Cell Therapy News Volume 11.04 | Feb 8 2010

TOP STORY

Scientists Map Epigenome of Human Stem Cells During Development
Singaporean scientists led an international effort to build a map that shows in detail how the human genome is modified during embryonic development. [Press release from the Genome Institute of Singapore discussing the online prepublication in Genome Research]

SCIENCE NEWS

Physicist the First to Measure Energy Released from a Virus During Infection
Physicist Alex Evilevitch has directly measured the energy associated with the expulsion of viral DNA, a pivotal discovery toward fully understanding the physical mechanisms that control viral infection and designing drugs to interfere with the process. [Press release from Carnegie Mellon discussing the online prepublication in the Journal of Molecular Biology]

3-D Scaffold Provides Clean, Biodegradable Structure for Stem Cell Growth
Material scientists have built a three-dimensional scaffold out of a natural material that mimics the binding sites for stem cells, allowing the cells to reproduce on a clean, biodegradable structure. [Press release from the University of Washington discussing the online prepublication in Biomaterials]

Growing Cartilage – No Easy Task
Northwestern University researchers are the first to design a bioactive nanomaterial that promotes the growth of new cartilage in vivo and without the use of expensive growth factors. [Press release from Northwestern University discussing the online prepublication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences]

Transforming Human Fat into Stem Cells Using Virus-Free Technique
Tiny circles of DNA are the key to a new and easier way to transform stem cells from human fat into induced pluripotent stem cells for use in regenerative medicine. [Press release from Science Daily discussing the online prepublication in Nature Methods]

To Restore Vision, Implant Preps and Seeds a Damaged Eye
Researchers trying to restore vision damaged by disease have found promise in a tiny implant that sows seeds of new cells in the eye. [Press release from Case Western Reserve University discussing the online prepublication in Biomaterials]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Tbx3 Improves the Germ-Line Competency of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
This study underscores the intrinsic qualitative differences between induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells generated by different methods, and highlights the need to rigorously characterize iPS cells beyond in vitro studies. [Nature]

Transforming Growth Factor-Beta-Forkhead O Transcription factors Signalling Maintains Leukaemia-Initiating Cells in Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia
Results demonstrate a critical role for the transforming growth factor-beta-forkhead O transcription factors pathway in the maintenance of leukaemia-initiating cells (LIC), and strengthen our understanding of the mechanisms that specifically maintain chronic myeloid leukaemia LICs in vivo. [Nature]

Chromatin-Bound Nuclear Pore Components Regulate Gene Expression in Higher Eukaryotes
Nucleoporins Sec13, Nup98, and Nup88, as well as a group of FG-repeat nucleoporins, bind to the Drosophila genome at functionally distinct loci that often do not represent nuclear envelope contact sites. [Cell]

Regulation of Alternative Splicing by Histone Modifications
Results outline an adaptor system for reading of histone marks by the pre-mRNA splicing machinery. [Science]

A Nonviral Minicircle Vector for Deriving Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers use a single minicircle vector to generate transgene-free induced pluripotent stem cells from adult human adipose stem cells. [Nat Methods]

Human and Mouse Adipose-Derived Cells Support Feeder-Independent Induction of Pluripotent Stem Cells
Adult human and mouse adipose-derived stem cells can be reprogrammed to induced pluripotent stem cells with substantially higher efficiencies than those reported for human and mouse fibroblasts. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

Regenerative Medicine Special Feature: Supramolecular Design of Self-Assembling Nanofibers for Cartilage Regeneration
Results demonstrate the potential of a completely synthetic bioactive biomaterial as a therapy to promote cartilage regeneration. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

Differentiation and Characterization of Metabolically Functioning Hepatocytes from Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers generated a relatively homogenous population of hepatocytes from human embryonic stem cells, which appear to have complete metabolic function that is comparable to primary liver cells. [Stem Cells]

Vorinostat Interferes with the Signaling Transduction Pathway of T Cell Receptor and Synergizes with PI3K Inhibitors in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma
Results demonstrate the potential targets of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, underlining the importance of T cell receptor signaling inhibition following vorinostat treatment. [Haematologica]

Persistent Donor Cell Gene Expression Among Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Contributes to Differences with Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers compare the gene profiles of human induced pluripotent stem cells derived from fetal fibroblasts, neonatal fibroblasts, adipose stem cells, and keratinocytes to their corresponding donor cells and human embryonic stem cells. [PLoS ONE]

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POLICY

United States Rights Group Argues Against Human Gene Patent
A lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups last May posed a broad challenge to gene patenting and its outcome could have far reaching effects because one in five human genes are patented. [American Civil Liberties Union, United States]

