Category Archives: Molecular Medicine

CLEVELANDResearch led by Case Western Reserve University has identified a promising path to developing therapies to treat esophagealtumorsa form ofcancerthat not only is among the most deadly, but also has been occurring at increasing rates over the past decade.

The team of researchers from the School of Medicine and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC) said it has identified a potential therapeutic target for esophageal cancers in the form of a cell signaling pathway known as thetransforming growth factor beta signaling pathway, or TGF-pathway.

This finding is significant because understanding the cell signaling pathwayand associated behaviormay let scientists know what kinds of drug treatments might be effective for a particular cancer. Cell signaling pathways are a series of reactions that begin with a signal from a molecule like a hormone and then continue then down the pathway until the cell function is processed.

The study also linked a protein-coding gene called Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4), to the TGF-pathway, meaning it is a predictive biomarker of cancer. Predictive biomarkers are the key to early cancer detection which is the most important factor when stopping cancer.

This finding is important because it shows us the pathway necessary to target esophageal cancersbut someday maybe other cancers, as well, said Kishore Guda, study senior corresponding author, associate professor at the School of Medicine and member of the Case CCC.

The research teams findings were published recently in the journal Gastroenterology

Understanding treatment options is especially important in instances of esophageal cancer, as approximately 20% of people diagnosed in the United States survive five years, according to the American Cancer Society.

Study implications

Gudas research team discovered in an earlier study that a type of esophageal cancer known as esophageal adenocarcinoma is characterized by the TGF-pathway being hyperactive.

Based on that knowledge and current research from this study, the team reasoned that a new generation drug currently in clinical trials, Vactosertib (ALK5i), which inhibits the TGF-pathway, might be an effective treatment strategy.

From a molecular perspective, our study connects a major transcription factor (HNF4) to a cancer pathway (TGF) that plays fundamental roles in the gastrointestinal tract, Guda said. The knowledge gained from our study could have important implications for other gastrointestinal malignancies such as gastric, pancreatic, hepatic, and colorectal cancers where TGF and HNF4 are highly relevant in disease development.

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Case Western Reserve University is one of the country's leading private research institutions. Located in Cleveland, we offer a unique combination of forward-thinking educational opportunities in an inspiring cultural setting. Our leading-edge faculty engage in teaching and research in a collaborative, hands-on environment. Our nationally recognized programs include arts and sciences, dental medicine, engineering, law, management, medicine, nursing and social work. About 5,800 undergraduate and 6,300 graduate students comprise our student body. Visitcase.eduto see how Case Western Reserve thinks beyond the possible.

HNF4A Defines Molecular Subtypes and Vulnerability to Transforming Growth Factor -Pathway Targeted Therapies in Cancers of the Distal Esophagus

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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Patients with some forms of aggressive esophageal cancers may benefit from treatment targeting how cells self-regulate - EurekAlert

The English-language Master's degree programme in Molecular Medicine is directed at highly motivated students from home and abroad who are interested in the subject. The prerequisite is a Bachelor's degree with a focus on either natural sciences or molecular medicine. The degree programme will provide deeper knowledge of topics relating to molecular medicine and clinical theory such as immunology, oncology, genetics, pharmacology and cell biology. In addition, there are also three laboratory internships, each lasting eight weeks. A Master's thesis will be written within six months.

Name of program: Molecular MedicineDegree: Master of Science (M.Sc.)Length of program: 3 semestersProgram start: winter semester onlyApplication deadline: May 30th for winter semester 2021/22 Prerequisites: B.Sc. in Molecular Medicine or a related fieldAdmissions: limited spaces available (apply directly through faculty)Language requirements: English (certification mandatory)

A proof of measles protection is required for enrollment. The form must be completed by your primary care physician.

If necessary, please use the time between your application and enrollment to get vaccinated or to refresh your vaccination status. The short period of time for acceptance after admission is usually not sufficient for this.

For inquiries, please contact the Office of the Dean of Medical Studies studiendekanat@med.uni-goettingen.de.

Program OverviewThe eighteen-month Masters program in Molecular Medicine expands upon the scientific and medical knowledge basis acquired in Bachelor programs and explores in depth the molecular aspects of medicine. Its goal is to train students thoroughly in an area of application of molecular medicine. It should enable students to engage in independent and creative research at the crossroads of medicine and basic science.

Program StructureDuring the first year, students attend the course ?Molecular-pathological aspects of organ systems?, which is designed to heighten their understanding of the interaction between clinical and molecular science. In other obligatory module courses particular aspects of molecular immunology, bacteriology, human genetics and oncology are treated. The final six months are to be devoted to work on a master?s thesis.

A graduate of the Master?s program in Molecular Medicine should have solid knowledge of the methods of scientific research as well as be able to apply a wide spectrum of molecular-medical methods to provide concrete solutions to scientific problems.

Our graduates secure positions in all areas of medical research, laboratory diagnostics, and medical biotechnology, in both the academic and the commercial sectors. Places of employment include: clinics (molecular and biochemical diagnostics, clinical research, etc.); government agencies (criminal investigation offices, public health departments, commercial regulatory authorities, environmental protection agencies, medical associations); places of academic research (universities, Max Planck Institutes and other large research institutions); industrial settings (biomedical technology, production and quality control, basic research and development, publishing, marketing, administration); private laboratories (molecular diagnostics and analysis, environmental protection); and other institutions (ministries, research advancement organizations, technology transfer facilities).

Excerpt from:
Molecular Medicine (M.Sc.) - Georg-August-Universitt Gttingen

Gradalis, Inc.

DALLAS, Aug. 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gradalis Inc. announced a peer-reviewed publication today in the Nature portfolio journal, Communications Medicine, in which several biomarkers were evaluated for their potential to predict survival following Vigil (Gemogenovatucel-T) treatment. The publication entitled ENTPD1 as a Predictive Marker of Treatment Response to Gemogenovatucel-T as Maintenance Therapy in Newly Diagnosed Ovarian Cancer, features results from VITAL, a Phase 2b randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Vigil in patients with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer. The analysis indicates that pretreatment expression levels of the ENTPD1 gene may be a significant predictor of overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) following Vigil therapy. Vigil is a novel, personalized cellular immunotherapy platform that is designed to decloak the full repertoire of a patients tumor antigens, reactivate the immune system, and summon key effector cells to deliver a durable clinical response. In VITAL, Vigil showed a positive trend in RFS in the overall population and a significant improvement in RFS and OS in newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patients with BRCAwt and HRP molecular profiles. This finding may allow for a more refined targeting of patients who will benefit from Vigil therapy.

