ReNeuron OK’d for world’s first stem cell trial for strokes

The UK's ReNeuron has been given a regulatory green light to launch the world's first human trial of a stem cell therapy for...

Georgia officials map out Atlanta R&D complex

Economic development officials in Georgia are hoping to trigger something of a biotech boom in southwest Atlanta with the creation of a 170-acre research park in the redeveloped Fort McPherson. The park could be anchored by a research center and marketed as an R&D complex for "vaccine development, regenerative medicine, cardiovascular research, and neuroscience," according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. And a fully developed complex could lure 7,000 biotech...

Pfizer and Merck signal deep cuts in R&D groups

Pfizer and Merck have begun to spell out exactly where the axe will fall as they each absorb a big new acquisition into their organizations. According to Pharmalot, Pfizer has told New Jersey officials that 400 people at Wyeth's old Monmouth Junction research center are getting the pink slip at the end of this month. And Merck will eliminate 500 jobs--mostly sales and administrative positions--from Schering-Plough's old headquarters in Kenilworth. These layoffs are just the beginning, of...

GE Foundation Grant to AmeriCares Expands Access to Better Healthcare For More Than 250 Clinics Nationwide

In an effort to increase Americans' access to quality healthcare across the country, the GE Foundation, the philanthropic organization of GE, has awarded a $650,000 grant to AmeriCares, expanding the reach of GE's Developing Health program. Developing Health is a 3-year, $25 million commitment that provides grant funding and employee engagement to selected healthcare centers across the United States, focusing on delivering primary care and access to quality...

Rising Mortality In Lower Income People With Diabetes Despite Drop In Overall Rate

While mortality from diabetes has declined in Canada, the income-related mortality gap is increasing, with lower income groups faring worse than higher income groups, according to a new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). Globally, diabetes is associated with a two-fold increase in mortality, with most of those deaths due to cardiovascular issues. Survival for people with diabetes has improved over the last 10 years, partly because of better diabetes care and a reduction...

State of Vermont implements Upp Technology’s emergency management software

Upp Technology, a global provider of IT staffing services, implemented its irms|EM™ (Emergency Management) software for the State of Vermont within three weeks of selection of the solution. The software helped the State’s RSS (Receive, Stage, & Store) Warehouse become operational following just one day of training and distribute more than 2,000 piece of H1N1 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) inventory to hospitals throughout the...

Kidney drug plan divides transplant and dialysis supporters

The New York Times: "A Congressional proposal to help pay for drugs needed by transplant recipients to prevent rejection of donated kidneys has run into opposition from dialysis providers, drug companies and the National Kidney Foundation." The groups support extending Medicare drug coverage but say the measure would cut funding for...