Monthly Archives: September 2022

Congressman Says Psychedelics Show ‘Real Promise’ As Alternative Therapies At Committee Hearing – Marijuana Moment

Posted: September 29, 2022 at 1:04 am

As a House committee takes steps to broadly improve patient access to healthcare, one congressman is taking the opportunity to call for a conversation about the therapeutic role of psychedelics like psilocybin, which he says have real potential as alternative mental health therapies with less impact than traditional pharmaceuticals.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) spoke about the therapeutic potential of psychedelics on Wednesday during a House Ways & Means Committee markup of several bills related to worker and family health support that arent directly related to drug policy reform.

The congressman, who has long championed marijuana legalization and become one of the most outspoken members on Capitol Hill advocating for psychedelics reform, said hes encouraged with the spirit with which were moving forward being able to integrate a variety of areas for reform as the panel works to address issues like outpatient care.

Were overwhelmed, in community after community, with the stresses that weve seen, particularly amid the coronavirus pandemic, Blumenauer said, adding that we need to continue moving forward.

He suggested that psychedelics policy should be part of the larger conversation about health care improvements, noting his interest in giving terminally ill patients access to investigative drugs like psilocybin, for example.

Oregon is involved in an experiment with therapeutic psilocybin that is indicating that theres some real potential to be able to deal with addiction, to deal with some of the end-of-life care in ways that have less impact than some other traditional therapies that I think have a lot to commend them, the congressman said, referencing his states historic 2020 vote to legalize psilocybin healing centers.

While those facilities havent opened yetand officials in a number of Oregon localities have moved to put measures opting out of allowing the services in their jurisdictions on the November ballotthe states vote has contributed to the burgeoning conversation about psychedelics policy in Congress.

I appreciate our colleagues being interested in the elements [of improving health care] here to try and broaden flexibility now, and committed to the future, but I think that this is an area that the committee is going to have to spend a lot of time on going forward, the congressman said.

At the beginning of this year, Blumenauer led a bipartisan letter requesting that DEA allow terminally ill patients to use psilocybin as an investigational treatment without the fear of federal prosecution under federal Right to Try (RTT) law.

Bipartisan and bicameral congressional lawmakers then filed companion bills in July to clarify that RTT statute enacted under the Trump administration is meant to give those seriously ill patients access to Schedule I drugs, including marijuana and psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA.

Meanwhile, congressional appropriations leaders have included language in recent spending legislation that urges federal agencies to continue supporting research into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.

In July, the House voted in favor oftwo psychedelics-related amendments to a defense bill, including one that would require a study to investigate psilocybin and MDMA as alternatives to opioids for military service members and another that would authorize the defense secretary to provide grants for studies into several psychedelics for active duty service members with PTSD.

Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they dont miss any developments.Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.

But while advocates are encouraged by these incremental developments amid the national psychedelics decriminalization movement, some lawmakers feel that Congress isnt keeping pace with the public and the science.

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) told Marijuana Moment earlier this month that hes done his research and believes that natural plants and fungi like psilocybin can be a therapeutic game changer, but he said that its embarrassing how slow other federal lawmakers have been to evolve on the issue.

Federal health officials have taken note of the increased adult use of certain entheogenic substances. As National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Director Nora Volkow put it earlier this year, the train has left the station on psychedelics.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently said that it is actively exploring the possibility of creating a task force toinvestigate the therapeutic of certain psychedelicslike psilocybin and MDMA in anticipation of federal approval of the substances for prescription use.

That came in response to letters from bipartisan congressional lawmakers, state legislators and military veterans, who implored the HHS secretary to to consider establishing an interagency taskforce on the proper use and deployment of psychedelic medicine and therapy.

As the psychedelics conversation picks up in Congress, local and state lawmakers from across the political spectrum have showed significant interest in the issue in recent years.

Last week, for example, the Hazel Park, Michigan City Council approved a resolution designating September as a month of awareness of the therapeutic potential of psychedelicsmaking it the second city to take the symbolic additional step after locally decriminalizing natural plants and fungi.

Also this month, Atlanta lawmakers met to discuss a proposed resolutionin support of locally decriminalizing psychedelics, hearing testimony on the therapeutic benefits of entheogenic substances and discussing a plan to further consider the reform in a work session.

The hearing happened just weeks after a Georgia House committee met at the state level to separatelytalk about the therapeutic potential of psychedelicslike psilocybin to treat serious mental health conditions that commonly afflict military veterans.

Lawmakers in Missouri recently met to discuss possible solutions to the military veterans mental health and suicide crisis, with several people testifying aboutthe possible therapeutic potential of psychedelicsfor the at-risk population.

And this month, local San Francisco lawmakers unanimously approved a measure calling for the decriminalization of psychedelicslike ibogaine and ayahuascalocally, in the state and federally.

That resolution pointed out that the state legislature has already started the conversation around the decriminalization of personal possession of small amounts of seven psychedelic substances, in the form of a bill from California Sen. Scott Wiener (D) that passed the Senate and several Assembly committees before being significantly scaled back in a final paneland ultimately pulled by the sponsor.

Local psychedelics decriminalization has been enacted in several major cities in recent years, including Oakland, Santa Cruz and Seattle. A slew of Massachusetts cities have taken similar steps. Voters in the nations capital of Washington, D.C. also decriminalized.

This November, Colorado voters will get the chance to make history once again, with an initiative to legalize psychedelics possession for adults and create psilocybin healing centers in the state.