The ENTPD1 gene, also referred to as CD39, is a protein coding gene that functions as a limiting step in the adenosine metabolic pathway found in immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments. ENTPD1 gene directed signaling is involved in a wide range of cancers.In the analysis, a high level of RNA expression by the ENTPD1 gene (High ENTPD1) was prospectively defined as greater than the median value, hence representing 50% of patients. High ENTPD1 was associated with improved RFS and OS following Vigil maintenance treatment in frontline ovarian cancer patients. The analysis was conducted in collaboration with the University of South Alabama.

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While the use of predictive biomarkers to identify populations most likely to benefit from immunotherapy has expanded and evolved, attempts to use this approach in the treatment of ovarian cancer have thus far been underwhelming, said Rodney Rocconi, M.D., Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Alabama at Birmingham and study investigator. The Phase 2b VITAL trial demonstrated statistically significant improvement in RFS and OS when Vigil was used as a frontline maintenance therapy in patients with BRCAwt as well as HRP subtype advanced ovarian cancer. These exciting data and the identification of ENTPD1 as a biomarker that is predictive of response to Vigil, independent of BRCAwt and HRP status, represent a promising step forward with the potential to provide meaningful benefits for ovarian cancer patients.

The full text of the article can be found here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-022-00163-y. Key findings in the paper include:

High ENTPD1 expression predicts response to Vigil versus placebo regardless of HR status: At 40 months elapsed, median RFS was not yet reached in the Vigil treated group (n=23) vs. 8.1 months in the placebo group (n=23), p=0.00007; at 40 months elapsed, median OS was not yet reached in the Vigil treated group vs. 41.4 months in the placebo group, p=0.013.

High ENTPD1 expression with HRP status: RFS and OS were further improved in Vigil patients with tumors demonstrating High ENTPD1 and HRP status compared to the placebo group. Median RFS of 21.1 months was observed in the Vigil treated group (n=11) vs. 5.6 months in the placebo group (n=9), HR=0.18, p=0.004; at 40 months elapsed, median OS was not yet reached in the Vigil treated group vs. 27 months in the placebo group, HR=0.23, p=0.025.

John Nemunaitis, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Gradalis commented, ENTPD1 is recognized to be an important gene in cancer development and progression. ENTPD1 has been identified as playing a role in numerous other solid tumor indications, including melanoma, lung cancer and colorectal cancer. There has been growing interest and support from large pharmaceutical companies for the development of drugs targeting the ENTPD1/CD39 axis. The findings published today further underscore the clinical utility of biomarker approaches to predict survival differences across BRCAwt and HRP positive ovarian cancer patients treated with Vigil. We plan to further validate these findings in the Vigil registrational program and hope to use such a biomarker-based patient selection strategy to expand the potential of Vigil across a variety of cancers.

Mr. Steven Engle, Chief Executive Officer of Gradalis added, In 2003, Gradalis founders including our CSO, Dr. Nemunaitis, had the foresight to explore more effective solutions to treat cancer, including approaches that leveraged the patients immune system to target the entire tumor. Based on multiple clinical studies, Gradalis has developed Vigil, an oncology treatment that is designed to decloak the full repertoire of a patients tumor antigens, reactivate the immune system, and summon key effector cells to deliver a durable clinical response. When combined, this powerful trifecta of anti-cancer activity has the potential to eliminate elusive metastatic cells and thus improve survival, as shown in our Phase 2 clinical studies in ovarian cancer.

Mr. Engle continued, Importantly, Vigil activates the patients immune system without disrupting its natural state of balance. As a result, multiple clinical trials have demonstrated that Vigil is well tolerated and has an encouraging safety profile compared to currently approved standard of care treatment options. Taken together, we believe Vigil has the potential to become a game-changing therapeutic approach in oncology. If validated in a planned Phase 3 trial, the ENTPD1 finding may be applicable to multiple cancer tumor types, providing the potential to explore new opportunities to maximize the therapeutic benefit of Vigil.

About Ovarian Cancer and Molecular ProfilesEvery year, an estimated 22,000 patients are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the U.S. and 14,000 patients die. The biomarker analysis in the VITAL Phase 2b trial focused on patients with ovarian cancer who had the BRCA wildtype (BRCAwt) gene and whose tumors had the homologous recombination proficient (HRP) molecular profile. Patients with the BRCAwt molecular profile have less than a 35% chance of surviving ovarian cancer at five years following diagnosis. BRCAwt is found in over 75% of patients with ovarian cancer and in 90% or more of several other tumor types. Patients with the HRP molecular profile have less than a 30% chance of surviving ovarian cancer at five years following diagnosis. HRP is found in over 40% of patients with ovarian cancer and in 80% or more of several other tumor types, including skin, colorectal and cervical cancers.

BRCA genesproduceproteinsthat help repair damaged DNA and are sometimes calledtumor suppressor genes. There are two types of BRCA genes: BRCA wildtype (BRCAwt) and BRCA mutated (BRCAmt) gene. In tumors of patients with the BRCAwt gene, mutations that lead to the generation of novel neoantigens on the cell membrane of each cell are less likely to occur. As a result, it is easier for the immune system to identify and target the tumor cells. In patients with the BRCAmt gene, mutations are more likely to lead to the generation of different neoantigens on the cell membrane of each new tumor cell making it more difficult for the immune system to identify and target the tumor cells. Vigil uses the patients immune system to target the tumor, so it is not surprising that Vigil would work better in patients with the BRCAwt gene. Similarly, tumors with the HRP molecular profile are more likely to maintain intact DNA repair pathways, and therefore are also more likely to respond to Vigil therapy.

About VigilVigil is a novel, plasmid engineered, autologous tumor cell immunotherapy platform designed to achieve a trifecta of immune anticancer activity using a unique bi-shRNA DNA based technology and the patients own tumor tissue. The trifecta of systemic activity involves knock down of TGF1 and TGF2 which function as tumor suppressor cytokines, increased GM-CSF expression to enhance local immune function and presentation of the patients clonal neoantigen epitopes via use of autologous cancer tissue. By utilizing the patient's own tumor as the antigen source, Vigil is designed to elicit an immune response that is specifically targeted and broadly relevant to each patient's unique clonal tumor neoantigens. Vigil therapy has been well tolerated in Phase 1, 2a and 2b clinical studies.

