wistar institute

(The Wistar Institute) Researchers at the Wistar Institute have deciphered the structure of the active region of telomerase, an enzyme that plays a major role in the development of nearly all human cancers.

The landmark achievement opens the door to the creation of new, broadly effective cancer drugs, as well as anti-aging therapies.

The study will be published online in Nature on Aug. 31.

(The Wistar Institute) Wistar Institute scientists have developed a new type of enzyme inhibitor capable of blocking a biochemical pathway that plays a key role in cancer development.

Based on studies in human melanoma cells, the research paves the way for developing new ways to treat cancer by dampening overactive enzyme activity that leads to uncontrolled tumor growth.

The study shows how small-molecule inhibitors can be designed to target a family of signaling proteins, called phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinases, or PI3Ks.

The winner of the 2008 Wistar Institute Science Journalism Award is Terry McDermott, a Los Angeles Times staff writer.

McDermott's winning entry, a four-part investigative study of research on memory, is titled "Chasing Memory: One Man's Epic Quest for Understanding." For his work, he will receive a cash prize of $5,000.

For the first time, the judges also awarded an honorable mention -- to Chip Rowe, senior editor at Playboy magazine, for his articles on male sexuality.

Cell lines developed by Wistar Institute scientist have been made available to researchers worldwide through the Coriell Institute for Medical Research.

Researchers can now access the biological materials for use in the development of vaccines and treatments for melanoma, influenza and other deadly diseases.