Astronomer Vera Rubin was captivated by the stars as a child in D.C.
The young mother stood before an imposing panel of scientists, nervous about leaving her newborn for the first time but determined to present her thesis about the astronomical center of creation.
'Then one by one many angry sounding men got up to tell me why I could not do 'that',' Vera C. Rubin wrote about the way she was treated by the American Astronomical Society at its December 1950 meeting.
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Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Breakthrough T1D Joins Diabetes Leaders at the American Diabetes Association 85th Scientific Sessions to Highlight Research Advancements
NEW YORK, June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Breakthrough T1D, formerly JDRF, the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, gathered with researchers, diabetes professionals, and other leaders in T1D at the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) 85th Scientific Sessions, where Breakthrough T1D scientists, clinicians, and Breakthrough T1D-funded researchers presented research results and led crucial conversations that will improve the lives of people with T1D while driving toward cures for the disease. Held June 20-23 in Chicago, Illinois, the ADA Scientific Sessions is one of the largest diabetes conferences in the world. Breakthrough T1D-supported research has been highlighted at this annual event since the organization started funding research in the 1970s. "The American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions highlights the latest advancements in type 1 diabetes research and treatments from the brightest minds in the field and demonstrates the tremendous progress being made on the path to cures for the disease," said Breakthrough T1D CEO Aaron Kowalski, Ph.D. "While we know that the burden of living with type 1 diabetes is substantial, I'm encouraged each year by the collective innovation and commitment presented at the conference. As the leader in type 1 diabetes research, Breakthrough T1D is proud to fund and support so many of the scientists and experts who are driving the critical research needed to accelerate breakthroughs that will improve the lives of those living with type 1 diabetes and one day allow us to walk away from the disease." Breakthrough T1D leaders participated in several presentations and panel discussions, presenting important data and perspectives about Breakthrough T1D's mission priority areas and the research advancements that benefit those with T1D. Breakthrough T1D Chief Scientific Officer Sanjoy Dutta, Ph.D., spoke about cell therapies, Breakthrough T1D Research Director Jonathan Rosen, Ph.D., led a session on cardiovascular complications in T1D, Breakthrough T1D Vice President of Medical Affairs, Anastasia Albanese-O'Neill, Ph.D., APRN, CDCES, participated in a panel about women in diabetes professions, and Breakthrough T1D Research Scientist, Courtney Ackeifi, Ph.D., presented Breakthrough T1D's perspective at the Symposium ADJUnct Semaglutide Treatment in Type 1 Diabetes (ADJUST-T1D) Trial Outcomes. Other Breakthrough T1D leaders presented at poster sessions and events surrounding the conference that covered health policy issues in T1D, ways to include the patient voice and expand clinical trial participation, the promise of cell therapies, the importance of the Special Diabetes Program, a federally funded program that provides $160 million annually for T1D research, and more. Key research highlights from the sessions include: Vertex Pharmaceuticals shared additional results on the phase I/II clinical trial of zimislecel, also known as VX-880, their manufactured islet cell therapy that requires immunosuppression. All 12 participants with T1D who received the full dose of cells eliminated severe hypoglycemic events and had an HbA1c hemoglobin level of less than 7%, meeting the trial's primary endpoints. These individuals achieved more than 70% of time in the target glucose range within 6 months and improved further at the 365-day mark. Notably, 10 of the 12 participants (83%) achieved insulin therapy independence and were not using exogenous insulin at day 365. Breakthrough T1D's support for Doug Melton, whose proprietary lab-created beta cells are now being advanced by Vertex, goes back decades. Sana Biotechnology gave an update on the individual with T1D who received a transplant of deceased donor islets that were gene-edited with Sana's Hypoimmune (HIP) technology. HIP technology makes the cells immune-evasive, meaning they are not destroyed by the body's immune system. This therapy does not require the use of immunosuppressives. According to the six-month data, the transplanted islets are safe and well-tolerated, remain undetected by the immune system, and continue to make insulin in response to high blood glucose levels. Sana is working toward applying HIP technology to manufactured islets as a scalable treatment for T1D. A presentation on ADJUnct Semaglutide Treatment in Type 1 Diabetes (ADJUST-T1D) trial outcomes demonstrated that the use of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, as an adjunctive, non-insulin therapy helped individuals living with T1D and obesity and using automated insulin delivery systems to keep their blood glucose levels in the target range and achieve weight loss. Those in the study reported no incidences of diabetic ketoacidosis or hypoglycemia, and the drug was well-tolerated and safe. These results add to the body of evidence on the safety and efficacy of semaglutide for people with T1D. More information about T1D research shared at ADA and Breakthrough T1D-funded research and presentations can be found on Breakthrough T1D's website. About Breakthrough T1D, Formerly JDRF As the leading global type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization, Breakthrough T1D helps make everyday life with type 1 diabetes better while driving toward cures. We do this by investing in the most promising