gene therapy news stories on Newser

Scientists Cure Red-Green Color Blindness in Monkeys

Nick McMaster — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:36:28 CDT

Scientists have cured red-green color blindness in monkeys, the Times of London reports. Researchers injected a virus containing L opsin, a gene that regulates the production of the red-sensitive light receptor—known as a “cone”—into the retina of red-green colorblind adult monkeys, according to a study published in Nature...

Cancer Treatment May Have Cured Man's AIDS

Katherine Thompson — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:03:45 CST

A German doctor has inspired hope for a new approach to AIDS treatment with his handling of a leukemia case, the Wall Street Journal reports. Because the patient also had AIDS, Gero Hütter looked for a bone marrow donor with a specific mutation that seems to stymie the HIV virus....

Genetic Hiccup Causes Obesity In Mice: Study

Harry Kimball — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:07:37 CDT

Scientists have discovered an immune system pathway in the brain that they think is the root cause of diseases related to obesity, Reuters reports. When mice were overfed, the hypothalamus secreted a compound that suppressed the conversion of food into energy, and led to inflammation associated with heart disease and...

Gene Breakthrough Aids Blind

Peter Fearon — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:42:47 CDT

A rare and incurable congenital disease which causes blindness has been successfully treated for the first time using gene therapy, Reuters reports. Doctors inserted a healthy gene directly into one eye of patients suffering from Leber congenital amaurosis using a genetically engineered cold virus. Patients reported an improvement in their...

Skin Stem Cells Cure Sickle Cell in Mice

Colleen Barry — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 03:28:50 CST

In the latest advance in revolutionary new stem cell research, scientists have cured sickle-cell anemia in mice using stem cells made from skin. It's the first proof that such cells can be used to cure hereditary diseases. But because the cure involved the use of viruses to alter DNA, significant...

Gene Therapy for Parkinson's Delivers Major Results

Colleen Barry — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 04:47:14 CST

New evidence indicates that the first gene therapy for Parkinson's disease has achieved measurable success. Brain scans of patients receiving the treatment confirmed significant changes, supporting earlier anecdotal accounts of 65% improvements in mobility and other gains, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of...

Alternative to the Pill Has No Side Effects

Kevin Spak — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:47:11 CDT

Contraception without the nausea, headaches, mood swings, weight gain, or heart attacks? Scientists are developing a non-hormonal patch that would side-step the side effects associated with the Pill by simply blocking a protein that allows sperm to bond with egg, the Telegraph reports. But don’t get too excited—it could...

New Studies Give Hope to Parkinson's Patients

Colleen Barry — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 04:25:32 CDT

Two new experimental treatments for Parkinson's could stop the progress of the devastating disease and allay its symptoms, researchers say. A new study shows gene therapy was successful in boosting production of an enzyme that calms overactive neurons, reducing the jittery effects of the brain disorder.

Bald Take Note: Mice Grow New Hair Follicles

Sarah Levy — Thu, 17 May 2007 08:11:02 CDT

In what could lead to a cure for baldness, scientists have discovered a technique for regrowing hair in an adult mammal for the first time. University of Pennsylvania researchers suceded in stimulating the growth of new skin complete with hair follicles in mice, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.