Category Archives: Transhuman News

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

(CNN) -- A highly anticipated test of an experimental Ebola vaccine will begin this week at the National Institutes of Health, amid mounting anxiety about the spread of the deadly virus in West Africa.

After an expedited review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, researchers were given the green light to begin what's called a human safety trial, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

It will be the first test of this type of Ebola vaccine in humans.

The experimental vaccine, developed by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline and the NIAID, will first be given to three healthy human volunteers to see if they suffer any adverse effects. If deemed safe, it will then be given to another small group of volunteers, aged 18 to 50, to see if it produces a strong immune response to the virus. All will be monitored closely for side effects.

Ebola outbreak in Africa

Ebola outbreak in Africa

Ebola outbreak in Africa

Ebola outbreak in Africa

Ebola outbreak in Africa

The rest is here:
Human trial of Ebola vaccine begins

Exploring the Labyrinth of Human Genetics
Hannah Isaacson, State Fair oral presentation 2014.

By: Dan Isaacson

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Exploring the Labyrinth of Human Genetics - Video

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

2-Sep-2014

Contact: Nalini Padmanabhan press@ashg.org 301-634-7346 American Society of Human Genetics

BETHESDA, MD - The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health, have named Katherine D. Blizinsky, PhD, a neuroscientist at Northwestern University in Chicago, the newest ASHG/NHGRI Genetics and Public Policy Fellow. The 16-month appointment begins today.

The Genetics and Public Policy Fellowship is intended to help early-career genetics professionals develop and implement genetics-related health and research policy at a national level. Fellows in the program gain policy experience in diverse settings by completing rotations in the non-profit science advocacy sector at ASHG, in the executive branch at NHGRI, and in the legislative branch as a staff member on Capitol Hill. ASHG and NHGRI have jointly sponsored the fellowship since 2002.

Dr. Blizinsky has served in various genetics research roles since 2008, studying varying topics in the areas of psychiatric neurogenetics and genomics, gene-environment coevolution of psychiatric susceptibility, and imaging genetics of neurological and psychiatric conditions. She received the Sage Bionetworks Young Investigator Award in 2012 and co-founded Science Policy Initiative Northwestern, an organization that fosters science policy dialogue in the university community through panel discussions, lectures, and interactive debates.

"With her diversity of experience inside and outside the genetics laboratory, Dr. Blizinsky will bring her practical knowledge of genetics research to settings where the potential impact of that research can be more fully realized and disseminated," said Joseph McInerney, MA, MS, executive vice president of ASHG.

"Our fellows have gone on to work at a wide variety of influential organizations," said Derek Scholes, PhD, chief of NHGRI's Policy and Program Analysis Branch. "We're confident that this fellowship will provide a good foundation for Dr. Blizinsky's career in health policy."

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ASHG and NHGRI award genetics and public policy fellowship

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

(CNN) -- A highly anticipated test of an experimental Ebola vaccine will begin this week at the National Institutes of Health, amid mounting anxiety about the spread of the deadly virus in West Africa.

After an expedited review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, researchers were given the green light to begin what's called a human safety trial, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

It will be the first test of this type of Ebola vaccine in humans.

The experimental vaccine, developed by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline and the NIAID, will first be given to three healthy human volunteers to see if they suffer any adverse effects. If deemed safe, it will then be given to another small group of volunteers, aged 18 to 50, to see if it produces a strong immune response to the virus. All will be monitored closely for side effects.

Ebola outbreak in Africa

Ebola outbreak in Africa

Ebola outbreak in Africa

Ebola outbreak in Africa

Ebola outbreak in Africa

See the article here:
Human vaccine trial starting

The human trial of an experimental Ebolavaccine will begin this week, according to the National Institutes of Health, United States of America.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said the US Food and Drug Administration had given the researchers at the institute the approval to begin the human safety trial.

The experimental vaccine, developed by the pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline and the NIAID, will first be given to three healthy human volunteers to see if they suffer any adverse effects. If deemed safe, it will then be given to another small group of volunteers, aged between 18 and 50, to see if it produces a strong immune response to the virus. All will be monitored closely for side effects.

The vaccine will be administered to volunteers by an injection in the deltoid muscle of their arm, first in a lower dose; then later, in a higher dose after the safety of the vaccine has been determined.

Some of the preclinical studies that are normally done on these types of vaccines were waived by the FDA during the expedited review, Fauci said. So we want to take extra special care that we go slowly with the dosing.

The vaccine did extremely well in earlier trials with chimpanzees, Fauci told the AFP on Tuesday.

He noted that the method being used to prompt an immune response to Ebola could not cause a healthy individual to become infected with the virus.

Still, he said, I have been fooled enough in my many years of experience you really cant predict what you will see (in humans).

According to the NIH, the vaccine will also be tested on healthy volunteers in the United Kingdom, Gambia and Mali, once details are finalised with health officials in those country.

Meanwhile, officials from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, US, have said that the human trials of Ebola vaccines cannot currently be done in the four countries affected by the recent outbreak Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria due to the conditions of existing health care infrastructure in these countries.

