Cell Therapy News Volume 10.38 | Sep 28 2009

Learn to Culture Mesenchymal Stem Cells with The Cell Experts(TM)
STEMCELL Technologies is offering a 2-day Mesenchymall Stem Cell Training Course to provide hands-on instruction in the in the isolation and culture of human and mouse mesenchymal stem cells.
October 2-3, Vancouver, Canada
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Complimentary Webinar: Defined, Serum-Free Culture of MSCs using MesenCult(R)-ACF Medium
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Researchers Isolates Liver Cancer Stem Cells Prior to Tumor Formation
Using a unique approach that involves study of individual cells, scientists have demonstrated for the first time a population of cancer stem cells in the liver prior to tumor formation. [Penn State College of Medicine, Pittsburgh]
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Researchers at Hohenstein Successfully Colonies a Textile Implant with Human Stem Cells
Researchers have developed a method to embed multipotent mesenchymal stem cells onto the surface fibers of common surgical fabric implants. [Hohenstein Institute, Stuttgart]
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Math Used As a Tool to Heal Toughest of Wounds
Scientists expect a new mathematical model of chronic wound healing could replace intuition with clear guidance on how to test treatment strategies in tackling a major public-health problem. [Ohio State University, Columbus]
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Stem Cell Study Raises Hope for Bone Repair Pastes
New stem cell studies demonstrate that surgeons could one day routinely use strong, moldable, and injectable pastes to regenerate needed bone tissue to repair broken bones, fractures, genetic defects, even combat bone wounds. [University of Maryland Dental School, Baltimore]
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Junk DNA May Prove Invaluable in Quest for Gene Therapies
Scientists have identified how a protein enables sections of so-called junk DNA to be cut and pasted within genetic code – a finding which could speed development of gene therapies. [University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh]
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Snorting Can Deliver Cells to the Brain
Researchers have shown that when stem cells suspended in fluid are snorted, they rapidly migrate into the brain. [University of Minnesota, Minneapolis]
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Immune Cells Offer Hope for Injured Lungs
New research in mice is shedding light on how a special group of immune cells heal badly injured lungs. [Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore]
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Pluristem Therapeutics Doses First Patient in U.S. With Placenta-Derived Stem Cell Product PLX-PAD in a Phase I Clinical Trial for Treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. recently announced the dosing of the first patient in the U.S. with its placenta-derived stem cell product, PLX-PAD, in a Phase I clinical trial for the treatment of critical limb ischemia. [Pluristem Therapeutics, Haifa]
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Surgeons Use Artificial Heart, Stem Cells to Save Patient
A British surgeon saved a dying heart patient by giving him an artificial heart and injecting him with stem cells to rebuild the damaged muscle in a procedure believed to be a world first. [John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford]
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Neuralstem Receives FDA Approval to Commence First ALS Stem Cell Trial
Neuralstem, Inc. recently announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved its Investigational New Drug application to commence a Phase I trial to treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis with its spinal cord stem cells. [Neuralstem Inc., Rockville]
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Patients’ Legs Saved from Amputation Using Adult Stem Cells
Researchers have treated 33 patients during the Phase I and Phase II safety/efficacy clinical trials using a combination of the patient’s own endothelial progenitor cells and mesenchymal stem cells for lower limb ischemia. [TCA Cellular Therapy, Covington]
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Enrolment Complete for Second Group of Heart Failure Patients Treated with “Off-the-Shelf” Adult Stem Cells
Mesoblast Limited recently announced successful completion of enrolment of the second group of 20 patients randomized to receive an increased dose of Revascor(TM), the proprietary allogeneic, universal adult stem cell product for congestive heart failure. [Mesoblast Limited, Melbourne]
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Historic Gene Therapy Trial to Treat Alzheimer’s Disease Underway
Researchers are now recruiting volunteers for a national gene therapy trial for the treatment of patients with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. [Georgetown University, Washington]
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ABSTRACTS, REVIEWS AND SPECIAL REPORTS

A Luminal Epithelial Stem Cell that is a Cell of Origin for Prostate Cancer
This study shows that a known regulator of prostate epithelial differentiation, the homeobox gene Nkx3-1, marks a stem cell population that functions during prostate regeneration. [Nature]
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The Tumor Suppressor p53 Regulates Polarity of Self-Renewing Divisions in Mammary Stem Cells
Using the ErbB2 transgenic model of breast cancer, this paper found that self-renewing divisions of cancer stem cells are more frequent than their normal counterparts, unlimited and symmetric, thus contributing to increasing numbers of stem cells in tumoral tissues. [Cell]
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Maryland, California Team on Stem Cell Research
Maryland stem cell researchers are teaming up with their counterparts in California to form a new research collaboration state officials hope will lead to more grant money and scientific breakthroughs.
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Canadians to Present Ethics Code for Stem Cell Studies
The Stem Cell Charter is a collective call to action in support of stem cell research detailing how that science should be advanced.
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Florida Biologix(R) Announces Manufacturing Agreement with America Stem Cell Inc.
America Stem Cell and Florida Biologix team up to get an important cancer therapy to the clinic that can potentially making a life-changing difference for patients with blood-related cancers such as Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma.
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Opexa Triggers Milestone Payment Under Recently Announced Stem Cell Agreement
Opexa Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has achieved its first technology transfer milestone in connection with the company’s recently announced exclusive stem cell agreement with Novartis for $500,000.
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BioTime Sets Up Subsidiary in China to Develop Stem Cell Therapeutics
BioTime is setting up an Asian subsidiary based at the Nanshan Memorial Medical Institute in Hong Kong focusing on ophthalmologic, skin, musculoskeletal, and hematologic diseases.
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Stem Cell Therapy International, Inc. Announces Merger With Histostem and Launching of AmStem International, Inc.
Terms of the deal called for Stem Cell Therapy to acquire a 90 percent controlling interest in the securities of Histostem, and for Histostem to acquire a 60% controlling interest in the securities of Stem Cell Therapy.
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Johns Hopkins Passes $100 Million Mark in Stimulus Funds
The Johns Hopkins University has won 250 research grants, totaling $114 million, through provisions in the federal stimulus package designed to advance scientific and medical knowledge while jump-starting the U.S. economy.
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Pitt Researchers Net $5 Million from NIH to Explore Better Ways to Grow Cells for Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine researchers at the University of Pittsburgh received two grants totaling more than $5 million from the National Institutes of Health to explore new methods for cultivating replacement cells from existing tissues and organs.
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Buying Binge Hits Biotech Firms
That appears to be the new mantra for the Massachusetts life sciences industry, where the strengthening economy and rising stock market have sparked a small wave of acquisitions.
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NIH Opens Website for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines for Approval and Announces Members of Working Group
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NIH Clinical Center Testing Automated Cell Expansion System
The ease and security of automation is coming to bone marrow stromal cell expansion in a new machine in the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center’s Department of Transfusion Medicine.
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Extension of the Expiration Date for PA-06-042 the Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA):R15 (NOT-OD-09-152)
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2009 Meeting Materials, Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee – Summary
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Waivers for Conflict of Interest for the October 9, 2009 Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee
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Von Eschenbach Takes New Job — Trying to Overhaul FDA
Former FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach has joined Newt Gingrich’s health think tank, the Center for Health Transformation, as an adviser.
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American College of Physicians Offers Series of Recommendations to Expand Authority
A new policy paper notes that the FDA has been chronically underfunded, has limited regulatory authority, and insufficient organizational structure to effectively undertake the complex task of regulating the safety and effectiveness of new and approved drugs.
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Complete List of Licensed Products and Establishments
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Roster of the Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee
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