3 min 26 sec - Oct 1, 2005
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ratings)Description: Torrance California - For 52 years, physician-scientists at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LA BioMed), located on the grounds of the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center near Torrance, have made major contributions to the advancement of medicine. Working in the shadows of larger institutions, these men and women have developed the modern cholesterol test, the thyroid deficiency test now administered to virtually every newborn in the United States, a screening procedure for Tay-Sachs Disease which has radically diminished the incidence of that terrible condition, and most recently, an enzyme replacement therapy for another insidious genetic condition, Hurler’s Syndrome. LA BioMed investigators have also participated in the development of stent technology to surgically treat devastating abdominal and thoracic aneurysms as well as artificial surfactants that have saved the lives of thousands of premature babies. They have pioneered in the rehabilitation of victims of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, the fourth largest killer of adults in the United States, and have developed novel techniques for treating pediatric cardiac disorders. The list goes on, but the tradition of creating practical solutions to important medical issues is deeply ingrained in this organization.(more)· What are some of the major research projects your institute is working on now?Among our present research projects include a major effort on the next generation of antimicrobials, new therapeutic and diagnostic approaches to chronic lung disease, refined methods for earlier identification of Type II diabetes and the identification of a common pathway for several autoimmune diseases.· What kind of economic impact can LA BioMed have on the local economy?LA BioMed is a significant economic engine and technology generator for the South Bay. The new technologies are business opportunities for venture-based as well as established companies. The discovery of our Hurler’s Syndrome drug, Aldurazyme, represents what we could contribute to the regional economy. Upon entry to the market of this product, our licensee became the 25th largest capitalized biotechnology firm in the United States. · What can we all do to promote commercial biomedical development in the Los Angeles area? While we have the basic elements for success in place, we need to encourage developers and biomedical entrepreneurs to think about the LA region. We need to proactively market this region, and bring representatives of different academic and commercial organizations together as part of that marketing effort. We need to think of organizations such as LA BioMed as magnets for commercial ventures.(more)· Can a single biological mechanism activate a variety of autoimmune diseases? When our immune system, instead of defending us as it should, launches a misdirected attack upon us, the result is an autoimmune disease. There are many autoimmune diseases, among them rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Graves’ disease (hyperthyroidism). In rheumatoid arthritis the attack is directed against the joints while Graves’ disease attacks the thyroid. We know that the presence of one autoimmune disease increases the chance for another in the same person. Now the reason is beginning to come clear. We’ve identified antibodies in the blood that activate a receptor for insulin-like growth factor. · And, if you could identify such a mechanism, where might that discovery lead you?This novel disease mechanism clearly suggests a common pathway in rheumatoid arthritis and Graves’ disease and raises the possibility that there could be a common therapeutic strategy for several autoimmune diseases - potentially a huge advance in science and medicine. We knew that the same folks tended to get these diseases, but we didn't know the biology underlying that. It could be involved in other autoimmune disorders as well; we're thinking about a large number of diseases. (more)We are looking to interrupt the disease process before any lasting damage is done. This can lead to the development of therapeutics that can help millions of people. · What have you found out about protein interactions in the fetus and newborn?Just to identify the genes is not enough. We must know what the protein products of each gene do specifically in a cell. In our studies, we are looking at the various proteins that regulate the blood vessels of the lung. Normal blood vessel development and function is especially critical for the new born. In utero, the lungs are not functioning as the placenta does the gas exchange. Within a few moments of birth, those previously constricted vessels must dilate and perform the gas exchange function. The vessels must relax so that blood can flow into the lungs and participate in gas exchange. When the lung vessels can’t relax, a condition known as persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) can occur. My main research involves several questions around this process, including: What keeps the vessels contracted in the fetal lung and what gets them to relax at birth? If we can identify critical proteins involved in these processes, we should be able to locate some targets for therapeutic intervention. The question we are trying to answer is this: Can you identify some key new proteins in these pathways, intervene with a therapy when things go wrong and promote good lung function? (more)· How do infants develop PPHN? We know there are many factors as to why infants develop PPHN. A baby that is born post-date or a mother who smokes or has poor placental function, are some situations where a fetus can be chronically deprived of oxygen. Sometimes we don’t know what causes it. Our job as researchers is to try to understand what causes this condition and what we can do to reverse it. With that in mind, we recently identified a series of protein–protein interactions that bring about relaxation. We are poised to identify a new protein that might be involved in promoting relaxation at birth. Once we have successfully identified this and some new proteins, it will be time to translate these research findings into a tangible treatment.· What has your research found?In our research, we study a number of established signaling pathways in the cell that involves a series of protein-protein interactions, but are constantly looking to identify new proteins that may be involved. Proteomics allows us to identify new proteins and also study ways in which proteins are modified and their function altered. We are comparing and contrasting normal versus abnormal pathways and trying to identify new or abnormal proteins. We then try to see if these new and/or modified proteins have a specific function and we set out to identify that function. Identify the entire pathway and you can set up therapies to alter or interrupt that pathway.(more)· What new approaches are you developing for treating aneurysms?We’ve pioneered the use of stent grafts as an alternative to tradition surgery. The graft is implanted to the site of the aneurysm and then expanded to reline the damaged part of the artery.Where a normal hospital stay for a patient who has traditional surgery may be eight days, a stent graft patient can go home in two days. Soon we’ll be able to extend the use of stents as an alternative to surgical repair to other vascular procedures. · What kind of place is LA BioMed?LA BioMed is an absolutely unique research environment, which enables early investigational work that translates into patient benefits and new therapies, and also allows us to deliver the most advanced kinds of medical treatments to patients who otherwise would not receive them.