A top Canadian health official who heads up the countrys efforts to combat addiction recently visited Colorado, Oregon and Washington State last week to learn about their experiences implementing drug policy reform like broad decriminalization and harm reductionmeeting with the governor of Oregon and psychedelics activists, among others, on a week-long tour.

Oklahoma Supreme Court Says Marijuana Legalization Wont Be On November Ballot, But Will Be Voted On In Future Election

Image courtesy of Kristie Gianopulos.

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NIH initiative to systematically investigate and establish function of every human gene – National Institutes of Health (.gov)

Posted: at 1:03 am

News Release

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

The Molecular Phenotypes of Null Alleles in Cells program will first look at protein-coding genes.

The National Institutes of Health is launching a program to better understand the function of every human gene and generate a catalog of the molecular and cellular consequences of inactivating each gene. The Molecular Phenotypes of Null Alleles in Cells (MorPhiC) program, managed by the National Human Genome Research Institute, aims to systematically investigate the function of each gene through multiple phases that will each build upon the work of the previous.

The program will be funded initially for five years for a total of $42.5 million, pending the availability of funds. Phase 1 of the program will focus on 1,000 protein-coding genes and serve as a pilot phase and has three goals: exploring multiple methods of inactivating, or knocking out, gene function; developing molecular and cellular systems that model multiple human tissues and developmental stages; and developing molecular and cellular approaches to catalog gene function that other researchers can reproduce.

The function of thousands of genes is still a mystery, and they likely serve vital biological roles," said Colin Fletcher, Ph.D., NHGRI program director in the Division of Genome Sciences. Understanding fundamental biology can help us figure out why certain diseases occur and how can we develop drugs to target and treat those diseases.

Projects funded by the program will use versions of genes that do not make functional proteins, called null alleles. In the absence of making its functional protein, a given genes function can be more readily deduced by studying the resulting biological characteristics, or phenotype. The researchers expect this process to make it easier to interpret the results.

Currently, over 6,000 out of the estimated 19,000 protein-coding genes have not been well-studied. Among the genes that have been studied, only a subset of their functions is well-characterized.

Creating a catalog of what all human genes do is no easy feat. Most genes are likely to have more than one function and behave differently depending on the type of cell in which they are expressed. In addition, genes may turn on or off depending on the cells relationship to surrounding cells, environment and age.

Research funded by the MorPhiC program will use cell culture models such as organoids, which are miniature, three-dimensional models composed of multiple cell types that mimic the function of real tissues and organs. Research that works with cells in culture has a major advantage: it can more robustly study human cells, and therefore, human genes. All data will be made available to the broader research community. If Phase 1 is successful, NIH will activate a second phase to characterize a larger set of human genes.

MorPhiC is meant to add another layer of functional information between the gene knock-out at the DNA level and the organism-level effects. We want to catalog the effects of knocking out each gene within cells and together with information from other studies use that to understand how genes function to produce an organism, said Adam Felsenfeld, Ph.D., NHGRI program director in the Division of Genome Sciences.

The MorPhiC program offers a new approach to understanding gene function when compared to other programs at NIH and NHGRI. For example, a well-established NIH effort to probe gene function has been investigating the consequences of knocking out genes in mice at the level of tissues and organs as part of the Knockout Mouse Program. Another effort is applying new technologies, genome-sequencing strategies and analytical approaches to significantly increase the proportion of human genetic diseases with an identified genetic cause, as part of the Genomics Research to Elucidate the Genetics of Rare Diseases Consortium. Research into understanding how genomic variation affects genome function and phenotype is also an area of ongoing NHGRI investment through the Impact of Genomic Variation on Function Consortium.

MorPhiC complements these other efforts by examining the impact of human gene knock outs at the molecular and cellular level, said Carolyn Hutter, Ph.D., director in the Division of Genome Science. Ultimately, catalytic advances will come when we are able to collaborate across these different programs.

Funding for Phase 1 of the MorPhiC program will be awarded to support the following investigators:

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) is one of the 27 institutes and centers at the NIH, an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. The NHGRI Division of Intramural Research develops and implements technology to understand, diagnose and treat genomic and genetic diseases. Additional information about NHGRI can be found at: http://www.genome.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

NIHTurning Discovery Into Health

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Researchers Demonstrate Multiplex Codon Editing in the Human Genome – GenomeWeb

Posted: at 1:03 am

BALTIMORE Researchers led by a team at Harvard Medical School have taken a step toward whole-genome recoding in human cells, demonstrating that the human amber stop codon TAG can be simultaneously edited in dozens of genes in a single experiment.

In a proof-of-concept study published last month in Nature Communications, the researchers, led by Harvard Medical School geneticist George Church, converted the TAG stop codon in 33 essential genes in a human cell line via a single transfection, marking the first large-scale recoding of the human genome.

This paper "pushed the limit" of how many different loci can be targeted at once for base editing in the human genome, said Eriona Hysolli, one of the study's corresponding authors and a former postdoctoral researcher in Church's lab.

According to Hysolli, the study, which was more than half a decade in the making and was conducted in collaboration with researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was built upon the Church group's previous accomplishment that replaced all UAG stop codons with UAA across the entire Escherichia coli genome. Hysolli, now head of biological sciences at Colossal Biosciences, said the team had to overcome a multitude of technical obstacles in order to extend recoding to the human genome.

For one, she said, compared with the relatively compact bacterial genomes, mammalian genomes are generally much larger and more complex. Besides having a greater number of genes, they also tend to harbor numerous intergenic regions that separate genes far apart from each other. Additionally, because many genome editing tools are adapted to work in prokaryotes, they often cannot function efficiently or are not yet available for mammalian cells.

