Cell Therapy News Volume 11.09 | Mar 15 2010

TOP STORY

Scientists Find “Mother” of All Skin Cells
Scientists have found the “mother,” or origin, of all skin cells and say their discovery could dramatically improve skin treatments for victims of serious wounds and burns. [Press release from Reuters discussing the online prepublication in Science]

Column-Free Isolation of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells with EasySep®     REQUEST A SAMPLE

SCIENCE NEWS

New Method to Grow Arteries Could Lead to “Biological Bypass” for Heart Disease
A new method of growing arteries could lead to a “biological bypass” — a non-invasive way to treat coronary artery disease. [Press release from the Yale School of Medicine discussing the online prepublication in the Journal of Clinical Investigation]

Scientists Track Variant of Gene-Regulating Protein in Embryonic Stem Cells
New research shows that minute variations between histones play an important role in determining how and when genes are read. [Press release from Rockefeller University discussing the online prepublication in Cell]

Researchers Characterize Stem Cell Function
Researchers are the first to fully characterize a special type of stem cell, endothelial progenitor cells that exist in circulating blood, to see if they can behave as endothelial cells in the body when cultured on a bioengineered surface. [Press release from Northwestern University discussing the online prepublication in Stem Cells]

Roving ‘Sonic Hedgehog’ Gene May Change Scientists’ Understanding of Limb Growth
Sonic hedgehog, a gene that plays a crucial rule in the positioning and growth of limbs, fingers and toes, has been confirmed in an unexpected place in the embryos of developing mice — the layer of cells that creates the skin. [Press release from the University of Florida discussing the online prepublication in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA]

Japanese Researchers Create Intestine from Stem Cells
Researchers successfully produced the intestinal section in an experiment using mice. Previously it had been possible to produce sheet-like tissue, but this is reportedly the first time in the world that researchers have been able to produce intestine in tube form. [Mainichi Daily News Press Release]

Faster Healing for Severe Fractures
A new surgical procedure can repair severe bone injuries and defects more quickly and simply than current methods, which include bone-grafting operations and lengthening procedures that involve inserting pins through the skin to pull bones together. [Technology Review by Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press Release]

Start of Phase I/II Gene Therapy Clinical Trial for Hemophilia B
Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics announced that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase I/II exploratory clinical trial with a gene therapy product for hemophilia B, a seriously debilitating and potentially lethal disease. [Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics Press Release]

New Way Found to Mend Traumatic Bone Loss
Two Cleveland researchers say they've developed a method of using natural or artificial sheaths to mend traumatic bone loss using the body's own stem cells. [United Press International Press Release]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Distinct Factors Control Histone Variant H3.3 Localization at Specific Genomic Regions
Using genome editing with zinc-finger nucleases to tag endogenous H3.3, researchers report genome-wide profiles of H3 variants in mammalian embryonic stem cells and neuronal precursor cells. [Cell]

Lgr6 Marks Stem Cells in the Hair Follicle that Generate All Cell Lineages of the Skin
Adult Lgr6+ cells executed long-term wound repair, including the formation of new hair follicles. Researchers conclude that Lgr6 marks the most primitive epidermal stem cell. [Science]

ERK1/2-Akt1 Crosstalk Regulates Arteriogenesis in Mice and Zebrafish
PI3K-ERK1/2 crosstalk plays a key role in the regulation of arterial growth and that the augmentation of ERK signaling via suppression of the PI3K signaling pathway can effectively stimulate arteriogenesis. [J Clin Invest]

Protein Folding Stability and Dynamics Imaged in a Living Cell
Researchers present fast relaxation imaging, which combines fluorescence microscopy and temperature jumps to probe biomolecular dynamics and stability inside a single living cell with high spatiotemporal resolution. [Nat Methods]

End-of-Life Experience of Children Undergoing Stem Cell Transplantation for Malignancy: Parent and Provider Perspectives and Patterns of Care
To evaluate perspectives and patterns of end-of-life care after stem cell transplant researchers surveyed 141 parents of children who died of cancer (response rate 64%) and their physicians. [Blood]

Transactivation of the Dopamine Receptor 3 Gene by a Single Provirus Integration Results in Development of B Cell Lymphoma in Transgenic Mice Generated from Retrovirally Transduced Embryonic Stem Cells
Investigators report on the development of lymphoma in mice generated from embryonic stem cells transduced with an enhanced green fluorescent protein. [Blood]

