News
Rick Myers discusses Supreme Court ruling on gene patents
News Outlet:
The Huntsville Times, al.com
Date published:
June 17, 2013 
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Instead of freezing the market for new genetic products, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision that genes cannot be patented will "bring many more creative minds" to genomic research, the head of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology said Monday. Genes cannot be patented now, Dr. Rick Myers said, but new drugs, tests and technologies based on DNA research can be. It will be easier for innovators to generate those new products, Myers said, without having to deal with company patents on the genes needed for their work.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala -- One of the world’s favorite confections – chocolate – may be improving at its basic ingredient thanks in part to research from the HudsonAlpha Genome Sequencing Center. HudsonAlpha, in partnership with MARS, Inc., the USDA, IBM and Clemson, Indiana and Washington State universities, is learning more about the cacao genome and sharing that knowledge to improve the way breeders and farmers harvest the crop.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- A group of “stealthy” individuals led by Danny Windham, chief executive officer of Digium, revealed its mutual hand last night when the Lonnie McMillian Inspiring Excellence Fund was announced at the annual HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology fund raising event. “The idea of a non-profit institute for biotechnology here in Huntsville was Lonnie’s vision,” said Windham, “and proceeds from the fund will help recruit and retain the very best researchers to HudsonAlpha.” Initial gifts to the fund total $2.5 million.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. and BURLINGTON, N.C. -- “Educational outreach at HudsonAlpha aims to deliver creative, hands-on educational experiences that raise student comprehension and build teacher confidence,” said Neil Lamb, Ph.D., director of educational outreach at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. The value of educational kits designed by Lamb and his staff at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology has been acknowledged by an executed agreement with Carolina Biological Supply Company. According to Lamb, Carolina will promote and broadly distribute institute-branded, hands-on experiments and resources.
HUNTSVILLE, ALA. -- The genetic research that goes on at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology can seem complicated, the stuff of lofty science journals. A photography exhibit the institute recently commissioned, however, shows that work in a different light. It's Aidan, who recently lost his first tooth, and Brandon, who has a great sprinkle of freckles across his face. It's Sarah with her wide smile and brown eyes.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- EGEN, Inc. today announced that it has recently initiated a Phase I clinical trial of its novel immunotherapy agent, EGEN-001, in combination with PEGylated liposomal Doxorubicin or Lipodox for the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer. The EGEN-sponsored trial is conducted by a network of researchers led by Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) at member institutions under an agreement between the GOG and EGEN, Inc. Premal Thaker, M.D., M.S., of Washington University School of Medicine, is the Study Chair for the trial.
Nearly 130 educators from northern and central areas of Alabamaattended the February Genetic Resources Empowering Alabama Teachers workshop offered by HudsonAlpha. “Those who participated in the workshop received classroom kits with hands-on exercises in chromosomal arrangements, protein folding and the relationships between DNA, RNA and functional proteins,” said Madelene Loftin, HudsonAlpha biotechnology education specialist.