Cell Therapy News Volume 15.17 | May 5 2014

An Acellular Biologic Scaffold Promotes Skeletal Muscle Formation in Mice and Humans with Volumetric Muscle Loss
Scientists showed similarities in the remodeling characteristics of xenogeneic extracellular matrix scaffolds when used as a surgical treatment for volumetric muscle loss in both a preclinical rodent model and five male patients. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocytes and Endothelial Cells in Multi-Component Hydrogel Fibers for Liver Tissue Engineering
Previously, the authors developed methods of encapsulating cells within separate domains in multi-component hydrogel fibers and methods of assembling fibers to form 3D-patterned tissue constructs. They combined these approaches to encapsulate hepatocytes and endothelial cells within their specific niches, and to assemble them into endothelialized liver tissue constructs. [Biomaterials] Abstract

Evidence of the Survival of Ectopically Transplanted Oral Mucosal Epithelial Stem Cells after Repeated Wounding of Cornea
Rabbit limbal stem cell deficiency models were treated with transplantable autologous oral mucosal epithelial cell sheets fabricated on temperature-responsive cell culture surfaces, after which, the ocular surfaces were clear and smooth with no observable defects. [Mol Ther] Abstract

Stem Cell Therapy for Chronic Ischemic Heart Disease and Congestive Heart Failure
The authors critically evaluated the clinical evidence on the safety and efficacy of autologous adult bone marrow-derived stem cells as a treatment for chronic ischemic heart disease and heart failure. [Cochrane Database Syst Rev] Abstract | Press Release

Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy Improves Bone Quality in a Model of Impaired Fracture Healing in the Mouse; Tracked Temporally Using In Vivo Micro-CT
Investigators used an estrogen-deficient mouse model of osteoporosis to test the efficacy of a cell-generated bone tissue construct for bone augmentation of an impaired healing fracture. A reduction in new bone formation at the defect site was observed in ovariectomized fractures compared to the control group using repeated measures in vivo micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging over four weeks. [Bone] Abstract

New Therapy of Skin Repair Combining Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose Scaffold in a Pre-Clinical Rat Model
Researchers tested a new therapy consisting of sodium carboxymethylcellulose as a biomaterial, in combination with adipose-derived stem cells, to treat skin lesions in an in vivo rat model. [PLoS One] Full Article

Fate of iPSCs Derived from Azoospermic and Fertile Men following Xenotransplantation to Murine Seminiferous Tubules
Undifferentiated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) transplanted directly into murine seminiferous tubules differentiated extensively to germ-cell-like cells that localized near the basement membrane, demonstrated morphology indistinguishable from fetal germ cells, and expressed germ-cell-specific proteins diagnostic of primordial germ cells. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cell, gene and immunotherapy research field.

Athersys Announces Results from Phase II Study of MultiStem^® Cell Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis
Athersys, Inc. announced interim results from the Phase II clinical study of the administration of Athersys’ MultiStem^® cell therapy to treatment refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) patients being conducted by Pfizer, Inc. The cell therapy failed to show meaningful benefit, following a single administration, in patients suffering from chronic, moderate-to-severe UC who have failed other therapies. [Athersys, Inc.] Press Release

White House Science Adviser Criticizes FIRST Act
Pending legislation to alter the grantmaking process at the National Science Foundation (NSF) “would have an extraordinarily unfortunate effect” on the $7 billion research agency, presidential science adviser John Holdren said. Holdren’s comments are the first public reaction from the White House to the Frontiers in Innovation, Research, Science, and Technology (FIRST) Act, a 2-year reauthorization of NSF programs that is expected to be approved by the science committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

U.K. Looks to Scrap Confidentiality Rules for Animal Research
The United Kingdom has proposed lifting outdated confidentiality rules that ban the release of information about animal research. Under Section 24 of the 1986 Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, the Home Office cannot release any information about animal research carried out in the country. Both animal rights groups and researchers using animals have praised the proposal as a step in the right direction. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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NeoStem’s Subsidiary, Progenitor Cell Therapy, Enters into a Services Agreement with IRX Therapeutics, Inc.
NeoStem, Inc. and its subsidiary, Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC (PCT), announced the execution of a Services Agreement with IRX Therapeutics, Inc. (IRX) under which PCT will provide services to support IRX’s development of IRX-2, a primary cell-derived biologic with multiple active cytokine components. IRX-2 is a cancer therapeutic designed to activate a patient’s immune system to broadly restore immunity and overcome cancer-induced immune suppression. [NeoStem, Inc.] Press Release

