Prostate cancer strikes one in six American men. But Health Science Center researchers are dedicated to studying this prevalent disease to help prevent it.
Shuo Chen, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of pediatric dentistry, and Bandana Chatterjee, Ph.D., professor of molecular medicine, on behalf of the Estate of Arun K. Roy, Ph.D., a faculty member who passed away in 2003, received a United States patent titled “Ribozyme Mediated Inactivation of the Androgen Receptor.”
With the patented method, the researchers use human prostate cancer cells and animal models to study how the anti-androgen receptor, hammerhead ribozyme, specially catalyzes the androgen receptor (AR). The AR is a protein in the body that plays a significant role in prostate cancer and the development of the prostate gland.
“We are using a hammerhead ribozyme to inhibit the production of AR in the human prostate cancer cells in vitro (artificial environment),” Dr. Chen said. “But we hope to make treatments in vivo (in living organisms) by continuing with our detailed study.”
###Motor learning…stuttering…depression… Parkinson’s Disease – all of these things are directly related to the way the human brain functions. Health Science Center researchers are perfecting a method for understanding the causes of these diseases and disorders and, to eventually, find a cure.
Peter Fox, M.D., director and chair of the Research Imaging Center, and Jack Lancaster, Ph.D., professor at the Research Imaging Center, are recent recipients of a United States patent regarding brain imaging titled “Apparatus and Methods for Delivery of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).” This technology integrates TMS with a robotic system to accurately stimulate cortical (outer layer) areas in the brain.
“TMS has been used in numerous diagnostic research studies,” Dr. Lancaster said. “Treatment trials in depression where TMS has been used indicate that accurately directing treatments to affected areas might greatly improve outcomes.”
The image-guided robotically-positioned TMS system, or irTMS, system incorporates a new theory to develop treatment plans in 3-D. The irTMS system then registers a patient's head to the treatment plan and delivers focal electrical brain stimulation as prescribed, Dr. Lancaster said.
“The irTMS system is currently being researched,” Dr. Lancaster said. “But the improved accuracy in delivery of electrical brain stimulation promises to affect all potential users of TMS.”
The researchers are now preparing a proposal in which they’ll cite new irTMS systems at research labs at the Health Science Center and around the world.
“This will allow well-known TMS research laboratories to study and report on their use of the irTMS system,” Dr. Lancaster said.
