Brain mapping research has taken off, with the publication of a Brain Atlas
\nTwo ASX stocks focus on brain mapping research
\nWe look at the best performing ASX stocks over the past month<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Researchers are making rapid progress towards understanding the 170 billion cells in the brain that enable us to walk, talk, and think.<\/p>\n
A new Brain Atlas<\/strong>\u00a0published by the Allen Institute for Brain Science<\/strong> examines the location, structure and, in some cases, function of more than 3,000 types of brain cells in detail.<\/p>\n Experts believe the Atlas could open the path to understanding neuropsychiatric conditions ranging from Alzheimer\u2019s to depression.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can use this map to understand what actually happens in disease and what kinds of cells might be vulnerable or affected,\u201d says \u00a0Ed Lein, a senior investigator at the Allen Institute in Seattle, and one of hundreds of researchers who worked on the maps.<\/p>\n The completion of this inaugural project signals a remarkable leap forward in one of the last frontiers of medical science \u2013 the brain.<\/p>\n Detailing more than 21,000 genes at the cellular level, the Atlas provides scientists with a level of data previously not available.<\/p>\n The Atlas essentially provides scientists worldwide with an enormous database of information that an individual researcher could spend a lifetime trying to gather.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Since humans share more than 90% of their genes with mice, the Atlas offers profound opportunity for further understanding of human disorders and diseases such as Alzheimer\u2019s, Parkinson\u2019s, epilepsy, schizophrenia, autism and addiction.<\/p>\n \u2018This project is an unprecedented union of neuroscience and genomics,\u201d said philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen, who provided $100 million in seed money to launch this project in 2003.<\/p>\n \u201cThe comprehensive information provided by the Atlas will help lead scientists to new insights and propel the field of neuroscience forward dramatically,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n The project has already led to several significant new findings about the brain.<\/p>\n First, it reveals that 80% of genes are turned on in the brain, much higher than the 60 to 70% scientists previously believed.<\/p>\n It also shows the location of genes associated with specific functions, which provides scientists with valuable information about brain activity in different regions.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an enormous mine of information. Suddenly you can go into a much more advanced level of analysis,\u201d said Catherine Dulac<\/em>, a Harvard professor of molecular and cellular biology.<\/p>\n The study also found that many of the discrete regions of the brain perform similar functions in all mammals.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the next step in a tremendous progression in trying to understand the brain and how it functions,\u201d said Arthur W. Toga<\/em>, a professor of neurology at the UCLA School of Medicine.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a scientist, how can you ever find something that\u2019s more interesting than the organ in our body which makes us who we are?\u201d\u00a0 Toga said.<\/p>\n You can see the findings from the Atlas here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n On the ASX, two companies that focus on brain mapping research are Compumedics (ASX:CMP)<\/a><\/strong> and EMVision (ASX:EMV)<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Compumedics<\/strong> is a medical device company focused on diagnostics technology (the magnetoencephalography, or MEG system)<\/strong> for the sleep, brain and ultrasonic blood flow monitoring applications.<\/p>\n MEG is a functional neuro-imaging technique for mapping brain activity by recording magnetic fields produced by electrical currents occurring naturally in the brain using very sensitive detectors.<\/p>\n Founded in 1987 by current executive chairman Dr. David Burton, the company owns US-based Neuroscan<\/em>, and Germany-based DWL Elektronishe GmbH<\/em>.<\/p>\n Over the years, Compumedics has also received numerous awards, including Australia\u2019s Exporter of the Year, and has been recognised as a Top 100 Innovator by both German and Australian governments.<\/p>\n EMVision<\/strong> meanwhile is a medical device company focusing on several pipelines including neuro-imaging devices.<\/p>\n The company\u2019s Electromagnetic imaging (EMI)<\/strong> is an emerging technology that transmits low energy electromagnetic waves from a ring of transceivers around the head, modified as they pass through abnormal tissue, providing unique signatures for brain pathology.<\/p>\n EMVision\u2019s portable brain scanner meanwhile is an ultra light weight device embedded in standard road and air ambulances to deliver pre-hospital stroke diagnosis.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Swipe or scroll to reveal the full table. Click headings to sort<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n WordPress Tables Plugin<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Intelicare (ASX:ICR)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n ICR has been rising after executing a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bolton Clarke as a precursor to a Strategic Partnership Agreement.<\/p>\n Bolton Clarke is Australia\u2019s largest independent not-for-profit aged care provider, supporting more than 130,000 people at home and in its 88 residential homes and 38 retirement villages.