I never understood why graduating from high school was such a big deal. I grew up in a home of educators, and getting good grades and attending college were expected. Not pursuing higher education was never a consideration. I excelled academically and enjoyed my high school years; they were some…

Gentle electrical stimulation may help liver cells uptake gene therapies, such as those used to treat hemophilia, according to new research by a team of U.S. scientists. In lab studies, the team found that liver cells exposed to a brief electrical field more easily took up a viral carrier,…

My husband pastors the local First United Methodist Church, where I serve as a deacon. When a parent (or two) goes down the pastoral path, their children are along for the ride. Some preachers’ kids love church, and others, not so much. My youngest son, Caeleb, falls…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the one-time gene therapy fidanacogene elaparvovec for treating certain adults with moderate to severe hemophilia B. The therapy will be sold under the name Beqvez as it is in Canada, where it was approved for a similar indication this…

GeneVentiv Therapeutics has received a $2.5 million grant to conduct further preclinical tests on its one-time infusion gene therapy for hemophilia A and B patients with or without clotting factor inhibitors. The therapy, GENV-HEM, will be tested in a large study with a canine model of hemophilia, following…

The Hemophilia Federation of America recently hosted its annual symposium in Indianapolis. Despite my desire to attend, circumstances didn’t align for me this year. One of the event’s highlights was the debut of digital content agency Believe Limited‘s latest cinematic offering, “On the Shoulders of Giants,” now…

A generic version of DDAVP (desmopressin acetate), a therapy approved to control bleeding episodes in people with mild hemophilia A, is available in the U.S. Avenacy planned to begin shipping the therapy the week of April 15, according to a company press release. The generic is available…

My favorite shows are “Criminal Minds,” “Bones,” and the “Law and Order” franchise. In these police procedural crime dramas, the suspense and action are exciting and the plot twists surprising. Episodes regularly depict hostage situations. Watching actors portray the fear and horror one must…

World Hemophilia Day is today, April 17, and this year’s chosen theme by the World Federation for Hemophilia (WFH) is “Equitable access for all: recognizing all bleeding disorders.” On its website, the WFH called for moving toward “a world where all people with inherited bleeding disorders have…

Several members of my family are diehard Purdue University basketball fans. This year was particularly exciting for them due to Purdue’s performance in the recent NCAA basketball tournament. During a gathering at their house on Easter Sunday, which included watching an important March Madness game, I gained insight…