Cell Therapy News Volume 16.29 | Jul 27 2015

BMP7-Based Functionalized Self-Assembling Peptides for Nucleus Pulposus Tissue Engineering
The authors constructed a novel injectable biomaterial by conjugating three different short peptides of BMP7 to the C-terminus of the self-assembling peptide RADA16-I, and they then mixed each of these conjugates with RADA16-I at equal volumes to obtain the novel functionalized peptides RAD-SNV, RAD-KPS and RAD-KAI. [ACS Appl Mater Interfaces] Abstract

Treatment of Lateral Epicondylosis by Using Allogeneic Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Pilot Study
Investigators evaluated the safety and efficacy of allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (allo-ASC) in treating lateral epicondylosis (LE). Under ultrasound guidance, allo-ASCs mixed with fibrin glue were injected into the hypo-echoic common extensor tendon lesions of 12 participants with chronic LE. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Prevent Allostimulation In Vivo and Control Checkpoints of Th1 Priming: Migration of Human DC to Lymph Nodes and NK Cell Activation
Researchers investigated the impact of mesenchymal stromal cells on the functionality of human myeloid dendritic cells (DC) and the consequences for natural killer (NK) cell and Type 1 helper (Th1) priming in vitro and in vivo. [Stem Cells] Abstract | Press Release

Cell Therapy Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Renal Progenitors Ameliorates Acute Kidney Injury in Mice
Scientists found that renal subcapsular transplantation of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived renal progenitors ameliorated the acute kidney injury in mice induced by ischemia/reperfusion injury, significantly suppressing the elevation of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels and attenuating histopathological changes, such as tubular necrosis, tubule dilatation with casts, and interstitial fibrosis. [Stem Cell Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

In Situ Tissue Engineering of Functional Small-Diameter Blood Vessels by Host Circulating Cells Only
Investigators aimed to prove that functional blood vessels can be formed in situ via the host inflammatory response, specifically by blood-borne cells. The model was validated by implanting sex-mismatched aortic segments on either anastomoses of an electrospun polycaprolactone graft, filled with fibrin gel, into the rat abdominal aorta. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

Generation of Lentivirus-Induced Dendritic Cells Under GMP-Compliant Conditions for Adaptive Immune Reconstitution against Cytomegalovirus after Stem Cell Transplantation
Scientists demonstrated the feasibility of good manufacturing practices (GMP) for production of donor-derived dendritic cells consisting of monocytes from peripheral blood transduced with an integrase-defective lentiviral vector (IDLV, co-expressing GM-CSF, IFN-α and the cytomegalovirus antigen pp65) that were cryopreserved and thawed. [J Transl Med] Full Article

Development of a Novel Imaging System for Cell Therapy in the Brain
Researchers present data that demonstrate the feasibility of using the human sodium-iodide symporter as a reporter gene for tracking neural stem cell after transplantation in the brain using SPECT/CT imaging. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article

Antitumoral Gene-Based Strategy Involving Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III Overexpression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Researchers developed a gene therapy designed to specifically overexpress nitric oxide (NO) synthase type III in cultured hepatoma cells, and in tumors derived from orthotopically implanted tumor cells in fibrotic livers. [Gene Ther] Abstract

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Inovio Pharmaceuticals Initiates Clinical Trial of INO-5150 DNA Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer
Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has initiated a Phase I trial to evaluate Inovio’s DNA immunotherapy in men with biochemically relapsed prostate cancer. The launch of this human trial follows strong pre-clinical results revealing that INO-5150 generated robust CD8⁺ T cell responses in animal studies including non-human primates. [Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Biochemists Launch Crowdsourcing Site to Combat Bad Data
Chemists looking to design and test new medicines are awash in a sea of bad data, according to a report released by an international panel of experts. The panel, made up of researchers from 46 nonprofit institutions, universities, and biotech and pharmaceutical firms, say they are setting up a TripAdvisor-like crowdsourcing portal to disseminate up-to-date information about chemical probes that they see as the heart of the problem. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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VetStem Biopharma, Announces a New Long Term Partnership with VCA Emergency Animal Hospital & Referral Center
VCA Emergency Animal Hospital & Referral Center and veterinary regenerative medicine company, VetStem Biopharma, announce educational and clinical partnership in support of local area veterinarians. [VetStem Biopharma (Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.)] Press Release

