| SCIENCE NEWSResearchers Identify How Bone-Marrow Stem Cells Hold Their 'Breath' in Low-Oxygen Environments Researchers have identified unique metabolic properties that allow a specific type of stem cell in the body to survive and replicate in low-oxygen environments. [Press release from UT Southwestern Medical Center discussing online prepublication in Cell Stem Cell]
New Discovery by University of Georgia Scientists Shows that Cancer-Causing Gene is also Crucial in the Development of Stem Cells A research team at the University of Georgia has shown for the first time that a gene called Myc may be far more important in the development and persistence of stem cells than was known before. [Press release from the University of Georgia discussing online prepublication in Cell Stem Cell]
Researchers Unveil “Toolbox of MiniPromoters” for Gene Research and Therapy University of British Columbia researchers have led the development of a new “toolbox of MiniPromoters” for research and future therapies on brain, spinal cord and eye function. [Press release from The University of British Columbia discussing online prepublication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA] Applying Stem Cell Technology to Liver Diseases Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) hold promise for cell replacement therapy and modeling human disease. Two independent research groups — at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, and the University of California San Francisco — have now shown that both possibilities are true for iPS cell-derived liver cells. [Press release from EurekAlert! discussing online prepublication in the Journal of Clinical Investigation]
First Genetic Link to Common Migraine Exposed A world-wide collaboration of researchers has identified the first-ever genetic risk factor associated with common types of migraine. [Press release from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute discussing online prepublication in Nature Genetics]
Bone Marrow Cells Can Help in Heart Failure: Study Patients with chronic heart failure given injections of their own bone marrow stem cells have better heart function and live longer, German researchers said. [Reuters Press Release]
Transplanting Gut Microbes to Treat Disease Earlier this summer, scientists reported the success of an unusual medical transplant; a woman with a life-threatening Clostridium difficile infection was treated, and apparently cured, with an injection of some of her healthy husband's gut bacteria. Researchers are now exploring the effects of this type of transplant in greater detail. They hope to eventually treat a wide range of ailments–from bowel diseases to obesity, diabetes to depression–by manipulating the bacteria that live in the human gut. [Press release from MIT Technology Review discussing online prepublication in Genome Research]
U-M Researchers Receive Largest Single Collection of Psoriasis DNA Samples Millions of Americans struggling with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are one step closer to a cure with the release of the first National Psoriasis Victor Henschel BioBank DNA samples for use in research at the University of Michigan Health System; research that hopes to uncover the unknowns about the genetics of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. [University of Michigan Health System Press Release]
Live Imaging Puts New Light on Stem Cell Division A long-held assumption about asymmetrical division of stem cells has cracked. Researchers report that the mitotic spindle does not act alone — that cortical proteins help to position a cleavage furrow in the right location. A three-member team focused on Drosophila neural stem cells, long known for dividing asymmetrically. [Press release from the University of Oregon discussing online prepublication in Nature]
Insulin Resistance, Type 2 Diabetes Linked to Plaques Associated With Alzheimer's Disease People with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes appear to be at an increased risk of developing plaques in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to new research. [Press release from ScienceDaily discussing online prepublication in Neurology]
New Study Sheds Light on Painkilling System in Brain Repeatedly boosting brain levels of one natural painkiller soon shuts down the brain cell receptors that respond to it, so that the painkilling effect is lost, according to a surprising new study. [Press release from The Scripps Research Institute discussing online prepublication in Nature Neuroscience]
Light at Night and Cancer The researchers’ hypothesis was that Light at Night (LAN) harms production of melatonin, a hormone that is released from the pineal gland during the dark part of the 24h cycle and which is linked to the body’s cyclical night-day activity and seasonality. When this hormone is suppressed, the occurrence of cancer rises. The current study set out to establish or refute this hypothesis. [University of Haifa Press Release]
