| AstraZeneca joins UCL to find stem cell cure for diabetic blindness AstraZeneca and UCL researchers look to use stem cells to repair eyesight in rising number of diabetic retinopathy patientsAstraZeneca and University College London (UCL) will announce a research partnership tomorrow to develop medicines that use stem cells to repair damaged eyesight in people with diabetes.Under the three-year deal funded by the drugmaker, researchers from AstraZeneca will team up with scientists at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology to work on new medicines that use the regenerative capacity of stem cells. They hope to come up with a compound in three to five years, which could then undergo clinical development and possibly be on the market in 10 years' time.Dr Marcus Fruttiger of the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, who is leading the project, said: "These tools could be used either to manufacture transplantable material or to directly stimulate new cell growth in the eye to help restore or improve the vision of those with diabetic retinopathy [DR]."DR is now the most common cause of vision impairment or blindness among western people of working age. The majority of patients with type-1 diabetes, which occurs when the body produces no insulin and often develops during the teenage years, will suffer eyesight problems and about 20%-30% will become blind. Moreover, at least 50% of patients with type-2 diabetes – the far more common type of diabetes, which occurs when the body produces too little insulin or when cells in the body do not react properly to insulin – will also develop retinopathy over time.With the rapid spread of type-2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity, the need for a retinopathy treatment will grow as more than 438 million people are expected to suffer from diabetes by 2030. A study published this year by Oxford University predicted that eight out of 10 men and almost seven in 10 women will be overweight or obese by 2020. It forecast a 98% rise in obesity-related diabetes by 2050.Alan Lamont, director of sciences and technology alliances at AstraZeneca. said: "We're getting very keen on the whole area of regenerative medicines and they will be part of our research development over the next few years." He said the collaboration aimed to come up with a treatment that could be administered to the back of the eye to repair damage locally.AstraZeneca's US rival Pfizer also has a partnership with Professor Pete Coffey of the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, for another eye condition, macular degeneration. Coffey said: "It's great that 'Big Pharma' is considering regenerative medicines as a serious possibility." He added: "This is British science being developed into a commercial entity with the pharmaceutical industry. It's a good example why the government shouldn't cut funding for biomedical research."While this is the first time that AstraZeneca has worked on medicine for retinopathy, diabetes has been an area of focus. The company has a new diabetes treatment on the market called Onglyza, which was developed with Bristol-Myers Squibb, and the companies are developing a second diabetes drug that could be submitted to regulators for approval later this year.AstraZenecaPharmaceuticals industryDiabetesHealthHealthcare industryJulia Kolleweguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Would you like to interview David Attenborough? The Observer is offering you the chance to put your questions to the respected naturalist and broadcasterDavid Attenborough is an OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FZS, FSA – essentially, an honoured member of every smart, questing geographical society that has been quite staggered and delighted over the past 50 years to find this tireless, charming, courteous 84-year-old ambassador for the fascinators of the natural world doing their job for them better than they ever could.He and his crews have, essentially, given us an understanding of all the mad good bits of our world; and done so with a subtle mix of old wisdom and achingly cutting-edge new technology. If television had never been invented, this would be the stuff we wept at it never having been invented for.He also, in case you didn't know, saved BBC2. Appointed as controller when it was frankly moribund in the early 1960s, he introduced Call My Bluff, The Old Grey Whistle Test and, winningly, televised snooker. He also happens to have a fine older brother, as all the best people do. Richard "Dickie" Attenborough is one of the finest character actors ever.David, 84, is at it again next month, in First Life, with his beloved BBC Wildlife Unit, where he explores the lives of the world's very first animals. He has also agreed to take questions, from Observer readers, for an interview that will run next month. Straight questions, silly questions: all, apparently, welcome. Personally, I'd want to ask one stupid question, four semi-decent.1) Newton had his apple. Archimedes had his bath. Was there one perfect moment when, suddenly, you realised something?2) Animals or people: which do you prefer?3) Of which achievement are you most proud? Of which species are you most proud?4) What counts, for you, as boredom?5) In a fight between a shark and a gorilla and a GIANT locust, 7ft tall and all its muscles and stuff multiplied 8,000 times or whatever, who would win?I am beyond sure that you, our readers, can do better. Good luck, little duck. All the best, hornets' nest. Lucky dice, pretty mice. I'll shut up now. HOW YOU CAN PUT YOUR QUESTIONS TO DAVID ATTENBOROUGHQuestions should be sent to readers.newreview@observer.co.uk by the end of Tuesday 28 September or tweet them to @ObsNewReview BiologyTelevisionEuan Fergusonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Russian spacecraft damaged during transportation By 2010-10-07T10:54:26ZBAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (AP) -- Russia's space agency chief says that a spacecraft that is used to ferry crew to the international space station in December has been damaged during transportation by rail.... hosted.ap.org |
[press release] New space research settles years of scientific debate New space research published this week (Thursday 21 October) in the journal Nature, has settled decades of scientific debate. Researchers from the University of California (UCLA) and British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have found the final link between electrons trapped in space and the glow of light from the upper atmosphere known as the diffuse aurora. The research will help us understand &lsqu... antarctica.ac.uk |
[news] Antarctic Artist performs in London and Nottingham In 2009 artist Chris Dobrowolski visited Antarctica on the British Antarctic Survey Artists and Writers Programme. Since his return he has been performing his one-man show at venues across the country where he recounts his visit to the frozen continent with photographs, film and anecdotes. Chris has two performances this month — at the Chelsea Theatre, in London on 6th November and at the ... antarctica.ac.uk |