In VITAL, a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2b trial (NCT02346747), Vigil showed a positive trend in the primary endpoint of recurrence free survival (RFS) in the overall population and a statistically significant improvement in RFS and overall survival (OS), with a median time of three years to date, in a pre-planned subgroup analysis of Stage III/IV newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patients with the BRCAwt molecular profile. In patients with tumors of the HRP type, significant additional improvement was seen in RFS and OS.

Additionally, Phase 1 results in an all-comer clinical trial have shown positive signals of activity in 19 tumor types and some patients treated with Vigil remain in the trial 48 months later. The company is preparing to initiate a clinical trial intended for product registration in patients with the HRP subtype ovarian cancer.

About Gradalis, Inc.Founded in 2003, Gradalis is a privately held, late-stage clinical biotechnology company developing a personalized immunotherapy called Vigil, that has been tested in multiple studies in ovarian and other cancer tumor types. Based on its Phase 2b clinical trial results, the company is preparing to initiate a Phase 3 trial intended for product registration of Vigil in patients with ovarian cancer. Vigil is the first cellular immunotherapy to demonstrate survival benefits in a randomized controlled trial of patients with solid tumors. The results of the companys Phase 2b trial have been published in Lancet Oncology and presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Vigil is being studied in other womens cancer types and has shown positive results in combination with checkpoint inhibitors

Gradalis Vigil platform uses the patients immune system to target the entire tumor. Based on multiple clinical studies, Gradalis has developed an oncology platform that is designed to decloak the full repertoire of a patients tumor antigens, reactivate the immune system, and summon key effector cells to deliver a durable clinical response. When combined, these are a powerful Trifecta of anti-cancer activities, potentially eliminating even the elusive metastatic cells, and as shown in Phase 2 clinical studies in ovarian cancer, a potential gamechanger in oncology. Our clinical trials have also demonstrated that Gradalis platform is better tolerated compared to standard cancer treatments since Vigil uses the patients immune system operating within its natural state of balance rather than in an artificial overdrive as with some technologies. Vigil utilizes proprietary bi-shRNA technology that has been proven to silence multiple genes in a variety of cancers and has the potential to be used in other diseases.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the success, cost, and timing of our product development activities and clinical trials, our plans to research, develop, and commercialize our product candidates, and our plans to submit regulatory filings and obtain regulatory approval of our product candidates. These forward-looking statements are based on Gradalis current expectations and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements, which are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: (a) the timing, costs, and outcomes of our clinical trials and preclinical studies, (b) the timing and likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals for our product candidates, and (c) the potential market size for our product candidates. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and, other than as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities.

Gradalis ContactMark Early(214) 442-8161mearly@gradalisinc.com

LifeSci Advisors ContactJoyce Allaire+1 (617) 435-6602jallaire@lifesciadvisors.com

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Gradalis Announces Publication in Nature Communications Medicine Identifying Survival Predicting Biomarker in Patients with Ovarian Cancer Treated...

MANHASSET, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Millions worldwide and an estimated 200,000 people in the United States have lupus, of whom 90 percent are women. In an effort to translate basic molecular research into better therapy for patients seeking care, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research has been awarded a $3 million Global Team Science Award from the Lupus Research Alliance. Betty Diamond, MD, director of the Institute of Molecular Medicine at the Feinstein Institutes and the Maureen and Ralph Nappi Professor of Autoimmune Diseases, will lead the research efforts as the corresponding investigator with a multi-disciplinary global team.

Lupus, an autoimmune disease that affects the joints, skin and organs, often causes people to experience fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, rash and fever. There are no cures for the disease; instead, treatments are mostly focused on helping to minimize flare-ups and improve quality of life. Through the support of the award, the project led by Dr. Diamond will aim to characterize the bodys immune and brain response in small numbers of diverse people with Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who are in drug-free remission. Obtaining this information will help paint a better picture of the cells/pathways involved in SLE remission to inform physicians of the pathways to better health.

Some lupus patients can experience reduced flare-ups and go into remission. It is critical to understand what is going on at a molecular level in patients who fall into this category, including patients who still exhibit neuroinflammation. We wonder if those with continuing neuroinflammation are those who will relapse, said Dr. Diamond. Through the generous support of the Lupus Research Alliance, we hope to develop new tools in assessing remission, identifying new signs of lupus flare-ups and novel potential drug targets.

Using brain scans and cell analysis, researchers will help answer questions about which cells are active or inactive during remission, how the brain changes during this time, and other immune response biomarkers that can track the progression of the disease.

As a leader in lupus research, Dr. Diamond brings an important new perspective to unlocking the mysteries of this condition, said Kevin J. Tracey, MD, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes and Karches Family Distinguished Chair in Medical Research. Supported by the Lupus Research Alliance, this new project will shed new light on how the brain is interacting with the immune system in these patients.

In addition to Dr. Diamond, members of this global research team include:

This marks the second year the Lupus Research Alliance has awarded its Global Team Science Award. Among other awardees, this year includes international teams led by corresponding investigators; Martin Kriegel, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Translational Rheumatology and Immunology, University of Mnster, Germany; and Eric Morand, MD, PhD, Head of the School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Australia.

Dr. Diamond is a pioneer in the basic science research of autoimmune diseases, particularly SLE. For more than four decades, Dr. Diamond has dedicated her career to the study of DNA-reactive B cells, autoantibodies and their origin and effect on the body. In May 2022, in recognition of her breakthrough achievements in molecular medicine and original research, The National Academy of Sciences elected Dr. Diamond as one of its newest members.

About the Feinstein InstitutesThe Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research is the home of the research institutes of Northwell Health, the largest health care provider and private employer in New York State. Encompassing 50 research labs, 3,000 clinical research studies and 5,000 researchers and staff, the Feinstein Institutes raises the standard of medical innovation through its five institutes of behavioral science, bioelectronic medicine, cancer, health system science, and molecular medicine. We make breakthroughs in genetics, oncology, brain research, mental health, autoimmunity, and are the global scientific leader in bioelectronic medicine a new field of science that has the potential to revolutionize medicine. For more information about how we produce knowledge to cure disease, visit http://feinstein.northwell.edu and follow us on LinkedIn

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Feinstein Institutes Get $3M From Lupus Research Alliance to Study Remission and Future Therapies - Business Wire

What is precision medicine?

