Disease research

Targeting BAFF reduces the development of atherosclerosis

18 June 2018 | By Drug Target Review

The researchers identified that BAFF to have anti-inflammatory properties, which has a positive effect on plaque size and atherosclerosis...

Platypus venom inspires potential new diabetes treatments

18 June 2018 | By Drug Target Review

A metabolic hormone found in the venom and gut of Australia’s iconic platypus will now be investigated for its potential to treat type 2 diabetes...

New evidence sheds light on how Parkinson’s disease may happen

18 June 2018 | By Drug Target Review

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital have identified unexpected new key players in the development of an early onset form of Parkinson’s disease called Parkinsonism.

Genetically engineered bacteria show promise as a new treatment for constipation

15 June 2018 | By Drug Target Review

Researchers have genetically engineered bacteria as a potential new treatment for constipation, the finding is significant in part because there are few approved constipation remedies on the market...

Cancer protein NEDD9 plays a critical role in PAH

14 June 2018 | By Dr Zara Kassam (Drug Target Review)

Study identifies cancer protein as a target for treating fibrosis of the lung arteries with direct implications for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension...

Alpha-synuclein clumps promote Parkinson’s progression

14 June 2018 | By Dr Zara Kassam (Drug Target Review)

Detailed brain cell analysis has helped researchers uncover new mechanisms thought to underlie Parkinson's disease...

New epigenetic drug against Mantle Cell Lymphoma

13 June 2018 | By Drug Target Review

A new study presents an epigenetic drug capable of slowing down cell growth in Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL)...

ANT1 mutation links bipolar disorder to mitochondrial disease

12 June 2018 | By Dr Zara Kassam (Drug Target Review)

Researchers have reported that mitochondrial dysfunction affects the activity of serotonergic neurons in mice with mutations of ANT1...

Expert view: Overcoming the problems of working with human primary hepatocytes

7 June 2018 | By Liz Quinn (Associate Director - Stem Cells Marketing at Takara Bio USA)

Human primary hepatocytes (hpheps) are the gold standard for in vitro evaluation of drug metabolism, drug-drug interactions, and metabolic disease research. However, hpheps don’t survive in standard 2D culture for very long – no longer than two or three days.

Arc protein ‘switch off’ essential for cognitive flexibility

6 June 2018 | By Drug Target Review

An international team of scientists has discovered that memory, learning and cognitive flexibility depend on a 'switch off' of the Arc protein in the brain, which could enable us to better understand and combat neurological diseases that inhibit memory, such as Alzheimer's.

Scientists link inflammatory signalling to atrial fibrillation

6 June 2018 | By Drug Target Review

An international team of scientists have found that interfering with inflammatory signals produced by heart muscle cells might someday provide novel therapeutic strategies for atrial fibrillation.

HIV vaccine elicits antibodies in animals that neutralise dozens of HIV strains

5 June 2018 | By Dr Zara Kassam (Drug Target Review)

NIH study results represent a major advance for structure-based HIV vaccine design...

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EMT activation in tissue growth is also at play in cancer metastasis

1 June 2018 | By Drug Target Review

Scientists in the USA have added a new dimension to the understanding of how cells alter their communication with one another by means of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) during development, wound healing, and the spread of cancer.

Researchers use blood serum markers to develop lupus risk index

1 June 2018 | By Dr Zara Kassam (Drug Target Review)

Researchers have developed an index that identifies the risk for lupus based on the presence and amount of IgG and IgM antibodies and levels of C1q...