Senate Rejects Stem Cell Legislation
By a vote of 21 to 12, the South Dakota Senate shot down a bill that could have repealed South Dakota's ban on embryonic stem cell treatments. [South Dakota Senate, United States]

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BUSINESS

Fate Therapeutics Receives Allowance of First U.S. Patent for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Technology
Fate Therapeutics, Inc. received a Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for U.S. Patent Application Number 10/997,146 entitled “Methods for Reprogramming Somatic Cells.” [Fate Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release]

California Stem Cell and ALS Therapy Development Institute Extend Their Collaboration to Advance Potential Stem Cell Assisted Therapy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Collaboration will further evaluate novel stem cell-derived product for the treatment of fatal neurodegenerative disease by regulating genes relevant to disease progression. [California Stem Cell, Inc. Press Release]

Stem Cells: Science, Economy Edge Religion at the Polls
When it comes to stem cell research as a political issue, Wisconsin voters are more likely to be motivated by ideas of economic benefit and scientific progress than by religious objections, according to a new report. [University of Wisconsin-Madison Press Release]

Clinical Advisory Board Appointments
ReNeuron Group plc recently announced the appointment of four opinion-leading clinicians to its newly-established Clinical Advisory Board for its ReN009 stem cell therapy for peripheral arterial disease. [ReNeuron Group plc Press Release]

ThermoGenesis Announces Major Strategic Development with Completion of New Distribution Agreement with GE Healthcare
Under the revised distribution contract, which runs through July 2012, GE Healthcare will continue to distribute the AXP product line, excluding certain countries in Latin and South America, Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States and Eastern Europe. [ThermoGenesis Corp. Press Release]

Mesynthes Obtains U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) Clearance for Endoform Dermal Template™
Mesynthes announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted 510(k) clearance for the company’s Endoform Dermal Template™. Endoform, a proprietary extracellular matrix biomaterial, provides a unique biologic template for tissue regeneration. [Mesynthes Press Release]

Roche Allies with Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard to Develop Stem Cell-Derived Cell Lines for Drug Discovery
Roche is teaming up with the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University to develop new stem cell-based cell lines as disease models for early drug candidate testing. [Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News]

Private, Public Research Under One Roof at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
When it opens in December, the $205 million Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery will be a showcase of high-tech design and model of collaboration. [Journal Sentinel]

Stem Cell Therapy Closes Merger with Histostem
Stem Cell Therapy International Inc. completed its merger with Histostem Ltd. of South Korea. [Tampa Bay Business Journal]

'Clique' of Scientists Skewing Stem Cell Research by Influencing High-Profile Journals
A small clique of scientists are skewing stem cell research by unduly influencing which breakthroughs get published in high-profile journals, experts have warned. [Telegraph]

NIH

IACUC 101 Workshop and PRIM&R 2010 IACUC Conference: March 21-23, 2010 in Baltimore, MD (NOT-OD-10-059)

Delays in Grant Application Submission Due to Blizzard (NOT-OD-10-060)

Notice of Intent to Establish a New NIH Common Fund Program: Library of Integrated Network-Based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) (NOT-RM-10-002)

CBER

Waivers for Conflicts of Interest for the February 22, 2010 Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting

REGULATORY 

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (United States)

Obama 2011 Budget Request: Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration would see a 6 percent jump in its budget to $2.51 billion. The agency's total resources would reach about $4 billion because of user fees it expects to collect from food, tobacco and drug industries.

MEDICINES AND HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS REGULATORY AGENCY (United Kingdom)

Impersonation of Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency Staff

EVENTS

SMi's 2nd Annual Stem Cells Conference 2010
February 15-16, 2010
London, United Kingdom

Keystone Symposia: Stem Cell Differentiation and Dedifferentiation (B4)
February 15-20, 2010
Keystone, United States

5th Annual Stem Cell Summit
February 16, 2010
New York, United States

12th Biennial Canadian Blood and Marrow Transplant (CBMT) Consortium Meeting
April 7-10, 2010
Vancouver, Canada

Society for Biological Engineering's (SBE) 2nd International Conference on Stem Cell Engineering
May 2-5, 2010
Boston, United States

16th International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) Meeting
May 23-26, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 8th Annual Meeting
June 16-19, 2010
San Francisco, United States

United Kingdom National Stem Cell Network (UKNSCN) 3rd Annual Scientific Conference
July 12-14, 2010
Nottingham, United Kingdom

5th World Congress on Preventive & Regenerative Medicine
October 5-7, 2010
Hannover, Germany

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Business Development Europe – Cell Therapy Products (PALL Corporation)

Research & Development Scientist – Pancreatic Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies)

Research & Development Scientist – Endothelial Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies)

Research & Development Scientist – Epithelial Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies)

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