Dynamics of Gene-Modified Progenitor Cells Analyzed by Tracking Retroviral Integration Sites in a Human Severe-Combined Immunodeficiency Gene Therapy Trial 
Researchers report a longitudinal study of gene-corrected progenitor cell populations from eight patients using 454 pyrosequencing to map vector integration sites, and extensive resampling to allow quantification of clonal abundance. [Blood]

Shh Pathway Activation is Present and Required Within the Vertebrate Limb Bud Apical Ectodermal Ridge for Normal Autopod Patterning
These data indicate that contrary to previous accounts, the Hedgehog signaling pathway is present and required in the developing limb apical ectodermal ridge for normal autopod development.  [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

Modularity Map of the Network of Human Cell Differentiation
Researchers sort and analyze a large set of scattered data to construct the network of human cell differentiation based on cell types (nodes) and differentiation steps (links) from the fertilized egg to a developed human. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

POLICY

California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Allocates $50 Million for Stem Cell Therapy Development, a Boost for the State’s Growing Stem Cell Industry
In a move that will speed the path of bringing stem cell-based therapies to the people of California, the Governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the state stem cell agency created by Proposition 71, approved a concept proposal for funding the development of new stem cell therapies. [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, United States]

Third Time's the Charm for Stem Cell Legislation?
United States Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Michael Castle (R-DE) announced recently their plan to introduce legislation to move human embryonic stem cell guidelines out of the realm of potentially capricious executive orders and into law. [United States Congress, United States]

Bill Would Ban Embryo Sales, Human-Animal 'Hybrids'
Although science has yet to produce mythical creatures such as Minotaurs and mermaids, supporters say the bill is a pre-emptive effort to ban human cloning, human-embryo research and the creation of human-animal hybrids. [Arizona Legislature, United States]

Universities May Need to Report Number of Stem Cells
The measure to require reports on embryonic stem cell research is being added into the universities budget after more serious stem cell bills have failed to generate support in the Legislature. [Michigan Legislature, United States]

Government to Pour 5 Billion Yen into Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Research
A government panel on science and technology picked 30 projects recently to be funded by a budget designed to support potentially world-leading studies, including research on induced pluripotent stem cells for regenerative medicine. [Science and Technology Panel, Japan]

Spain Turns to Science for Stimulus
Spain's ministers recently approved the text of a new research law that aims to reward scientific talent and encourage entrepreneurship. [Science and Innovation Ministry, Spain]

BUSINESS

Half a Million for Gene Sequencers
The 10th annual Albany Medical Center Prize — the U.S.'s biggest prize in biomedicine — will go to three scientists who conceptualized the Human Genome Project: Francis Collins, Eric Lander, and David Botstein. [Science Insider]

Abbott Enhances Pharmaceutical Pipeline with Acquisition of Facet Biotech
Abbott and Facet Biotech Corporation announced recently a definitive agreement for Abbott to acquire Facet, enhancing Abbott's early- and mid-stage pharmaceutical pipeline. [Abbott Press Release]

Healthcare of Today Signs Letter of Intent for Medical Product Developer
Healthcare of Today, Inc. announces it has signed a letter of intent with leading edge medical product company DyfucaMed^®, LLC. [Healthcare of Today, Inc. Press Release]

Takara Bio to Enter into a Collaborative Research Agreement with University of Pennsylvania, Aiming for a Future Clinical Trial of HIV Gene Therapy
Takara Bio Inc. announced that it has executed a collaborative research agreement with University of Pennsylvania on March 11, 2010 to support an HIV gene therapy clinical trial in the United States. [Takara Bio Inc. Press Release]

Genetix Pharmaceuticals Secures $35M in Series B Funding
Genetix Pharmaceuticals announced that it has completed a $35 million Series B financing with new investors Third Rock Ventures and Genzyme Ventures joining TVM Capital, Forbion and Easton Capital. [Genetix Pharmaceuticals Press Release]

Ottawa Researcher Awarded $1.4 Million to Lead International Team Developing Gene Therapy for Retinal Blindness
Leading vision researchers from Canada and the United States are embarking on a five-year, $1.4 million collaborative project to develop a new gene therapy to prevent blindness due to retinal diseases. [University of Ottawa Press Release]

Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Renewed as National Institutes of Health Center
The Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital and The Methodist Hospital has been renewed as a National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute cell processing facility. [Baylor College of Medicine Press Release]

Conference Births New Veterinary Stem Cell Association
A new professional organization, the North American Veterinary Regenerative Medicine Association, has been launched as the result of a recent international conference, co-sponsored by University of California, Davis, which focused on the use of stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine to treat horses and other animals. [University of California, Davis Press Release]

Harvard Bioscience, Inc. Launches Its First Regenerative Medicine Product
Harvard Bioscience, Inc. announced the launch of its ORGANIZER™ Series Model 100 “In Breath” bioreactor. This bioreactor was used to grow the bronchus used in the landmark clinical transplantation performed by Professor Paolo Macchiarini of the Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain. [Harvard Bioscience, Inc. Press Release]

Entest BioMedical Announces Creation of Proprietary Adult Stem Cell Lines
Entest BioMedical Inc. announced the creation of three bone marrow-derived stem cell lines useful for optimizing laser intensities and wavelengths in laser enhanced stem cell therapy. [CNN Money]

ZenBio Licenses an Important Cell Line from Harvard to Drive Metabolic Disease Research
ZenBio announce that they will be a commercial source for the popular murine 3T3-L1 cell line, which has been fundamental in metabolic disease research for 30 years. [Business Wire]

A Vision for Personalized Medicine
Genomics pioneer Leroy Hood says a coming revolution in medicine will bring enormous new opportunities. [Technology Review by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology]

National Taiwan University Hospital Inaugurates Stem Cell Therapy Center
A stem cell therapy center built with donations from local business tycoon Terry Gou was inaugurated at the National Taiwan University Hospital recently. [Taiwan News]

NIH

Technical Assistance for RFA-RM-10-006: Advancing Regulatory Science through Novel Research and Science-Based Technologies (U01) (NOT-RM-10-003)

Modification: This Notice Modifies RFA-RM-09-019 (NOT-RM-10-004)

Notice of a Change in the Next Receipt Date for the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence Program Announcement (PAR-09-079) (NOT-RR-10-005)

Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity for the Reissue of RFA-TW-08-002 the International Research Ethics Education and Curriculum Development Award (R25) (NOT-TW-10-326)

Collaborative Research for Molecular and Genomic Studies of Behavior in Animal Models (R01) (PA-10-125)

CBER

Fiscal Year 2008 Annual Report: Innovative Technology Advancing Public Health

REGULATORY

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (United States)

Push to Cure Rare Diseases
Staff members at the Food and Drug Administration are doing something unusual. They are leaving Washington to help drug makers take a crucial step in developing drugs for rare diseases.

Food and Drug Administration Transparency Task Force; Request for Comments [Docket No. FDA-2009-N-0247]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products: Establishment Registration and Listing; Form FDA 3356; Eligibility Determination for Donors; and Current Good Tissue Practice [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0101]

EVENTS

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

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 101st Annual Meeting 2010
April 17-21, 2010
Washington, DC, United States

Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Workshop: Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Reprogramming and Differentiation
April 21-23, 2010
St-Raphaël, France

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

Select BioSciences' 4th Annual RNAi & miRNA World Congress
May 5-7, 2010
Boston, United States

World Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2010
May 11-13, 2010
London, United Kingdom

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

ESTOOLS International Scientific Symposium
May 26-28, 2010
Lisbon, Portugal

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

XXXIst International Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) in joint cooperation with the 43rd Congress of the German Society for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology (DGTI)
June 26-July 1, 2010
Berlin, Germany

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

2nd International Conference on Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering (ICCMB2)
August 2-4, 2010
Singapore City, Singapore

Select BioSciences' 3rd Annual Stem Cells Europe Conference
August 24-25, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland

International Society of Cell Therapy (ISCT) Annual Meeting – Europe
September 11-14, 2010
Belgirate, Italy

Hydra VI: The European Summer School on Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine
September 11-17, 2010
Hyrda, Greece

2010 World Stem Cell Summit
October 4-6, 2010
Detroit, United States

5th World Congress on Preventive & Regenerative Medicine (WCRM)
October 5-7, 2010
Hannover, GermanyDubai Congress on Anti-Aging and Aesthetic Medicine (DCAAAM)
October 26-27, 2010
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

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