There are also hurdles associated with multiplex base editing to tackle several genes at once. These include making the different targeted loci in the genome accessible, delivering a larger payload with multiple guide RNAs (gRNAs) into a cell efficiently, and curtailing the off-target promiscuity of the editing tools.

To explore the feasibility of genome-wide recoding in human cells, the researchers looked to the TAG stop codon, which represents fewer targets, given it is the least commonly used human codon, and can be theoretically edited to TAA by cytosine base editors.

To cope with the scale of the human genome, the team developed a python-based software, named Genome Recoding Informatics Toolbox (GRIT), that can automate the process of part design for recoding.

Based on the human genome reference GRCh38.p13 and the Online Gene Essentiality (OGEE) Database, GRIT identified a total of 6,700 TAG codons within the HEK293T cell line that was used in the study, of which 6,648 are editable across the human haploid genome by base editors. Moreover, the software discovered 1,947 TAG codons that are located in essential genes, of which 1,937 are editable.

Because multiplex TAG to TAA editing requires multiple gRNAs and base editors protein to be simultaneously delivered into a single mammalian cell, the researchers designed and synthesized artificial DNA fragments, or so-called gBlocks, that can each carry five individual gRNA cassettes and remain stable when introduced into mammalian cells.

After optimizing a strategy for multiplexed base editing, the researchers showed they were able to successfully convert up to 33 TAG codons to TAA at once out of 47 target sites via a single transfection.

To evaluate the on- and off-target efficiencies of the recoding, the team performed whole-genome sequencing on highly modified clones and compared the results with the negative control. While the off-target effects in this study were "definitely significant," most of them were found outside of the coding regions, Hysolli said.

Calling the study "very impressive," Magomet Aushev, a genome editing expert at the Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research at Newcastle University in the UK, said this paper laid a foundation for other researchers who hope to achieve multiplex gene editing.

"One of the cool things that CRISPR brought to the genome editing table was multiplexing," he said, adding that unlike previous efforts, which mostly deployed CRISPR to modify repetitive sequences in the genome, this study targeted different genes using different guide RNAs, which is "really cool."

With all UAG stop codons replaced with UAA, the Church group previously engineered E. coli to be resistant to certain bacteriophages by depleting release factor 1 (RF1), which is responsible for terminating translation for UAG and UAA.

Similarly, the Harvard researchers and their collaborators envisaged that by converting the TAG stop codon to TAA genome wide and replacing the endogenous eukaryotic release factor 1 (eRF1) with engineered eRF1 variants, they might be able to generate virus-resistant human cell lines a goal for the Genome Projectwrite (GP-write)project, an initiative of the Human Genome Project jointly spearheaded by Church and a handful of other researchers.

Aushev said that while the recent publication is "a really good initial study" that tested the waters of how far scientists can go with the current technology for human genome recoding, there is still a vast knowledge gap to fill when it comes to achieving virus-resistant human cell lines via whole-genome recoding.

"Base editing is like fixing a tire, while genome engineering is like building a whole car," he said. "Maybe a technology that is meant to fix tires is not the best way to go. Maybe there needs to be some innovation on the genome engineering side to develop some newer technologies [that are] more ambitious."

Beyond the technical challenges, scientists also do not know the possible side effects of whole-genome recoding in humans, Aushev pointed out. "It could be that maybe nothing happens, or maybe something bad happens. It's just difficult to say because this has never been done."

Mirroring Aushev's point, Hysolli also thinks there is still a long way to go before scientists can harness human genome recoding for applications such as manufacturing of cell therapies or virus-proof therapeutics production.

Meanwhile, Hysolli said there are several potential strategies that scientists can work on to help improve the efficiency and multiplex capability of the TAG conversion. These include continuing to develop new base editors to boost editing efficiency while minimizing off-target effects, improving guide RNA delivery capability, and designing new delivery mechanisms to achieve more efficient transfections.

"It's always a little bit more challenging to work on the mammalian genome side," Hysolli said. "We have just laid the foundation for how we can potentially achieve this work."

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Cross-border transmissions of the Delta substrain AY.29 from Japan to the world during the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games – EurekAlert

Posted: at 1:02 am

image:Status of COVID-19 during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games view more

Credit: The Instutite of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo

In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games were held in the summer of 2021. Participants from over 200 countries or regions gathered in Japan. Scientifically understanding how the new coronavirus transmitted through such mass gatherings can be utilized for future events in similar situations.Just before the games, the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) was being replaced with the more contagious Delta substrain AY.29, which harbors two additional characteristic mutations compared with its parent AY.4. It emerged in Japan and became dominant in Tokyo. Through genome analysis, we identified 118 AY.29 samples in 20 countries, and among these, at least 55 independent strains. While there are strains unrelated to the events such as a strain transmitted to the USA from Okinawa, there remains the possibility that 41 strains were associated with the Olympic and Paralympic participants. This study was published on August 3rd, 2022 in Frontiers in Microbiology.The research was organized by IMSUT (Prof. Seiya Imoto, Human Genome Center) and IBM Research (Takahiko Koyama, Research Staff Member, TJ Watson Research Center and Michiharu Kudo, Senior Technical Staff Member, IBM Research - Tokyo) groups. The article was published in Frontiers in Microbiology at 5:00 AM BST on August 3rd 2022.