CRISPR Therapeutics Raises $25 Million in Series A Financing and Announces Founding Team of World-Renowned Academics and Clinicians
CRISPR Therapeutics has raised $25 million in a series A investment from Versant Ventures. The company announced a founding team comprising high-profile experts in diverse fields of science including CRISPR-Cas9, genome editing, stem cell biology, advanced drug delivery technologies, RNA interference and gene silencing. [Business Wire] Press Release

UGA to Use $5 Million Gift to Support Center for Molecular Medicine
A $5 million gift to support the Center for Molecular Medicine at the University of Georgia (UGA) will allow the institution to greatly advance its research into human disease. [University of Georgia] Press Release

Pluristem Awarded $4.2 Million Grant by Israeli Government
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Pluristem Ltd., has received approval for a 14.6 million New Israeli Shekel (approximately $4.2 million) grant from the Office of the Chief Scientist within the Israeli Ministry of Economy. [Pluristem Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

Aduro BioTech Announces Initiation of a Clinical Trial of Its Novel Immunotherapy in Patients with Brain Cancer at Providence Cancer Center
Aduro BioTech, Inc. announced that the first patients have been enrolled in a Phase I clinical trial to evaluate its novel immunotherapy ADU-623 in patients with high-grade glioma, a form of brain cancer. [Business Wire]
Press Release

Mesoblast Provides Update on Clinical Programs of Prochymal^® for Crohn’s Disease and Acute Graft versus Host Disease
Mesoblast Limited provided an update on its clinical programs using the product Prochymal^®, which was acquired as part of the entire culture-expanded mesenchymal stem cell business of Osiris Therapeutics by the Mesoblast Group. [Mesoblast Limited] Download Press Release

IntelliCell BioSciences’ Stromal Vascular Cell Technology Used for Restorative Cardiac Function with Dr. Zain Khalpey
IntelliCell BioSciences, Inc. announced that it supplied its Stromal Vascular Fraction Cells, manufactured using its patented ultrasonic technology, for the restoration of cardiac function at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson in collaboration with Dr. Zain Khalpey, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. [PR Newswire Association LLC] Press Release

WuXi PharmaTech Breaks Ground on New Cell Therapy Manufacturing Facility
WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc. announced that it has broken ground on a new facility in Philadelphia for the manufacture of cell therapies. The facility is expected to become operational in the second quarter of 2015. [WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc.] Press Release

C. Randal Mills Named as New President of California’s Stem Cell Agency
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine appointed C. Randal Mills, Ph.D., as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Mills, the former President and CEO of Osiris Therapeutics, was selected by the agency’s governing Board, the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee. [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine] Press Release

Enrollment and Retention of Participants in NIH-Funded Clinical Trials-Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. No: 2014-10154)

Agency Information Collection Activities; Announcement of Office of Management and Budget Approval; Guidance for Industry on Expedited Programs for Serious Conditions-Drugs and Biologics (FR Doc. No: 2014-09914)

NEW International Congress on Stem Cells and Tissue Formation
July 8-11, 2014
Dresden, Germany

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Adipose-Derived Stem Cells and Fat Metabolism (Agency for Science, Technology and Research – A*STAR)

NEW Principal Investigator – Molecular Mechanisms of Inflammation (Inflammation Research Center – VIB-UGent)

NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Hematopoietic Differentiation (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)

NEW Research Technologist – hPSC (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Developmental-Stem Cell Biologist (Mayo Clinic – Rochester)

Postdoctoral Position – Functional Characterization of Neurons Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells (Radboud University Nijmegen)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Hematology, Immunology, Cancer Therapeutics (Nationwide Children’s Hospital)

Business Development Executive (Research Instruments Ltd)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Therapeutic Corneal Endothelial Cell Culture (Lions VisionGift)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow / Research Officer – Stem Cell Research (Bioprocessing Technology Institute)

Stem Cell Research Technician (Van Andel Research Institute)

Director of GMP/GLP Quality Operations (University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – PSC Biology and Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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