Cell Therapy News Volume 16.43 | Nov 23 2015

Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell–Derived Podocytes Mature into Vascularized Glomeruli upon Experimental Transplantation
Researchers developed a novel transplantation method using spacers that release the tension of host kidney capsules, thereby allowing the effective formation of glomeruli from human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived nephron progenitors. [J Am Soc Nephrol] Abstract | Press Release

miR-124 and Androgen Receptor Signaling Inhibitors Repress Prostate Cancer Growth by Downregulating Androgen Receptor Splice Variants, EZH2 and Src
Scientists employed xenograft models to examine the effects of miR-124 in vivo when complexed with polyethylenimine-derived nanoparticles. Intravenous delivery of miR-124 was sufficient to inhibit tumor growth and to increase tumor cell apoptosis in combination with enzalutamide. [Cancer Res] Abstract | Press Release

Patient-Derived Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Gingival Fibroblasts Composited with Defined Nanohydroxyapatite/Chitosan/Gelatin Porous Scaffolds as Potential Bone Graft Substitutes
The authors investigated the osteogenic differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from patient-derived human gingival fibroblasts regulated by anohydroxyapatite (nHA)/chitosan/gelatin (HCG) scaffolds with different nHA ratios. hiPSC/HCG complexes were cultured in vitro or subcutaneously transplanted into immunocompromised mice in vivo. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract

Intravenous Multipotent Adult Progenitor Cell Treatment Decreases Inflammation Leading to Functional Recovery following Spinal Cord Injury
Researchers investigated the capacity of adult bone marrow-derived stem cells, which exhibit immunomodulatory properties, to alter inflammation and promote recovery following spinal cord injury. [Sci Rep]
Full Article | Press Release

Efficient Long-Term Survival of Cell Grafts after Myocardial Infarction with Thick Viable Cardiac Tissue Entirely from Pluripotent Stem Cells
Transplantation of five cardiovascular cell sheets with gelatin hydrogel microspheres constructs to a rat myocardial infarction model showed rapid and sustained functional improvements. The grafts were efficiently engrafted as multiple layered cardiovascular cells accompanied by functional capillary networks. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Selected Renal Cells Modulate Disease Progression in Rodent Models of Chronic Kidney Disease via NF-κB and TGF-β1 Pathways
In vivo and in vitro functional bioassays were applied to investigate regenerative outcomes associated with delivery of selected renal cells to diseased rodent kidney. [Regen Med] Abstract

Gene Therapy for Ovarian Cancer Using Carbonyl Reductase 1 DNA with a Polyamidoamine Dendrimer in Mouse Models
Scientists aimed to determine the optimal conditions for delivering carbonyl reductase 1 (CBR1) DNA to ovarian cancer (OC) cells via a polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer and to examine the therapeutic effectiveness of using a CBR1/PAMAM dendrimer to treat OC. [Cancer Gene Ther] Abstract

Tooth Germ-Like Construct Transplantation for Whole-Tooth Regeneration: An In Vivo Study in the Miniature Pig
Researchers aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of whole-tooth regeneration using a tooth germ-like construct. Epithelial cells, odontoblasts, and osteoblasts were seeded onto the surface, upper, and lower layers, respectively, of a bioactive scaffold. At 13.5 months postimplantation, seven of eight pigs developed two teeth with crown, root, and pulp structures. [Artif Organs] Abstract

Gene Therapy for Cancer: Regulatory Considerations for Approval
The authors focus on regulatory considerations for gene therapy product development and also discusses guidance documents that have been published by the United States Food and Drug Administration. [Cancer Gene Ther] Full Article

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Samumed to Announce Clinical Data on Potential Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia
Samumed, LLC, announced that presented clinical data on a small molecule (SM04554) for potential treatment of androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as male pattern baldness. In preclinical in vivo studies, SM04554 has been shown to regenerate new hair follicles and increase hair count in multiple animal models. [Press release from Samumed, LLC discussing research presented at the 9^th World Congress for Hair Research (WCHR), Miami] Press Release

Regenerative Medicine Speeds Healing of Eye Tissue following Surgery
A new regenerative medicine can heal the front of the eye in as little as two days after surgery by stimulating faster tissue repair. The drug also appears to relieve eye pain, burning, and light sensitivity following surgery. [Press release from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) discussing research presented at the 119^th Annual Meeting of the AAO, Las Vegas] Press Release