Background /ChallengeThe new coronavirus has been rapidly evolving by accumulating mutations during the pandemic. Emergence of new variants have been dramatically affecting our lives. Nevertheless, mutations can be utilized to trace transmission routes. IMSUT and IBM developed the SARS-CoV-2 Variant Browser, which provides surveillance and tracing tools to researchers and public health officials*3,*4.In the summer of 2021, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games were finally held after a year of postponement. Participants from over 200 countries or regions visited Japan. Scientifically understanding how the new coronavirus propagated through a series of international mass gathering events can be utilized for future events not limited to COVID-19. In this study, we have analyzed the SARS-CoV-2 strains transmitted overseas during the time of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

ResultJust before the games, the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) was being replaced with the more contagious Delta variant AY.29, which harbors two additional characteristic mutations 5239C > T (NSP3 Y840Y) and 5514T > C (NSP3 V932A), compared with its parent AY.4. It emerged in Japan and became dominant in Tokyo (Figure1A, B). During the events, a total of 863 positive cases were reported (Figure 1C). Out of 863 positive cases, 174 cases occurred in Olympic visitors from abroad, and 80 cases occurred in Paralympic visitors from abroad.

By analyzing over 6 million genomes from the international genome database in GISAID and NCBI, we uncovered 118 samples of the Delta substrain AY.29 in 20 countries such as the USA, the UK, Canada, Germany, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, and the Philippines (Figure2). At least 55 independent strains were propagated to overseas from Japan. Out of the exported 55 strains, 41 of them were collected after August 1st and with their ancestral strains collected in Greater Tokyo While there are strains unrelated to the events such as a strain transmitted to the USA from Okinawa via US military stationed in Okinawa, the possibility remains that 41 strains are associated with the returning Olympic and Paralympic participants.

The identified AY.29 samples appear to be the tip of the iceberg. In particular, it is difficult to grasp the whole picture in the countries and areas with low rates of genome surveillance. Among the 20 countries, most European and North American countries had vaccination rates over 50%, and sufficient genomic surveillance was conducted; transmissions seem contained. However, propagation to unvaccinated regions might have caused damage we cannot assess. Since samples in those unvaccinated countries are also undersampled with a longer lead time for data sharing, it will take longer to grasp the whole picture.Regarding the novel exogenous strains introduced into the Japanese population by the participants from abroad, we identified 61 novel exogenous strains in 900 unusual samples that dont have prefectural information. As we expect more international mass gathering events, it becomes more important to share the data and disclose information regarding SARS-CoV-2 in a timely manner. IMSUT will keep providing the information to researchers and public health officials.IMSUT has been conducting research in SARS-CoV-2 genomes to find new treatment methods and preventive measures by leveraging expertise obtained through genome and data science research to date. In the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, IMSUT played a role in analyzing SARS-CoV-2 genomes obtained in wastewater samples in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic village*5,*6. To accelerate socio-economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, IMSUT will make efforts to contribute to proposing concrete measures.

Publication

Takahiko Koyama*, Reitaro Tokumasu, Kotoe Katayama, Ayumu Saito, Michiharu Kudo and Seiya Imoto "Cross-border transmissions of the Delta substrain AY.29 during Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games" Frontiers in Microbiology Aug. 2022*Corresponding AuthorDOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.883849URL: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.883849

Research contact:Human Genome Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of TokyoSeiya Imoto, Director/ProfessorURL: https://www.ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp/imsut/en/lab/hgclink/page_00073.htmlMedia Contact:International Affairs Office, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of TokyoURLhttps://www.ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp/imsut/en/index.htmlReference:(*1) GISAID : https://www.gisaid.org/(*2) NCBIhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sars-cov-2/(*3) Koyama T., Platt D., Parida L. Variant analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genomes. Bull World Health Organ. 2020;98:495-504.(*4) IBM and the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo develop a system for rapid analysis and visualization of viral genome mutations to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection spreading in Japan: https://www.ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp/imsut/jp/about/press/page_00095.html(*5) Tracking SARS-CoV-2 during Tokyo 2020 via wastewater~Wastewater-based epidemiological tracking of COVID-19 in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic village showed that SARS-CoV-2 was present in areas without diagnosed individuals~: https://www.ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp/imsut/jp/about/press/page_00151.html(*6) Kitajima M., Murakami M., Iwamoto R., Katayama H., Imoto S. COVID-19 wastewater surveillance implemented in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Village Journal of Travel Medicine Volume 29, Issue 3, April 2022.

Frontiers in Microbiology

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Cross-border transmissions of the Delta substrain AY.29 during Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games

3-Aug-2022

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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Countries of the Americas Agree to Increase Genomic Sequencing to Detect Potentially Pandemic Pathogens – Pan American Health Organization

Posted: at 1:02 am

Washington, DC, 28 September 2022 (PAHO) - Health authorities of the Region of the Americas agreed today to take a series of actions to expand and strengthen genomic surveillance of pathogens with pandemic and epidemic potential in the Region.

The Strategy on Regional Genomic Surveillance for Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Response, approved in the framework of the 30th Pan American Sanitary Conference of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), highlights the imperative need for the Region to equip itself with advanced tools for early detection and monitoring of viruses that pose a serious threat to health.

"Emerging and re-emerging pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential present a significant risk in the Region," said Ciro Ugarte, Director of PAHO's Health Emergencies Department. "For that reason, it is essential to increase our ability to use genomic sequencing to quickly identify and characterize changes in viruses that can cause them to spread faster or cause more severe disease," he said.

Climate change, unplanned urbanization, the establishment of human settlements in jungle areas, and increased travel are additional risk factors for the emergence and spread of pathogens. As of May 2022, around 30% of all cases of COVID-19 and 44% of deaths worldwide occurred in the Americas, making the Region's vulnerability clear.