Precision medicine, also referred to as personalized medicine, is the opposite of a one-treatment-fits-all model, instead tailoring disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment based on a persons own genes or proteins as well as potentially their environment and lifestyle. According to the Precision Medicine Market Report 2022-2023, the increase in scope of application of precision medicine is expected to propel market growth as the leading precision medicine disease focus, oncology, is joined by immunology, central nervous system (CNS), respiratory and other diseases.

Specific to cancer, over the pastseveral decades, researchers, scientists and therapeutic manufacturers in oncology have significantlyimproved treatment outcomes by embracing this precision medicine approach, with some advancements even called revolutionary. Today, cancer patients often undergo molecular tests and genetic profiling to align the physicians treatment selection with the drug most likely to improve a particular patients prognosis. This recognizes that no two cancers are the same, no two patients are the same, and even within established categories, such as breast cancer, different therapeutics will benefit different individuals.

Advances made in oncology are setting a precedent for whats possible in personalized medicine scenarios in other areas and powerfully impacting what the future of tailored care will mean.

Industry visionaries focusing on other disease states and optimizing treatment outcomes are applying the learnings from cancer precision medicine to their own specialties. Rheumatology is one such field. As the prevalence of autoimmune conditions, currently estimated to affect about 3 percent of the US population, increases, it becomes more critical to address individual cases with effective treatments. Like cancer, the underlying factors and disease progression for autoimmune conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Sjogrens Syndrome vary among those afflicted, and so should the treatment approach.

What makes the promise of precision medicine so appealing to both physicians and patients with autoimmune conditions is that currently, especially for RA, successful treatment response rates to existing therapeutics vary widely and this may be due to physicians taking the one-medication-fits-all approach with first-line therapeutics.

An increase in treatment options for RA has emerged in recent years, particularly when it comesto the development of dozens oftargetedimmunomodulators (TIMs)across five main types of mechanisms of action. However, despite the growing number of TIMs approved to treat RA, drug selection remains a process driven by empirical physician judgment and influenced by insurers drug formulary rules. Phase 3 trials for virtually all RA drugs demonstrate a treatment ceiling whereby approximately 40 percent of patients do not achieve minimal response, and as many as 80 percent do not achieve a major treatment response.

By utilizing a more personalized approach to autoimmune conditions, starting with an accurate diagnosis, physicians can better inform patients and prescribe treatments that hold the most promise for individual symptom relief and in some cases, have the potential to halt disease progression.

Emerging, innovative diagnostic technology promises to change the current trial and errorof assigning treatment protocols for RA, fostering a breakthrough of the treatment response ceiling with drugs that are currently available. Taking a page from oncology, new molecular tests are now a viable option for linking individual patients to the targeted therapy that has the greatest potential for personalized clinical response.

Specific to RA, there are approximately 1.5 million people with the condition in the United States with about 120,000 new diagnoses each year. Targeted biologic therapies in RA are among the largest categories of therapeutic spending in the United States. So, while treatment options are widespread, the key to unlocking the potential of the most effective RA treatment for those affected is in molecular characterization of the synovium the portion of the joints where the drivers of RA damage/progression are present.

These tests, through synovial biopsies, will provide physicians a new approach to the traditional standard of care model. In addition to the obvious benefit of providing more targeted, effective solutions to patients, the tests will also save them time by mitigating repeated trial and error attempts with targeted biologics that leave RA patients without symptom relief while an effective drug is identified. As an example, a study published in Nature Medicine on May 19, 2022, demonstrated that molecular profiling of synovial joint tissue might greatly impact whether certain drug treatments would be effective in treating RA patients.

Furthermore, there is an additional cost benefit: personalized medicine in RA has the potential to reduce billions of dollars spent annually on drugs that do not yield adequate disease control.

Taking a lesson from other disease areas, the potential for innovative diagnostics and a precision medicine approach in treating a variety of autoimmune diseases, including RA, is becoming more and more of a reality and will pave a path to more positive patient outcomes.

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Unlocking the Power of Precision Medicine the Rheumatology Example - Technology Networks

After dodging Covid-19 for nearly 2.5 years I knew my time would come. But after all those conflicting test results, I was stumped.

How to explain the wonky results? I asked some doctors, academics and scientists and heres what they said:

First, testing discrepancies appear to be increasingly common with Omicron and its subvariants, so some common sense comes in handy. If youre like me and living with people with Covid-19 and feel symptoms develop, youre likely developing Covid-19. So even if your tests say otherwise, stay home.

For rapid antigen tests, serial testing is the name of the game. Test every day or every other day for up to a week if you can. Once you get a positive you can be confident in it, even if its a faint line.

In general, PCR tests are more sensitive than rapid antigen tests and will pick up an infection sooner. But even PCR tests can have false negativesthough the rate is less than 1%say doctors and scientists.

My negative PCR test appears to fall into that small group. I noticed the testing site I was using wasnt as thorough. They definitely werent counting the 15 seconds per nostril that I did at home and barely pushed the swab up my nose.

They could also have missed a very faint line if they werent looking carefully.

Anything you require humans to do will have some amount of error," says Gigi Gronvall, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

But its also possible that I experienced rapid viral growth, some doctors and scientists said. So while my morning swab was negative, the virus may have rapidly proliferated in my nose, resulting in my faint positive line eight hours later.

Viruses grow fast," says Dr. Gronvall. They make a lot of themselves when they infect cells and blow them up."

The exact timeline on the tests could also have mattered.

I rushed to the closest express PCR site right after I began to feel the first twinges of a scratchy throat. It was negative. Not surprising since the first symptoms in vaccinated people are often your immune system activating. The next morning, I went to my local testing site for a rapid and PCR test. The rapid was negative.

That afternoon, however, the scratchy throat suddenly felt worse. My head started pounding. I took a Flowflex rapid test: There was a faint line. I wanted to confirm it with a second test. I took a BinaxNow test made by Abbott Laboratories: negative.

I went to bed figuring the PCR result the next day would confirm the worst. Only it also came back negative. I was perplexed.

Over the next day, I took more rapid and PCR tests with mixed results. Eventually, my Covid-19 diagnosis was confirmed on a daily basis with multiple brands of rapid antigen tests over the next week.

Mara Aspinall, a professor of biomedical diagnostics at Arizona State University, says another potential explanation of my results was that there wasnt enough sample in my swab.