research, advocating for progress by working with government to address issues that impact the T1D community, and helping educate and empower individuals facing this condition. About Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) T1D is an autoimmune condition that causes the pancreas to make very little insulin or none at all. This leads to dependence on insulin therapy and the risk of short and long-term complications, which can include highs and lows in blood sugar; damage to the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and heart; and even death. Globally, it impacts nearly 9 million people. Many believe T1D is only diagnosed in childhood and adolescence, but diagnosis in adulthood is common and accounts for nearly 50% of all T1D diagnoses. The onset of T1D has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved. There is currently no cure for T1D. Contact:Casey Fielder509-651-0087media@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Breakthrough T1D, Formerly JDRF Error al recuperar los datos Inicia sesión para acceder a tu cartera de valores Error al recuperar los datos Error al recuperar los datos Error al recuperar los datos Error al recuperar los datos
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
BMI is BAD, a new study suggests. Here's a better way to measure weight
Food & health WellnessFacebookTweetLink Follow When it comes to measuring weight, BMI is the acronym everyone loves to hate. Health professionals have long used body mass index as a quick screening tool to fast-track certain patients into a 'code red' management plan — people whose weight puts them in danger of future health problems. The issue is that BMI measures health risk by calculating height and weight. However, muscle and bone weigh more than fat, so BMI measurements can overestimate the danger for people with a muscular build or a larger frame. Conversely, BMI can underestimate health concerns in older adults and anyone who has lost muscle, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. Now, authors of a new study say a different approach to weight measurement may be a more accurate way to predict future health issues. Bioelectrical impedance analysis, or BIA, uses undetectable electric currents to measure not only the percentage of body fat but also lean muscle mass and water weight. The technology works like this: You stand on metal plates on the machine while holding your hands or thumbs on another metal attachment held away from the body. Once started, the machine sends a weak electrical current through the body. Body fat, muscle and bone all have different electrical conductivity, so the machine uses algorithms to determine lean muscle mass, body fat percentage and water weight. 'We found body-fat percentage to be a stronger predictor of 15-year mortality risk in adults between the ages of 20 and 49 than BMI,' said Arch Mainous III, lead author of the study published Tuesday in the journal Annals of Family Medicine. When it came to deaths from heart disease, people with high body fat as measured by BIA were 262% times more likely to die than people who had a healthy percentage of body fat, said Mainous, a professor and vice chair of research in community health and family medicine at the University of Florida School of Medicine. 'Now remember, using BMI did not flag any risk at all in this younger population, which isn't one we typically consider to be at high risk for heart disease,' said senior author Dr. Frank Orlando, a clinical associate professor of community health and family medicine at University of Florida Health. 'Think of the interventions we can do to keep them healthy when we know this early. I think it's a game-changer for how we should look at body composition,' Orlando said. BMI is measured by dividing your weight by the square of your height. (If you are mathematically challenged like I am, the National Institutes of Health has a free calculator.) In BMI world, a body mass between 18.5 and 24.9 is a healthy weight, between 25 and 29.9 is overweight, between 30 and 34.9 is obese, between 35 and 39.9 is class 2 obesity, and anything greater than 40 is 'severe' or class 3 obesity. People are considered underweight if their BMI is lower than 18.5. Using BMI to measure health risk works — on a population level. Countless studies have shown that a greater BMI really does correlate with developing chronic diseases of all kinds — cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, kidney and liver disease, and more. Where BMI fails is at the patient level. Imagine a patient who is 'skinny fat' — thin on the outside but riddled with globs of fat wrapped around major organs on the inside. Your BMI would be fine even though your health was at risk. 'Those people are more likely to have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, more likely to have elevated glucose, more likely to have elevated blood pressure, and more likely to have inflammation in general,' Mainous said. All of these health issues can be treated, stopped and in some cases even reversed if caught early enough, he added. While doctors are aware of the issues with BMI, many prefer it 'because it is cheap and easily put into practice,' Mainous said. 'They'd like to use a more direct measurement such as a DEXA scan, but those cost too much and are not widely available, so everyone falls back to the indirect measure of BMI.' DEXA stands for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and is the gold standard for body mass analysis. Such machines can cost between $45,000 and $80,000, so patients typically travel to a hospital or specialty center to get the scan, Orlando said. The cost to the patient can easily be $400 to $500 per scan, he said. 'However, we found the newer versions of bioelectrical impedance are pretty accurate, giving some valid and reliable results,' Orlando said. One note — at-home based bioelectrical impedance products are not nearly as accurate, said Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver. 