WRAL Tech Wire

NCRC researchers tackle genetic causes for severe acne

The MURDOCK Study at the Duke Translational Medicine Institute in Kannapolis is enrolling patients as young as 12 who have been diagnosed with severe acne vulgaris and have been treated with oral isotretinoin, such as Accutane, Amnesteem, Claravis or Sotret.

Genetics firm Precision BioSciences scores patent victory

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has rejected claims from French company Cellectis that alleges that Precision is infringing on a Cellectis patent.

Study: Headphones, music soothe prostate cancer test anxiety

"It's a matter of shifting attention, so the music provides a distraction from the procedure," Dr. Matvey Tsivian, a Duke urologic oncology fellow and lead author of the study, says.

Fla. medical chopper crash raises scrutiny

The crash of a medical helicopter in Florida comes as agencies have been looking at safety for the service nationally.

Opinion: New life sciences cluster report presents skewed view of RTP's activities

The Triangle is outstanding for life sciences whether reports on U.S. markets score it first, last or in the middle.

If recession hits, companies will slash to the bone, CFOs say

"CFOs would slash employment by 8 percent and hack investment spending by 30 percent. And let me emphasize, that is from today's already depressed levels," warns Duke finance professor Campbell Harvey.

Duke students ask Apple CEO - a Dukie - for 'conflict-free' devices

A YouTube video includes Duke students asking Tim Cook, who earned his MBA at Duke, to use "conflict-free minerals" in future production of Apple products.

HIV vaccine is goal of Duke University researchers

Duke's laboratory for AIDS research received a five-year, $24.6 million grant as part of a $37.2 million gift to the university from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Wake Forest 5th, Duke 19th on tech transfer licensing list

2010 was a bit of a bounceback year for U.S. technology transfer programs, as licensing income income inched up 3 percent to $2.4 billion, compared with the prior year.

Gates Foundation awards Duke HIV researchers $37M in grants

A five-year $24.6 million grant goes to director of Duke's Lab for AIDS Vaccine Research. It is a follow-on award to a $31.5 million grant awarded five years ago.

Duke, NC Research Campus expand Alzheimer's study

The data will be combined with data gathered from a similar study by Duke's Joseph and Kathleen Bryan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center in Durham. Data from the studies will be used to try to understand which factors accelerate or delay the cognitive changes people often experience as they get older.

Duke, Durham County win $6M grant to track diabetes

Duke and the Durham County Department of Health and Human Services will receive $6.25 million over five years to develop and implement programs to help people manage type 2 diabetes.

Personalized medicine startup launched by former Duke chancellor raises $3.25M

Massachusetts-based Proventys is seeking to raise more than $5 million. Ralph Snyderman launched the firm in 2004.

Duke wins $25M grant for epilepsy research

Epilepsy affects an estimated 3 percent of people and research points to a genetic basis, which suggests a personalized medicine approach to epilepsy treatments. But few epilepsy-related genes have been found so far.

Duke, Verizon team up for health IT initiative

The agreement pairs Duke's research resources with Verizon Connected Healthcare Solutions, the telecom giant's healthcare practice group. Duke will make available personnel, including research and project management experts. Intellectual property from the university may also be used in the program's initiatives. Verizon's computing infrastructure and staff will be used to develop and test new applications.