New TB Diagnostic Proves Effective, Expedient, Study Finds A molecular test designed to easily diagnose tuberculosis (TB) and detect a drug-resistant form of the bacterium that causes TB can provide much more specific, sensitive and rapid results than currently available TB diagnostics, according to a new study. [Press release from the National Institutes of Health discussing online prepublication in the New England Journal of Medicine]
Third Generation Map of Human Genetic Variation Published An international consortium published a third-generation map of human genetic variation, called the HapMap, which includes data from an additional seven global populations, increasing the total number to 11 populations. The improved resolution will help researchers interpret current genome studies aimed at finding common and rarer genetic variants associated with complex diseases. [Press release from the National Institutes of Health discussing online prepublication in Nature]
Explaining “How & Why” Cancer Cells Eat Us Alive Four key studies now propose a new theory about how cancer cells grow and survive, allowing researchers to design better diagnostics and therapies to target high-risk cancer patients. [Press release from Newswise discussing online prepublications in Cell Cycle]
Study Points to Key Genetic Driver of Severe Asthma Scientists have identified a genetic basis for determining the severity of allergic asthma in experimental models of the disease. The study may help in the search for future therapeutic strategies to fight a growing medical problem that currently lacks effective treatments. [Press release from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center discussing online prepublication in Nature Immunology]
CURRENT PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by Impact Factor of the Journal)
Rapid Molecular Detection of Tuberculosis and Rifampin Resistance Researchers assessed the performance of Xpert MTB/RIF, an automated molecular test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and resistance to rifampin (RIF), with fully integrated sample processing in 1730 patients with suspected drug-sensitive or multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis. [New Engl J Med] A Spindle-Independent Cleavage Furrow Positioning Pathway Researchers show that early and late furrow proteins (Pavarotti, Anillin, and Myosin) are localized to the neuroblast basal cortex at anaphase onset by a Pins cortical polarity pathway, and can induce a basally displaced furrow even in the complete absence of a mitotic spindle. [Nature] Integrating Common and Rare Genetic Variation in Diverse Human Populations This expanded public resource (‘HapMap 3’) of genome variants in global populations supports deeper interrogation of genomic variation and its role in human disease, and serves as a step towards a high-resolution map of the landscape of human genetic variation. [Nature] Genome-Wide Association Study of Migraine Implicates a Common Susceptibility Variant on 8q22.1 Researchers identified the minor allele of rs1835740 on chromosome 8q22.1 to be associated with migraine (P = 5.38 × 10-9, odds ratio = 1.23, 95% CI 1.150–1.324) in a genome-wide association study of 2,731 migraine cases ascertained from three European headache clinics and 10,747 population-matched controls. [Nat Genet] Atomic Structure of Human Adenovirus by Cryo-EM Reveals Interactions Among Protein Networks Here, researchers report the structure of the whole human adenovirus virion at 3.6 angstroms resolution by cryo–electron microscopy (cryo-EM), revealing in situ atomic models of three minor capsid proteins (IIIa, VIII, and IX), extensions of the (penton base and hexon) major capsid proteins, and interactions within three protein-protein networks. [Science] Myc Represses Primitive Endoderm Differentiation in Pluripotent Stem Cells Here scientists report that codeletion of c- and N-MYC in induced pluripotent stem cells and embryonic stem cells results in their spontaneous differentiation to primitive endoderm. [Cell Stem Cell] The Distinct Metabolic Profile of Hematopoietic Stem Cells Reflects Their Location in a Hypoxic Niche Here, researchers show that long-term hematopoietic stem cells utilize glycolysis instead of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to meet their energy demands. [Cell Stem Cell] s-SHIP Promoter Expression Marks Activated Stem Cells in Developing Mouse Mammary Tissue Researchers used the s-SHIP promoter to tag presumptive stem cells with GFP in the embryos of a transgenic mouse model. [Gene Dev] Reshaping the Gut Microbiome with Bacterial Transplantation and Antibiotic Intake In this study, researchers took advantage of recently developed tools for deep sequencing and phylogenetic clustering to examine the long-term effects of exogenous microbiota transplantation combined with and without an antibiotic pretreatment. [Genome Res] A Regulatory Toolbox of MiniPromoters to Drive Selective Expression in the Brain The Pleiades Promoter Project integrates genomewide bioinformatics with large-scale knockin mouse production and histological examination of expression patterns to develop MiniPromoters and related tools designed to study and treat the brain by directed gene expression. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A] Insulin Resistance is Associated with the Pathology of Alzheimer Disease Researchers examined the association between diabetes-related factors and pathology of Alzheimer disease (AD) to evaluate how diabetes affects the pathogenic process of AD. [Neurology]
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| | BUSINESSRoche and Aileron Enter Multi-Target Alliance to Develop Stapled Peptide Drugs for Diseases Across Multiple Therapeutic Areas Aileron Therapeutics and Roche announced that they have entered into a collaboration to discover, develop and commercialize a new class of drugs called Stapled Peptide Therapeutics. [Aileron Therapeutics Press Release] Genzyme Confirms Receipt of Unsolicited Proposal Genzyme Corp. confirmed that it has received an unsolicited, non-binding proposal from Sanofi-Aventis to acquire all the outstanding shares of Genzyme for $69 per share in cash. The Genzyme board of directors unanimously affirmed its previous rejection of Sanofi’s proposal. [Genzyme Corp. Press Release] Lonza Acquires Viral Vaccine and Vector Manufacturer Vivante GMP Solutions Lonza entered the viral based-manufacturing market with its purchase of Vivante GMP Solutions, Inc. [Lonza Group, Ltd. Press Release] Kythera and Bayer Dermatology Unit Intendis Enter Licensing and Development Agreement for Adipolytic Agent ATX-101 Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. and Intendis announced that they have entered into a licensing agreement granting Intendis rights to Kythera’s lead product candidate, ATX-101, outside of the U.S. and Canada. ATX-101, a first-in-class investigational drug, is currently in clinical development for the reduction of submental fat. [Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Press Release] ImmunoSolv Merges with Grampian BioConsultants & Secures Additional Funds ImmunoSolv, a leading Edinburgh-based private company developer of immunology platform technology, is pleased to announce that it has completed a merger with Aberdeen-based Grampian BioConsultants Limited (“GBC”). The merged company will retain the name ImmunoSolv Limited. [ImmunoSolv Limited Press Release] Analysis: Genzyme Units Attract Interest, What About Sanofi? Genzyme Corp is entertaining suitors for a small part of its business, even as it seeks a higher offer for the entire company from France's Sanofi-Aventis SA, which may want to keep them. [Reuters Press Release] Novadaq Signs North American Marketing and Sales Agreement with LifeCell Novadaq® Technologies Inc. announced that it has entered into a five-year agreement with LifeCellâ„¢ Corporation for exclusive rights to market and distribute the SPY® Imaging System in the fields of open plastic reconstructive, gastrointestinal and head and neck surgery in North America. LifeCell is the market leader in regenerative products, such as Alloderm® Tissue Regeneration and Stratticeâ„¢ Reconstructive Tissue Matrices, in the licensed surgical markets. [Novadaq Technologies Inc. Press Release] Afferent Pharmaceuticals Presents Data Supporting Use of P2X3 Antagonists in Reducing Bone Cancer Pain Afferent Pharmaceuticals announced preclinical in vivo results demonstrating that an investigational P2X3 receptor antagonist significantly prevented and reversed bone cancer pain behavior in comparison to vehicle controls. [Afferent Pharmaceuticals Press Release] Cardiome Achieves $30 Million Milestone Cardiome Pharma Corp. announced that it has earned a US $30 million milestone payment from its collaboration with Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada), through an affiliate. [Cardiome Pharma Corp. Press Release] enGene Adds Leading Nanomedicine Expert To Scientific Advisory Board enGene Inc., a privately held biotechnology company developing an innovative platform technology to deliver nucleotides (DNA or siRNA) to mucosal tissue for treating a variety of diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease and diabetes, announced that Dr. Russell J. Mumper has joined the Company's Scientific Advisory Board. [enGene Inc. Press Release] Celator® Pharmaceuticals Raises $20 Million in Series D Financing Celator Pharmaceuticals, a privately held pharmaceutical company developing new and more effective therapies to treat cancer based on the company's proprietary technology, announced that it raised $20 million in a Series D private equity financing. [Celator Pharmaceuticals Press Release] Sirona