MCGM part of groundbreaking Huntington’s trial
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust was one of nine centres involved in the successful trial of the first drug targeting the cause of Huntington’s disease.
The study was led locally by Dr David Craufurd, Consultant in Neuropsychiatric Genetics at the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, Saint Mary’s Hospital. Study visits took place at the NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility, which is a safe and quality assured environment for delivering high-quality early phase research.
Of the trial, Dr.Craufurd said:
We were thrilled to be one of the nine study centres, which meant we were able to give our patients the opportunity to take part in this ground-breaking research. The results are very promising and we hope it will lead on to further developments in finding a successful treatment.
The results of the trial and plans for the ongoing IONIS-HTTRx programme will be presented in detail at forthcoming scientific meetings and prepared for peer-reviewed publication.
Read more about this groundbreaking study in to the treatment of Huntington’s Disease on the MFT Research & Innovation website.
Disease caused by reduction of most abundant cellular protein identified
Dr Siddharth Banka has led an international team of scientists and doctors to identify a new disease that results in low levels of a common protein found inside our cells. The study was published in the reputed American Journal of Human Genetics.
β-actin is the cell’s most abundant protein, providing shape and allowing them to move. It is fundamental to a number of biological functions. The team say the new disease is caused by gene mutations which result in half of the normal β-actin levels.
Dr Sara Cuvertino, a Research Associate at The University of Manchester and first author of the paper, said:
β-actin is so vital to our cells that it was very surprising for me that patients could still survive on just half the normal levels of this critical protein.
Read more about the study into this rare genetic disease on the MFT Research & Innovation Website.
Devastating disease which changes brain size discovered
A new genetic disease that affects the size of our brains and causes severe developmental problems has been identified by an international collaboration led by scientists and doctors from the UK, Netherlands and the USA.
Whilst working on another project, Dr Siddharth Banka noticed that three children with large or small brains and delayed development each had mutations in the RAC1 gene. The gene had never previously been linked to human disease, and mutations in no other single gene have previously shown this extent of variability in brain size. Four more children were found in the Netherlands with mutations in the same gene and altered brain-sizes. Some of the affected children were also found to have epilepsy and heart defects. It it thought that the discovery will lead to the identification of further undiagnosed patients.
Dr Banka said:
Evolution has tinkered with thousands of genes over millions of years, to shape the human brain, an organ that is remarkably consistent in its appearance and size across billions of people. However, occasionally a tiny little alteration in just one of these thousands of genes can have devastating effects, reflecting the fine balance of this complex genetic orchestra
Read more on the University of Manchester website.
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital administers its first gene therapy treatment
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital (MREH) achieves a historical milestone, as it delivers gene therapy at this hospital for the first time. The hospital is trialling gene therapy, in collaboration with Saint Mary’s and the NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility, for patients with a rare genetic eye condition, x-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP).
XLRP, for which there is currently no effective treatment, is one of the most common causes of blindness in young people.
The surgeon leading the trial in Manchester is Professor Paulo Stanga at MREH, University of Manchester and Manchester Vision Regeneration (MVR) Lab at NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility. Professor Stanga said:
Gene therapy is an exciting and new area that could potentially offer a cure across a number of disease areas. We’re delighted to be able to offer our patients the opportunity to participate in this trial for this new treatment for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa. This is a devastating condition for which there’s currently no effective treatment.
Professor Graeme Black, Consultant in Genetics and Ophthalmology, University of Manchester/Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust adds:
Manchester is a leading centre for the diagnosis and treatment of inherited genetic eye diseases. The co-location of Manchester Royal Eye Hospital and Saint Mary’s Hospital, which is home to the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine means we have a cohort of patients who could potentially benefit from this new treatment.
Read the full news article on the CMFT Research & Innovation website.