Cell Therapy News Volume 9.04 | Feb 4 2008

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Sperm Cells Created from Female Embryo
British scientists who had already coaxed male bone marrow cells to develop into primitive sperm cells have now repeated the feat with female embryonic stem cells.
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Flawed Embryos Seen as Source for Stem Cells
From what is now considered medical waste might be fashioned bio-treasure: stem cells able to form into any of the body’s 220 cell types, including blood, nerves, bone, and skin tissue, new research suggests.
Article

By Modifying a Stem Cell’s Surface, Researchers Can Steer Cells Where Needed
In a groundbreaking study, Robert Sackstein, MD, PhD, and colleagues in the Department of Dermatology at the Biomedical Research Institute at Brigham and Women’s Hospital harmlessly modified the surface of human mesenchymal stem cells, which directed the cells through the bloodstream into bone, where they matured into new bone cells.
Article

Monash Pioneers Nano Scaffold to Rebuild Nerve Damage
A Monash University PhD student has developed a new technique that could revolutionise stem cell treatment for Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injury.
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Stem Cells Treatment for Brittle Bones in the Womb
The extraordinary results of an in utero stem cell treatment could lead to a new treatment for babies with brittle bones, as well as a range of other disabling conditions, according to a maternal-fetal medicine researcher, now based at The University of Queensland.
Article

Stem Cell Therapy Studies for Stroke, Cerebral Palsy Prepare for Clinical Trials
Finding answers about optimal dosage and timing for stem cell therapy in adults with strokes and newborns with ischemic injuries is a goal of two new federally funded studies.
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Advanced Cell Technology Announces Completion of Pre-IND Meeting with the FDA for RPE Therapy for the Treatment of Retinal Degenerative Disease
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. has announced that it completed discussions with the Food and Drug Administration regarding its retinal pigmented epithelial cell therapy through a type B, pre-Investigational New Drug meeting concerning the regulatory pathway and requirements to file an IND to initiate human clinical trials.
Article

First Patients Treated in Cytori’s Stem & Regenerative Cell Heart Attack Study
Cytori Therapeutics enrolled the first two patients in a clinical trial using adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells in the treatment of heart attack. In this trial, patients’ cells are made available using Cytori’s Celution(TM) System, a real-time cell processing device.
Article

Stroke Victims May Benefit from Stem Cell Transplants
According to two studies published in the current issue of CELL TRANSPLANTATION, stroke victims may benefit from human mesenchymal stem cell or bone marrow stromal cell transplantation. In both studies, the migration of chemically “tagged” transplanted stem cells were tracked to determine the degree to which the transplanted cells reached damaged areas of the brain and became therapeutically active.
Article

Spinal Cord Stem Cell Hope
Spinal cord injury sufferers have been given fresh hope of improved movement with the first Australian trial of a new adult stem cell treatment.
Article

Organ Transplants Without the Drugs
In an intriguing but small study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital and New York Presbyterian Hospital may have finally come up with an end run around organ rejection.
Article

Questioning the Allure of Putting Cells in the Bank
Some experts say consumers should think twice before spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on such services, because it is not clear how useful such cells will be.
Article

ABSTRACTS, REVIEWS AND SPECIAL REPORTS

Intrauterine Transplantation of Human Fetal Mesenchymal Stem Cells from First-trimester Blood Repairs Bone and Reduces Fractures in Osteogenesis Imperfecta Mice
The researchers found that intrauterine transplantation of fetal mesenchymal stem cells markedly reduced fracture rates and skeletal abnormalities in a mouse model of the intermediate severity type III OI, suggesting a scientific basis for mesenchymal stem cells treatment of affected human fetuses.
Article

Intravenously Administered Bone Marrow Cells Migrate to Damaged Brain Tissue and Improve Neural Function in Ischemic Rats
The researchers found that intravenously administrated bone marrow stromal cells facilitated the structural and functional recovery of neural tissue following ischemic injury, perhaps mediated by enhanced angiogenesis.
Article

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Cell Therapy Business Development Leader
Portland, OR (Invitrogen)
Link

Scientist
Irvine, CA (Global Biopharmaceutical Company)
Link

Bush Backs More Funds for ‘Ethical’ Stem Cell Research
President George W. Bush has said the US is increasing funds for “ethical” stem cell research that does not involve destroying human embryos.
Article

State Competition Heats Up For Stem-Cell Scientists
Seven states are leading the world in political and financial support for embryonic stem-cell research.
Article

New Mexico Stem Cell Bill Clears Panel: Measure Now Goes To Senate Floor
Legislation to legalize embryonic stem cell research in New Mexico easily cleared its second Senate committee Friday.
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Michigan Stem Cell Ballot Language Submitted
A group seeking to expand medical research using embryonic stem cells in Michigan announced Tuesday that it has submitted language for a proposed constitutional amendment that would end the state’s prohibition on the destruction of human embryos for research purposes.
Article