The new strategy will help countries and PAHO consolidate and expand the advances made in genomic surveillance to date. These include the COVID-19 Genomic Surveillance Regional Network (COVIGEN), created in March 2020, more than a year before variants of concern required a change of strategy to combat the spread of SARS-CoV-2.

The main impact of COVIGEN has been to strengthen and expand national SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequencing and surveillance capacities. Currently, more than 30 countries and territories in the Region actively participate as members of the network.

With a horizon of 2028, the lines of action of the strategy on genomic surveillance include:

PAHO will provide technical cooperation to its Member States for implementation of the strategy. It will also promote the consolidation of a regional genomic surveillance network for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response beyond SARS-CoV-2, including influenza, arboviral diseases, and bacterial pathogens.

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Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market Size And Forecast To 2022 |Illumina, Thermo Fisher, BGI, Agilent Technologies, 10x Genomics The Colby Echo News…

Posted: at 1:02 am

Los Angeles, USA: A recent report published by Verified Market Research, titled [Global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market, History and Forecasts for 2022-2029, data broken down by manufacturers, key regions, types and applications], contains an in-depth analysis of the Global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market. The research report is divided in such a way as to highlight the key areas of the market and give the reader a complete picture. The report examines various aspects of the Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) market, such as its opportunities to explore its driving forces and limitations, market size, market segment analysis, regional prospects, key players and the competitive environment. Market Research Report Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) uses the methodology of primary and secondary research to provide accurate data to its readers. To fully assess the market and key players. Analysts also used SWOT analysis and analysis of Porters five strengths.

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Global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market : Drivers and Restraints

In this chapter, the report provides a full explanation of the driving forces of the market. It highlights the main driving forces of the market, which are expected to make a significant contribution to the growth of the market. It covers various industries that are developing in the same field, identifies the main areas of application and determines which of them will play an important role. The report also examines some of the new technologies and developments presented by manufacturers that are expected to become notable engines for the global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) market.

This chapter also gives the reader important information regarding restrictions that may hinder the growth of the Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) market in the future. This research report discussed factors such as changes in land prices, labor and production costs, environmental issues, new government policies and business standards. In addition, the analysts also gave an idea of the potential opportunities existing in the global market of Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs). It offers a new perspective of turning threats into viable options to give the company a chance to win.

Global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market : Competitive rivalry

The research report includes an analysis of the competitive environment present in the Global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market. It includes an assessment of current and future trends in which players can invest. In addition, it also includes an assessment of the financial prospects of the players and explains the nature of the competition.

Key Players mentioned in the Global Market Research Report Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market:

Market segmentation of Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) market:

Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) market is divided by type and application. For the period 2021-2028, cross-segment growth provides accurate calculations and forecasts of sales by Type and Application in terms of volume and value. This analysis can help you grow your business by targeting qualified niche markets.

Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) Market, By Product Type

Large Whole-Genome Sequencing Small Genome Sequencing

Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) Market, By Industry

Humanity Plant Animal Microorganism Virus

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Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market Report Scope

Global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market: Regional segmentation

For further understanding, the research report includes a geographical segmentation of the Global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market. It provides an assessment of the volatility of political scenarios and changes that may be made to regulatory structures. This estimate provides an accurate analysis of the regional growth of the Global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market.

Middle East and Africa (GCC countries and Egypt)North America (USA, Mexico and Canada)South America (Brazil, etc.)Europe (Turkey, Germany, Russia, Great Britain, Italy, France, etc.)Asia-Pacific region (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia and Australia)

Global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market: Research methodology

The research methodologies used by analysts play a crucial role in how the publication was compiled. Analysts used primary and secondary research methodologies to create a comprehensive analysis. For an accurate and accurate analysis of the Global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market, analysts use ascending and descending approaches.

Table of Contents

Report Overview:It includes major players of the global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market covered in the research study, research scope, and Market segments by type, market segments by application, years considered for the research study, and objectives of the report.

Global Growth Trends:This section focuses on industry trends where market drivers and top market trends are shed light upon. It also provides growth rates of key producers operating in the global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market. Furthermore, it offers production and capacity analysis where marketing pricing trends, capacity, production, and production value of the global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market are discussed.

Market Share by Manufacturers:Here, the report provides details about revenue by manufacturers, production and capacity by manufacturers, price by manufacturers, expansion plans, mergers and acquisitions, and products, market entry dates, distribution, and market areas of key manufacturers.

Market Size by Type:This section concentrates on product type segments where production value market share, price, and production market share by product type are discussed.

Market Size by Application:Besides an overview of the global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market by application, it gives a study on the consumption in the global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market by application.

Production by Region:Here, the production value growth rate, production growth rate, import and export, and key players of each regional market are provided.

Consumption by Region:This section provides information on the consumption in each regional market studied in the report. The consumption is discussed on the basis of country, application, and product type.

Company Profiles:Almost all leading players of the global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market are profiled in this section. The analysts have provided information about their recent developments in the global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market, products, revenue, production, business, and company.

Market Forecast by Production:The production and production value forecasts included in this section are for the global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market as well as for key regional markets.

Market Forecast by Consumption:The consumption and consumption value forecasts included in this section are for the global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market as well as for key regional markets.

Value Chain and Sales Analysis:It deeply analyzes customers, distributors, sales channels, and value chain of the global Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market.

To Gain More Insights into the Market Analysis, Browse Summary of the Research Report @https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/whole-genome-sequencing-wgs-market/

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Verified Market Research is the Globals leading research and consulting firm serving more than 5,000 clients. Verified market research provides advanced analytical research solutions, offering research enriched with information. We offer information about strategic analysis and growth, data needed to achieve business goals, and important revenue decisions.

