Archive for Spinal Muscular Atrophy News Stories – Page 2

2011: A ‘Breakthrough Year’ for SMA Research

Posted: July 21st, 2011 | By: Staff | 2 Comments

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

The medical community has recently seen rapid advancements in the efforts to produce an SMA cure. At our 2011 Annual Conference, Dr. Chris Lorson (University Missouri-Columbia; Science Director at FightSMA) and Dr. Alex MacKenzie (University of Ottawa and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario; Co-Chair of the FightSMA Scientific Advisory Committee) discussed the “breakthrough year” that was 2011, and shared their hopes for the promising and progressive future of SMA research.

If you have questions or concerns about the information provided here, please contact FightSMA.

(Special thanks to Rich Bailey and Metro Video Productions.)

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Categories : FightSMA Articles, FightSMA News, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Events, Spinal Muscular Atrophy News Stories, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Science and Research, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Videos, Webisodes

Experts from leading universities, institutions to gather at FightSMA Annual Conference

Posted: April 1st, 2011 | By: Caroline Gibson | 2 Comments

Friday, April 1st, 2011

Many Experts. One Day. One Dream. Join Us.

FightSMA is pleased to invite you, our treasured friends in the SMA community,

to join us on Thursday, May 5th, 2011 for a monumental, first-ever event.

On Thursday May 5, 2011, experts from the most prestigious universities and institutions in the country will gather together for the Thriving with SMA: LIVE! panel. The panel will be available to in-person attendees in addition to being broadcast live to participants on the web.

Below is a complete list of experts and their respective institutions.

Pulmonologists and Respiratory Specialists

Dr. Mary Schroth – University of Winsconsin
Dr. Richard Kravitz – Duke University
Dr. Nanci Yuan – Stanford University
Brian Weaver – University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

Orthopedists

Dr. John Smith – University of Utah
Dr. Craig Eberson – University Orthopedics Rhode Island
Dr. Brian Snyder – Harvard University
Dr. John Grayhack – Children’s Memorial Hospital

Nutritionists

Rebecca Hurst – University of Utah
Erin Seffrood – University of Wisconsin
Barbara Godshall – Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Clinical Trial/Neurologists

Dr. Kathryn Swoboda – University of Utah
Dr. Sandy Reyna – University of Utah
Dr. Carolina Tesi-Rocha – Children’s National
Dr. Bob Leshner – Rady Children’s Hospital and the University of California- San Diego
Dr. Ching Wang – Stanford University
Dr. Alex Mackenzie – Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
Dr. Richard Finkel – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Please join us on Thursday, May 5 at 9:00AM EST for the Thriving with SMA: LIVE! Panel.

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Categories : FightSMA Articles, FightSMA News, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Events, Spinal Muscular Atrophy News Stories, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Science and Research

Enzo Biochem Unit Launches First-to-Market Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) Protein Immunoassay System

Posted: March 16th, 2011 | By: Caroline Gibson | No Comments

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

View FightSMA’s legacy and funded assay by clicking here.

FARMINGDALE, NY and NEW YORK, NY – March 15, 2011 – Enzo Biochem, Inc. and the Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Foundation today announced that Enzo’s wholly owned subsidiary, Enzo Life Sciences Inc., has launched a unique immunoassay (ELISA) system which can be used for the identification and detection of Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein. The kit is the result of a collaborative agreement between Enzo and the SMA Foundation.for the development of reagents and assays for SMN protein. The availability of an effective SMN ELISA could further enable and expedite drug discovery, development and therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, the leading genetic cause of mortality in infants and toddlers.

SMA is a genetic, neuromuscular disease caused by progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the spinal cord that leads to muscular weakness and atrophy and increased risk for early death due to respiratory failure. It is estimated that SMA affects approximately 1 in 6,000 to 1 in 10,000 live births worldwide. The disease is linked to a mutation in or deletion of the SMN1 gene, resulting in reduced levels of SMN protein. An active area of therapeutics development has been elevation of SMN protein levels.

“The SMN ELISA kit addresses a critical gap in SMA research and is expected to significantly accelerate SMA therapeutics development. Development and distribution of this system could not happen without the successful collaboration with Enzo and contributions from the SMA research community,” said Karen Chen, Ph.D., the Chief Scientific Officer of the SMA Foundation.

The Enzo SMN ELISA Kit provides a reliable and widely-accessible means for researchers to measure SMN protein levels, and greatly simplifies and accelerates efficacy assessment of potential drugs in clinical trials that are designed to increase SMN protein levels. The assay has been validated for use with human and mouse cell lysates and tissue homogenates, such as peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) lysates, and will be marketed through Enzo’s worldwide sales and marketing group.

“During the assay development, the SMA Foundation facilitated the supply of assay kits to affiliated researchers in the US and abroad. This allowed us to validate the assay in-house while simultaneously receiving valuable feedback about assay specifications, performance, and protocols from scientists who will ultimately be using the kits in their studies,” said Wayne Patton Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Enzo Life Sciences. “Our custom assay development team continues to work with the SMA Foundation to expand the utility of the kit to include additional sample types and protocols relevant to SMA research programs and model systems, which should add further value to the assay in the marketplace.”

