Cell Therapy News Volume 10.44 | Nov 9 2009

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Treatment with a New Gene Therapy Vector: A First Success Treating a Brain Disease
Two children with adrenoleukodystrophy, a fatal brain disease, have been successfully treated with a new gene therapy vector. [National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg]
Article

Gene Therapy Makes Major Stride in ‘Lorenzo’s Oil’ Disease
In the third gene-therapy success of recent weeks, French researchers have arrested the progression of the rare and fatal degenerative disorder adrenoleukodystrophy. [Paris Descartes University, Paris]
Article

First Report of Using Radiolabeled Antibodies and Stem Cell Transplantation to Successfully Treat Advanced Leukemia
For the first time, researchers have reported the use of a radiolabeled antibody to deliver targeted doses of radiation, followed by a stem cell transplant, to successfully treat a group of leukemia and pre-leukemia patients. [Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle]
Article

Successful Bone Marrow Regeneration in Cancer Patients Using Cord Blood Expanded by Proprietary Stem Cells
Mesoblast Limited recently announced that the proprietary mesenchymal precursor cells expanded haematopoietic stem cells in umbilical cord blood by approximately 40-fold. [Mesoblast Limited, Melbourne]
Article

New Clues to Why Stem Cells Stop Dividing
Scientists have pieced together a mechanism that causes a type of human adult stem cell to permanently stop dividing after being exposed to ionizing radiation. [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley]
Article

Unraveling the Mechanisms Behind Organ Regeneration in Zebrafish
Researchers have identified an essential cellular pathway in zebrafish that paves the way for limb regeneration by unlocking gene expression patterns last seen during embryonic development. [Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla]
Article

Alnylam Presents New Pre-Clinical Data on ALN-TTR, an RNAi Therapeutic for the Treatment of Transthyretin-Mediated Amyloidosis
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. recently presented new pre-clinical research findings for ALN-TTR, a systemically delivered RNAi therapeutic targeting the TTR gene for the treatment of amyloidosis. [Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge]
Article

Alnylam Presents New Pre-Clinical Data on RNAi Therapeutics at Oligonucleotides Therapeutics Society Meeting
At a recent meeting, researchers presented for the first time the rational design and characterization of mimetic lipoprotein particles as an RNAi delivery platform. [Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Cambridge]
Article

Immune Therapy Can Protect Against or Treat Later Lymphoma
Specially developed immune system cells that target the common Epstein-Barr virus can protect immune-suppressed bone marrow transplant recipients against lymph system disease and cancers that arise from the viral infection. [Baylor College of Medicine, Houston]
Article

ABSTRACTS, REVIEWS AND SPECIAL REPORTS

Generation of Lung Epithelial-like Tissue from Human Embryonic Stem Cells
The aim of the present study was an investigation on the effect of specific culture conditions on differentiation of hESC into lung epithelial cells. [Respir Res]
Article

FM19G11, a New HIF Modulator, Affects Stem Cell Differentiation Status
The results reported in this paper show the discovery of FM19G11, a novel chemical entity that inhibits the HIF{alpha} proteins that repress the target genes of the two {alpha} subunits, in various tumor cell lines as well as in adult and embryonic stem cell models from rodents and humans, respectively. [J Biol Chem]
Article

Patenting Human Pluripotent Cells: Balancing Commercial, Academic and Ethical Interests
The article addresses the issue of the ethics of patenting in human embryonic stem cells. [Hum Reprod]
Article

Stem Cell Research Bringing Jobs and Innovation to Ontario, Canada
Ontario, Canada is supporting a world-class stem cell research project to help revolutionize treatments for major health conditions like cancer, heart disease and traumatic injuries, and create high-value jobs in Toronto.
Article

$2.1M Provided for Stem Cell Education
The Empire State Stem Cell Board has awarded funds to faculty members statewide to develop new curricula for college students seeking to learn about stem cell science.
Article

Bill Could Strictly Regulate Stem Cell Research
Michigan State University researchers are concerned regulations on embryonic stem cell research proposed in a Michigan Senate Committee would interfere with their progress.
Article

Gladstone and Stanford in Collaboration to Develop Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Cardiac Therapies
Scientists at the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and Stanford University School of Medicine will collaborate in a new consortium funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to develop stem cell and regenerative medicine therapies.
Article

Osiris Therapeutics Achieves $15 Million Milestone Payment
Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. recently announced that the company has achieved a $15 million milestone payment from NuVasive related to the sale of the Osteocel business.
Article

Stem Cell Therapy International, Inc. and Histostem Korea Announce $5 Million Financing Commitment
Stem Cell Therapy International Inc. and its soon to be subsidiary, Histostem Ltd. of South Korea, announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for up to a $5 million investment commitment with Socius Life Science Capital Group, LLC.
Article

NIH Awards $27 Million in Recovery Act Funds to Enhance Scientist and Resource Networking
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Non-Competing Grant Awards under the Current Continuing Resolution (NOT-OD-10-012)
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Revised PHS 416-9 Progress Report for Continuation Support for the Individual Fellowship Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Now Available Change for Human Embryonic Stem Cells Implemented (NOT-OD-10-011)
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2009 Meeting Materials of the Blood Products Advisory Committee
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FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (Unite States)

FDA Transparency Task Force to Hold 2nd Public Meeting on Ensuring That Agency Information is Useful, Understandable, and Accessible
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Waivers for Conflicts of Interest for the November 16-17, 2009 Blood Products Advisory Committee Meeting
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Guidance for Industry: Considerations for Allogeneic Pancreatic Islet Cell Products
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