"An unexpected side effect of the game has been found by those parents of children on the autism spectrum."
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"The FDA investigation found several violations of research regulations, including falsified documents and poor record-keeping regarding case histories, as well as violations of protocol [...]"
CRISPR is forging ahead towards use in humans. The first clinical trials in the US for the gene-editing technology have been approved by an advisory board to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study aims to improve the treatment of 18 people with cancer by performing three edits on T cells of the immune system that have been removed from the patients before infusing them back in each person (Reardon, 2016). The hope is that the modified T cells will be better able to target cancer cells and also more protected against cancer cells looking to disable them. The treatment is being tested on people with melanoma, sarcoma, or myeloma (Sifferlin, 2016).
Although the trial has gotten approval from the NIH, the researchers must still make their case to US regulators as well as review boards within the institutions. The University of Pennsylvania will be responsible for editing the cells and will work with centers in California and Texas to find patients (Reardon, 2016). The project, which does not have a budget itself yet, will be funded by a $250 million immunotherapy foundation started by Sean Parker, cofounder of Napster and former president of Facebook. Carl June, an immunologist at the University of Pennsylvania involved with the trial, hopes to start by the end of the year.
Reardon, S. (2016). First CRISPR clinical trial gets green light from US panel. Nature. Retrieved 23 June 2016 from http://www.nature.com/news/first-crispr-clinical-trial-gets-green-light-from-us-panel-1.20137
Sifferlin, A. (2016). First CRISPR Human Trial Approved in the U.S. TIME.com. Retrieved 23 June 2016 from http://time.com/4380352/crispr-human-trial-us/
Indian police have uncovered a group trafficking human kidneys in a prominent private hospital in Delhi. Ten arrests have been made so far, including two surgeons’ assistants and the ringleader of the organization. The group “has been operating for the last one-and-a-half years in Delhi and Kolkata” (McKirdy and Pokharel, 2016). Poor people were lured from all over India to give up their kidneys for a small fee. The suspects then sold the organs for up to $7,500 (BBC News, 2016). According to Mandeep Randhawa, the Deputy Commissioner of Police of Southeast Delhi, it is unknown exactly how many kidneys were traded and how much money changed hands, although the police have been able to confirm five cases occurring in a period of four to five months (McKirdy and Pokharel, 2016).
Apollo Hospital, where the trafficking allegedly took place, denies any involvement in the operation. A hospital spokesperson described Apollo as “a victim of a well-orchestrated operation to cheat patients and the hospital” (BBC News, 2016). Nonetheless, police are investigating transplant committee members at the hospital “as all institutions in India are required to have a committee approve kidney transplants” (McKirdy and Pokharel, 2016). The hospital suggests that forged documents were used to pass stringent procedures. The hospital has given their full cooperation to the police as they continue in their investigation, and police are also monitoring other hospitals in the area.
McKirdy, E. and Pokharel, S. (2016, June 6). Delhi hospital kidney scam: 5 arrested. CNN. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/05/asia/india-delhi-hospital-kidney-racket/index.html
McKirdy, E. and Pokharel, S. (2016, June 9). Delhi hospital kidney scam: Ringleader nabbed. CNN. Retrieved 9 June 2016, from http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/09/asia/india-delhi-hospital-kidney-racket/
Kidney racket at top Delhi hospital - BBC News. (2016, June 4). BBC News. Retrieved 9 June 2016, from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-36452439