Cell Therapy News Volume 10.17 | May 11 2009

Learn to culture Neural Stem Cells with the Cell Experts(TM)
STEMCELL Technologies is offering a 2-day Neural Stem Cell Training Course that provides hands-on instruction in the dissection, culture, identification and enumeration of neural stem and progenitor cells.
Visit here to learn more.

May 22-23, 2009, Vancouver, Canada

Extreme Makeover on the Molecular Level? New Method Could Change Cells’ Identities
Scientists have now shown that skin cells can be coaxed to behave like muscle cells—and muscle cells like skin cells—solely by altering who they hang out with.
Article

Hebrew University Researchers Discover Method to Neutralize Tumor Growth in Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy
Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered a method to potentially eliminate the tumor-risk factor in utilizing human embryonic stem cells.
Article

Menstrual Blood Stem Cells May Significantly Increase Yield of Cord Blood Stem Cells
Cryo-Cell International, Inc. announced results of a new study showing that adding menstrual blood stem cells to stem cells from umbilical cord blood expands the number of progenitor cells.
Article

Pervasis Therapeutics Granted Orphan Drug Designation for Vascugel(R)
Pervasis Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has received Orphan Drug Designation for Vascugel(R), a novel allogeneic cell therapy product that may restore natural repair and regeneration pathways in the vasculature.
Article

ABSTRACTS, REVIEWS AND SPECIAL REPORTS

Orally Delivered siRNA Targeting Macrophage Map4k4 Suppresses Systemic Inflammation
This study reports the engineering of beta1,3-d-glucan-encapsulated siRNA particles (GeRPs) as efficient oral delivery vehicles that potently silence genes in mouse macrophages in vitro and in vivo.
Article

A Small Molecule Primes Embryonic Stem Cells for Differentiation
Using a high-content screen, the researchers have identified a small molecule, named stauprimide, that increases the efficiency of the directed differentiation of mouse and human ESCs in synergy with defined extracellular signaling cues.
Article

Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Free of Vector and Transgene Sequences
This paper describes the derivation of human iPS cells with the use of non-integrating episomal vectors.
Article

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TriMark Point of Care Testing Conference 2009
May 11, 2009  |  San Diego, California
Enter “CONNEXON” at checkout and receive 10% off registration.
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Obama Wants Additional $300 Million for FDA
President Barack Obama wants Congress to give the Food and Drug Administration an additional $300 million in its budget, which the agency called the largest funding boost in its history.
Article

Texan Senate Panel Passes Stem Cell Report Bill
A legislative committee has approved a proposal by the Senate’s chief budget writer to require state agencies and universities to report on any stem cell research they are conducting, funding or supporting.
Article

Pfizer, WARF Reach Accord on Stem Cell Drug Therapies
Pfizer Inc. on Tuesday announced a licensing agreement with the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, or WARF, for the development of drug therapies using human embryonic stem cells.
Article

Oxford Biomedica and Sanofi-Aventis Enter New Collaboration to Develop Gene-based Treatments for Ocular Diseases
Oxford BioMedica will receive an upfront payment of US$26 million and committed funding of up to a further US$24 million over three years.
Article

Barricode Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire IP from Azura Stem Cell UK
Barricode has developed an acquisition strategy that will create, over the next few months, a vertically integrated healthcare model applicable to the world’s population.
Article

Cytori and GE Healthcare Form Partnership to Commercialize StemSource Products in the U.S.
Cytori Therapeutics and GE Healthcare, recently announced an agreement by which GE Healthcare will commercialize Cytori’s StemSource technology in the North American stem cell banking and research markets.
Article

Ontario to Provide Major New Research Funding
Ontario, Canada announced recently $100-million in new research funding in a move to keep top talent from fleeing to U.S. laboratories that will soon be awash in stimulus money from the Obama administration.
Article

Pluristem Therapeutics Announces $1.3 Million Securities Offering with Two Institutional Investors
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. announced recently it has entered into definitive agreements to sell common stock and warrants to selected institutional investors for aggregate gross proceeds of $1.3 million.
Article

Sunnyvale Helps Biotech Companies Grow, and Stay in Town
Not known for being a life science hub, Sunnyvale, California is beefing up its biotechnology industry.
Article

Targeted Genetics, Mainstay of Gene Therapy, Faces Likely Shutdown
The Seattle-based biotech company said if it is unable to improve its finances by the end of next month, “We plan to begin the process of ceasing operations, seeking bankruptcy protection or otherwise winding up our business,” according to its quarterly filing with the SEC.
Article

Cord Blood America to Acquire or Build Its Own Stem Cell Laboratory
Cord Blood America said recently it has begun due diligence to either purchase or build its own secure cryogenic stem cell bank for the storage of multiple stem cell products including umbilical cord blood stem cells.
Article

NeoStem Obtains Exclusive Worldwide License for Innovative Stem Cell Technology and Applications to Heal Chronic Wounds
NeoStem, Inc. announced recently it has signed an agreement to license the exclusive worldwide rights to an innovative product and procedure using autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells to promote the healing of chronic wounds.
Article

NIH Awards New Grants to Fund International Research Collaborations 
Link

NIH Grants $122 Million in Institutional Development Awards
The National Center for Research Resources announced recently it will provide up to an estimated $122 million over the next five years to fund Institutional Development Award Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence in seven IDeA-eligible states.
Article

Fogarty International Center Welcomes New Advisory Board Members
The Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health has announced the appointment of six new members to its advisory board.
Article

Announcing a New Business Process for Submitting Revised Abstracts, Specific Aims, and/or Public Health Relevance Statements when Changing the Scope of Proposed Research Projects (NOT-OD-09-088)
Link

Revision of PA-08-191: Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers (NOT-OD-09-094)
Link

Notice of Change to Application Instructions for the 2009 NIH Directors New Innovator Award (DP2) (NOT-RM-09-012)
Link

Human Cell, Tissues and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products (HCT/P) Alphabetical List of Registered Establishments
Link

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (United States)

Revision of the Requirements for Publication of License Revocation
Link

Revision of the Requirements for Publication of License Revocation; Companion Document to Direct Final Rule
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Science Board to the Food and Drug Administration Meeting
Link

Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee Meeting
Link