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Swiss Initiative In Systems Biology Launches New Projects
In the second call for proposals, projects focus on either the development of new technologies or on the interface between biomedical research and genomics. The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) approved six RTD-projects today. They will engage a total of 47 research groups from both Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH Zurich und EPF Lausanne), as well as from the Universities of Basel, Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich. The Friedrich-Miescher Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation is also represented as the only privately financed institution. Eight groups belong simultaneously to one of the above-mentioned universities and to the Swiss Institute for Bioinformatics.

Connecticut House Approves Two Health Insurance Pooling Bills
The Connecticut House on Wednesday approved two separate measures to expand health insurance pooling in the state, the Hartford Courant reports. The first measure would create a public health insurance pool open to all residents. The pool, intended to compete with rather than replace private insurance, would be based on the existing pool for state workers (Keating, Hartford Courant, 5/21). The bill will create a nine-member board of directors to investigate and recommend a plan to guarantee every resident health insurance. The bill also creates four committees that will work with the board and provide advice on electronic health records, medical homes, clinical care guidelines and preventive care. In addition, three task forces will examine obesity, tobacco use and care provider shortages (Stuart, CT News Junkie, 5/20).The cost of plan, known as SustiNet, could be a "sticking point" given the state"s $8.7 billion budget deficit over the next two years, the Courant reports The state Senate and Gov. Jodi Rell (R) will consider the plan next.The second measure would allow local governments, small businesses and not-for-profit groups join the state employee insurance plan. The bill would increase the current pool"s membership from 200,000 to an estimated 300,000. Juan Figueroa, a former state legislator and president of the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut, said, "Both of these plans reduce costs and increase choice. The partnership (pooling) bill has features that SustiNet can build on. The two bills fit hand in glove." Democrats said the second bill would utilize economies of scale to lower costs. Steve Fontana (D), co-chair of the State House Insurance and Real Estate Committee, said, "The larger the pool you have, ... you reduce the volatility and the risk associated with that pool."Opponents say the pooling measure would affect only those who already have coverage. According to House Republican Leader Larry Cafero, "This bill does not solve that problem. If you don"t have it now, you"re not going to have it because of this" (Keating, Hartford Courant, 5/21).
News of the day
Inovio Biomedical H1N1 Influenza DNA Vaccines Demonstrate 100% Responses Against Swine Flu In Vaccinated Pigs
Inovio Biomedical Corporation (NYSE Amex:INO), a leader in DNA vaccine design, development and delivery, announced today that the company"s SynCon™ H1N1 influenza DNA vaccines achieved protective antibody responses against H1N1 swine influenza virus (A/Swine/Iowa/35233/1999) in 100% of pigs immunized with a two-dose vaccine regimen.
Oncology

American College Of Radiology Uses McKesson Solution To Offer Acclaimed Learning Library Online

Using McKesson"s Horizon Study Share™ reference case solution, the American College of Radiology (ACR) has made its entire library of ACR Learning File® images and content available online as a Web-hosted archive to ACR members and others in the field. The ACR Learning File® includes a collection of more than 3,600 peer-reviewed cases in 12 subspecialties, with more than 10,000 high-quality images depicting thousands of diagnoses. Key findings and detailed discussions supplement the images, making the library a unique experience for practicing radiologists and members in training. McKesson worked with ACR to transfer the entire ACR Learning File® library from CDs into the Horizon Study Share repository. "Given the dynamic nature of radiology and the need for anytime/anywhere access to current information, offering the ACR Learning File® library online helps us to ensure this essential re is readily available, relevant and reliable," said Lawrence Davis, MD, FACR, chair of the American College of Radiology Education Commission. "We are extremely pleased and excited that physicians can now have immediate access to these materials in any browser, on any platform, anywhere in the world." ACR Learning File Online subscribers can view cases through the Horizon Study Share case viewer, which provides a PACS-like experience in the browser. Images are automatically resized to fit the viewing window, and users may zoom in and pan around on images in real time. In addition, Horizon Study Share, which also powers the well-known MyPACS.net medical imaging reference Web site, offers a streamlined interface for ACR contributors and editors, revolutionizing the content publishing process. As an additional value-add, the search function for the ACR Learning File Online will return results from the ACR archives and notify the physician if additional case studies on the topic are available on MyPACS.net. "The ACR Learning File is a collaborative effort involving thousands of members who now benefit from the ability to easily create, review, edit, and share cases online," said Joe Biegel, vice president of product management, Horizon Medical Imaging, McKesson. "Horizon Study Share is designed for organizations seeking a plug-and-play teaching file solution with the most innovative features available. McKesson is proud to support ACR as it expands the reach and value of such a vital re." Horizon Study Share combines intuitive authoring tools and a flexible viewer with powerful case management functionality. It is HIPAA-compliant and supports MIRC, DICOM, SQL and XML connectivity. About the American College of Radiology The American College of Radiology is a national organization serving more than 32,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs for focusing on the practice of medical imaging, radiation oncology, and the delivery of comprehensive health care services. For more than 80 years, the ACR has devoted its res to making imaging safe, effective and accessible. For more information, visit http://campus.acr.org/. McKesson Corporation


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