On Jan. 1, Wisconsin became the first state in the nation to screen all newborns for Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID). Sometimes known as “Bubble Boy Disease,” SCID is a genetic disorder that is fatal without early diagnosis and treatment. Babies diagnosed can be referred for potentially life-saving treatment.

The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services (Milwaukee) has approved moving to phase two of a pilot screening program in which screening for SCID will be routine for all newborns in Wisconsin (estimated at 70,000 annually). The screening has been added to the current panel of 47 other tests that are given to newborns.

The pilot program began one year ago as a collaborative effort between the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin (Milwaukee) and the Jeffrey Modell Foundation. Phase one involved developing a procedure using residual, unidentified blood specimens from Wisconsin’s nationally recognized newborn screening program.

“The collaboration between the State Laboratory and Children’s Hospital has advanced Wisconsin’s health care for newborns at a rapid pace. The outstanding dedication demonstrated by everyone involved is the reason we have progressed to the next phase at a record pace,” said Ronald Laessig, PhD, emeritus director and professor of population health sciences at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, UW-Madison.

Ivivi to list on Nasdaq Capital Market

Ivivi Technologies (Northvale, New Jersey) said that it has received approval for the listing of its common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market and intends to withdraw its common stock from listing on the AMEX. Ivivi anticipates that trading of its common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market will begin on Jan. 2 under the symbol IVVI. Ivivi also expects that the trading of its common stock on the AMEX will cease at the close of business on Dec. 31. Ivivi Technologies makes non-invasive electrotherapeutic technologies.

PLC names RenalGuard trial researchers

PLC Systems (Franklin, Massachusetts), a maker of cardiac and vascular medical device-based technologies, said it has named two lead investigators for the upcoming pivotal trial of its RenalGuard Therapy. The trial is designed as a multi-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of RenalGuard in the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy during cardiovascular and peripheral imaging procedures performed in a catheterization lab.

PLC said it intends to begin enrollment in the RenalGuard Pivotal Trial in early 2008, following receipt of the necessary approval from the FDA.