I think people dont fully recognize that its not the mucus you want; its the lining of the nose," says Dr. Aspinall, who is on the board of OraSure, a manufacturer of rapid tests. Always blow your nose before a test.

False positive rapid tests are very rare. So you can have confidence in a positive rapid test, no matter how faint the line is, doctors and scientists say. The faint Flowflex test should have been enough confirmation for me.

If youre positive on a PCR or an antigen test you are very, very, very likely to be positive for Covid," says Nathaniel Hafer, assistant professor in the program in molecular medicine at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, who is part of a National Institutes of Health project that conducts lab tests of at-home rapid antigen tests.

Dr. Hafer says false negatives are often due to sampling errors.

Theres a whole lot of things that go from a sample being collected in your nose, transported to the lab, and run by the lab," says Dr. Hafer. The process is pretty robust but weird things happen sometimes."

So how to explain the two different at-home rapid test results taken minutes apart?

Dr. Hafer says the threshold of virus needed to turn a rapid test positive slightly varies between brands, which could explain why a low amount of virus may result in a faint line in one brand and negative in another.

Blythe Adamson, chief executive and founder of Infectious Economics, a New York City-based public-health consulting firm that conducts infection prevention for private businesses, says with BA.5 we have noticed more testing discrepancies than with other variants."

Part of the issue is there are more reinfections and some are happening as early as three weeks after an infection, she says.

Wilbur Lam, who is lead investigator of the National Institutes of Health project monitoring rapid tests sensitivity to Omicron, says his lab has preliminary data indicating that rapid antigen tests are less sensitive with Omicron compared with other variants. Dr. Lam says with Omicron things can change quickly, resulting in disparate test results.

Hours do matter," says Dr. Lam. All of these Omicron subvariants are moving quickly. The windows are suddenly compressed in time."

Another anomaly is happening on the later end of infections, says Dr. Lam. People with negative PCR tests have antigen tests turning positive again.

Rebound infectionswhere antigen tests go from positive to negative back to positiveappear to be happening even in some people who didnt take Paxlovid, the antiviral commonly prescribed to people at risk of severe Covid-19, which can result in rebounds.

Dr. Lam said he personally experienced that with a recent infection despite the fact that he didnt take Paxlovid.

A spokeswoman from Abbott said its assessments, as well as independent researchersstudies, have found that the BinaxNow rapid tests can detect the BA.4 and BA.5 variants with comparable sensitivity as prior variants. Indeed, after my first negative test with Binax it turned up positive in subsequent days.

A representative from ACON Laboratories, the manufacturer of Flowflex, couldnt be reached for comment.

Dr. Adamson says the Flowflex antigen tests appear to be better at detecting the Omicron variants than other brands of rapid tests, which may explain why I got a faint line so early with that brand. It also may explain why I continued to test positive on Flowflex for well over 10 days.

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When to trust your covid test results and when to question them | Mint - Mint

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Dublin, Aug. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Molecular Diagnostics Market Size, Share, Trends, By Product & Services, By Technology, By Application, By End-use and By Region Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global molecular diagnostics market size is expected to reach USD 50.94 Billion in 2030 and register a revenue CAGR of 12.4% over the forecast period, according to the latest report. The rising prevalence of infectious diseases and cancer is anticipated to fuel demand for molecular diagnostic tests.

Molecular diagnostics is a rapidly evolving field in healthcare that uses nucleic acid-based tests to detect and characterize the genetic content of diseases. It helps in the early diagnosis of disease and can guide personalized treatment decisions. Molecular diagnostic tests are used for various applications, including infectious disease testing, oncology testing, genetic testing, and pharmacogenomics.

Key factors boosting global market revenue growth are the rising prevalence of infectious diseases and cancer, the ever-growing geriatric population, and the increasing demand for personalized medicine. The rapidly evolving field of molecular diagnostics is being used in the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of various chronic and infectious diseases such as cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and hepatitis.

The increasing adoption of point-of-care (POC) testing and the development of novel assays are expected to create significant growth opportunities for the molecular diagnostics market. POC testing is convenient and can provide rapid results, which is expected to increase its adoption in the coming years. In addition, the launch of new products and the expansion of existing product portfolios are expected to drive market growth. For instance, in November 2019, Roche launched two new next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels for cancer diagnosis.

The increasing number of regulatory approvals is another major factor driving the growth of the molecular diagnostics market. For instance, in March 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Foundation Medicine's FoundationOne CDx as a complementary diagnostic for all solid tumors. The approval was based on data from a pivotal clinical trial, which showed that the test accurately identified patients who were likely to respond to certain FDA-approved treatments.

The high cost of molecular diagnostics tests is a major factor restraining the growth of the market. Molecular diagnostics tests are expensive, and not all insurance companies cover them. This is expected to hamper the growth of the molecular diagnostics market in the coming years.

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Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

Market Restraints

Time-Consuming Approval Mechanism

Shortage of Trained Medical Personnel

Insufficient Research Funding in Developing Economies

For the purpose of this report, the publisher has segmented the molecular diagnostics market based on product & services, technology, application, end-use, and region:Product & Services Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018-2030)

Reagents & Kits

Instruments

Services & Software

Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018-2030)

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology

DNA Sequencing & Next-generation Sequencing (NGS)

In Situ Hybridization

DNA Microarray

Other Technologies

Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018-2030)

Infectious Diseases

Hepatitis

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Chlamydia Trachomatis / Neisseria Gonorrhoeae(CT/NG)

Healthcare-associated Infections (HAIS)

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Tuberculosis

Influenza

Other Infectious Diseases

Oncology

Breast Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

Lung Cancer

Prostate Cancer

Other Cancers

Genetic Tests

Other Tests

End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018-2030)

Hospitals

Diagnostic Laboratories

Others

Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018-2030)

Key Topics Covered:

Chapter 1. Market Synopsis

Chapter 2. Executive Summary

Chapter 3. Indicative Metrics

Chapter 4. Molecular Diagnostics Market Segmentation & Impact Analysis

Chapter 5. Molecular Diagnostics Market By Product & Services Insights & Trends

Chapter 6. Molecular Diagnostics Market By Technology Insights & Trends

Chapter 7. Molecular Diagnostics Market By Application Insights & Trends

Chapter 8. Molecular Diagnostics Market by End-use Insights & Trends

Chapter 9. Molecular Diagnostics Market Regional Outlook

Chapter 10. Competitive Landscape

Chapter 11. Company Profiles

Companies Mentioned

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/j15zw

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Molecular Diagnostics Market Report 2022-2030: Increasing Adoption of Point-Of-Care (Poc) Testing and the Development of Novel Assays Presents...

