatment of ovarian cancer patients. Recent advances of next generation sequencing technologies have both confirmed previous known mutated genes and discovered novel candidate genes in ovarian cancer. In this review, we illustrate recent advances in identifying ovarian cancer gene mutations, including those of TP53, BRCA1/2, PIK3CA, and KRAS genes. In addition, we discuss advances in targeting therapies for ovarian cancer based on these mutated genes in ovarian cancer. Further, we associate between detection of mutation genes by liquid biopsy and the potential early diagnostic value in ovarian cancer.

Keywords: ovarian cancer, gene mutation, TP53, PIK3CA, BRCA1/2, KRAS, targeted therapy, liquids biopsy

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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Ovarian Cancer: Mechanism, Mutations and Therapeutic Targets | CMAR - Dove Medical Press

Larner College of Medicine faculty Gary and Janet Stein are principal investigators on a new $9 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to explore the epigenetics of breast cancer with the goal of finding new drug targets. (Photos: Sally McCay, Larner College of Medicine)

Vermont Business Magazine A team of University of Vermont scientists and physician investigators at the UVM Cancer Center and the Northern New England Clinical and Translational Research Network has been awarded a $9 million, five-year grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to investigate the underlying causes of breast cancer with the goal of identifying new cellular-level targets that could be treated with drugs to prevent the disease or halt its progression.

The principal investigators for the project are Gary Stein, PhD, Perelman Professor and chair of the UVM Larner College of Medicine Department of Biochemistry and professor of surgery, and Janet Stein, PhD, a professor of biochemistry at the Larner College of Medicine. They lead a large, collaborative team representing scientific expertise across three colleges at the University of Vermont.

The competitive grantabout 5 percent of similar NCI grant proposals are fundedcame to UVM, in part, because of the research teams track record.

The NCI is investing in research groups that have made major, proven contributions, said Gary Stein. There is a high expectation that the progress wont be incremental but will represent a paradigm shift.

Stein and his collaborators have published their earlier findings on the underlying mechanisms of breast cancer in publications ranging from Nature to Cancer Research. The new work will build on the previous research contributions to expand both general understanding of breast cancer dynamics and how that molecular-level knowledge could reveal new potential drug targets leading to novel, more effective treatments.

The research will focus on three interrelated projects to determine what goes awry when cell division in healthy breast tissue becomes defective and produces cancer cells. Its focus will be on epigenetics, the instructions that proteins and nucleic acids within a cells nucleus give to its genetic codeits DNAthat tell genes to turn on or off. When a cell reproduces, these epigenetic instructions are passed on to newly formed cells, along with the parental cell DNA, its genetic blueprint. If the epigenetic instructions dont function precisely, cells can become cancerous.

The goal is understanding cancer-compromised epigenetic control of genes in breast tumors, Janet Stein said.

The first project will examine in detail how instructions for the epigenetic regulation of geneswhether they are turned on or off, or poised to turn onare passed on from a parent cell to its two offspring cells accurately, so there are no defects in the control of its specialized function or its ability to go through cell division in a normal way, Janet Stein said.Were trying to understand, precisely, what are the components, what are the epigenetic factors that remain with the gene during cell division, in order to ensure that you are not going to compromise normal function in the progeny cells.

The second project focuses on the proteins, called histones, that organize the two-and-a-half yards of DNA within a cells nucleus into intricate folds inside a chromosome. If these proteins bind a section of the folded DNA tightly, genes wont be expressed; if the bond is loose, the genes will be expressed or poised to express. In cancer cells, the ability to modify these proteins is undermined. The project will seek both to chart how the DNA organizing process works and identify drug targets that will restore function of cancer-compromised proteins.

In the third project, researchers will examine the functioning of a type of long non-coding RNA found in a cells nucleus that the research team discovered in an earlier project. It is present only when cells divide, the team found, and is associated with breast cancer, especially in its most aggressive forms, and is not responsive to conventional cancer treatments. The earlier work showed that, if the activity of this particular type of RNA is blocked, the cancer cell is unable to reproduce and dies. It is a prime drug target, Gary Stein said.