Original post:
Human trial of Ebola vaccine begins this week

NEWS

Posted TODAY, 5:41 AM Updated TODAY, 5:42 AM

A highly anticipated test of an experimental Ebola vaccine will begin this week at the National Institutes of Health, amid mounting anxiety about the spread of the deadly virus in West Africa.

After an expedited review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, researchers were given the green light to begin what's called a human safety trial, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

It will be the first test of this type of Ebola vaccine in humans.

The experimental vaccine, developed by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline and the NIAID, will first be given to three healthy human volunteers to see if they suffer any adverse effects. If deemed safe, it will then be given to another small group of volunteers, aged 18 to 50, to see if it produces a strong immune response to the virus. All will be monitored closely for side effects.

The vaccine will be administered to volunteers by an injection in the deltoid muscle of their arm, first in a lower dose, then later in a higher dose after the safety of the vaccine has been determined.

Some of the preclinical studies that are normally done on these types of vaccines were waived by the FDA during the expedited review, Fauci said, so "we want to take extra special care that we go slowly with the dosing."

The vaccine did extremely well in earlier trials with chimpanzees, Fauci said. He noted that the method being used to prompt an immune response to Ebola cannot cause a healthy individual to become infected with the virus.

Still, he said, "I have been fooled enough in my many years of experience... you really can't predict what you will see (in humans)."

Read more:
Human trial of experimental Ebola vaccine begins this week

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

2-Sep-2014

Contact: Nalini Padmanabhan press@ashg.org 301-634-7346 American Society of Human Genetics

BETHESDA, MD The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health, have named Elizabeth P. Tuck, MA, Upper School Science Teacher at The Wellington School in Columbus, Ohio, the first ASHG/NHGRI Genetics and Education Fellow. The 16-month appointment begins today.

The Genetics and Education Fellowship is intended to help early-career genetics professionals expand their skills, experience, and network to prepare for a career in genetics education. Fellows in the program will complete rotations at both sponsoring organizations in areas that may include curriculum development, education research, faculty professional development, public education and outreach, and science education policy.

Ms. Tuck has served in various roles related to science education since 2008, including teaching high school biology, developing biotechnology and neuroscience curricula for underserved youth, and organizing science caf events for teenagers. She has also conducted laboratory research at the undergraduate and graduate levels, focusing on the genetics and cellular mechanisms underlying neurological diseases.

"With her background in both laboratory genetics research and science education, Ms. Tuck is exceptionally well-qualified to take advantage of the opportunities this fellowship provides," said Michael J. Dougherty, PhD, ASHG's Director of Education. "We are excited to launch this new program with a fellow who has worked in varied settings and who can effectively combine diverse perspectives to identify and address challenges in genetics education."

The ASHG/NHGRI Genetics and Education Fellowship is modeled after the ASHG/NHGRI Genetics and Public Policy Fellowship, which ASHG and NHGRI have jointly sponsored since 2002.

"NHGRI is pleased with the implementation of the new fellowship program. Ms. Tuck will be our first fellow and we could not be more delighted. We anticipate her helping to make the education fellowship program as successful as the long-standing ASHG-NHGRI policy fellowship program," said Vence L. Bonham, Jr., JD, chief of the Education and Community Involvement Branch at NHGRI.

"The Genetics and Public Policy Fellowship has been successful in helping to train genetics professionals who currently occupy significant positions in policy and advocacy organizations and in government. We hope the new program has a similar impact," added Joseph D. McInerney, MA, MS, Executive Vice President of ASHG.

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ASHG and NHGRI award first genetics and education fellowship

A highly anticipated test of an experimental Ebola vaccine will begin this week at the National Institutes of Health, amid mounting anxiety about the spread of the deadly virus in West Africa.

After an expedited review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, researchers were given the green light to begin what's called a human safety trial, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

It will be the first test of this type of Ebola vaccine in humans.

The experimental vaccine, developed by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline and the NIAID, will first be given to three healthy human volunteers to see if they suffer any adverse effects. If deemed safe, it will then be given to another small group of volunteers, aged 18 to 50, to see if it produces a strong immune response to the virus. All will be monitored closely for side effects.

The vaccine will be administered to volunteers by an injection in the deltoid muscle of their arm, first in a lower dose, then later in a higher dose after the safety of the vaccine has been determined.

Some of the preclinical studies that are normally done on these types of vaccines were waived by the FDA during the expedited review, Fauci said, so "we want to take extra special care that we go slowly with the dosing."

The vaccine did extremely well in earlier trials with chimpanzees, Fauci said. He noted that the method being used to prompt an immune response to Ebola cannot cause a healthy individual to become infected with the virus.

Still, he said, "I have been fooled enough in my many years of experience... you really can't predict what you will see (in humans)."

According to the NIH, the vaccine will also be tested on healthy volunteers in the United Kingdom, Gambia and Mali, once details are finalized with health officials in those countries.

Trials cannot currently be done in the four countries affected by the recent outbreak -- Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria -- because the existing health care infrastructure wouldn't support them, Fauci said. Gambia and Mali were selected because the NIH has "long-standing collaborative relationships" with researchers in those countries.

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Human Ebola vaccine trial to start