Genome Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) are pleased to announce a partnered program called “Advancing Technology Innovation through Discovery”. This program will link next generation sequencing technologies within Genome Canada-funded Science & Technology (S&T) Innovation Centres with gene discovery projects to help speed the translation to clinical medicine and to advance the adoption of new technologies…
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has received its third consecutive full accreditation from the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP), whose goal is to ensure that research institutions meet the highest standards in respecting and protecting individuals who participate in research…
Politico recently examined how California Senate candidate Carly Fiorina’s (R) abortion-rights opposition could affect her chances at election. The publication also highlighted a campaign by Catholics United to help vulnerable Democratic incumbents who supported health reform. Summaries appear below. ~ Fiorina: Fiorina’s opposition to abortion rights is “a potential obstacle” for her in the race against incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer (D), an abortion-rights supporter, Politico reports…
Arguments over abortion coverage under the federal health reform law (PL 111-148) likely will persist as implementation of the overhaul continues, prompting some lawmakers to consider legislative approaches to the issue, CongressDaily reports. The most recent controversy involves an Obama administration decision to bar most abortion coverage in state high-risk health insurance pools for individuals with pre-existing conditions, even if the coverage is paid for privately…
The European Medicines Agency has finalised a review of modified-release oral opioids of the WHO level III scale for the management of pain. The Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) concluded that the benefits of most of these medicines continue to outweigh their risks, but that the existing warnings on the interaction of these medicines with alcohol should be made consistent across the class…
Since launching its Reconciliation service in 2006 years, Cardinal Health has helped independent pharmacies recover nearly $20 million in pharmaceutical reimbursements. With new service features announced this week at the company’s annual Retail Business Conference in Denver, Reconciliation 2.0 is easier to use than ever before, and is now able to reconcile claims from all insurance companies. Even when prescription claims are properly submitted to insurance companies and other payors, many can be underpaid - or worse - they can go completely unpaid…
The draft second edition of The Good Participatory Practice (GPP) Guidelines for Biomedical HIV Prevention Trials were released at the International AIDS Conference in Vienna by AVAC. The GPP Guidelines aim to provide trial funders, sponsors, and implementers with systematic guidance on how to effectively work with a range of stakeholders as they design and conduct biomedical HIV prevention trials…
New US research on mice suggests that bone plays a key role in insulin regulation and helps cells of the body take up glucose; as both these processes are impaired in people with type 2 diabetes the researchers suggest this discovery could lead to new diabetes drugs. Dr Gerard Karsenty from Columbia University Medical Center, New York, and colleagues found that the process of bone resorption, when old bone breaks down to make way for new growth, releases a hormone called osteocalcin that turns on insulin production and also helps cells take up glucose…
Lee Thomas, federal secretary of the Australian Nursing Federation, said new funding for emergency nurses will provide a more highly skilled workforce in emergency departments. “It is imperative that we encourage more people into nursing and then continue to develop their skills throughout their working life so patients receive the best possible care…
The Australian Nursing Federation is concerned that nurses employed in small workplaces such as medical practices could be at risk of unfair dismissal under a coalition government. Recent comments by opposition small business spokesman Bruce Billson outlined a promise made to small business about changing unfair dismissal claim laws in their favour. Federal Secretary Lee Thomas said, “All workers should be protected equally and nurses and midwives will not support any attempt to resurrect unfair industrial relations laws…