'They can be affected a lot by how much body fluid you have, how hydrated you are,' said Freeman, who was not involved with the new research. 'At-home measurements will only give a ballpark — the clinic-based machines are more precise.' The new study analyzed data on 4,252 men and women who participated in the 1999 to 2004 federal survey called NHANES, or the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a yearly checkup of the nation's health. Technicians measured each person's body composition, including height, weight and waist circumference. In addition, all participants underwent a clinic-based bioelectrical impedance analysis, which measures the body's resistance to electrical currents. Researchers then compared that data with the National Death Index through 2019 to see how many people died. After adjusting for age, race and poverty status, the study found a BMI that labeled someone as obese was not associated with a statistically significant higher risk of death from any cause, when compared with those in healthy BMI range. People with high body fat as measured by bioimpedance analysis, however, were 78% more likely to die from any cause, Mainous said. Measuring waist circumference was also helpful, but not as accurate as body mass. Add that to the 262% higher chance of dying from heart disease found by the study, and it's a no-brainer for doctors to use bioelectrical impedance analysis on patients, Orlando said. 'Let's face it, the magnitude of risk this study shows is enormous,' Freeman said. 'It's scary to think that we may have been using a surrogate — BMI — that may not have been all that accurate over the years.' The study shows how better weight measurements could easily become personalized medicine, Freeman added. 'Imagine you came into your doctor's office,' he said. 'They provided your body fat percentage and an individualized risk assessment. They talked to you about exercise and other lifestyle changes and referred you to a nutritionist. 'They gave you an opportunity to make these changes, and then if needed, helped you out with medication. If the medical profession did this and were able to save many more lives, that would be amazing.' Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Cure Rare Disease Receives FDA Feedback on Limb-Girdle 2i/R9 Gene Therapy Program Following Successful Pre-IND Meeting
WOODBRIDGE, Conn., June 24, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cure Rare Disease (CRD), a nonprofit biotechnology organization developing genetic therapies for ultra-rare diseases, today announced the successful completion of a pre-Investigational New Drug (pre-IND) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding its investigational gene therapy program for Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy type 2I/R9 (LGMDR9). The LGMDR9 program, known as CRD-003, utilizes a novel, liver de-targeting, muscle tropic capsid - developed by the Grimm Lab at University of Heidelberg - to deliver a functional copy of the FKRP gene. Murine and non-human primate studies support that AAVMYO2 de-targets the liver while offering enhanced muscle tropism which allows for a reduction of the clinical dose. CRD-003 is designed for patients with LGMDR9 caused by mutations in the FKRP gene, a condition that leads to progressive muscle weakness and loss of ambulation. CRD-003 is intended to be administered as a single intravenous injection and is among the first gene therapy candidates tailored to this rare neuromuscular disease population using a next-generation AAV capsid. Following the pre-IND interaction, the FDA provided written feedback across key domains including Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC), nonclinical development, and clinical trial design. The agency supported CRD's overall development approach while offering constructive guidance to further strengthen the planned Investigational New Drug (IND) submission. Notably: The FDA agreed that a 4-month murine GLP toxicology study, incorporating acute and chronic toxicity assessments, could be sufficient to support initiation of the first-in-human trial. The agency endorsed the proposed clinical trial design and patient selection strategy, and deemed the biomarker strategy—evaluating glycosylation changes and muscle MRI—appropriate. The agency suggested that CRD-003 may seek accelerated approval on the basis of results from the Phase I/II clinical trial, pending results "Receiving FDA feedback is a critical milestone as we advance CRD-003 toward the clinic," said Rich Horgan, Founder and CEO of Cure Rare Disease. "Early and proactive engagement with the FDA is a cornerstone of our drug development strategy. It ensures that our programs are aligned with regulatory expectations from the outset, allowing us to prioritize both patient safety and operational efficiency. This collaborative dialogue helps us navigate the complexities of developing therapies for rare diseases while furthering our ability to bring much-needed treatments to the individuals who need them most." With this milestone completed, CRD will continue executing its IND-enabling studies, incorporating FDA recommendations, and preparing for IND submission. About Cure Rare DiseaseCure Rare Disease, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit biotechnology company based in Woodbridge, CT, is transforming possibilities for people with ultra-rare diseases by developing advanced therapeutics in time to save lives. Through a collaborative community of forward-thinking families, patients, scientists and supporters, Cure Rare Disease has enabled an ecosystem of innovation and discovery to overcome the obstacles inherent in existing models of medicine and to expedite life-saving genetic technologies from research to the clinic. For more information, please visit View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Ahna GavrelosDirector of Marketing CommunicationsCure Rare DiseaseEmail: media@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
