Archived BioMedical News

The Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation - Tampa: CAMLS Debut promises huge economic gains
January 30, 2012. By Alex Mahadevan From

It will be a bright year for Tampa Bay businesses and academic leaders if the University of South Florida Health's new location in downtown Tampa lives up to expectations. The Center for Advanced Learning and Simulation, most often referred to as CAMLS , is set to open in February. The long-awaited debut of the 90,000-squarefoot development is expected to generate $38 million in economic impact in its first year and create a hub for research in health science that will draw doctors in for years to come. Steady tourism dollars from the center's visitors is only one aspect the public should be excited about, says Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn. CAMLS , which has been touted as the only project of its kind worldwide, is expected to attract interest from companies in the field of biomedical technology and robotics. In fact, Buckhorn recently took a trip to Israel to rouse interest from Israeli robotic firm Simbionix, which already works with USF. But, John Armstrong, associate professor of surgery at USF, says CAMLS will do more than bring tourists and jobs here, it will keep graduates of area universities in place. "There is so much talent here," he says, "and ( CAMLS ) will do more than just keep them here: it will bring others." John Ramil, chairman of the USF board of trustees and president and CEO of TECO Energy, says this will create a cycle of unprecedented economic growth for the region. "I'm not too excited about the name," Ramil says, "but I'm sure excited about the concept." >> More

New surgeries drive weight loss
January 30, 2012. By From

When the scale read 308 pounds, Orlando Denis decided it was time to make a change. “It felt like I wasn’t me anymore,” said Denis, a former City of Miami police officer who once played baseball professionally. “I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol. I was borderline diabetic.” Last year, Denis scheduled a meeting with Dr. Anthony Gonzalez, the medical director of South Miami Hospital’s Weight-loss Surgery Program. Last July, he underwent bariatric surgery. “It was the best decision I could have ever made,” said Denis, 48, now 185 pounds. As Denis can attest, new techniques and technologies are driving advances in bariatric surgery. >> More

Researchers find blood cancer may be more common than realized
January 23, 2012. By From

A group of life-threatening blood disorders collectively called myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, may occur four times more often than reported by national cancer registries, according to new research from the University of Florida based on data from Medicare claims. MDS occurs when the body's blood factory does not produce healthy red or white blood cells or platelets. Getting a more accurate picture of the disease could lead to earlier diagnosis for patients and better guidance for public health policy. The findings, reported in the November issue of the journal Leukemia Research and in an earlier issue of the journal Blood, indicate that more women than men are overlooked. "The data from the cancer registry is showing us a partial picture of MDS," said Christopher R. Cogle, M.D., an associate professor of hematology and oncology in the UF College of Medicine's department of medicine. "State cancer registries, which feed the national registries, need more resources so they can more comprehensively capture this disease and others, such as skin and gastrointestinal cancers." MDS is a hard-to-diagnose disease that presents itself in a wide range of ways. On the less severe end of the spectrum, it shows up as a low blood cell count, and, at the other extreme, as leukemic growths inside the bone marrow. >> More

New Source of Stem Cell Generation Pioneered at UCF
January 19, 2012. By From

New Source of Stem Cell Generation Pioneered at UCF A process that prompts a single gene to generate millions of supercharged stem cells, which can then turn into any kind of cell a body needs to repair itself, has been patented at the University of Central Florida. Stem cells have long been regarded as a holy grail of sorts in the medical world, because they hold so much potential for treating and perhaps curing some of the most challenging diseases in our time, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and diabetes. But a limited supply of stem cells and ethical issues associated with cells from embryonic donors have stalled progress on many fronts. For the past decade, researchers around the world have tried to generate embryonic-like stem cells from adult donors. To achieve stem cells this way, several genes have been required. And many of those genes have been known to trigger cancer. UCF’s approach, called Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell technology, minimizes the risk because only one gene (Nanog) is used in the process. A study described in Science noted that the gene, which had not been used by others, is not linked to cancer. The study can be seen at: http://www.sciencemag.org/site/products/lst_20070420.xhtml “This technology has the potential of literally changing the entire landscape of regenerative medicine,” said Kiminobu Sugaya, the lead researcher and a professor at UCF’s College of Medicine. “This technology demonstrates the ability to use a patient’s own cells for treatment of a wide range of illness, injury or disease.” Sugaya has been investigating the potential use of stem cells in treating Alzheimer’s disease for years. He holds dozens of patents including the one for this iPS technology, which was recently licensed to Progenicyte, an emerging biopharmaceutical company Sugaya founded in 2008. Sugaya and Progenicyte will now begin extensive collaborate efforts to advance this new technology from the lab to the treatment of patients. With better access to stem cells, scientists may be able to open the body’s healing power more quickly, giving Alzheimer, Parkinson, diabetes, cancer and heart disease patients hope that their own cells may help them get rid of these diseases, Sugaya said. More... Burnett School Undergraduate Presents Findings Dr. Daniell Presents “Green” Solution UCF Discovers Protein Plays Role in Osteoporosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis Burnett School Names New Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Sciences In Thankful Honor of UCF Benefactor Nancy Burnett UCF Licenses Bacteria Test for Possible Crohn's Treatment Grant Aids Fight Against Diabetes UCF, UF Science Partnership Lands $5.5M in NIH Grants Hijacked Proteins Linked to Salmonella Virulence Congratulations to the winners of the 6th Annual Graduate Research Symposium >> More