Technology and Team-based Approach Helped Win the Day

UVM has two other capabilities that helped the Cancer Center team win the grantaccess to advanced technology and the strength of its collaborative scientific team. The Larner College of Medicines advanced genome sequencing, microscopy and bioinformatics core facilities allow researchers to peer into cells and chromosomes and view genes and proteins visually in three dimensions.

We have a saying: Seeing is believing, Gary Stein said. The work would be impossible without this highly advanced instrumentation and the world-class expertise behind that technology, which allow us to identify and visualize modified genes and gene expression in cancer cells. It was definitely a credential that the NCI looked favorably on.

In addition, the NCI places priority on what it calls collaborative team science, an interdisciplinary research approach that is the fabric of the UVM Cancer Center.

Collaboration is the guiding principle for the UVM Cancer Center, Gary Stein said.We engage the complementary perspectives, expertise and experience of clinicians, oncologists, molecular biologists, biochemists, bioinformaticists, pathologists and others. UVMs breadth and culture incentivize partnerships that synergize to accelerate the translation of laboratory discovery to advances in cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and survivorship, he said.

Members of the research team come from the University of Vermonts Larner College of Medicine, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences and cover both basic science and clinical departments.Members of the team, in addition to Gary and Janet Stein, are Mark Evans, Seth Frietze, Karen Glass, Jonathan Gordon, Peter Kaufman, Jane Lian, Jason Stumpff, Coralee Tye, Pamela Vacek, Jos Van der Velden, Donald Weaver and Marie Wood. Andrew Fritz and Kirsten Tracy are NCI postdoctoral fellows participating in the project.

Source: University of Vermont 4.6.2021

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UVM gets $9 million to explore epigenetics of breast cancer - Vermont Biz

Pune, India, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to our new research study on Microplate Reader Market Forecast to 2027 COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Type, Application, and End User the Microplate Reader Market was valued at US$ 534.5 million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 704.4 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.6% during 20202027. The high cost of advanced microplate readers is the major factor hindering the market growth.

Microplate Reader Market: Key InsightsIn 2019, North America dominated microplate reader market with more than one-third revenue share. The increase in the demand for advanced and quick processing technologies by biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; presence of key market players and their increasing number of product lunches; extensively expanding research activities in various fields of life sciences, such as genomic and proteomics research and drug discovery; and rise in clinical diagnostics conducted by various academic and research institutes are the prime factors contributing to the market growth in this region.

Pharmaceuticals R&D is gaining traction worldwide owing to the rising focus on drug discovery. The US biopharmaceutical industry has been the forefront of the development of new therapeutics worldwide. As per the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the biopharmaceutical industry invested US$ 83 billion in R&D in 2019. The increasing demand for new and advanced approaches in drug discovery is bolstering the adoption of microplate readers.

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Various companies are developing microplate readers for the drug discovery process to make the research easier and faster. For instance, BioTek Instruments, Inc. offers Synergy HT, a unique multi-detection microplate reader, for high-throughput screening (HTS) and drug discovery. Moreover, pharmaceutical companies are investing heavily in the drug discovery, gene sequencing, and targeted protein development to meet the growing demands of the healthcare sector. Understanding the proteindrug interactions is a crucial and vital parameter in drug discovery.

Further, the rise in personalized medicine development activities is propelling the demand for genetic studies, which, in turn is likely to contribute to the growth of the microplate reader market. The field of precision medicine requires genomic information of every individual to offer targeted treatment for a particular indication. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases has increased the demand for biologics, orphan disease drugs, and personalized medicines. For instance, in 2019, the FDA approved 12 personalized medications to address the root cause of disease and integrate precision medicines with clinical care. Thus, increasing government efforts are strengthening personalized medicine research activities.

