Harvard Medical School's Schepens Eye Research Institute To Study Non-viral Gene Delivery Method for Central Nervous System Repair.Business Editors/Health/Medical WritersGARDEN CITY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 2003 Study Funded by Schering-Plough Research Institute; Grant Adminstered by P.D.A. Foundation The Parenteral parenteral /pa·ren·ter·al/ (pah-ren´ter-al) not through the alimentary canal, but rather by injection through some other route, as subcutaneous, intramuscular, etc. par·en·ter·al adj. 1. Drug Association for Pharmaceutical Sciences (PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) A handheld computer for managing contacts, appointments and tasks. It typically includes a name and address database, calendar, to-do list and note taker, which are the functions in a personal information manager (see PIM). Foundation) today announced that Schering-Plough Research Institute has provided a grant at Harvard Medical School's Schepens Eye Research Institute to study a non-viral gene delivery method for central nervous system repair. The grant will be administered by the Foundation. The successful completion of this research could result in a novel technique for gene transfer to post-mitotic neurons in vitro in vitro /in vi·tro/ (in ve´tro) [L.] within a glass; observable in a test tube; in an artificial environment. in vi·tro adj. In an artificial environment outside a living organism. and in vivo, with potential applications beyond conventional drug delivery. The gene transfer could provide for the continuous production of therapeutic agents (proteins) within the defective cells or tissues. It could also be extended to target distinctive neurons and glial cells in the brain and spinal cord, and have far-reaching therapeutic effects. "We are very pleased to receive this grant from Schering-Plough Research Institute which will further our research in this important drug delivery area," said Dong-Feng Chen, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Program in Neuroscience, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School (HMS) is one of the graduate schools of Harvard University. It is a prestigious American medical school located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. , Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston. "This research could have application in treatments for glaucoma, brain and spinal cord injury Spinal Cord Injury Definition Spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord that causes loss of sensation and motor control. Description Approximately 10,000 new spinal cord injuries (SCIs) occur each year in the United States. , stroke and ischemic Ischemic An inadequate supply of blood to a part of the body, caused by partial or total blockage of an artery. Mentioned in: Antiangiogenic Therapy, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Ventricular Fibrillation ischemic insult, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease." Nina Demuth, President of the P.D.A. Foundation said, "The research will be conducted by Saeeda Jaffar, a doctoral candidate in chemical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at Cambridge; coeducational; chartered 1861, opened 1865 in Boston, moved 1916. It has long been recognized as an outstanding technological institute and its Sloan School of Management has notable programs in business, (MIT MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology ). Ms. Jaffar will study the effect of various non-viral carriers on targeted gene delivery to retinal ganglion cells, working under the direction of Dr. Chen and Robert Langer, Ph.D., Professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT." About the Schering-Plough Research Institute: Schering-Plough Research Institute is the pharmaceutical research and development arm of Schering-Plough Corporation of Kenilworth, N.J., a research-based company engaged in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products worldwide. About The Schepens Eye Research Institute: The Schepens Eye Research Institute, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is the largest independent eye research center in the nation, both in size of faculty and support from the National Eye Institute. Located in Boston and begun in 1950, The Schepens Eye Research Institute has a renowned faculty of more than 60 scientists, including immunologists, molecular and cell biologists and physicists who investigate cures for blinding diseases and aids for people with low vision. About the P.D.A. Foundation: The Parenteral Drug Association Foundation for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Inc. (P.D.A. Foundation), located in Garden City, NY is a 501 (C) 3 not-for-profit public charity whose mission is to promote the good of the public by identifying needs in the fields of parenteral and related sciences and technologies. The P.D.A. Foundation raises and dispenses funds in support of research and educational activities that meet those needs. A copy of our annual report is available upon request and is on file with the New York State Attorney General The New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York. . All contributions are tax deductible. PDA Foundation FOR PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, INC. 2 SUNSET LANE GARDEN CITY, NY 11530 516/248-6713 WWW WWW or W3: see World Wide Web. (World Wide Web) The common host name for a Web server. The "www-dot" prefix on Web addresses is widely used to provide a recognizable way of identifying a Web site. .PDAFOUNDATION.ORG |
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