A tiny, touch-based sensor uses sweat to detect the level of lithium in the body. Credit: Jialun Zhu and Shuyu Lin

If taken in just the right amount, lithium can alleviate the symptoms of bipolar disorder and depression. Too little wont work, while too much can cause dangerous side effects. Patients must undergo invasive blood tests to precisely monitor the amount of this medication in the body. But today, researchers report the invention of a tiny sensor that detects lithium levels from sweat on the surface of a fingertip in as little as 30 seconds. It is very convenient and doesnt require a trip to the clinic.

The scientists presented their results last week at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS Fall 2022 featured nearly 11,000 presentations on a wide range of science topics.

Not only must lithium be taken at a specific dosage, but patients often struggle to take it as prescribed and may miss pills. This means that when the medication doesnt appear to be working, health care providers need to know how much medication the patient is actually swallowing. However, current options for monitoring have significant drawbacks. For instance, blood draws produce accurate results, but they are invasive and time-consuming. Pill counters, meanwhile, dont directly measure the intake of the medication. To address these limitations, the research team turned to another body fluid.

Although it may not be visible, the human body constantly produces sweat, often only in very small amounts, says Shuyu Lin, Ph.D.. Lin is a postgraduate student researcher who co-presented the work with graduate student Jialun Zhu at the meeting. Small molecules derived from medication, including lithium, show up in that sweat. We recognized this as an opportunity to develop a new type of sensor that would detect these molecules.

Through a single touch, our new device can obtain clinically useful molecular-level information about what is circulating in the body, says Sam Emaminejad, Ph.D., the projects principal investigator, who is at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). We already interact with a lot of touch-based electronics, such as smartphones and keyboards, so this sensor could integrate seamlessly into daily life.

However, devising a sensor to detect lithium presented some technical challenges. Sweat is typically only present in minute amounts, but the electrochemical sensing needed to detect charged particles of lithium required an aqueous, or watery, environment. To provide it, the scientists engineered a water-based gel containing glycerol. This extra ingredient prevented the gel from drying out and created a controlled environment for the electronic portion of the sensor.

The team used an ion-selective electrode to trap the lithium ions after they traversed the gel. Ions accumulate generating a difference in electrical potential compared with a reference electrode. The scientists used this difference to infer the concentration of lithium present in sweat. Together, these components comprise a tiny, rectangular sensor that is smaller than the head of a thumbtack and can detect lithium in around 30 seconds. Although the sensor is still in the preliminary testing phase, ultimately, the research team envisions incorporating it into a larger, yet-to-be-designed system that provides visual feedback to the provider or the patient.

After characterizing the sensor using an artificial fingertip, the researchers recruited real people to test it, including one person on a lithium treatment regimen. The team recorded this persons lithium levels before and after taking the medication. They discovered that these measurements fell close to those derived from saliva, which prior research has shown to accurately measure lithium levels. In the future, the scientists plan to study the effects of lotion and other skin products on the sensors readings.

This technology also has applications beyond lithium. Emaminejad is developing similar touch-based sensors to monitor alcohol and acetaminophen, a painkiller also known by the brand-name Tylenol, while also exploring the possibility of detecting other substances. The complete sensing systems could include additional features, such as encryption secured by a fingerprint, or, for substances that are often abused, a robotic dispensing system that releases medication only if the patient has a low level in their bloodstream.

The research team acknowledges support and funding from the National Science Foundation, Brain and Behavior Foundation, Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Underserved Populations, and the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

TitleTouch-based non-invasive lithium monitoring using an organohydrogel-based sensing interface

AbstractLithium salt is one of the most widely-used psychiatric medications for individuals with bipolar disorder. Due to its narrow therapeutic window (~ 0.6 1.2 mM) and high nonadherence rate (~ 40%), it needs to be closely monitored to maximize the treatment efficacy. Standard practices of lithium monitoring for precise dosing are confined to centralized hospitals and involve invasive blood draw and high-cost lab-based analysis with long turnaround time. Moreover, currently there is no direct lithium adherence monitoring available, and the indirect monitoring solutions (e.g., pill counters) are incapable of verifying the actual intake event (inherently non-specific).

Overcoming these limitations, here, we developed a touch-based non-invasive lithium monitoring solution for decentralized lithium pharmacotherapy management. This solution is based on a hydrogel coated-sensing interface that collects and analyzes (in-situ) the flux of circulating lithium molecules that partition onto fingertips. This interface was constructed using a thin organohydrogel-coated lithium ion-selective electrode (TOH-ISE), where the TOH coating was specially engineered to render stabilized conditions for sensing. In particular, by adopting a water-glycerol bi-solvent matrix, the gel was endowed with anti-dehydration property (negligible weight loss for > 2 weeks storage in an ambient environment), resolving the dehydration challenge of previously-reported hydrogel-based interfaces. Furthermore, in the devised interface configuration, the TOH coating serves as a controlled micro-environment to condition the ISE in-situ; thus, it minimizes the ISE signal drift (a key challenge prohibiting the translation of ISEs in real-life applications).

To illustrate the clinical utility of our solution, the developed touch-based sensing interface was tested on a patient prescribed with lithium-based medicine, where the elevation of the circulating drug levels after the medicine intake was successfully captured. Collectively, our preliminary results demonstrate the suitability of our touch-based solution for lithium adherence monitoring, and more broadly for managing lithium-based pharmacotherapy.

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Tiny, Touch-Based Sensor Could Help Patients Stay on Top of Their Medications - SciTechDaily

Eighteen new tenure-track faculty members will join the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences this academic year. Their research interests range from how sociocultural contexts may contribute to disordered eating to the impacts of water insecurity in rural communities. They will also explore health inequalities, superconductivity, government performance, and more.

Get to know these talented scholars and educators.

Thelma Zulfawu Abu joins the Department of Geography as an assistant professor. Abu is an environment and health researcher. Her broad research interests include social and ecological production of health and wellbeing at the intersection of global environmental change, environmental health inequalities, and global health equity. With a Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo, Canada, Abu studies water insecurity and its gendered impacts in rural communities and urban informal settlements, as well as its role in emergency preparedness in health systems in Kisumu, Kenya. Before joining UConn, Abu worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto, where her research focused on building resilient and healthy communities by exploring and learning from the COVID-19 experiences of the Black and immigrant communities in the Greater Toronto area.