Our 250 analysts and representatives of small and medium-sized businesses have a high level of knowledge in the field of data collection and management. They use industrial methods to collect and analyze data in more than 15,000 highly efficient niches and markets. Our analysts are trained to combine modern data collection methods, excellent research methodologies, years of collective experience and expertise to conduct informative and accurate research.

We study more than 14 categories of semiconductors and electronics, chemicals, advanced materials, aerospace and defense industries, energy and consumables, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, Automotive and Transportation, Information and Communication Technologies, software and services, information security, mining, minerals and metals, construction, agricultural industry and medical equipment from in more than 100 countries.

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Whole Genome Sequencing (Wgs) Market Size And Forecast To 2022 |Illumina, Thermo Fisher, BGI, Agilent Technologies, 10x Genomics The Colby Echo News...

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Innovation in practice: using genomic testing in routine care to boost population health – Becker’s Hospital Review

Posted: at 1:02 am

Genomic testing has been used for years on a case-by-case basis in clinical care, but is now increasingly seen as an important contributor to advancing population health.

During a September Becker's Hospital Review webinar sponsored by Helix a population genomics and viral surveillance company Feby Abraham, PhD, chief strategy officer of Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System, and James Lu, MD, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Helix, discussed the role of genomics programs in supporting health systems' population and precision health objectives.

Three key takeaways were:

The strategic goals of the program, which will embed the Helix end-to-end platform, are to:

"We are going to innovate care delivery to inspire patients to [engage in] more proactive upfront interventions," Dr. Abraham said. He emphasized that higher patient engagement would be accomplished by intensifying patient education efforts as part of the genomic screening program. That, in turn, will improve patient retention, which is a key benefit for providers delivering care both under a fee-for-service and a value-based model.

As organizations embrace using genomic screening and data more broadly, integrated solutions that power large-scale clinical and research programs such as Memorial Hermann's will be central to implementing enterprise-wide genomics initiatives.

To view the full webinar,click here.

To register for upcoming webinars, click here.

Originally posted here:
Innovation in practice: using genomic testing in routine care to boost population health - Becker's Hospital Review

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Digital Genome Market Size And Forecast To 2022 |NanoString Technologies Agilent Technologies Inc., GE Healthcare, Biomerieux, GenMark Diagnostics…

Posted: at 1:02 am

Global Digital Genome Market Overview :

The global Digital Genomemarket is expected to grow at a significant pace, according to a verified market research. The latest research report, titled Digital Genome Market, offers a unique perspective on the global market. Analysts believe that changing consumption patterns should have a big impact on the market as a whole. For a brief overview of the Global Digital Genome market, the research report contains a summary. It explains the various factors that make up an important part of the market. It includes the definition and coverage of the market with a detailed explanation of the market drivers, opportunities, constraints and threats.

Global Digital Genome Market Segmentation:

Segmentation chapters allow readers to understand aspects of the market, such as its products, available technologies and their applications. These chapters are written in such a way as to describe how they have evolved over the years, and what course they are likely to choose in the coming years. The research report also provides detailed information on emerging trends that may determine progress in these segments in the coming years.

Digital Genome Market size was valued at USD 22.7 Billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 92.01 Billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 19.1% from 2021 to 2028.

Get a Sample Copy (Including FULL TOC, Graphs And Tables) Of This Report @ https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/download-sample?rid=34070

Global Digital Genome Market : Competitive rivalry

The research report includes an analysis of the competitive environment present in the Global Digital Genome market. It includes an assessment of current and future trends in which players can invest. In addition, it also includes an assessment of the financial prospects of the players and explains the nature of the competition.

Key Players mentioned in the Global Market Research Report Digital Genome Market:

Market segmentation of Digital Genome market:

Digital Genome market is divided by type and application. For the period 2021-2028, cross-segment growth provides accurate calculations and forecasts of sales by Type and Application in terms of volume and value. This analysis can help you grow your business by targeting qualified niche markets.

Digital Genome Market, By Product

Sequencing & Analyzer Instruments DNA/ RNA Analysis Kits Sequencing Chips Sequencing & Analysis Software Sample Preparation Instruments

Digital Genome Market, By Application

Microbiology Reproductive & Genetic Transplantation Livestock & Agriculture Forensics Research & Development

Digital Genome Market, By End-User

Academics & Research Institutes Diagnostics & Forensic Labs Hospitals Bio-Pharmaceutical Companies

Global Digital Genome Market: Research methodology

The research methodologies used by analysts play a crucial role in how the publication was compiled. Analysts used primary and secondary research methodologies to create a comprehensive analysis. For an accurate and accurate analysis of the Global Digital Genomemarket analysts use ascending and descending approaches.

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Digital Genome Market Report Scope

Global Digital Genome Market: Regional segmentation

For further understanding, the research report includes a geographical segmentation of the Global Digital Genome Market. It provides an assessment of the volatility of political scenarios and changes that may be made to regulatory structures. This estimate provides an accurate analysis of the regional growth of the Global Digital Genome Market.

Middle East and Africa (GCC countries and Egypt)North America (USA, Mexico and Canada)South America (Brazil, etc.)Europe (Turkey, Germany, Russia, Great Britain, Italy, France, etc.)Asia-Pacific region (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia and Australia)

Table of Contents

Report Overview:It includes major players of the global Digital Genome Market covered in the research study, research scope, and Market segments by type, market segments by application, years considered for the research study, and objectives of the report.

