Hi Leigh

Yes, there is a lot of technological jargon in there

One thing that needs explaining is a "Genomic Marker", this isn't
clearly defined here, but a common feature in drug research is a
"Biomarker".   This is a measurable biological quantity that indicates
whether a disease is present or not.   As you probably know,  many
diseases, especially early on, are difficult to diagnose.  A doctor
can observe you, ask you questions and sometimes run a blood test, but
this might not answer whether you have Parkinson's.   Other
conditions, like broken legs, are much easier to diagnose.   With
animal research, it's even more difficult -- you can't ask a mouse
where it hurts.  A Parkinson's biomarker would be something that is
measurable, for example a substance in your blood, and indicates
reliably whether a patient has Parkinson's.  Biomarkers are important
because with one in hand, you can easily determine whether someone has
a disease, and not merely a similar condition, and also (sometimes)
whether drugs given to someone are having any effect.

A genomic marker is probably a biomarker that is closely related to
the DNA in a sample.   In this case, they are probably not observing
DNA directly, but which part of the DNA is active.   Most of the time,
99% of your DNA is dormant.  Different parts of it turn on and off
under different circumstances and in different parts of your body.
When DNA is active, it makes copies of itself called mRNA or, more
breifly RNA, which then go off and do various things -- this process
is called "gene expression".   Human cells make ~70,000 different
types of RNA.  The article says that RxGen will measure which RNA is
present and in what amount in primate (monkey) brains after exposing
the monkeys to various poisons that are known to cause Parkinson's or
Parkinson's-like conditions.  It is almost a given that there will be
*some* difference in gene expression after exposing the monkeys to
these poisons, as the body always responds in some way to attack.  The
plan would likely be to find which particular type of RNA is present
at different levels before and after the exposure, and then use that
as a biomarker for future research.

This particular research is "in vivo", which means in a living
organism (the monkeys).  Another common type of research is "in
vitro", which means in glass (a test tube), as in "in vitro
fertilization".   In vivo research is generally much more expensive
than in vitro, especially in primates, but can give more meaningful
results.

Finding a biomarkers is one of the earliest steps in drug design, so
this probably will not result in any new medicine for some time.   As
the article says,  this project "may set the stage for developing
therapeutic interventions" but it is good news because 1) Parkinson's
is getting research money from the federal government (the NIH is a
government institution), and 2) this research is using some of the
more advanced technology available.

There are a lot more terms in there which could use explaining, if
you're curious about any of them or if anything in this message needs
elaboration, feel free to ask on the list or send me personal email.

-Archie

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 23:28:29 +1000, Leigh Wayper
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear Linda,
>
> Perhaps you could advise me.... I cannot grasp an understanding of your
> letter as it clearly is aimed at those in the medical profession with
> knowledge of the  terminology used. This is fine but I am a Parkinson's
> sufferer and would appreciate access to a lay explanation of matters
> WRT Parkinson's and information concerning my expectations for the
> future.
>
> Can you advise me here. I have a reasonable level of intelligence so
> please don't oversimplify. I have just turned 60 and was diagnosed
> about three years ago.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Leigh Wayper
>
> On 09/01/2005, at 9:22 PM, Linda J Herman wrote:
>
> > FROM:   Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA
> >  January 9, 2005
> >
> > SECTION: EXPANDED REPORTING; Pg. 94
> >
> > HEADLINE: PARKINSON DISEASE;
> > Biotech firm gets NIH grant to study environmental causes of Parkinson
> > disease
> >
> >     RxGen, Inc., a private biotechnology company, announced that the
> > National
> > Institutes of Health (NIH) has funded phase 1 of the company's Fast
> > Track
> > SBIR
> > grant for $1.1 million to uncover genomic markers of Parkinson disease.
> >
> >     RxGen is using genomics and bioinformatics technologies and
> > knowledge
> > of
> > primate models of Parkinson disease to profile in vivo brain RNA
> > expression
> > patterns following exposure to compounds known to cause the neuronal
> > injury and
> > dopamine depletion associated with Parkinson disease.
> >
> >     RxGen's plans to profile toxins such as rotenone,
> > tetrahydroisoquinolone,
> > dithiocarbamate, and Paraquat, which have been implicated as possible
> > environmental causes of Parkinson disease. This grant will enable RxGen
> > to
> > examine critical pathways of injury and neuroprotection specific to
> > dopaminergic
> > neurons, which may set the stage for developing therapeutic
> > interventions.
> >
> >     The NIH SBIR funding will help RxGen advance its internal research
> > and
> > development programs associated with predictive toxicology and central
> > nervous
> > system drug discovery. RxGen's predictive toxicology technology
> > program,
> > PrimaTox, was recently funded by the NIH through a separate Fast Track
> > SBIR
> > award of $1.4 million.
> >
> >     RxGen has access to a primate facility with 27 years of experience
> > in
> > research pertaining to Parkinson disease and other neurodegenerative
> > conditions
> > and related therapeutic strategies.
> >
> >     RxGen, Inc. is focused on the development of therapeutics for
> > neurodegeneration, memory loss, obesity and other central nervous
> > system
> > disorders using animal models of human disease and leading genomics and
> > bioinformatics.
> >
> >     This article was prepared by Medical Letter on the CDC  &  FDA
> > editors from
> > staff and other reports.  Copyright 2005, Medical Letter on the CDC  &
> > FDA via
> > NewsRx.com  &  NewsRx.net.
> >
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