$51 million for cancer research in US

American Cancer Society awards 143 research grants to investigators at 83 institutions nationwide. Grants total more than $51 million in the second of two cycles for 2009. – The American Cancer Society, the largest non-government, not-for-profit funding source of cancer research in the United States, has awarded 143 national research and training grants totaling more than $51 million in the second of two grant cycles for 2009. The grants go into effect beginning July 1, 2009.

New tools to study H5N1 vaccines for Bird Flu

FDA Researchers Contribute Insights into Avian Flu Virus. Findings could help develop new tests to detect infection; new tools to study H5N1 vaccines. – An in-depth analysis of blood from patients recovering from the H5N1 avian influenza virus has provided important insights into how to combat the potentially lethal virus.

Prostate cancer vaccine Provenge prolongs survival

PROVENGE Significantly Prolongs Survival in Men with Advanced Prostate Cancer in Pivotal Phase 3 IMPACT Study. – Dendreon Corporation (Nasdaq: DNDN) announced that the pivotal Phase 3 IMPACT study of PROVENGE (sipuleucel-T) in men with advanced prostate cancer met its primary endpoint of improving overall survival compared to a placebo control.

Ixiaro to prevent Japanese Encephalitis approved in Europe

European Commission grants marketing authorization for Intercell?s IXIARO, the first licensed vaccine against Japanese Encephalitis for travelers and military personnel in Europe. – Intercell AG (VSE: ICLL) announced that its new vaccine to prevent Japanese Encephalitis, IXIARO, has been approved by the European Commission.

More efforts against drug-resistant TB

World’s Health ministers to accelerate efforts against drug-resistant TB – M/XDR-TB. – Health ministers from countries with the greatest burdens of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) have agreed to a series of actions to accelerate efforts to halt and reverse the global epidemic of the disease.

Tuberculosis TB disease knocking on Australia’s door

Tuberculosis – deadly ancient disease knocking on Australia’s door – Many Australians probably think tuberculosis (TB) is a disease of the past. They are wrong. TB is sitting on Australia’s doorstep, with the fastest growing incidence found in South East Asia.

Cervical cancer screening might safely be delayed after HPV vaccine

Human papillomavirus genotype distribution in New Mexico cervical cancers – DNA from human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV16) and HPV type 18 (HPV18) were found in the majority of invasive cervical cancers in New Mexico in the 1980s and 1990s, according to a population-based study published in the March 24 online issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Education slowing HIV AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa

Increased schooling across sub-Saharan Africa lowering new HIV infections among younger adults. – Increased schooling across sub-Saharan Africa may be lowering new HIV infections among younger adults, according to sociologists, suggesting a shift in a decades-long trend where formal education is considered an AIDS risk factor.

$60 m for tuberculosis and HIV research in South Africa

Einstein researcher will help lead South African Research Institute for tuberculosis and HIV – A groundbreaking partnership between the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in South Africa will establish an international research center focused on making major scientific contributions to the worldwide effort to control the devastating co-epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV and on training a new generation of scientists in Africa.

Enteroviral infection of pancreas causes type 1 diabetes

New study of human pancreases links virus to cause of type 1 diabetes. Key to success is unique availability of relevant organs for research. – A common family of viruses (enteroviruses) may play an important role in triggering the development of diabetes, particularly in children, revealed by researchers.

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