ECRI.org Health Technology Forecasthttp://www.ta.ecri.org/forecastCopyright 2009 ECRINew and Updated Forecast profilesen-us1/6/2009 3:04:21 PM1/6/2009 3:04:21 PM5htais@ecri.orgScientists successfully model spinal muscular atrophy using stem cellshttp://www.ta.ecri.org/forecast/prod/summary/detail.aspx?doc_id=11269&e=7 Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA) announced that they have created a working model of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a commonly inherited form of neurological disease, using stem cells. Their results, published in Nature (2008 Dec 21 [Epub ahead of print]), could change SMA research and assist in the development of new drug compounds or therapies.1/5/2009Plavix label may soon contain genetic testing recommendationshttp://www.ta.ecri.org/forecast/prod/summary/detail.aspx?doc_id=11268&e=7 Pharmacogenetic determinants of the response of patients who take clopidogrel (Plavix) contribute to variability in the biologic antiplatelet activity of the drug. But results from recent studies don't come to consistent conclusions on the number of patients who could be affected by this variability, a fact that may hold up any change required in labeling required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Wall Street Journal reported.1/5/2009Portable closed-loop glucose management system (artificial pancreas) for diabeteshttp://www.ta.ecri.org/forecast/prod/summary/detail.aspx?doc_id=8507&e=7 The holy grail in diabetes management for patients who are on an intensive insulin management program and need daily exogenous insulin is a closed-loop system--one in which an external or implanted system gauges insulin needs automatically and delivers the needed insulin to the patient in the right amount at the right time.12/30/2008Scientists develop highly selective molecular imaging technique for HER2+ cancer cellshttp://www.ta.ecri.org/forecast/prod/summary/detail.aspx?doc_id=11267&e=7 Researchers from the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan) have developed a highly selective, activatable fluorescence probe to image individual tumor cells.12/29/2008Restorative lung transplant technique could increase donor lung supplyhttp://www.ta.ecri.org/forecast/prod/summary/detail.aspx?doc_id=11266&e=7 Researchers from University Health Network at University of Toronto (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) have developed a restorative technique for treating injured donor lungs prior to transplantation, and they speculate this procedure could double the number of viable lungs available for transplantation.12/29/2008