MUST READS

A July 20, 2016 The New York Times article reported that “On Wednesday, in what many experts are calling a milestone in neuroscience, researchers published a spectacular new map of the brain, detailing nearly 100 previously unknown regions — an unprecedented glimpse into the machinery of the human mind.” According to the article, “Scientists will rely on this guide as they attempt to understand virtually every aspect of the brain, from how it develops in children and ages over decades, to how it can be corrupted by diseases like Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia.”

A July 20, 2016 The San Diego Union-Tribune article reported that a group of researchers are urging companies to track the outcomes of clinical trial incentives. According to the article, “In addition, non-cash rewards such as iPads, opt-out enrollment in low-risk trials or even guaranteeing patients they will be informed about the clinical trial results should be considered, say a group of researchers who suggest testing these incentives scientifically. In an article published Wednesday in Science Translational Medicine, the researchers present a matrix of these options, their benefits, and potential drawbacks. They urge companies to track the outcomes of these incentives to find out what works best.”

A July 19, 2016 Engadget article reported that “Researchers at Yale University have led development in to a new type of brain scan designed to detect changes in synapses associated with common brain disorders” including Alzheimer’s. According to the article, “To achieve their goal, Dr. Carson and his team developed a new radioactive tracer that binds with a key protein in the synapses of the brain. The tracer is visible through a traditional PET scan and Dr. Carson's team applied a mathematical formula to the results to determine the synaptic density. According to the university, the imaging technique has already been used on both baboon and human subjects, and it has already been used to show lower synaptic density in three patients with epilepsy compared to healthy individuals.”

RESEARCH, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY 

A July 21, 2016 Boston Globe article reported on the “flurry of partnerships” in the pharmaceutical industry. According to the article, “Jounce Therapeutics Inc. did it Tuesday, drawing a $225 million upfront payment from Celgene Corp. to bankroll its immuno-oncology research. Moderna Therapeutics Inc. last month pocketed $200 million from Merck & Co. as part of a licensing deal for Moderna’s personalized cancer vaccines. And in May, serial dealmaker Celgene handed over $200 million to another cancer drug developer, Agios Pharmaceuticals Inc., focused on fixing metabolic irregularities.”

A July 20, 2016 FierceBiotech article reported that “Akili Interactive Labs, the Boston-based startup developing nonpharmacological therapeutics for various cognitive disorders like autism and Alzheimer’s disease, got an $11.9 million boost in funding, raising its total Series B proceeds to $42.4 million.”

A July 20, 2016 ScienceDaily article reported that “A new study has uncovered details of how a type of immune cell helps the brain get rid of the tiny amyloid-beta aggregates that can clump together to form the plaques characteristic of Alzheimer’s.”