Biochem Signs Binding Preliminary Agreement to Acquire TFChem Sirona Biochem Corp., a biotechnology company specializing in carbohydrate-based molecules, including therapeutics for diabetes and obesity, announced it has signed a preliminary binding agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of TFChem S.A.S., a privately held France-based drug discovery company specializing in the synthesis and stabilization of carbohydrate-based molecules. [Sirona Biochem Corp. Press Release] Jefferson Researchers Receive $3 Million NIH Grant to Study Molecular and Genetic Mechanisms in Platelets Scientists at Jefferson Medical College have received a four-year, $3 million National Institutes of Health grant funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to study variations of platelet function, specifically, the genetics of platelet gene expression. The study aims to find data that can be translated into novel therapeutic strategies and develop better predictors of cardiovascular disease. [Jefferson University Hospitals Press Release] Cell Therapy Foundation Calls for Additional Research, Extensive Clinical Trials Some of the most promising medical research conducted to treat diseases of the brain, heart, and circulatory system is moving too slowly to help millions of patients, according to the Cell Therapy Foundation, which advocates the use of adult stem cells to dramatically impact and improve the condition of patients who suffer from a variety of conditions. [PR Newswise Press Release] New Cell Transplantation Journal Launched A new and unique journal on cell transplantation aimed at helping translate laboratory findings into clinical applications is being launched by Cognizant Communication Corporation as a companion journal to Cell Transplantation. [EurekAlert! Press Release] Pfizer to Acquire FoldRx Pharmaceuticals Pfizer Inc. and FoldRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held drug discovery and clinical development company, announced that they have entered into an agreement under which Pfizer will acquire FoldRx. [Pfizer Inc. Press Release]
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| NIH NIH Orders Immediate Shutdown of Intramural Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Responding to a court order, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) ordered intramural researchers studying human embryonic stem cells to shut down their experiments. NIH Asks Judge to Suspend Stem Cell Research Injunction Warning of a “devastating impact” on ongoing research, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) asked a federal court to stay a preliminary injunction that last week forced NIH to suspend future grant payments to study human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and shut down its in-house research on hESCs. Lawrence A. Tabak Named Principal Deputy Director NIH National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., announced the appointment of Lawrence A. Tabak, D.D.S., Ph.D., as principal deputy director of the National Institutes of Health. NIH Director's Response to Stem Cell Injunction Status of Applications and Awards Involving Human Embryonic Stem Cells, and Submissions of Stem Cell Lines for Eligibility Consideration (NOT-OD-10-126) Clarification on the Roles of NIH Scientific Review Groups (SRG) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC) in Review of Vertebrate Animal Research (NOT-OD-10-128) Clarification of Eligible Institutions for PA-10-050: Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC, FDA and ACF for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44]) Center for Scientific Review; Amended Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. 2010–21816) Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010–21815) National Institute of Mental Health; Amended Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. 2010–21817) National Human Genome Research Institute; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010–21819) Prospective Grant of Exclusive License: Use of Pentosan Polysulfate To Treat Certain Conditions of the Prostate (FR Doc. 2010–21818)
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EVENTS (Listed by Date)