Microplate Reader Market: Segmental OverviewOn the basis of type, the microplate reader market is segmented into single-mode microplate readers and multi-mode microplate readers. The single-mode microplate readers segment held a larger market share in 2019, while the multi-mode microplate readers segment is anticipated to register a higher CAGR in the market during the forecast period. The market share of multi-mode microplate readers segment is estimated to increase exponentially in the coming years owing to their ability to detect two or more applications. Most of the microplate readers can be upgraded to powerful multi-mode microplate readers, on demand. Moreover, the multi-mode microplate readers allow supplementary detection modes, reagent injectors, and other features to be upgraded at any time.

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On the basis of application, the microplate reader market is segmented into genomics and proteomics research, drug discovery, clinical diagnostics, and other applications. The drug discovery segment held the largest market share in 2019; however, the clinical diagnostics segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR in the market during the forecast period. The projected growth of the market for clinical diagnostics segment is mainly attributed to the fact that microplate readers offers a broad portfolio of genetic tests with well-known applications such as non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), hereditary cancer screening, cardiovascular disease predisposition testing, rare diseases diagnosis, and personalized medicine applications, further allowing patients and their care providers to select individualized treatment based on their genetic and metabolic profiles.

On the basis of end user, the microplate reader market is segmented into hospital and diagnostic laboratories, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and research and academic institutes. The biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies segment held the largest share of the market in 2019, and it is further expected to register fastest CAGR during the forecast period. The future growth of the market for this segment is ascribed to the ability of microplate readers to improve the laboratory processes in pharmaceutical industries by utilizing applications that detect samples in seconds. Moreover, along with the increased detection speeds, the upgradable choices are automated for more effortless operation and workflow.

Microplate Reader Market: Competition Landscape & Key DevelopmentsBiotek Instruments, Inc.; Hercuvan Lab Systems; Molecular Devices, Llc; Thermo Fisher Scientific; Bmg Labtech; Promega Corporation; Perkinelmer Inc; Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.; Tecan Trading Ag; and Lonza are key companies operating in the microplate reader market. The market leaders are continuously looking forward to expanding and diversifying their market presence and reaching out to new customers, thus tapping prevailing business opportunities.

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In January 2019, BioTek Instruments introduced next-generation Epoch 2 Microplate Spectrophotometer, with added features that allow convenient absorbance measurements.

In June 2018, Molecular Devices announced the launch of SpectraMax ABS and ABS Plus Microplate Readers, encompassing a wide range of absorbance-based applications such as ELISAs, microbial growth, and protein quantitation. These products can be easily integrated into full robotic systems.

About Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials.

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Contact Person: Sameer JoshiE-mail: sales@theinsightpartners.comPhone : +1-646-491-9876Press Release - https://www.theinsightpartners.com/pr/microplate-reader-market

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Microplate Reader Market Value Worth $704.4 Million by 2027, Says The Insight Partners - Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic and Global Analysis -...

STRASBOURG, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:

Transgene (Paris:TNG) (Euronext Paris: TNG), a biotech company that designs and develops virus-based immunotherapeutics against cancer, today announces initial promising results from a Phase I study combining intravenous (IV) oncolytic virus TG6002 and oral 5-FC in patients with advanced gastrointestinal carcinomas. These data provide a clinical proof of concept for Transgenes double deleted VVcopTK-RR- patented virus backbone: after IV administration, TG6002 reached the tumor, multiplied within tumor cells, and induced the local expression of its payload (the FCU1 gene).

These results will be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) virtual meeting taking place from April 10-15, 2021.

DATA CONFIRM THAT THE CHEMOTHERAPY AGENT 5-FU IS PRODUCED IN PATIENTS TUMORS AFTER INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION

TG6002 is a novel oncolytic virus that has been engineered to combine multiple mechanisms of action. It has been designed to:

The data demonstrate that high concentration and continuous production of 5-FU chemotherapy can be obtained within the tumors through the local conversion of the pro-drug 5-FC (administered orally). This mechanism of action is based on the in-tumor expression of the proprietary FCU1 gene that has been integrated within the genome of TG6002.

In this study, extensive analyses are being performed including metastasis biopsy with synchronous blood sampling, assessment of virus presence, quantification of 5-FC and 5-FU and assessment of neutralizing antibody titers.