Renzo de la Riva Agero joins the School of Public Policy as an assistant professor. He obtained his Ph.D. in public policy from the ONeill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the Department of Political Science at Indiana University, Bloomington. His work involves research on local administrative capacity, community-based organizations, collaborative governance, and environmental sustainability. His public administration research assesses how varying local governance conditions in the Global South may explain performance differences between more and less complex services. Using statistical analysis and intensive qualitative fieldwork related to waste management services in Peru, he examines how service-specific municipal administrative capacity, the involvement of locally embedded community organizations, and the contours of cogovernance may affect these performance differences.

Amy Egbert joins the Department of Psychological Sciences as an assistant professor. Egbert is a pediatric psychologist whose research focuses on why children and teens eat the way that they do. She is particularly interested in understanding how sociocultural contexts may contribute to disordered eating in youth from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Loyola University of Chicago and recently completed an NIH T32 postdoctoral fellowship at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

Lea Ferreira dos Santos joins the Department of Physics as a professor. She earned her Ph.D. in theoretical physics from the University of So Paulo, Brazil. She was a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University, Michigan State University, and Dartmouth College. She worked at Yeshiva University for 15 years, where she climbed the ranks to full professor and chair. Her research on many-body quantum systems has been continuously funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Her awards include the Simons Fellow in Theoretical Physics, Outstanding Referee for the American Physical Society, NSF CAREER Award, and member of the U.S. delegation to the 3rd IUPAP International Conference on Women in Physics.

Karolina Heyduk will join the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology as an assistant professor in January 2023. She received her bachelors degrees in economics and biological aspects of conservation from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2011. From there, she went on to complete her Ph.D. at the University of Georgia in the Department of Plant Biology, where she stayed for postdoctoral work until moving to Yale University in 2018 as a Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies Donnelley Fellow. In 2020, she started as an assistant professor at the University of Hawaii at Mnoa and as director of the Joseph F. Rock Herbarium in the School of Life Sciences.

Andy Horowitz joins the Department of History as an associate professor. He also serves as the Connecticut State Historian. A scholar of modern U.S. history, Horowitz is the author of Katrina: A History, 19152015 (Harvard University Press, 2020) and the co-editor of Critical Disaster Studies (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2021). As a public historian, he works to support communities as they engage in acts of collective autobiography. Horowitz was born and raised in New Haven, and before receiving his Ph.D. from Yale University, he was the founding director of the New Haven Oral History Project.

Derek M. Houston joins the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences as a professor. Houston received his doctorate in cognitive psychology from Johns Hopkins University in 2000, focusing on how typically developing infants segment words from fluent speech and recognize words across different talkers. After graduating, he constructed the worlds first laboratory to investigate the speech perception and language skills of deaf infants who receive cochlear implants at Indiana University. Since then, his work supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders has investigated the role of early auditory experience and parent-child interactions on cognitive, linguistic, and social building blocks of language development. He also engages in community-based participatory research aimed at addressing barriers families face in obtaining high-quality early intervention services for their children.

Peter Lavelle joins the Department of History as an associate professor. His research focuses on histories of the environment, agriculture, and science and technology in late imperial and modern China. Lavelle is the author of The Profits of Nature: Colonial Development and the Quest for Resources in Nineteenth-Century China (Columbia University Press, 2020). He is currently writing a book about Chinese agricultural science and rural development in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In recent years, he has received research funding from the American Council of Learned Societies and the Henry Luce Foundation. Before joining the faculty at UConn, he was an associate professor of history at Temple University.

Nelson Maldonado-Torres joins the Department of Philosophy as a professor. He is co-chair of the Frantz Fanon Foundation and President Emeritus of the Caribbean Philosophical Association. He is also Professor Extraordinarious at the University of South Africa and Honorary Professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa. Maldonado-Torres work addresses the decolonial turn in Africana, Caribbean, Latin American, and Latinx philosophical thought. He has published extensively in phenomenology, the theory of religion, the philosophy of race, and the theoretical foundations of ethnic studies. His publications include Against War: Views from the Underside of Modernity (2008) and the co-edited anthology Decolonial Feminism in Abya Yala (2022).

Jonas Miller joins the Department of Psychological Sciences as an assistant professor. Miller received his Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of California, Davis. He is broadly interested in building and testing developmental models of risk, resilience, and thriving in children and adolescents. In his research, Miller examines the effects of social and physical environments on brain development, aging, empathy, and mental health. Miller is also interested in factors that help us to understand which young people are more likely to be vulnerable versus resilient following exposure to adversity. To study these topics, he uses behavioral observations, neuroscience methods (MRI, fNIRS), and community and environmental health measures (air pollution, socioeconomic conditions).

Mars Plater joins the Department of History as an assistant professor. Plater will begin teaching courses in U.S. and environmental history at the Stamford campus in 2023 after a year of working on their book project as an American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Fellow. Plater writes about green spaces of nineteenth-century New York City that were sites of pleasure, struggle, and resistance for the diverse and divided working class. Plater attended Bard College, Brooklyn College, and Rutgers University and has taught courses at Rutgers-Newark, Bard Microcollege, Dickinson College, and CUNY-Queens College.

Camilo Ruiz will join the Department of Anthropology as an assistant professor in January 2023. He is an anthropologist with more than fifteen years of experience in ethnographic and anthropological work in Colombia and the United States. He uses the combined strengths of participatory action research (PAR), anthropology, public health, and the arts to better understand inequalities in urban communities. His dissertation addressed the effects of the new shapes of the HIV and opioids epidemics in Colombia taking as point of departure the experiences of two neglected populations: heterosexual men living with HIV and young men addicted to heroin. He has also conducted extensive research about the dynamics of Latinx communities settling in new growth communities in the U.S. Midwest. His passion for PAR has transformed his teaching into one aligned with pedagogies accessible and attentive to community needs.