<\/p>\n ICR also executed a binding Reseller Agreement with JNC Technologies to deploy the InteliCare platform to JNC\u2019s client Hardi Aged Care.<\/p>\n The contract value is expected to be $1.8 million in hardware implementation, and on full deployment will generate in excess of $0.5 million in annual recurring SaaS fees with an initial term of three years, representing InteliCare\u2019s largest commercial deployment to date.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 4D Medical (ASX:4DX)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Market darling 4D Medical has been rising after a series of announcements.<\/p>\n The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with\u00a0Koninklijke Philips N.V. (NYSE: PHG).<\/p>\n Philips is a leading global healthcare company, and the deal will establish a strategic collaboration to expand federal and commercial sales opportunities for\u00a04DX\u2019s XV Technology\u00a0in North America.<\/p>\n 4DX has also been surging after announcing that its\u00a0XV LVAS scanning device\u00a0has been included into the\u00a0US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).<\/p>\n The inclusion today means that from 1 January 2024, XV LVAS scans conducted in a US hospital outpatient facility for Medicare patients can be billed to CMS.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, 4DMedical has also signed a binding agreement to acquire US-based medical technology company, Imbio.<\/p>\n Imbio will be acquired for an upfront purchase price of US$25 million (approximately $38.5 million), plus a contingent earnout including one tranche of up to US$10 million in CY24, and two tranches of up to US$5 million each in CY25.<\/p>\n To fund the deal, 4DX successfully completed a capital raising of $35 million by way of a placement.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Clarity Pharma (ASX:CU6)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Clarity is one of the best stocks this month after it showed that the first prostate cancer patient ever to be dosed with two cycles of 8GBq of 67Cu-SAR-bisPSMA has had a drop in PSA to undetectable levels.<\/p>\n The patients were subjects in the Clarity\u2019s theranostic trial, SECuRE, evaluating 64Cu\/67Cu-SAR-bisPSMA in patients with mCRPC (metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer).<\/p>\n PSA is a known marker of tumour burden, clinical response to treatment, and an indicator of the recurrence of disease for prostate cancer.<\/p>\n The company also announced the commencement of its registrational Phase III 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA diagnostic trial in prostate cancer, CLARIFY, following the initiation of the first clinical site at the Urology Cancer Center \/ XCancer Omaha.<\/p>\n The aim of the CLARIFY study is to assess the diagnostic performance of 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA to detect regional nodal metastasis in participants with high-risk prostate cancer prior to radical prostatectomy.<\/p>\n The study expects to recruit 383 participants at multiple clinical sites across the US and Australia.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n PYC Therapeutics (ASX:PYC)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n RNA-therapies focused biotech PYC Therapeutics said its fourth drug candidate had disease-modifying potential in patients with end-stage renal failure due to PKD (polycystic kidney disease).<\/p>\n A study conducted by PYC in human three-dimensional models showed that its investigational drug candidate, PYC-003, could address PKD at the root cause.<\/p>\n Results showed a deduction in cyst size and frequency following treatment with PYC-003 in a human 3D model, which was generated using tissue collected directly from the kidneys of PKD patients.<\/p>\n These results complement data from animal models highlighting the ability of PYC-003 to reach the cells affected in PKD.<\/p>\n PKD is a life-changing disease affecting 1 in every 1,000 people, with an addressable market of >US$10 billion per annum. As such, it is an area of major commercial interest for the drug development industry.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Compumedics (ASX:CMP)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Medical devices company\u00a0Compumedics said it has received\u00a0two new MEG orders totalling $9.3 million in China.<\/p>\n MEG is a neuro-imaging device for mapping brain activity by recording magnetic fields produced by electrical currents occurring naturally in the brain, using very sensitive detectors.<\/p>\n The orders today were made by\u00a0Tsinghua\u00a0and\u00a0Tianjin Universities\u00a0in China. These sales are via Compumedics\u2019 long-term Chinese distributor for the company\u2019s brain research technology.<\/p>\n The MEG systems will be shipped to both Tsinghua and Tianjin Universities in FY25, due to the lead times associated with production of the MEG systems.<\/p>\n One order is for two single-helmet MEG systems, and the other is for a dual-helmet MEG system. Both will be configured for hyperscanning (measurement of two subjects simultaneously to study their interaction).<\/p>\n Compumedics expects to receive deposits this week securing the two new orders, with funds tied to shipment and installation due later in FY24 and then through FY25.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The post Check Up: Introducing the Brain Atlas, the largest map of the human brain. And recent ASX biotech winners<\/a> appeared first on Stockhead<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What did the Atlas find?<\/h2>\n
Two ASX stocks focusing on brain analysis<\/h2>\n
Best performing ASX biotechs over the past month<\/h2>\n