These analyses have allowed Transgene to document TG6002s pharmacokinetics (PK) and biodistribution, and the functioning of the FCU1 gene when given by IV administration.

Detailed results:

TG6002 infects tumors after intravenous administration, remains active and effectively express FCU1 gene selectively in tumor tissue; Absence of widespread virus distribution in the body and association of FCU1 activity with high virus concentration in tumor tissue suggest that the replication of TG6002 is concentrated in tumor cells; None of the patients presented clinical signs of extra-tumoral dissemination of the virus suggesting a high tumor specificity of the viral replication; The study is continuing with escalating dosing of TG6002.

CLINICAL PROOF OF CONCEPT OF THE FEASIBILITY OF THE IV ADMINISTRATION OF TRANSGENES PROPRIETARY ONCOLYTIC VIRUS

To-date, the only oncolytic virus that has received regulatory approval is only approved for intra-tumoral administration, restricting its use to superficial lesions.

Transgene aims to enlarge the number of solid tumors, such as gastro-intestinal tumors, that could be addressed by an oncolytic virus, by developing oncolytics that can be administered intravenously.

The findings that will be presented at AACR demonstrate the relevance of intravenous administration of Transgenes next generation oncolytic viruses including TG6002.

These data also suggest that candidates derived from Transgenes unique Invir.IO platform could also be given intravenously, extending the use of these therapies to a broad range of solid tumors.

The e-poster presentation will be available on the AACR website beginning at 8:30 am US EDT on Saturday, April 10, until Monday, June 21. The text of this abstract will be posted at 12:01 am US EDT on Friday, April 9 on the AACR website.

About the trial (NCT03724071)This trial is a single-arm open-label Phase I/II trial evaluating the safety and tolerability of multiple ascending doses of TG6002 administered intravenously in combination with oral 5-FC, a non-cytotoxic pro-drug that can be converted in 5-FU, its active metabolite. Based on the safety profile of TG6002, several dose levels have been added to the initial Phase I clinical protocol. At the end of this Phase I part, Phase II patients will receive the recommended dose of TG6002. The trial has safety as primary endpoint for the Phase I part and efficacy for the Phase II part. The trial also evaluates pharmacokinetic properties and biodistribution of TG6002, along with immune modulation of the tumor micro-environment. This European study will enroll up to 40 patients suffering from advanced gastrointestinal carcinomas who have failed and/or are intolerant to standard therapeutic options in the Phase I part. Patients with colon cancer and liver metastases will be enrolled in the Phase II part.

Dr. Philippe Cassier, M.D., PhD, head of the early-phase trials unit at Centre Lon Brard (Lyon, France) is the principal investigator of the trial.

About TG6002TG6002 has been engineered to directly kill cancer cells (oncolysis), to enable the production of a chemotherapy agent (5-FU) within the tumor, and to elicit an immune response by the body against the tumor cells. In preclinical experiments, TG6002 has been shown to induce the shrinkage of the primary tumor as well as the regression of distant metastases (Foloppe, et al., Molecular Therapy Oncolytics, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omto.2019.03.005).

The production of 5-FU directly in the tumor aims to achieve a better anti-tumoral effect with limited chemotherapy-induced side effects.

TG6002 induces the production of 5-FU in the cancer cells it has infected, by enabling the local conversion of the pro-drug 5-FC (administered orally) into 5-FU. 5-FU is a common chemotherapy agent for patients with gastro-intestinal cancers. This mechanism of action is based on the in-tumor expression of the proprietary FCU1 gene that has been encoded in the genome of TG6002, taking advantage of the virus selective replication in the tumor cells.

When administered systemically, 5-FU is associated with side effects that can lead to treatment discontinuation. With TG6002, 5-FU is produced within the tumor where it is expected to be present at a high concentration level in contrast to the very low levels anticipated in the rest of the patients body.