Japan to Widen Ban on Reproductive Stem Cell Study, Asahi Says
Japan will temporarily ban scientists from making human reproductive cells from stem cells, a move aimed at heading off an ethical dispute, the Asahi newspaper reported in its English-language edition.
Article

Calls to Lift Child Embryo Ban
The UK government is looking into calls to lift a ban on creating human or human-animal “hybrid” embryos from dying children to aid key research.
Article

Stemedica Cell Technologies Enters Into a Collaborative Agreement with Lumenis(R) Ltd
This collaboration agreement will focus on the implementation of a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive clinical study for the treatment of macular degeneration using Stemedica’s MCT(TM) (Multiple Cell Technology) adult stem cells and the Lumenis SRT(TM) Laser.
Article

Stem Cell Sciences Enters Agreement with Myelin Repair Foundation to Develop Sustainable Cell Sources for CNS Drug Discovery
Stem Cell Sciences plc has entered an agreement with the Myelin Repair Foundation for the development of techniques that will lead to scalable and sustainable sources of uniform human brain cells for research, target validation and drug discovery assays.
Article

ImmuneRegen BioSciences Announces Material Transfer Agreement with HemoGenix(R)
As part of the agreement, ImmuneRegen will ship its therapeutic candidate Homspera(R) for testing using a number of proprietary tools developed and validated by HemoGenix.
Article

Cancer Vaccine Consortium and Cancer Vaccine Collaborative unite under the Cancer Research Institute
The Cancer Research Institute has announced that it has brought together the Cancer Vaccine Consortium, a program of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, and the Cancer Vaccine Collaborative, a program of the Cancer Research Institute and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, to form the leading initiative on cancer vaccines.
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Cryo-Cell Announces Research Collaboration Agreement with Saneron CCEL Therapeutics, Inc.
Cryo-Cell International Inc. has announced that it has formalized a research and development agreement with Saneron CCEL Therapeutics, Inc. that represents an important milestone in efforts to develop promising regenerative therapies utilizing Cryo-Cell’s breakthrough C’elle(SM) menstrual stem cell technology.
Article

Atlantic Veterinary College: New Technology Heals Horses Faster, Stronger
Canadian horse-owners will have access to an innovative technology that enhances the healing of equine tendon and ligament injuries, thanks to a new partnership between UK-based VetCell Bioscience Ltd and the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island.
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Stem Cell Firm Selects Newcastle for European Base
A leading Korean biotechnology company has opened its European division at Newcastle University to develop its stem cell research programme.
Article

Janda Baik Site for Stem Cell Manufacturing Facility
Pahang will host the world’s largest stem cell manufacturing facility when US-based Bio-Cellular Research Organisation sets up operations in Janda Baik, Bentong, this year. 
Article

Alnylam Announces Grant of New Patent Covering RNAi Therapeutics in the United Kingdom
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced that the United Kingdom Patent Office has granted a patent (UK 2417727 or “‘727 patent”) for the Woppman et al. patent series, entitled “Double-stranded ribonucleic acid with increased effectiveness in an organism.”
Article

MicroIslet Announces the Appointments of Dr. Chris Marsh as Lead Transplant Advisor, and Dr. Ronald Goldblum as Lead Clinical Development Consultant
MicroIslet has announced that Dr. Chris Marsh joined the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board and was named MicroIslet’s lead transplant consultant, and that Dr. Ron Goldblum has been retained as the Company’s lead clinical development consultant.
Article

NIH Director Welcomes Five New Members to the Advisory Committee to the Director
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announces the selection of five individuals to serve as members of the Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD).
Article

NIDDK Welcomes Four New Members to Advisory Council
Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt appointed four new members to the Advisory Council of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the institute announced today. NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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NIH Fiscal Policy for Grant Awards – FY 2008 (NOT-OD-08-036)
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Announcing the FY 2008 NIH Director’s Bridge Awards (NOT-OD-08-037)
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Administrative Supplements to Promote Research Collaborations for Projects Currently Funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Division of Cancer Biology (NOT-CA-08-007)
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Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee
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All new CBER information can be reached from the What’s New page at What’s New Page

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (United States)

For F.D.A., a Major Backlog Overseas
The Food and Drug Administration is so understaffed that, at its current pace, the agency would need at least 27 years to inspect every foreign medical device plant that exports to the United States, 13 years to check every foreign drug plant and 1,900 years to examine every foreign food plant, according to government investigators.
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14th ISCT Annual Meeting

May 17-20, 2008
Downtown Miami, Florida

ABSTRACT DEADLINE EXTENDED!
New Deadline: February 5, 2008 @ 11:59pm Pacific Time

Full details at: http://www.celltherapysociety.org