Cell Therapy News Volume 13.33 | Aug 27 2012

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    Issue 13.33 August 27, 2012
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    Publications | Reviews | Science | Policy | Business | NIH | CBER | Regulatory | Events | Jobs

    TOP STORY
    Researchers First to Grow Lung Cells Using Stem Cell Technology
    New stem cell research paved the way towards individualized medicine for patients with cystic fibrosis and other lung diseases. The study is the first to successfully use stem cells to produce mature lung cells that could potentially be used to study the disease and test drugs. [Press release from The Hospital for Sick Children discussing online prepublication in Nature Biotechnology] Press Release | Abstract

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    PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

    Macroporous Nanowire Nanoelectronic Scaffolds for Synthetic Tissues
    Three-dimensional (3D) macroporous nanoelectronic scaffolds (nanoES) mimic the structure of natural tissue scaffolds, and they were formed by self-organization of coplanar reticular networks with built-in strain and by manipulation of two-dimensional mesh matrices. NanoES exhibited robust electronic properties and have been used alone or combined with other biomaterials as biocompatible extracellular scaffolds for 3D culture of neurons, cardiomyocytes and smooth muscle cells. [Nat Mater] Abstract | Press Release

    Five-Year Results of Intracoronary Infusion of the Mobilized Peripheral Blood Stem Cells by Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor in Patients with Myocardial Infarction
    Scientists evaluated the long-term effects of peripheral blood stem cell therapy in myocardial infarction patients. The major adverse cardiac events for five years were significantly reduced in the cell infusion group compared with the control. [Eur Heart J] Abstract

    Virus-Mediated shRNA Knockdown of Nav1.3 in Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion Attenuates Nerve Injury-Induced Neuropathic Pain
    To evaluate the therapeutic potential of peripheral Nav1.3 knockdown at a specific segmental level, researchers constructed an adeno-associated viral vector expressing small hairpin RNA (shRNA) against rat Nav1.3 and injected it into lumbar dorsal root ganglion of rats with spared nerve injury. [Mol Ther] Abstract | Press Release

    Long-Term Follow-Up Evaluation of Results from Clinical Trial (TREAT-HGF) Using Hepatocyte Growth Factor Gene to Treat Severe Peripheral Arterial Disease
    Investigators performed a phase I/IIa open-label clinical trial using intramuscular injection of naked plasmid DNA encoding hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). They reported long-term evaluation of two years after HGF gene therapy in 22 patients with severe peripheral arterial disease. [Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol] Abstract

    Human Amniotic Fluid Stem Cell Injection Therapy for Urethral Sphincter Regeneration in an Animal Model
    Researchers investigated whether periurethral injection of human amniotic fluid stem cells can restore urethral sphincter competency in a mouse model. [BMC Med] Abstract | Full Article | Press Release

    Functionalized, Biodegradable Hydrogels for Control Over Sustained and Localized siRNA Delivery to Incorporated and Surrounding Cells
    Researchers engineered a functionalized, biodegradable system created by covalent incorporation of cationic linear polyethyleneimine (LPEI) into photocrosslinked dextran hydrogels through a biodegradable ester linkage. The key innovation of this system is that control over the sustained release of short interference RNA (siRNA) was achieved, as LPEI could electrostatically interact with siRNA to maintain siRNA within the hydrogels and degradation of the covalent ester linkages between the LPEI and the hydrogels led to tunable release of LPEI/siRNA complexes over time. [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Press Release

    Improving Dendritic Cell Vaccine Immunogenicity by Silencing PD-1 Ligands Using siRNA-Lipid Nanoparticles Combined with Antigen mRNA Electroporation
    Researchers demonstrated that PD-L1 and PD-L2 siRNA delivery using DLin-KC2-DMA-containing lipid nanoparticles mediated efficient and specific knockdown of PD-L expression on human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC). They also demonstrated that these PD-L-silenced DC loaded with antigen mRNA superiorly boost ex vivo antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses from transplanted cancer patients. [Cancer Immunol Immunother] Abstract | Press Release