Bavarian Nordic Announces Initiation of NCI-Sponsored Phase II Study of PROSTVAC in Patients with Localized Prostate Cancer
Bavarian Nordic A/S announced that the first patient has been enrolled in a new Phase II clinical study of PROSTVAC, the company’s active prostate cancer immunotherapy candidate. [Bavarian Nordic A/S] Press Release

TapImmune Announces Finalization of License Agreement with Mayo Clinic to Commercialize a Folate Receptor Alpha Vaccine for Multiple Cancer Indications
TapImmune, Inc. announced that the company has exercised its option agreement with Mayo Clinic. TapImmune has signed a worldwide exclusive license agreement to commercialize a proprietary folate receptor alpha vaccine technology for all cancer indications. [TapImmune, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

Lysogene and Alcyone Lifesciences Enter into a Collaboration for Mucopolysaccharidosis Type IIIA (MPS IIIA)
Alcyone Lifesciences, Inc. and Lysogene have entered into a collaboration. Lysogene and Alcyone Lifesciences will join forces to evaluate the intraparenchymal delivery of Lysogene’s proprietary recombinant adeno-associated virus to treat patients with MPS IIIA, also known as Sanfilippo A, utilizing the Alcyone MEMS Cannula targeted delivery platform. [Lysogene] Press Release

Caladrius Biosciences Announces NIH Grant to Fund Retinal Disease Research
Caladrius Biosciences, Inc. announced that it has received notice of an award from the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health for a project to investigate 3D retinal constructs for vision restoration in patients with age-related macular degeneration. [Caladrius Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

Hemostemix Enrolls 20^th Participant and Treats 15^th in International Clinical Trial for Critical Limb Ischemia
Hemostemix Inc. announced another milestone in its international Phase II clinical trial for critical limb ischemia (CLI): enrollment of its 20^th patient. The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial currently recruits participants at six sites in Canada and South Africa under the same clinical protocol and will ultimately enroll approximately 100 participants with CLI. [Hemostemix Inc.] Press Release

Argos Therapeutics Announces Formation of Scientific Advisory Board
Argos Therapeutics Inc., an immuno-oncology company focused on the development and commercialization of fully individualized immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer based on the Arcelis^® technology platform, announced the formation of the company’s first Scientific Advisory Board. [Argos Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

User Fee Program To Provide for Accreditation of Third-Party Auditors/Certification Bodies To Conduct Food Safety Audits and To Issue Certifications (FR Doc. No: 2015-18141)

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NEW Senior Research Associate (Editas Medicine)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Biotechnology (Qu Biologics Inc.)

Cell Biology Lab Manager (Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology)

Science Writer – Cardiovascular Regeneration (Houston Methodist Research Institute)

PhD Studentship – Veterinary and Animal Sciences (University of Milan)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Fat Metabolism and Stem Cells (Singapore Bioimaging Consortium)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Breast Stem Cell Biology (University of Miami Miller School of Medicine)

Aseptic Manufacturing Associate (Lonza Biologics, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Translational Immunology (University of Utah School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Splicing in Hematopoiesis (Northwestern University)

Primary Cell Transduction Process Scientist (GlaxoSmithKline)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Antibody Engineering/Immuno-Oncology (California Institute for Biomedical Research)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (INSERM)

Cell Therapy GMP Manager (Paramount Recruitment)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neural Stem Cells (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

Lead Device and Delivery Scientist (Cell Therapy Catapult)

Process Facilitator (Opexa Therapeutics)

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