Michel Santiago-Martinez (Geo) joins the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology as an assistant professor. Santiago-Martinez is a microbiologist from Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Mxico (UNAM) and The Pennsylvania State University. He is interested in the ecophysiology of archaea and anaerobic bacteria, and how energy status influences their ability to resist environmental stress conditions, such as exposure to oxygen and nutritional starvation. His research goal is to understand the function of anaerobic microorganisms in biogeochemical cycles and host-associated microbiomes. He is also interested in bringing up-to-date knowledge of archaea to the classrooms and outreach activities, as well as promoting more inclusive science through mentoring activities and service initiatives.

Neil Spencer joins the Department of Statistics as an assistant professor. Originally from Canada, he completed his undergraduate degree at Acadia University, a masters degree at University of British Columbia, and his Ph.D. in the Departments of Statistics and Machine Learning at Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to arriving at UConn, he was a postdoctoral research fellow within the Department of Biostatistics in the Harvard School of Public Health. His principal areas of research interest are Bayesian statistics and statistical computation, with applications in forensic science, network science, neuroscience, and medicine.

Pavel Volkov joins the Department of Physics as an assistant professor. He is a condensed matter physicist, specializing in the theory of strongly correlated and quantum materials. He earned his Ph.D. at Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum in Germany, followed by a postdoc at Rutgers University. His work covers topics such as superconductivity, frustrated magnetism, ferroelectricity, and materials with nontrivial topology. One of the most important inspirations behind his work comes from new experimental discoveries. Pavel works closely with several experimental groups around the world. During this academic year, Pavel will be on leave at Harvard University, working on the theory of two-dimensional moire materials, created by stacking single-atomic layers. He also enjoys mentoring students at all levels and bringing cutting-edge science into the classroom.

Jinhai Yu joins the School of Public Policy as an assistant professor. Before coming to UConn, he was a faculty member at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. His research examines how policymakers allocate fiscal resources to improve government performance and accountability, focusing on budgetary politics and policy, fiscal policies of natural disasters, and fiscal transparency and accountability. Jinhai earned a Ph.D. in public policy and administration from the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Kentucky in 2018.

Georgia Zarkada will join the Department of Physiology and Neurobiology as an assistant professor in January 2023. She studied medicine in Athens, Greece and obtained her Ph.D. in vascular biology from the University of Helsinki in Finland. Her research aims to understand how blood and lymphatic vessels grow and form functional networks during development and in human diseases. Most recently, as a postdoctoral researcher at Yale University, she identified tissue-specific mechanisms required for the vascularization of the mouse neuroretina. Zarkada is a recipient of a K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award from the National Eye Institute.

Note: Lindsay Butler-Trump will also join the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences as an assistant professor in January 2023.

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Stellar Scholars Join CLAS Faculty - UConn Today - University of Connecticut

Newswise NEW ORLEANS, La. Ochsner Health, through its Precision Medicine Program, is the first in the nation to incorporate Epics Orders and Results Anywhere integration with its Genomics module. Through Epics partnership with Tempus, which analyzes cancer cells to understand a patients disease at the molecular level, Ochsner physicians can now seamlessly order tests and access discrete biomarkers within the patients electronic health record (EHR) to offer highly personalized cancer treatment options.

This integration greatly enriches the precision care we provide to patients with cancer, said Marc Matrana, MD, MSc, FACP, Medical Director of Precision Medicine at Ochsner Health. Through efficient, streamlined access to discrete genomics data, we can determine a patients unique cancer and tailor treatment for the best possible outcome.

With the click of a button, Ochsner physicians can order a genomic test to identify a patients actionable genomic variants and therapeutic options, including matched clinical trials. This information flows directly into Epic, providing a single view of the patients genomic and clinical information.

The new integration will significantly reduce the amount of time clinicians spend ordering such tests and reviewing results, enabling them to make near real-time, data-driven decisions.

Weve found that these EHR integrations significantly reduce the amount of time physicians spend ordering and reviewing our clinical tests and reports, and as a result spend more time with their patients, equipped with the data needed to make informed treatment decisions, said James L. Chen, MD, Senior Vice President of Cancer Informatics at Tempus. We are thrilled to work with the forward-thinking team at Ochsner to apply this innovative approach in improving outcomes for their patients.

Epic is the most widely used comprehensive health record, and Ochsner relies on it to support a single integrated system across its 47 hospitals and hundreds of clinics across the Gulf South. Clinicians at any hospital on the Epic system can view or access other EHRs, which improves clinician communication and patient care.

"Labs have traditionally sent genetic testing results to providers in PDFs that look nice but dont power precision medicine at the point of care, said Alan Hutchison, Vice President at Epic. The discrete genomic results that Tempus sends back to Ochsner flow directly to patients charts where theyre actionable, not trapped in a PDF report.

For more than 70 years, Ochsner has been dedicated to cancer research and new cancer treatment development, bringing innovations to the fight against cancer with more clinical trials than anywhere else in the region. With a holistic, patient centric approach, Ochsner provides comprehensive care to patients from diagnosis through recovery, including for the most complex and difficult to treat cancers.

Using discrete actionable data to create patient insights is one of Ochsner Information Services guiding principles and this technology will allow us to bring results to our providers in an actionable format to quickly make an impact on patient care. This is another example of how we prioritize patients first initiatives, said Amy Trainor, VP of Clinical Systems, Ochsner Health.

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About Ochsner Health

Ochsner Health is an integrated healthcare system with a mission toServe, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate. Celebrating 80 years in 2022, it leads nationally in cancer care, cardiology, neurosciences, liver and heart transplants and pediatrics, among other areas. Ochsner is consistently named both the top hospital and top childrens hospital in Louisiana by U.S. News & World Report. The not-for-profit organization is inspiring healthier lives and stronger communities. Its focus is on preventing diseases and providing patient-centered care that is accessible, affordable, convenient and effective. Ochsner Health pioneers new treatments, deploys emerging technologies and performs groundbreaking research, including over 700 clinical studies. It has more than 36,000 employees and over 4,600 employed and affiliated physicians in over 90 medical specialties and subspecialties. It operates 47 hospitals and more than 300 health and urgent care centers across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Gulf South; and its cutting-edge Connected Health digital medicine program is caring for patients beyond its walls. In 2021, Ochsner Health treated more than 1 million people from every state and 75 countries. As Louisianas top healthcare educator, Ochsner Health and its partners educate thousands of healthcare professionals annually. To learn more, visit https://www.ochsner.org/.

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Advancing Precision Oncology, Ochsner Health First to Fully Integrate with Tempus and Epic's Genomics Module - Newswise