VBI Vaccines Presents Update and New Data Supporting Its Glioblastoma Immunotherapy Program
VBI Vaccines Inc. presented an update and new data supporting its glioblastoma multiforme cancer immunotherapy program. [Press release from VBI Vaccines Inc. discussing research presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Symposium on Immuno-Oncology 2015, Lausanne] Press Release | Poster

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United Kingdom Needs a Science Funding Czar, Report Says
A major review recommended ways to increase the efficiency of science funding. The key suggestion is to create a supervisory organization that would coordinate and support the seven research councils that award grants to investigators in various disciplines. [ScienceInsider] Editorial | Report

NIH to End All Support for Chimpanzee Research
The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) is effectively ending its support for invasive research on chimpanzees. Agency head Francis Collins says that a colony of 50 chimps it had planned to keep in reserve for research—after retiring the rest—is no longer needed. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Ludwig Cancer Research and Cancer Research Institute Partner with Targovax to Test Candidate Virotherapy in Early-Phase Clinical Trials
Ludwig Cancer Research and the Cancer Research Institute announced an agreement with the biotechnology company Targovax to evaluate its experimental virotherapy, ONCOS-102, in early phase clinical trials testing the virotherapy in combination with other, potentially synergistic immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors. [Ludwig Cancer Research] Press Release

Lilly and Merck Expand Immuno-Oncology Collaboration with Phase III Nonsquamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Trial
Eli Lilly and Company and Merck announced the extension of an existing collaboration to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combination of Lilly’s ALIMTA^® and Merck’s KEYTRUDA^® in a pivotal Phase III study in first-line nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer. [Eli Lilly and Company] Press Release

MD Anderson Receives $22.2 Million in CPRIT Research Funding
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center was awarded more than $22 million in research grants from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). MD Anderson CPRIT awards included $14.8 million for research, $6 million in recruitment funding and $1.4 million for evidence-based cancer prevention services. [The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center] Press Release

New Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory Is Launched at UCSF
A $10 million gift from The Parker Foundation will establish a new research laboratory within the Diabetes Center at UC San Francisco (UCSF) devoted to understanding autoimmunity, in the hopes of laying the groundwork for new treatments for diseases ranging from type 1 diabetes to multiple sclerosis to rheumatoid arthritis. [University of California San Francisco] Press Release

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Pfizer Receive FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Avelumab in Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Merck KGaA and Pfizer announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted avelumab, an investigational fully human antiPD-L1 IgG1 monoclonal antibody, Breakthrough Therapy designation for the treatment of patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma who have progressed after at least one previous chemotherapy regimen. [Pfizer Inc.] Press Release

Nivolumab in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Indication of Major Added Benefit for Under-75-Year-Olds
The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care examined in a dossier assessment whether nivolumab offers an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. [Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care] Press Release

StemCells, Inc. Interim Trial Data Show Motor Improvement in Patients with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
StemCells, Inc. announced that the six-month interim results for the first cohort in its ongoing Phase II Pathway™ Study in cervical spinal cord injury showed motor improvements in both strength and function. [StemCells, Inc.] Press Release

Researchers Aim to Regenerate Human Limbs by 2030
University of Connecticut announced the launch of its new grand research challenge: regeneration of a human knee within seven years, and an entire limb within 15 years. This major international research undertaking, called The HEAL Project, stands for Hartford Engineering a Limb. [University of Connecticut] Press Release

Formal Meetings Between the Food and Drug Administration and Biosimilar Biological Product Sponsors or Applicants; Guidance for Industry; Availability (FR Doc. No: 2015-29455)

Investigator – Cancer Biology (Wake Forest Baptist School of Medicine)

Production Manager – UK Stem Cell Bank (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Genome Editing for Retinal Diseases (Mass Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School)

Staff Scientist – Immunology and Clinical Research (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Scaffold Design & Drug/Gene Delivery for Neural Tissue Engineering (Nanyang Technological University)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Engineering Research (Nanyang Technological University)

Postdoctoral Position – hPSC-Derived Cardiomyocyte Grafts in Injured Hearts (University Health Network)

Group Leader – Translational Research (Cancer Research Center of Toulouse)

Group Leader Position – Cancer Research (Oslo University Hospital)

Research Technician – TCR Gene Therapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Research Technician – Stem Cell and Gene Therapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Assistant/Associate/Full Professor – Biomedical Engineering (Worcester Polytechnic Institute)

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