http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/ The field of neurotechnology, the focus of this blog, encompasses advances in brain science (neurons), information technology (bits) and bioengineering (genes). Up for discussion and analysis: the political, economic, ethical, and social forces that will shape the future of what will be one of the most important and fascinating stories of the coming decades. en-us zack@neurosociety.net 2004-10-04T21:51:18-05:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/archives/2004_nobel_in_medicine_smelling_success.php The 2004 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded yesterday to Richard Axel and Linda Buck for their work on the neurobiology of smell. While previous Nobel's have been awarded to scientists who discovered how sight (1981) and sound (1961) are... 26331@http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/ Neuroceuticals 2004-10-04T21:51:18-05:00 http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/archives/adhd_neuroimaging_used_to_understand_77b_problem.php Do you ever lose focus after working for several hours on a project? Are there times when you just can't seem to concentrate anymore? If you answered yes to these questions then you are probably normal. But what is normal?... 15793@http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/ Neuroceuticals 2004-09-27T09:09:04-05:00 http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/archives/the_future_of_hearing_neuroelectronics_and_audioceuticals.php Don't miss the next Bay Area Future Salon on August 12th, where Dr. Mike Chorost, SRI International, and my brother, Dr. Eric Lynch, Sound Pharmaceuticals, will discuss the present state of neural technologies for treating deafness and their likely future.... 5484@http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/ Neuroceuticals 2004-08-03T11:56:19-05:00 http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/archives/eyetech_pharmaceuticals_a_sensoceutical_pioneer.php Eyetech Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer recently applied with U.S. regulators to market their experimental drug for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in older people. Eyetech is one of a growing group of sensoceutical companies developing therapeutics to... 4555@http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/ Neuroceuticals 2004-06-29T16:52:42-05:00 http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/archives/trouble_sleeping.php About 70 million Americans suffer from sleep problems, according to the National Center for Sleep Disorder Research. Each year, sleep disorders, sleep deprivation, and sleepiness add an estimated $15.9 billion to the national health care bill. Additional costs to society... 3621@http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/ Neuroceuticals 2004-05-11T20:57:50-05:00 http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/archives/are_you_wired_to_be_fat.php A study published in today's Science shows that the appetite-regulating hormone leptin causes neurons to be rewired in areas of the brain that regulates feeding behavior. The research team, led by HHMI investigator Jeffrey M. Friedman, provides an important clue... 2820@http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/ Neuroceuticals 2004-04-01T14:08:55-05:00 http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/archives/audioceuticals_will_prevent_hearing_loss.php Sound Pharmaceuticals researchers are quickly moving forward on developing neuroceuticals to stem hearing loss. Hearing loss is the third leading chronic disorder and exceeds the number of persons with either diabetes or visual loss combined. "According to the NIH, CDC... 2448@http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/ Neuroceuticals 2004-03-15T11:24:52-05:00 http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/archives/pharmas_horizontal_future.php Drug development is hard and costly. Clearly, something must change if the scenario of $10m drugs with 2 year development times is going to emerge by 2020. (see #7). To get an idea of the cost issues facing today's pharma... 1992@http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/ Neuroceuticals 2004-02-19T10:51:30-05:00 http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/archives/astrocytes_are_stem_cells.php Howard Hughes researchers report in today's Nature that they have found a third type of stem cell in the human brain, astrocytes. Until recently, astrocytes were thought to provide only a supportive, nurturing environment for the neuron, while this research... 1985@http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/ Neuroceuticals 2004-02-19T07:36:19-05:00 http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/archives/wake_up_drivers.php As I predicted early last year, Provigil (short for promotes vigilance) was just approved for use by U.S. regulators to market its narcolepsy drug to truck drivers and others whose work shifts make it difficult to stay awake on the... 1612@http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/ Neuroceuticals 2004-01-27T11:18:02-05:00 http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/archives/addicted_overweight.php As the Economist's latest survey points out this week, "the trouble with people is that they want to be healthy, and they want their food to be tasty, cheap and convenient." The problem they assert is that these are all... 902@http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/ Neuroceuticals 2003-12-17T15:51:29-05:00 http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/archives/how_hard_is_drug_development_hard.php Derek Lowe explains from personal experience that innovation in drug development isn't easy: "And it's not like there aren't plenty of highs and lows in what we're pleased to call "normal" drug discovery. It should be enough. But it isn't,... 637@http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/ Neuroceuticals 2003-11-16T20:09:37-05:00 http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/archives/boo_trick_that_treat.php Halloween turns millions of kids (and some adults) into candy-loving monsters with more than ample supply of candy to satisfy their "sweet tooth." Now, HHMI researchers have moved closer to understanding why some people cannot resist the impulses brought on... 561@http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/ Neuroceuticals 2003-10-31T20:49:21-05:00 http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/archives/memory_and_todays_tools.php Derek Lowe recently posted a very good explanation of the presumed mode of action of the new Alzheimer’s drug memantine. Memantine has some affinity for a wide range of receptors in the brain, but at the doses that are seen... 513@http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/ Neuroceuticals 2003-10-23T03:09:43-05:00 http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/archives/neuroceuticals_are_tools.php Neuroceuticals are tools. They hold the promise and peril of any new set of tools. Tools like the oxen plow, railroads, electricity, automobiles, planes, cell phones, and the web, have all in one way or another been used for good... 466@http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/ Neuroceuticals 2003-10-15T16:06:50-05:00