Cell Therapy News Volume 13.13 | Apr 9 2012

A Stem Cell-Based Approach to Cartilage Repair
Using an image-based, high-throughput screen, researchers identified the small molecule kartogenin, which promotes chondrocyte differentiation, shows chondroprotective effects in vitro, and is efficacious in two osteoarthritis animal models. [Science] Abstract

Self-Renewing Endodermal Progenitor Lines Generated from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers established endodermal progenitor cell lines from human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Press Release

Derivation, Expansion and Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Continuous Suspension Cultures
Researchers describe derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells from terminally differentiated mouse cells in serum- and feeder-free stirred suspension cultures. [Nat Methods] Abstract | Press Release

Fabrication of Functional Three-Dimensional Tissues by Stacking Cell Sheets In Vitro
Researchers describe the protocols for the fabrication of three-dimensional tissues by cell sheet engineering. Three-dimensional cardiac tissues fabricated by stacking cardiac cell sheets pulsate spontaneously, synchronously and macroscopically. [Nat Protoc] Abstract

Enhanced Homing Permeability and Retention of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells (BMSC) by Non-Invasive Pulsed Focused Ultrasound
When BMSC were administered intravenously following pulsed focused ultrasound treatment to a single kidney, enhanced homing, permeability, and retention of BMSC was observed in the treated kidney versus the contralateral kidney. [Stem Cells] Abstract | Press Release

Xenotransplanted Embryonic Kidney Provides A Niche for Endogenous Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation into Erythropoietin-Producing Tissue
Researchers established xenotransplantation models that control endogenous mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into mature erythropoietin-producing tissue in a niche provided by a developing xenometanephros. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Transduction of Neural Precursor Cells with TAT-Hsp70 Chaperone: Therapeutic Potential Against Ischemic Stroke after Intrastriatal and Systemic Transplantation
Transduction of neural precursor cells (NPCs) with TAT-Hsp70 resulted in increased intracerebral numbers of grafted NPCs after intracerebral but not after systemic transplantation. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Cellular Therapy with Ixmyelocel-T to Treat Critical Limb Ischemia: The Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled RESTORE-CLI Trial
Ixmyelocel-T is a patient-specific, expanded, multicellular therapy evaluated in patients with lower extremity critical limb ischemia (CLI) with no options for revascularization. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II trial (RESTORE-CLI) compared the efficacy and safety of intramuscular injections of ixmyelocel-T with placebo. [Mol Ther] Abstract | Press Release

Lentivector Transduction Improves Outcomes Over Transplantation of Human HSCs Alone in NOD/SCID/Fabry Mice
Scientists created a fully congenic nonobese diabetic (NOD)/severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)/Fabry murine line to facilitate the in vivo assessment of human cell-directed therapies for Fabry disease. [Mol Ther] Abstract

CD8α⁺ß^– and CD8α⁺ß⁺ Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Induce Foxp3⁺ Regulatory T Cells and Prevent the Induction of Airway Hyper-Reactivity
In a mouse model of lung inflammation, adoptive transfer of CD8α⁺ß^– or CD8α⁺ß⁺ plasmacytoid dendritic cells prevents the development of airway hyper-reactivity. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

Arsenic-Transformed Malignant Prostate Epithelia Can Convert Noncontiguous Normal Stem Cells into an Oncogenic Phenotype
Researchers determined if normal stem cells are influenced by nearby arsenic-transformed malignant epithelial cells as a possible factor in arsenic associated cancer stem cell overabundance. [Environ Health Perspect] Abstract | Press Release

Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy Regimen May Prolong Survival in Advanced Cancers
Maintenance therapy with interleukin-2 and 13-cis retinoic acid may be an inexpensive method for increasing survival in patients with a variety of stage 4 cancers. [Press release from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) discussing research presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2012, Chicago] Press Release

Marina Biotech Completes Dosing of Second Cohort in the Phase Ib START-FAP Clinical Trial of CEQ508
Marina Biotech, Inc. announced the completion of dosing for Cohort 2 in the Dose Escalation Phase of its START-FAP (Safety and Tolerability of An RNAi Therapeutic in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis) clinical trial with CEQ508. [Marina Biotech, Inc.] Press Release

Therapeutic Antibody Producing Cells Encapsulated Using Cell-in-a-Box^® Encapsulation Technology Proven Effective for Targeted Treatment of Various Diseases
In an animal study by SGAustria and some of its research partners, researchers used Cell-in-a-Box^® technology to encapsulate hybridoma cells producing cytotoxic antibodies against a specific type of T-cells. Varying numbers of capsules were implanted into mice subcutaneously and intraperitoneally. [BusinessWire]
Press Release

Bigger-Than-Expected Budget Cuts Hit Spanish Scientists
Spanish scientists’ hopes that the long-delayed 2012 national budget would spare their research funding were quashed as the government announced a 25% funding cut compared to last year. [Spanish Government, Spain] Press Release

Cyprus Institute Loses Money and Support
Once billed as the MIT of the Middle East, the Cyprus Institute in Nicosia is now so deep in crisis that it has not been able to pay last month’s salaries. The Cypriot parliament is withholding the institute’s 2012 budget amid a storm of criticism from an audit exposing poor financial management to complaints about the management style of the institute’s president. [Cypriot Parliament, Cyprus] Press Release

Pakistani Drug Regulator ‘Destined to Be a Failure’
Pakistan’s government has created an agency to regulate the country’s pharmaceutical industry. The Pakistani Supreme Court ordered the move following the deaths in January of nearly 150 patients taking an adulterated heart drug. [Pakistani Supreme Court, Pakistan] Press Release