About TransgeneTransgene (Euronext: TNG) is a biotechnology company focused on designing and developing targeted immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. Transgenes programs utilize viral vector technology with the goal of indirectly or directly killing cancer cells.The Companys clinical-stage programs consist of two therapeutic vaccines (TG4001 for the treatment of HPV-positive cancers, and TG4050, the first individualized therapeutic vaccine based on the myvac platform) as well as two oncolytic viruses (TG6002 for the treatment of solid tumors, and BT-001, the first oncolytic virus based on the Invir.IO platform).With Transgenes myvac platform, therapeutic vaccination enters the field of precision medicine with a novel immunotherapy that is fully tailored to each individual. The myvac approach allows the generation of a virus-based immunotherapy that encodes patient-specific mutations identified and selected by Artificial Intelligence capabilities provided by its partner NEC.With its proprietary platform Invir.IO, Transgene is building on its viral vector engineering expertise to design a new generation of multifunctional oncolytic viruses. Transgene has an ongoing Invir.IO collaboration with AstraZeneca.Additional information about Transgene is available at: http://www.transgene.fr Follow us on Twitter: @TransgeneSA

DisclaimerThis press release contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. The occurrence of any of these risks could have a significant negative outcome for the Companys activities, perspectives, financial situation, results, regulatory authorities agreement with development phases, and development. The Companys ability to commercialize its products depends on but is not limited to the following factors: positive pre-clinical data may not be predictive of human clinical results, the success of clinical studies, the ability to obtain financing and/or partnerships for product manufacturing, development and commercialization, and marketing approval by government regulatory authorities. For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the Companys actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors (Facteurs de Risque) section of the Universal Registration Document, available on the AMF website (http://www.amf-france.org) or on Transgenes website (www.transgene.fr). Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Transgene undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

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Transgene Presents Initial Phase I Data of TG6002, Highlighting the Potential of the Intravenous Administration of Its Oncolytic Viruses - Business...

For many people, the word biostatistics doesnt evoke much. But according to three biostatisticians at Tufts, its biologys special sauce, operating behind the scenes to make breakthroughs possible.

These include Kathryn Barger, associate director in the Biostatistics and Data Management Unit at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts; Paola Sebastiani, who works at Tufts Medical Center and is the director of the Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Research, and Design Center at Tufts (BERD); and Misha Eliasziw, a researcher and associate professor at Tufts University School of Medicine in the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, and an associate professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

Defined as the application of statistics to biological topics, this field has flourished at Tufts. The universitys biostatisticians have contributed to a number of methodological advances that have had a significant impact on the field, according to Sebastiani, who recently established the Center for Quantitative Methods and Data Science, which is supported by Tufts Medical Center and the Data Intensive Study Center.

For proof of the impact this work can have, one need look no further than the COVID-19 pandemic, says Eliasziw. It was the biostatisticians who analyzed the data from the vaccine clinical trials and came up with the findings for physicians to interpret, she says. One of the reasons people are being vaccinated is because of biostatistics. It can actually make a difference in peoples lives.

Biostatisticians are different from statisticians, working primarily with medical and health-related investigators to design and contextualize ethically and scientifically sound studies. The translators and interpreters of the scientific world, they analyze data and translate complex science into actionable evidence.

Biostatistics is the method that transforms research data into scientific evidenceand is incredibly rewarding, says Barger.

Barger works at the intersection of medicine, nutrition, and aginga crucial field as more than 71 million Baby Boomers live longer, and hopefully better.

One of the perks of the job is working across a wide range of fields. Biostatistics is great for anyone who wants to collaborate with researchers in different scientific fields because statistical skills can be applied everywhere, Barger says. Even within the HNRCA, my role is unique in that across different research areas, I have been able to work with scientists in all of them.

Right now, Barger and her colleagues are studying how vitamin B12 status could influence risk of cognitive decline. Cognitive health and age-related disease such as Alzheimers are major problems that urgently need solutions, and its exciting to be part of the research in finding answers to prevent or ameliorate these health issues, she says.