Global Growth Trends:This section focuses on industry trends where market drivers and top market trends are shed light upon. It also provides growth rates of key producers operating in the global Digital Genome Market. Furthermore, it offers production and capacity analysis where marketing pricing trends, capacity, production, and production value of the global Digital Genome Market are discussed.

Market Share by Manufacturers:Here, the report provides details about revenue by manufacturers, production and capacity by manufacturers, price by manufacturers, expansion plans, mergers and acquisitions, and products, market entry dates, distribution, and market areas of key manufacturers.

Market Size by Type:This section concentrates on product type segments where production value market share, price, and production market share by product type are discussed.

Market Size by Application:Besides an overview of the global Digital Genome Market by application, it gives a study on the consumption in the global Digital Genome Market by application.

Production by Region:Here, the production value growth rate, production growth rate, import and export, and key players of each regional market are provided.

Consumption by Region:This section provides information on the consumption in each regional market studied in the report. The consumption is discussed on the basis of country, application, and product type.

Company Profiles:Almost all leading players of the global Digital Genome Market are profiled in this section. The analysts have provided information about their recent developments in the global Digital Genome Market, products, revenue, production, business, and company.

Market Forecast by Production:The production and production value forecasts included in this section are for the global Digital Genome Market as well as for key regional markets.

Market Forecast by Consumption:The consumption and consumption value forecasts included in this section are for the global Digital Genome Market as well as for key regional markets.

Value Chain and Sales Analysis:It deeply analyzes customers, distributors, sales channels, and value chain of the global Digital Genome Market.

To Gain More Insights into the Market Analysis, Browse Summary of the Research Report @https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/digital-genome-market/

Visualize Anesthesia Delivery Systems Market using Verified Market Intelligence:-

Verified Market Intelligence is our BI-enabled platform for narrative storytelling of this market. VMI offers in-depth forecasted trends and accurate Insights on over 20,000+ emerging & niche markets, helping you make critical revenue-impacting decisions for a brilliant future.

VMI provides a holistic overview and global competitive landscape with respect to Region, Country, and Segment, and Key players of your market. Present your Market Report & findings with an inbuilt presentation feature saving over 70% of your time and resources for Investor, Sales & Marketing, R&D, and Product Development pitches. VMI enables data delivery In Excel and Interactive PDF formats with over 15+ Key Market Indicators for your market.

Visualize Anesthesia Delivery Systems Market using VMI @https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/vmintelligence/

About us

Verified Market Research is the Globals leading research and consulting firm serving more than 5,000 clients. Verified market research provides advanced analytical research solutions, offering research enriched with information. We offer information about strategic analysis and growth, data needed to achieve business goals, and important revenue decisions.

Our 250 analysts and representatives of small and medium-sized businesses have a high level of knowledge in the field of data collection and management. They use industrial methods to collect and analyze data in more than 15,000 highly efficient niches and markets. Our analysts are trained to combine modern data collection methods, excellent research methodologies, years of collective experience and expertise to conduct informative and accurate research.

We study more than 14 categories of semiconductors and electronics, chemicals, advanced materials, aerospace and defense industries, energy and consumables, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, Automotive and Transportation, Information and Communication Technologies, software and services, information security, mining, minerals and metals, construction, agricultural industry and medical equipment from in more than 100 countries.

Contact us

Dwayne Fernandez

Verified Market ResearchABOUT US: +1 (650)-781-4080United Kingdom: +44 (753)-715-0008APAC: +61 (488)-85-9400Free in the United States.: +1 (800)-782-1768

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Digital Genome Market Size And Forecast To 2022 |NanoString Technologies Agilent Technologies Inc., GE Healthcare, Biomerieux, GenMark Diagnostics...

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Omica.bio and GenoBank.io Partner to Drive Transparency in Genomic Research in Latin America – PR Newswire

Posted: at 1:02 am

MEXICO CITY, Sept. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Population genomics startup omica.bio proudly announces its investment in web3 data management platform GenoBank.io. This new partnership is the next phase in both companies' work to promote fair and equitable genomic research in Latin America.

With more than 600 million inhabitants and 700 ethnic groups, Latin America is one of the most diverse regions in the world. However, less than 1% of all genomic data is of Latinx origin. "Not only does the lack of genomic data from Latin America exacerbate health disparities for the Latinx community, but it leads to missed scientific opportunities for the global population," said Victor Angel-Mosti, CEO and founder of omica.bio. "Our goal, however, is not only to add genetic diversity to genomic research, but to do so with forward-thinking bioethical standards."

As part of this partnership, genobank.io will provide omica.bio with web3 capabilities for the deployment of the first tokenized consent protocol. "The aim of this collaboration is to offer research participants unprecedented transparency and traceability over the use of their genomic and clinical data," said Daniel Uribe, Founder and CEO of genobank.io. The technology will be deployed as part of a omica.bio's effort to sequence 10,000 whole-genomes from rare disease patients throughout Mexico and Central America.

"We believe the promise of personalized health will only be fulfilled through the power of community. GenoBank.io's platform offers a stepping stone towards a trusted bioethics standard across the globe." said Angel-Mosti. "We invite the research community to follow along at http://www.omica.bio."

CONTACT: Victor Angel Mosti, [emailprotected]

SOURCE OMICA VM REGENERATIVA SAPI DE CV

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Omica.bio and GenoBank.io Partner to Drive Transparency in Genomic Research in Latin America - PR Newswire

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Experts Sound Alarm Over ‘Growing Threat’ of Genetically Engineered Trees – Common Dreams

Posted: at 1:01 am

A report published Wednesday exposes the "growing threat" of genetically engineered tree development around the world, with researchers urging a leading forest product certification body to maintain its longstanding ban on genetic modification.