    Adipose Stem Cells Can Secrete Angiogenic Factors That Inhibit Hyaline Cartilage Regeneration
    Researchers aimed to determine the effects adipose stem cell-secreted factors have in repairing chondral defects. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article | Press Release

    Webinar: Brent Reynolds on Identification and Caracterization of Neural Stem Cells


    SCIENCE NEWS

    Neuralstem Completes Phase I ALS Stem Cell Trial
    Neuralstem, Inc. announced the completion of the Phase I trial of its NSI-566 spinal cord neural stem cells for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with the eighteenth patient treated. [Neuralstem, Inc.]
    Press Release

    Autism and Cord Blood Stem Cells: FDA Gives Green Light for Groundbreaking Clinical Trial
    Sutter Neuroscience Institute and Cord Blood Registry are launching the first FDA approved clinical trial to assess the use of a child’s own cord blood stem cells to treat select patients with autism. [Cord Blood Registry] Press Release

    PneumaCultâ„¢-ALI Medium for Bronchial Epithelial Cells: Watch the Video


      
    NEW! REVIEWS
    Based on your feedback, we’ve added a Reviews section to Cell Therapy News

    Intraoperative Stem Cell Therapy
    The major developments in intraoperative stem cell approaches, from in vivo models to clinical studies, are reviewed, and the potential regenerative mechanisms and the roles of different cell populations in the regeneration process are discussed. [Annu Rev Biomed Eng] Abstract

    Managing Particulates in Cellular Therapy
    Researchers reviewed the concept of particulates, where they originate and how they are introduced to cell therapy products, and the current methods available for their detection. The authors also reviewed the relevance of current guidance documents and present potential strategies to move forward and address and control unwanted contaminating particulates in cell therapy products. [Cytotherapy] Abstract


     
    POLICY

    The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission: Public Statement
    The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission is pleased with the opinion issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Sherley, et al v. Sebelius, et al regarding the federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research. The position taken by the Court allows this promising stem cell research to progress in the U.S., paving the way for groundbreaking discoveries that could ameliorate a multitude of debilitating diseases and disorders. [Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, United States] Press Release

    Republican Spending Plan Casts Shadow on Science
    As chairman of the House of Representatives budget committee in the current Congress, Paul Ryan has crafted a federal spending plan that contrasts sharply with that of President Barack Obama. If carried out, Ryan’s plan could cut spending on non-defense-related research and development by 5%, or $3.2 billion, below the fiscal-year 2012 budget. [American Association for the Advancement of Science, United States] Press Release

    Ego v. Efficiency at the U.S. National Science Board
    A new U.S. law that exempts 169 presidential appointees from having to be confirmed by the Senate has ruffled feathers at the National Science Board. The 24-member board is now part of that new category of people who can take office immediately after they say “yes” to an invitation from the White House. [National Science Board, United States] Press Release


    BUSINESS

    New Partnership to Drive Mass Production of Life-Saving Stem Cells – Commercialization Impact Prize Is First of Its Kind in Canada
    The McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine-Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine Commercialization Impact Prize will solicit innovative ideas from regenerative medicine scientists working in labs throughout the McEwen Centre. The winning team(s) will be awarded up to $600,000 to pursue research that will determine how to manufacture stem cells for clinical use and drug screening. [McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine] Press Release

    Silence Therapeutics Signs Collaboration with MiReven Pty Ltd to Evaluate Delivery of Novel MicroRNA-Based Therapeutics
    Silence Therapeutics plc announced that it has signed an agreement with MiReven Pty Ltd to assess the delivery potential of Silence’s proprietary delivery systems with MiReven’s novel microRNA-based therapeutics. [Silence Therapeutics plc] Press Release

    Pluristem and World Renowned Charité Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies Renew Five-Year Collaborative Research Agreement
    Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc. announced it has renewed a five-year Collaborative Research Agreement with the Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapy at Charite – University Medicine Berlin. [Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

