July « 2014 « Science and Enterprise

Zero-Gravity, Tropical Institute Partner on Food Security

By Alan, on July 24th, 2014%

Mizuna lettuce grown on the International Space Station in 2010 (NASA.gov)

24 July 2014. Zero Gravity Solutions Inc. and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) are collaborating on implementing technologies originally developed for the U.S. space program to improve food security in Africa and other tropical regions. Financial terms of the agreement were . . . → Read More: Zero-Gravity, Tropical Institute Partner on Food Security

Student Designs Simple Water Filter, Seeks Crowdfunding

By Alan, on July 24th, 2014%

Jeremy Nussbaumer takes a drink from a bottle with a DrinkPure filter. (ETH Zurich)

24 July 2014. An engineering student at ETH Zurich, a science and technology university in Switzerland, designed a simple, inexpensive water filter to bring drinking water to developing countries that lack reliable clean water sources. Jeremy Nussbaumer developed the . . . → Read More: Student Designs Simple Water Filter, Seeks Crowdfunding

Company, Institute Studying Youth Lung Cancer Genomes

By Alan, on July 23rd, 2014%

Barbara Gitlitz (University of Southern California)

23 July 2014. Foundation Medicine, a company providing genome-based personalized cancer diagnostics, and Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute are studying the genomes of younger lung cancer patients to uncover differences in their cancer and identify therapies for this population. Financial terms of the collaboration were not disclosed.

Dust Mite Allergy Vaccine Developed, Animal Tested

By Alan, on July 23rd, 2014%

House dust mite (FDA.gov)

23 July 2014. Researchers at University of Iowa in Iowa City developed a vaccine, which in lab mice generates antibodies that protect against dust mite allergens. The team led by Iowa pharmacy professor Aliasger Salem published its findings in this month’s issue of AAPS Journal.

Dust mites are microscopic-sized . . . → Read More: Dust Mite Allergy Vaccine Developed, Animal Tested

Trial Shows Herpes Simplex Therapy Generates Immune Response

By Alan, on July 22nd, 2014%

Herpes simplex viruses (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

21 July 2014. An intermediate stage clinical trial of an immunotherapy by Genocea Biosciences to fight herpes simplex virus 2 — the main cause of genital herpes — shows the treatment generates an immune system response to the disease that lasts an entire year. . . . → Read More: Trial Shows Herpes Simplex Therapy Generates Immune Response

Spin-Off Company Developing Cardiac Drug Tests

By Alan, on July 22nd, 2014%

Helen Maddock (InoCardia)

22 July 2014. A medical researcher at Coventry University in the U.K. is spinning-off a new company to commercialize her research on cardiac drug toxicity for screening new therapies for dangerous side effects before testing on patients. Helen Maddock, a lecturer in cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology, is starting InoCardia to . . . → Read More: Spin-Off Company Developing Cardiac Drug Tests

Farm Survey Drone System Seeks Crowdfunding Support

By Alan, on July 21st, 2014%

StitchCam drone aircraft (PutDronesToWork.org)

21 July 2014. A system that combines an aerial drone with Android tablet and software designed to survey a grower’s crop fields is seeking crowdfunding contributors. The StitchCam system by San Diego start-up SNAP Vision Technologies LLC is the subject of a Kickstarter campaign, but needs to raise more . . . → Read More: Farm Survey Drone System Seeks Crowdfunding Support

Orphan Status Assigned to Kidney Disorder RNA Therapy

By Alan, on July 21st, 2014%

Cross-section of kidney (National Library of Medicine)

21 July 2014. Regulus Therapeutics Inc. in San Diego says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration designated its RNA therapy for Alport syndrome, a rare genetic kidney disease, an orphan drug. The therapy, code-named RG-012, shows promise in preclinical studies, including with lab mice.

Alport syndrome . . . → Read More: Orphan Status Assigned to Kidney Disorder RNA Therapy

Robotic Device Provides Extra Fingers to Enhance Human Grip

By Alan, on July 18th, 2014%

Faye Wu wears the supernumerary robotic fingers (Melanie Gonick, MIT)

18 July 2014. Engineers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology designed a glove-like robotic device that adds two more fingers and coordinates with a person’s hand to help with manual activities. Mechanical engineering professor Harry Asada and graduate student Faye Wu discussed the device . . . → Read More: Robotic Device Provides Extra Fingers to Enhance Human Grip

U.S. Energy, Ag Depts Fund Genomic Research for Biofuels

By Alan, on July 18th, 2014%

Flowering sorghum (Agricultural Research Service/USDA)

18 July 2014. The U.S. energy and agriculture departments are funding 10 new studies that aim to improve plant feedstocks for biofuels and other bio-based products. Department of Energy (DoE) is contributing $10.6 million in 2014, while Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adding $2 million. The studies run . . . → Read More: U.S. Energy, Ag Depts Fund Genomic Research for Biofuels

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