Canada and Japan Establish New Research Partnership
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) recently signed a partnership agreement to fund joint research projects on the epigenetics of stem cells. The agreement was established under CIHR’s Canadian Epigenetics, Environment and Health Research Consortium Signature Initiative and JST’s Strategic International Collaborative Research Program. [Canadian Institutes of Health Research] Press Release

Medistem Collaborates with Loma Linda University on Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury Using Endometrial Regenerative Cells (ERC)
Medistem Inc. announced collaboration with Dr. C.S. Chen, Head of the Division of Oncology and Hematology of Loma Linda University and Dr. Anatol Manaenko, Zhang Neuroscience Research Laboratories for animal studies assessing the ability of the ERC stem cell product in the treatment of traumatic brain injury. [Medistem Inc.] Press Release

American CryoStem and Protein Genomics Sign Collaboration to Develop Stem Cell Applications for Wound Healing
American CryoStem Corporation and privately-held Protein Genomics announced a collaborative agreement to develop novel cellular therapies for the wound healing, regenerative and cellular therapy markets. [Reuters]
Press Release

Smith Medical Partners Announces Logistics Agreement for Cardium’s National Distribution of Excellagen™
Smith Medical Partners announced an exclusive logistics and cold chain services agreement with Cardium Therapeutics to support its recently launched wound care product, Excellagen™. [Smith Medical Partners]
Press Release

IU Researchers Join National Network Testing Stem Cell Therapies for Cardiovascular Disease
Physician scientists at the Indiana University (IU) School of Medicine have been selected to join the nationwide Cardiovascular Cell Therapy Research Network and will begin a new round of tests of adult stem cell treatments for peripheral artery disease this summer. [Indiana University] Press Release

ACT Announces Approval of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute as Additional Site for Stem Cell Clinical Trial for Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (ACT) announced that the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute has received institutional review board approval as a site for the company’s Phase I/II clinical trial for dry age-related macular degeneration, using human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells. [Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.] Press Release

Pluristem Forms Peripheral Artery Disease Steering Committee
Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has formed a steering committee to assist in advancing PLacental eXpanded cell therapies for the treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease. The committee is comprised of vascular and immunological specialists from around the world who will offer expertise to Pluristem in furthering cell treatments for Critical Limb Ischemia, Intermittent Claudication and Buerger’s Disease. [Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

$63 Million NIH Grant Helps UF, National Consortium Explore Cell Regeneration Therapies for Heart Disease
University of Florida (UF) researchers and colleagues at six other institutions have received a $63 million, seven-year grant from the NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to develop heart disease therapies that use a patient’s own bone marrow and heart cells to generate new healthy heart cells and restore function. [University of Florida] Press Release

OvaScience Secures $37 Million in Series B Financing
OvaScience™ announced that it has completed a $37 million Series B financing. OvaScience plans to use the proceeds from the financing to support the development and commercialization of its fertility treatment approaches based on the egg precursor cell discoveries of OvaScience co-founder Jonathan Tilly, PhD. [OvaScience] Press Release

$7.6 Million for the McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre
The McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre announced that they have been awarded funding totaling $7.6 million over a two-year period from Genome Canada’s 2010 Competition: Science and Technology Innovation Centre Operations Support. [McGill University] Press Release

Athersys Receives U.S. Patent Covering the Suppression of Graft-versus-Host Disease Associated with Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation with Adult Stem Cells
Athersys, Inc. announced that it has been granted U.S. patent 8,147,824 that covers the use of non-embryonic, multipotent stem cells for the reduction in severity or prevention of Graft-versus-Host Disease. [Athersys, Inc.] Press Release

MLA First in Europe to Cryogenically Freeze Stem Cells for Animal Healthcare Market
Medical products and distribution company Medical Australia Limited (MLA) announced a company-transforming development with the establishment and roll out of a break-through regenerative animal stem cell therapy, under the trademark TUTAVet, into the United Kingdom and Irish markets. [Medical Australia Limited] Press Release

National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc No: 2012-8353)

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc No: 2012-8214)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Blood Products Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting (FR Doc No: 2012-8167)


European Medicines Agency (European Union)

European Medicines Agency Tightens Conflicts-of-Interests Policies with Immediate Effect
The European Medicines Agency has published its updated policy on conflicts of interests of the scientific experts and committee members it uses in its work. Press Release


Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

Application for Assessment of Australian Publicly Funded Facility or Not-for-Profit Hospital Supply Unit for Biologicals
A new regulatory framework has commenced for biologicals supplied in Australia. Press Release

NEW Experimental Biology (EB) 2012
April 21-25, 2012
San Diego, United States

NEW International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) – 10th Annual Meeting
June 13-16, 2012
Yokohama, Japan

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

Scientist – Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Epithelial Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Hematology (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – hPSC (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – hPSC Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Antibody and Hybridoma Technology Platforms (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Endothelial Cells (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Business Analyst – Product Management (STEMSOFT Software, Inc.)

Senior Development Associate (Genzyme Corporation)

Research Technologist III (Medical College of Wisconsin)

Postdoctoral Position in Stem Cell Biology/Neuroscience/Cancer (The Jackson Laboratory)

Associate Director, Cell Therapy (Seattle Cancer Care Alliance)

iPSC Scientist Position – Laboratory of Translational Cell Biology (The Bassell Lab, Emory University)

Postdoctoral Position – Translational Breast Cancer Research (ISREC/EPFL)

Senior Scientist (Techshot, Inc.)


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