Category Archives: Pharmacogenomics

Protein-folding might not sound like an especially exhilarating way to spend a weekend, but puzzle mavens and scientific researchers alike rallied behind the game’s innovative take on crowd-sourcing public ingenuity to tackle scientific conundrums. The effort has long since paid off, but this year the game adds another feather to its cap: taking top honors at the ninth annual International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge, with a first place win in the Interactive Games category.

The Challenge’s goal is a novel one. The journal Science and the National Science Foundation have teamed up to reward and promote especially novel ways of sharing data and scientific knowledge with the general public. This was the first year that included a specific Interactive Games category; other categories offer accolades for noteworthy photography, videos, and informational posters and graphics. The winners were chosen by an outside panel of experts, but there was also public voting on the National Science Foundation’s website for the People’s Choice award. All of the games have large educational components, and many were designed for students or use in classrooms.

In Foldit, players earn points by arranging protein structures into feasible, realistic shapes. The shapes players design help researchers understand how proteins fold, which is critical to identifying proteins in cells. Although most of protein folding research is computer automated, machines aren’t as efficient as humans when it comes to pattern recognition and puzzle-solving. The developers take advantage of this fact; players are both solving structures and helping to teach computers to be better folders.

There were plenty of other games in the running. The People’s Choice award went to a quirky little title called Velu the Welder. It’s designed to be played with a Nintendo Wii controller, using motion controls to teach basic welding lessons. As they improve, players can move to arc welding or some basic building. It was developed by Tata Consultancy Services in India, to provide training and help school dropouts develop marketable skills.

Another noteworthy entry was Meta!Blast 3D. It’s an action game, a bit reminiscent of The Magic School Bus, without Ms. Frizzle. A lab’s personnel have become trapped inside of a photosynthetic cell, and it’s up to you to rescue them. That involves navigating through the cell, learning about its different features, and surviving attacks from nefarious proteins like ubiquitin (the “kiss of death” protein). This has yet to occur in any of the labs I’ve worked in, but I find it nice to be prepared.

You can find the full list of games in this month’s issue of Science, or at their website. And be sure to check out the rest of the entries; there’s some cool stuff in there.

Julia Seaman is a graduate student, working on a Ph.D in Pharmacogenomics. When she isn’t futzing with the mass spectrometer or harvesting cells, you can find her cruising the space lanes in The Old Republic.

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Gaming Wins Big at National Science Foundation's Visualization Challenge

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -02/02/12)- TriMarkPublications.com cites in its newly published "Companion Diagnostics in Personalized Medicine and Cancer" report that the companion diagnostics market will explode as the personalized medicine market catapults to $42 billion by 2015. For more information, visit: http://www.trimarkpublications.com/products/Companion-Diagnostics-in-Personalized-Medicine-and-Cancer-Therapy.html.

Companion diagnostics is the use of genetic variation (e.g., SNPs, gene expression variability and other molecular signatures) to detect different patient responses to particular drugs or biologic agents in order to understand and correlate their individual differential responses to pharmaceutical agents. Companion diagnostics can be deployed clinically to stratify patients based on their response to certain therapeutic agents, known as personalized medicine, and companion diagnostics will also play an increasingly important role in cancer treatments over the forecast period.

The "Companion Diagnostics in Personalized Medicine and Cancer" report covers:

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Assay, Individualized Warfarin Therapy and other uses of companion diagnostics in clinical situations IVDMIA, Irinotecan and UGT1A1, Tyrosine Kinase and other cancer biomarker tests MGMT Methylation Assay and other pharmacogenomics tests Recurrence prediction tests Blood-based technologies Proteomics Personalized Medicine Coalition (PMC) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)

The "Companion Diagnostics in Personalized Medicine and Cancer" report examines companies manufacturing companion diagnostics equipment and supplies in the world. Companies covered include: 20/20 GeneSystems, Abbott, Affymetrix, Agendia, Agilent, Almac, AMDL, Applied, Asuragen, Aureon, BD, Beckman Coulter, BioCurex, Biomarker, Biomedical, Biomerica, bioMérieux, Biomira, BioModa, Clarient, Claros, Correlogic, CytoCore, Cytogen, Dako, DiaDexus, DiagnoCure, DRG, EDP, Eisai, EXACT, Exagen, Gene Logic, Genesis, Genomic, Health Ikonisys, Illumina, Incyte, InterGenetics, Ipsogen, Johnson & Johnson, LabCorp, Life, Matritech, Miraculins, Monogram, Myriad, NimbleGen, Northwest, Nycomed, Oncotech, Oncothyreon, Orion, Oxford, Polymedco, Power3, Prometheus, Proteome, Qiagen, Roche, SensiGen, Siemens, SuperArray, Tosoh, TrimGen, Upstream, Veridex, Vermillion and Vertex.

Detailed charts with sales forecasts and marketshare data are included. For more information, visit: http://www.trimarkpublications.com/products/Companion-Diagnostics-in-Personalized-Medicine-and-Cancer-Therapy.html.

About TriMarkPublications.com

TriMarkPublications.com is a global leader in the biotechnology, healthcare and life sciences market research publishing. For more information, please visit http://www.trimarkpublications.com.

Important Notice

The statements contained in this news release that are forward-looking are based on current expectations that are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks, and actual results may differ materially.