Third Annual Limbal Stem Cell Meeting September 10, 2010 Reading, United Kingdom International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) – Europe 2nd Regional Meeting September 11-14, 2010 Belgirate, Italy Hydra VI: The European Summer School on Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine September 11-17, 2010 Hydra, Greece Joint Metastasis Research Society – American Association of Cancer Research Conference on Metastasis and the Tumor Microenvironment September 12-15, 2010 Philadelphia, United States Stem Cells USA & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2010 September 13-15, 2010 Philadelphia, United States Select Biosciences 7th Annual RNAi & miRNA Europe September 14-15, 2010 Dublin, Ireland Select Biosciences Inaugural Epigenetics Europe Conference September 14-15, 2010 Dublin, Ireland Select Biosciences Inaugural Genomics Automation Europe Conference September 14-15, 2010 Dublin, Ireland Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) – Asia Pacific 2010 September 15-17, 2010 Sydney, Australia First Annual BIO India International Partnering Conference September 21-22, 2010 Hyderabad, India Cellular Therapy of Cancer Symposium – ATTACK Project Meeting September 24-27, 2010 Montpellier, France International Society for Cellular Therapy 2nd Annual Symposium on Stem Cell Translation: Best Practices & Regulatory Considerations September 27-28, 2010 San Francisco, United States International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy of Cancer (ISCGT) Congress September 27-29, 2010 Doha, Qatar 4th American Association of Cancer Research International Conference on Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development September 27-30, 2010 Denver, United States Select Biosciences 6th Annual Ion Channel Targets Conference September 28-29, 2010 Washington, DC, United States Cytokines 2010: Cytokines in Infectious Diseases, Autoimmune Disorders and Cancer October 3-7, 2010 Chicago, United States 2010 World Stem Cell Summit October 4-6, 2010 Detroit, United States 9th Annual BIO Investor Forum October 5-6, 2010 San Francisco, United States 5th World Congress on Preventive & Regenerative Medicine (WCRM) October 5-7, 2010 Hannover, Germany 17th Annual Meeting German Society for Gene Therapy (DG-GT e.V.) October 6-9, 2010 Munich, Germany COGEM Symposium: GM Viruses as Medicine: Panacea or Pandora's Box? October 7, 2010 Amsterdam, The Netherlands American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) Annual Meeting & Cellular Therapy and Transfusion Medicine Expo (CTTXPO) 2010 October 9-12, 2010 Baltimore, United States 18th Annual BioPartnering Europe October 10-12, 2010 London, United Kingdom 3rd Biobridge “Generation Regeneration” Conference October 11, 2010 Geneva, Switzerland New York Stem Cell Foundation Fifth Annual Translational Stem Cell Research Meeting October 12-13, 2010 New York, United States Translational Cancer Research for Basic Scientists October 17-22, 2010 Boston, United States 2010 NanoMedicine Summit October 18-19, 2010 Cleveland, United States BIO Intellectual Property Counsels Committee Fall Conference and Committee Meeting October 18-20, 2010 Boston, United States 6th Modern Drug Discovery & Development Summit (M3D) October 20-22, 2010 San Francisco, United States European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT) 18th Annual Congress October 22-25, 2010 Milan, Italy 3rd Annual Dubai Congress on Anti-Aging and Aesthetic Medicine (DCAAAM) October 26-27, 2010 Dubai, United Arab Emirates World Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Congress Asia 2010 October 26-29, 2010 Singapore City, Singapore Select Biosciences 3rd Annual Molecular Diagnostics World Congress October 28-29, 2010 San Diego, United States Fraunhofer Life Science Symposium 2010 October 29-30, 2010 Leipzig, Germany Stem Cell Society Singapore Symposium 2010: Translating Science to Therapy November 2-3, 2010 Singapore City, Singapore BioMalaysia 2010 Conference and Exhibition November 2-4, 2010 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia World Cord Blood Congress November 4-7, 2010 Marseille, France Select Biosciences 5th Annual European Biomarkers Summit November 9-10, 2010 Florence, Italy Select Biosciences International Forum on Stem Cells November 12-13, 2010 Tianjin, China Select Biosciences 2nd Annual RNAi Asia Conference November 15-16, 2010 Singapore City, Singapore BIO-Europe International Partnering Conference November 15-17, 2010 Munich, Germany 9th Annual Gene Therapy Symposium for Heart, Lung, and Blood Diseases November 17-19, 2010 Sonoma, United States 8th Annual Commercial Translation of Regenerative Medicine Conference November 18-19, 2010 London, United Kingdom Stem Cell Network 10th Annual Scientific Meeting November 22-24, 2010 Calgary, Canada HealthTech and Medicines Knowledge Transfer Network 7th Annual BioProcessUK Conference November 24-25, 2010 Manchester, United Kingdom 2nd European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) Meeting on Cardiac and Pulmonary Regeneration December 2-3, 2010 Vienna, Austria Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) – North America 2010 Annual Conference December 5-8, 2010 Orlando, United States Select Biosciences 5th Annual Stem Cells World Congress January 24-25, 2011 San Diego, United States BIO Asia International Partnering Conference January 24-25, 2011 Tokyo, Japan Phacilitate 7th Annual Cell & Gene Therapy Forum 2011 January 24-26, 2011 Washington DC, United States Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.
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