About Enzo Biochem

Enzo Biochem, Inc., is a growth-oriented integrated life sciences and biotechnology company focused on harnessing biological process to develop research tools, diagnostics and therapeutics, and serves as a provider of test services, including exotic tests, to the medical community. Since our founding in 1976, our strategic focus has been on the development of enabling technologies in the life sciences field. Enzo Life Sciences develops, produces and markets proprietary labeling and detection products for gene sequencing, genetic analysis and immunological research, among others. Its catalog of over 30,000 products serves the molecular biology, drug discovery and pathology research markets worldwide. Enzo Clinical Labs provides laboratory services for a growing roster of physicians in the New York Metropolitan area, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Its tests include, in addition to routine tests, capabilities for detecting molecular infection disease, molecular oncology, autoimmune disorders and genetics. Enzo Clinical Labs also provides clinical diagnostic services that allow Enzo to capitalize on its extensive advanced molecular and cytogenetic capabilities and the broader trends in predictive and personalized diagnostics. Enzo Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical venture that has developed multiple novel approaches in the areas of gastrointestinal, infectious, ophthalmic and metabolic diseases. It has focused its efforts on developing treatment regimens for diseases and conditions for which current treatment options are ineffective, costly, and/or cause unwanted side effects. In the course of the company’s research and development activities, Enzo has also developed a substantial portfolio of intellectual property asset with patent coverage across a number of key technologies.

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this news release may be considered “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include declarations regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management, including those related to cash flow, gross margins, revenues, and expenses are dependent on a number of factors outside of the control of the company including, inter alia, the markets for the Company’s products and services, costs of goods and services, other expenses, government regulations, litigations, and general business conditions. See Risk Factors in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2010. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could materially affect actual results. The Company disclaims any obligations to update any forward-looking statement as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

About the SMA Foundation

Founded in 2003, the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating progress towards a treatment and cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy through targeted funding of clinical research and novel drug development efforts. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded over $75 million for SMA research. In addition, the Foundation is committed to raising awareness and generating support for increased research efforts in SMA among the leaders of industry and government.

For more information on the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation, please visithttp://www.smafoundation.org.

###

Contact:
For: Enzo Biochem, Inc.
Steven Anreder, 212-532-3232
or
CEOcast, Inc.
Michael Wachs, 212-732-4300
For: SMA Foundation
Call 646-253-7100
researchtools@smafoundation.org

For: SMA Foundation
Call 646-253-7100
researchtools@smafoundation.org

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Categories : FightSMA Articles, FightSMA News, Spinal Muscular Atrophy News Stories, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Science and Research

iPad opens the world for disabled individuals

Posted: November 2nd, 2010 | By: Staff | No Comments

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

A great article was recently published in the New York Times about how technology, specifically Apple’s iPad, is turning out to be a great tool for disabled individuals. The article cites the example of seven year old Owen Cain, who has SMA. Here’s an excerpt:

Owen, 7, does not have the strength to maneuver a computer mouse, but when a nurse propped her boyfriend’s iPad within reach in June, he did something his mother had never seen before.

He aimed his left pointer finger at an icon on the screen, touched it — just barely — and opened the application Gravitarium, which plays music as users create landscapes of stars on the screen. Over the years, Owen’s parents had tried several computerized communications contraptions to give him an escape from his disability, but the iPad was the first that worked on the first try.

The article gives a number of other examples of how the iPad is turning out to be a great tool for the disabled. Read the rest here!

EDIT:

Good news! We found that the New York Times created a video package for this story. Watch it here:

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Categories : Spinal Muscular Atrophy News Stories

Living beyond boundaries

Posted: March 19th, 2010 | By: Staff | No Comments

Friday, March 19th, 2010

A look at three people who were recently profiled in their local newspapers and who are living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

Kyle Vezzaro

Kyle Vezzaro

Kyle Vezzaro loves basketball. He loves it so much that in addition to his college courses, he has two basketball-related jobs: team manager for the Carleton University men’s basketball team and assistant coach for the Ottawa Guardsmen boys team. He says that the players “often do a double-take” at first, but that is probably due to the power wheelchair that Kyle depends on to get around. He has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and while the muscle weakness it causes may slow him down, it hasn’t stopped him. With regards to coaching, Kyle says, “I just need to find new ways to explain things. But that’s the fun part of the game.”

Click here to read the article about Kyle Vezzaro.

Yew Leong

Yew Leong

Yew Leong is not an average high school student. Born in Singapore, his family lived in Australia and in New Jersey before settling in Colorado. He excels in the advanced level classes of his school’s International Baccalaureate Program. He did an internship with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And, he was diagnosed with SMA when he was just six months old. This means that Yew must rely on assistance – both human and machine – to complete daily tasks and to fulfill his larger goals. Yew wants to attend Berkeley for college and study biochemistry in hopes of someday finding a cure for his disease.

Click here to read the article about Yew Leong.

Sarah Cheung

Sarah Cheung

When she was diagnosed with SMA at nine months of age, Sarah Cheung’s parents were told she wasn’t expected to live beyond the age of three. Now, she is finishing up high school and making plans for when she starts college in the fall. In between her duties as a volunteer tutor and her fundraising efforts to help send disabled children to camp, Sarah found time to serve as a Paralympic torchbearer. As Sarah Cheung puts it, “everything is possible. There are no boundaries.”

Click here to read the article about Sarah Chueng.

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Categories : Spinal Muscular Atrophy Families and Friends, Spinal Muscular Atrophy News Stories

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