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Companion Diagnostics Market to Explode as Personalized Medicine Market Catapults to $42 Billion by 2015

24-01-2012 09:19 Biosciences at Brunel University offer undergraduate BSc Honours degree courses in Biomedical Sciences along with themed pathways in either Biochemistry; Forensics; Genetics; Human Health or Immunology. The courses can be taken for 3 years full-time or 4 years with Professional Experience; including a 1 year work placement (sandwich year). The courses provide an understanding of areas in biosciences and medically related research as related to human health, disease and treatment. Students develop transferable and professional skills appropriate to a wide range of careers in health care, industry and academia. http://www.brunel.ac.uk All academic staff in Biosciences are research active and are at the forefront of their chosen disciplines. Research Centres: Brunel Institute for Cancer Genetics and Pharmacogenomics; Centre for Cell and Chromosome Biology; Centre for Immunology, Infection and Disease Mechanisms.

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BSc Biomedical Sciences courses at Brunel University - Video

MASON, Ohio, Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- AssureRx Health, Inc., today announced that it has secured an $8 million Term and Revolving Credit Facility that provides additional capital to support increasing clinical adoption of GeneSightRx and to finance multiple new products scheduled for launch in 2012. The credit facilities were secured through the company's new banking partner, Silicon Valley Bank, a premier bank for venture-backed technology companies.

The new line of credit, combined with $11 million in Series B financing in 2011, will help AssureRx Health continue building the leading personalized medicine company in behavioral health. Since the launch of GeneSightRx in 2010, AssureRx Health has been helping clinicians individualize antidepressant and antipsychotic treatment for patients with psychiatric disorders.

"Our goal is to build the leading personalized medicine company providing treatment decision support products to help physicians individualize the treatment of patients with neuropsychiatric and other disorders," said James S. Burns, president and CEO of AssureRx Health. "We are pleased to be partnering with Silicon Valley Bank and are confident that SVB is the right financial partner to help facilitate our growth."

"We are delighted to have an opportunity to work with AssureRx as it provides much needed guidance in selecting appropriate medications for patients. AssureRx is helping to reduce the 'trial and error' prescribing that so many patients are subjected to, which will help towards the goal of reducing healthcare costs," said Jay McNeil, Managing Director of Silicon Valley Bank's Midwest Life Science Practice.

Claremont Creek Ventures and Sequoia Capital led the Series B financing in March 2011 to expand AssureRx Health's commercial organization for its first product, GeneSightRx, and to accelerate a series of new products scheduled for launch in 2012. AssureRx Health has since expanded nationally and plans to substantially increase the size of its sales force in 2012.

"AssureRx Health has enormous potential to lead the transformation of neuropsychiatric care toward individualized patient treatment," said John Steuart, managing director of Claremont Creek Ventures. "We look forward to working with Silicon Valley Bank to provide AssureRx Health with the growth capital to meet the Company's rapidly expanding business."

About GeneSightRx®

GeneSightRx is a laboratory developed genetic test that uses cutting edge technology to measure and analyze clinically important genetic variants in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. The results of the GeneSightRx report can help a doctor understand the way a patient's unique genetic makeup may affect certain psychiatric drugs. The analysis is based on pharmacogenomics, the study of multiple genetic factors that influence an individual's response to drug treatments, FDA approved manufacturer's drug labels, peer-reviewed scientific and clinical publications, and proven drug pharmacology. Quick turnaround time, combined with a customized report of the patient's genetic makeup, clinical experience, and other factors can help a physician make personalized drug treatment choices for each individual patient. To learn more about pharmacogenomics and GeneSightRx, please click here. Be sure to watch the educational video on our YouTube channel.

About AssureRx Health

AssureRx Health, Inc., is a personalized medicine company that specializes in helping physicians determine the right drug for individual patients suffering from neuropsychiatric and other disorders. The GeneSightRx analysis is based on pharmacogenomics, the study of the genetic factors that influence an individual's response to drug treatments, FDA approved manufacturers' drug labels, scientific and clinical peer-reviewed publications, and proven pharmacology. The company was founded to commercialize industry-leading personalized medicine technology. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Mayo Clinic are equity holders and technology collaborators. To learn more about pharmacogenomics and GeneSightRx, please click here.

About Silicon Valley Bank

Silicon Valley Bank is the premier bank for technology, life science, cleantech, venture capital, private equity and premium wine businesses. SVB provides industry knowledge and connections, financing, treasury management, corporate investment and international banking services to its clients worldwide through 26 U.S. offices and seven international operations. (Nasdaq: SIVB - News) http://www.svb.com.

Silicon Valley Bank is the California bank subsidiary and the commercial banking operation of SVB Financial Group. Banking services are provided by Silicon Valley Bank, a member of the FDIC and the Federal Reserve System. SVB Financial Group is also a member of the Federal Reserve System.

Contacts:
Alex H. Burgess
AssureRx Health, Inc.
Tel: (513) 234-4940
Email: aburgess@assurerxhealth.com

Andreas Marathovouniotis or David Schull
Russo Partners
Tel: (212) 845-4235 or (212) 845-4271
Email: andreas.marathis@russopartnersllc.com or david.schull@russopartnersllc.com

Originally posted here:
AssureRx Health Secures $8M Financing with Silicon Valley Bank to Support Growth

04-01-2012 10:01 Dr. Russ Altman discusses his research on understanding how genetic differences affect drug response. National Institute of General Medical Sciences http://www.nigms.nih.gov

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Dr. Russ Altman on Pharmacogenomics - Video

16-12-2011 13:48 Characterizing and Displaying Genetic Variants for Clinical Action Workshop December 1-2, 2011 More: http://www.genome.gov

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Using Payer Data to Analyze Impact of Pharmacogenomic Approaches - Robert Epstein - Video