Diseases:
#1 Asthma
1)Describe the cause of the disorder.
~Airborne allergens
~Cold air
~Physical activity (exercise-induced)
~Strong emotions and stress
Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lung. This inflammatory process can occur along the entire airway from the nose to the lung. Once the airway becomes swollen and inflamed, it becomes narrower, and less air gets through to the lung tissue. This causes symptoms like wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing. During an asthma attack, the muscles around the airways tighten up and the asthma symptoms become even worse than usual.
2) Describe the problem with current therapy.
There is no long term solution
Inhalers are short-term.
3) Describe a possible biotech product which you could make to solve the problem. What therapeutic approaches (i.e. solutions) have been developed/attempted so far?
Vaccine or gene therapy biologics.
Something to help against airway becoming inflamed and swollen, which causes less air to be able to go through the lung tissue.
#2 Alzheimer’s
1)Describe the cause of the disorder.
Alzheimer's disease results from a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors that affect the brain over time.
2) Describe the problem with current therapy.
There isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
3) Describe a possible biotech product which you could make to solve the problem. What therapeutic approaches (i.e. solutions) have been developed/attempted so far?
Genetic therapy
#3 (Rheumatoid) Arthritis
1)Describe the cause of the disorder.
Faulty immune system- starts attacking healthy joint tissues
2) Describe the problem with current therapy.
No cure, but medicines that helps the arthritis (can have severe side effects)
3) Describe a possible biotech product which you could make to solve the problem. What therapeutic approaches (i.e. solutions) have been developed/attempted so far?
Vaccine, Pill, Injection, gene therapy-- something that can cure the immune system and not have negative side effects
#4 HIV
1)Describe the cause of the disorder.
It destroys CD4 cells. Your immune system weakens.
2) Describe the problem with current therapy.
No cure
3) Describe a possible biotech product which you could make to solve the problem. What therapeutic approaches (i.e. solutions) have been developed/attempted so far?
Vaccine
1)Describe the cause of the disorder.
~Airborne allergens
~Cold air
~Physical activity (exercise-induced)
~Strong emotions and stress
Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lung. This inflammatory process can occur along the entire airway from the nose to the lung. Once the airway becomes swollen and inflamed, it becomes narrower, and less air gets through to the lung tissue. This causes symptoms like wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing. During an asthma attack, the muscles around the airways tighten up and the asthma symptoms become even worse than usual.
2) Describe the problem with current therapy.
There is no long term solution
Inhalers are short-term.
3) Describe a possible biotech product which you could make to solve the problem. What therapeutic approaches (i.e. solutions) have been developed/attempted so far?
Vaccine or gene therapy biologics.
Something to help against airway becoming inflamed and swollen, which causes less air to be able to go through the lung tissue.
#2 Alzheimer’s
1)Describe the cause of the disorder.
Alzheimer's disease results from a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors that affect the brain over time.
2) Describe the problem with current therapy.
There isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
3) Describe a possible biotech product which you could make to solve the problem. What therapeutic approaches (i.e. solutions) have been developed/attempted so far?
Genetic therapy
#3 (Rheumatoid) Arthritis
1)Describe the cause of the disorder.
Faulty immune system- starts attacking healthy joint tissues
2) Describe the problem with current therapy.
No cure, but medicines that helps the arthritis (can have severe side effects)
3) Describe a possible biotech product which you could make to solve the problem. What therapeutic approaches (i.e. solutions) have been developed/attempted so far?
Vaccine, Pill, Injection, gene therapy-- something that can cure the immune system and not have negative side effects
#4 HIV
1)Describe the cause of the disorder.
It destroys CD4 cells. Your immune system weakens.
2) Describe the problem with current therapy.
No cure
3) Describe a possible biotech product which you could make to solve the problem. What therapeutic approaches (i.e. solutions) have been developed/attempted so far?
Vaccine