Barger also finds it rewarding that at the end of the day, her work helps provide scientific evidence for establishing recommendations for healthy eating and other interventions. There are so many benefits to nutritional interventions, Barger says. To contribute to that evidence, to be able to ultimately inform people on things they can do to improve their disease risk later in life, is incredibly important.

Sebastiani also focuses on human aging and longevity at Tufts Medical Center. Her research focuses on one of sciences fundamental mysteries: why some people age healthfully and well, and some do not. Im thinking about intervention: to help people live longer and in a healthy way; to maintain good cognitive function; good physical function; and how we relate that to the genetic background of individuals, Sebastiani says.

The secret? People dont like it, but its nutrition, she says, laughing. The only intervention that has been shown to work in humans is to really restrict the number of calories that you consume every day, drastically.

Sebastiani works primarily with medical clinical investigators to support and collaborate on research projects, deciding how to analyze data, establishing best practices, and justifying each experiments design. For example, a scientist might test a drug on mice. A biostatistician will help to decide when to test, which dosages, and how many mice to safely enroll. Sebastiani does the same thing for humanshelping to select just the right number of participants and presenting the work at conferences and before funding agencies.

Sebastiani is now studying how a drug called Metformin might be used along with diet and exercise to change a persons profile of biomarkerssuch as specific proteinsand help extend life. Additionally, shes examining whether the Mediterranean diet so popular in southern Europebuilt mainly around plant-based foodscould potentially affect the APOE gene, whose variants are associated with a high risk for Alzheimers.

Sebastiani is also helping further the field of biostatistics itself via the Center for Quantitative Methods and Science, where she hopes to collaborate with computer scientists, epidemiologists, and statisticians to harness big data and machine learning in a multidisciplinary setting. The landscape of biomedical science is changing, and biostatisticians need to team up with other data scientists to solve big data problems, she says.

Tufts biostatisticians have already helped create models used around the world to predict health outcomes for patients with myocardial infarction and kidney diseases; machine learning methods for analyzing genetic and genomic data; and techniques for clinical trial design and evaluation of treatment effects, Sebastiani says. More recently, BERD biostatistician Norma Terrin contributed to the development and validation of a new tool to analyze negative reactions in newborns. This scale will now be adopted for use in clinical trials by the Food and Drug Administration and other regulators around the world, Sebastiani says.

If youre looking for certainty, biostatistics is the wrong place to find it, says Eliasziw, who teaches introductory and advanced courses in biostatistics at the School of Medicine.

Thats what differentiates biostatistics from mathematicsthe uncertainty, Eliasziw says. Sometimes frustrated new students want to know what the right solution is, and my answer is not satisfying: It depends on what the question is, and who you are studying.

What biostatistics does offer is a more fluid way to approach information. One of the things I find so enjoyable about biostatistics, is that its an art form. Theres creativity involvedusing graphical displays to tell a story, bringing unrelated ideas together, Eliasziw says. Human creativity and ingenuity is something that cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence.

Like Barger and Sebastiani, Eliasziw does research in nutrition, studying how to reduce childhood obesity primarily among children with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder. But she is also working on how to reduce other public health problems, including traffic-related air pollution; sexual assault among women on university campuses; and substance use among adolescents.

She uses similar methodologies and techniques across all her work. The basic skills can be applied in different areas, says Eliasziw, who worked on the prevention of stroke and cancers before she came to Tufts ten years ago. It makes life interesting, not doing the same old thing. And you can bring along ideas from one area to another.

For example, Eliasziw brought a technique called survival analysisdetermining the expected duration of time until a given eventfrom oncology to sexual assault prevention, and a method called propensity score analysis from cardiovascular literature to childhood obesity prevention. This cross-application of methods makes biostatisticians uniquely effective researchers who are in high demand across many fields, Eliasziw said. People call me Ghostbuster, she joked. If you have a problem, who are you gonna call?

Playing this role makes for a rewarding career, she says. The focus of biostatistics is very much on solving real life problems, she says. Its really about the application. Thats whats enjoyable.

Monica Jimenez can be reached atmonica.jimenez@tufts.edu.

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