    ThermoGenesis Announces AXP® Product Purchase and Distribution Agreement with Golden Meditech Holdings Limited
    ThermoGenesis Corp. announced that it has signed a wide ranging product purchase and distribution agreement for its AXP® AutoXpress® (AXP) System used for the processing of stem cells from cord blood with Golden Meditech Holdings Limited. [ThermoGenesis Corp.] Press Release

    Team Awarded Nearly $1.5 Million to Develop New Approaches to Treat Cancer
    Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute have been awarded approximately $1.5 million from the National Institutes of Health to identify and develop new therapeutic approaches against a broad spectrum of cancers. [The Scripps Research Institute] Press Release

    Pluristem Commences U.S. FDA Phase II Clinical Trial for Intermittent Claudication: Duke University Medical Center Is First of Five Sites Already Approved
    Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc. announced it will initiate Phase II clinical trials in the United States to evaluate the safety and efficacy of its PLacental Expanded cells in the treatment of intermittent claudication. [Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

    IntelliCell BioSciences Files Patent Application for a New Mechanical Method to Separate Stromal Vascular Fraction from the Blood Vessels in Adipose Tissue
    IntelliCell BioSciences, Inc. announced that it has filed a patent application for a new mechanical method to separate stromal vascular fraction from the blood vessels in adipose tissue to be used clinically in regenerative medicine. [PR Newswire Association LLC] Press Release

    Successful Growth of BioDiem’s Virus in VIVALIS EB66® Cell Line
    BioDiem Ltd announced successful results from two programs of work carried out by French partner VIVALIS, confirming the ability of BioDiem’s Live Attenuated Influenza Virus to grow in VIVALIS’ proprietary EB66® cell line. VIVALIS offers research and commercial licenses for its EB66® cell line, derived from duck embryonic stem cells, to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for the production of therapeutic and prophylactic viral vaccines, virosomes, VLP’s, and recombinant proteins. [VIVALIS] Press Release

    Anne-Marie Duliege Appointed to Governing Board of California’s Stem Cell Agency
    Anne-Marie Duliege, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Affymax Inc., has been appointed to the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee, the governing board of California’s stem cell agency, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine] Press Release


    NIH

    NIH’s Millionaires to Get Extra Scrutiny
    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) plans to give extra scrutiny to proposals from researchers receiving more than $1 million a year in direct support from grants-and may not fund them if the research overlaps with what they’re already doing. Press Release

    National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc No: 2012-20816)

    National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc No: 2012-20804)

    National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc No: 2012-20557)

    Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health; Notice of Meeting (FR Doc No: 2012-20556)

    Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc No: 2012-20606)

    National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; Notice of Meetings (FR Doc No: 2012-20273)


    CBER
    September 19, 2012: Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting: Waivers for Conflicts of Interest


    REGULATORY

    Food and Drug Administration (United States)

    Science Board to the Food and Drug Administration; Notice of Meeting (FR Doc No: 2012-20782)

    Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding Between the Food and Drug Administration and Other Departments, Agencies, and Organizations (FR Doc No: 2012-20610)

    Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Bar Code Label Requirement for Human Drug and Biological Products (FR Doc No: 2012-20205)

    Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

    Documents Released Under Section 11C of the Freedom of Information Act 1982


    EVENTS

    NEW The Jackson Laboratory: Humanized NSG Mice – An Innovative Platform for Advancing Preclinical Research
    August 30, 1:00PM (ET in US)
    Webinar

    NEW 2nd World Congress on Cell Science & Stem Cell Research
    November 12-14, 2012
    San Antonio, United States

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


    JOB OPPORTUNITIES

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

    Scientific Communications & Publishing Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

    Quality Control Operations Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

    Research Technologist – Research and Development (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

    Research Technologist – Media Development (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

    Postdoctoral Research Position (University Lille 2 France)

    Postdoctoral Position – Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Research (University of Washington)

    Chief Scientific and Medical Officer (Living Cell Technologies)

    Postdoctoral Fellowship (Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, Florida)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Preclinical Group (BN ImmunoTherapeutics)

    Postdoctoral Positions – Immunity and Inflammation (CNRS & University of Toulouse, France)


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