"The convenience of trees that can survive glyphosate will likely result in the use of more glyphosate, more often."

"The global release of genetically engineered (GE or genetically modified) trees is closer than it has ever been," states the report, assembled by the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) and the Campaign to STOP GE Trees. "This advancement is a significant concern because the release of GE trees would pose serious threats to forests and other ecosystems, as well as to many local communities and Indigenous peoples. The environmental impacts could be irreversible."

The report documents the status of GE tree development worldwide to identify where the risk of GE tree use on plantations or release into the wild is most immediate. It comes ahead of the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) general assembly from October 9-14 in Bali, Indonesia.

The FSCa nonprofit headquartered in Germany that operates a global market-based certification program for forest productsis currently reconsidering its 27-year ban on GE trees, much to the chagrin of civil society groups around the globe.

As the report notes, the FSC and other so-called "sustainable forest management" organizations that certify products according to their own social and environmental standards are facing pressure from major corporations and university biotechnology researchers to allow GE trees in their certification programs.

Next month in Bali, FSC members will vote on two motions that, if approved, would help preserve the group's prohibition on genetic modification.

However, "if the Forest Stewardship Council decides to embrace genetic engineering, it will free the Brazilian pulp and paper company Suzano to begin planting its eucalyptus trees that are genetically engineered to tolerate glyphosate herbicides," warned Lizzie Daz of the World Rainforest Movement.

To date, the only genetically modified forest tree released commercially was a GE poplar tree in 2002 in China.

Despite opposition from nearly three dozen environmental and social justice groups in Brazil and several others across the world, the Brazilian government approved Suzano's application for a GE glyphosate-tolerant eucalyptus tree last November. As an FSC-certified company, Suzano cannot start commercial planting of its GE tree unless the FSC drops its ban on genetic modification or Suzano leaves the organization.

According to the report:

Suzano claims that this GE eucalyptus "will allow more efficient weed control with lowered chemical load and improved worker conditions." However, this promise was also made by the biotechnology industry for the use of GE herbicide-tolerant crops and it proved false. Herbicide use increased significantly with the use of GE herbicide-tolerant crops in North America and South America. Pesticide use in soybean production in Brazil increased three-fold between 2000 and 2012 after the introduction of GE (Roundup Ready) soy. Official statistics show rates of glyphosate use increased significantly in both Brazil and Argentina where glyphosate-tolerant soy is 85% and 100% of all soy grown respectively.

Glyphosate is used to clear the land of other plants in order to prepare tree plantation sites and it is also applied to new plantations in the first few years of growth. As observed with GE crops, the convenience of trees that can survive glyphosate will likely result in the use of more glyphosate, more often. In the case of eucalyptus plantations, it may also encourage ariel spraying of new plantations where direct spraying of plants on the ground is the current norm.

[...]

Glyphosate is now the most widely used herbicide ingredient in the world. Brazil's health agency, Anvisa, concluded that there are health risks for people exposed to glyphosate when it is applied to crops and stipulated a safe distance be kept from populated areas when using it. This is important because many small communities are surrounded by eucalyptus plantations, just as others are surrounded by GE glyphosate-tolerant soy monocultures. Pesticide use in Brazil with GE soy causes injury to thousands of people each year.

Contrary to claims made by agro-chemical giants, the report finds no evidence that the introduction of genetically modified trees designed to be more productive will lead to land conservation. The further expansion of tree plantationsalong with increased social conflictis the more likely outcome, the authors warn.

"Tree plantations are not forests: they do not support the same biodiversity as forest ecosystems," the report stresses. "They often deplete water resources, degrade and erode soil, and make extensive use of chemical pesticides. The ecological impacts of plantations are felt by local communities, who are often left without livelihoods, food, or water, with little recourse."

"In 2018, more than one thousand women from the rural Landless Workers Movement (MST) in Brazil took over a mill owned by the pulp and paper company Suzano," the report notes. "The women's key grievances included the depletion of critical freshwater resources and the contamination of water by aerial spraying of pesticides on eucalyptus plantations."

Other key findings include:

"Development of genetically engineered trees is advancing despite the serious risks to our forests and continued opposition around the world," lead author Lucy Sharratt of CBAN said in a statement. "Our report shows that genetically engineered trees are closer than ever to being released even though interest is limited to just a handful of companies and university researchers."

Nevertheless, "genetically engineered trees are not inevitable," Sharratt continued. "Even if the research is very far advanced, or even approved for planting, GE trees still might never make it to market. Genetic engineering in trees is technically challenging, extremely risky for the environment, and globally, it's very controversial."

The report also points out, however, that "just as the development of GE trees is advancing, government regulation is retreating," thereby increasing the risks that such trees will be released.

"Many national governments are reducing or removing their oversight of the field testing and commercial release of new genetically modified organisms," the authors write. "This report may be the last opportunity to get a snapshot of GE tree field testing around the world."

"The gaps in our understanding of genetic engineering, tree biology, and forest ecology conspire to build a profile of tremendous uncertainty," the report adds. "At the same time, the enormous ability of trees to spread pollen and seeds increases the reach of potential environmental and social impacts across national borders and in violation of Indigenous sovereignty."

"Genetically engineered trees would also perpetuate environmentally and socially destructive industrial plantation production that contributes to the climate crisis," the authors conclude. "Instead of moving towards a climate solution, genetically engineered trees would add unnecessary risks to forests, with possible irreversible impacts."

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Experts Sound Alarm Over 'Growing Threat' of Genetically Engineered Trees - Common Dreams

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